Wang Sheng's Martial Soul was a tiger. Though it was an ordinary tiger, it was still a decent Martial Soul.
"Martial Soul Possession!" Wang Sheng roared and charged forward.
Jiang Siming held a Rusty Sword across his chest in a blocking stance. The next moment, Wang Sheng's tiger claws struck the blade with a sharp clang. Jiang Siming suddenly felt an immense force crashing into him. His blood and qi surged, but he managed to shove Wang Sheng back and immediately swept his sword across. A streak of sword energy shot toward Wang Sheng, slicing open his left arm.
Seizing his chance, Jiang Siming leaped up, pressed his sword to Wang Sheng's neck, and said, "I win."
"I lost," Wang Sheng said reluctantly.
Jiang Siming recalled his Martial Soul, turned to Tang San, and said, "Tang San, you're the leader of Dorm Seven from now on."
Tang San froze. He was still astonished that Jiang Siming's Rusty Sword could release sword energy. Of course, Jiang Siming was just as baffled. The Rusty Sword definitely had even more secrets. He needed to obtain a Soul Ring as soon as possible. As for Jiang Siming's combat skills, they were practically nonexistent.
A little while later, someone knocked at the door again. Jiang Siming guessed it had to be Xiao Wu.
Tang San, Tang San, your Xiao Wu has arrived. Please come and collect her.
Wang Sheng went to open the door again. If someone was single for a reason, then someone like Wang Sheng was definitely single because of his own abilities. Who walked in the door and immediately asked, "Shall we fight?"
"Good. Which one of you is the leader? Step forward," Xiao Wu's clear voice rang through Dorm Seven.
Everyone looked at Jiang Siming. He silently protested that this had nothing to do with him, then turned his head toward Tang San without a shred of loyalty. Brother, I'm doing this for you. He grinned.
The expected outcome followed: Xiao Wu rode on Tang San's head. As Jiang Siming grinned mischievously, Tang San stood up.
"Alright, I won. I'm the leader of Dorm Seven from now on."
Amid the clamor of "Sister Xiao Wu," their first day finally came to an end.
The next day, Jiang Siming took half a day off, claiming he needed to go shopping. Of course, hunting for a Soul Ring would take more than half a day, but he would deal with that once he was out. After all, his Innate Soul Power was a mere "level five."
Actually, Jiang Siming had planned to go with Tang San, but he couldn't wait. It was time to check in again. This time, he had to obtain a Soul Ring of at least fifteen hundred years in the Star Dou Great Forest, with a five-day time limit. It was no exaggeration to say this was no different from sending himself to his death. But the system had said he could use his Second Martial Soul. Jiang Siming immediately wondered if he would be forbidden from using his Martial Souls when hunting Soul Beasts in the future.
At last, Jiang Siming reached the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. Trees and vines covered the area; from a distance, it looked as if the forest would devour anyone who entered. In truth, countless people died in the Star Dou Great Forest every year.
Though Jiang Siming had lived two lives, he had never truly experienced a life-or-death struggle. It was impossible to say he wasn't afraid. But he knew that even with the system, he would get nowhere without the will to grow stronger.
"Fine. Let's do this."
At that moment, Jiang Siming truly grew up. Perhaps he could have avoided the danger. With his Martial Soul and talent, he could have joined a powerful faction and relied on them to obtain Soul Rings. He could still have become an unparalleled powerhouse that way, but he would always be a coward.
A true powerhouse should have a fearless heart.
Three-Thousand-Year Ghost Wolf Beast
Inside the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Damn it," Jiang Siming cursed inwardly. He'd barely entered the forest before running into a huge swarm of Power King Ants. He really hadn't wanted to encounter these "hardworking" "laborers."
Power King Ants were among the Soul Beasts Soul Masters least wanted to encounter. It wasn't because they were powerful—in fact, they were quite weak, and most were Ten-Year Soul Beasts. But Power King Ants lived in colonies, with thousands upon thousands in each one, led by a thousand-year-old ant queen. Power King Ant Queens had very short lifespans, usually less than ten thousand years. Such was nature: every gain came with a loss. The ant queen reproduced frantically at the cost of her own energy and lifespan. They couldn't survive alone and depended on the colony. However, the queen wouldn't allow anything stronger than herself to exist, so apart from the queen, there were no Hundred-Year Soul Beasts.
Jiang Siming was in big trouble now. He was surrounded by Power King Ants. He'd accidentally wandered into one of their hunting traps.
"I'm so damn unlucky. Am I really going to die here?" Jiang Siming grumbled. More and more Power King Ants gathered around him, but strangely, they didn't seem to be targeting him.
The Power King Ants gradually streamed toward the area in front of Jiang Siming.
Suddenly, a loud howl came from ahead. Jiang Siming cautiously edged closer. Before long, a huge Ghost Wolf Beast came into view. It was already surrounded by Power King Ants.
"So this swarm wasn't here to cause me trouble after all. I knew a handsome guy like me couldn't be this unlucky." Jiang Siming thought smugly.
"Come to think of it, that huge wound on the Ghost Wolf Beast's belly must have been inflicted by another Soul Beast. It's clearly a blade wound. These Power King Ants really lucked out." Jiang Siming mused.
"Should I cut in and take it? But I can't beat this damn swarm of Power King Ants. What, should I rush over and ask if they want another bowl of food? Forget it. I'd be the extra meal." His life mattered more than a Soul Ring. Besides, the Ghost Wolf Beast was at least three thousand years old. He couldn't absorb it anyway. Jiang Siming was just about to slip away.
Ding! The Donghuang Bell, an artifact of the Demon Emperor, can awe Soul Beasts. A three-thousand-year Ghost Wolf Beast has been detected nearby. Considering the host's weak physique, the check-in reward will be issued in advance. Ding! Reward: ten Body Strengthening Pills. If the check-in fails, they will be taken back.
"Damn it, you're forcing me into this. The Donghuang Bell can awe Soul Beasts, so does that mean the system is basically telling me to provoke the ruler of this territory too?"
Ding! The Donghuang Bell possesses the Aura of the Emperor and may attract powerful Soul Beasts.
"You've got to be kidding me. System, have you already found yourself a new host? Are you trying to get me killed?" Jiang Siming said with a bitter smile.
Ding! The current location is the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. Given the host's current strength, he cannot release the Donghuang Bell's pressure beyond a hundred meters.
Jiang Siming fell silent. Though it seemed like the system had just looked down on him, he began to think. At his current level, there was no way he could kill a thousand-year Soul Beast. The Donghuang Bell could suppress Soul Beasts, but his strength was still too low. Even if the Soul Beast couldn't beat him, it could still run away. Besides, he had no idea how powerful the Donghuang Bell was.
"Awoo!" The Ghost Wolf Beast was already on its last legs. Blood had seeped into the soil, and the stench of it had spread. If he didn't decide soon, other Soul Beasts might show up and make things difficult.
"To hell with it. Donghuang Bell, appear!" Jiang Siming roared. A massive image of the bell appeared behind him, and a wave of pressure instantly swept outward. Countless Power King Ants were flipped onto their backs. Sensing the aura of the Demon Emperor, they scattered in every direction.
"Holy crap, the Donghuang Bell is that powerful?" Watching the Power King Ants scatter, Jiang Siming had a new thought. What was the sword that had become his Martial Soul alongside the Donghuang Bell?
Looking at the Ghost Wolf Beast, which was on its last legs, and the blood covering the ground that could draw more Soul Beasts at any moment, Jiang Siming quickly enlarged the Donghuang Bell to cover the area and prevent the scent of blood from spreading.
"There's nowhere nearby to hide. I can only absorb it right here. I'm taking the risk!" Jiang Siming thought, I bet your gun has no bullets. If a Soul Beast happened to pass by, he'd be done for. Jiang Siming sat down cross-legged.
"System, claim the Body Strengthening Pills."
Ding! Claimed successfully. The Body Strengthening Pills cleanse the body and strengthen the constitution. It is recommended to take five at once. Any more will have no effect.
"Holy crap, they even boost virility." Jiang Siming grinned mischievously.
His life or death would come down to luck.
Jiang Siming let out a long sigh and swallowed five pills at once. His entire body grew hot, and he felt strength filling him. The impurities in his body were expelled little by little. His Sword Martial Soul emerged on its own, and in an instant, the Emperor's might and killing intent formed two opposing worlds.