Control System Battle Soul Master, Thunderclap Hammer

The next morning, just as dawn broke.

Bibi Dong stood at the entrance of Martial Soul Hall with her beloved disciple Su Yan and the new recruit Tang Chi, waiting for the carriage to arrive.

Yesterday, Hall Master Ma Xiunuo was so thrilled upon hearing that the Holy Maiden needed a carriage that he couldn't sleep all night. He spent the evening trimming the horses' hooves, scrubbing them down, and feeding them well, then went to bed early.

At the crack of dawn, he personally drove the carriage to the entrance of Martial Soul Hall.

Hall Master Ma Xiunuo jumped down from the carriage and bowed. "Holy Maiden, the carriage is simple and humble. Please do not disdain it."

Bibi Dong nodded, which counted as a response.

Seeing the three board the carriage, Hall Master Ma Xiunuo leaped back onto the front, grabbed the reins, and shouted, "Giddy up!"

Inside the carriage, Bibi Dong sat in the middle, with Su Yan and Tang Chi on either side.

"Have you thought clearly about last night's question? Strength, control, agility, or support."

Su Yan shook his head.

Tang Chi also shook his head.

"Xiao Yan, what are your thoughts?"

Su Yan extended his index finger and thumb, nearly touching. "Master, my martial soul has a tiny problem. Ask Tang Chi first."

Bibi Dong turned her head to look at Tang Chi. Seeing his troubled expression, she comforted him, "Take your time. I once had the same issue."

She pulled a blue crystal from her belt and dropped it on the floor. A phantom image of a hammer floated in the air.

"This is a Soul Tool, a Memory Crystal," Bibi Dong said. "The image displayed is the Clear Sky Hammer, known as the number one tool martial soul on the continent."

"Tang Chi, your surname is Tang, and your martial soul is the Thunderclap Hammer, a variant of the Clear Sky Hammer. You should be related to them by blood."

Tang Chi clenched his fists tightly, his lips pressed white, but in the end, he nodded.

"As far as I know, the Clear Sky Hammer usually has two choices: pure strength or comprehensive development. Both fall under the strength attack system." Bibi Dong waved her hand casually, and another hammer appeared in the image. "This is also a variant martial soul of the Clear Sky Hammer, very similar to your situation. It adds elemental attacks, which is also a good development path."

Tang Chi hesitated for a long while, his face slightly red, and spoke in a low voice. "Is there a path where I don't have to charge at the very front? I'm a little scared."

Su Yan seemed thoughtful. "Thunderclap Hammer, lightning attribute. Strong lightning has extremely strong penetrating power, while weak lightning can numb opponents, even electrocute them. It seems it could also exist as a control system, striking after the enemy has acted."

"This is a path I've never considered before." Bibi Dong rubbed her chin.

"Control system—does that mean I don't have to charge at the front?" Tang Chi tugged at his clothes, looking a bit embarrassed.

"In most cases, yes," Bibi Dong replied.

"Then I choose the control system." Tang Chi made up his mind.

Bibi Dong's courage training had given him a little bit of bravery, but not much.

Real combat was far more terrifying than playing in the mud back in the village.

Tang Chi knew this well.

"Control system, Thunderclap Hammer—maybe it will have an unexpected effect." Bibi Dong muttered to herself, her mind already comprehensively considering all possibilities for a control-system Thunderclap Hammer.

As an instructor, she had to be responsible for all her students.

She suddenly looked at Su Yan, who was smiling faintly.

Had all of this been within his considerations?

In a Soul Fight competition, such a heavy and powerful martial soul would instinctively be seen as strength attack. The usual thought would be a clash of power, mutual restraint.

But what if the Thunderclap Hammer was control system? At first contact, it could lock down the opponent's strength attack Soul Master, creating a numbers advantage, quickly taking out the enemy's rear roles.

In the end, the strength attack Soul Master, lacking support, would stand alone and helpless.

The situation on the field would become one-sided!

This was an unexpected trump card!

Since Tang Chi's direction was set, the next step was choosing a Soul Beast.

Su Yan's train of thought was fully ignited, and he spoke without pause. "For the first soul ring, consider the lightning's numbing property. One hammer blow might not kill, but it will definitely electrocute the Soul Beast."

"For the second soul ring, perhaps try to control the lightning." Su Yan suddenly grew excited. "I know someone who also uses a hammer. He can use his hammer to command the power of lightning, striking wherever he points. Maybe he can even shape the lightning into armor, greatly increasing defense!"

Tang Chi listened, a glimmer of hope appearing in his eyes.

He seemed to see a future day when he would raise the Thunderclap Hammer high, commanding blue-white lightning to descend from the sky, transforming into armor that merged with his body, becoming the supreme king of lightning across the Four Seas and Eight Wastelands!

That would be so cool!

Bibi Dong's eyes flashed. "There happens to be a lightning-attribute Soul Beast like that in the Soul Hunting Forest. We just need to find one with a good age."

"Although that bastard Yu Xiaogang isn't a good person, there's one thing I can trust: the theoretical maximum age for a first soul ring is four hundred and twenty-three years."

To become a qualified master, Bibi Dong had put in no small effort. Not only did she consult ancient texts and seek advice from predecessors, but she was also bold enough to steal, not caring about minor details.

This information came from sneaking into Yu Xiaogang's office and reading it.

Bibi Dong gave the final conclusion. "Our goal is to find one over three hundred years old."

The horses Hall Master Ma Xiunuo had carefully chosen were naturally excellent. The four-hundred-li journey was completed in most of a day.

The three got off the carriage, and ahead of them lay the entrance to the Soul Hunting Forest.

"Holy Maiden, I will wait here for you to come out."

"No need. You go back directly. We won't be returning anytime soon."

"Understood, Holy Maiden."

The carriage gradually faded into the distance, and Bibi Dong led the three toward the entrance.

The entrance was bustling, with many fully armed people shouting.

"I have a writ. Hunting aggressive-type Soul Beasts, seven slots, one left. Beast-type Martial Souls only."

"Ten Gold Soul Coins, seeking a writ!"

"Thirty-third level Control System Battle Soul Master, guiding soul hunting. One Gold Soul Coin."

Aside from those preparing to form teams to enter the Soul Hunting Forest, there were also many street vendors selling all sorts of strange and curious items.

There were Soul Beast carcasses, weapons and equipment, external injury medicine, and even quite a few trinkets and accessories.

"Master, this place is like a market," Su Yan said. This was his first time visiting such a lively place since crossing over. Back in the day, shouting to form parties at the dungeon entrance in Dungeon Fighter Online—in reality, this was probably exactly what it looked like.

"Soul Beasts aren't so easy to kill. Many Soul Masters die at their hands every year, so many Soul Masters form teams on their own to increase their chances of success in the hunt." Bibi Dong pointed at one person's attire and said, "Look, that person is wearing the uniform of the Mercenary Association. These are all people who retired from Martial Soul Hall."

As the three walked, the sky suddenly darkened above them. A Bearded Strongman blocked their path.

"Little lady, our boss wants to invite you to hunt souls together." The Bearded Strongman pointed into the distance, where six people were gathered in a circle.

Su Yan slapped his forehead and let out a deep sigh.

This familiar setup.

His master was too beautiful. What could he do?

Bibi Dong didn't even spare a glance. Her crimson lips parted slightly, and she uttered a single word: "Scram."

"Alright, little lady." The Bearded Strongman turned and walked away directly, leaving behind a tall, burly back.

Su Yan was stunned.

This unfamiliar setup.

When something was out of the ordinary, there had to be a trick.

Su Yan watched the Bearded Strongman rejoin his teammates. They seemed to treat what had just happened as nothing more than a round of truth or dare, so he withdrew his gaze.

When they reached the entrance, two Martial Soul Hall guards stopped them.

Bibi Dong took out a token and showed it to them.

They passed through without hindrance and entered.

Meanwhile, the Bearded Strongman's team hurried over to the entrance.

Bibi Dong glanced back. The seven of them suddenly felt as if their throats were being squeezed.

Then, they saw seven soul rings slowly rise from Bibi Dong's body.

The seven men's eyes bulged like copper bells. They were so frightened they nearly fell to their knees.