Mouthy, Then Die.

"For now, focus on your beast spirit as your primary martial soul." Jiang Ce's tentacles gestured in the air.

"Your first six soul skills should all be percentage-based buffs. The seventh soul ring will be your Avatar, and for the final two, one should be a single-target kill move, and the other a mass-destruction area-of-effect skill. We'll also need a full set of soul bones, and an External Soul Bone is non-negotiable."

When mentioning the External Soul Bone, Jiang Ce immediately thought of the one from the Man Faced Demon Spider: it provided a 50% boost to all attributes, carried potent venom, and could devour soul power.

It could also evolve alongside the host's traits, making it a perfect fit for Yan Lingji.

Yan Lingji blinked. "All buffs in the early stages? Not a single attack skill?"

"What else would you need?" A tentacle poked her head lightly. "By the time a soul master reaches the Titled Douluo realm, the only skills that truly matter are the final three.

The attack skills from the early stages rarely see use in the late game.

Besides, you have your Fire Control Technique to manipulate flames, and with the venom weapons and my buffs, you won't lack for damage output in the early stages.

That is why all six of your first soul rings must be percentage buffs.

Once you reach the Titled Douluo realm, all those buffs will stack, and you'll be able to crush your opponents with a single slap.

Once you unleash your soul skills on top of that, who could possibly stand against you?"

Yan Lingji's eyes shimmered. "Master, you are truly incredible. It's only our second day on this continent, yet you've already grasped the keys to cultivation so clearly."

"Enough talk, prepare to move out."

Jiang Ce immediately used Super Healing to treat her and restore her stamina.

Yan Lingji stood up and cleaned her body; black venom surged from within her, transforming into a black silk bodysuit that once again covered her dress!

She paid the compensation for the damaged items at the front desk and walked out of the hotel.

In the street corner behind them, a beggar quietly stood up and ran off.

Yan Lingji's lips curled. "Master, someone has set their sights on your property."

"Then kill them." Jiang Ce's voice was cold.

Yan Lingji felt a tightness in her chest.

It was the suffocating sensation of being completely possessed.

Everything she was belonged to him; whoever coveted her would die.

"Master is so fierce. This servant can barely breathe—look, even my clothes are tightening."

As soon as she spoke, the black silk bodysuit beneath her dress tightened by a fraction.

She let out a soft, coquettish hum.

"You are mine. Whoever dares to have designs on you will be slaughtered."

"Master, your dominance makes my heart itch."

She turned into a secluded alley and suddenly stopped. "You've been following for so long, aren't you tired?"

A dozen people emerged from the bushes.

The leader had a thick beard and a tiger pattern embroidered on his chest. "Beauty, it's not safe alone. Why not come have a drink with us brothers?"

Yan Lingji turned around, her beauty bewitching. "Are you worthy?"

The bearded man sneered. "Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit, little girl! I am from the Fierce Tiger Mercenary Group—"

Before he could finish, a black shadow streaked past.

"Ah—!!!" The bearded man's tongue was sliced off, blood gushing as he clutched his mouth and rolled on the ground.

A pitch-black dagger appeared in Yan Lingji's hand. "Loose tongue."

"You're courting death!" The mercenaries summoned their martial souls; there were two Soul Ancestors, and the rest were Soul Elders.

A tall, thin man with an Iron Tooth Wolf martial soul slashed a blade toward the back of her neck.

Yan Lingji didn't even look back; the venomous substance on her right hand instantly condensed into a venom sword, which she swung backward in a counter-slash.

Clang.

The incoming blade was sliced into two pieces.

The man clutched his throat, blood flowing through his fingers, and he collapsed in disbelief.

Yan Lingji licked her lips. "A bunch of trash."

Another mercenary with an Iron Arm Ape martial soul threw a punch.

The venom sword in her right hand ignited with flames; she sidestepped the fist and severed his arm at the elbow with a single strike.

The Iron Arm Ape screamed, the stump of his arm charred black.

In a way, she had done him a favor by cauterizing the wound.

"Attack together!" The mercenaries swarmed forward.

Yan Lingji condensed a venomous flame sword in each hand, pushed off the ground with her left foot to leap two meters high, and crossed her blades to unleash a Flame Cross Slash.

The chest armor of three mercenaries was sliced open, and they collapsed with charred skin.

She landed, stepped on the wrist of an attacker, crushed his bones, and kicked his jaw out of place.

The remaining mercenaries turned and fled.

Yan Lingji raised her hand, and the Venom on her left hand transformed into dozens of black threads that shot out, piercing through the backs of those fleeing.

Everything returned to silence.

Yan Lingji stood amidst the splintered wood and bloodstains, blowing out the small flame at her fingertips.

Black tentacles extended from her body, piercing into the skulls of the corpses to devour their memories.

A moment later, Jiang Ce's voice rang out: "Interesting. The Fierce Tiger Mercenary Group, led by Lei Hu, a six-ring Soul Emperor, entrenched in the west of Heaven Dou City. Dozens of men under his command."

Yan Lingji fished out two Soul Tools, probed inside, and curled her lip: "Just a few thousand Gold Soul Coins, a few broken weapons, and a pile of scrap. Truly poor."

"The leader is still in the city dreaming his grand dreams. Let's go and wipe out his nest."

The base of the Fierce Tiger Mercenary Group, west of Heaven Dou City.

The two-meter-high stone wall had two guards leaning lazily against the gate frame.

Yan Lingji walked straight toward them.

The guards' eyes went wide, but before they could even speak, she raised her hand and fired two fire needles, striking them squarely in the throat.

The two men clutched their necks and collapsed limply to the ground.

She pushed open the gate.

Several mercenaries in the courtyard were sparring and froze when they saw her.

One quick-witted one had just started to shout when Yan Lingji was already in front of him, sealing his throat with a single strike of her Venom longsword.

With a flick of her left hand, several black threads coiled around the necks of two men nearby and pulled, sending lines of blood spraying into the air.

The remaining three tried to run, but three Venom threads pierced through their throats.

The inner courtyard hall.

Lei Hu sat in the main seat, surrounded by seven or eight confidants, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts.

"Leader, that batch of goods was delivered to the Black Cloud Chamber of Commerce; this deal earned us quite a bit."

Lei Hu gulped down some wine: "In Heaven Dou City, who doesn't give the Fierce Tiger Mercenary Group a bit of face?"

"By the way, have the brothers sent to watch that woman returned yet?"

"Not yet. But she's just a woman; it's only a matter of time."

Lei Hu laughed heartily.

"BOOM!!!"

The main gate was kicked off its hinges, and the two thick wooden doors slammed onto the ground. The laughter came to an abrupt halt.

Yan Lingji walked in through the shattered gate, the sunlight behind her.

Her black and red dress perfectly outlined her graceful curves, but an intense killing intent was felt immediately.

Lei Hu slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "Who are you?"

Yan Lingji tilted her head: "You sent people to invite me, and now I'm here. What, don't you recognize me?"

Lei Hu's expression changed drastically: "The people I sent out—"

"Them?" Yan Lingji said in a flat tone. "They're waiting for you on the road to the Yellow Springs."

Everyone in the hall turned pale. Several confidants instinctively backed away.

Lei Hu clenched his fists: "You killed them?"

"I did. Now it's your turn."

Lei Hu sensed that the opponent was only at the Soul King level, while he was a six-ring Soul Emperor.

"A mere Soul King, coming here to seek death?"

Behind him, six soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and two black—lit up. His martial soul, the Iron Spine Mad Tiger, possessed him; his body surged in size, and his hands transformed into tiger claws.

A deputy chimed in from the side: "Leader, capture this woman and let the brothers—"

"BANG—"

The deputy's head exploded in a burst of fire, and his entire body flew out, slamming into the wall.

Yan Lingji didn't even glance at him: "Your mouth really stinks."

"You're looking for death!" Lei Hu roared in fury, pushing off the ground with his legs to charge forward.

"Third Soul Skill, Fierce Tiger Claw!"

His right claw tore through the air, aiming straight for her face.

Yan Lingji's Venom longsword ignited with flames, and she slashed out.

"BOOM—"

Lei Hu was knocked back three steps, the stone slabs beneath his feet shattering as the wounds on his palms deepened to the bone.

Yan Lingji remained motionless.

Lei Hu was horrified: "How is this possible? You are only a Soul King—"

"Too much chatter."

Yan Lingji took the initiative, her figure flickering to his left side.

She manifested another blade of venomous flame in her left hand, striking with both swords toward his neck and waist.

Lei Hu turned sideways to parry with his claws, only to discover that her flame blades were incredibly sharp, slicing directly through his soul power.

He retracted his hands in a hurry.

Yet, deep wounds reaching the bone appeared on his arms once again.

Stung by the pain, he lashed out with his claws to force Yan Lingji back: "Everyone! Attack together!"