"Your Beast Martial Soul should be your primary Martial Soul for now." Jiang Ce's tentacles gestured in the air.
"Have your first six Soul Skills all focus on percentage-based boosts. Make your Seventh Soul Ring your Martial Soul Avatar, then choose one single-target finishing move and one area-destruction skill for your last two Soul Rings. Add a set of Soul Bones, too. You can't go without an External Soul Bone."
The moment he mentioned an External Soul Bone, Jiang Ce thought of the Man Faced Demon Spider's: it boosted all attributes by 50%, came with deadly venom, and could devour Soul Power.
It could also evolve to match its owner's traits, making it a perfect fit for Yan Lingji.
Yan Lingji blinked. "All boosts in the early stages? Not a single attack skill?"
"What else?" A tentacle gave her head a light tap. "Once Soul Masters reach Titled Douluo, the last three Soul Rings are the ones that really come in handy.
"Attack skills from the earlier Soul Rings rarely see use later on.
"And you have Fire Control Technique, so you can manipulate flames. Add a Venom weapon and my boosts, and you won't lack for offensive power in the early stages.
"So make all six of your first Soul Rings percentage-based boosts.
"Once you become a Titled Douluo, all those boosts will stack. You'll be able to smash an opponent to bits with a single slap.
"Then, when you use your Soul Skills, who could stand against you?"
Yan Lingji's eyes shimmered. "Master, you're amazing. It's only your second day on this continent, and you've already figured out the secrets of cultivation."
"Enough talk. Get ready to leave."
Jiang Ce immediately used Super Healing to treat her and restore her stamina.
Yan Lingji got up and cleaned herself off. Black Venom welled out from her body, turning into a black bodysuit that covered her dress once more!
She checked out, paid for the damaged items, and left the hotel.
On the street corner behind them, a beggar quietly got up and ran off.
Yan Lingji curled her lips. "Master, someone's got their eyes on what belongs to you."
"Then kill them." Jiang Ce's voice was icy.
Yan Lingji's heart clenched.
It was a suffocating feeling, as if she belonged to him completely.
Everything she was belonged to him. Whoever coveted her would die.
"Master, you're so fierce. I can barely breathe—look, even my clothes are tightening."
As soon as she finished speaking, the black bodysuit beneath her dress tightened another notch.
She let out a delicate moan.
"You're mine. Anyone who dares to lay a hand on you gets butchered."
"Master, you're so domineering it makes my heart itch."
She turned into a secluded alley and suddenly stopped. "Aren't you tired after following me for so long?"
More than a dozen men emerged from the bushes.
The bearded leader had a tiger embroidered on his chest. "Beautiful, it isn't safe to be alone. Why don't you come have a drink with us?"
Yan Lingji turned around, her beauty bewitching. "Are you worthy?"
The bearded man leered. "You little bitch, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! I'm with the Fierce Tiger Mercenary Group—"
Before he could finish, a dark blur flashed past.
"Ahhh—!!!" His tongue was sliced off. Blood gushed as he clutched his mouth and fell, writhing on the ground.
A pitch-black dagger appeared in Yan Lingji's hand. "Filthy mouth."
"You're asking for death!" The mercenaries released their Martial Souls. Two were Soul Ancestors; the rest were Soul Elders.
A tall, thin man with an Iron Tooth Wolf Martial Soul swung his blade at the back of her neck.
Yan Lingji didn't even look back. Venomous tissue on her right hand instantly formed a long Venom sword, and she slashed behind her.
Clang!
The blade that had come at her was cut in two.
The man clutched his throat. Blood seeped between his fingers, and he collapsed in disbelief.
Yan Lingji licked her lips. "A bunch of useless trash."
Another mercenary with an Iron Arm Ape Martial Soul charged in with a punch.
Flames blazed along the Venom sword in her right hand. She dodged the fist and severed his arm at the elbow with a single slash.
The Iron Arm Ape man screamed. His stump was charred black.
At least she'd done him a good turn and stopped the bleeding.
"Get her!" The mercenaries swarmed her.
Yan Lingji formed a flaming Venom sword in each hand, pushed off with her left foot, and leaped two meters into the air. Her crossed blades unleashed Flame Cross Slash.
Three mercenaries' breastplates were sliced open. Their skin burned black as they fell.
She landed on the wrist of a man who'd tried to sneak up on her, crushed the bones beneath her foot, then kicked his jaw aside.
The remaining mercenaries turned and ran.
Yan Lingji raised her hand. Venom from her left hand became dozens of black threads that shot out, piercing the backs of the fleeing men.
Everything fell silent.
Yan Lingji stood amid broken wood and bloodstains, blowing out the flame at her fingertip.
Black tentacles extended from her body, pierced the corpses' skulls, and devoured 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. They're based in the western part of Heaven Dou City, with dozens of men under him."
Yan Lingji searched two Soul Tools and peeked inside, then pouted. "Only a few thousand Gold Soul Coins, a couple of lousy weapons, and a pile of scrap. They're really poor."
"The leader's still in the city, dreaming of spring and autumn. Come on, let's wipe out his lair."
The Fierce Tiger Mercenary Group's base, western Heaven Dou City.
A two-meter-high stone wall stood around it. Two guards lounged against the doorframe by the entrance.
Yan Lingji walked straight toward them.
The guards' eyes went wide. Before either could speak, she lifted her hand and shot out two needles of flame, each striking a throat.
The two men clutched their necks and crumpled to the ground.
She pushed open the gate.
A few mercenaries were sparring in the courtyard. They froze when they saw her.
One quick-witted man had barely shouted before Yan Lingji was already in front of him, her Venom sword slashing across his throat.
She flicked her left hand. Black threads coiled around the necks of two men nearby and yanked. Blood sprayed through the air.
The three men left tried to run. Three Venom threads pierced their throats.
The hall in the inner courtyard.
Lei Hu sat in the main seat, surrounded by seven or eight trusted subordinates, feasting and drinking.
"Captain, we delivered that batch of goods to the Black Cloud Chamber of Commerce. We made a killing on the deal."
Lei Hu gulped down a mouthful of wine. "Here in Heaven Dou City, who doesn't show the Fierce Tiger Mercenary Group some respect?"
"By the way, have the men sent to keep an eye on that woman come back?"
"Not yet. But she's just a woman. It's only a matter of time."
Lei Hu burst into laughter.
"Boom!!!"
The doors were kicked off their hinges, both thick wooden panels crashing to the ground. The laughter cut off abruptly.
Yan Lingji walked in through the shattered doorway, sunlight behind her.
Her black-and-red dress perfectly outlined her graceful figure, but the atmosphere was soon saturated with murderous intent.
Lei Hu slapped the table and shot to his feet. "Who are you?"
Yan Lingji tilted her head. "You sent men to invite me over, and now I'm here. What, don't recognize me?"
Lei Hu's expression changed drastically. "The men I sent—"
"They're waiting for you on the road to the underworld," Yan Lingji said calmly.
Everyone in the hall paled. Several of Lei Hu's trusted subordinates instinctively backed away.
Lei Hu clenched his fists. "You killed them?"
"I did. Now it's your turn."
Lei Hu sensed that she was only at the Soul King level, while he was a Six-Ring Soul Emperor.
"A Soul King comes here looking to die?"
Behind him, two yellow, two purple, and two black Soul Rings lit up. His Iron Spine Mad Tiger Martial Soul possessed him; his body swelled, and both hands became tiger claws.
One of his subordinates chimed in, "Captain, let's capture this woman and let the boys—"
"Boom—"
A burst of flame exploded from the subordinate's head. His body flew across the room and slammed into the wall.
Yan Lingji didn't even look at him. "You stink."
"You're asking for death!" Lei Hu roared. He kicked off the ground and charged,
"Third Soul Skill, Fierce Tiger Claw!"
His right claw tore through the air, aimed straight at her face.
Flames blazed along the Venom sword in Yan Lingji's right hand. She slashed.
"Boom—"
Lei Hu was knocked back three steps. The stone tiles beneath his feet shattered, and his palm was wounded down to the bone.
Yan Lingji didn't budge.
Lei Hu stared at her in shock. "How is that possible? You're only a Soul King—"
"You talk too much."
Yan Lingji took the initiative, flashing to his left.
A second flaming Venom sword formed in her left hand. Both blades struck at his neck and abdomen.
Lei Hu turned sideways and raised both claws to block,
but he found that her flaming swords were incredibly sharp,
cutting straight through his Soul Power.
He hastily pulled back his hands.
But deep, bone-revealing wounds had appeared on both his arms.
He grimaced in pain, then lashed out with his claws to force Yan Lingji back. "Everyone! Attack together!"
Before you continue