Tang An sat cross-legged and activated the Crimson Annihilation Hammer in his Sea of Consciousness.
The phantom of a dark red giant hammer shot out from between his brows and hovered above the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, emitting a low hum.
The Crimson Annihilation Hammer devoured by destroying first, then consuming.
First, it used the power of destruction to grind to dust and burn away all impurities, remnant souls, and stray thoughts within its target, leaving only the purest Origin essence to be devoured and fused.
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's vast Origin churned violently beneath the power of destruction.
The crimson Light of Destruction was like an invisible furnace. The beast's lingering savagery, remnant soul marks, and the venomous, baleful aura in its bloodline all turned to nothing in the Destruction Fire.
The Crimson Annihilation Hammer trembled lightly, drawing that pure Origin, along with the Evil God Origin, into its body.
A crimson Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring slowly took shape at the hammer's haft, entwined with pale golden Sea God Runes and dark red Evil God Patterns. The two lights reflected each other.
The Crimson Annihilation Hammer's aura changed subtly. The red mist around its body grew denser, and its aura of destruction gained a strange hint of temporal laws, along with a trace of the Evil God Origin's domineering nature.
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's bones and sinews were completely shattered in the tempering flames of destruction, all of them transformed into the purest energy and absorbed into its Origin. Not a single Soul Bone remained.
Tang San's phantom had grown much dimmer. He looked at Tang An with deep satisfaction.
He was about to say something when his expression suddenly shifted. He looked up toward a spot in the other-dimensional space.
A dark red fissure was spreading from that direction.
A helpless smile tugged at Tang San's lips. "Xiao Wu is still as reckless as ever. Three chances, and she's already used one."
Tang San looked down at Tang An, his tone turning more serious. "Xiao An, you have to help your sister-in-law change her ways. With her all-or-nothing nature, she'll suffer for it sooner or later."
Tang San's phantom began to fade away. "From here on, you'll have to walk your own path."
The last ray of golden light vanished. Without Tang San's divine power to sustain it, the other-dimensional space began to collapse completely.
The dark red fissure was torn wide open. Xiao Wu was still frozen in the pose she'd struck while attacking. When she saw Tang An standing there unharmed, she let out a breath of relief.
The tears in her eyes finally burst free. She rushed over and wrapped her arms around Tang An's waist, her voice choked with sobs. "Xiao An, as long as you're all right, I'm relieved!"
She let go and wiped her tears. "Take good care of my true body from now on. I'm about to turn back into a Soft Bone Rabbit."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Wu's body rapidly shrank. Her clothes slid to the floor, and a palm-sized pink Soft Bone Rabbit emerged from the pile. Her long ears twitched as she looked up at Tang An with glossy black eyes.
Tang An crouched down and scooped Xiao Wu up. The Soft Bone Rabbit nuzzled against his arm, curled up in a comfortable position, and fell fast asleep.
Tang An looked around. Huo Yuhao was still sitting cross-legged inside the column of sacrificial light, silver radiance flowing across her forehead. She was at the final stage of absorption.
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm stood guard beside her. When she saw Tang An emerge, she sprang up excitedly. "Master, you're all right!"
Tang An chuckled and flicked the forehead of the little girl Sky Dream had transformed into. "Who do you think your master is? Of course I'm fine. You think a mere ninety-thousand-year evil tiger could eat me?"
Sky Dream covered her forehead and giggled foolishly before diving back into the Sea of Consciousness to help Huo Yuhao stabilize the sacrificial ritual.
Nearly half an hour later, the silver-white column of light finally turned into countless specks and slowly faded into the night sky.
The Nine-Tailed Silver Fox's body had completely crumbled into dust, leaving behind a crimson-gold Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring that hovered steadily above Huo Yuhao's head before slowly merging into her Spirit Eyes Martial Soul.
Huo Yuhao opened her eyes. A brilliant silver light flashed in them and vanished.
Something about her aura had subtly changed. Her already lively eyes were now even deeper and clearer, as though they could see straight through a person's heart.
"How do you feel?" Tang An asked, holding the little rabbit.
Huo Yuhao stood up and carefully sensed the changes within her. Gradually, an incredulous delight spread across her face. "Brother Tang An, I gained two Soul Skills!"
"The first is called Spirit Analysis. It can analyze a target's Soul Power attributes, circulation paths, Soul Skill weaknesses, and flaws. It can even reverse-engineer how they work.
"The second is called Spirit Simulation. Using the data gathered through analysis, this Soul Skill can build a complete model of a target in my Sea of Consciousness and simulate it!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Tang An's eyes. These two Soul Skills were practically tailor-made as core abilities for a Soul Engineer.
Looks like mecha and Battle Armor will be coming soon enough for me to play with.
"Not bad." Tang An reached out and ruffled Huo Yuhao's hair.
"With these two Soul Skills, you'll be able to make twice the progress in any path you choose. We shouldn't stay here. Let's go meet up with Tang Ya and the others first."
Niu Tian led the way as the group swiftly withdrew from the devastated clearing and rejoined Tang Ya and Beibei, who were waiting by the campfire.
Tang Ya spotted Tang An's white figure in the distance and sprang to her feet. She scanned him several times, and only after confirming he was completely unharmed did the tension leave her.
"Master! Yuhao!" Tang Ya hurried over.
"You're finally back. What was that aura coming from the northwest just now? We felt it even at camp. It suppressed our Soul Power so badly we could barely circulate it."
"We'll talk on the way," Tang An said. "Let's get out of the Star Dou Forest and find somewhere to stay."
The group traveled through the night.
After leaving the Star Dou Forest, the nearest place to stay was a small town to the south. There was a modest but clean inn in town.
Tang An booked the entire row of rooms on the inn's second floor. After getting the rooms, he called Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao into one.
"Now that you've joined the Tang Sect, your cultivation methods can't be neglected."
Tang An took out two booklets and handed them to them. "These are improved versions of the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Skill, adjusted to suit your Martial Souls."
"Tang Ya's version incorporates cultivation methods based on the Dark Blue Silver Grass's devouring attribute, while Yuhao's strengthens the fusion and conversion of spiritual power and Soul Power. Cultivate well, and don't bring shame to the Tang Sect."
The two accepted the booklets solemnly, their eyes full of gratitude.
After the lesson, Huo Yuhao still wanted to ask Tang An for advice on cultivating spiritual power.
Tang Ya suddenly spoke up. "Yuhao, go back to your room first. I have something to discuss with the sect master."
Huo Yuhao could only nod obediently and leave, closing the door behind her.
Tang Ya turned around, eager anticipation on her face. "Master, I still remember how it felt when our Martial Souls resonated. I want to try cultivating with that fused power again and see how it goes."
Tang An smiled and held out his hand.
Tang Ya sat cross-legged opposite Tang An. Their palms met, and they activated their Soul Power at the same time.
The Life Origin of the Immortal Scythe fused once more with the devouring attribute of the Dark Blue Silver Grass, instantly igniting that strange resonance.
Tang Ya's Soul Power began circulating faster than ever before. With each cycle, it grew stronger at a visible rate.
As they continued cultivating, the night deepened.
Exhaustion from days of travel finally caught up with Tang Ya. Before she knew it, she had leaned against Tang An and fallen fast asleep.
Tang An closed his eyes as well and entered a light meditative state by circulating the Life-Death Cycle.
Morning sunlight streamed through the window lattice into the room.
Tang An opened his eyes and felt something soft and warm pressed tightly against him.
Tang Ya had woken up long ago, but she was still wrapped around his waist like an octopus, her face buried against his chest. She kept her breathing feather-light, afraid of disturbing him.
Tang An chuckled and patted her lower back. "How long are you planning to hold on?"
Only then did Tang Ya let go and sit upright, two red flushes rising on her cheeks.
She glanced down at the enormous bulge beneath Tang An's robes, and her heart gave a jump.
Tang Ya took a deep breath. Emotions she had kept bottled up for a long time surged forth. "Master, I love you. Can I be yours?"
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