Soul Seal

"Run!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Jiang Chen immediately turned and fled.

Woo woo woo...

But the moment he turned around, that chill, like a cat that had caught the scent of fish, swept toward him at a terrifying speed and caught up to him in an instant.

"Get lost!"

Jiang Chen roared. The Blood Qi in his body surged to its limit as he threw a punch at the source of that chill.

Bang!

His attack missed.

That chill seemed formless and intangible as it swept over and swallowed him whole.

Bone-piercing cold burrowed frantically through his pores into his body, heading straight for his Soul Sea.

At that moment, his entire body froze stiff. He could not move at all and could only desperately resist the chill with his consciousness.

Unfortunately.

That chill was far too bizarre. It completely ignored his resistance, barged brutally into his Soul Sea, and sought to devour his soul.

Boom!

But in the next instant, vast supreme Dao sounds rang out from the Myriad Dao Chart, as though gods and Buddhas of the nine heavens had awakened at that very moment.

Immediately after, resplendent Dao light filled his entire Soul Sea like countless immortal swords.

The strange chill that had been as ferocious as a tiger moments ago became like remnant snow beneath the blazing sun, scattering into ashes amid terrified wails.

[Suppress Soul Demon, plunder talent]

A line of ethereal words appeared on the Myriad Dao Chart, like cultivation experience.

"Whew!"

Jiang Chen's consciousness returned, and he regained control of his body.

"Soul Demon?"

"Talent?"

Jiang Chen gave the Myriad Dao Chart a quick glance. With no time to study it closely, he immediately sprinted away, remaining cautious all the way for fear of running into something unclean again.

"Suppress Soul Demon, plunder talent... What is this?"

Only after safely returning to the martial hall did Jiang Chen finally let out a breath of relief. Then, he focused his mind inward.

[Talent: Soul Seal · First Rank (0/10)+]

[Origin Source: 7 points]

At some point, two additional lines of ancient characters had appeared on the Myriad Dao Chart.

"So, aside from recording cultivation methods, improving comprehension, and Eternal Realm, the Myriad Dao Chart can also suppress evil entities and plunder talents?"

Jiang Chen studied it carefully and quickly understood the Myriad Dao Chart's new ability.

All the pieces also connected in his mind.

That Soul Demon was the ghostly entity that had hidden in the Cursed House before.

When he had mistakenly entered it and disturbed the Soul Demon, he should have been utterly destroyed, body and soul alike.

Fortunately, the Myriad Dao Chart had awakened and saved his life.

That was also why he had encountered a ghostly entity yet suffered no real harm.

And back then, the Myriad Dao Chart had likely only just awakened, which was why it had let that Soul Demon escape.

This time, that Soul Demon had not been so fortunate. It was suppressed to death on the spot, and even its talent had been plundered.

"If it can plunder a Soul Demon's talent, doesn't that mean it can also plunder the talents of other demons and evil entities?"

That thought could not help surfacing in Jiang Chen's mind.

Come to think of it, that was entirely possible.

"I can't take risks!"

Of course, the moment that thought emerged, he dismissed it.

He had only been lucky those two times. The Myriad Dao Chart happened to counter those sinister soul creatures.

If he encountered other kinds of demons or evil entities, he would be the one to die and vanish from the world.

Before gaining sufficient strength, it was better not to think of provoking demons and evil entities.

"Let's try adding points."

Jiang Chen then turned his attention to [Soul Seal] and [Origin Source].

With a thought, the 7 points of Origin Source vanished.

[Talent: Soul Seal · First Rank (7/10)]

[Origin Source: 0 points]

"This is..."

As the Origin Source was added, the previously dim Soul Seal activated. An invisible, special soul force emerged from within it.

Jiang Chen discovered that he could control that soul force as freely as he wished.

His mastery over it was even more nimble than his own hands and feet.

And when the soul force spread out, everything appeared in his mind with astonishing clarity, as though it had been scanned and printed.

It reminded him of an ability he had once read about in ancient texts in his previous life:

"Divine sense?!"

This sort of Soul Force Perception closely resembled the legendary divine sense, capable of scanning and sensing.

"Let's see its range."

Jiang Chen suppressed the excitement in his heart and activated the Soul Seal.

Invisible and imperceptible soul force quietly spread out, extending a full five meters before becoming exhausted and unstable.

"It can reach five meters in a straight line. If spread in a circle, it covers roughly half a meter."

After testing it several times, Jiang Chen figured out the Soul Seal's abilities.

This ability was far too useful.

When the soul force spread out, it could sense a wide area and prevent him from being ambushed.

Like the ambush around the corner last time—if he had possessed the Soul Seal then, he could have sensed it in advance.

When the soul force focused, it could sense minute details and allow him to make predictions ahead of time.

Whether it was the ancient martial arts of his previous life or the martial path of this life, the body would undergo subtle changes before making a move.

The Soul Seal's focused perception could clearly capture such changes.

Combined with his combat experience from his previous life, it was more than enough for him to kill enemies above his realm.

The True Martial Realm was hard to say, since he did not understand it very well.

But against those at the Three Qi and Blood Gates, he had no qualms at all.

"A first-rank Soul Seal already has such miraculous effects. I wonder what changes will come once it reaches the second rank..."

Jiang Chen looked forward to it greatly.

Of course, he could only look forward to it for now.

For the Soul Seal to advance, it needed Origin Source points.

And Origin Source points could only be obtained by suppressing demons and evil entities.

He would not covet a momentary thrill and rashly seek out demons and evil entities.

Bang bang bang!

Only after a while did Jiang Chen compose himself and continue diligently practicing the White Ape Fist.

Tonight's brush with danger had sent his sense of crisis soaring.

This world was too dangerous. He had to improve his cultivation as quickly as possible.

As for [Soul Seal], although it could greatly increase his combat power, it was ultimately an auxiliary ability. Cultivation was the most important foundation.

"Whew!"

Before he knew it, it was already the latter half of the night. Jiang Chen, drenched in hot sweat, withdrew his fists and straightened his stance.

[Myriad Dao Chart]

[Dao Master: Jiang Chen]

[Cultivation Method: White Ape Fist · Mastery]

[Cultivation: Second Qi and Blood Gate · Mid Stage (4%)]

[Martial Art: Stone Moving Method · Mastery]

[Talent: Soul Seal · First Rank (7/10)]

[Origin Source: 0 points]

Looking at the steadily rising Blood Qi in the cultivation column, Jiang Chen was physically exhausted, yet his heart brimmed with motivation.

As he had said before, the feeling of gaining rewards for one's efforts was simply too good.

"Right."

On his way to the bathhouse, Jiang Chen seemed to remember something and took a money pouch from his clothes.

It was the spoils from hunting Zheng Hao and the others.

The pouch contained eighty-seven taels in banknotes and loose silver combined.

No wonder Zheng Hao and the others had been so delighted.

But now, it had all fallen into his hands.

The silver was not much, but even a mosquito was still meat.

The next day, Jiang Chen rose early as usual.

"Senior Brother Sun, there's something I'd like to ask you about..."

At the proper Chen Hour, Sun Wu arrived. Jiang Chen, who had been resting after stance training, walked over.

"Demons and evil entities? Junior Brother Jiang, why are you suddenly asking about this?"

Sun Wu was quite surprised when he heard Jiang Chen's question.

"I heard that ghostly entities have been harming people in the city lately, so I thought I should take some precautions."

Jiang Chen made up an excuse casually.

He would not take the initiative to provoke demons and evil entities.

But what if, like last night, demons or evil entities came looking for him?

As the saying went, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.

It was always good to understand them beforehand.

"There have indeed been such rumors in the city recently. But Junior Brother Jiang, you needn't worry. Just don't wander around outside at night."

Remembering how Jiang Chen had once entered the Cursed House and encountered a ghost, Sun Wu smiled as he reassured him.

As for what demons and evil entities actually were, even he could not explain it clearly.

He only knew that they were inhuman things, and whenever they appeared, they would surely bring bloody disaster.

Fortunately, demons and evil entities usually appeared to cause havoc only in turbulent regions.

In a place like White Cloud County, it was rare to hear of evil entities harming people.

Even in the Cursed House Jiang Chen had entered, no one could confirm whether there had truly been a ghostly entity inside. It was only a rumor.

"Looks like ordinary True Martial Realm cultivators still can't come into contact with demons and evil entities."

Jiang Chen murmured inwardly.

If he wanted to learn specific information about demons and evil entities, he would have to reach a higher level.

"Let's try Soul Seal Perception!"

Immediately, a thought stirred in Jiang Chen's mind.

The Soul Seal activated.

Invisible soul force quietly spread out and enveloped Sun Wu's entire body.

At once, Sun Wu's flesh, skin, tendons, bones, internal organs, and entrails appeared clearly in Jiang Chen's mind, as though Sun Wu had become completely transparent.

His muscles tensed layer upon layer, his heart beat like a bronze drum, and his blood rushed like a great river...

That vigorous life force was comparable to that of a black bear. He did not seem human at all.

Yet throughout the process, Sun Wu showed no reaction whatsoever. Clearly, he had not sensed a thing.

"So this is Martial True Qi!"

Beneath that vigorous life force, an exceedingly terrifying current of energy circulated within Sun Wu's body, forming a Greater Celestial Circuit.

There was no need to ask. That terrifying current was the Martial True Qi of the True Martial Realm!

Blood Qi and Martial True Qi differed by only one word, yet their power was as different as a cat and a tiger. They were not on the same level at all.

"No wonder the Three Qi and Blood Gates can only be considered the entry realm of the martial path."

Jiang Chen withdrew his soul force.

His current cultivation was still too weak.

He had to enter the True Martial Realm as soon as possible before he could be said to possess some ability to protect himself.