The Problem with an External Martial Soul

He had thoroughly studied the problems with his external Martial Soul before, and knew all too well what was wrong with it.

The biggest problem with an external Martial Soul was that its Soul Master's body was weaker than that of a Soul Master with a Beast Martial Soul, while their combat ability was inferior to that of a Soul Master with a weapon-type Martial Soul.

As for Luo Sanpao's combat ability, to put it bluntly, he was just a pig that could fart. His only attack was farting.

That fart was indeed powerful. Getting hit by one at the same level would be no picnic, but that was assuming it actually hit.

As long as his opponent was fast enough to dodge Luo Sanpao and attack Yu Xiaogang directly, Yu Xiaogang was nothing but a sitting duck.

And now, seven or eight desperate bandits stood before him.

Bald Scar clearly knew Yu Xiaogang's circumstances inside and out. Most likely, he was a Soul Master, and certainly not a high-level one.

High-level Soul Masters would never become bandits. There wasn't much money in it, and the ones who did were generally criminals wanted by Spirit Hall or one of the two great empires.

Bald Scar took a step forward, his cleaver slung over his shoulder. His scar twisted like a centipede as he grinned. "Master Useless, where's that farting pig of yours? Bring it out and let the boys have a look!"

The other bandits joined in, some whistling, others rapping their blades against their backs. The racket sent a whole flock of birds flapping out of the woods.

Thin Tall Man was the most eager of them all. He had already circled around behind Yu Xiaogang, cutting off his escape.

Yu Xiaogang's face turned ashen, then flushed red. He gritted his teeth and summoned his Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao.

Luo Sanpao looked like a dog and was built like a pig. He was over a meter and a half long around the waist.

His body was covered in pale purple fur. Two little ears drooped beside his head, and his deep blue eyes were gentle. His four stubby legs were thick, and a bump rose from the top of his head.

The bandits' laughter abruptly stopped.

Not because they were intimidated. They all froze for a second, then burst into even louder laughter than before.

Bald Scar laughed so hard he nearly dropped his cleaver. Bent over, he slapped his thigh, tears and snot streaming down his face.

Thin Tall Man was even worse. He plopped right onto the ground, laughing as he pounded it with his fists.

"That's it? That's it?" Bald Scar pointed his blade at the pink pig on the ground. "This is Luo Sanpao? I thought it'd be something impressive. It's just a pig!"

"A farting pig!" Thin Tall Man scrambled to his feet, gasping with laughter. "Come on, Master, make it fart! Let the boys see what it can do!"

"Second Soul Skill, Fart Like Smoke Hypnosis Sleep Luo Sanpao." Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth as he gave the order.

At the command, Luo Sanpao spun around on the spot. His round little body turned, his stubby tail went up, and he aimed it at the bandits, who were doubled over with laughter.

"Pfft—"

A thick cloud of yellow gas burst from Luo Sanpao's plump backside. It quickly spread through the air, forming a pale yellow cloud that drifted lazily toward the bandits.

The smoke had a hypnotic effect and covered a wide area, but it moved far too slowly. It wobbled along, posing no threat at all.

Bald Scar's grin froze for a moment, then twisted into something even more vicious.

He simply took two steps to the side and easily moved beyond the yellow cloud's reach.

The other bandits scattered to avoid it, too. Their movements were so quick and deft that they seemed nothing like ordinary mountain bandits.

"That's it?" Bald Scar spat, then charged toward Yu Xiaogang with long strides, his cleaver still slung over his shoulder. "I thought you'd be something special!"

Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted. He instinctively tried to retreat, but Thin Tall Man had already blocked his way.

He tried to call Luo Sanpao back to protect him, but it was too late.

The greatest drawback of an external Martial Soul was laid bare in that moment. When the Martial Soul couldn't return to help, its Soul Master was nothing but an undefended sitting duck.

Bald Scar was much faster than an ordinary person. He wasn't a Soul Elder, but he was at least a two-ring Soul Grandmaster.

He kicked Yu Xiaogang in the chest with brutal force. Yu Xiaogang flew backward like a kite with its strings cut and slammed into the trunk of a crooked tree, shaking leaves loose in a rustling shower.

Before he could recover from the pain, Thin Tall Man's fist came flying.

A straight punch smashed into his cheekbone, followed by a kick to the waist.

The other bandits swarmed in, raining punches and kicks down on Yu Xiaogang without holding back.

Yu Xiaogang curled up on the ground with his arms over his head, his body convulsing from the pain.

He desperately urged Luo Sanpao to come to his aid. Luo Sanpao had only made it halfway when Bald Scar struck him down with the hilt of his cleaver. He let out a shrill whine.

By the time the beating stopped, Yu Xiaogang's face was bruised and swollen, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his clothes were covered in dirt and boot prints.

Yu Xiaogang struggled to get up, but a heavy boot came down on his shoulder and ground him back into the dirt.

Bald Scar looked down at him. His chipped cleaver reflected the blinding chill of the morning sun.

"Master Useless, your Soul Skill is useless as hell," Bald Scar spat, baring a mouthful of yellow teeth. "You can't even aim your fart. With skills like that, you dare travel the mountain roads alone? That girl yesterday was ten thousand times better than you."

"Boss, this guy ought to have plenty of good stuff on him." Thin Tall Man came closer, greedily eyeing Yu Xiaogang's bundle. "He came from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, after all. Even if he's a useless piece of trash, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. There might be something valuable in that bundle."

Bald Scar snatched up Yu Xiaogang's bundle, roughly tore open the straps, and dumped everything inside onto the ground.

A few changes of clothes landed in a heap, and a dog-eared manuscript titled Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul flopped into the mud.

Several dozen Gold Soul Coins spilled out, rolling a few times before coming to rest.

Bald Scar bent down and rummaged through the pile. Apart from the clothes, the manuscript, and several dozen Gold Soul Coins, there was nothing else.

Unconvinced, he searched through the clothes again. They were empty, without even a hidden pocket.

Bald Scar flung the empty bundle onto the ground, then planted his boot on the manuscript of Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. He ground his sole against it, leaving a clear muddy footprint on the yellowed pages.

"That's all you've got?" Bald Scar spat, then patted Yu Xiaogang's swollen cheek with the flat of his blade. The blow wasn't hard, but the humiliation was unmistakable. "The eldest young master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and this is all you bring when you go out? Didn't your old man give you more spending money?"

The boot grinding into his shoulder kept Yu Xiaogang pinned down. He hated every last one of them.

The bandits around him were still laughing, but Yu Xiaogang could barely hear them anymore.

His ears were buzzing, whether from the beating or something else.

He only stared at the manuscript, while Deng Tianxin's words at the inn echoed over and over in his mind.