Claws of Destruction?

While the students in Class Zero were suffering through extra training, a strange change was taking place in Tang Wulin.

Once again, she was in that starlit space. Looking at the Golden Dragon King, still trapped on top of the clock, Tang Wulin felt a little confused.

"Uh, senior, didn't you say your power was exhausted?"

The Golden Dragon King glanced at her and replied helplessly, "Exhausting my power doesn't mean I can't recover.

Besides, I absolutely won't die before I truly defeat the will of heaven!"

"Then, senior, is there something you wanted to see me about?"

The Golden Dragon King studied her but didn't answer her question directly. Instead, he asked, "How many stages do you think there are in life?"

"Life? How many stages?"

Tang Wulin lowered her head in thought. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration seemed to strike her, and she gave her answer. "Four stages: birth—prosperity—decay—death."

"Correct. These four stages make up the cycle of life, just like an apple tree.

From seed to sprout to branches laden with fruit, then to withering and decline. The fruit rots, but the seeds it leaves behind grow into new saplings."

"Your Martial Soul clearly carries the blessing of the Life Goddess. I've been worried that my Destruction Power might clash with you, but now it seems you've found the best vessel for it."

The Golden Dragon King pointed meaningfully at Tang Wulin's back.

Tang Wulin instinctively extended her Eight-Spider Lances and looked at the Golden Dragon King in confusion. "A vessel? You mean this External Soul Bone?"

"Exactly. And I have a feeling that, among the four cycles of life, you now possess both birth and my destruction."

"If you gather the remaining two, perhaps a new power will be born—"

The Golden Dragon King guided his Destruction Power out of his Divine Core and into the External Soul Bone.

The moment the Destruction Power entered the Soul Bone, it began a sweeping transformation.

The Soul Bone, which had originally looked like spider legs, immediately began to change. Its slender, sharply jointed limbs started to warp.

Light continued to bloom. Dark purple radiance appeared behind her, and the External Soul Bones that had been arranged neatly across her back were completely transformed.

They were no longer spider legs as before, but eight things resembling dragon claws.

The eight dragon claws floated behind her. With a thought, Tang Wulin could command them to move freely.

Whether she used the Soul Bone to perform punches, assist with forging, or help in battle, it seemed her reach had grown considerably.

She even tried a flying punch. The results were impressive, and the attack could even benefit from her strength.

What's more, Destruction Power itself meant that its wounds were extremely difficult to heal. A touch wounded, a brush killed.

This also gave her options beyond physical attacks.

"This is so cool!"

The eight dragon claws behind Tang Wulin clenched into fists, and she imitated the passionate fist-bumping pose of a manga protagonist.

Ten fists rained forward like a storm, unleashing a torrent of blows.

If an ordinary Soul Master faced such an onslaught, they would likely be doomed.

"Enough. Stop playing."

"I appeared this time because you absorbed a Soul Bone and stirred the Destruction Power in your body. I probably won't appear again until you reach level 30."

"You've only grasped the rudiments of Destruction Power. The truly formidable power lies ahead—"

"One more thing: if you can, try to claim Luo Qing for yourself."

The Golden Dragon King winked at her meaningfully, making Tang Wulin's face flush. "Senior, you really are..."

Before she could finish, Tang Wulin returned to reality once more.

Feeling the surging power within her, she made the Claws of Destruction appear behind her with a thought.

She still had plenty to do. Most important was learning to freely control the power within the Claws of Destruction.

In the Sea of Consciousness, Old Tang opened his eyes in surprise. "What's going on? Why did the Golden Dragon King's Destruction Power emerge so early?"

"Was it because of the Soul Bone? But it was originally an External Soul Bone from a Man Faced Demon Spider? That really brings back memories..."

Old Tang wasn't surprised that the External Soul Bone had suddenly changed shape.

After all, his own Soul Bone had become the Wings of the Sea God during the divine trials.

"Maybe I should find a chance to pass on the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer technique?"

But seeing his daughter concentrating on sensing her power, Old Tang ultimately decided not to interrupt her yet.

After spending some time adjusting and assimilating, Tang Wulin finally understood everything she had gained this time.

First, she had gained a rough grasp of Destruction Power. Blue Silver Grass represented birth, while Destruction Power represented death.

Although the other two stages remained incomplete, the cycle had already begun to take shape.

It was faint, but if she continued down this path, she might even create a new road to godhood.

And Tang Wulin's gains didn't end there.

First, her Soul Power had made a qualitative leap. It had jumped straight from level 21 to level 24, and it was extremely solid, without the slightest sign of instability.

At the same time, she had gained the ability to attack from a distance.

Dragon King Flying Fist.jpg

After finishing her cultivation, she noticed that a book had appeared on her desk. "Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique (Old Tang's Improved, Unabridged Version)?"

Tang Wulin looked at the book on her desk in confusion. Then she entered the Sea of Consciousness and found Old Tang playing chess against himself.

"Isn't this Wu Lin? Have you read the book I gave you?"

Old Tang smiled at his daughter as she hurried over to see him, the corners of his mouth lifting.

"Old Tang, it's wrong to take other people's things without permission!"

"?"

Seeing the question marks all over Old Tang's face, Tang Wulin continued, "Isn't the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer technique a secret art passed down only within the Clear Sky Sect and the Tang Sect?

Stealing someone else's inheritance is the sort of thing that gets you condemned!"

Old Tang was about to say something, but then he remembered that he still had to keep his identity secret. He played along with her.

"I didn't steal it. Back when I roamed the mainland, I personally traded with someone who knew the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer technique to get it.

I paid quite a price for it. Besides, this is my improved version, so it doesn't count as stealing."

As Old Tang spoke, he thought to himself, Did they raise this girl to be too upright? What if she gets taken advantage of?

He thought of his true self's past glory, then imagined his daughter learning about those deeds and the whole truth, only to despise him and cast him aside.

Being abandoned and all that? No! I can't let that happen!

At least wait until ten thousand years after the real me dies—

No. I have to distance myself from him!

Damn it, what does the real me's misdeeds have to do with this fragment of me?

Who's Tang San? Never heard of him.

While Old Tang's expression kept shifting, Tang Wulin patted her chest as if relieved, then looked at him with gratitude.

"Thank you, Old Tang. We may be strangers, but you still worry about my safety and give me knowledge to grow stronger.

"I can't repay you right now, but please accept my gratitude.

"Thank you... Old Tang!"

Looking at his daughter thanking him, Old Tang felt that everything he had endured up until now had been worth it.

Damn it! If that bastard real me tries to carry out some damn ten-thousand-year plan again, cutting my daughter into pieces and using her as bait to fish for the child of fortune—I'll fight him to the death!