Claws of Destruction?

Just as the students of Zero Class were suffering through their extra training, a strange change occurred within Tang Wulin.

Once again in that space filled with starlight, Tang Wulin looked at the Golden Dragon King, who remained stuck to the clock, with some confusion.

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

The Golden Dragon King glanced at her and said with some helplessness, "Exhausted power does not mean it cannot be recovered. Besides, I will absolutely not die before I truly defeat the will of heaven!"

"Then is there something you needed, Senior, by pulling me here this time?"

The Golden Dragon King sized her up and, instead of answering her question directly, asked, "How many stages do you think life has?"

"Life? How many stages?"

Tang Wulin lowered her head in thought. Suddenly, as if a flash of inspiration struck her mind, she stated the answer directly: "Four stages: birth, prosperity, decay, and death."

"Correct. These four stages form the cycle of life, much like an apple tree. From seed to sprout, to hanging heavy with fruit, then to withering and decay, the fruit rots, but the seeds left behind form new saplings."

"Your martial soul clearly carries the blessing of the Life Goddess. I was previously worried that my Destruction Power might conflict with you—now it seems you have found the best vessel to contain it."

The Golden Dragon King pointed meaningfully behind Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin subconsciously extended her Eight-Spider Lances, looking at the Golden Dragon King with a face full of confusion: "A vessel? You mean this External Soul Bone?"

"Exactly. And I have a premonition that you now possess both birth and my destruction within the four cycles of life. If you collect the remaining two rings, perhaps a new power will be born—"

The Golden Dragon King guided his Destruction Power, transferring it from his Divine Core into the External Soul Bone.

As soon as the Destruction Power entered the soul bone, it began a drastic transformation. The soul bone, which originally looked like spider legs, suddenly began to change; the slender, segmented limbs started to deform.

Light continued to bloom, and a dark purple glow appeared behind her. The External Soul Bones, which had previously been arranged neatly on her back, had completely changed. They no longer existed in the form of spider legs, but had become eight objects resembling dragon claws.

Eight dragon claws floated behind her back, and with a thought, Tang Wulin could command them to move freely. Whether using the soul bone to execute fist techniques, assisting in forging, or even helping in combat, the range of her strikes seemed to have expanded significantly. She even tried a flying punch; the effect was impressive, and it could even benefit from her strength bonuses.

Moreover, the Destruction Power itself meant that it was extremely difficult to heal; to be touched was to be wounded, and to be grazed was to die. This also compensated for her lack of means beyond physical damage.

"This is simply too cool!"

The eight dragon claws behind Tang Wulin clenched into fists, and she imitated the passionate fist-fighting style of a protagonist from a comic book. Ten fists poured forward like a torrential rain of flowers. If a normal soul master were to encounter such an onslaught, the chances of survival would be slim to none.

"That's enough, stop playing around."

"I only appeared this time because you absorbed the soul bone and triggered the Destruction Power within your body. The next time I appear should be after you reach level 30."

"You have only grasped a superficial level of Destruction Power for now; truly formidable power is still to come—"

"One more thing: if you can, try to personally take down Luo Qing."

The Golden Dragon King winked at her meaningfully, causing a blush to spread across Tang Wulin's face: "Senior, you really are..."

Before she could finish, Tang Wulin returned to reality.

Feeling the surging power within her body, the Claws of Destruction also emerged under her mental command. She had many things to attend to, the most important of which was attempting to freely control the power within the Claws of Destruction.

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

"Is it because of the soul bone? But wait, that was originally a Man Faced Demon Spider's External Soul Bone? It really brings back memories—"

Old Tang was not surprised that the External Soul Bone had suddenly changed its shape. After all, when he underwent his own divine trials, his soul bone had also transformed into the Wings of the Sea God.

"Should I find an opportunity to pass on the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer?"

But looking at his daughter, who was seriously sensing her power, Old Tang ultimately decided not to disturb her yet.

After a period of adaptation and digestion, Tang Wulin finally understood her gains from this experience. First, she had roughly grasped the Destruction Power: birth represented by the Blue Silver Grass, and death represented by the Destruction Power. Although the remaining two links had not yet been filled, a certain cycle had vaguely begun to form. While not yet obvious, once this path was walked, it might even lead to the creation of a new path to godhood.

Moreover, Tang Wulin's gains did not stop there. First, her soul power had taken a qualitative leap, breaking through from level 21 to level 24, and the soul power was extremely solid, with no signs of instability at all. At the same time, she had also gained the ability for long-range attacks.

Dragon King Flying Fist.jpg

After finishing her cultivation, she discovered a book on her desk: "Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer (Old Tang's Improved Unabridged Version)?"

Tang Wulin looked at the book on the table with confusion, then entered her Sea of Consciousness, finding Old Tang playing chess against himself.

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

Old Tang smiled as he looked at his daughter, who had rushed over to find him, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

"Old Tang, stealing other people's things is wrong!"

"?"

Seeing the confusion written all over Old Tang's face, Tang Wulin continued: "Shouldn't the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer be a secret technique belonging to the Clear Sky Sect and the Tang Sect? Stealing someone else's heritage is an act that easily invites condemnation!"

Old Tang was about to say something, but remembering he still had to hide his identity, he responded with patience.

"This wasn't stolen. Back when I was roaming the continent, I obtained it by personally trading with someone who had mastered the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. I paid a high price for it, and besides, that is a version I improved myself, so it cannot be considered theft."

As Old Tang spoke, he thought to himself: "Is this girl being taught to be too upright? What will she do if she gets taken advantage of?"

He then thought of his original body's past glorious deeds, and then thought about his daughter abandoning him in disgust after learning the truth about everything.

"Being abandoned! I don't want that to happen!"

"At the very least, wait until the original body has been dead for ten thousand years—"

"No, I must sever ties!"

"Damn it, what does the bad stuff the original body did have to do with me, a fragment?"

"Who is Tang San? I don't know him."

Just as Old Tang's expression shifted, Tang Wulin patted her chest as if relieved, then looked at Old Tang in front of her with a face full of gratitude.

"Thank you, Old Tang. Although we are not related, you worry about my safety and provide me with the knowledge to become stronger. Although I currently have no ability to repay you, please accept my gratitude. Thank you... Old Tang!"

Looking at his daughter thanking him, Old Tang felt that everything he had done was worth it.

"Damn it! If that bastard original body tries to execute some ten-thousand-year plan again, using my daughter as bait to fish for the Child of Destiny—I'll fight him to the death!"