Thunder Eagle, Absorbing an External Soul Bone

Blue lightning slammed into the golden barrier, crackling loudly.

"It's a Thunder Eagle! That damned beast actually dared to launch a sneak attack. It's courting death." Jin Shan recognized the soul beast overhead at a glance and cursed repeatedly.

"You two protect yourselves and keep other soul beasts from taking advantage of this. I'll teach this beast a proper lesson." With that, Jin Shan shot into the air and flew toward the Thunder Eagle.

Lin Yin activated Martial Soul Possession and guarded Huo Lei's side, while Huo Lei raised his head to watch Jin Shan's battle with the Thunder Eagle.

Jin Shan stood in midair, confronting the Thunder Eagle. The Thunder Eagle did not flee either, instead flapping its wings crackling with electric arcs as it hovered in the sky.

Screech!

The Thunder Eagle shrieked at Jin Shan, then spat a ball of lightning from its mouth, sending it hurtling toward him.

"Hmph! Such a petty trick. Face my wrath!" Jin Shan swung his right hand, releasing five golden claw blades that directly shattered the incoming lightning ball.

Bang!

The two energies collided with a tremendous explosion.

A purple Soul Ring appeared around Jin Shan, and two identical figures instantly appeared beside him, attacking the Thunder Eagle.

"This is Master's fourth soul skill, Vajra Tiger Clone. It seems Master is truly enraged. He isn't planning to end this quickly. Now this will be interesting."

Huo Lei watched his master's performance in the air and muttered to himself.

Jin Shan controlled his clones as they attacked the Thunder Eagle. The Thunder Eagle was exceptionally agile, weaving and darting through the air as it actually evaded the attacks of both clones.

"I didn't expect this beast to be so fast. Interesting. Even better—now I'm more interested." Though Jin Shan sighed in admiration, a faint smile appeared on his face.

With a flash, Jin Shan charged toward the Thunder Eagle. The three figures formed a triangular encirclement around it. The Thunder Eagle beat its wings, instantly firing three bolts of lightning at the three figures.

Not only did Jin Shan not dodge the lightning, he charged straight into it. A black Soul Ring gleamed around him. "Fifth soul skill, Vajra Body."

Golden light instantly radiated from Jin Shan's body, and a layer of golden shielding emerged over his skin. At the same time, his clones returned to him as he attacked the Thunder Eagle.

The Thunder Eagle opened its beak in fury, firing another thick arc of electricity at Jin Shan.

"That's all? Face my wrath!" Jin Shan endured the lightning's damage and appeared directly beside the Thunder Eagle. His figure flickered rapidly as he unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks upon it in midair.

Within a few breaths, the Thunder Eagle had been struck over a hundred times. Jin Shan's final kick landed on its back, sending it plummeting from the sky.

Bang!

The Thunder Eagle's massive body crashed onto the ground, kicking up clouds of dust as it let out a faint cry of agony.

With a flash, Jin Shan appeared beside Huo Lei.

Huo Lei looked at Jin Shan and praised him, "Master, your control of your strength was incredible! You hit it so many times, yet it didn't die."

Jin Shan smiled smugly. "I never intended to kill it. I was saving it for you. While fighting this beast just now, I examined it carefully. Judging from its size and strength, it has cultivated for more than twenty thousand years. It's quite suitable as the first Soul Ring for your second martial soul."

Huo Lei said excitedly, "Thank you, Master."

He quickly walked over to the dying Thunder Eagle, gathering a large amount of soul power in his right hand before driving a punch into its head. A crisp crack of shattering bone rang out, and the Thunder Eagle immediately lost its life. Black energy gathered and, in the blink of an eye, formed a Soul Ring as dark as ink.

Huo Lei sat cross-legged on the spot, circulating his soul power to draw the Soul Ring onto himself. He began meditating as he absorbed it.

Half an hour later, Huo Lei opened his eyes, a satisfied smile curling across his lips.

"Master, Lin Yin, I've finished absorbing the Soul Ring."

Huo Lei excitedly rose from the ground and dusted off his clothes.

Lin Yin congratulated him, "Congratulations, Young Master Lei!"

"How do you feel?" Jin Shan walked over and asked.

Huo Lei's face was full of joy. "I feel great. My level has risen by more than one level. I'm level fifty-four now."

"Mm, very good. What soul skill did this Thunder Eagle grant you? Did it achieve the effect you wanted?" Jin Shan nodded in satisfaction as he asked about the soul skill with concern.

"I'm satisfied! It's an area-of-effect attack skill. I didn't expect attaching this Soul Ring to go so smoothly. By the way, Master, have you examined the Thunder Eagle's corpse?"

Huo Lei looked at Jin Shan and asked.

"Not yet, but it's not too late to inspect it now." As Jin Shan spoke, he looked at the Thunder Eagle on the ground.

"Lin Yin, inspect this Thunder Eagle. Let's see how lucky your hands are."

Huo Lei gestured toward Lin Yin.

"Young Master Lei, my luck has always been poor. So far, I haven't found a single Soul Bone, including from that ten-thousand-year Thunder Spider earlier. Aren't you worried?"

An awkward expression appeared on Lin Yin's face as he hesitated.

"Not at all! Soul Bones are rare to begin with. If you don't find one, it won't be your fault. Go ahead!"

Huo Lei reassured Lin Yin and urged him on.

"Since Young Master Lei says so, then I'll begin." Lin Yin took out a sharp blade and walked toward the Thunder Eagle's corpse.

Lin Yin moved skillfully, beginning his inspection at the Thunder Eagle's head, then moving to its legs and back. In the end, he found nothing.

Lin Yin looked bitterly at Huo Lei. "Young Master Lei, see? My luck really is terrible."

"It's fine! It's fine!" Huo Lei forced out a smile and scratched his head.

Jin Shan glared at Lin Yin and demanded, "Kid, why didn't you inspect the Thunder Eagle's wings? This beast flies so fast—check whether there's anything in its wings. If there isn't, we'll roast the wings and eat them later."

Seeing Jin Shan's glare, Lin Yin shuddered all over and hurriedly explained, "I overlooked them. I'll inspect them now."

Holding the sharp blade, he walked toward the Thunder Eagle again and began searching from its wings.

After only a few breaths, Lin Yin cried out, "Sir, Young Master Lei, there's something! There's something!"

Jin Shan and Huo Lei hurried forward to inspect it. Blue light was emanating from the incision at the base of the Thunder Eagle's wings.

Jin Shan's eyes lit up. He snatched the sharp blade from Lin Yin's hand and said, "I hope it's what I think it is! Kid, step aside first. I'll remove it intact."

Before long, an External Soul Bone appeared in Jin Shan's hands. It took the form of a pair of symmetrical wing bones, electric arcs flowing across them as they emitted a dazzling blue glow.

"Master, this—this is—wings? An External Soul Bone?" Golden light flickered in Huo Lei's eyes. He was so excited that even his voice trembled as he asked Jin Shan in disbelief.

"Hahaha! That's right! It's an External Soul Bone! This is an exceedingly rare treasure! We've truly struck it rich this time. Haven't you always wanted the ability to fly? Now your wish can come true." Jin Shan excitedly held the Soul Bone, his hands trembling slightly.

"Brat, what are you standing there for? Hurry up, take the Soul Bone and absorb it!" Jin Shan reminded the stunned Huo Lei and urged him on.

Huo Lei came back to his senses and hurriedly took the Soul Bone from Jin Shan. In his excitement, he kept repeating, "Right, right, right! Absorb it quickly, absorb it quickly."

Huo Lei sat cross-legged and circulated his soul power, moving the External Soul Bone before him to his back as he began trying to absorb it.

Watching Huo Lei absorb the Soul Bone, Jin Shan could not help recalling his own youth. His gaze was filled with envy and gratification as he let out a deep sigh. "People truly can't be compared. This brat is really blessed."