First Soul Skill: Bloodbath Asura

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had no shortage of money, and its businesses spanned the continent. It could buy up Whale Rubber without anyone noticing.

It didn't even need to monopolize the market. Getting a head start would be enough.

For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, that alone would be an enormous gain.

Perhaps the title of the world's number one sect would even pass from the Clear Sky Sect to their Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Whale Rubber was a strategic resource, no question about it!

If it could raise the age limit of the Soul Rings a Soul Master could absorb, then those with the same talent could start from a higher point.

Generation after generation, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strength would undergo a qualitative leap.

Even if Whale Rubber's effects became public later, the sect could use its early lead to grow wealthier still.

"Go on. Finish it."

Ning Fengzhi took a dagger from his Soul Tool and handed it to Ning Wen.

Ning Wen drew a deep breath, gripped the dagger, and walked toward the Bloodflame Tiger.

Compared with the largely peaceful world of his previous life, the world of Soul Masters had always been brutal.

Deceit and deadly fights were everywhere.

There was no avoiding bloodshed or killing.

Ning Wen had to take this step himself. No one could do it for him.

[Heh, heh, heh. This will be my first step toward rising again and reaching the pinnacle!]

[Little tiger, you should be honored to become my Soul Ring. Now be a good beast and nourish my growing strength!]

[Once I reclaim my place among the gods, perhaps I'll resurrect you and make you a divine beast in one stroke!]

[Assuming I still remember you by then, of course. Heh, heh, heh...]

Ning Wen: "???"

Come on, man!

Could you ruin the mood any more?

Can't you see I'm trying to steel myself?

And could you stop laughing like a villain?

It's giving me a really bad feeling.

Besides, I've never even killed a chicken in my life.

Ning Fengzhi: "..."

Chen Xin: "..."

Gu Rong: "..."

This kid can really put on an act!

He looks terrified, but deep down he can't wait to put that Bloodflame Tiger out of its misery.

I've seen people act differently from how they feel, but never to this extent!

Ning Wen looked down at the Bloodflame Tiger lying motionless on the ground.

Its amber eyes were full of fear, and faint whimpers kept escaping its throat.

Though he had prepared himself, the instinctive discomfort still rose in him when he held a blade before a living creature.

[Don't blame me. Soul Spirits don't exist yet, and if I want to grow stronger, I have no choice but to hunt Soul Beasts.]

[Nature selects the fittest. That's simply how the world works. If you want to blame anything, blame your own weakness!]

The Voice Pack sounded again, less theatrically grandiose this time, with an edge of unquestionable indifference.

"Soul Spirits?"

A thoughtful look flashed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes.

These Soul Spirits were probably no simple matter.

Ning Wen gritted his teeth. Without hesitating further, he strode forward and drove his arm down.

Cold steel flashed as the dagger struck the vital spot between the Bloodflame Tiger's brows.

A short, feeble cry rang out. The tiger's massive body convulsed twice, then went completely still.

Warm blood ran slowly down the blade and seeped into the soil beneath his feet.

Only then did Ning Wen grow calm.

A moment later, yellow motes of light began to appear above the Bloodflame Tiger's corpse.

Countless tiny lights drifted out of its body like fireflies filling the sky, slowly gathering together.

In an instant, a deep-yellow Soul Ring with a rich color and a steady, profound glow hung in the air, turning slowly.

"Sit cross-legged, Little Wen."

Ning Fengzhi's voice rang out. "Clear your mind and guide the Soul Ring into your body."

Ning Wen sat cross-legged as instructed, closed his eyes, and settled his mind completely.

As though drawn by an invisible force, the Soul Ring slowly descended and merged into his body.

The instant its energy entered him, a blood-red light flickered.

The energy that should have raged violently seemed to be tamed by an unseen force. All its ferocity and heat faded, leaving it gentle and mild.

Damn it. I've lost out big this time.

Ning Wen cursed inwardly, then focused fully on absorbing the Soul Ring.

He didn't know why, but judging by how things were going, he should have been able to absorb a Thousand Year Soul Ring as his first without much trouble.

A thousand-year first ring!

It would have been useful both for boosting his strength and for showing off.

Ning Fengzhi stood nearby, his gaze never leaving Ning Wen. Even he looked surprised.

Ning Wen's absorption was going far too smoothly.

"Fengzhi, it looks like an eight-hundred-year Soul Ring is nowhere near this kid's limit."

Chen Xin raised an eyebrow, understanding dawning on his face.

"This kid's a monster."

Gu Rong clicked his tongue. "I think he could try absorbing a Thousand Year Soul Ring for his second!"

"The energy fluctuations of a Thousand Year Soul Ring are several times more intense than those of a hundred-year ring."

Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "Absorbing one rashly would be too risky. Still, we'll let him decide."

After a long while, the fluctuations of Soul Power around Ning Wen finally settled.

He slowly opened his eyes. Deep within their clear black depths, a sharp, crimson glint flashed and vanished.

"Little Wen, how much did you gain from that eight-hundred-year Soul Ring?" Ning Fengzhi asked with a smile.

[Gain? I lost out big this time!]

[I had no idea the mark Asura left behind had this effect!]

[Just what I'd expect from a Divine Realm enforcer who breaks the very laws he upholds.]

[Since I benefited from it this time, I'll spare you the insults!]

An enforcer who breaks the law?

An enforcer of the Divine Realm?

An odd look flashed through the eyes of Ning Fengzhi and the other two men.

It seemed the lofty Deities weren't so different from mortals after all.

"My Soul Power Level rose by two."

After checking his Soul Power Level and the effect of his new skill, Ning Wen smiled and said:

"My Soul Skill is called Bloodbath Asura. When I use it, all my attributes increase by forty percent, and I can absorb the blood of every enemy nearby and convert it into stamina."

"Most importantly, as long as I have enough Soul Power, I can maintain the boost indefinitely."

"It's that powerful? Such a huge boost, and it lets a Soul Master keep fighting?" Gu Rong said, stunned.

Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi were too shocked to speak.

Most boosting Soul Skills had a time limit and could only be used again after a cooldown.

Ning Wen's skill could not only be maintained indefinitely, but also replenished his stamina.

The boost itself was hardly weak, either.

Even a ten-thousand-year Soul Skill might not be this strong.

This was clearly not a skill an ordinary hundred-year Soul Ring could grant.

Could it be because of his Asura Armor Martial Soul?

It was rare for a Soul Master's Martial Soul to influence a Soul Ring, but not unheard of.

After all, Soul Masters with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda obtained support skills with similar effects no matter what Soul Beast their Soul Rings came from.