Second Soul Ring

The sight of the Thunder Wolf sent joy surging through Li Changqing. Seven days of searching hadn't been for nothing!

Just then, the Thunder Wolf sensed Li Changqing. It whipped its head around, its lightning-lit eyes locking on him behind the bushes.

"Awooo—"

The Thunder Wolf let out a savage howl that echoed through the valley. The blue arcs around its body swelled, growing thicker and crackling loudly.

Now that he had been spotted, Li Changqing saw no reason to hide. He straightened and stepped out of the bushes, sword gripped tight. At the valley entrance, he faced the Thunder Wolf across the distance.

A fierce wind howled beneath the pressing clouds, as though the sky might collapse at any moment.

Boom!

A massive bolt of lightning split the dark sky, and rain came pouring down.

Raindrops the size of beans pounded the ground. In an instant, a hazy curtain of rain shrouded the entire valley.

The Thunder Wolf attacked first.

Its four legs kicked off the rock, launching its huge body at Li Changqing with astonishing speed.

At the same time, it opened its maw. A blue ball of lightning the size of a basketball formed inside, then shot toward Li Changqing.

The lightning ball tore through the rain with a sizzling hiss. It swept the falling water aside, leaving an empty corridor in its wake.

"Such speed! Such formidable thunder-lightning power!" Li Changqing exclaimed in wonder. "You are absolute perfection for my Second Soul Ring!"

Even as he spoke, he moved just as quickly, turning to the right and dodging the lightning ball.

It struck the bushes behind him and erupted in terrifying arcs of electricity. A broad swath of brush was blasted flat, leaving a crater a meter across that rainwater rushed to fill. The consequences of taking that hit head-on were unthinkable.

The Thunder Wolf used the instant Li Changqing turned to close the distance. Its blue lightning-wreathed claws raked toward his chest with enough force to tear through anything.

If those claws struck, they would gut him. Worse, the lightning on them would likely surge into his body. Together, the wounds and the shock would leave him helpless—meat on the Thunder Wolf's chopping block.

Li Changqing gripped his sword with both hands and swept it to the right, blocking the Thunder Wolf's claws.

A deafening clang rang out, scattering the rain around them.

The blow carried tremendous force. Li Changqing staggered back several steps, his arms faintly numb. So strong—far stronger than the Black Iron Mantis!

Moreover, a faint current traveled up the blade and into Li Changqing, causing his muscles to twitch slightly and freezing his movements for a fraction of a second.

The Thunder Wolf seized that opening. Both front claws lashed out amid dense arcs of electricity, each strike whistling as it ripped through the air.

Li Changqing showed no panic. Drawing on the speed granted by his Kunpeng Martial Soul, he deftly evaded the barrage.

Rain soaked his hair and clothes, leaving him looking even more bedraggled than before.

But his eyes remained sharp and calm, without a ripple of fear, tracking every move the Thunder Wolf made.

He did not rush to counterattack. He dodged or caught its claws on his blade, studying each of its attacks as he fought.

After tangling with the Thunder Wolf for a while, Li Changqing gradually learned its repertoire.

He had no intention of dragging the fight out any longer. He would end it quickly and cleanly.

"I've played with you long enough. This young master has places to be." As Li Changqing spoke, the phantom of a pair of Kunpeng Wings appeared behind him. His speed surged to its limit, until the naked eye could no longer follow his movements.

The Thunder Wolf had managed to keep pace before, but once Li Changqing unleashed his Kunpeng Martial Soul, it fell behind. Fear crept into its eyes. It gathered its strength, spat out another lightning ball, then turned and fled.

Li Changqing dodged with ease. Watching the Thunder Wolf flee, he gave a disdainful look. "You want to run now? Too late!"

With that, Li Changqing leapt into the air and shot after it. His figure vanished, then reappeared above the Thunder Wolf's head.

Without hesitation, Li Changqing used his First Soul Skill.

"First Soul Skill: Keen Edge!"

The sword in his hand blazed with light, its blade taking on a deeper sheen. A startling aura of sharpness burst from it, sending raindrops flying.

"Die!"

Sword in hand, Li Changqing plunged downward at the Thunder Wolf's skull.

Pfft!

There was no clash of metal against bone. Empowered by his Soul Skill, the blade pierced the Thunder Wolf's skull with ease.

"Awooo!"

The Thunder Wolf gave an agonized howl. Its huge body swayed a few times before crashing to the ground, throwing up a great spray of muddy water. Its limbs twitched, then went still.

Bright red blood flowed from its mouth and the wound where the sword had pierced its skull, staining the rainwater across a wide patch of ground.

Li Changqing pulled out his sword and jumped down from the Thunder Wolf's body. His breathing remained steady; the fight had cost him little strength.

A yellow Soul Ring condensed above the Thunder Wolf's corpse. Its color was much deeper than that of the Black Iron Mantis's Soul Ring.

Li Changqing's eyes lit up. Judging by its color, its age should be enough to meet the requirements for my Second Soul Ring. I just don't know what its Soul Skill will do.

He sat cross-legged beside the corpse, took a deep breath, and focused his mind, drawing the Soul Ring toward himself.

The instant Li Changqing began absorbing the Soul Ring, violent lightning power rampaged through his meridians.

He steadied his mind and circulated the Kunpeng Method, guiding the force of the lightning.

After an unknown length of time, the dark clouds overhead began to part, and the rain eased.

Hum—

At last, he finished absorbing the Soul Ring. A wave of power nourished his body, and his Soul Power rose steadily before settling at Level Twenty-Two.

The instant the absorption was complete, the Kunpeng True Blood deep within Li Changqing's soul sent out a pulse. Golden light flooded his Sea of Consciousness.

Yin and yang revolved; water and fire sustained each other; space folded... Countless profound runes of the Great Dao flashed through his Sea of Consciousness. In an instant, he understood many things that had once eluded him.

Until now, the Kunpeng True Blood had only protected Li Changqing passively. It had not merged with his soul.

But now, the Kunpeng True Blood had begun to merge with Li Changqing's soul! The degree of fusion was still low, but it had at least gone from zero to one. The rest would take time, and one day, the fusion would be complete.

At the same time, a current of black-and-white energy poured from his body. It spread slowly outward from him, eventually forming a transparent barrier of light.