Zhang Peng picked up Xu Zhengyang's Martial Soul Tiger-Head Zhan Gold Spear and began to examine it carefully, while Xu Zhengyang, not far away, was thinking carefully, observing his current situation, and considering how to deal with it.
Zhang Peng held the Tiger-Head Zhan Gold Spear, and a surge of black energy suddenly appeared in his hand, rushing straight towards Xu Zhengyang's Tiger-Head Zhan Gold Spear.
Unexpectedly, after entering the Tiger-Head Zhan Gold Spear, this energy vanished without a trace, as if it had disappeared into the sea. It seemed to quickly merge with the black patterns on the surface of the Tiger-Head Zhan Gold Spear. At the same time, the Tiger-Head Zhan Gold Spear emitted a scorching aura, faintly resisting Zhang Peng's special ability.
Zhang Peng looked puzzled. "That's interesting. Your Martial Soul does indeed possess an energy similar to our Holy Spirit Cult. Is this the curse you mentioned?"
"Moreover, your Martial Soul is inherently repelled by the dark energy of our Holy Spirit Cult, yet it forms a state of balance due to the special energy on its surface. It's truly fascinating."
"Tell me, what exactly is this dark energy? Why does your Martial Soul possess this energy? Is this some kind of special technique you're using?"
Xu Zhengyang shook his head. "Senior, this energy is actually a curse. I once obtained a cursed weapon. I sensed the threat of the curse and wanted to destroy it completely. However, when I destroyed the weapon, I didn't completely destroy the curse. Instead, the curse attached itself to my Martial Soul."
"I've been struggling with this curse for years, trying to get rid of it, but I've never been able to. What I didn't expect is that when this curse comes into contact with vengeful spirits, it can absorb them and become even stronger. I'm afraid I'll be in even more trouble from now on."
Evil Tiger Douluo pondered, "A curse? That's interesting. I've had enough contact with dark energy, but since 11..."
I've never heard of a curse being able to transfer to Martial Soul, nor have I heard of a curse being able to subdue a vengeful spirit. This might be related to the weapon you obtained in the first place."
"Tell me, what exactly was that weapon you acquired and then destroyed?"
Xu Zhengyang didn't hesitate at all. "I am a Soul Engineer. When I was training in the Star Luo Empire, I accidentally acquired a top-tier carving knife at auction. It was called the Soul Devouring Carving Knife. After obtaining the Soul Devouring Carving Knife Soul Devouring Carving Knife, I felt the influence of the curse on my body and the threat of the curse. That's why I tried my best to destroy the Soul Devouring Carving Knife. But I didn't expect that the curse would transfer to my Martial Soul instead."
Zhang Peng pondered, " The Soul Devouring Carving Knife? That's possible. Legend has it that the Soul-Devouring Soul Devouring Carving Knife is cursed and inherently devours its master, even possessing a special ability to absorb. Perhaps your Martial Soul's special ability to deal with vengeful spirits comes from the Soul Devouring Carving Knife's cursed ability to absorb."
Thinking of this, Zhang Peng's Soul Power suddenly flashed, and a black shadow appeared in his hand, like a dead Soul Beast, or like the vengeful spirit of Soul Beast. Then, the shadow of this Soul Beast rushed straight at Xu Zhengyang's Tiger-Head Zhan Gold Spear.
At that moment, a strange situation occurred. After the vengeful spirit of the Soul Beast touched the Tiger-Head Zhan Gold Spear, it began to change gradually and was gradually devoured. Even Zhang Peng's control over the vengeful spirit of the Soul Beast gradually disappeared.
Throughout the entire process, Xu Zhengyang felt as if he hadn't changed at all, as if he had temporarily lost control of his Martial Soul, or as if his Martial Soul itself possessed a special devouring attribute.
This is completely wrong. It's not like my usual fighting style at all, nor is it an ability I should be able to control. It's more like...
Electrolux's methods.
At that moment, a strange smile suddenly appeared on Zhang Peng's face, which even seemed unusually eerie.
"Haha, interesting. I didn't expect that after your Martial Soul was cursed, it would actually possess a trace of the power of the curse, and even a special ability to devour it. It can even devour vengeful spirits. I just wonder to what extent this ability can reach, and what level of vengeful spirit it can devour at most."
Xu Zhengyang quickly said, "Senior, after absorbing the vengeful spirit, I feel that my body has undergone some changes. I'm afraid I'll soon reach my limit, which may affect my cultivation."
Zhang Peng rolled his eyes at Xu Zhengyang: "Isn't that even better? Wraiths are also a form of energy. You can use your Martial Soul to devour wraiths and evil auras, which will also make you stronger. Didn't you come to my Holy Spirit Cult to defy fate?"
Xu Zhengyang immediately looked embarrassed, even a little angry, as if some of his little schemes had been exposed.
Zhang Peng continued, "Don't call me 'senior.' I am the sixth elder of the Holy Spirit Cult Sect, named Zhang Peng. People also call me the Scorpion Tiger Douluo. Your Martial Soul also has the attributes of a tiger, and it feels somewhat similar to my Scorpion Tiger Martial Soul."
"As for your coming to the Holy Spirit Cult, finding Tang Ya is probably only one of your purposes. You're not after any Tang Sect Hidden Weapons at all. Rather, you want to use our Holy Spirit Cult's special methods to remove this curse, or to use this curse to defy fate and break through the limitations of your own aptitude."
Xu Zhengyang swallowed hard. "Senior Scorpion Tiger Douluo, what do you mean by that? I don't quite understand."
Zhang Peng chuckled, "You think just anyone can come to my Holy Spirit Cult headquarters? All your past experiences..."
We've already investigated everything thoroughly; we probably know you better than you know yourself.
" Xu Zhengyang was born into a collateral branch of the Xu Clan in Dongyang City. His initial Martial Soul was a large iron rod, and he had a half-level Innate Soul Power. He once took the Mysterious Water Pill to improve his Innate Soul Power aptitude. He loved physical exercise and his physical fitness was far superior to that of ordinary people from a young age."
"You left Dongyang City at the age of nine to begin your training. There are no records of you on the continent during those years, but based on what you've said, you should have gone to the Douluo Continent to train, and perhaps even to Shrek City. Everything you've done is to break through the limitations of your Innate Soul Power, to defy fate. To this end, you even went so far as to auction off the Soul Devouring Carving Knife, and even used some special method to transfer the curse on the Soul Devouring Carving Knife into your own body."
"It is precisely because of your actions that you were able to reach level 44 at the mere age of fourteen, with combat power far exceeding that of ordinary people, and become the top student of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy with only the strength of a Soul Ancestor."
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhengyang couldn't help but swallow hard, as if his deepest secret had been revealed.
Zhang Peng continued, "Our Holy Spirit Cult has always found it strange that you would suggest the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy introduce the Zhengtian Academy. Perhaps you've set your sights on the Zhengtian Academy's Angel Martial Soul and want to use Angel Martial Soul to dispel your own curse."
"On one hand, you're increasing your strength through the curse's unique devouring ability, but on the other hand, this curse might not be so easy to withstand. It might have some kind of backlash on your body, but the Angel Martial Soul should be able to alleviate this side effect."
Xu Zhengyang looked terrified and sat down on the ground, his eyes filled with horror and disbelief, as if his long-hidden secret had been exposed.
In contrast, Xu Zhengyang's brain was working frantically. This Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng was too good at inflating his imagination. He actually thought that he had increased his strength by devouring the curse. But then he thought about it again, and it was quite normal for Zhang Peng to have such thoughts.
After all, he was just a piece of trash with half a level of Innate Soul Power. Even after consuming two Mysterious Water Pill and various resources, his Innate Soul Power only increased to level three or four. Yet, he was able to reach level forty-four at the age of fourteen, and his combat power far exceeded that of other Soul Master of the same level. He had basically reached the level of a top-tier Soul Emperor. This was something that outsiders could hardly imagine.
Unless Xu Zhengyang used some special method to achieve his current success, and even more so because of such a special method, there would be other effects on his body.
Xu Zhengyang had long understood that since he had come to the Holy Spirit Cult, he wouldn't be able to leave so easily; at the very least, it would be impossible without paying a price.
Now Zhang Peng is making wild guesses, and even seems quite certain about it. Perhaps I can use this to my advantage, and perhaps I can use it to leave the Holy Spirit Cult safely.
Xu Zhengyang stammered, "Y-you, what did you say? How could I possibly use the devouring power of a curse to enhance myself? I'm a member of the Xu Clan, a legitimate member of the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Family family, how could I possibly use the methods of Evil Soul Master?"
Zhang Peng's eyes were filled with disdain, and a hint of anger. "What do you mean by 'Evil Soul Master ' methods'? That's just the ignorance of the world, just prejudice against our cultivation methods."
"There is no such thing as good or evil in this world, only the difference in strength. Those so-called righteous people are just born lucky, with a good Martial Soul and good Innate Soul Power, which is why they are so upright and honest. They don't care about the hardships of ordinary people, nor do they care about those Martial Soul Master who cultivate."
"I think those so-called upright people are the more hypocritical and evil ones. Otherwise, what kind of good guys do you think Shrek is?"
"But do you think those sects in the Douluo Continent are anything good? They monopolize everything and prevent ordinary people like us from improving ourselves. They are the real evil."
Xu Zhengyang instantly understood Zhang Peng's meaning. Zhang Peng's nickname was Scorpion Tiger Douluo, and his Martial Soul was Scorpion Tiger. This was a very special Martial Soul. To improve one's strength, one could not simply meditate; one needed to devour the blood of Soul Beast. In the eyes of the world, this method of improving by devouring was the standard method of Evil Soul Master, and there was no way to refute it.
The Scorpion Tiger Douluo was once defeated by the Dragon God Douluo Mu En and disappeared without a trace. Isn't this also a reflection of the prejudice that those so-called righteous people have against Zhang Peng?
In fact, apart from his unique Martial Soul cultivation, Zhang Peng did not previously use the cultivation methods of Evil Soul Master. Instead, it was Mu En who forced him towards the Holy Spirit Cult.
Seeing the terror in Xu Zhengyang's eyes, Zhang Peng laughed instead.
"What are you afraid of? Pursuing strength is a normal phenomenon. People in this world are too ignorant. They only think that Martial Soul and Innate Soul Power level are fundamental, but my Holy Spirit Cult has a real way to defy fate."
"Like Tang Ya, whom you're looking for this time. Although she's the sect leader of the Tang Sect, the Tang Sect has long since declined. If she wants to revitalize the Tang Sect, she needs to have sufficient strength. With her weak Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and her Innate Soul Power aptitude, she'll never be able to cultivate into a master in her lifetime. If that happens, the Tang Sect will truly be wiped out."
"And so are you. You are merely a collateral branch of the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Family, with no real status whatsoever. Although you have gained some strength in the short term through special means, you are ultimately too weak. You have not truly inherited any cultivation techniques, and I'm afraid your future development will stop here."
Zhang Peng's words were full of seduction and inducement. If Xu Zhengyang had not experienced two lifetimes and understood the true nature of the so-called Holy Spirit Cult, he would probably have succumbed to it in order to increase his strength.
But Xu Zhengyang was now thinking about another issue. Although the Holy Spirit Cult was evil and had committed many atrocities, harming countless innocent people, in a sense, it was not impossible to use them.
From any perspective, the Holy Spirit Cult and Shrek Academy are mortal enemies. If a conflict could be stirred up between them, if the Holy Spirit Cult and Shrek Academy could go to war, there might be unexpected benefits. At least Shrek Academy is currently much weaker than the Holy Spirit Cult. The Holy Spirit Cult has two Level 99 Limit Douluo, while Shrek Academy only has a dying Mu En.