Toji said:
"I got its Ignore Defense."
His Fourth Soul Skill was the Ten Thousand Year mantis's Ignore Defense ability.
It could bypass a large portion of an opponent's Soul Power defense.
If he ran into Luo Tian again, he could easily break through his defense without even using a Level 6 Soul Tool. Nor would he have to fight him in a bloody battle again. He could simply hide in the shadows and, the moment Luo Tian exposed an opening, slit his throat with a single slash and send him on his way.
Not even Soul Power could stop it.
But if the gap in cultivation was enormous-for example, if he had to attack someone at the Soul Saint level or above-it probably wouldn't have much effect.
He could try it out later and see exactly how effective it was.
If it really worked, then dealing with opponents whose cultivation was higher than his would be simple.
Hide in the shadows and wait for a chance to kill them in one blow.
A powerful body, invincible combat strength in a head-on fight, a presence no one could sense with Soul Power, Soul Bone Teleportation, and now Ignore Defense...
Toji's current build was that of an assassin wearing the guise of a warrior with monstrous stats.
Du Busi nodded.
"You still can't actively use it?"
"Yeah." Toji found it very strange too.
Of his four Soul Skills, not one could be actively used. They were all passive, all abilities that enhanced his Martial Soul itself.
"It's good to specialize, and besides, this Soul Skill suits you incredibly well," Du Busi said with a cheerful laugh. "Come on, it's time to go back. I checked the Soul Beast for you, but unfortunately, it didn't drop a Soul Bone."
Toji glanced casually at the mantis's corpse. There really wasn't a Soul Bone.
"I've been at the sect for a while. I want to go back and take a look."
"Besides, an inner court disciple died a month ago. Shrek is bound to make a big move, so I need to go back and see how things stand."
"Very well. You don't need to fear Shrek. With me here, what if even their strongest experts come out?" Du Busi said leisurely. "If you run into trouble, give them my name. No one on the Douluo Continent would dare touch you."
"But just in case, I'll send more people over to protect you. You can rest easy."
Though Du Busi was usually strict, his concern and protection for Toji were sincere. And with Du Busi's support, Toji felt a little more confident.
"Thank you, teacher," Toji said respectfully.
Du Busi waved his hand and smiled. "All right, no need to stand on ceremony with me. Go on, and remember to come back soon. You still need me to guard you while you absorb that Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone of yours."
Toji nodded, then turned and left the Star Dou Great Forest, heading toward the Heaven Dou Empire.
Back at the Soul Fighting Arena, Toji found it as lively as ever. He sought out Liang Wu and asked whether the inner court disciple's death had alarmed Shrek.
"My people recently learned that there's been a lot of activity at Shrek. After all, an inner court disciple left the academy without reporting it and disappeared without a trace for a month, so they sent a large number of people to search for him."
"Sooner or later, they'll trace him here."
Liang Wu had been terrified of offending Shrek, but when he remembered that Toji had the Body Sect backing him, Shrek's trouble no longer seemed like much.
"When they trace him here, just tell them the Body Sect did it," Toji said. "If that doesn't work, tell them I did it. I'm from the Body Sect too."
"Well... all right." Liang Wu understood. This was the best solution too; only the Body Sect wasn't afraid of Shrek.
A minor local power like theirs wouldn't dare offend Shrek even if they had ten thousand lives.
"Any information on the Evil Soul Masters from eight years ago?" Toji asked again.
"Yes. They caused quite a stir eight years ago, so it was easy enough to look into," Liang Wu replied with a nod. "I heard everyone in that whole village died, and someone deliberately covered up the news. Later, someone passing through discovered it was practically a dead village."
"Something seems to have scared the Evil Soul Masters out of their wits. They ran all the way without even having time to cover their tracks. My people said they fled in the direction of the Sun Moon Empire."
"The Sun Moon Empire... Hmph."
It seemed they were from the Holy Spirit Cult.
Once he had time, he would definitely uproot the Holy Spirit Cult, that anti-human organization.
Not to mention he had a grudge against them.
"Are the matches being held as usual today?"
"Yes, things are more or less back to normal."
Liang Wu wore an ingratiating smile as he faced Toji.
Toji said:
"Mm. Go gather all the nobles who came to the Soul Fighting Arena today."
"Also, send people to summon the nobles who didn't come. Tell them there's important business to discuss. Come up with the reason yourself."
Liang Wu froze for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, I'll make the arrangements right away."
Before long, more than a dozen nobles arrived one after another in the Soul Fighting Arena's VIP room.
Most of them were prominent figures in this small place. They usually spent money like water at the Soul Fighting Arena, enjoying the thrills and pleasures of Soul Fighting.
Today, however, the atmosphere was somewhat different. Toji sat in the seat of honor, his gaze cold and stern, an invisible pressure radiating from him and making the nobles present uneasy.
"Tyrant?"
Most of the nobles who knew Toji recognized him at a glance.
They all remembered this money tree of theirs very well.
A noble stepped forward.
"Have your injuries healed? Now that you're back, are you planning to work with us and continue taking part in the matches?"
He had only just reached Toji, and his smile had yet to fully form, when Toji stood up, seized him by the collar, and slammed him hard against the table.
"Bang!"
The noble's head struck the tabletop with a heavy thud.
His eyes widened in terror. Before he could struggle, Toji had already drawn his Level 5 Soul Tool broadsword.
"Y-you... what are you doing?" the noble asked, his voice trembling and his eyes full of fear.
Toji didn't answer. The broadsword in his hand came down without hesitation.
"Crack!"
A crisp sound of breaking bone rang out as the noble's arm was hacked clean off. Blood spurted out instantly, staining the tabletop red.
"Aah-!"
The noble let out a piercing scream and collapsed to the floor, clutching his severed arm and wailing in pain.
The other nobles were stunned by the sight. They all backed away several steps, their faces filled with terror.
None of them had imagined that Toji would suddenly attack, let alone be so ruthless.
Several Soul Kings present soon came to their senses. They immediately used Martial Soul Possession and tried to flee.
They had all seen Toji's performances in the Soul Fighting Arena. He was extremely brutal.
Toji gave them no chance to escape. He appeared at the door with Teleportation, and just as they were about to use their Soul Skills to drive him back, Toji sent them all reeling, practically one punch apiece.
His fists ignored their Soul Power defenses and rained down on them. One man's face caved in on the spot, his skull cracking.
Seeing Toji fighting as fiercely as a god of war, with the Soul Kings present barely able to resist, some of the nobles could no longer sit still.
"Stop! Do you know who we are? How dare you treat us like this?"
Toji swept his gaze over the nobles, rested his blood-dripping broadsword on his shoulder, and grinned.
"I called you here today because there's something I want to discuss with you."
"Cough up every Gold Soul Coin you've earned from me over the years. And that's not all. I want the assets of everyone here too."
"If anyone refuses, I'll cripple his Soul Power and throw him into the arena to fight Soul Beasts."
Toji drove the broadsword on his shoulder hard into the floor, making the nobles' hearts shudder.
"I've said my piece. Who's in favor, and who's against?"