Chapter 154: The Beginning of Madness

Clang—

Tie Li forged on the Thunder Stone Ground at the academy's summit, without using a forge furnace, relying solely on his own Black Thunder.

The materials he used were the special fangs bought at the auction and the fifty‑thousand‑year Soul Beast skull he had purchased earlier.

Earlier at the blacksmith shop, Tie Li had tried forging a Soul Beast skull, but its melting point was so high that a ordinary forge furnace could not succeed.

Yet under the relentless strikes of Black Thunder, the Soul Beast skull began to melt slowly.

From dawn to dusk, Tie Li did not rest, hammering continuously; any pause would halve the results.

This was a test of Tie Li's physique and soul power.

After two days and nights of nonstop hammering, the Soul Beast skull was forged into a dagger, and the continuous Black Thunder strikes gave the dagger the ability to emit Lightning Light.

Tie Li also forged a special Soul Beast fang into the dagger; the fang retained the beast's tearing trait, greatly increasing the dagger's sharpness.

Unfortunately, he lacked knowledge of the Soul Guide Device, otherwise he could have engraved a formation during forging to boost its effect by fifty percent.

The Chaos Cloak Hammer Method truly lives up to its reputation as the highest‑grade continuous forging technique, seamlessly melding the skull and fang and enhancing the dagger's quality.

Tie Li wiped the sweat from his forehead, toyed with the dagger in his hand, and produced a piece of high‑grade metal that could be easily split apart.

The cut retained a faint tearing trait and the corrosive property of Black Thunder, but it vanished almost immediately.

Perhaps when he advances to Divine Artisan, a nine‑level Soul Guide Device will be given to him for dissection, allowing him to explore its development path.

During the Chaos Cloak Hammer Method forging, Tie Li realized that the process is bidirectional; using Black Thunder to forge consumes soul power.

Forging the Soul Beast skull simultaneously forges the soul power itself.

When the final hammer fell, the Soul Power Level successfully broke through to Level 55.

His own Soul Power Level had already peaked at Level 54; in a loft within Tiandou City he experienced a peculiar insight, his bottleneck on the verge of breaking, yet Tie Li predicted it would take at least half a month of meditative cultivation.

Consequently, this all‑out forging allowed him to breakthrough ahead of schedule.

Today, the Second Team of the Tian Dou Royal Academy faced the Shilake Academy in a Team Soul Battle on the Soul Battle Platform in Tiandou City.

Dai Mubai hopes to use this team advantage to avenge the humiliation of the previous match.

However, among the Second Team's members present for the battle, Tie Li was nowhere to be found.

Behind the Shilake Seven Monsters stood dozens of Shilake Academy students, all there to cheer.

"Could the escaped inheritance disciple be Brother Yun?"

Among the dozens of students, two kept watching the Tian Dou Royal Academy side, their eyes scanning the crowd for a familiar figure.

"It could also be Brother Lu; some inheritance disciples are cultivated in the shadows, we might not recognize them."

"Regardless, the inheritance mark on the martial soul cannot be mistaken."

While the two chatted idly, the battle on the Soul Battle Platform had already begun;

Both teams were configured identically: one Four Ring Soul Ancestor leading six Three Ring Soul Honorable.

"Hiss? Why isn't there one?"

"Maybe he's no longer in the Second Team; I heard his Soul Power Level broke through to Soul Power Level 50, so he should be on the First Team's roster."

"Possibly."

The fight in the arena was extremely fierce, with no one‑sided dominance.

Tuo Yu's control of the battlefield was flawless; leveraging the uniqueness of his martial soul, he manipulated the field repeatedly to stabilize the situation.

Ning Ning's Ruyi Tower Martial Soul is a powerful support martial soul, yet it falls short compared to the Seven Treasure Glass Tower.

In a private box of the Soul Battle Platform, Ning Qi Ye watched the two teams' Soul Battles, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

"The Ruyi Tower's support effect can't match the Seven Treasure Glass Tower; currently, Ning Ning's team support can't compare to Rong Rong's.

At the Seven Ring Soul Saint stage, the Seven Treasure Glass Tower's ultimate support effect is unrivaled by any support‑type martial soul, the only drawback being that the Soul Power Level is capped at Level 79;

However, the Ruyi Tower Martial Soul is different; Ning Ning has good talent, and if I provide her with cultivation resources, she will surely breakthrough to the Eight Ring stage. Then, will the Ruyi Tower's support still lag? The Soul Master's eighth and ninth soul skills are crucial."

At this moment, the situation on the Soul Battle Platform was clear: Shilake Academy held an absolute advantage and could end the Soul Battle at any time.

"Seventh Uncle, the sect leader sent someone to inquire about the Spirit Hall."

"Just find any excuse."

With Ning Qi Ye's assistance, Duolangbu has already razed several towns, drawing the Spirit Hall's attention and even alerting the Two Great Empires to the anomaly.

As the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glass Sect, how could Ning Fengzhi possibly not notice?

"How much more does he need over there?"

A flash of madness appeared in Ning Qi Ye's eyes; since the number of townsfolk was insufficient, a whole city would be offered as a sacrifice.

"It may require two to three towns, but…"

"Release that batch of Fallen Soul Masters to draw everyone's attention."

"Understood."

"Ancient Sword City…"

In a cold, damp dungeon, a group of mad Fallen Soul Masters were imprisoned, their minds utterly corrupted.

"You're nothing but selfish scoundrels; we'll let ordinary people gain soul power and the status of Soul Masters."

"Hahaha, our ritual succeeded; you Soul Masters are just afraid it will affect your standing."

"He will come to save us; he is the world's savior."

……

Tie Li, on the Thunder Stone Ground, suddenly felt an inexplicable unease and agitation that prevented him from calming his mind for meditation.

At that moment, Tie Li spotted Zhao Tianhe beyond the Thunder Stone Ground.

"Teacher Zhao."

Tie Li smoothly ended his meditation and stepped in front of Zhao Tianhe.

"For now, do not stay at the academy," Zhao Tianhe said.

Boria has already been dealt with in secret; and a bishop's long disappearance prompted the Spirit Hall to investigate, and recently, traces of Spirit Hall Soul Masters have appeared near the academy.

To prevent Tie Li from being discovered, three Committee Members plan to take Tie Li and the Second Team members away from the academy temporarily.

The Second Team needs training, so they cannot stay in the academy continuously.

This time, besides the Chief staying inside the academy, Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin will accompany everyone.

With these two Soul Douluos present, as long as they don't encounter a Sealed Douluo, there should be no trouble.

The Spirit Hall is only investigating the reason for a bishop's disappearance, not enough to dispatch a Sealed Douluo Level strongman; at most they will send a Red-clothed Bishop.

"Alright." Tie Li nodded, without asking further.

Just now the Second Team lost to Shilake Academy in the Soul Battle arena, and Zhao Tianhe has already planned to give the Second Team a group training.

(End of chapter)