Chapter 18: Anomaly

The bandit chief didn't send anyone to hunt Tie Li; he could slay two elders with one strike, and if he went after him himself, he might not return unscathed.

"Grand Elder, are we just letting him run away like that?"

"Snap." The bandit chief smacked his nearby henchman hard.

"What, you want to go take revenge on him?"

……

Riding his horse at a gallop, Tie Li's mind flashed with many thoughts.

In the end, he reached a decision.

He would find a safe place, first absorb the Thousand-Year Lei Mang Inner Pill, raise his Soul Power Level to Level 20, then obtain a Soul Ring, become a Two‑ring Great Soul Master, and set out for Geng Xin Cheng.

With the aid of the Thousand-Year Lei Mang Inner Pill, he believed he could raise his Soul Power Level to Level 20 in no time.

Relying only on his One Ring Soul Master strength, reaching Geng Xin Cheng safely was too hard, especially since he carried the precious Thousand-Year Lei Mang Inner Pill; if he met a Thunder Attribute Soul Master, they might sense it.

He rode through the night until noon before spotting a city, which let Tie Li breathe a sigh of relief.

After a whole night of running, the horse beneath him was already exhausted, panting heavily.

Tie Li removed its saddle and set it free.

The remaining few miles he covered on foot.

At the city gate, after showing his Soul Master Handbook, he underwent the usual questioning.

Among the city guards, several had faint Soul Power fluctuations.

Having Soul Masters as guards suggests this is a major city.

"No problem, go ahead!"

"Alright."

Upon entering, the bustling grandeur of the metropolis was evident, something Manuo City and Fuyu City could not match.

Through inquiries along the way, Tie Li gathered the basic information.

This is Longxing City, within the Ancient Lei Kingdom, near the Star Dou Great Forest, so the city is extremely prosperous, not inferior at all to the capital Gulei City of the Ancient Lei Kingdom.

But prosperity also means high prices and high expenses!

"I don't believe there's no Pingmin District," Tie Li muttered softly.

He did find a Pingmin District, but its cost of living was still not low.

In the most remote corner of the Pingmin District, Tie Li spent five Silver Soul Coins to rent a small wooden hut.

Three Silver Soul Coins were the deposit, two were the monthly rent.

Beyond lodging, Tie Li cared more about food.

Ordinary food could fill him, but it wasn't good.

Now not short on money, Tie Li planned to replace his meals with Soul Beast meat.

Soul Beast meat rich in strength and Thunder elements contains the attributes he needs; long‑term use subtly enhances those two qualities within him.

Tie Li recalled a shop he'd just passed, which specialized in selling Soul Beast meat.

Returning to the bustling main street, he found the shop again and walked in.

"Customer, what type of Soul Beast meat do you need?" a young female clerk approached to attend to Tie Li.

Among Soul Beasts with strength and Thunder elements, Tie Li's first choice was naturally Thunder Python blood flesh.

It not only has the needed attributes, but also aligns well with his own nature.

Whether his First Soul Ring comes from a Thunder Python Soul Beast, or he later absorbs the Thunder Python Inner Core, consuming Thunder Python meat benefits him either way.

"For a Thunder Attribute Soul Beast, Thunder Python is best," Tie Li said.

"Is there an age requirement?"

"A hundred years is optimal."

Soul Beast meat isn't cheap, especially Thunder Python lineage beasts, which are high‑grade Soul Beasts, so the price is a bit higher.

His pocket isn't tight now, but he may stay in Longxing City for a while; if he chooses high‑age Thunder Python meat, the over a hundred Gold Soul Coins could only buy a few meals.

He needs long‑term use; only then can the subtle effect improve his physique.

A hundred‑year‑old Thunder Python meat is the best, meeting his intake needs without exceeding his budget.

"Customer, you're lucky. Two days ago a powerful Hunting Soul Group killed a hundred‑year‑old Thunder Python in the Star Dou Great Forest and sold it to us. How many do you need?"

Longxing City lies in the northeastern part of the Star Dou Great Forest, relatively close, so many Hunting Soul Groups make their living there.

"What's the price?" Tie Li still thought this was the more important question.

"Hundred‑year‑old Thunder Python meat, ten Gold Soul Coins per jin."

Hearing the price, Tie Li was slightly shocked.

Back then he had carried two hundred jin of a hundred‑year‑old Iron Arm Ape to the Wind‑Snow Trading Hall and only fetched thirty Gold Soul Coins; this hundred‑year‑old Thunder Python meat costs ten Gold Soul Coins per jin.

"Two jin to start."

"Alright."

Under the clerk's arrangement, two jin of Thunder Python blood flesh were brought out; after Tie Li confirmed it was correct, he paid twenty Gold Soul Coins at the counter.

On the way back, Tie Li also bought a clay pot and some mushrooms.

He had no intention of eating the raw blood flesh.

Meat is better cooked; the nutrition stays in the broth.

Though the hut was small, there was enough space to cook.

He lit a fire, placed water and a pinch of salt in the pot, then added the meat and mushrooms, and covered it.

After about an hour, a rich meat aroma drifted from the clay pot.

From the two jin of Thunder Python meat, Tie Li sliced off half a jin; there's no need to worry about spoilage, as Soul Beast blood flesh has a long shelf life until all its soul power dissipates.

Tie Li opened the pot lid, used chopsticks to pick out a piece of meat and put it in his mouth; the flavor was fresh and delicious, the only regret was that it wasn't stewed soft, so biting with his teeth was rather laborious.

In three swift motions, the entire pot of meat broth went into Tie Li's stomach, and waves of warmth spread from his abdomen to the rest of his body.

The Thunder Python demon elixir energy that had remained in his body began to refine under the warm flow.

Tie Li immediately sat cross‑legged on the wooden bed, refining the blood‑and‑flesh essence and the remaining demon elixir energy.

The process proceeded rather slowly, and it wasn't until the afternoon of the next day that Tie Li finished his cultivation.

After the prolonged cultivation, his stomach felt no hunger at all, and his whole body seemed to have inexhaustible strength.

He took the jade box from his bosom, and Tie Li intended to continue absorbing the energy of the Thunder Python Inner Core.

He removed the Inner Elixir, placed it at his chest, and Tie Li, as usual, absorbed its energy, but this time the efficiency far exceeded previous levels.

It seemed that, because he was more in tune with the Inner Elixir, a certain balance was achieved.

During his meditation, Tie Li didn't even realize that the Forge Hammer Martial Soul, uncalled, materialized before him; the hammer's Lightning Light and the Lightning Light surrounding Tie Li's body resonated with each other.

'Sss—'

A Thunder Python Illusory Shadow floated behind Tie Li.

Tie Li only felt his body undergoing an indescribable stabbing pain, as if countless steel needles were piercing every part of him.

The Thunder Python Illusory Shadow behind him grew increasingly solid, and the pain Tie Li endured grew ever more intense.

Even Tie Li himself hadn't expected the Thunder Python Inner Core to undergo such a change.

Just as Tie Li was about to be unable to bear the pain and tried to forcibly end his meditation, the Thunder Python suddenly opened its massive gaping maw.

(End of chapter)