Chapter 19: Temptation

The Thunder Python Inner Core was drawn and actually flew straight into Tie Li's abdomen.

At that moment Tie Li suddenly opened his eyes, all the anomalies vanished, but he could distinctly feel the Thunder Python Inner Core within his body.

His bodily strength was enhanced, and his soul power was filled with a strong Thunder and Lightning Attribute.

More importantly, his soul power actually jumped two levels, reaching Level 16.

"What on earth just happened?"

His grasp of Soul Master knowledge is limited; Tie Li himself doesn't know what change occurred on his body, whether it's good or bad.

For now, it should be a good thing.

Whether it's the strengthening of his physique, the Thunder and Lightning Attribute in his soul power, or the increase of his soul power, all are what he currently needs.

Even if it develops in a bad direction, what can he change now?

Better to speculate positively; at least it can make his body and mind pleasant.

In the following time, Tie Li focused entirely on cultivation; with the aid of Thunder Python Blood Flesh and the Inner Elixir, his cultivation speed was unbelievably fast, giving him a taste of a genius cultivator.

However, Tie Li often stews meat, and every few days a meat aroma drifts out; this unique Soul Beast meat scent attracted a group from the Pingmin District.

Just as Tie Li finished stewing the meat, an unfriendly knock came from the wooden door.

"Who are you?"

He opened the wooden door and saw five or six hulking men standing outside, pretending to look fierce.

He instantly guessed their identity; back in Manuo City, his family lived in the Pingmin District, so he naturally knew what sort of people they were.

During this period of cultivation and meat supplementation, the nearly eleven‑year‑old Tie Li grew to 1.7 meters tall; the muscles exposed beyond his clothes were full of explosive power, giving a hard, robust impression.

"We're nearby residents, we'd like to get some meat from you; you don't mind, do you?"

The leading hulker thought Tie Li was an easy target, and after speaking tried to force his way into the wooden hut.

"Clack"

Tie Li grabbed his wrist and gave a sudden yank.

"Ow ow ow... you'd better be sensible; do you know who I am?"

"What are you doing, why don't you hurry over and help?" The leading hulker, seeing Tie Li had no intention of letting go, quickly called his subordinates to assist.

The few who were still looking ferocious saw a ball of Lightning Light gathered in Tie Li's hand, and their faces immediately fell.

"Boss... Cheng Laoda, he's a Soul Master."

"It's none of my business; I just came to add to the numbers."

"Soul Master Great Sir, we mean no harm; Cheng Laoda sent us, and we don't even know why he called us here."

Hearing his subordinate's pleas, the hulker couldn't help muttering curses inwardly.

Now that he knows the other is a Soul Master, what other thoughts could he have?

Don't be fooled by their misdeeds in the Pingmin District; they're still ordinary folk, and when faced with a lofty Soul Master, they can only cower.

But why does a noble Soul Master live in the Pingmin District, in such a shabby wooden hut?

"This time is just a lesson; next time stay far away from me."

Tie Li didn't want to waste time on them; revealing his Soul Master identity can avoid many troubles, like today's incident.

If they knew a Soul Master lived in the wooden hut, none of them would dare to cause trouble here.

The few underlings, hearing Soul Master Great Sir speak, fled here, rolling and crawling.

The remaining hulker showed a conflicted expression, as if weighing options.

"You still don't want to leave; do you want me to escort you?"

"Soul Master Great Sir, are you interested in a soul bone?"

One Thugs and Hooligans actually knows about soul bones?

Seeing Tie Li's doubtful gaze, the hulker quickly began to explain.

"It's definitely real; Cheng Laoda's wife told me herself, and plans to sell it. I heard it could fetch ten thousand Gold Soul Coins."

Tie Li didn't interrupt, letting him continue.

Cheng Laoda is a Soul Master, but his talent is abysmal; he can hardly break through Three Ring Soul Honorable in a lifetime, so he simply gave up cultivation.

Using his Soul Master status, he built a base underground in Longxing City, most of whose members are nearby Thugs and Hooligans.

These few from the Pingmin District are among them; whenever something arises, Cheng Laoda steps in to settle it, and with his Soul Master status, it's no problem.

But he warns his inner circle members not to provoke Soul Masters.

Gradually, Cheng Laoda's operation grew; his subordinates kept increasing.

Some time ago, he somehow obtained a soul bone and originally planned to secretly sell it to the city's nobles for lifelong wealth.

He told no one about this except his wife.

But he didn't know that Niu Dahuang had long been involved with his wife; after a night of intense fighting, she inadvertently told Niu Dahuang.

"Why did you tell me these?"

"Soul Master Great Sir, I want to trade with you; to show my sincerity, I can first help you steal the soul bone."

"What do you want? Why would I help you?" Tie Li suddenly found Niu Dahuang's naïveté somewhat laughable.

"You kill Cheng Laoda for me, then step forward so I can take his position as boss." Niu Dahuang didn't answer the latter part of Tie Li's question because he didn't know how to reply.

He was merely betting that Tie Li would keep his promise.

"Why not look for someone else?" Tie Li asked.

"I can't reach other Soul Masters; the few Soul Masters I know are Cheng Laoda's people."

Soul Masters and ordinary people are two worlds, especially the lower‑class commoners, destined never to intersect with Soul Masters.

Tie Li comes from a common background, but he is a Soul Master, so he can't understand Niu Dahuang's situation.

"What is Cheng Laoda's Soul Power Level?"

Niu Dahuang heard that and felt a thrill.

If the other side only wants a soul bone, they would certainly agree first, letting themselves steal the soul bone, rather than ask.

It seems he is about to act; I will deliberately misstate Cheng Laoda's Soul Power Level, prompting him to clash desperately with Cheng Laoda, preferably ending in a double defeat, so that whatever soul bone that is will become mine.

Niu Dahuang began to do his little calculations in his mind.

"One Ring Soul Master, Soul Power Level seems to be Level 17."

Watching Tie Li exhale a sigh of relief, Niu Dahuang praised his own wit in his mind, such a young Soul Master is easy to fool at a glance, just as I thought.

"Alright, I agree."

"Fine, I'll go fetch the soul bone right now."

Tie Li watched his departing back, his gaze gradually turned cold.

If the soul bone you bring back is fake, you can still survive; if it's a genuine soul bone, don't blame me.

One soul bone's value is so great it can make Tie Li lower his bottom line.

For an ordinarily gifted Tie Li, a soul bone can change everything, giving him the qualification to chase a genius's pace and to vie for opportunities.

(End of chapter)