Chapter 20: True and False Rumors

Tie Li still decides to stealthily follow behind Niu Dahuang to investigate.

Niu Dahuang is an ordinary person who doesn't know the value of a soul bone; Cheng Laoda is a genuine Soul Master, how could he not know the value of a soul bone? And how could he let a Niu Dahuang steal it?

At this moment Niu Dahuang is still excited, fantasizing about the scene where he becomes the boss later, when he will be a person of standing and reputation.

Only when he sees Cheng Laoda's residence does he pull his thoughts back.

As usual, he slips in through a side door of the mansion.

A slightly plump noblewoman applies makeup before a mirror, with boxes of costly rouge and powder arrayed before her.

Just as she concentrates on her makeup, a familiar touch is felt on her abdomen.

"In broad daylight, why are you here? When did your nerve grow so bold?" a hint of coy shyness flashes across the woman's face.

"Didn't you last time ask me to find an outside Soul Master to deal with Cheng Laoda?"

"You actually found one? How strong is he, can he handle Cheng Laoda?" the woman says excitedly.

But before they get far, a figure appears outside the door, a silhouette that makes them shiver at that moment.

The figure looks skinny, with dark, dry skin, and only its eyes betray a ruthless hue.

"So it's indeed the cheating husband and the lewd wife."

"Boss… I came looking for you, I accidentally entered the wrong room, I…" Niu Dahuang tries to explain, but Cheng Laoda cuts him off.

"Do you think I know nothing in ordinary times?"

"Since you know, why…" the woman can't understand; having known the filthy deeds between her and his subordinates, why didn't she stop it, and instead let it go on so long?

"Because of your elder brother, you thought the soul bone was real? They're all fake; I used them to deceive you. I originally thought you'd only tell your brother, but you even told him."

"Then what are you now…" Suddenly, the woman realizes, this is all Cheng Laoda's scheme; once you grasp one point, the rest becomes clear.

"He learned I have a soul bone, immediately gathered his subordinates, intending to ambush me, but he didn't know I had already set a trap waiting for him;

I'll send you to meet him now; perhaps he's just set out, and then you can have a proper talk with your brother."

Two white Soul Rings emerge beneath Cheng Laoda, a layer of gray fur covers his body, and his sharp canines have grown down to his lower jaw.

"Gek—"

The sharp teeth bite off the neck of the cheating husband and lewd wife, a bloody scene naturally falls before Tie Li's eyes.

Tie Li didn't expect the soul bone rumor to be false, that it was used to frame him… No, his words have a flaw; why must it involve a soul bone?

There are many treasures that can make these underground rats turn vicious, why did he pick the most precious soul bone?

A lowly Soul Master, a treasure worth a fortune would make them flock to it; but receiving news of a supreme treasure, a relic possibly unattainable in a lifetime, instead breeds doubt.

Tie Li finds this very problematic.

"Bang—"

Tie Li crushes a roof tile underfoot and lands before Cheng Laoda.

"Oh? I thought after you learned the soul bone rumor was false you'd leave directly; we both know each other well enough to pretend ignorance, isn't that fine?"

"Where is the soul bone?" Tie Li asks outright.

"Ha ha, you really believe it. Even if I ran onto the street shouting I have a soul bone, people would think I'm mad; you actually believe it, ha ha ha, how laughable."

"Just now I only believed 50%, now I believe 80%."

"Oh?"

Cheng Laoda stops laughing, a chill appears in his eyes.

"You, who trusts no one, with something as important as a soul bone, you certainly wouldn't hide it there; if my guess is right, the soul bone is on you, right?"

Just as Tie Li finishes speaking, Cheng Laoda's First Soul Ring ignites, white light envelops him, and his speed bursts instantly.

"Zzz—"

Tie Li's right hand emits a Lightning Light, revealing within it a Forging Hammer; the hammer's body bears scale‑like ripples that, under the lightning's tempering, writhe like a Thunder Python.

A yellow Soul Ring floats up and down the hammer, dazzling brightly.

First Soul Technique, Lightning Hammer!

The Forging Hammer is sheathed in Lightning Armor, covering every part, spreading from the head to the handle, crawling up Tie Li's right hand that grips the handle, reaching his forearm.

Besides the hammer's Lightning Armor, Tie Li's forearm also gains a layer of Lightning Armor.

Cheng Laoda's speed burst in that instant is swift, but Tie Li's eyes clearly catch it.

The Lightning Hammer tears through the air with a "whoosh" sound; its power is formidable and carries high lightning damage.

Sensing danger, Cheng Laoda's Second Soul Ring ignites; his slender forelimb suddenly swells, the reinforced rat claw aiming to pierce Tie Li's body first.

"Bang—"

The Lightning Hammer meets no resistance; a single strike shatters Cheng Laoda's head, the erupting lightning ravages his body, instantly turning it to charred black.

Before Cheng Laoda dies, disbelief fills his pupils; his rat claw is blocked by a hard substance.

Tie Li's Iron Inner Armor, which he constantly wears, would deter a Hundred‑Year Soul Technique opponent, but the opponent is only a Grand Soul Master with two Ten‑Year Soul Rings.

This Iron Inner Armor wasn't forged from ordinary iron blocks; Tie Niu, in forging it, incorporated iron essence.

Tie Li glances at his right arm cloaked in Lightning Armor, attempting to shift the Lightning Hammer to his left arm.

Sure enough, the Lightning Armor on his right arm quickly sheds, while the left arm holding the hammer spreads a layer of Lightning Armor.

Don't be fooled by Cheng Laoda's higher Soul Power Level; his bodily resilience is certainly inferior to yours, especially now, after cultivating with the Thousand‑Year Thunder Python Inner Pill, each increase in Soul Power brings body attributes far beyond before.

Now at Level 17 Soul Power Level, his bodily strength rivals that of a Level 20 offensive Grand Soul Master.

Recalling his martial soul, Tie Li approaches Cheng Laoda's corpse and begins searching.

"Nothing?"

Immediately, Tie Li spots a ring on his right index finger and removes it.

"Sure enough, it's a Storage Soul Guide Device." Tie Li feels pleased; he hadn't expected even a city boss could obtain a Storage Soul Guide Device.

By attaching his spiritual power to the storage ring, one can discern the items within the storage space.

Although it's only a one‑cubic storage space, for me now it's completely sufficient.

"Is this it?"

Tie Li saw an iron box, and a faint soul power fluctuation emanated from within.

(End of chapter)