Chapter 145: Fifth Soul Skill: Red Blood Thunder Sword

As the Soul Ring energy surged in, Yang Xiong's body seemed on the verge of collapse in that instant.

Not only his skin was struck as if by lightning, but all of it seemed to begin cracking.

Lightning coursed through his entire body, like an ultimate electric shock; his bones, blood, even marrow seemed to lose all control in that moment.

Yang Xiong felt his whole body on the brink of collapse, especially as a massive Red Blood Thunder Dragon appeared in his mind, as if ready to devour it; before that terrifying lightning, the once silver giant seemed exceedingly tiny.

At this critical moment, a burst of blue light emanated from his right leg, gradually enveloping his entire body.

Yang Xiong's body seemed to be collapsing and healing repeatedly, tearing back and forth.

Especially the sensation of the lightning felt like returning to the final moment of his past life, a flash filled with despair.

At the crucial moment, the Soul Power within Yang Xiong began to circulate involuntarily, like a massive Tai Chi; even when faced with endless lightning, it seemed unresponsive, and his body gradually steadied.

Similarly in his mind, the silver giant acted as a focal point, while his thoughts formed a huge Bagua diagram, with the silver giant positioned at its exact center.

Even when confronting the colossal Red Blood Thunder Dragon as thunderous as lightning, the silver giant remained stubbornly unyielding, its silhouette raising its head and howling, as if defying fate.

Standing nearby, Lin Gong watched Yang Xiong's condition with great worry; at that moment Yang Xiong looked terribly miserable, with blood oozing from all seven orifices, cracked skin, and his whole body blackened like charcoal, the blood instantly turned to ash under the lightning, emitting a scent reminiscent of grilled meat.

Even Lin Gong found it odd that, despite Yang Xiong being in mortal danger, the Soul Power in the surrounding air began to fluctuate.

With Yang Xiong's body as the core, a radius of about ten meters seemed to form a massive Bagua diagram, as if merging with the heavens and earth.

It took several full days for Yang Xiong's Soul Power to gradually calm, and the Soul Ring's energy began to solidify within his Body martial soul.

When Yang Xiong opened his eyes again, Lin Gong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Yang Xiong felt his body immensely comfortable at that moment, as if he had undergone electrotherapy, with every cell seeming considerably stronger.

Lin Gong stared at Yang Xiong with a bizarre gaze, thinking the fellow didn't seem like an ordinary person; at least a normal person couldn't reach such intensity with a fifth Soul Ring.

Yang Xiong hurriedly asked, "Teacher Lin, how long did it take me to absorb the Soul Ring this time? Why does your gaze seem off?"

Lin Gong snorted coldly, "You look quite pleased; I think you should first check your own appearance."

Yang Xiong quickly produced a mirror to examine himself; indeed his current look was extremely unsightly, his hair on his head struck by lightning, resembling rows of steel needles.

His entire body was now blackened, emitting a faint aroma of grilled meat.

Especially, Yang Xiong felt his stature had increased, now over 1.9 meters, and his muscles seemed slightly shrunken, not as swollen as before, yet his strength appeared qualitatively enhanced.

Seeing his own reflection left Yang Xiong speechless; he promptly took some clear water from his Soul Guidance Device to wash his body and changed into a brand‑new set of clothes.

After the wash, Yang Xiong and Lin Gong swiftly dissected the corpse of the Red Blood Thunder Dragon.

When the dissection was complete, Yang Xiong was surprised to find a blood‑red Right Arm Soul Bone within the Red Thunder Dragon.

However, Yang Xiong had little interest in this Lightning‑Attribute soul bone, and none of those nearby seemed to be a Lightning‑type Soul Grandmaster.

Finally, Yang Xiong collected the soul bone and, together with Lin Gong, prepared to leave the Star Dou Great Forest.

This absorption of the Soul Ring took a full two days; his Soul Power rose to level 53, and he also obtained a soul skill he had long coveted.

Body martial soul's fifth Soul Ring skill: Red Blood Thunder Sword. Activating the Soul Ring skill condenses a sword over 1.5 meters long, entirely blood‑red, its surface cloaked in terrifying lightning energy.

Moreover, the Red Blood Thunder Sword's weight is not fixed; it increases with Yang Xiong's strength and Soul Power. Though he is only level 53, the sword already exceeds two thousand jin, possesses the Red Blood Thunder Dragon's lightning energy, is extremely sharp, can bypass an opponent's defense, and even has a paralyzing effect.

Yang Xiong was very satisfied with this soul skill; across the Douluo Continent, soul skills that can become weapons are exceedingly rare, possessed only by Tang San and Qian Renxue, thanks to their martial souls.

Yang Xiong deliberately chose the Red Blood Thunder Dragon for his fifth Soul Ring, considering that, according to Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect records, the dragon's bloodline is robust and its strength extraordinary.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan once produced a Soul Grandmaster who absorbed a Red Blood Thunder Dragon Soul Ring to obtain a weapon‑type soul skill; that individual was one of the clan's historical Sect Leaders.

After the two left the Star Dou Great Forest, Lin Gong appeared unusually solemn.

"Xiao Xiong, are you really planning to go there right now? That place is fraught with danger; legend says almost everyone who goes never returns. In the past hundred years, only two have survived the journey."

Yang Xiong nodded, "Teacher, I intend to head to Killing City immediately; from then on, whether it's the Body Sect or the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, please look after them for me."

"If a major change occurs, take those people and hide; we'll deal with everything after I emerge from Killing City."

Lin Gong sighed, "I know I can't stop you, but Killing City is unlike any other; you don't even have a Head Soul Bone now—aren't you afraid you'll get completely lost inside?"

Yang Xiong laughed, "Teacher Lin, would I still care about the minor interferences in Killing City? Yang Wudi must have told you—I am now immune to all poisons; even Dugu Bo's Poison Array can't affect me. I can certainly survive Killing City and return alive."

Lin Gong seemed a bit helpless, "Why go through all this? Both the Body Sect and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect are developing well; Dragon Gong and I are confident we can reach Title Douluo within two years."

Yang Xiong's expression grew solemn, "Teacher Lin, I've always regarded you as true family. I have an unavoidable reason to go to Killing City, and I must go quickly, otherwise I fear something might happen."

"As for you and Dragon Gong obtaining Soul Rings, when the Five Great Elders act together, and if one of my two teachers joins, any Soul Ring under one hundred thousand years should be easily captured."

Lin Gong chuckled, "You really think of us as a bunch of ordinary old men; does this really require a kid like you to help?"

"Actually, I've long prepared for Soul Beasts; Dragon Gong already has a target. Now it's a matter of who can first break through to Title Douluo."

"By the way, have you told your family you're going to Killing City? You know they're worried about you."

Yang Xiong shook his head, "I only discussed this with my teacher Sword Douluo; he also supports my going to Killing City. Moreover, I haven't trained in vain this year—my attack and defense have both improved. At my current strength, beneath Soul Saint there should be no one who can match me."

"If I employ all means, perhaps even some weak newly‑entered Soul Saints wouldn't be my opponents."

"In the coming years, please, Teacher Lin, help protect my family; I don't want to emerge from Killing City to find my home gone."

Lin Gong gave Yang Xiong a blunt retort, "Isn't it just protecting a few of your relatives? Rest assured, I can handle that."

After more than ten days of travel, the two walked westward toward Heaven Dou City, eventually arriving at the legendary black town.

This was the entrance to Killing City; such entrances are common in the Two Great Empires, mostly used by refugees, and very few actually return.

A hint of worry appeared on Lin Gong's face, "I can only escort you this far; the rest you must walk alone. Remember, no one is trustworthy in Killing City—it's filled with the world's most evil people, who will do anything to survive..."

Yang Xiong laughed: "Teacher Lin, you should be clear, I... "

After the discussion, Yang Xiong strode toward the only tavern at the town's center; his normally calm face turned extremely serious, even bearing a hint of killing intent.

This is the result of two years of hard training; the two Sword Bone Douluo teachers gave Yang Xiong the harshest regimen. In terms of both offense and defense, within the Soul Emperor there is no longer any opponent, especially as his offensive methods have multiplied.

Frequent hand‑to‑hand combat with Soul Beasts serves as instinctual training; especially those brutal battles make one become exceedingly ferocious.

Just as Yang Xiong prepared to enter Killing City, in a secluded spot of the Fasinuo Xingsheng of Balak Kingdom there lay a massive waterfall, its surroundings sparsely populated; only Soul Masters could even reach this place.

Below the waterfall, Tang San was frantically swinging a wooden hammer in the current, but his cultivation progressed extremely slowly.

Compared with the original work, Tang San lacks Ice Fire Tempering Body, making his physique far weaker, and also lacks the Head Soul Bone awarded in the Soul Master Competition—a prized bone coveted by countless people.

Whether in physical quality or other aspects, the gap remains quite large.

Tang San spent a full eight months before he could use the iron hammer to execute the 99‑81‑strike Chaotic Splitting Hammer Technique.

After switching to a wooden hammer, even the basics are very difficult, let alone fully performing the 99‑81‑strike.

Tang Hao couldn't help shaking his head; in his view Tang San's talent remains unrivaled, but because the Clear Sky Hammer does not absorb the Soul Ring, its power at this stage is still rather limited.

However, Tang San trains beneath the waterfall, and his soul power increase is quite rapid; in just one year he rose a full six levels, reaching level 47 in soul power.

Tang Hao is relatively satisfied with Tang San's soul power increase, but is less pleased with Tang San's use of the Clear Sky Hammer; given the current situation, it would take at least three years to meet his expectations.

That day, after Tang San finished his training, Tang Hao called him over to the side of the pond.

"Little San, you have worked extremely hard this past year, but you still need to devote more thought to the application of hammer techniques. The Chaotic Splitting Hammer Technique is the culmination of the Clear Sky Hammer's hammer methods. Though you have achieved some results, your body is still lacking; after all, you are only fifteen years old."

Tang San hurriedly replied, "Father, I will certainly deepen my understanding of the Chaotic Splitting Hammer Technique and will never disappoint you."

Tang Hao nodded, "You have always put me at ease; in comparison, you need some other things as well."

Tang Hao took out an object and handed it to Tang San; even though Tang San's mental age exceeds thirty, his heart was immensely excited.

(End of chapter)