Martial Soul Mutation had always been an unavoidable topic in the world of Soul Masters, evoking both fear and anticipation among them.
If one was fortunate enough to experience a Positive Mutation, it would be an immense boon, potentially elevating a Soul Master to new heights in a single leap. However, an Adverse Mutation would only bring misfortune, leaving one to curse the heavens in frustration.
Tang San felt uneasy as he carefully manipulated his Blue Silver Grass to test its functions, only to find that its basic abilities remained unchanged. This left him somewhat puzzled.
A Martial Soul Mutation inevitably brought about some alterations—was there something he had yet to discover?
Unwilling to give up, and sensing no immediate danger around him, Tang San proceeded to test each of his Blue Silver Grass's Soul Skills one by one. Aside from the grass becoming more resilient, he found no other distinctive changes.
Suddenly, when the Blue Silver Grass came into contact with some half-dead small bats on the ground, a transformation occurred. A surge of life force flowed into his body, gradually converting into Soul Power.
"This—" Tang San's eyes gleamed with intensity, his hands trembling slightly with excitement.
Having the Eight Spider Lances, he understood all too well what this meant. Unlike his External Soul Bone, which required conversion, the Blue Silver Grass could directly transform an opponent's life force into Soul Power without any intermediate process.
This was no place to let his guard down. Tang San struggled to suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, though his heart burned with fervor.
The path ahead became much easier. With his Flying Sky God Claw, he faced little challenge, and no monsters crossed his path along the way.
"Is this the Road to Hell?The ease of his progress instead dampened his earlier excitement, gradually giving way to heightened vigilance.
Sometimes, smooth sailing often hinted at significant dangers lying in wait ahead.
"A great battle took place here, and the combatants must have been enormous." Tang San's expression grew solemn as he observed the bloodstained, scarred rock walls.
Aware of this, he proceeded with even greater caution, slowing his pace considerably.
Gradually, the air grew scorching hot, and an overwhelming sense of oppression instantly enveloped him. Affected by this, the killing intent within Tang San involuntarily surged forth.
Feelings of restlessness and rage frequently surfaced in his mind.
"This is bad! I must pass through this area quickly." A sense of urgency gripped Tang San as he activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to hasten forward.
He could no longer afford to worry about the dangers ahead. He sensed an evil aura permeating the area—if he remained under its influence for too long, his mind would become disordered, and he might never escape.
"So this is the most perilous part of the Road to Hell!"
The scenery on both sides rushed past as the air grew increasingly hotter. Correspondingly, the surrounding red mist thickened.
Tang San quickly channeled his Mysterious Heavenly Skill to resist, but the effect was minimal. He realized that this place primarily targeted one's spirit, and the more distracted his thoughts, the greater the impact.
His vision gradually tinged with crimson; only by continuously using Purple Demon Eyes could he find some relief.
But Tang San's spiritual power was finite—he couldn't sustain the use of his ocular ability indefinitely.
A malevolent thought sprouted from within, dredging up all the setbacks and resentment he had experienced since childhood. It grew rapidly, and gradually, Tang San lost himself...
In a void at the edge of the God Realm, the Rakshasa God suddenly opened her eyes. She sensed that the trap she had left in Slaughter City had been triggered once again.
With keen interest, she cast her gaze down to the mortal realm. "That old fogey Asura God really has all the luck. He doesn't have to lift a finger, and these geniuses just line up at his door one after another."
"But this works out well for me too—saves me the trouble of wasting my own time." The Rakshasa God carefully observed the situation below, taking care to avoid creating too much disturbance that might alert the Asura God.
"Another Twin Spirits possessor. But by the look of him, he doesn't seem like some kind-hearted devotee either. How intriguing."
After scrutinizing Tang San inside and out, a smile played on the Rakshasa God's lips as she began to ponder. "His aptitude is decent, and his Martial Soul has some advantages. But now that Bibidong has a high chance of passing her God Trial, it's really not an easy choice. Still, no matter what, I can't let the Asura God benefit from this!"
"Got it." A sudden flash of inspiration struck the Rakshasa God, and her smile widened. She had just thought of an amusing idea.
Down in the mortal realm, Slaughter City.
[Worship me, and you shall gain boundless power.]
The crimson mist grew deeper in hue, and a divine voice abruptly echoed in Tang San's mind. The sudden intrusion actually jolted him back to brief clarity.
Along with the voice came a surge of pure, potent energy.
He could clearly sense the immense strength of this power, fundamentally different from that of a Soul Master.
As if guided by some unseen force, a divine whisper recounted to him the history of the gods.
Legends of deities had long circulated across the continent, though few knew much about them. Yet, Tang San's intuition told him that the voice in his mind was real.
I've actually made contact with a god! If I can obtain this kind of power, who in the entire continent could possibly stand against me?
Tang San's eyes turned bloodshot, his heart inexplicably surging with excitement. This meant his future would no longer be confined to the system of Soul Masters—he could reach even higher realms.
Li Xun, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the empires, and the Spirit Hall—all would eventually grovel at his feet. His circumstances, and those of his sect, would undergo earth-shattering changes.
His heart burning with fervor, Tang San reached out with his spiritual energy to touch that power and conveyed his thoughts: "Respected Rakshasa God, I pledge my lifelong devotion to you..."
[Very well. But before you, others have also received my trial. You must prove your worth.]
Tang San's heart tightened momentarily before understanding dawned. A powerful deity would naturally not have only one successor. "Of course. I will prove to you how right your choice is."
As his words faded, a stream of information flooded his mind, and a mark suddenly materialized on his forehead.
[First Trial of the Rakshasa God's Eight Trials: Devour the life force of one hundred beings.]
When Tang San processed this information, he froze in place. Was this a trial issued by a god?
Perhaps sensing his confusion, another piece of information flashed through his mind, detailing the authority of the Rakshasa God.
"A god of evil?" Tang San fell into deep thought, but after a moment, his resolve solidified. "Power itself is neither good nor evil—it is defined by how it is used. As long as I remain true to my heart, even a god of evil can become a god of righteousness."
In the God Realm, the Rakshasa God couldn't help but burst into laughter upon seeing Tang San's thoughts, finding it all immensely entertaining.
Stretching lazily, "It's been a long time since I've encountered such an amusing toy. Seems even more interesting than that Bibidong."
"Oh my! Found out so quickly?" Noticing the anomaly in the God Realm, the Rakshasa God smirked, then tore open a rift in the void and slipped through, leaving only an afterimage behind.
Shortly after the Rakshasa God departed, an attack landed, shattering the space and obliterating the afterimage. A tall figure emerged from nearby: "They say never a third time, Rakshasa God!"
(End of Chapter)