Chapter Ninety: The Deal

In Jing Hao’s stunned gaze, the silver flames suddenly shattered with a bang, dissolving into a rain of shimmering silver droplets that filled the air. That proud and unyielding young figure toppled straight over like a wooden post, sending up a cloud of dust.

Jing Hao’s heart tightened in alarm; with a tap of his foot, he dashed toward Tang Tian. Suddenly, a silhouette flashed before him—an icy, murderous aura surged straight in his face, making the hair on his arms stand on end. He halted abruptly, cold sweat prickling his skin.

A strange soul general blocked his path.

This soul general looked bizarre, especially his face, which was as flat as paper, his features appearing as if they’d been painted on. Jing Hao had never seen a soul general so peculiar, but he dared not underestimate him—the killing intent emanating from this figure was solid as needles, stabbing straight into his heart.

So strong!

A chill crept into Jing Hao’s heart. The strength of this soul general was so profound he couldn’t even begin to fathom it.

“I mean no harm,” Jing Hao said, taking a step back, his gaze never leaving the soul general.

The soul general said nothing, but the murderous aura did not diminish in the slightest.

Jing Hao felt somewhat reassured. If Tang Tian’s soul general was guarding him, it meant Tang Tian must not be in any immediate danger. Still, he was quietly amazed—Tang Tian had such a formidable soul general, yet had never revealed the slightest clue before. Clearly, this young man’s background was far from simple. All the better, Jing Hao thought with a flash of satisfaction. Tang Tian now belonged to their faction; the stronger and more distinguished Tang Tian was, the better it would be for them!

Much of Jing Hao’s standing in the Martial Assembly was owed to his teacher. Though his own abilities were decent, his youth meant he still needed time to truly establish himself. Drawing powerful allies was key to solidifying his place within both the Assembly and his faction.

Moreover...

His gaze remained locked on the soul-forging device lying on the ground.

The energy storm just now, that surge tearing through the rift, still made his heart tremble at the memory.

Soul Tempering!

Tang Tian actually possessed the technique of tempering the soul!

When the silver flames had dispersed, Jing Hao had clearly seen a strand of soul essence merge into Tang Tian’s body. Though it had not yet taken full shape, it shone with a silvery light.

A Silver Soul General!

This, more than anything, was what Jing Hao truly coveted. His teacher had long ago taught him how to cultivate soul essence, admonishing him to pursue it diligently. Jing Hao had never slacked off, yet even now he only possessed a Bronze Soul. He understood well how difficult soul cultivation was; to him, Silver Soul was a distant dream.

His teacher once said that upon breaking through to Silver Soul, the true power of the soul would gradually manifest.

His teacher never elaborated on what those powers were, but Jing Hao could sense that Silver Soul held mysteries all its own. More incredible still, Tang Tian was only at the fourth rank, and had already condensed his soul. And now, with only fourth-rank strength, he had forged a Silver Soul. Had Jing Hao not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed it.

It must be that device…

Jing Hao’s gaze burned with intensity as he stared at the soul-forging tool. Tang Tian’s ability to forge a Silver Soul had to be thanks to that thing! Legend held that during the era of the Three Great Legions, the Southern Cross Legion had possessed something similar. The Martial Assembly had invested heavily in trying to recreate such artifacts—many had tried every means imaginable, but none had succeeded to this day.

And yet, he had witnessed it with his own eyes.

Jing Hao was no schemer, but he was not a fool. He had no intention of seizing it by force—the soul general guarding Tang Tian was far too powerful, and their faction tended toward moderation. In such matters, they would usually attempt a trade. From what he knew, the soul-forging device could only be used once. For Tang Tian, it was now useless. Jing Hao was confident he could negotiate for it; with his teacher’s backing, his own resources far exceeded those of most.

Moreover, Jing Hao had already decided: if he obtained the soul-forging device, he would gift it to his teacher. He knew his own status within the Assembly was not yet high enough; if he handed it over himself, the rewards he’d receive would be modest. His teacher, as a core member, would earn far greater rewards. And if his teacher secured a firm foothold, Jing Hao’s own benefits would certainly increase.

He must have a good talk with Tang Tian soon.

※※※

No one knew how much time had passed before Tang Tian slowly awakened.

Upon waking, Tang Tian saw his soul general standing guard before him, and Jing Hao still keeping his distance. A warm feeling rose in his heart. Uncle Bing really was dependable after all…

He rolled up swiftly and called out, “Hey, Uncle Bing!” Then he waved at Jing Hao in the distance. “Brother Jing Hao!”

Jing Hao brightened as Tang Tian awoke. “Congratulations! To forge a Silver Soul at the fourth rank—Brother Tang, you’re the very first! Your future is truly limitless!”

Bing, seeing Tang Tian was awake, drifted silently behind him, his face expressionless.

As Bing withdrew, Jing Hao instantly felt the oppressive pressure lift. He let out a sigh of relief, but his heart was still filled with awe. Other than his own teacher, no one had ever made him feel such intensity! Yet, by all rights, a soul general should not surpass its master’s rank by more than one level…

Jing Hao found Tang Tian and his soul general increasingly inscrutable. He shook his head, pushing the thought aside, and looked at Tang Tian with burning eyes. “Brother Tang, might I ask, is that device a soul-forging tool?”

Behind Tang Tian, Bing whispered in a voice as soft as an ant’s, “There’s no harm in telling him.”

Tang Tian immediately understood and nodded. “Yes, that’s the soul-forging device of the Southern Cross Legion.”

Joy flashed across Jing Hao’s face; though he tried to restrain himself, his delight was written all over his features. “I never imagined Brother Tang would possess such an artifact! They say it can only be used once per person—is that true?”

“That’s right,” Tang Tian confirmed with a nod.

Jing Hao’s excitement deepened. “Would Brother Tang be willing to part with it?” He quickly added, “Name your price—if I can’t decide, I’ll consult my teacher.”

“You can agree,” Bing whispered behind Tang Tian.

Tang Tian caught the hint and replied, “I have no idea what it’s worth, Brother Jing Hao. You decide.”

Jing Hao hadn’t expected Tang Tian to toss the decision back to him. He was a straightforward man, and now he was a bit at a loss. After a moment’s thought, he said, “It’s difficult for me to estimate the value of the soul-forging device. How about this: I’ll give you a set of gold cards as a deposit, and the rest of the payment my teacher will provide. Rest assured, my teacher is a man of integrity—he would never take advantage of you.”

Tang Tian’s eyes lit up. “Gold cards?”

Seeing Tang Tian’s interest, Jing Hao relaxed a little. “This set of gold cards was left by a senior of mine—three in all, containing his three most skilled martial techniques: Stone Monument Palm, Tan’s Leg, and Vortex Hand. All are fifth-rank, and extremely suitable for you. My teacher will send the rest of the reward soon.”

Bing murmured, “It’s up to you.”

Tang Tian replied without hesitation, “Deal!”

Overjoyed, Jing Hao immediately pulled out three gleaming golden cards and pressed them into Tang Tian’s hands, almost as if afraid he’d change his mind.

The texture of the gold cards was entirely different from that of silver cards—though they looked thin and light, they felt astonishingly heavy in his grip. As he ran his fingers over them, an indescribable feeling welled up inside him.

Tang Tian was deeply moved. So this was what gold cards were like!

“Don’t worry, Brother Tang—my teacher’s message will arrive very soon,” Jing Hao assured him, his eyes still glued to the soul-forging device.

Tang Tian grinned broadly and waved his hand. “I trust you, Brother Jing Hao—it’s yours now!”

Jing Hao hurried over, lifting the soul-forging tool with great care.

“I won’t disturb your training any longer!” he said, making his farewells.

Tang Tian was also eager to test his new abilities, so he replied, “Of course, Brother Jing Hao.”

As Jing Hao’s figure disappeared, Tang Tian asked Bing curiously, “Is it really all right to give him the soul-forging tool?”

“It’s fine,” Bing replied indifferently. “In truth, its usefulness is quite limited. Back in the legions, it was an ordinary apparatus. After all, it can only be used once by any given person.”

There was one thing Bing didn’t mention—not everyone was as monstrous as Tang Tian.

Relieved, Tang Tian suddenly thought of something and quickly asked, “How long did I last?”

“You held on half an hour longer than me,” Bing replied lightly.

“Only half an hour longer?” Tang Tian looked thoroughly disappointed.

Bing nearly coughed up blood, barely restraining the urge to slap that cheeky face into the distance.

Don’t stoop to this crazy teenager’s level… don’t stoop to this crazy teenager’s level…

Bing repeated it over and over in his heart.

Tang Tian tilted his head, his voice full of deep regret. “Only half an hour more—it doesn’t show off how amazing I am at all!”

Silently, Bing continued his mantra: Don’t stoop to his level… don’t stoop to his level…

“Hey, come to think of it, your legion’s standards aren’t that high! I lasted two and a half hours without breaking a sweat. That means… wow, I’m incredible! As expected of a godlike youth! Singlehandedly defeating the entire Southern Cross Legion—wahaha!”

Tang Tian was beaming with pride, grinning from ear to ear.

Bing’s thick brows twitched twice. He knew all too well—this was the face of a scoundrel flushed with success.

※※※

Recruit Training Camp, Endurance Training.

Countless balls of light rained down like a storm, but Tang Tian’s defense was impenetrable.

He was like a rock in a raging sea, unmoved no matter how fierce the waves became.

His expression was calm and composed, none of his usual fluster on display. His movements flowed like water; though his speed had not increased noticeably, every action was perfectly timed and executed. The difficulty of the training had already been doubled compared to his usual regimen.

Tang Tian felt an extraordinary sensitivity to everything around him.

Having forged the Silver Soul, his intuition had reached levels he could hardly imagine.

The number of light spheres continued to increase, steadily raising the difficulty.

Tang Tian remained composed throughout—twenty minutes in, he showed no sign of fatigue.

The spheres of light fell like rain, their density reaching a truly unnerving level.

Finally, Tang Tian’s defense was breached—a sphere of light struck his wrist with a sharp crack.

“Aaah!” Tang Tian’s anguished cry was drowned out by the deluge of light spheres.

The taste of vengeance really was satisfying!

Bing let out a sinister chuckle.

Yet after laughing, Bing’s heart could not settle. Fivefold—the difficulty of this endurance training had increased five times before Tang Tian’s defense finally faltered, and this was only his first session after breaking through. Once he adapted to his heightened intuition, he’d surely last even longer.

To think—someone whose senses were already so keen, now five times sharper…

Truly terrifying!