Soul and spirit annihilated.
The middle-aged man's eyes dimmed, no longer able to maintain the state of his Blue Peng True Body. He reverted to human form and fell from high in the sky, swallowed by the residual high-temperature air waves left behind by the level-6 high-explosive fixed soul cannon.
This was the terror of fixed soul cannons. Even with the middle-aged man's Soul Sage-level cultivation, if directly hit by this level-6 high-explosive fixed soul cannon, the only outcome would be death. He had released his martial soul and ascended into the sky at the first moment, distancing himself from the explosion center of this level-6 high-explosive fixed soul cannon, and had used his Martial Soul True Body to withstand the explosion's high temperature, which was how he barely survived.
As for the others, including those Horned Scale Horses, they were directly melted by that terrifying high temperature.
From the very beginning, when designing the Thunder Rocket, Xu Zihuang had the idea of connecting a fixed soul cannon to the front of the Thunder Rocket. After a period of experimentation, he finally completed it.
Relying on the special properties of the rare metal alloy Thunder Flame Gold as the main material for the core array, it guided the soul power stored in the charging array to activate the fixed soul cannon at the front section of the Thunder Rocket.
Through this multi-stage combination, the maximum strike distance of this Thunder Rocket could reach an astonishing fifteen kilometers.
One should know that the range of a typical level-6 fixed soul cannon was only around eight to ten kilometers.
However, compared to ordinary fixed soul cannons, calibrating this improved high-explosive Thunder Rocket was much more difficult. Because during the flight after being shot, it underwent three stages of acceleration, making it hard to grasp the trajectory. The reason Xu Zihuang could precisely hit the target was entirely due to the coordination between his tangible and qualitative realm spiritual force release perception ability, and the innate ability of his Golden Eyes martial soul.
But if it were just for fire coverage, this issue wouldn't exist.
Moreover, after pre-charging soul power into the charging array on the core array of this Thunder Rocket, it could be launched with an ordinary crossbow. Of course, in that case, it would lack the first acceleration from the Wind-Breaking Bow as well as the effects of silencing sound and concealing aura, but the impact on range and power wasn't too significant.
The north wind howled past, dispersing the smoke and dust in the northwest direction. The high-temperature air waves merged into the north wind and assaulted head-on, causing the surrounding temperature to rapidly rise.
Xu Zihuang calmly put away the Wind-Breaking Bow into his storage soul guide, and the three purple, two black, and one red, six soul rings that were enough to shock anyone, also converged around him.
Lang Ya, Wei Na, Mu Xue, and Mo Feiyun, however, remained stunned for a long time, looking at Xu Zihuang with eyes as if gazing at a monster.
"A 100,000-year sixth soul ring?! One move to instantly kill a Soul Sage?!" It was as if two voices were constantly echoing in their minds. Those who hadn't deeply studied soul guides might not immediately recognize the special and perverted aspects of the Thunder Rocket, but those two points were the most direct manifestations.
Originally, Wei Na had thought that the number one genius of their Body Sect's younger generation, Long Aotian, could compete with Yu Tianhuang in talent and strength. However, now Yu Tianhuang had proven with ironclad facts that he was the unparalleled genius of this era.
A heavenly proud son who suppressed an entire era single-handedly.
Absorbing and fusing a 100,000-year soul ring at level 60—this was something even their Body Sect's sect master, Poison Death, hadn't achieved. Add to that the golden-level second awakening ability of his innate martial soul and the suspected ultimate thunder attribute variant Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon as his second martial soul; the future was destined to be Yu Tianhuang's era.
Xu Zihuang sat back down, as if he had done something insignificant, picked up the porcelain cup, and continued savoring the rich, fragrant tea within.
"A 100,000-year sixth soul ring, how did you do it?" Mu Xue no longer maintained her previous cold demeanor; her facial expression was extraordinarily vivid, and even her voice carried a slight tremor. Clearly, Yu Tianhuang was sitting right across from her, yet she always felt an unreal quality. It seemed as though the youth before her eyes, and she existed in two different worlds.
Xu Zihuang smiled faintly, his tone flat without the slightest hint of boasting.
"Perhaps my innate talent is relatively good."
In Mu Xue's dark eyes, reflecting Xu Zihuang's gentle smile, she couldn't help but feel dazed. Soul masters all admired the strong, especially a proud daughter of heaven like her, born into a soul master clan with outstanding talent.
In some aspects, Mu Xue and Ning Tian actually shared many similarities.
Wei Na, beside them, took in the interaction between the two, her soft eyes shimmering with fluorescence, unsure what she was thinking. However, her gaze lingered more on Xu Zihuang.
Mo Feiyun, having calmed his surging emotions, deeply looked at Xu Zihuang once before probing.
"Little brother Yu, those people earlier, were they hit by that fixed soul cannon of yours?"
"Mm, that was a level-6 high-explosive fixed soul cannon. Aside from that, Soul Sage, the others can't have survived it." Xu Zihuang nodded.
Mo Feiyun asked with great concern: "Then how did you lock onto the target from such a great distance?"
The Heavenly Soul Empire had always been the most resistant to soul guides; traditional soul masters like Mo Feiyun, coming from soul master clans, were especially so. But today, having personally witnessed the astonishing power and long-range strike effect of the fixed soul cannon, a trace of wavering appeared in his heart.
If it were him caught off guard and approached by that level-6 high-explosive fixed soul cannon, he might not have fared much better than that Blue Peng Soul Sage.
Imagine if he and Yu Tianhuang maintained some distance and engaged in combat.
Even if Yu Tianhuang didn't use his own soul skills, just relying on those arrows connected to fixed soul cannons would be enough to suppress him from start to finish.
"That is the ability of my Golden Eyes martial soul." Xu Zihuang smiled faintly and turned his gaze toward Lang Ya beside him.
"I believe this point shouldn't escape Senior Lang Ya's discerning eyes."
"Tianhuang, the innate ability of your Golden Eyes martial soul is even more powerful than I imagined." Lang Ya sighed bitterly and with annoyance.
"Why didn't our Body Sect find you first back then?"
With his spiritual force also at the tangible and qualitative realm and possessing Titled Douluo cultivation, he saw deeper things.
"However, I still firmly believe that coming to our Body Sect would give you better development." At this point, Lang Ya suddenly switched to spiritual force communication. This was one usage of a tangible and qualitative realm spiritual force, capable even of mind-reading effects within a certain distance.
"Our Body Sect's sect master lineage has passed down a powerful secret method related to the golden-level second awakening of the innate martial soul. If you are willing to join our Body Sect, I believe the sect master would be very happy to teach you this secret method. This secret method will undoubtedly allow you to perfectly develop the potential of your Golden Eyes martial soul."
When he saw Yu Tianhuang's 100,000-year sixth soul ring, he knew that offering other conditions to recruit Yu Tianhuang was no longer very meaningful. The Body Sect had ten thousand years of foundation, but would Shrek Academy lack that?
100,000-year soul rings and soul bones, Shrek Academy could similarly help Yu Tianhuang obtain them, and top-tier cultivation resources wouldn't be lacking either. Thus, he made an exception and revealed this secret known only to the Titled Douluo-level elders of the Body Sect.
Xu Zihuang pondered for a long while, also communicating with Lang Ya via spiritual force.
"Senior Lang Ya, for now, I may not be able to give you a definite answer."
"No rush. If you have an interest in this regard, you can contact us anytime. Our Body Sect will forever welcome your return." Even with Lang Ya's temperament, he couldn't help feeling overjoyed at this moment.
Yu Tianhuang's hesitation precisely proved that the Body Sect's secret method held enormous attraction for him.
In any case, now that Dragon God Douluo had already fallen, there were no longer any concerns for their Body Sect in approaching Yu Tianhuang.
Lang Ya smiled and said to the group: "Alright, it's getting late. Everyone, enter the tents and rest. Tonight's night watch duty will be handled by me."
Lang Ya clearly held the most authority among Wei Na's group. As soon as he spoke, no one raised any objections.
Xu Zihuang was the first to stand, greeted everyone, and then slipped into the leather tent behind him. Mo Feiyun waited until Wei Na and Mu Xue, the two girls, had returned to rest before making his move.
Wei Na and Mu Xue, arm in arm, entered the same tent.
Noticing some unusual behavior from Wei Na, Mu Xue, with her icy countenance, revealed a smile at the corner of her mouth.
"What's wrong? Is Yu Tianhuang really that charming, leaving you so entranced?"
Her thoughts exposed, Wei Na's pretty face flushed slightly as she pouted her red lips: "Sister Xue, you have no room to talk, you were the same earlier, weren't you?"
Mu Xue smiled ambiguously as she leaned close to Wei Na's eyes and shook her head.
"I don't like boys younger than me."
Hearing Mu Xue's words, Wei Na's eyes immediately brightened. Then, realizing belatedly, she also noticed the inexplicable meaning in Mu Xue's eyes.
"So I'm being treated as a hypothetical rival too?" Mu Xue huffed lightly in annoyance and sat cross-legged on the bedding.
Wei Na felt her cheeks burning, smiling as she leaned against Mu Xue's delicate body and sat down. The two were far too familiar; she could naturally tell that Mu Xue wasn't truly angry.
"Sorry, Sister Xue."
After being pestered and playfully tussled with by Wei Na for a while, Mu Xue's deliberately stern expression finally softened.
"Wei Na, with Yu Tianhuang's talent and ability, there definitely won't be a lack of outstanding girls around him. If you like him, you must act early. You're the princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire, so beautiful, and a genius with twin martial souls. As long as you take action, who could compete with you?"
"But... I heard that he and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Ning Tian..." Wei Na was still somewhat hesitant, muttering softly.
Before she could finish, Mu Xue coldly interrupted her.
"Do you think you can't compare to Ning Tian?"
Wei Na was the Heavenly Soul Empire's princess, while Mu Xue and Ning Tian were heirs from top soul master sects near the Heavenly Soul Empire's capital, Heaven Dou City. The three had comparable statuses and had many interactions in their childhood. However, Mu Xue's family had close ties to the Heavenly Soul Empire's imperial family, so her relationship with Wei Na was even closer.
Mu Xue gently stroked Wei Na's fair and delicate cheek.
"With Ning Tian's personality, her initiative in approaching Yu Tianhuang may not be entirely pure."
Wei Na seemed somewhat persuaded, blushing as she whispered: "Sister Xue, then what should I do?"
"Tonight, just stay here with me." Mu Xue's eyes held a smile as she pulled Wei Na into the bedding.
"Mm..."
That night, Wei Na and Mu Xue talked until deep into the night. Wei Na called Mu Xue "Sister Xue" not just because Mu Xue was slightly older; in fact, they were true blood-related cousins.
On the other side, after returning to his tent, Xu Zihuang directly entered a meditative cultivation state. With his current spiritual force realm, he could split his mind into two threads, residing separately in his sea of spirit and his second sea of consciousness.
During meditative cultivation, one part of his mind rested in the sea of spirit, while the thread in the second sea of consciousness mobilized his spiritual force to release and perceive the outside world.
It was equivalent to using one mind for three purposes. And his released spiritual force happened to perceive the content of Wei Na and Mu Xue's conversation, causing his expression to instantly turn strange.
...
The night passed without incident. It was early summer, and nights in the northern part of the continent were exceptionally short. In just about four hours, a layer of white appeared on the eastern horizon.
The five rose early, had breakfast, and prepared to set off once more toward Qianling City in the northeast corner of the Dou Ling Empire.
Yesterday, Lang Ya had actively invited Xu Zihuang to travel together, and Xu Zihuang had readily agreed.
Mo Feiyun put away the leather tents and was the last to join the group.
"Let's set off." Lang Ya scanned the group once, nodded slightly, and then leaped into the air first.
Xu Zihuang, Wei Na, and Mu Xue also released their flight soul guides and ascended. Mo Feiyun's flight method was unique; a mass of ethereal white mist enveloped his body, as if riding clouds and mist while following behind the group.
Xu Zihuang could clearly perceive that this method barely consumed any of Mo Feiyun's soul power.
No wonder, with his eight-ring Soul Douluo cultivation, he could fly long distances without using a flight soul guide.
This was precisely the innate ability of Mo Feiyun's martial soul, just like the dynamic vision of Xu Zihuang's Golden Eyes martial soul, an innate martial soul instinct possessed by high-level martial souls.
"Master Mo's martial soul is Cloud; this is his martial soul's innate ability." Wei Na, flying side by side with Xu Zihuang, smiled faintly.
Wei Na was the same as yesterday, her soul-stirring smile full of gentleness, but clearly with fewer traces of shyness.
"Indeed, it's a very powerful martial soul." Xu Zihuang praised.
Mo Feiyun, trailing behind the group, smiled embarrassedly.
"Just some small tricks, not worthy of being called powerful."
The group chatted along the way, drawing closer to Qianling City in this harmonious atmosphere.
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