C6 Breakthrough to the Fourstar Martial Cultivator

Xiao Ling steadied his racing heart and regained his composure.

With such an extraordinary talent, there had to be drawbacks.

After incinerating the flesh and blood of the rat, he distinctly felt an overwhelming will trying to invade his mind, but he had managed to quell it.

This meant that if he attempted to burn the flesh of a higher-level demonic beast and couldn't endure the savage will, it would spell disaster for him.

"Xi'er, I've reached the peak of a Three-star martial artist."

Xiao Ling kept no secrets from Yun Xi, sharing with her the full extent of his martial soul's capabilities.

Aside from Jiang Ya, Yun Xi was his most trusted confidant.

"The Blood Flame has consumed the Grinding Mouse's flesh and blood, transforming its vital essence into my own and propelling me to a new realm."

Yun Xi listened intently to Xiao Ling's account, then nodded and said, "Ling, your martial soul is one of those rare breakthrough types that come once in ten thousand years. The Blood Flame Martial Soul can devour flesh and convert it into vital energy, boosting your cultivation. If harnessed properly, it can quickly stabilize you at the pinnacle of power."

"However, such a martial soul defies the heavens, and naturally, it comes with its own set of limitations. The berserk will you experienced likely stems from the Grinding Mouse's bloodline. Since your realm is similar to that of the Grinding Mouse, you were able to resist it with ease. But with a more formidable Demonic Beast, you wouldn't stand a chance against the ferocity of its bloodline's will. Failure to resist could mean a backlash, ranging from excruciating headaches to, in the worst case, complete mental incapacitation."

"Moreover, on the Divine Martial Continent, a martial soul as exceptional as yours is the object of intense envy. Some powerful Martial Cultivators possess multiple Martial Souls and resort to vicious means to seize the souls of others, adding them to their own. The fate of those stripped of their Martial Souls is grim: at best, they're left crippled; at worst, they face certain death..."

"In short, Ling, while you can wield your Blood Flame Martial Soul, be cautious not to reveal its extraordinary nature to others. Otherwise, you'll find yourself besieged by endless troubles..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling was drenched in a cold sweat.

Stealing another's martial soul is a vicious act.

If those powerful beings were to target me, wouldn't that spell disaster?

"I get it."

Xiao Ling took a deep breath, nodded, and said, "I won't reveal the Blood Flame Martial Soul carelessly, nor will I let its talents be known to others."

Yun Xi's insights broadened his understanding of the vast Divine Martial Continent.

A martial cultivator might possess not just one martial soul, but several.

Yet, with the Blood Flame Martial Soul as a breakthrough tool, he could certainly catch up to Lin Wu quickly and defeat him within a month.

"Let's go hunt some demonic beasts, then."

Yun Xi suggested with a grin, "That way, Ling, you can level up faster, and soon we'll be able to train together again."

Xiao Ling gave a firm nod. His current plan was to sharpen his skills by hunting demonic beasts on Demon Mountain.

"I've been to Demon Mountain numerous times and know the territories of many low-level beasts quite well. Just stick with me, Ling, and I promise you'll have plenty of braised meat to feast on..." Yun Xi said cheerfully.

"You're quite the character."

Xiao Ling shrugged and replied, "I'll take your word for it—just don't lead me astray."

...

Meow!

A pair of luminescent green eyes, filled with a wild lust for killing, glared from within a clump of bushes at the young man in black ahead.

The youth in black was, of course, Xiao Ling, who stood with a long sword at the ready, facing off against the Cat Demon.

The Cat Demon, a Rank Three peak low-level demonic beast, was incredibly agile, attacking with its razor-sharp claws.

"Ling, defeating this Cat Demon will surely propel you to Four-star status."

Yun Xi called out from a nearby tree branch, "But be warned, Cat Demons are notoriously sly. Stay on your toes."

"Understood."

Xiao Ling's eyes carefully followed the Cat Demon as it emerged from the underbrush.

Slightly larger than a stray dog, the Cat Demon's sturdy frame and gleaming claws were clearly capable of ripping a wild boar to shreds.

Meow.

The Cat Demon sized up Xiao Ling, a glint of ferocity flashing in its eyes as it slowly crept closer.

Swish!

Xiao Ling reacted in an instant, striking first with a swift sweep of his sword toward the Cat Demon.

The sword strike was simple, yet Xiao Ling had honed it to deadly precision through countless repetitions.

Clang!

The clash of metal echoed as the Cat Demon countered, its sharp claws intercepting Xiao Ling's long sword and even notching the blade, causing Xiao Ling's pupils to constrict.

The claws were unexpectedly stronger than his sword.

Whoosh.

Having parried Xiao Ling's attack, the Cat Demon's body darted nimbly aside, its razor-sharp claws aiming a slash at Xiao Ling's waist.

Xiao Ling retreated quickly, his long sword in constant motion, striking against the Cat Demon's advances.

His lack of real-world combat experience was evident. After several bouts, the Cat Demon's cunning attacks left him with several gashes, the scent of blood permeating the air.

"I must end this battle swiftly..."

Xiao Ling's gaze hardened. The Cat Demon was proving to be a formidable adversary; even his full repertoire of basic sword techniques had gained him no advantage, only more wounds.

If the fight dragged on, he risked weakening from blood loss and falling to the Cat Demon.

Moreover, the blood scent would attract other demonic beasts, leaving him with no means of escape.

"If only I had mastered a Martial Skill, I could have slain the Cat Demon in one fell swoop."

Rushed as he was, Xiao Ling had not learned any Martial Skills at the Holy Martial Institute, a lapse he now regretted.

On the Divine Martial Continent, it was the combination of martial cultivators and Martial Skills that enabled powerful attacks.

Martial Skills were categorized into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow, each with three levels: low, intermediate, and high.

"Ling, the Cat Demon's tail is its Achilles' heel."

From a short distance, Yun Xi watched Xiao Ling, her eyes brimming with concern. She couldn't help but call out, "If you sever the Cat Demon's tail, you'll effectively strip it of its agility."

Upon hearing those words, Xiao Ling's dark eyes gleamed with a sharp light. As the Cat Demon lunged at him, he arched his body backward, narrowly evading its strike.

In that instant, he swung his sword at the Cat Demon's tail.

Puff!

Blood sprayed in all directions as a fine tail soared through the air before thudding onto the ground.

Meow!

A wail of agony followed, the Cat Demon's voice piercing the air. With its tail severed, the creature lost its balance and tumbled to the ground in a heap of defeat.

As the Cat Demon struggled to rise, a glint of cold steel flashed, slicing through its neck.

"It's finally over."

Xiao Ling watched as the life ebbed from the Cat Demon sprawled on the ground. Without hesitation, he called forth the Blood Flame, converting the creature into a mist of bloody essence. He then sat down, legs crossed, and began to meditate, his hands forming intricate seals.

Boom!

With the Cat Demon's bloody essence fully absorbed, a surge of potent Qi erupted in his dantian, elevating his aura incrementally until he achieved the rank of a Four-star martial cultivator.

The wild will of the Cat Demon's bloodline attempted to overwhelm him, but Xiao Ling staunchly resisted.

"Four-star warrior."

A surge of excitement shone in his eyes as he felt the surge of power coursing through his body.

"My wounds are healed, and my spirit is rejuvenated."

Moreover, the absorption of the Cat Demon's blood qi had not only healed his injuries but also revealed another gift of the Blood Flame Martial Soul: the ability to heal through the absorption of blood essence.

"Congratulations, Brother Ling, on your advancement to the Four-star realm."

Yun Xi approached, cradling the slumbering Xiao Jin in her arms, who was the picture of serenity.

"Had Xi'er not pinpointed the Cat Demon's vulnerability, I would be the one lying defeated on the ground..."

Xiao Ling harbored no illusions of grandeur; he was acutely aware of his own capabilities. His martial soul had awakened mere days ago, and he recognized the need to gradually build his martial knowledge.

"First, I need to change my clothes. The blood on these is too strong; it might attract more Demonic Beasts."

Xiao Ling ducked behind a tree, the sound of rustling fabric filling the air as he swiftly changed his clothes. As he reached into the Red Blood Card for his attire, a mysterious light burst forth, sending a splitting headache through him.

"Bloodthirsty, a Martial Skill?"

Regaining his composure, Xiao Ling discovered new knowledge of a Martial Skill in his mind—an ungraded one.

"A user can burn their essence and blood to temporarily boost their combat power?"

He was astounded as he absorbed the details of the Martial Skill. Such skills were exceedingly rare, and just one could unleash chaos within the Flame Yellow Empire.

Yet, these power-enhancing Martial Skills came with severe consequences. At best, one might be bedridden for weeks; at worst, their cultivation could be halted indefinitely.

In essence, these Martial Skills were reserved for dire situations, held back as a last resort.

"Burning essence and blood... But if I use Blood Flame to consume the blood Qi and restore my essence and blood, wouldn't that allow me to perfectly wield the Bloodthirsty Martial Skill?"

A gleam of excitement shone in Xiao Ling's eyes. This could be his secret weapon.

"Ling, are you ready?" Yun Xi's voice called out.

With a prompt response, Xiao Ling donned a fresh set of black clothes, incinerated the old ones, and emerged from behind the tree.

Yun Xi's voice carried a note of urgency. "Ling, there are several Martial Masters heading our way."

"We should hide," Xiao Ling suggested, his eyes alert. In Demon Mountain, where ambushes and theft were rampant, especially among groups led by Martial Master Stage cultivators, caution was paramount.

They concealed themselves in a nearby thicket, suppressing their auras to the faintest whisper.

Before long, the steady cadence of approaching footsteps filled the air.

A man clad in green, leading the group, turned to the plump youth at the forefront and spoke with an icy edge, "Is this the place? If you're lying, your life is forfeit."

The group trailing the man in green eyed the plump young man with predatory intensity, ready to rip him to shreds at their leader's command.

Shivering, the chubby youth spoke in a quavering voice, on the verge of tears, "Gentlemen, even if you granted me a hundredfold more bravery, I wouldn't dare deceive you."

"The stone tablet ruins are just ahead. I swear on my life, I'm not playing games with you."

Xiao Ling's gaze fixed on the group, his pupils contracting sharply as he murmured, "Isn't that Little Fatty? That explains why he's been out of sight lately—he's been captured by these thugs."

Little Fatty, the person Xiao Ling referred to, was none other than Wu Cheng, his close friend from the Holy Martial Institute with whom he had spent many good times.