Chapter 16: Encirclement
Beneath the large banyan tree, the Beast Master gazed at the grassland ahead and the lush green mountains in the distance, feeling a surge of emotion. The high-walled city and the barren wasteland outside were like two completely different worlds.
Inside, the planting areas were lush with vegetation, and the residential districts were lined with buildings. In contrast, looking out over the wasteland, a faint trace of deathly stillness still spread across the view. Not a single hint of natural green could be seen; the occasional stubborn vegetation that survived was withered and yellow.
For a long time, the Beast Clan had wondered how the four major powers of the high-walled city had transformed the interior into this state. Could it be that believing in the Eternal Life God truly prevented the invasion of deathly stillness?
"Let's begin. But let me make it clear first—this meditation method of mine is the masterpiece I'm most proud of in my life. It was also derived from my own modifications. Whether it suits the human race or not, we'll only know after you try it..."
The Beast Master began explaining the principles of that unique meditation method. Fundamentally, this method wasn't a modification of basic meditation but an enhancement, greatly increasing the efficiency of basic meditation.
According to the Beast Master, spirit and soul energy complement each other. Meditation primarily mobilizes spiritual energy. But if soul energy is consumed to temporarily boost spiritual energy, raising it to a higher level, then meditating during that period achieves an advanced meditation method.
Spiritual energy and soul energy are both types of bodily energy. After consumption, they slowly recover with rest.
To put the Beast Master's method in simple terms: suppose a person's spiritual energy is 20 points, then their meditation efficiency would be 0.2.
If that person's spiritual energy is 20 points, and their soul energy is, say, 30 points, the so-called advanced meditation method involves consuming those 30 points of soul energy like mana, using it as a boost to temporarily raise the 20-point spiritual energy cap to 50–60 points. This increases meditation efficiency from the original 0.2 to 0.5–0.6.
The Beast Master explained it in a complicated way, but in short, it was using soul energy to enhance spiritual energy. From Su Xiao's perspective, having read numerous ancient texts from the Dragon Academy, this technique seemed somewhat crude.
But that was understandable. Knowledge and secret techniques were passed down, developed, and perfected over generations, even dozens of generations, before they could circulate in the world. When later generations saw such knowledge and techniques, they naturally treasured them.
The Beast Master's advanced meditation method was his own creation, so some roughness was inevitable. However, Su Xiao also felt that the more he listened, the more incomplete this method seemed.
It wasn't that the Beast Master was holding back. From his explanation, Su Xiao could tell he was teaching everything he knew. Yet the more he listened, the more something felt off, as if this were a censored version of a secret art.
Su Xiao picked up the teacup on the small table, poured a cup for the Beast Master, and asked him to pause the explanation to rest and have some tea. He then asked, "Did you develop this secret technique yourself?"
Hearing this, the Beast Master's hand paused. He gave a slightly stiff smile and said, "I referenced some incomplete texts and ancient books, then painstakingly researched for over a decade before achieving initial results."
Hearing this, Su Xiao roughly understood what was going on. Although the outside world claimed the Beast Master had created this technique, that wasn't the case. At best, the Beast Master was an excellent improver; the technique had an original version.
Su Xiao didn't consider himself exceptionally talented, capable of cultivating original secret techniques that others couldn't. But referencing the original version was always a good idea.
"The original version of this secret technique..."
Before Su Xiao could finish, the Beast Master's expression turned serious. "No, absolutely not."
The Beast Master's stern demeanor seemed more like a deep-seated memory of a lesson learned than selfishness. He turned and pulled down the cloth covering his back, revealing a large area of horrifying scars. It looked as if someone had forcefully torn open his entire back, leaving such ferocious wounds.
"If you just want to borrow it for inspiration, looking at the original version is fine. But I advise you not to cultivate the original version."
As he spoke, the Beast Master untied a thin wooden tube strapped to his body and pulled out a tightly rolled piece of parchment. He introduced it, saying, "Legend has it that this is a secret technique from the Age of Gods, passed down through my Beast Clan. By the time I was young, no one was interested in it anymore."
"What's the reason?"
Su Xiao took the parchment with some doubt.
"Whoever cultivates it dies."
The Beast Master's reason was straightforward. It wasn't because the technique was hard to practice or both difficult and mediocre in effect.
The technique's effect was absurdly powerful and easy to learn. Its biggest flaw was that you read it in the morning, practiced it in the forenoon, died by afternoon, and were buried by evening, with the whole village of beasts feasting at your funeral. What's worse, this deadly five-step process had been repeatedly tested by many Beast Clan members.
It wasn't that these beasts were stubborn, but the technique's enhancement of meditation was extremely exaggerated.
The Beast Master's modified, censored version could probably improve meditation efficiency by 5 to 8 times. Mastering the original technique would yield at least dozens of times the efficiency. Meditating for one day would be equivalent to someone else persisting for a month. If the soul was strong enough, the effect would be even more exaggerated.
It was a good thing, but whoever cultivated it died. No one could withstand that, so over time, it fell into obscurity.
The Beast Master was definitely a genius in his youth, managing to modify this deadly technique into something safe to practice, even if the effect was greatly reduced.
After Su Xiao took the scroll, before even examining its contents, he knew why it was so deadly.
[Soul Book: Soul Imprint]
Origin: Gloomy Continent · Soul Library · Top Floor.
Durability: 7/10 (Though carefully preserved, it has suffered some damage from the ravages of time, but this does not affect its content.)
Category: Knowledge Record (Cannot be used directly; the recorded content can only be mastered through interpretation.)
Learning Prerequisite: Soul Strength above 600 points, Soul Energy Rank (6).
Warning: This is the minimum condition for mastering the ability. If Soul Strength is below 600 points, attempting to engrave the "Soul Imprint" will lead to soul depletion and irreversible death.
Recorded Content: This book contains profound and ancient soul secret arts.
Introduction: An artifact passed down from the Age of Gods.
...
Seeing this introduction, Su Xiao seemed to understand why every Beast Clan member who practiced it died. A prerequisite of 600 Soul Strength, and according to the description, that was the minimum.
Even if a soul prodigy emerged from the Beast Clan with Soul Strength above 600, without a foundational soul ability, their Soul Energy Rank wouldn't be high enough.
Su Xiao's current Soul Energy Rank was (7), achieved after raising his [Basic Passive: Spirit Toughness] to Lv.70, consuming a massive amount of Soul Coins to reach that level.
Judging by the origin of this item, even in this world as a Transcendent Primordial World, when the Age of Gods was at its peak and rivaling the Doom Star, this secret technique scroll was kept at the bottom of the Soul Library's top floor, showing its preciousness.
In other words, could this be considered a valuable item from the late Ninth Rank? If so, this was a huge gain.
Could Su Xiao practice the [Soul Imprint] on the scroll? Of course. The introduction clearly stated that those with over 600 Soul Strength could master it, and his current Soul Strength was 650 points.
Being able to view detailed information on items was one of the greatest free benefits the Paradise faction gave to Contractors, Hunters, Battle Angels, and others.
The Beast Clan had studied this for years and ultimately had to abandon the secret art without understanding its prerequisites. But Su Xiao, with the Paradise's verification, could freely examine it.
However, even with Soul Strength above 600, rashly practicing [Soul Imprint] still carried a high risk of death. But this was Su Xiao's greatest advantage. Having mastered several Law-Destroying Shadow abilities before, he was well-trained in this regard.
When he had mastered Azure Steel Shadow, Spirit Shadow Constitution, Azure Shadow King, Soul Severing Shadow, and awakened his unique Law-Destroying talent, he hadn't died. Having survived so many deadly situations, the [Soul Imprint], dangerous for others, was like a gentle breeze to him.
So much so that he had a subconscious confidence: aside from learning Law-Destroying abilities, other abilities could no longer threaten him.
Looking at the [Soul Imprint] scroll in his hand, Su Xiao affirmed his long-standing persistence. Although his luck wasn't good... cough, to be precise, he was a bit unlucky, but when luck fell short, strength made up for it.
For example, obtaining the [Soul Imprint] this time had no direct relation to luck. It started with the transaction with Duke and Madame Smoke, learning a secret that seemed mysterious but was actually emotionally complicated.
Knowing his own luck all too well, Su Xiao's thought at the time was that if he didn't actively pursue it, this meditation secret technique would only ever be a rumor. Expecting to stumble upon it or encounter the Beast Master on the way to Dead Silence City was pure fantasy.
Therefore, Su Xiao entrusted the Soul Brother, and with a semi-coercive method, had three dangerous tenants follow the Soul Brother outside the city to "invite" the Beast Master.
The current situation proved that luck wasn't always reliable. Actively striving was the unchanging best strategy.
Su Xiao rubbed the thick parchment between his thumb and index finger. This was a golden opportunity. The Beast Master opposite clearly had a love-hate relationship with [Soul Book: Soul Imprint], along with special feelings. Without improving this secret art, he wouldn't have his current status.
However, the Beast Master was currently engrossed in reading the ancient book [Soul of the Beast]. His expressions ranged from sudden realization to deep thought to joy, showing he was already captivated by it.
[Soul of the Beast] was valuable, but it couldn't compare to [Soul Book: Soul Imprint]. The task at hand was how to exchange for the latter.
Su Xiao searched through his storage space. Last time, he and Kaiser had conspired to "visit" the Dragon Academy and obtained many ancient books. Soon, he found two more books about beasts.
Adding [Soul of the Beast], exchanging three ancient books for [Soul Book: Soul Imprint] would be a huge profit.
"Beast Master, if I exchange [Soul of the Beast] for this secret technique scroll..."
"Are you serious?"
The Beast Master looked at Su Xiao suspiciously.
"Yeah."
"Then deal."
Though there was some reluctance in the Beast Master's eyes, there was more joy. Whether it was the secret technique scroll or the [Soul of the Beast] ancient book, both required spiritual energy to read to capture their original essence. Without the original book, passing it down would be difficult, and it could easily become distorted or weaker over time.
The Beast Master had special feelings for [Soul Book: Soul Imprint], but he needed the [Soul of the Beast] ancient book more, which could benefit future generations and even his tribe.
The Beast Master agreed so readily that Su Xiao's prepared bargaining chips were stuck. This was such a huge profit that even his conscience twinged slightly, but he didn't speak.
"Thank you, Dean White Night. We beasts aren't used to taking advantage of others. I have a few Soul Stones here. Though the quality isn't great, our resources are limited."
The Beast Master pulled out a few mottled Soul Stones and handed them to Su Xiao. Judging by the marks, these Soul Stones had been preserved for a long time.
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. He looked at the Beast Master with lowered eyes for a few seconds, making the Soul Master feel uneasy. Then he took out the two ancient books he had originally prepared as trade chips and tossed them to the Beast Master.
"What's this?"
The Beast Master caught the two books and quickly glanced through them, momentarily shocked by Su Xiao's generosity.
"May I ask, is that secret technique scroll..." the Beast Master tentatively began, but seeing Su Xiao's smile grow increasingly "friendly," he immediately became serious and changed the subject. "I won't disturb Dean White Night's research on the secret technique. If you need anything, just send someone to my temporary residence. I'll be staying here for a few days."
With that, the Beast Master hurriedly left, eager to read the three newly acquired ancient books.
Watching the Beast Master walk away, Su Xiao calmed his mind and began interpreting the secret technique on the scroll. As he infused his spiritual energy, the twisted, text-like symbols lit up, and several patterns became more vivid.
After a preliminary interpretation, Su Xiao gained significant insights. No wonder the Beast Clan members could master this technique quickly. Essentially, it used soul energy to form a mark, which then massively amplified meditation effects.
More wonderfully, once the Soul Imprint was formed, it would improve correspondingly with the creator's Soul Strength and Soul Energy Rank.
Su Xiao sat cross-legged under the banyan tree. Soon, a translucent energy appeared in his hands—soul energy. He had a vast amount of high-quality soul energy at his disposal. Once depleted, it would take about 24 to 30 hours to fully recover.
First, he visualized the form of the [Soul Imprint] in his mind. This process reminded him of the Healing Church's [Sacred Scar Secret Art].
Setting that aside, as Su Xiao visualized the [Soul Imprint], soul energy surged from his body, forming a soul energy ball larger than the banyan tree's canopy in front of him.
Compression, convergence, shaping. As Su Xiao gradually brought his hands together, the soul energy was compressed and shaped into a palm-sized mark. This mark emitted a faint blood-red hue. Soul energy was naturally colorless; the blood-red on this Soul Imprint was related to Su Xiao's aura, indicating that this mark was very compatible with him.
The Soul Imprint was successfully constructed. No wonder so many Beast Clan members could master this technique.
However, even Su Xiao felt dizzy and lightheaded after forming the Soul Imprint. If even he, with his Soul Strength and Soul Energy Rank, felt this way, anyone with Soul Strength below 600 would likely die on the spot or be considered exceptionally resilient.
Hum~
The Soul Imprint floated before Su Xiao's chest. He attempted to enter a meditative state. The next second, over a dozen hair-thin tendrils extended from the Soul Imprint, gently entering Su Xiao's body.
Now, Su Xiao fully understood the principle. If the world's rhythm was a kind of "special wave," then this Soul Imprint was a super-enhanced version of a special wave receiver.
Boom! A thunderous roar seemed to explode in Su Xiao's ears. Within the all-directional perspective of his meditative state, everything around him rapidly receded and dissipated. He felt as if he were in a void. Above, the sky was filled with various natural elements; below, the netherworld was an endless darkness.
The natural elements above and the darkness below opposed each other yet coexisted, seemingly one of the fundamental essences.
This scene lasted only a few seconds before collapsing magnificently. Su Xiao awoke from the deepest meditation. The world around him was still the same: the wind rustling through the grass, a herd of elk grazing in the distant wetlands, with a strong stag warily scanning its surroundings.
[Heart Meditation has been raised to Lv.80.]
Seeing this notification, Su Xiao wasn't too surprised. The scene he had just witnessed seemed to approach some fundamental source. This was clearly an experience unique to first using the Soul Imprint, or rather, a one-time experience for each person.
Su Xiao entered meditation again. This time, it was normal meditation with the Soul Imprint. As soon as he began, he sensed something was different. Previously, meditation required intense concentration to grasp the world's rhythm, which was fleeting and indescribable.
Now, Su Xiao felt as if he could directly see the world's rhythm through his meditative perspective. This thing looked a bit like natural elements but was dozens of times larger, about the size of a walnut.
Su Xiao realized that what he had painstakingly sought to perceive before was exactly this. He had never been able to sense its form. He tried touching it with his spiritual energy, and the bubble-like orb of light turned into threads of smoke, dispersing before reforming nearby.
Looking around, there were many more of these unique rhythms nearby. He tried pulling them all over, and soon, golden-white threads of smoke surrounded him.
Ending his daily meditation, Su Xiao opened his eyes. This harvest far exceeded his expectations.
Previously, Su Xiao's blade talent was decent, but his meditation talent was, honestly, average.
Average was fine. Su Xiao could compensate through continuous accumulation. Besides external boosts like titles and Origin Stones, his accumulated meditation bonuses included:
[True Intelligence Attribute 80 Point Reward: Heart of Nature (Passive): Enhances perception ability. This ability provides a significant boost to meditation and perception-type abilities.]
[True Intelligence Attribute 150 Point Reward: Heart Meditation: Soul Resonance (Passive): During meditation, Soul Strength will enhance meditation effects (this bonus has an upper limit).]
[Perception Attribute: Basic Passive: Awakening: Skill Effect 3: Perception ability, meditation, natural perception, ability development efficiency increased by 551%.]
[Intelligence Attribute: Basic Passive: Recovery: Skill Effect 3: Greatly enhances innate talent in meditation and comprehension (this type of talent can only be improved through 'Basic Passive Abilities').]
These permanent bonuses stacked up, allowing Su Xiao, with his average meditation foundation, to compete with top-tier geniuses in this field.
Now, having mastered [Soul Imprint], with his Soul Strength boost, Su Xiao felt that meditating for 2 hours a day could match someone else's half-year of meditation.
Indeed, the boost from forming the [Soul Imprint] was this exaggerated. It allowed Su Xiao to leap from the vague, elusive experience of barely sensing the world's rhythm to directly comprehending it.
The difference was like previously smelling a dish and guessing its taste, unable to find where it was, but now directly eating it until full. That was why Su Xiao only meditated for two hours—he felt he had "eaten his fill."
Meditating for one day matching half a year of someone else's meditation wasn't the limit. Don't forget, Su Xiao could also get external boosts, like titles that enhance meditation effects and Origin Stones.
Regarding Origin Stones, Su Xiao only had [Origin Stone: World] left. He had gathered three fragments and needed two more to form a complete [Origin Stone: World].
Before being assembled, the [Origin Stone: World] wasn't very effective. As for the [Origin Stone: Silver Queen] he used before, well, the Silver Queen herself was now in [Eternal Light World], and the [Origin Stone: Silver Queen] had shattered upon awakening her.
If he could return alive this time, he would need to acquire a high-quality Origin Stone. As for titles, Su Xiao currently had one that could enhance meditation effects.
[Natural Resonance]
Origin: Blazing Sun Star
Quality: ★★★★★
Category: Title · Rare
Title Effect: Greatly enhances meditation and perception effects.
Introduction: With a calm heart, the world is before your eyes.
Selling Price: Unsellable
...
This title had been tempered once. A title could be tempered up to three times. Su Xiao opened the Title Shop and directly bought 5 Five-Star titles. Having plenty of Ancient Gold Coins made this enjoyable.
After activating the Title Tempering Wheel, he placed [Natural Resonance] in the center and the 5 newly exchanged titles as secondary titles in the five surrounding slots. After paying 500 Soul Coins, the tempering began, taking over 3 hours to complete.
[Natural Resonance]'s maximum tempering potential was Seven Stars. Su Xiao decided to also exchange the 5 Six-Star titles needed later for 537 Ancient Gold Coins, in case the Six-Star titles in the shop sold out.
After doing this, Su Xiao took out [Sacred Oak]. At the cost of reducing his Charm Attribute, he successfully freeloaded another 1 Golden Skill Point.
[You have gained 1 Golden Skill Point.]
Seeing this notification, Su Xiao's mood improved further. Having just constructed the Soul Imprint, he felt tired, so he went into the small wooden house behind and lay down on the simple bed to rest.
On the wooden house roof, Bubu Wang yawned. Baha circled in the sky on patrol. On the nearby banyan tree, Amu sat among the branches, with barely visible icy silk threads spreading for several hundred meters around him.
Su Xiao slept until the next morning, feeling refreshed. Today was the deadline Zuiyasi had promised. He said he would handle the Academy faction within two days, but this morning, he had just returned to the high-walled city.
Baha flew into the wooden house and said, "Boss, Zuiyasi came back this morning."
"Where did he go after returning?"
"Straight to the Sacred Scar Academy."
"And then?"
"Cough~ Shortly after entering, he was surrounded by a large group of apprentices and all the instructors. Even the Great Sage · Tuerz made a move. In the end, Zuiyasi was beheaded and captured alive."
Saying this, Baha felt awkward, but being beheaded and captured alive was indeed Zuiyasi's standard operation.
Zuiyasi's move was truly baffling. He left the city for two days and then immediately walked into a trap upon returning.
However, Su Xiao had a principle in his long cooperation with his three "good teammates": until the final enemy was dead, you could always trust Zuiyasi, Wood, and Kaiser.
Just then, a thumb-thick black tentacle grew from the wall, then bloomed, revealing a crystal inside.
The crystal shattered, displaying an image. It showed the scene of Su Xiao and Old Chaman abducting the Holy Maiden. This scene was clearly recreated at great cost, and because Su Xiao was too fast, it only showed a freeze-frame of him pulling the Holy Maiden out of the car.
This thing was most likely obtained by the Academy faction. But now it was sent by Zuiyasi as a medium, which was very intriguing. If the Academy faction had produced this, they would be justified in turning against Su Xiao.
The tentacle on the wooden wall dissipated, turning into a string of symbols on the wall before evaporating. This was Ancient God language, only four words: "You are the bait."
Leaving the wooden house, Su Xiao jumped onto the roof and sat cross-legged to meditate. After completing his daily meditation, he took out the secret technique scroll, aiming to further perfect the Soul Imprint.
Unnoticed, the sun was no longer as hot. It was around 3 PM, and the surroundings became quiet, so quiet it was unsettling.
Figures appeared in the distance, approaching the wooden house. Soon, the Academy faction's apprentices, instructors, and their combat force, the Supervision Team, arrived, led by the Great Sage · Tuerz.
Among the crowd, the second-highest in status wasn't one of the other five sages but a bearded instructor.
"Damn, playing dirty, huh."
Baha took out a signal flare, but before he could pull the string, a group of people stepped forward, surrounding the wooden house from a dozen meters away, completely blocking Su Xiao's escape.
"Don't bother struggling. While you were sitting on the roof enjoying the view today, your subordinates all joined us, except for the four who are blindly loyal to you."
The Crow Woman, dressed in a black tight-fitting suit, spoke. Behind her were over a hundred Spellcasters. Among them, a man in a robe with a sickly pale face and a cold aura stepped forward. His name was Diken En. He was clearly the leader of these Spellcasters. The Crow Woman, due to her special status and not being a magic-type, also held a special position.
The Crow Woman's mood was extremely elated. This time, the hunt wouldn't end with "next time for sure."
"Less talk, move!"
Diken En was clearly a man of few words and ruthless actions. But as soon as he shouted.
Pfft!
A short knife suddenly pierced through his back, the bloodstained tip emerging from his chest, causing his torso to instinctively thrust forward. This knife was clearly a divine artifact weapon.
Suddenly ambushed, Diken En's cheek twitched. He looked down at the knife tip protruding from his chest.
Boom!
Magical energy erupted with Diken En at the center, sending grass clippings and mud flying. The person holding the short knife, the bearded instructor, leaped back with the strong impact.
Diken En covered his mouth with one hand, blood seeping through his fingers. There was disbelief in his eyes, but even more confusion.
This scene stunned the surrounding Spellcasters for only a moment before they quickly formed a defensive circle, protecting Diken En in the center. Their reactions were extremely fast.
Among the Spellcasters, the Crow Woman recalled a similar scene from the Treeborn World · Bei City. The situation now was eerily similar, except she had dodged it then, but this time, she wasn't so lucky.
The bearded instructor's backstab needed no explanation. It meant he was temporarily allying with Su Xiao to kill these Spellcasters who had come to provoke trouble.
Among the Academy faction members, Zuiyasi, wearing a large robe and hood, was watching the show. Clearly, his plan had succeeded. As he said, he had handled the Academy faction in two days.
Now, it wasn't just handled; he had turned them into temporary thugs. No one knew where he had gone for those two days to make the Academy faction submit to this extent.
Several hundred Academy members surrounded the hundred or so Spellcasters. What shocked the Crow Woman and Diken En even more was that the encirclement was growing larger. It was obvious that people had been lying in ambush nearby. Their plan to surround and kill Su Xiao had been thwarted before it even began, and they were now the ones being set up.
Among the surrounding Transcendents were not only the Academy faction but also members of the Healing Institute, the Workshop, and even guards sent by the Holy Maiden lineage.
Su Xiao sat on the wooden roof, watching the scene below. As an encirclement, a hundred or so Spellcasters were formidable. These guys were all magic-type turrets. Fortunately, he was a Law Destroyer, best at dealing with Spellcasters. However, letting them deplete their own strength first was a good choice. He said:
"Crow, you did well. Come forward boldly to claim your reward."
Hearing this, the Spellcaster leader, Diken En, twitched his cheek. In the past, he wouldn't have believed it. But now, he had no choice. The Crow Woman had hunted the Law Destroyer twice: once in the World of Paintings, where both sides came out fine.
Then again in the Treeborn World. Ridiculously, both sides were still fine. As the hunter, the Crow Woman hadn't killed the enemy. When asked about the details, she was evasive. Even more absurdly, she returned unscathed, clearly not having fought the Law Destroyer.
Two hunts, no results, and both times she returned unharmed. Anyone would wonder if this assassin had a problem.
This led many Spellcasters to suspect that the Crow Woman had betrayed them, even that she had a relationship with the Law Destroyer.
Now, after being backstabbed and surrounded, Diken En was convinced that the Crow Woman had betrayed them. That absurd rumor seemed true. The Crow Woman indeed had a relationship with the Law Destroyer. From the moment they entered this world, whether it was allying with the Academy faction or setting up this ambush, it was all the Crow Woman's plan. The current situation was irrefutable proof.
"Heh, such provocation, they won't believe..."
Before the Crow Woman could finish, she noticed the Spellcasters' gazes toward her had changed. The Assassin Princess wanted to explain, but she didn't know what to say. Could she say: "You have to believe me. This is all a setup. The fact that they're not attacking me is part of the scheme?"
Thinking of this, the Assassin Princess's mentality shattered on the spot.