Previously, Yun Feng had avoided cultivating due to his failed martial soul awakening. But now, with the Heaven-Suppressing Monument acting as his "proxy cultivator," he no longer had any reason to hold back.
With a plan in mind, Yun Feng chose the Furious Thunder Fist as his body-tempering technique. After a quick meal at Uncle Wang's house and some small talk, Yun Feng returned to the stream to start his training in earnest.
Activating the Ghost Fiend Blood Tribulation Technique, Yun Feng circulated it several times. He could feel his blood surging wildly, but the technique's described bloodthirsty impulses never emerged. More importantly, he didn't feel the characteristic blood-burning effect either.
At the same time, Yun Feng noticed that the soul power in the air was naturally converging toward him, being absorbed into his body. His previously barren dantian was now brimming with vitality as the soul power nourished it.
Of course, Yun Feng kept a close eye on the state of Tang San's name engraved on the Heaven-Suppressing Monument. Only when it dimmed completely did Yun Feng stop cultivating.
"I better not push it too far," Yun Feng thought, a trace of caution flashing through his mind. "If I overdo it and accidentally drain Tang San dry, I might lose my chance at sustainable development."
For now, Tang San needed to stay alive.
After concluding his cultivation of the Ghost Fiend Blood Tribulation Technique, Yun Feng shifted his focus entirely to absorbing soul power. To his surprise, this process felt drastically different from before. His perception of soul power had sharpened immensely. Like parched earth soaking up rain, Yun Feng could clearly sense his soul power growing steadily.
Though his martial soul remained unchanged and technically "failed," Yun Feng began to suspect that the Heaven-Suppressing Monument wasn't just transferring his negative states to Tang San. Could it also share Tang San's innate full soul power cultivation speed?
This realization filled Yun Feng with excitement. He refrained from using the Ghost Fiend Blood Tribulation Technique further—it might reduce Tang San to a dried-up corpse—but he eagerly continued cultivating soul power.
Without hesitation, Yun Feng unleashed his greed for soul power. He recklessly absorbed everything he could, disregarding whether his meridians could handle it. After all, any negative repercussions were Tang San's problem, not his.
Careful cultivation? Who needed that? Every bit of soul power Yun Feng absorbed was refined into the purest essence, free of impurities or strain.
---
Meanwhile, on the other side of Holy Spirit Village, Tang San was starting to panic.
Out of nowhere, he felt an intense weakness spreading through his body. Upon examining himself, he was horrified to discover his vital essence had been burned away. His once-healthy physique had withered to the point that he looked like a skeleton.
And that wasn't the worst of it. Tang San's body was suddenly filled with chaotic and impure soul power, threatening to tear him apart from the inside.
"What's happening!?" Tang San felt as though his body was on the verge of exploding. He immediately abandoned his tasks with his father and sat cross-legged, frantically circulating the Mysterious Heaven Technique to purge the impurities from his body.
Yet, as he did so, an overwhelming bloodthirst consumed him. For the first time, Tang San felt an uncontrollable craving for blood. The struggle to resist this impulse left him trembling on the brink of madness.
---
Unaware of Tang San's plight, Yun Feng focused on his cultivation. Each time Tang San's name on the Heaven-Suppressing Monument dimmed, Yun Feng paused the Ghost Fiend Blood Tribulation Technique and switched to absorbing soul power. When the name brightened again, he resumed.
This cycle of destruction and reconstruction brought rapid improvements to Yun Feng's meridians. His soul power increased dramatically, far beyond what should have been possible for someone in his situation.
Eventually, Tang San's name dimmed to near invisibility, and the time it took to brighten again grew noticeably longer. Yun Feng reluctantly stopped, concerned for Tang San's life.
"Hang in there, Tang San," Yun Feng murmured, his tone surprisingly sincere. "At least stay alive until I figure out how the Heaven-Suppressing Monument works."
---
Back in the village, chaos erupted.
The villagers were shocked to find Tang San, now skeletal, behaving like a wild beast. He lunged at livestock, draining their blood completely before moving on to his next target. The once-respected child now struck fear into everyone's hearts.
Tang Hao, Tang San's father, was too drunk to notice any of this. The villagers, however, couldn't ignore it. They whispered among themselves, afraid to approach Tang San, whose bloodshot eyes made it seem as though he might attack them next.
Tang San, on the other hand, was in agony. His bloodthirst had subsided for now, but the intense pain wracking his body was unbearable. His meridians were tearing apart, his skin cracking, and the little blood he had left seeped through his tattered clothes.
Clinging to life, Tang San forced himself to sit down and circulate the Mysterious Heaven Technique. He couldn't afford to die—not now, not when his new life was just beginning.
---
When Yun Feng returned to the village, he saw Tang San sitting in the middle of the square, drenched in blood. The villagers stood at a distance, murmuring worriedly but too terrified to come closer.
Seeing Tang San's condition, Yun Feng felt a twinge of guilt. "He's tougher than I thought," Yun Feng muttered, glancing at the Heaven-Suppressing Monument in his mind. Tang San's name flickered faintly, a sign that the boy was still alive but hanging by a thread.
Uncle Wang and Aunt Chen, standing nearby, noticed Yun Feng and quickly filled him in on what had happened.
"No one beat him," Uncle Wang said, his voice trembling. "Little San just... turned into this on his own. It's terrifying!"
Hearing the details, Yun Feng couldn't help but marvel at the power of the Heaven-Suppressing Monument. Not only had he remained unscathed, but he had also nearly broken Tang San entirely.
"This is the power of my 'substitute,' huh?" Yun Feng mused. "I'm perfectly fine, and Tang San is out here acting like a feral beast. Amazing."
Just as Yun Feng was reveling in Tang San's misfortune, Uncle Wang leaned in close and whispered, "Little Feng, be careful. I've seen a lot in my time, and I think Little San might be... an evil soul master."
The words "evil soul master" sent a ripple of unease through the gathered villagers. Though Uncle Wang had spoken quietly, everyone heard him.
"Evil soul master"—the term alone was enough to incite fear. These were the most wanted individuals across the continent, relentlessly hunted by the Spirit Hall. If
Tang San truly was an evil soul master, his life—and theirs—was in grave danger.