Chapter 510 - 247: Mastering the Blood Burning Secret Technique, Learning the Soul Capturing Technique, and the First Trial of Beast Soul Sealing

The moment the menacing Iron-backed Demon Pig’s head connected with Jiang Che’s fist, its iron-hard skull instantly caved in and shattered, as if it were made of tofu!

Immediately after, a terrifying, monstrous strength sent its massive body flying. It tumbled several times in mid-air before crashing heavily into the mountain wall behind it!

The dust settled.

That Fifth Layer of True Master Realm Fierce Beast was already bleeding from all seven orifices. It twitched a couple of times, then fell completely lifeless.

Jiang Che, still in his punching stance, was completely dumbfounded.

He looked at his fist, then at the pig’s corpse embedded in the mountain wall.

’This...’

’Why was it like a piece of tofu? So weak??’

He hadn’t even used his full strength or activated the Blood Burning Secret Technique. It was just a single punch, infusing his physical power with Myriad Phenomena True Qi.

’So... without even realizing it, I’ve become this strong?’

Jiang Che now had a much clearer understanding of his own strength.

Shaking his head, Jiang Che stepped forward and skillfully cast the Soul Capturing and Soul Binding Technique.

[Beast Soul: Iron-backed Demon Pig (Fifth Layer of True Master Realm)]

[Spirit Attachment Ability: Barbaric Charge. Greatly increases explosive power and impact force for a short period. Increases speed by thirty percent and impact power by twenty percent when charging in a straight line.]

’Explosive power... charging...’

Jiang Che read the description and nodded slightly.

’This one is somewhat decent, seeing as it’s a percentage-based bonus.’

’But it’s only marginally useful. A thirty percent speed boost and a twenty percent power boost... Compared to my Twenty-Eighthfold Strike and Black Armor Form, it’s a world of difference.’

’Too good to throw away, but not good enough to use.’

He sighed, intending to search for a stronger Exotic Beast.

However, as he was about to put away the Jade Talisman, he noticed a red light flickering on its surface.

It was full.

This Low Level Jade Talisman could only store three Souls.

It now held an Illusion Leopard, a Poisonous Python, and this wild pig.

’It’s full already?’

Jiang Che frowned.

He tried to remove and discard the weakest Soul—that of the Illusion Leopard.

But after fiddling with it for a good while, he realized he didn’t know the method to clear out a Soul.

Song Yuan had only taught him how to "capture" and "store," not how to "delete."

’Looks like I’ll have to go back and ask Senior Brother Song to clear it.’

Jiang Che felt a little helpless.

Although this trip’s haul wasn’t what he’d hoped for, bringing these three Souls back was enough to report his success and prove he had mastered the Technique.

’Oh well, I’ll just head back for now. Next time, I’ll bring a High Level Jade Talisman!’

Having made up his mind, Jiang Che lingered no longer. He turned and sped off toward the Sect.

...

「Tingfeng Pavilion.」

Song Yuan was annotating a bamboo scroll with a brush when he heard footsteps outside the door. Looking up, he couldn’t help but be a little startled.

"Junior Brother Jiang? You’re back already?"

He subconsciously glanced at the sky outside.

From the time Jiang Che had left to his return, barely two hours had passed.

That was probably just enough time to reach the outskirts of the Black Mist Wood, wasn’t it?

"Did you forget to bring something?" Song Yuan asked with concern, putting down his brush.

He figured Jiang Che had probably just reached the edge of the woods and turned back, either before he started or because he realized he was unprepared.

However, Jiang Che walked straight to the desk and gently placed the dark Jade Talisman on the table.

"Senior Brother, I’ve already filled it up," Jiang Che said.

"Filled... it up?" Song Yuan asked, surprised.

"That’s right," Jiang Che nodded.

Song Yuan felt a sliver of doubt.

Two hours... After subtracting travel time, he couldn’t have spent more than an hour in the woods.

Find, kill, and Seal three True Master Realm Exotic Beasts within an hour?

’Could he have just grabbed a few small beasts from the Refining Organ Realm to pass this off?’

With a hint of suspicion, Song Yuan picked up the Jade Talisman and probed it with his Divine Thought.

HUM!

The spectral images of three Sealed Beast Souls immediately appeared in his mind’s eye.

’Illusion Leopard, Third Layer of True Master Realm... Hmm, that’s passable. A common find on the outskirts.’

’Cyan Scale Poison Python, Fourth Layer of True Master Realm... Not bad either. Its venom is notoriously difficult to handle.’

Song Yuan nodded slightly, thinking to himself that this junior brother was quite efficient.

However, when his Divine Thought swept over the last Beast Soul—a massive entity radiating a ferocious aura—his expression instantly froze.

’Iron-backed Demon Pig?!’

’And an adult one at the Fifth Layer of True Master Realm?!’

He snapped his head up to look at Jiang Che and exclaimed in astonishment:

"Junior Brother, you went deep into the Black Mist Wood?!"

He had to understand, the Iron-backed Demon Pig had incredibly thick skin and flesh. Its Defense Power was monstrous among Exotic Beasts of the same layer. When enraged, it was like a rampaging chariot.

Even a disciple at the Fifth or even Sixth Layer of the True Master Realm would have a tough time taking one down.

A moment of carelessness could lead to severe injuries.

And Jiang Che was only at the Fourth Layer of the True Master Realm.

Yet, looking at Jiang Che now...

His clothes were neat, his breathing was steady, and not a single hair was out of place. How could he possibly look like someone who had just fought a vicious battle?

Faced with his senior brother’s shock, Jiang Che scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Well... Senior Brother, the Exotic Beasts on the outskirts were just too weak. They practically shattered at a single touch. I couldn’t gauge my own strength at all."

"So, I figured I’d venture a little deeper and try my luck."

He paused, his tone laced with a hint of resignation and disdain.

"Who knew this pig, which looked so intimidating, would actually be... a bit weak."

"I didn’t even use much force, and it just collapsed."

Jiang Che hadn’t used any of his trump cards; a single, ordinary punch had been enough to instantly kill it.

It really was a little too weak.

"..."

Song Yuan opened his mouth, but looking at Jiang Che’s utterly sincere yet humblebragging expression, he felt a tightness in his chest and was left speechless for a long moment.