Chapter 62:
Thick blue vines, as sturdy as rope, burrowed into the ground, while winding strands of Blue Silver Grass coiled like iron-forged serpents—fast, resilient, and difficult to control.
Dai Mubai leaped back, creating distance. A dark aura swirled around his tiger-clawed hands as a deafening roar echoed. His first soul ring flashed, yellow and white energy forming a solid barrier around him. The sinister underworld energy spread outward, fusing with his soul skill.
Netherworld White Tiger Protective Barrier!
Shielded, Dai Mubai's soul power exploded beneath his feet, leaving a shallow crater in the ground. With a tiger-like lunge, he crossed twenty meters in just a few strides, his claws slashing through the Blue Silver Grass lined with crimson veins.
Fierce and unrelenting!
The Netherworld Qi vibrated violently in his palm before detonating, delivering devastating force. Dai Mubai's immense strength, amplified by his soul power, far surpassed that of an ordinary soul master.
"What incredible strength!"
Tang San was shocked. He knew better than anyone how tough his strengthened Blue Silver Grass was. Ordinary swords couldn't cut it, yet Dai Mubai tore through it with raw power alone.
A wave of dark energy surged toward him. Tang San's footwork shifted, his movements becoming ghostly and unpredictable. Using Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon, he snatched three Blue Silver Grass leaves and weaved between Dai Mubai's attacks, widening the gap before counterattacking. His hands turned a deep, jade-like hue as he flicked the grass blades forward.
Their metallic sheen shimmered in the light, their edges honed to a razor's sharpness as they sliced through the air toward Dai Mubai's chest.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three crisp impacts rang out. On the final strike, Dai Mubai's protective barrier shattered!
Tang San's mastery of hidden weapons had improved—before, he couldn't strike the same exact spot three times in succession. Soul masters, being human, couldn't predict every reaction in an instant. But hidden professions had their own unique traits.
Lin Bai, as a Psychic Master, converted mental power into telekinesis. Tang San, as a Shura Warrior, treated weapons as extensions of his body. The moment he touched a weapon, it became as familiar as if he had wielded it a thousand times.
Just as a swordsman who has trained for a decade becomes one with his blade, the Shura Warrior's Sword Masteryallowed Tang San to instinctively control all hidden weapons with precision.
Dai Mubai grunted, a flicker of shock in his eyes. The third strike had broken through his defense. The impact was weakened, but if it had been at full strength, he would have suffered serious wounds.
"Impressive technique. But I won't be careless again."
Tang San remained silent, indifferent to the misunderstanding. Soul power surged from his left hand, sprouting Blue Silver Grass vines that coiled like a whip. The crimson-veined leaves, bolstered by soul energy, gleamed like blades growing from an iron lash.
Tang Sect disciples typically fought unarmed, but as a Shura Warrior, Tang San mastered all weapons. Since his Blue Silver Grass could be strengthened to the hardness of a sword, he saw no reason to waste his talent. Occasionally, a whip was the perfect weapon.
The Blue Silver Grass whip not only served as a melee weapon—it could also launch hidden blades at a moment's notice.
Before the watching crowd, Dai Mubai refused to lose to Tang San, a younger opponent. His purple soul ring flared to life as he activated his thousand-year soul skill.
White Tiger Vajra Transformation!
His attack, defense, strength, and resistance to debuffs all doubled.
Dai Mubai's muscles bulged, and his black-and-white hair stood on end like steel needles. With the Nether Warrior Monkprofession amplifying his attributes, he was already far stronger than an average three-ring soul master. Now, with his stats doubled, he surpassed even a Soul Sect of level 45 or higher.
The power of a soul master after obtaining a hidden profession was monstrous.
Tang San had no such status-enhancing soul skills. However, White Tiger Vajra Transformation didn't boost speed, allowing him to rely on Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to evade and counter with hidden weapons. He didn't even need specially crafted projectiles—his strengthened Blue Silver Grass blades could pierce Dai Mubai's defenses.
He just needed to strike the same spot five times.
Calm and composed, Tang San only became sharper in the heat of battle. He knew that if he prolonged the fight, Dai Mubai would eventually be exhausted—drained of both physical strength and soul power.
With Xuantian Kung and his Blue Silver Grass Martial Spirit, Tang San was built for endurance battles.
Dai Mubai swung his arms fiercely, his strikes generating gusts strong enough to scatter fallen leaves. But Tang San remained unfazed, dodging each attack with calculated ease.
"Stop running and fight me head-on!"
Dai Mubai roared, his eyes burning with fury, his attacks becoming wild and reckless. He seemed to lose all reason.
Even though he had passed the S-rank dungeon trial and gained power, there were always consequences. His hidden profession had drawbacks—imbalances that had yet to be addressed.
Regular monks strengthened their willpower to resist corruption. But Nether Monks were different. Their will had already been tainted. To grow stronger, they had to cling to their original intent, keeping their minds clear.
Neither Dai Mubai nor Flender had truly understood this.
Flender's sharp eyes narrowed behind his glasses. Even without knowing the flaws of the Nether Monk profession, he could tell something was wrong. Dai Mubai attacked with a viciousness far beyond simple competitiveness—his every strike aimed at Tang San's vitals.
"Mubai, STOP!"
In a flash, Flender appeared in the battlefield, gripping Dai Mubai's arm, stopping his movements instantly. It was like a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. Dai Mubai shivered, his expression dazed.
"Headmaster… why are you stopping me?"
Flender's gaze sharpened. "Don't you remember? You were attacking Tang San as if he had killed your family. I let you spar, not fight to the death."
Tang San, standing behind Flender, looked intrigued but composed. He quickly regained his calm.
"I think I understand why he lost control."
Flender turned to him. "Xiao San, what did you notice?"
Tang San met Dai Mubai's eyes. "It's negative emotions. My profession allows me to sense a person's fighting intent. Dai Mubai's intent was high at the start, but the moment he failed to land a decisive blow, frustration set in. His emotions spiraled, his battle spirit replaced by negativity—until he lost control entirely."
Flender frowned. "That's dangerous. Mubai, have you ever felt this way before?"
Now fully conscious, Dai Mubai paled as he recalled the last few minutes. Fear crept into his expression. He thought carefully before shaking his head.
"In Soto City, whenever I felt like this, I'd head to the city and vent… but since I entered the underground dungeon, I haven't had the chance. It's been three days."
*********
If you want to read more there's 15, 30, 50 chapters there of my written fanfictions and translated works in my Pat.Reon.
Here is the link:
https://patreon.com/LordFisherman?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
And if you can't find it just type my name: patreon.com/LordFisherman