Chapter 200: Martial Soul Development, The Evil God Orb's Training Accelerator
The Martial Soul Pact was an essential step after all, under Han Li's influence, this had already become an unspoken rule among them.
Although Dugu Yan had put away the "inhumane" version, Zhu Zhuqing still couldn't escape the standard version of the pact.
After making her vow, she could immediately feel that the group's acceptance of her had increased significantly.
And just like that, she was dragged to the table, where everyone began bombarding her with all sorts of questions, seamlessly transitioning into their lunch gathering.
"So, for this afternoon are you all planning to continue shopping, or will you join me in training her?"
Just as the conversation was taking a questionable turn, with hands wandering a little too freely, Han Li quickly stepped in to stop them before things escalated.
If he didn't, he might be the one who had to run away especially since Zhu Zhuqing already didn't dare to lift her head.
"Let's all train together. We can go shopping later when LingLing joins us."
Dugu Yan immediately responded this was something they had already discussed beforehand.
"Sounds good. We can also help develop her Martial Soul a little."
Han Li nodded, swallowing a bite of food.
"Develop my Martial Soul?"
Zhu Zhuqing finally lifted her head to look at him. This concept wasn't unfamiliar to her.
She had read about it in her family's records before but if she remembered correctly, her ancestors had only started Martial Soul development after reaching Spirit Sage level at the earliest.
"Yeah, developing your Martial Soul. In fact, you've already started this morning, actually."
Han Li quickly finished eating, then looked at her meaningfully.
"You mean… when I attacked the first time?"
Zhu Zhuqing pondered for a moment. Back then, she had felt her Martial Soul becoming more intimately connected to her but she had dismissed it, assuming it was just the release of her emotional restraints.
"Did you not notice? Your spirit power increased by three levels because of it."
Han Li was genuinely surprised she still hadn't realized?
"I…"
Only now did Zhu Zhuqing actively circulate her spirit power, and sure enough, both its quantity and quality had noticeably improved. But she had been so caught up in the recent turmoil that she hadn't paid attention before.
"Understandable. After all, you're a mere Spirit Elder, yet you dared to challenge an experienced Spirit Saint a mere three level increase must seem insignificant to someone as powerful as you."
Han Li teased her, and the three women listening chuckled behind their hands.
"You…!"
Zhu Zhuqing's face turned crimson but she couldn't even form a complete sentence.
If it were just Han Li, she might have snapped back at him. But with the three other women present, she felt too embarrassed to say anything.
"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. But you really are too weak you need to focus on improving your strength."
"Get ready. I won't go easy on you like the others."
Han Li's smile vanished, and a wave of killing intent suddenly surged toward Zhu Zhuqing.
The instant the aura touched her, her Martial Soul instinctively activated into its possession state.
Her face turned completely pale, and her body trembled uncontrollably just like a frightened black cat facing a deadly predator.
"Seven days. You need to at least hold your ground under this pressure and still be able to attack normally. Understood?"
When it came to training, Han Li never held back. But the way he smiled while saying this only made the pressure worse for Zhu Zhuqing.
As his words fell, his killing intent withdrew but it still took Zhu Zhuqing a full thirty seconds before her face regained its color.
"Can I… know your strength levels?"
Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip, unwilling to accept her own weakness.
Han Li's background wasn't a secret she knew he was only a few months older than her.
Yet now, she couldn't even withstand a single wisp of his aura. It was a huge blow to her confidence.
Han Li didn't answer. Instead, he gestured to the three women.
"Dugu Yan, twenty years old, Spirit Emperor, Level 67."
"Xiu'er, seventeen years old, Spirit Emperor, Level 66."
"Shui Bing'er, fifteen years old, Spirit Emperor, Level 62."
Three different voices rang out one after another.
Zhu Zhuqing froze on the spot.
The oldest among them was only seven years older than her yet their spirit power was a full thirty levels above hers.
Shui Bing'er was less than two years older but the gap was still massive.
And Han Li? If he wasn't answering, that only meant his level was at least on par with them if not higher.
Perhaps… he had already reached Spirit Sage?
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing was so shaken that her confidence wavered, Dugu Yan sighed and glared at Han Li.
This bastard he loved pulling this trick on people. He had done the same thing to them before.
She moved closer to Zhu Zhuqing, gently holding her hand to comfort her.
"Don't take it too hard. Your progress will be just as fast. When I was your age, my level was about the same as yours. It was only after meeting Han Li that my strength skyrocketed."
She spoke from the bottom of her heart, and Zhu Zhuqing could feel it.
Hearing this, she finally felt a little better otherwise, she would have died of embarrassment on the spot.
But she also truly realized the gap between them.
Her so called "hard work" seemed laughable compared to these monsters.
"Mm. I'll work twice as hard."
After a long pause, this was the only thing she could say every boss's favorite answer.
"Good attitude. I approve."
As her new boss, Han Li nodded in satisfaction. This was one of the few areas where she could compete with other prodigies of her age.
Once again, he mentally criticized Feng Xiaotian. He had even hinted to the guy through various channels, yet he still insisted on doing things his own way. Han Li could only choose to give up on him.
Let go of the desire to help everyone. Respect others' fate.
Han Li decisively discarded the idea of helping him.
"You guys chat, I need to prepare something for the afternoon."
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing was slowly integrating into the group, Han Li took the opportunity to escape besides, he really had things to take care of.
Once he got confirmation, Han Li headed to his room and took out the Evil God Orb, which had been left untouched for some time.
He had considered dealing with it while condensing his Spirit Core, but in the end, he decided to keep it.
Unlike other sources of power, this orb contained a complete trace of the Evil God's divine power and inheritance something he wanted to study.
Sure, the Boundless Sea Universe Cover could serve a similar function, but it was still inferior. Since he had a better option, there was no need to settle for a second rate choice.
Without hesitation, he infused his origin power into the orb. The remaining consciousness and power of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger didn't even make a splash before being instantly erased.
Then, he manipulated his killing intent, using the runes he learned in the Slaughter City, engraving them onto the surface of the orb.
However, unlike the runes in the Slaughter City, his modifications were reversed he was extracting energy from the Evil God Orb rather than feeding into it.
One incense stick later, Han Li admired his handiwork. He then took out a prepared necklace, embedded the orb inside, and called it done.
He didn't touch the core essence of the orb instead, he turned it into a catalyst a training accelerator for Zhu Zhuqing.
Of course, this also served as a smokescreen to mislead the gods watching him.
Feigned ignorance is more believable.
If he acted too knowledgeable, it would terrify the gods this appearance of cluelessness suited him just fine.
After finishing the preparations, Han Li walked out and saw that Zhu Zhuqing had already begun conversing naturally with the others.
Though she still spoke little and was slightly reserved, this was already a huge improvement.
Given her naturally cold temperament, this was progress.
"Alright, let's head to the training ground. We need to test your physical stats, then I'll make a custom training plan for you."
Skipping small talk, Han Li got straight to the point they could chat after training if they wanted.
Since Han Li had spoken, the other three women quickly stopped joking around, dragging Zhu Zhuqing toward the training ground.
In the training ground, with the help of the three women, Han Li quickly analyzed Zhu Zhuqing's physical condition.
Hmm… not bad.
Most of her stats were above average among normal Spirit Masters.
However, due to overtraining, her body had hidden injuries injuries that had clearly developed within the last year.
That made sense.
Before, she had been in the Zhu family even if she wasn't valued, she still received proper training and resources.
With generations of refined training methods, they wouldn't have let her body deteriorate like this.
"Your previous training methods were too crude we need to readjust your body."
Han Li bluntly criticized, openly mocking her previous training.
Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips together but didn't argue.
She knew this already.
After leaving her family, she had lost access to proper resources, forcing her to compensate with extreme training to maintain her cultivation speed.
"Extend the original seven day plan to ten. First, you'll do three days of medicinal baths. After that, meet me in your room at night I'll help realign your body."
Han Li sighed his workload just increased again.
As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed that all four women had turned to look at him with strange expressions.
"It's a normal adjustment!"
Han Li snapped, annoyed but his words only made Zhu Zhuqing's face turn bright red.
Without acknowledging their reactions, he tossed the newly crafted necklace to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Keep this with you and try to use your Martial Soul to connect with its aura."
"This is the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's inner core?"
The three women immediately recognized it.
"Yeah, let her try absorbing its aura. While the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger isn't fully compatible with her, it is still a higher tier Martial Soul compared to the Netherworld Spirit Cat it should still bring some benefits."
"Besides, its domain ability suits her 'Invisible to the Eye, Silent to the Ear that's the essence of the Netherworld.'"
"In a way, both of their attributes are connected both are dark element variants. The Evil God's power is just a higher tier."
"Even absorbing a little bit without even mutating would greatly enhance her Martial Soul, which right now she's barely utilizing."
Han Li was actually sugarcoating his words.
Zhu Zhuqing had no concept of true Martial Soul development she was simply using it at its base level.
"Try to recreate the state you were in this morning. Then focus on sensing the orb see if you notice any changes."
Han Li casually explained before giving his first command to Zhu Zhuqing.
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