"Senior Yang, I'll leave the rest to you," Yun Yibai said earnestly. He knew full well that he was of no use in this situation—his attacks were practically ineffective against the Thunderhowl Hellvine.
"It's lightning is indeed strong," he added.
"But what I rely on is not lightning," Yang Wudi replied calmly.
As he spoke, his *Martial Soul—Piercing Soul Spear—*materialized in his hand.
With a sharp step, Yang Wudi dashed forward.
Swish!
He blinked into the air above the Thunderhowl Hellvine. Taking advantage of the moment when the vine was reeling in the corpses of its prey, he hurled the Piercing Soul Spear downward.
Below him, his second and third soul rings lit up in unison.
Second Soul Skill – Pierce: Increases penetration power by 100%.
Third Soul Skill – Explode: Causes the spearhead to erupt with a layer of black light, vastly enhancing its offensive power. Upon contact, the soul power within detonates, massively increasing destructive force.
Activating two soul skills at once—this was a sign of how seriously Yang Wudi viewed this Ten-Thousand-Year Thunderhowl Hellvine.
If it had been an ordinary soul beast with a known weakness, he wouldn't even have bothered using skills.
Crack!
The Thunderhowl Hellvine's massive body was directly pierced through. The impact caused an explosion, leaving a gaping hole where the spear had struck.
Luckily, the vine's body was massive. Had it been any thinner, it would've been cleaved in half on the spot.
The "Pierce" in Piercing Soul Spear was no exaggeration.
The pain from being impaled caused the Thunderhowl Hellvine to thrash violently.
As the spear embedded itself, the surrounding area suddenly turned into a sea of lightning. Thunderbolts rained from the sky, forming a giant cage of lightning.
This was one of Hellvine's innate soul skills: Forest of Thunder.
The Thunderhowl Hellvine unleashed it instinctively after being wounded.
If an enemy entered its territory and caused it harm, it would activate the Forest of Thunder, trapping the enemy and wearing them down with endless waves of lightning.
The spear returned to Yang Wudi's hand.
Suspended in midair, Yang Wudi calmly endured the oppressive pressure of the surrounding storm.
His first soul ring glowed—
"First Soul Skill – Shock!"
A burst of explosive energy radiated from his body, concentrating itself into the Piercing Soul Spear.
With a sharp flick of his hand, the spear unleashed a shimmering blade of energy, slashing toward the dense lightning forest in front of him.
Even before the blade could reach the lightning, the pressure alone began to disperse it.
Then Yang Wudi charged straight in.
The Forest of Thunder was strong, but this Hellvine was still only a 30,000 to 40,000-year-old soul beast. It was not yet strong enough to pose a real threat to someone like Yang Wudi.
The Hellvine roared in frustration. Its body crackled with energy as it shook in both rage and fear.
Yang Wudi's assault had indeed wounded it.
Over the years, the Hellvine had encountered humans like Yang Wudi before—but those had all become its nourishment.
At Ten-Thousand-Year cultivation, the Thunderhowl Hellvine's strength could rival that of a Soul Sage.
It usually remained hidden in extremely remote locations and only revealed itself when breakthroughs triggered massive energy disturbances.
Now, it began to draw all of its power inward—and the heavens themselves started to shift.
"The skies are changing... It's going all in," Yun Yibai said, eyes narrowing. "This is the first time I've seen a Ten-Thousand-Year Thunderhowl Hellvine go all out. I still can't tell what level of soul master it compares to."
The clouds above darkened ominously.
With the activation of another skill, countless dark purple thunderballs began to condense in the air, forming high above like a sky full of lightning volcanoes—each capable of erupting at any moment with terrifying force.
This was the Hellvine's soul skill: Thunder Hell.
"This power… is beyond what a typical Ten-Thousand-Year soul beast could unleash," Yang Wudi muttered. His battle instincts immediately picked up on the dangerous energy contained in the spheres.
"Fifth Soul Skill – Break!"
Black flames erupted from his body, instantly enhancing the Piercing Soul Spear's offensive power even further.
"Break for me!"
With a roar, Yang Wudi turned into a streak of black lightning, weaving between the densely packed thunderballs. The spear in his hand transformed into a blade that tore through the air, striking the orbs one after another with thunderous explosions.
Each ball detonated on impact, flooding the battlefield with blinding thunderlight and violent energy waves. Yang Wudi was forced to activate soul power defenses to shield himself from the shockwaves.
Suddenly, he felt a powerful premonition—a warning from his very soul.
"Seventh Soul Skill – Martial Soul Avatar!!"
In the next moment, a thick vine coated in electric plasma whipped toward him with terrifying speed.
This was Thunderhowl Hellvine's strongest single-target attack:
Wrath of the Thunder God—a strike fueled by compressed lightning essence, discharged directly from its body.
The Thunderhowl Hellvine was incredibly powerful.
But Yang Wudi, a Soul Douluo whose combat power could rival a Title Douluo, was no joke either.
After a fierce exchange—
"Yibai, come on out!" Yang Wudi called.
Yun Yibai stepped out from the shadows.
"Senior Yang, are you alright?"
"Hah! That vine was troublesome, sure—but nothing too difficult for me."
"Though… 's lightning was intense. And that final move, where it focused all its power into a single devastating strike—even I felt genuinely threatened by it," Yang Wudi said, still somewhat amazed.
"Thank you for your help, Senior," Yun Yibai said respectfully.
"Hahaha! Don't mention it. That kind of soul beast is extremely rare. You should finish it quickly and absorb the soul ring—let's see if you inherit any of its formidable soul skills."
Without wasting words, Yun Yibai ended the Hellvine's life, which was already on the brink thanks to Yang Wudi's assault.
A black soul ring rose from the remains.
Yun Yibai sat cross-legged on the ground, drawing the soul ring toward himself with soul power.
About an hour passed. Finally, the tension on Yun Yibai's brow began to ease.
Threads of golden lightning gently floated out from his body—this overflow of soul power was a natural result of his body temporarily being unable to contain the newly acquired energy.
"Hm? He absorbed it that quickly?" Yang Wudi was a bit surprised.
"Ugh—ah!!"
Just as Yang Wudi thought everything was settled, Yun Yibai's relaxed expression suddenly twisted in pain.
He gritted his teeth, trying to hold back—but a low, pained groan still escaped from his lips.
His whole body trembled violently, convulsing where he sat.
Yang Wudi didn't even have time to react before Yun Yibai suddenly shouted:
"With my flesh and blood I bind you—become my weapon!"