Tang San asked, "Soul Guidance Devices are already a lost ancient technology. To this day, we Soul Masters still don't know why they became extinct, nor are there any records about it. If those Insect Soul Beasts truly mastered the lost ancient Soul Guidance Device technology to transform other Soul Beasts, this matter might indeed be possible."
"Moreover," Tang San's mind flashed with a chilling conjecture as he continued, "I suspect these Insect Soul Beasts' real target might actually be transforming our human race. I also discovered the corpses of kingdom soldiers in that location."
Hiss!
Tang San went on, "Wolf Raiders are peculiar Soul Beasts born from the union of humans and Spirit Beasts. Although Wolf Raiders have low intelligence and act on instinct, their intellect is already quite high among Soul Beasts. Their movements and appearance resemble humans, and they can even use their unique wind-attribute Soul Skills. The difference is that Wolf Raiders don't possess Martial Souls."
"Those Insect Soul Beasts possess remarkably high intelligence. They wouldn't randomly choose experimental subjects. Wolf Raiders were likely their carefully selected test subjects—my guess is because Wolf Raiders are the Soul Beasts most similar to humans, being hybrids of humans and Spirit Beasts."
Everyone present had heard of Wolf Raiders. Some of these Titled Douluo had even undertaken sect missions to exterminate Wolf Raiders in their youth.
Fifth Elder Tang Fangrui wore a somewhat fearful expression as he said, "Xiao San, that seems unlikely. Could it just be coincidence? Are you suggesting these Insect Soul Beasts are conducting a genocide plan against our human race?"
A flash of seriousness crossed Tang San's eyes as he looked at the Fifth Elder and said earnestly, "Fifth Elder, we human Soul Masters have always hunted Spirit Beasts to forge Soul Rings from their souls, while Spirit Beasts feed on humans, consuming Soul Masters' flesh and Soul Power to enhance their cultivation. There's always been an irreconcilable blood feud between us. Why would it be strange for Spirit Beasts to want to eliminate us?"
"None of us know what Spirit Beasts are truly thinking, what they're planning, or how long they've been planning it. Preparing for the worst is never wrong."
For a moment, silence fell over the gathering. Everyone present was a powerful Titled Douluo who had always believed Soul Masters were the rulers of the world. Some even subscribed to the absurd notion currently popular in the Soul Master community about "protecting Spirit Beasts."
Hearing Tang San's words so suddenly left them struggling to process it, as if their fundamental understanding had been shattered.
After a long period of contemplation, Tang Xiao, seated at the head of the table, finally asked, "Xiao San, is it possible that talking Insectoid you encountered was actually a 100,000-Year Soul Beast in human form?"
A 100,000-Year Soul Beast taking human form is how Spirit Beasts gain human cultivation talents—essentially a rebirth, with their Martial Soul being their original body.
Although none present had ever fought a human-form 100,000-Year Soul Beast, such beings would undoubtedly be invincible against opponents of the same level. Moreover, 100,000-Year Soul Beasts can speak human language, making this a perfect fit.
Upon hearing this, Tang San pondered and said, "I haven't seen a 100,000-Year Soul Beast take human form, so I can't be certain. But based on my observations, that Insect Soul Beast doesn't resemble one. It seems more like a special existence—neither fully human nor a traditional Spirit Beast."
"My father once told me about witnessing Pope Qian Xun Ji battle the Blue Silver Emperor in the Star Dou Great Forest. The Blue Silver Emperor felt just like a human, akin to a human Soul Master with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, possessing Soul Skills and Domain Power. Its speech and appearance were entirely human, with no traces of a Spirit Beast."
Tang Xiao nodded in agreement. "Legends say that when a 100,000-Year Soul Beast takes human form, it completely sheds its Spirit Beast identity. Apart from some Spirit Beast abilities, it becomes nearly indistinguishable from humans, especially after reaching the 70th level. At that point, it fully transforms into a human, gaining all human cultivation talents."
Tang San nodded. "Yes, my father said the same. That's why I believe the Insect Soul Beast isn't a transformed 100,000-Year Soul Beast. They seem to inherently exist this way—possessing both the bloodlust of Spirit Beasts and the intelligence of humans. It's not a transformation but more like... a fusion."
The Seventh Elder asked, "Like the Wolf Raiders? Could these Insect Soul Beasts be offspring of humans and Insect Soul Beasts?"
At his words, everyone present grimaced in disgust, the mere thought making them nauseous.
Tang San shook his head. "I'm not sure. They could be a new species born from mutation or something that's always existed but remained undiscovered. I can't say for certain. But one thing is undeniable—these Insect Soul Beasts are unlike any Spirit Beasts we've encountered before. I call them... Insectoids."
"Insectoids..." Tang Xiao issued orders. "Regardless, this matter is of grave importance. Immediately summon the leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan to discuss this. Also, instruct our disciples to intensify surveillance in Spirit Beast territories, especially areas with high concentrations of insect-type Spirit Beasts."
"Yes, Sect Master."
"By the way, Uncle, where's my father?" Tang San asked as the sect meeting concluded.
Tang Xiao smiled. "Your father was dispatched on a sect mission. An ancient ruin was discovered in a primordial land, and he went to investigate."
Tang San nodded without further questions—it was only natural for the Clear Sky Douluo to be busy.
As Tang San turned to leave, Tang Xiao called out, "Oh, Xiao San, everything from that cave has been transported back and stored in the Black Tower where you train. Among the items, we found a... 'little trinket.' After deliberation, the sect agreed it should belong to you."
"A little trinket?" Tang San tilted his head, unsure what his uncle meant.
After taking his leave, Tang San headed toward his residence.
"Third Young Master," two members of the Strength Clan stood guard at his dwelling. One spoke up, "Third Young Master, all items have been delivered. Please inspect them."
"Understood." Tang San entered the Black Tower, where the warehouse was piled high with assorted debris.
There were fragments of Soul Guidance Devices shattered by Soul Power explosions, metal ores excavated by Wolf Raiders, and even sealed Wolf Raider corpses brought back for study.
Tang San walked over to the table and picked up a sealed glass container. Inside were some broken and charred pieces of flesh. Even though they had been burned black, Tang San could still recognize the color of the blood on them—these were the severed arm fragments of that Insectoid.
This was something Tang San had specifically instructed the sect disciples to look out for during their search.
"To think there are still flesh fragments left after being smashed by the Clear Sky Hammer and then swept up in an explosion. The resilience of this Insectoid's flesh is truly extraordinary. Any other Spirit Beast would have turned to charcoal by now."
Tang San slowly set down the Insectoid's flesh fragments. Studying biology wasn't his forte, so he planned to hand it over to the Breaking Clan for research. After all, the Breaking Clan specialized in medicine and poison, and understanding pharmacology and toxicology naturally required a deep knowledge of the human body.
"Hmm? What's this?" Tang San spotted a Soul Guidance Device box. Like the Soul Guidance Device gate of the Insectoid, it required a special token to open, preventing anyone from taking what was inside.
"This must be the little trinket Uncle mentioned."