Lu Ping's eyes met Tai Tan's. There was no fear in them, only provocation.
As if silently asking—'What are you going to do about it?'
Tai Tan stared at him for a moment.
Then—
"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
The sound that erupted from his throat was harsh, filled with barely restrained violence.
"So even stray dogs dare to bark now?" Tai Tan sneered.
"Do you think you're qualified to comment on the blueprints personally bestowed by my Young Master?"
As his words fell, a terrifying pressure exploded outward.
"Martial Soul—Possession!"
Tai Tan's body expanded grotesquely as thick black fur burst from his skin. His arms thickened like ancient tree trunks, veins bulging as muscles swelled to monstrous proportions.
Behind him—Eight soul rings rose one after another, their configuration making several blacksmiths instinctively retreat.
"Not just any trash is allowed to disrespect the blueprint given by Young Master!" Tai Tan roared.
The stone floor cracked beneath his feet.
In the next instant, his massive body shot forward like a cannonball, the air itself screaming under the force of his charge.
His intent was clear, already angry due to Lou Gao's rejection of his master's work, he wanted to take out his anger on this impudent brat.
"WAIT!" Lou Gao shouted, his face finally changing.
Several blacksmiths shut their eyes instinctively.
In their minds, the scene was already decided.
With the Soul Douluo's blow—the young man reducing to broken bones and blood.
However, Just as Tai Tan's massive fist tore through the air, Lu Ping's body suddenly ignited, in that instant.
Whoosh—
Crimson-gold flames erupted around him, spiraling upward like a living inferno.
Lu Ping's voice was steady, unhurried.
"Martial Soul—Possession: Flame Hound."
A phantom hound wreathed in fire seemed to overlap with his form, eyes burning with wild, controlled ferocity.
Seven Soul rings rose behind him—
----
Work continued as usual in Gengxin City.
Streets bustled with merchants, hammers rang rhythmically from foundries.To the ordinary citizens, it was an entirely unremarkable day—one like countless others.
Until—
BOOM—!!!
A thunderous crash erupted from the upper floors of the Blacksmith Association.
The entire building shook violently as a section of the outer wall shattered outward, bricks and shattered stone raining down in a deafening cascade. Pedestrians screamed and scattered as dust clouds billowed into the street.
Two figures were flung out of the ruined wall.
They slammed heavily onto the open ground below, carving shallow craters into the stone pavement before skidding to a halt.
As the dust slowly settled, the silhouettes of two combatants emerged—both enveloped in the fierce aura of martial soul possession.
One of them was Tai Tan.
His towering form, covered in thick black fur, radiated terrifying pressure. Yet beneath that fearsome exterior, his body was subtly trembling.
His right arm was the most shocking sight.
The fur had been scorched away entirely, revealing blistered skin blackened by intense heat. Cracks of charred flesh ran along his forearm, and wisps of smoke still curled upward. The limb hung unnaturally stiff, clearly suffering severe damage.
Tai Tan clenched his teeth.
In his mind, the moment of collision replayed vividly. At the instant their fists had met, the boy had not clashed head-on.
Instead— he saw 3 soul rings of the opponenr flash
And then the person attacked toward his right arm, flames surging precisely trying to destry his arm. It hadn't been reckless aggression.
'He aimed to cripple my arm from the very beginning…'
Tai Tan's heart sank.
When the boy had openly disrespected the blueprints of his Young Master, rage had overwhelmed his judgment. He had attacked without hesitation, believing sheer power would crush any resistance.
Now he understood. That carelessness had cost him dearly.
'I never thought… that the Blacksmith Association would hide such a ruthless character…'
His gaze shifted forward. Opposite him stood Lu Ping.
Flames licked around his body, though their intensity fluctuated unevenly. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, dripping onto the ground below. His breathing was slightly heavy—after all, he had faced a Soul Douluo head-on.
Yet—Lu Ping was smiling with a calm, satisfied curve of the lips.
Suddenly—Lu Ping stepped forward.
The seventh soul ring behind him surged violently, blazing brighter than all the others combined.
"Seventh Soul Skill—"
"Martial Soul Avatar: Flame Hound."
ROAR—!!!
Lu Ping's body was instantly enveloped in roaring flames as a massive flame hound phantom fully fused with him. His physique sharpened, muscles tightening with explosive power.
In an instant—
All his basic attributes surged upward by fifty percent.
The temperature in the surrounding area spiked sharply. Lu Ping moved with a very fast speed.
Fire shadows flickered in and out of existence as his figure split into multiple afterimages, flames trailing behind each step like living embers.
This movement technique was unmistakably derived from Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
Yet unlike Tang San's ghostly elegance, Lu Ping's steps were violent and blazing, each displacement leaving scorching marks on the ground, perfectly suited to him.
Tai Tan's pupils contracted sharply.
Without hesitation, he roared and activated his own trump card.
"Seventh Soul Skill—"
"Martial Soul Avatar: Vigorous Orangutan!"
His massive form expanded once more, bones cracking as strength surged violently through every limb. The orangutan phantom behind him solidified, overlapping his body entirely.
At this moment—His strength attribute doubled.
The ground beneath his feet caved inward as he planted himself firmly, both fists raised defensively.
Tai Tan no longer dared to underestimate his opponent and attacked with full force.
His massive fists descended, each swing tearing the air apart with explosive booms. The street beneath cracked repeatedly under the pressure of a Soul Douluo's rage.
Yet—none of Tai Tan's attack could hit Lu Ping.
----
(Author notes : I know readers want to see about the protagonists side, but as a manipulator Qian Renxue is manipulating the story now. Several stories of side characters and supporting characters needs to converge to take it to the end point she has desired. These chapters will be over in few more days.
And the script that is playing was made by her when she was a little mad, now she is just observing it without making any changes)