Chapter Sixty-Five: A Twisted Playstyle

If there was any martial technique among the close-combat skills that Tang Tian was least familiar with, it had to be joint manipulation. Joint manipulation was a unique form of ultra-close-range martial art, developed with human joints as its target. Joints were relatively fragile parts of the body, easily damaged, and far more difficult to strengthen than other areas.

Martial artists who excelled at joint manipulation were truly feared. Once a joint technique master got close, the nightmare began: any part of your body could become their target. These practitioners knew every little joint, even those shielded by muscle, and specialized in destroying them.

But joint manipulation was notoriously hard to learn.

Soul General Cards of this type were difficult to acquire, and there was another crucial reason: it required a sparring partner. Without a live partner, practicing on wooden mannequins would never yield real mastery of joint techniques.

This had always been Tang Tian’s problem. Of the other four martial arts, he had perfected them all, and for three offensive skills, he had even grasped their ultimate moves. Only joint manipulation remained his greatest weakness.

He hadn’t thought of a solution until just now, when he realized that the Green Sandalwood Arm Ape, a creature skilled in unarmed combat, was the perfect sparring partner!

Moreover, the advanced true force that had caused his whole body to swell had granted him an extra layer of protection. As long as he guarded his eyes and other vital spots, he didn’t need to worry about injuries. He’d already tested it—the ape’s punches were powerful, but when they struck him, he felt nothing.

Tang Tian felt a surge of joy at this revelation, barely restraining the urge to laugh aloud.

Without hesitation, he charged recklessly toward the Green Sandalwood Arm Ape.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The ape’s fists hammered his body, but Tang Tian didn’t dodge in the slightest; in an instant, he closed in. He unleashed joint manipulation techniques one after another.

A bizarre scene unfolded.

Tang Tian clung to the ape like a stubborn patch, using throws and locks, sometimes even swinging the ape and smashing it to the ground in a clatter. The ape’s fists rained down on Tang Tian, who was wrapped head to toe in bandages.

Everyone watching was terrified by his reckless, death-defying tactics.

The bald man’s face turned pale, his lips quivering—this… this was surely a death wish…

The ape’s fists were heavy; every blow made Tang Tian’s body shudder involuntarily, yet he pressed on as if nothing had happened. The ground looked as if it had been plowed, torn and ragged, with not a single patch left intact.

They watched Tang Tian, clinging desperately to the ape’s leg like a starving wolf, ignoring the barrage of blows.

The thudding sounds of flesh and bone made the spectators avert their eyes, faces drained of color.

What… what was he doing?

Staring blankly, they watched Tang Tian pawing at the ape’s thigh, his hands probing as their hearts filled with dread.

Could it be…?

Tang Tian clung to the ape’s knee, his hands exploring, muttering to himself amid the relentless blows, his eyes shining: “No… the technique’s off… hmm, the back of the knee is too hard… ah, this is it!”

Crack!

The ape’s fists suddenly stopped. It let out a piercing scream.

Huffing and puffing…

Tang Tian wiped his sweat-soaked bandages, having finally dislocated the ape’s knee, and reached for the other.

A look of fear flashed in the ape’s eyes before rage overtook it, and it attacked Tang Tian with wild fury. Tang Tian was engulfed in a storm of blows; the earth around him exploded, dirt flying high.

Crack!

The other knee was dislocated.

Crack! Crack!

The joints of both arms were dislocated as well.

The Green Sandalwood Arm Ape lay on the ground like a pile of mush, thrashing madly but unable to move an inch.

The bald man and his companions were utterly terrified, frozen in awe. The bandaged figure before them seemed like a devil from hell. They could not describe the terror in their hearts; the scene before them sent chills through their souls.

The ape’s relentless assault should have reduced a man to pulp—was Tang Tian made of steel?

What chilled them most was Tang Tian’s unwavering resolve amid such brutal attacks, focused solely on dislocating joints. In their eyes, this was obsession, madness!

Suddenly, the ape, now a heap on the ground, let out a furious roar.

This roar was unlike any before, echoing far and wide.

“Not good, it’s calling its companions!” the bald man cried in alarm. “Brother, run! It’s calling for help!”

Tang Tian’s eyes lit up. He was just getting started; leaving now was not an option. He waved his hand: “You go ahead.”

The bald man hesitated, but as the whole forest trembled, his heart quivered and he led the group away.

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The bald man’s heart was in turmoil.

An entire hour passed and Tang Tian had not returned. A chill crept into his heart—could it be…?

If a single Green Sandalwood Arm Ape was fearsome, then a whole troop was utterly unstoppable.

Tang Tian must have died…

He muttered silently, hesitating, but finally crept back toward the sinkhole. He prepared himself—if things went wrong, he would run. He was skilled in light-footed techniques, and the apes disliked leaving their pit.

Though he had reluctantly called Tang Tian “big brother,” since he had, he’d do a good deed and retrieve the body. If Tang Tian became a ghost, he’d better not haunt him…

Muttering to himself, he edged toward the pit.

Around the bend ahead lay the sinkhole. He held his breath, knowing the apes’ hearing was sharp. Carefully clinging to the rock, he stretched his head forward bit by bit.

His body froze.

The ground was crowded with Green Sandalwood Arm Apes, all moaning, their limbs dislocated. Hundreds, perhaps four or five hundred, sprawled everywhere—a scene both magnificent and terrifying.

A bandaged figure leaned on his knees, gasping for breath. The heavy breathing was so loud, the bald man could hear it clearly from a distance.

The snowy-white bandages were caked with mud and blood, many torn and tattered, giving him a ragged appearance.

But the bald man did not see him as pitiful; he was utterly stunned.

Such a spectacle was beyond words.

“Hey, since you’re here, come lend a hand!” Tang Tian suddenly turned his head and called out to the bald man’s hiding place.

Thud!

Startled, the bald man fell flat on his face.

Tang Tian ignored him, gazing at the moaning apes, his heart swelling with accomplishment. Today, his progress in joint manipulation surpassed all previous practice. He couldn’t count how many blows he had taken, but his mind held only one thought: joint manipulation!

The attacks had grown so fierce that, toward the end, even his advanced true force could no longer shield him.

Hence the bloodstains on his body.

But it was all worthwhile. Today’s battle had elevated his understanding of joint manipulation to a new realm. In extreme danger, his focus had sharpened to unprecedented levels, yielding extraordinary results. Today’s gains went far beyond this; with proper reflection, his joint manipulation would reach another tier.

His last and greatest weakness was about to be overcome.

With every step forward, he felt closer to Xing Qianhui, closer to his dreams.

What a wonderful feeling!

Tang Tian grinned, wrapped in bandages, wheezing heavily.

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When Tang Tian returned to the outer camp, the place was thrown into chaos. No one had expected him to return alive, let alone with five hundred soul cores. The eyes that fell on Tang Tian no longer held fear—they burned with fervor.

This young man, not much older than themselves, had accomplished a miracle!

Yes, a miracle!

The outer camp, usually so oppressed, seemed to bask in sunlight.

Tang Tian, upon returning, immediately secluded himself.

Examining his body, Tang Tian was shocked: the dangerous true force within him had vanished completely. He found it strange—it shouldn’t have been absorbed so quickly. Only when he discovered a vague mass inside his body did he truly gasp.

It resembled mist, yet also flame, quietly floating in his lower dantian.

He had something new within him!

Alarmed, Tang Tian hurried through the light gate to find Uncle Bing. “Uncle Bing, something’s wrong inside me.”

Bing’s rigid voice carried a hint of surprise: “It’s nothing—that’s your martial soul.”

“Martial soul?” Tang Tian was stunned, then relaxed, scratching his head. “So it’s a martial soul. Scared me for a moment. Wait, that can’t be right—I’m only third tier, how could I form a martial soul? Isn’t it fourth tier that forms martial souls?”

“Generally, yes,” Bing replied. “But your situation is special—advanced true force, Crane Body Strength—these things I don’t fully understand.”

Tang Tian was excited: “Does that mean I’m powerful now?”

“You formed a martial soul, but you can’t use it yet,” suddenly said Ghost Claw Farmer, beside Bing.

Tang Tian hadn’t expected Ghost Claw Farmer to speak, but was drawn in: “Why not?”

“Before the seventh tier, you cannot directly use your martial soul,” Ghost Claw Farmer explained. “Its greatest current use is to establish a connection with your secret treasure, enhancing its power. But don’t expect much—your martial soul is too weak, and the enhancement will be minimal.”

Tang Tian was disappointed, muttering, “I thought I’d hit the jackpot, got happy for nothing.”

“It’s still useful,” Bing interjected. “Now that you’ve formed a martial soul, you can open the Martial Soul Hall.”

“Martial Soul Hall?” Tang Tian echoed, surprised. This was the first time he’d heard of it.