War Sovereign Soaring The Heavens Chapter 2: The Strength of an Ancient Mammoth
Previously on War Sovereign Soaring The Heavens...
Chapter 2: The Strength of an Ancient Mammoth
Translator: / KurazyTolanzuraytor Editor: Lucas / Lincoln
Ling Tian began to chuckle.
Using someone as a punching bag? That was something he specialized in.
Li Xin, who was the same age as Duan Ling Tian, had been bound to the punishment post under the scorching sun for so long that his complexion had turned a sickly shade of green...
Terrified by Li Rou’s command, he fell into a state of panic, screaming frantically, “Dad, help me!”
“Li Rou, do not push things too far!” Seventh Elder Li Kun’s expression darkened as he roared in a fit of temper.
“Too far? Li Kun, your son constantly torments mine. If my son is injured because his skills are lacking, I can accept that as part of training. However, this time, your son nearly took his life... Do you honestly believe that I, Li Rou, am someone you can easily trample upon?”
Li Rou cast a freezing look at Li Kun, her words dripping with icy indignation.
“Tian, do not hesitate—strike. Today, I want to see exactly who possesses the courage to block me from teaching this junior a lesson!”
Li Rou spoke with the heroic spirit of a true warrior.
Despite being a woman, the aura she projected was every bit as formidable as any man’s!
“Patriarch.”
Li Kun turned toward the Patriarch, Li Nan Feng, who stood nearby, seeking some form of intervention.
“Seventh Elder, this is a personal dispute between you and the Ninth Elder. I suggest the two of you resolve it privately to the best of your ability.”
Li Nan Feng shook his head, declining to interfere.
“So, you’re the one who thrashed him so badly?” Duan Ling Tian whispered to himself.
Slap!
Taking a step forward, he delivered a sharp blow to Li Xin’s face without further delay.
A stinging sensation radiated through his palm, causing Duan Ling Tian to knit his brows slightly.
“Duan Ling Tian... if you have any guts, untie me and face me one on one!” Li Xin snarled, his voice a ragged howl. Half of his face was already puffing up, and his eyes burned with a murderous glare.
“A duel? No thanks, I’m not interested... As for whether I have guts or not, that isn’t something you need to concern yourself with,” Duan Ling Tian replied with a laugh, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.
Slap!
He delivered another heavy blow to Li Xin.
“This fellow’s face is incredibly thick-skinned.”
He scowled, blowing on his smarting palms, though he felt a sense of relief as he vented his lingering anger.
The watching Li Family disciples were left utterly speechless by Duan Ling Tian’s behavior and remarks.
The other boy was already tied up like a stationary target for him to strike, yet he actually had the nerve to complain about the thickness of the boy’s skin?
What was wrong with this person!?
“In the end, shoes are still more effective.”
Stooping down, Duan Ling Tian pulled a shoe off his foot. He gripped it firmly and suddenly aimed it right at Li Xin’s face.
The sight sent a cold shiver down the spines of the surrounding Li Family disciples.
“Is Duan Ling Tian seriously planning to use that shoe to slap Li Xin?”
“If he hits him with that, won’t Li Xin’s face split open like a blooming flower!?”
“Little brat, you are looking for death!”
Li Kun could no longer restrain himself at the sight. His body lunged forward toward Duan Ling Tian like a soaring roc.
“You are the one looking for death!”
Li Rou moved with elegant, fluid steps, appearing like a celestial maiden drifting through the nine heavens as she intercepted him. She arrived in front of Duan Ling Tian a moment before Li Kun could reach him.
With her slender hands glowing with the vivid light of Origin Energy, she thrust her palm toward the charging Li Kun.
Simultaneously, faint traces of white mist began to swirl above Li Rou’s head.
“Li Rou, let us see the true extent of your power today.”
Li Kun’s expression was grim as his hand swung down like a massive fan.
Origin Energy surged forth, meeting Li Rou’s palm strike with maximum intensity!
In that instant, four indistinct phantoms of ancient mammoths materialized in the air above Li Kun.
By attacking with his full power, Li Kun had tapped into the energy of heaven and earth to manifest four ancient mammoth silhouettes...
This meant the force he wielded was equivalent to the power of four ancient mammoths!
A single ancient mammoth possessed a staggering 10,000 pounds of strength.
“Mom...”
Duan Ling Tian watched with a worried frown.
The Li Family disciples watched the clash between the Seventh and Ninth Elders with bated breath; a confrontation of this magnitude was a rare spectacle.
Bang!
Under the intense gaze of the crowd, Li Rou and Li Kun collided as their palms met.
Both their frames shuddered. Li Rou’s body leaned forward slightly as the white mist above her head rapidly transformed into ancient mammoth silhouettes...
There were six in total! The power of six ancient mammoths!
Li Kun’s strength of four ancient mammoths was no match for Li Rou’s strength of six, especially in a direct head-on collision... The result was immediate.
Li Kun was sent flying like an arrow shot from a bow. He tumbled back over ten meters in a pathetic display before finally catching his balance.
“Waa!”
Li Kun’s face turned from pale to ashen as he coughed up a spray of blood.
Staring in pure shock, he looked at the dissolving silhouettes of the six ancient mammoths hovering over Li Rou.
“This can’t be... Six ancient mammoths... Li Rou, you have actually reached the fourth level of the Core Formation Stage?!”
Li Kun was shaken to his core.
He never would have guessed that the Ninth Elder, who usually kept a low profile and rarely raised a hand against anyone in the Li Family, possessed such terrifying power!
The surrounding Li Family disciples gasped in unison, “The strength of six ancient mammoths... The Ninth Elder is incredibly powerful!”
“Based on that manifestation, the Ninth Elder’s cultivation must be at the fourth level of the Core Formation Stage.”
“Who would have thought that the usually mild-mannered Ninth Elder was hiding such strength? If Li Xin hadn't nearly killed Duan Ling Tian, we might never have seen her fight.”
......
Li Rou stood tall, her slender figure appearing exceptionally imposing.
“I had no idea Mom was this strong. To channel the energy of heaven and earth into six ancient mammoths, she is definitely at the fourth level of the Core Formation Stage.”
Duan Ling Tian exhaled a sigh of relief.
In this world, the initial path of a martial artist is the Body Tempering Stage, which consists of nine levels.
Reaching the ninth level of Body Tempering Stage grants the physical body ten thousand pounds of force.
At that peak, one can begin to draw upon the energy of heaven and earth, manifesting it as an ancient mammoth silhouette, which represents the strength of one ancient mammoth.
Beyond the Body Tempering Stage lies the Core Formation Stage.
The defining trait that separates these two stages is the presence of Origin Energy.
Once a level nine Body Tempering practitioner produces Origin Energy, they ascend to the first level of the Core Formation Stage.
The Origin Energy at this first level provides the equivalent of one ancient mammoth's strength. When added to the existing physical strength of the body, the martial artist can exert the power of two ancient mammoths.
As one's cultivation progresses, the amount of power they can command grows accordingly.
Thinking of this, a faint grin touched Duan Ling Tian’s lips.
“Tian, no one will disturb you now... You may finish what you started.”
Li Rou’s soft voice reached Duan Ling Tian, prompting him.
“Dad, save me!”
Upon hearing Li Rou’s words, Li Xin’s face paled, his eyes filled with profound dread...
The shoe in Duan Ling Tian’s hand was about to descend, and it was certainly no laughing matter!
Li Kun’s expression was twisted with rage, but fearing Li Rou, he did not dare intervene again.
Duan Ling Tian let out a burst of laughter.
Slap!
The shoe in his hand struck down without mercy.
Immediately, Li Xin began to wail like a slaughtered pig as a vivid shoe print appeared on his cheek.
Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!
......
Armed with his shoe, Duan Ling Tian repeatedly lashed out, striking Li Xin’s face over and over.
Every time the shoe connected, the gathered Li Family disciples winced instinctively. The rhythmic sound of the shoe hitting flesh was enough to make them shudder.
Duan Ling Tian only ceased his assault once Li Xin had lost consciousness.
Duan Ling Tian spoke a silent message in his heart, one meant only for a specific listener.
As he followed his mother out of the courtyard, Duan Ling Tian caught sight of the Seventh Elder’s gaze. It was a look filled with bloodlust and malice, as if the man were waiting for the perfect moment to tear him apart...
His heart grew heavy.
He had encountered that specific look many times in his previous life.
It was the gaze of a ruthless individual who would stop at nothing to get what they wanted!
In his past life, whenever someone looked at him like that, he would eliminate them before they could ever become a real threat.
Duan Ling Tian felt a mounting sense of urgency.
Although Li Kun was no match for his mother, she couldn't protect him forever. She wouldn't be able to stay by his side for his entire life.
To survive in a world where strength was the only thing that commanded respect, he had to rely on himself.
What he needed more than anything was power... overwhelming power!
As the Ninth Elder of the Li Family, Li Rou possessed her own private residence.
The courtyard contained three rooms, housing Li Rou, Duan Ling Tian, and their servant girl in separate quarters.
After returning home, Duan Ling Tian gave his mother a brief greeting before retreating to his room.
“After being so badly hurt this time, Tian seems to have changed a bit...”
Being the person closest to him, Li Rou had sensed the subtle shift in Duan Ling Tian’s personality since he regained consciousness.
She didn't dwell on it, assuming her son had simply matured after such a traumatic ordeal.
She had no way of knowing that while the body was her son's, the soul within had been replaced.
Back in his room, Duan Ling Tian sat on his bed, his expression somber.
From the fragments of foreign memories he had inherited, he realized that the original owner of this body had been frail and sickly since childhood.
Achieving successful body tempering and reaching the first level of the Body Tempering Stage to become a true martial artist would be as difficult as climbing to the stars!
Duan Ling Tian cursed inwardly.
“HeHeHeHe...”
Suddenly, a chilling, gravelly laugh—reminiscent of a vengeful spirit—echoed inside Duan Ling Tian’s head.
“Who is there?”
Duan Ling Tian’s face twisted in alarm.
“Boy, I never expected you to be lucky enough for your soul to survive that! But it changes nothing... Wait, you aren't that boy. Who are you?! Curse you! You actually dared to steal the body I intended to claim. Die!!” The gravelly voice was suddenly overtaken by a wave of savage fury.