The Supreme God of Martial Arts

"Let's find a hideout first. | want to try my hand at the spiritual race's secret skill,"

Austin said as he turned to the others.

"How do you feel now, master?

It took a while for you to snap out of it.

Is everything okay?"

Violet's relief at hearing Austin speak again was quickly replaced by concern.

The others, too, felt relief and concern in equal measure.

It had been terrifying to see Austin completely motionless for such a long time. It had never happened before.

"What happened to the spiritual race member you captured? Did you kill him?

| knew it wouldn't be easy even for the spiritual race to kill you, what with your spiritual tree and all!"

The Heavenly Majestic Pot crowed smugly.

"No, he's still alive. But we don't need to worry about him anymore. Everything's under control.

You'll see later,"

Austin replied.

It wasn't long before Austin and his companions found an isolated place around the town.

Under duress by Austin, the captive spirit soon revealed the spiritual race's secret skill called Puppet Strings.

It was believed that only members of the spiritual race could cultivate it, as it was a skill that required their blood essence to

activate.

But the spiritual tree inside Austin turned out to be the holy tree of the race.

Through the tree, it should thus be possible for Austin to cultivate the skill!

Indeed, it only took a few hours for him to get the hang of it.

"The spiritual tree really can helpcultivate the Puppet Strings skill!" Austin pronounced triumphantly.

It took him a few tries, but he was thrilled to find his theory was correct.

"Well, well.

You're quite special, aren't you, human boy?

In the entire existence of our race, no other living creature has ever been able to learn the skill. It has remained our special secret

all this time.

Who would've thought you'd be the sole exception? And all because of the spiritual tree! What dumb luck!

You'll go down in history for this.

What a world-changing record!"

Despite himself, the spirit captive had to admire Austin.

Austin only smiled in response. He then turned all his attention on mastering the skill.

Before long, a few more hours had passed by.

"I did it!"

Austin declared in short time. Even he was surprised at his progress.

In his Soul Sea, Austin had controlled twenty long red strings with his mind. The strings, emitting strange spiritual soul energy,

would shoot out from the trunk of the spiritual tree and float aimlessly in the void.

Austin knew that once the spiritual soul of other creatures were entangled in the strings, they would fall under his control.

The red threads were like puppet strings, but for the living spiritual soul.

"Human, since you're able to cultivate twenty red strings, it means that you can control twenty spiritual souls at a time. Do you

understand?"

The spiritual race member broke into Austin's thoughts.

"I get it now!

The tens of thousands of people in that small town earlier were under your control!

You were using the Puppet Strings to control them, weren't you?"

Austin said, the realization dawning on him.

"That's correct! Smart of you to catch on,"

the spirit replied with a nod.

"But what | don't understand is that your spiritual soul power is no stronger than mine.

So how could you possibly control tens of thousands of spiritual souls at the stime?

I'm stronger yet | could only produce twenty strings.

What am | missing here?"

Austin asked, puzzled.

"Don't be so greedy, human. This is your first tto cultivate the skill, after all.

And yet you were already able to produce twenty strings in half a day! That's already a great feat!

You'll laugh at me, but the first t| made these strings, it tooka whole year to produce just one!

But | worked hard on it. It tookmore than ten thousand years to be able to produce that many puppet strings!"

the captive spirit pointed out.

"l see,"

Austin said, smiling at the story.

"Well, let's check this then!"

Austin concentrated his spiritual energy.

Along red string shot toward the spiritual race member.

"No, don't!"

The spirit screamed in agony.

But it was too late. The string attached to the spiritual tree, which Austin could move freely, held the captive tightly.

It was just as if the string cfrom Austin himself.

But he noticed something wrong. "What's going on? Why does my puppet string seem to have difficulty controlling you?

Tell me!"

Austin demanded.

"My spiritual soul power is very strong.

Moreover, | am a member of spiritual race and | know how to use the Puppet Strings myself.

If you want to control me, it would require at least ten strings,"

the spirit responded begrudgingly.

Austin nodded. "Il see.

The stronger the spiritual soul is, the more difficult it would be to control it.

Consequently, the creatures with weak spiritual soul power would be easier to control.

Did | get that right?"

Austin asked.

"That's correct,"

the spirit confirmed.

Austin concentrated anew. Ten red puppet strings shot out, intertwining around the captive.

This time, Austin could clearly sense that he could control him.

It occurred to Austin that with a single thought and without having to lift a finger, he could put this spiritual race member to death.

"Master, please!"

The captive didn't want to accept it, but he was Austin's slave now since he was under control of his puppet strings.

"Marvelous! What a useful skill!"

Austin declared with a satisfied grin.

"That wraps it up.

Now onto the next order of business. | want you to helpfind your fellow spiritual race members!"

Austin ordered.

"As you wish, my master.

But if | may make a small request before we go?

| shall take you to my kind who have enmity with me, but please do not forceto go after those | am on good terms with.

Please do not touch my friends.

Could you promisethis?"

the captive spirit asked.

"You have my word. | will not lay even a finger on your friends,"

Austin agreed.

Conditions set, Austin and his companions embarked on their next quest. "Let's go kill the spiritual race!"

Austin waved his hand, motioning for the Heavenly Majestic Pot and the others to follow him.

About half a day later, they reached their first destination.

"Master, there is a small town up ahead. There are a dozen members of our race living there, and each of them is just as strong as

me.

It'll be a piece of cake to kill them.

It'll be my pleasure to offer them up to you, since they bulliedmore than once before.

| once lived in this small town, you see, and was happy until they calong.

For reasons | never quite understood, however, my very presence offended them. So they joined forces to tormentand drive