Reincarnated With The Designer Martial Soul

Lin Feng faced the two Qi Refining-stage wolves head-on, his expression calm but resolute. Summoning his Grade 9 Leather Armor Martial Soul , he donned an illusionary set of clay-colored armor that covered his body from head to toe. This additional layer stacked seamlessly atop his existing leather armor, creating a dual-layered defense system. While his original armor absorbed the brunt of the wolves' physical attacks, the Leather Armor Martial Soul acted as a secondary buffer, stopping any residual force that might otherwise penetrate through. Together, they provided remarkable protection, allowing Lin Feng to focus more on offense without worrying about sustaining crippling injuries.

The first wolf lunged at him without hesitation, its claws gleaming dangerously under the dim forest light. Lin Feng raised his shield just in time, the impact reverberating through his arm. The combined layers of armor reduced much of the shock, preventing serious injury. However, the sheer force still pushed him back slightly, forcing him to regain his footing quickly.

"Not bad," Lin Feng muttered to himself, sidestepping swiftly to avoid a follow-up attack from the second wolf. His movements were fluid, enhanced by his Middle Stage Qi Refining cultivation, which allowed him to maintain speed and agility even while wearing the additional weight of the Martial Soul armor.

Realizing he couldn't rely solely on defense, Lin Feng counterattacked with his sword infused with his Grade 9 Windy Martial Soul . A sharp gust of wind sliced across the first wolf's side, leaving shallow gashes along its fur. While not lethal, the attack forced the beast to retreat momentarily, giving Lin Feng breathing room.

However, the wolves weren't ordinary beasts—they were intelligent hunters. The second wolf circled around, attempting to flank him while the first recovered. Lin Feng cursed inwardly; fighting one was manageable, but two working together posed a significant challenge.

Deciding to take control of the situation, Lin Feng summoned his Grade 7 Whirlpool Tornado Martial Soul . A violent mass of spinning water erupted around him, shaped like a miniature whirlpool. Razor-sharp wind currents swirled within the torrent, amplifying its destructive potential. The spiritual energy binding the water and wind together gave the vortex an almost tangible presence, crackling with raw power.

The wolves hesitated, their instincts warning them of danger. But hunger and aggression overrode caution, and they charged once more, leaping toward the swirling maelstrom. To their surprise, the vortex acted as both offense and defense—their attacks were deflected by the dense wall of spinning water, while the razor-sharp winds tore into their hides, drawing blood. One wolf yelped in pain as a concentrated jet of water struck its chest, sending it tumbling backward. The other pressed forward, determined to close the distance.

Lin Feng seized the opportunity, channeling more Qi into his Martial Soul. The whirlpool intensified, growing larger and faster as the spiritual energy fueled its momentum. With a roar, he unleashed a concentrated stream of spinning water and wind directly at the charging wolf. The torrent slammed into the beast with devastating force, knocking it off its feet and slamming it into a nearby tree. The impact left a deep gouge in the bark, and the wolf collapsed, dazed and bleeding heavily.

But Lin Feng knew this wouldn't be enough to finish them. These beasts were resilient, and their Qi Refining-stage strength made them far tougher than regular predators. He needed something unexpected—a way to catch them off guard.

Summoning two Grade 9 Dagger Martial Souls , Lin Feng materialized twin daggers in his hands. Though weak compared to higher-grade Martial Souls, their small size and sharp edges made them perfect for distraction. With a flick of his wrists, he hurled the daggers toward the recovering wolves.

The projectiles struck true, embedding themselves in the wolves' shoulders. While the wounds weren't fatal, the sudden pain startled the beasts, causing them to stagger and expose vital areas.

Now was his chance.

Lin Feng dashed forward, his sword glowing faintly with residual wind energy. He targeted the first wolf, driving his blade deep into its throat with pinpoint accuracy. The creature let out a choked gurgle before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

The second wolf, enraged by the loss of its companion, charged recklessly. Lin Feng stood his ground, activating his Whirlpool Tornado Martial Soul once more. This time, however, he focused the vortex into a concentrated beam of spinning water and wind, unleashing it like a spear.

The torrent shot forward with devastating speed, piercing through the wolf's chest and pinning it to a tree. Its howls faded into whimpers as it slumped downward, defeated.

Breathing heavily but triumphant, Lin Feng surveyed the carnage around him. The battle had been intense, but his adaptability and hidden strengths had carried the day.

Meanwhile, the Hunting Elder raced toward the source of the ominous aura emanating from the mutant wolf. When he arrived, he found the beast approaching Li Wei cautiously. Despite its overwhelming power, the wolf didn't attack immediately—it was waiting for the right moment to strike.

Li Wei, injured and exhausted from his earlier battle, turned his head briefly to glance in Lin Feng's direction. In that split second, the wolf saw its opening and pounced forward, its claws gleaming with murderous intent.

But before it could reach Li Wei, the Hunting Elder appeared in a blur of motion, releasing a terrifying aura that shook the very air around him. It was the unmistakable presence of someone at the Foundation Establishment stage—bloodthirsty and tyrannical.

Sensing the elder's overwhelming power, the wolf whimpered instinctively, its body trembling as if preparing to submit. However, something strange happened next. A red, glowing symbol appeared on the wolf's forehead, pulsating with an eerie light. Its aura surged violently, elevating it to the late stage of Qi Refining. Not only that, but its eyes turned blood-red, radiating madness and fury.

"What's that?" the Hunting Elder muttered, narrowing his eyes at the unfamiliar symbol. He didn't recognize it, nor did he care—at least not yet. A mere Qi Refining-stage beast was no match for him.

Reaching behind his back, the elder pulled out a spear—a lower-grade spiritual weapon. The spear was simple yet elegant, forged from darkened steel with faint engravings along its shaft. Though not particularly ornate, it hummed faintly with residual spiritual energy, a testament to its craftsmanship.

"Lay down for me!" the elder barked, hurling the spear forward with casual ease.

Whoosh!

To his astonishment, the wolf dissolved into a shadow-like form, slipping through the ground effortlessly. The spear missed its mark entirely, embedding itself into the rocky wall nearby with a deafening bang! Rocks exploded outward, sending shards flying in all directions.

"What kind of magic is this?" the elder growled, bewildered by the wolf's bizarre ability. Tracing the shadow moving beneath the surface, he scoffed. "Do you think it's that easy?"

With the speed and precision of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the elder dashed forward, waving his palm casually. A powerful shockwave of energy surged toward the ground, tearing through the earth like paper.

Boom!

Dust and debris shot upward as a massive pit formed in the ground. From the depths emerged the injured wolf, dragging itself out with fresh blood dripping from its wounds.

"Haha! Who could have thought I'd have such a good harvest today?" the elder laughed triumphantly, eyeing the beast greedily. Late-stage Qi Refining wolves were rare, and their materials would fetch a high price or serve as excellent components for crafting new equipment.

The wolf howled angrily, its blood-red eyes locked onto the elder. It knew escape was impossible now, so instead of fleeing, it prepared to fight until its last breath.

But resistance was futile.

In the blink of an eye, the elder disappeared from his spot, reappearing directly in front of the wolf. Without hesitation, he drove his spear through the beast's back, killing it instantly.

Whoosh!

As the wolf collapsed lifelessly, something strange occurred. Black smoke began to rise from its corpse, swirling ominously in the air. Slowly, the wolf's body reverted to its original color—indistinguishable from the other wolves the youngsters had been fighting.

"Eh?" the elder frowned, noticing the same red symbol coalescing from the dissipating smoke. Before he could react, the symbol shot toward him with blinding speed.

Instinctively, the elder waved his hand, attempting to deflect it with his spiritual energy. But the symbol passed through his defenses effortlessly, latching onto his arm like an ethereal brand.

"What the hell!" the elder exclaimed, his expression turning grim. He channeled his Qi into his arm, trying to dispel the mark, but it remained stubbornly intact. Strangely, it didn't seem to cause any harm—yet.

"I need to return to the village and consult the chief and the other elders," he muttered anxiously. Whatever this symbol was, it clearly wasn't ordinary.

While the Hunting Elder was lost in thought, he heard footsteps approaching from behind.

"Father, what happened?" Li Wei called out, having followed the sounds of battle.

"Humph! Nothing. Just some beast," the elder replied dismissively, turning to face his son. His frown deepened as he took in Li Wei's battered state.

"Why are you injured? You couldn't even beat such a beast?" the elder scolded harshly, his tone laced with disappointment. "Useless! How can you call yourself my son?"

Li Wei lowered his head, shame washing over him. He could tell from the intensity of the battle here that this fight had been far more dangerous than his own. Perhaps that was why his father had disappeared so suddenly.

Seeing his son's dejected expression, the elder sighed deeply. Pulling out a pouch containing healing pills, he tossed it to Li Wei.

"Rest here and tend to your wounds," he instructed sternly. "We'll train harder starting tomorrow. As for now, I'm going to check on that kid."

With that, the elder turned and strode away, leaving Li Wei to reflect on his shortcomings—and the battle unfolding around them.