The python-like Blue Silver Emperor tightly bound Long Yue like a dumpling. Tang Wulin slightly crouched, his golden blood essence exploding.
"Get out!"
Long Yue was enraged. His dragon claws tore through the Blue Silver Emperor vines. Even after being strengthened by the Golden Dragon King's bloodline, the Blue Silver Emperor remained fragile under his hands due to the two-ring difference in cultivation.
Tang Wulin briefly gathered strength, unleashing Zhu Shi's signature soul skill—the second form of the Nine Forms of the Golden Dragon:
"Golden Dragon Shakes the Earth!"
The spectral figure of a giant golden dragon crashed onto Long Yue's head. The timing was perfect—it struck just as Long Yue broke free from the control. The golden dragon roared resoundingly, its aura suppressing Long Yue's attempt to leap up.
A series of controls connected seamlessly within just one second of the battle's start. Although Tang Wulin's original Wu Tian Hammer martial soul had been replaced by the Golden Dragon King's bloodline, this unforeseen twist freed him from the limitations of dual martial souls, allowing him to use both simultaneously.
"Well done!"
Wu Siduo let out a sharp cry as her White Tiger martial soul enveloped her body, vanishing from sight. Her eerie steps, courtesy of the Nether Spirit Cat, made her appear ghost-like as she lunged toward Long Yue.
In mid-air, purple soul rings flashed.
White Tiger Vajra Transformation!
White Tiger Protective Barrier!
"Don't even think about it!"
Dai Yueyan had been keeping his eyes on Wu Siduo. With a tiger-like roar, he charged forward. Both originating from the same White Tiger lineage, they immediately became entangled in combat. Their tiger claws and sharp talons clashed, creating piercing gusts of wind.
Almost at the same time Long Yue pounced, Su Mu from the rear of Monster Academy moved.
His five fox tails swayed elegantly yet lethally behind him, and five halos of different colors instantly spread from his center, precisely covering Shrek's formation.
Su Mu's Nine-Tailed Fox martial soul was native to the Star Luo Continent. Each ring advancement added another tail, granting corresponding enhancements and spellcasting boosts. When fully matured to nine tails, its potential rivaled that of true dragons.
Su Mu's soul skills were highly specialized—his five soul skills were all halo-type abilities, continuously consuming soul power to remain active.
While these skills might not seem powerful in the short term, over time, their terrifying effects would become apparent.
Su Mu had once fought against more than a dozen Soul Kings alone, relying on his halo-type soul skills to secure ultimate victory.
First Soul Skill: Slow Halo.
Like an invisible swamp, it instantly made Shrek's movements sluggish, even making their soul power feel heavier.
"Star Wheel Chains!"
Xu Xiaoyan's crisp voice rang out. She raised her star staff, and brilliant stars instantly condensed. Several chains of starlight shot out like agile snakes, accurately binding Su Mu.
But Su Mu merely smiled, unperturbed. His soul skills activated instantly upon release and did not require active control, making him indifferent to being controlled or interrupted.
Second Soul Skill: Soul Power Drain Halo.
Threads of purple energy wrapped around Shrek's members, voraciously siphoning their soul power.
Devouring Halo!
A chilling spiritual force invaded, attempting to shake their resolve, devour their fighting spirit, and cloud their minds.
Realizing that her control was ineffective, Xu Xiaoyan decisively used her second soul skill: "Starlight Feedback!"
Brilliant starlight formed a radiant area, slowing the spread of the halos significantly. The halo skills began to counteract each other, accelerating the consumption of Su Mu's soul power.
The abnormal drain caught Su Mu's attention, surprising her with Xu Xiaoyan's unique martial soul and soul skills.
"Thanks, Xiaoyan."
Ye Xinglan held her sword, her starry eyes electric. Freed from the most direct suppression, her sword left its sheath, its intent surging upward, ready to unleash its full sharpness.
"Sword Star Rain!"
Countless fine, penetrating starlight sword qi erupted like a rainstorm, targeting Su Mu directly.
Ye Xinglan recognized Su Mu's importance in controlling the battlefield and decisively aimed to eliminate him first.
Su Mu smiled faintly, retreating gracefully with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Steps, dodging the sword qi with ease. After the clang of missed attacks echoed, he swiftly returned to the battlefield's center, letting his halos cover Shrek Academy again.
"Hmph!"
Su Mu snorted coldly. Had his soul power not been one ring higher than Xu Xiaoyan's, he might have barely avoided the attack. His fox tails swayed once more, and the fifth halo filled with destructive energy lit up.
Destruction Halo!
Crimson destruction energy swept like a shockwave towards the incoming Sword Star Rain, annihilating most of it. Then, his eyes flashed fiercely, and her third soul ring suddenly illuminated.
Reverse Halo!
A sinister silver halo instantly encircled Wu Siduo, who was fiercely battling Dai Yueyan, attempting to redirect her strength towards Ye Xinglan.
"Be careful!"
Yuan'en Yehui had already transformed, her tight-fitting clothes stretched taut. With a low growl, her massive frame stepped out, blocking Wu Siduo's flank. Her giant fist, carrying the power to shatter mountains, slammed heavily into the eerie silver halo.
"Titan Force!"
Boom!
The violent force collided with the "Reverse Halo." Space seemed to distort momentarily. Yuan'en Yehui felt her punch being deflected by a strange force, even partially rebounding onto herself.
She grunted, her massive body swaying but enduring the backlash. Though injured, she successfully blocked the sudden strike for Wu Siduo.
"Yehui!"
Wu Siduo's heart tightened, her eyes flashing with cold light. She switched her martial soul, activating Nether Hundred Strike, and launched a fiercer assault on Dai Yueyan. No longer aiming to defeat Dai Yueyan, she sought opportunities to assist her teammates.
"Hmph, nuisance!"
From the shadows, Teng Teng appeared like a true shadow, silently emerging behind Xu Lizhi.
Her Shadow Martial Soul allowed her to blend perfectly with the platform's shadows. A shadowy dagger glinted with chilling cold light, aiming straight for Xu Lizhi's back. Support system soul masters were always priority targets.
"Restoration Bun!"
Though nervous, Xu Lizhi reacted quickly, employing Tang Sect's ultimate techniques. He understood the plight of support systems, mastering the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Steps exceptionally well.
His bulky body displayed unexpected agility, rolling forward sharply while his hands flashed repeatedly. Several steaming buns flew toward his teammates.
"Lightweight Dumplings!"
Just as Teng Teng's dagger was about to pierce the rolling Xu Lizhi, a cold, sharp gaze locked onto her—it was Bai Yuan.
Bai Yuan completely ignored Long Yue charging toward him, disregarding his challenge entirely, leaving him to be dealt with by Tang Wulin.
His gaze remained fixed on the core of Monster Academy—Bo Xi, and the rapidly spreading, suffocating steam.
"To enter my shadow?"
Bai Yuan's lips curled into a cold smirk. The phantom of his Abyssal Taotie martial soul silently roared behind him.
"Abyssal Domain!"
Centered on him, a profound darkness capable of devouring light instantly spread. Wherever the darkness reached, the air became viscous and heavy, all energy pulled and devoured by an unseen force.
Teng Teng felt her soul power in the shadows dissipate like melting snow, rapidly integrating into Bai Yuan's domain.
Unwilling to resist, she burst forth with soul power, leaping to continue attacking Xu Lizhi. Even trading blows with a food system soul master wouldn't leave them at a loss!
But the next moment, she realized she had overthought.
Two domains collided fiercely at the center of the platform!
Bo Xi's "Steam Domain" emitted scorching white mist, distorting the air with burning and suffocating effects.
Bai Yuan's "Abyssal Domain," however, was pure dark devouring, like a bottomless black hole, frantically swallowing approaching steam, heat, and even light!
The two domains crushed each other, indiscriminately harming anyone. Teng Teng abandoned her attack, retreating into the shadows towards Monster Academy's side, where Bo Xi wouldn't actively suppress his own allies.
Zzzzz—!
After Teng Teng's retreat, explosive annihilation sounds erupted at the boundary of the domains.
The scorching steam was devoured and decomposed by the darkness, while the abyssal devouring force was constantly consumed and impeded by the high-temperature steam.
The central area of the platform became chaotic—one half a boiling white inferno, the other half a silent, devouring black abyss. The air groaned and exploded under the strain of the two extreme forces.
Bo Xi's eyes narrowed slightly. He felt his steam domain collide with an unfathomable quagmire, its expansion greatly hindered. The temperature and burning effects within the domain were continuously weakened and devoured by the eerie darkness.
His azure hair, influenced by his martial soul, fluttered in the wind like a scarf around his neck. His second soul ring shone, and with a gentle stomp, azure soul power infused into the ground beneath him.
"Deep Sea High Pressure Domain!"
Boom!
An invisible crushing pressure suddenly descended, centered on Bo Xi. Within a hundred-meter radius, the air instantly became as heavy and viscous as the depths of ten thousand meters of ocean.
This terrifying pressure not only enhanced the temperature and lethality of the "Steam Domain" but also indiscriminately affected every member of Shrek Academy.
Even Bai Yuan's Abyssal Domain, capable of twisting and devouring light, couldn't fully consume this intangible, formless pressure!
Shrek's members felt their bodies suddenly weigh down, as if burdened by a thousand-pound stone. Their movements became sluggish again, and breathing became difficult. Combined with Su Mu's Slow Halo, they felt as if they wanted to vomit blood.
Tang Wulin's "Unmovable as a Mountain" stabilized his stance, but the pressure against Long Yue increased steeply. Wu Siduo's agile movements were severely restricted, Ye Xinglan's sword trajectories became heavy and slow, and Xu Xiaoyan's soul power consumption for maintaining the star chain control skyrocketed.
On the other hand, except for Bo Xi himself being unaffected, others only bore slight pressure and steam, clearly having anticipated this.
Ye Zhi confirmed that Shrek's agile attack system soul masters couldn't reach her in time. Her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda emitted brilliant light.
"Seven Treasures Turning Out with Glazed Light! One: Strength! Two: Speed! Three: Soul! Four: Defense!"
Four dazzling pillars of light accurately fell on Long Yue, Dai Yueyan, Hua Lantang, and Su Mu, instantly boosting their strength, speed, soul power, and defense.
Especially Long Yue, under the deep-sea high pressure, amplified by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, his strength surged again, completely ignoring the influence of Bai Yuan's Abyssal Domain. His attacks became even more ferocious, his fists madly pounding on Tang Wulin's defenses, producing drumbeat-like roars.
Although Tang Wulin relied on his dominant body and soul bone to endure, the alloy platform beneath his feet kept cracking. His body was gradually pushed backward, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. The glow of his left leg soul bone flickered uncertainly, clearly bearing tremendous pressure.
Under the empowerment of strength and speed, Hua Lantang's Dragon-Wolf martial soul unleashed its ferocity, boldly pouncing on Yuan'en Yehui, who was distracted by the domain. Dai Yueyan's White Tiger claws became even more lethal, forcing Wu Siduo into perilous situations.
Teng Teng's figure became even more elusive under the high pressure, like a ghost in the deep sea, once again approaching Xu Lizhi, who was diligently making buns.
Though the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul had limitations, unable to surpass level eighty, its heaven-defying auxiliary effects vividly demonstrated the principle that numbers equate to power!
"Xiaoyan, control Ye Zhi," Ye Xinglan shouted sharply, enduring the double suppression of high pressure and halos, her sword momentum struggling.
Xu Xiaoyan gritted her teeth, her star staff shining brighter!
"Stellar Radiance!"
The first soul skill had limited range. Being too far from Ye Zhi, Xu Xiaoyan could only use her third soul skill for large-scale control, manipulating a cluster of starlight to descend and cover Ye Zhi at the rear of Monster Academy, attempting to interrupt her support.
However, Su Mu's fox tails swayed again!
This was his technique in developing soul skills, using them again, consuming the corresponding soul power of the soul ring, allowing halo-type soul skills to burst with the effect of single-use soul skills. Though the power was only half of a same-level soul skill, it could reverse the situation at critical moments.
The Reverse Halo instantly encased the starlight cluster, redirecting its trajectory.
"Your opponent is me!"
At this crucial moment, a loud shout rang out, and an exceedingly brilliant sword light suddenly illuminated—not slashing toward the enemy but toward the void!
"Star God Sword Intent, Slash!"
Ye Xinglan's eyes held nothing but pure sword intent. Her desire for victory made her spirit incredibly vibrant, ignoring the high pressure and halos, achieving unity of man and sword!
This slash wasn't aimed at physical entities but at the intangible shackles enveloping her—the strange guiding force of the "Reverse Halo."
Where the sword light passed, invisible threads seemed to be severed. The Reverse Halo about to encase the starlight trembled violently, its brilliance dimming slightly.
It was this slight delay that allowed the brilliant starlight to successfully hit Ye Zhi. Though a flash of light on Ye Zhi's body indicated her battle armor neutralized most of the starlight, her actions and the amplifying light of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda inevitably experienced a brief interruption, delaying the subsequent boosts for the others.
The amplification lights on Long Yue, Dai Yueyan, Hua Lantang, and Su Mu dimmed slightly.
"Great opportunity!"
Tang Wulin roared, seizing the tiny gap in Long Yue's force linkage, his Golden Dragon Claw bursting forth!
"Golden Dragon Shocks the Heavens!"
An extremely condensed golden claw shadow tore through the high-pressure air, brutally slamming into Long Yue's chest. Long Yue grunted, taking several steps back for the first time.
Within the Abyssal Domain, Bai Yuan's eyes gleamed intensely. Taking advantage of Bo Xi's distraction in maintaining the dual domains against the abyssal devouring and Ye Zhi's interrupted boost, the Abyssal Taotie phantom behind him suddenly opened its massive mouth!
"Ultimate Devouring!"
Target: Bo Xi!
A terrifying suction instantly descended on Bo Xi, not only pulling at his surface soul power but also the vast water vapor and soul power contained within his Steam Domain and Deep Sea High Pressure Domain, tearing and devouring them furiously.
The profound blue light around Bo Xi fluctuated violently.
Bo Xi's face finally changed slightly. The devouring attribute was too domineering; he felt the unreasonable, greedy devouring force from the abyss.
The divine beast phantom behind him wavered, and faint dragon roars emerged around him.
"Boundless Ocean!"
His passive soul skill activated, and the water vapor in the air crazily converged toward him. The devoured force replenished itself at several times the speed, and his fourth soul ring suddenly illuminated.
"Infinite Water Tornado!"
Above the entire platform, dense water vapor began to converge at a terrifying speed. A huge, rotating vortex prototype rapidly formed above Bo Xi's head!
The initial suction wasn't strong, but everyone could sense a world-shattering storm brewing.
Once fully formed, atop the stage augmented by "Deep Sea High Pressure," its power would be unimaginable!
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