Chapter 31 – Slaying the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape
After several fierce exchanges, the Sky Azure Bull Python gradually fell into a disadvantage.
It realized that the young Soul Master before it was an exceptionally troublesome opponent.
His speed was simply astonishing — no matter how it attacked, he could always evade effortlessly.
Even its proud Slow Domain couldn't affect him in the slightest.
Killing this opponent here seemed almost impossible.
Worse, the enemy also controlled terrifying thunder energy and carried an eerie, sinister power within his body.
At that moment, the Titan Giant Ape was already on the verge of losing control. Its violent energy caused the ground beneath it to quake violently, shattering the surrounding trees into splinters as entire sections of the forest collapsed.
The Sky Azure Bull Python understood — if they continued to drag this out, both of them would fall into danger.
Their opponent seemed to know their every move, deliberately wearing them down in preparation for his next strike.
"Second Brother, we've fallen into his trap! Retreat, now!"
The Sky Azure Bull Python roared furiously.
Its enormous body twisted violently in mid-air, ignoring the Gui Mei's sharp pursuit, and without hesitation, it turned and dove straight toward the lake below.
"Hmph! Trying to escape?!"
The Gui Mei sneered coldly, his body flickering as he unleashed his teleportation ability. In an instant, his figure vanished—then reappeared a short distance in front of the fleeing python.
A tidal wave of soul power surged from within him, madly condensing upon the Nether Soul-Slaying Sword in his hand.
"Old Poison, now!"
Gui Mei shouted.
Dugu Bo had been waiting for this very moment. He hadn't made a move until now — precisely to strike when it mattered most.
His eighth soul ring suddenly shone with blinding light, and a vast wave of soul power exploded outward.
From his position, a green radiance spread rapidly, covering the entire space where the Sky Azure Bull Python hovered.
In that instant, everything within the light froze completely — even time itself seemed to halt.
This was one of Dugu Bo's ultimate techniques — his Eighth Soul Skill: Time Freeze.
However, the cost was immense. The technique devoured soul power at a terrifying rate, and once his reserves ran low, the ability would automatically dissolve.
After the prolonged battle with the Gui Mei, the Sky Azure Bull Python had already consumed a large portion of its power.
Its colossal body, now trapped midair, trembled violently but could not move an inch.
Even so, as a soul beast nearing 200,000 years of cultivation, its energy surged wildly within the frozen space, faintly trembling as if on the verge of breaking free.
Dugu Bo narrowed the range of the Time Freeze deliberately — concentrating it solely on the python to restrain it completely, even if only for a brief moment.
Two seconds — that was his limit.
But for Gui Mei, those two seconds were more than enough.
His gaze turned razor-sharp, filled with unyielding resolve and merciless intent.
The moment arrived.
He swung his sword.
The instant the Sky Azure Bull Python shattered the time restraint, a blade of light — thin as a cicada's wing — slashed ruthlessly into the spot where its scales had already been cracked.
That sword strike, forged from compressed soul power and infused with the Gui Mei's Ice and Fire energy, tore through the air.
The devastating sword qi split the Sky Azure Bull Python's massive body cleanly in half!
Blood gushed like a waterfall, dyeing half the lake crimson.
With a final, despairing roar that shook the heavens, the two halves of its enormous form crashed into the water, sending waves several meters high surging outward.
Seeing this, the Titan Giant Ape's eyes instantly turned scarlet. It raised its head and roared in boundless fury.
Dozens of massive fist shadows, like exploding cannonballs, erupted toward the Gui Mei with world-shattering power.
Each carried the Titan Giant Ape's overwhelming rage and strength — the very air screamed and cracked under their force.
"Old Poison, get that bull's soul bone for me!"
Gui Mei barked the order. He needed to deal with the Titan Giant Ape, but couldn't let the Sky Azure Bull Python's soul bone sink into the depths of the lake.
His figure blurred again, vanishing from sight — and in the next heartbeat, he reappeared above the Titan Giant Ape's head.
Bolts of blue-black lightning descended from the sky, crashing down onto the giant ape's body with deafening force.
At the same time, Yue Guan unleashed his Hundred-Thousand-Year Left Arm Soul Bone Skill — Thunder Pearl Explosion!
Dozens of blue-golden lightning orbs condensed in Yue Guan's hands before shooting toward the Titan Giant Ape.
Each orb exploded violently upon contact, engulfing the beast in waves of thunderous destruction.
Though the Titan Giant Ape's body was as tough as iron, both attacks were from a hundred-thousand-year soul skills. The violent lightning energy crashed against its body again and again — overwhelming even its monstrous endurance.
It couldn't withstand it for long.
Explosions ripped open gruesome cracks across its massive frame, the stench of burnt flesh spreading through the air.
The stronger Sky Azure Bull Python had already fallen. A deep, despairing weakness surged in the Titan Giant Ape's heart.
It knew — if this continued, death was inevitable.
"ROAR!"
With a furious howl, it turned and charged desperately toward the forest.
Gui Mei's eyes turned cold as his gaze locked onto the fleeing behemoth.
The Sky Azure Bull Python was dead, but absorbing such a powerful soul ring would take at least two or three days.
And deeper within the forest, even stronger soul beasts awaited.
If the Titan Giant Ape escaped, it might bring those powerful creatures back for revenge.
If that happened… the consequences would be disastrous. Not only would the soul ring absorption be disrupted, but all three of them might be thrown into mortal peril.
Thus, the Titan Giant Ape had to die — no loose ends.
Though the soul ring would go to waste, a hundred-thousand-year soul bone was still a tremendous reward.
With that thought, Gui Mei didn't hesitate. His figure flickered — teleporting directly in front of the Titan Giant Ape.
The Nether Soul-Slaying Sword in his hand flared with blinding light, the razor-sharp blade qi slicing forward like a bolt of lightning — aimed straight at the beast's enormous, lantern-like eyes!
The Titan Giant Ape was already half-crazed, still drowning in grief over Xiao Wu and Da Ming's deaths. It never expected Gui Mei's speed to be so terrifyingly fast.
By the time it realized the danger, it was already too late.
The blade light pierced straight through both its eyes!
A black void swallowed its vision as a torrent of agony surged through its body.
The massive creature stumbled, losing its balance, and crashed heavily to the ground, raising clouds of dust that blotted out the sun.
At that moment, Yue Guan arrived at the scene.
"Old Ghost, conserve your soul power — let me finish this!"
Behind him, the Chrysanthemum martial soul bloomed in radiant splendor. As his eighth soul skill activated, dazzling blue-golden light burst forth.
A colossal pillar of energy formed instantly, descending from above with apocalyptic might.
This strike was infused with the violent lightning power of his hundred-thousand-year-old left arm bone, and further enhanced by the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. Its destructive force had already reached the level of a true hundred-thousand-year skill.
The Titan Giant Ape's body was already riddled with wounds. Facing such a devastating blow, how could it possibly endure?
A thunderous explosion split the heavens as the blue-golden beam slammed into the beast's body, punching straight through its chest.
Blood gushed out like a geyser, dyeing the ground crimson.
The Titan Giant Ape staggered, dragging its mangled body forward a few desperate steps before collapsing to the earth with a deafening thud.
It let out several weak roars, struggling briefly — and then, at last, went completely still.
A faint red mist rose slowly from its enormous corpse, drifting into the air.
Gui Mei and Yue Guan exchanged glances.
The fierce, earth-shattering battle had finally come to an end.
"Old Chrysanthemum, go collect its soul bone. I'll check the lake."
"Alright. A pity, though — that hundred-thousand-year soul ring will be wasted."
"Yes, but for everyone's safety, we had no choice."
As they spoke, a figure descended from the sky — Dugu Bo.
"Old Ghost, that bull-headed monster's soul bone — I've already retrieved it for you."
—
End of Chapter