"Seniors, I'm not exactly a bad person…"
"How about you wash your granddaughter clean and send her to my manor, then kowtow to me a few times, and I'll let you go?"
Bai Mu stroked Zygarde, looking at them with a faint smile.
"Don't even think about it!"
"Don't think we're afraid of you just because you have the upper hand for now!"
"Even if we die, we will never let you have your way!"
"We are the Unrivaled Dragon and Snake!"
Long Gong and Snake Granny spoke with firm resolve.
As if everything were Bai Mu's fault, as if he were some heinous villain.
"Martial Soul Fusion Skill… Dragon-Serpent Strike!"
The two exchanged a glance and raised their canes at the same time!
In an instant, the powerful forces of their two martial souls resonated and fused, transforming into a massive, solid golden dragon that radiated terrifying pressure.
"Roar—!"
The dragon roared into the sky, swinging its body as it charged toward Zygarde with overwhelming force!
This was their signature move, its power rivaling that of a Titled Douluo!
"Splendid, truly splendid!"
Facing an attack that even a Titled Douluo would not dare to face head-on, Bai Mu clapped lightly, his expression completely calm.
Only when the dragon descended did he speak indifferently:
"Protect!"
Zygarde's body glowed as an indestructible green barrier formed, perfectly shielding both itself and Bai Mu.
Whoosh—
Amid surging wind and clouds, the golden dragon crashed down with all its might, slamming into the barrier.
Boom—!
A terrifying shockwave erupted, crushing the ground into a massive crater.
Long Gong and Snake Granny had poured everything into this attack.
Yet… no matter how much power they unleashed, their Dragon-Serpent Strike could not shatter the shield.
"How is this possible!?"
The two inside the dragon were filled with horror.
They had roamed the Spirit Master world for decades. Their combined strike had long surpassed ordinary Titled Douluos, making them nearly invincible.
And now… what were they witnessing?
A mysterious boy, merely a quasi–Spirit Ancestor, had completely blocked their ultimate move!
"What do we do!?"
A feeling of helpless despair spread through their hearts.
The Martial Soul Fusion Skill was powerful, but its spirit power consumption was equally terrifying.
If this dragged on and their spirit power ran out, they wouldn't even be able to escape!
But if they fled… they would have offended Bai Mu, a future Titled Douluo, as well as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
They might escape for now—but could they escape forever?
And even if they could, what about their family?
"Retreat!"
At last, Long Gong's eyes hardened as he made his decision.
No matter what, they had to survive first.
As long as they lived, there was hope. The boy was difficult to reason with, but Ning Fengzhi should surely be reasonable.
If they apologized and sought shelter with him, Bai Mu surely wouldn't continue pursuing them.
"Fine!"
The two decisively withdrew their power,解除 the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, and rushed toward Meng Yiran.
But—
"Jungle Healing, Frenzy Plant!"
Bai Mu's first spirit ring lit up as Jungle Healing spread across the ground.
"Frenzy Plant!"
Zygarde fully unleashed Frenzy Plant.
Swish, swish, swish—
With the support of Jungle Healing, countless terrifying thorny plants erupted from the shattered earth in an instant.
Vines like massive tentacles covered the battlefield, whipping toward Long Gong and Snake Granny.
"What kind of Spirit is this!?"
Long Gong's expression turned bitter; he truly couldn't comprehend it.
Earth, Dragon, Time… and now it could even summon plants to attack!
But they had no time to think.
The two could only swing their Dragon-Headed Staff and Snake Staff with all their might, desperately carving out a path.
Yet the plants seemed endless and impossible to destroy.
Zygarde's spirit power showed no sign of weakening.
"Thousand Arrows Volley."
Another wave of light arrows rained down.
At last, Long Gong and Snake Granny faltered, repeatedly struck by Frenzy Plant.
Covered in wounds and coughing blood, they collapsed onto the ground, barely clinging to life.
"Grandpa! Grandma!"
Meng Yiran rushed over, her eyes red.
"Cough, cough… We admit defeat."
Long Gong spoke weakly, his voice filled with bitterness.
"Please… punish us however you want. Just don't hurt our granddaughter…"
Snake Granny also pleaded softly.
"Yes… Yiran is innocent…"
"No! If you must punish someone, punish me!"
Meng Yiran cried out, dropping to her knees before Bai Mu.
"Grandpa and Grandma did this for me!"
"What are you thinking?"
Bai Mu sneered.
"Of course I'm going to punish you—and I'm going to punish you severely."
He walked up, reached out, and pinched her chin, carefully examining her tear-streaked face.
"Tsk. Good looks, excellent temperament. You're qualified enough to be a maid."
He then shoved her aside like an obstacle and nodded toward Zygarde.
"Watch them. If they resist, bury them."
"Zygarde~"
Zygarde nodded slightly, its eyes glowing as the ground beneath the three collapsed, burying them with only their heads exposed.
Bai Mu then walked a short distance away from the Man-Faced Demon Spider, sat down cross-legged, and began absorbing the spirit ring.
As the purple spirit ring merged into his body, his consciousness entered the familiar inner space.
Lines of text appeared one after another—
[Successfully absorbed the 2,132-year Man-Faced Demon Spider spirit ring. Obtained Fourth Spirit Ability: Spider Web Restraint (Creates a tough, toxin-laced sticky web to attack and bind enemies)]
[Resonant Pokémon moves available for replacement: Toxic, Poison Jab, Sticky Web, Acid, Toxic Spikes, Dire Claw…]
"As expected, there are quite a few resonant moves."
Bai Mu scanned the list, his mood noticeably improving.
Most Poison-type moves were compatible.
"Zygarde can learn Toxic on its own. No need to waste a spirit ability slot."
"At worst, I can keep Toxic Spikes as a backup. No rush."
Toxic Spikes: Scatters special poison that weakens the Attack, Special Attack, and Speed of poisoned targets.
Debuffing enemies was far better than buffing oneself.
In games, this move had severe limitations, but in the real world, if combined properly with Toxic, the effect would be absolutely terrifying.
Bai Mu remained patient. After all, it had been a long time since his transmigration, and some memories were fuzzy—it would be painful to miss a truly powerful move.
"Wait… this move can resonate too?"
Suddenly, Bai Mu noticed a special move.
[Evil Poison Chain]
[Effect: Binds the target with chains formed from poison, injecting toxins that corrode the body. Has a 50% chance to inflict the Toxic status.]
"This is it."
He made his decision instantly.
In the real world, if Evil Poison Chain fused with Toxic, that 50% chance would become 100%.
More importantly, like Jungle Healing, this move had a unique special effect.
Jungle Healing, the signature move of the Mythical Pokémon Zarude, could rapidly accelerate plant growth.
Evil Poison Chain, the signature move of the Mythical Pokémon Pecharunt, could use sinister poison to create delicious chain sticky cakes.
After the target consumes the cake, their desires and abilities increase—and they are then controlled through the chains.
"Even if it only works on those with lower spirit power than me, that's more than enough."
This was perfect for building an organization and cultivating subordinates.