Word Count: 3,144 Words
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Compared to the two domineering members of the Body Sect who intended to forcibly abduct him without a second thought, Huo Yuhao felt the Death Abyss Douluo he had previously encountered in the Extreme North actually seemed quite refined and pleasant-looking.
With no one else around, he clung to Death Abyss Douluo like a drowning man grasping at straws, desperately pleading for help.
"Death Abyss Douluo?"
Big Head and Qilin Arm exchanged a brief, puzzled glance. They had never heard of this title before, yet on the Douluo Continent, everyone was expected to show some face to the Body Sect, no matter their status or strength.
"This boy possesses a Body Martial Spirit. We are under direct orders from our Sect Master to bring him back to the Body Sect and acknowledge his roots. We ask Your Excellency not to interfere!"
Qilin Arm deliberately stressed the title 'Sect Master' in his tone.
The Rank 98 Body Douluo, Du Busi, was the strongest below a Limit Douluo and known for his arrogance and tyranny, often attacking at the slightest provocation. Qilin Arm intended to borrow the tiger's might, believing that even a Titled Douluo wouldn't dare rashly provoke Du Busi.
Huo Yuhao, still green and unaware of the true extent of the Body Sect Master's power, stared nervously at Ling Bai's figure. His palms grew slick with sweat as he silently prayed that the other would save him from this dire situation, if only for the sake of Skydream's contribution of 100,000 years of origin power.
"Members of the Body Sect..."
Ling Bai gave a faint, meaningful smile. The world sure was small. Not long ago, Tiger Arm Douluo Chen Hu, along with his disciple Chen Yu and these two Spirit Douluo, Big Head and Qilin Arm, had come to probe Jianmu Douluo's strength. Who would have guessed he would cross paths with them again so soon?
"Two hundred thousand, and I'll handle these two for you," Ling Bai stated his price.
Within Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Sea, Skydream's expression turned extremely ugly. The 'two hundred thousand' referred not to spirit gold coins, but to 200,000 years of its precious origin power!
Skydream was deeply reluctant to part with it, as this was the foundation of Huo Yuhao's path to Godhood, not to mention their last resort for self-preservation.
A 1,000,000-year spiritual-type spirit beast detonating its origin power could turn even the Beast God Di Tian into an idiot. Yet now, Death Abyss Douluo was nibbling away at its origin bit by bit. He had extorted a staggering 300,000 years in just two encounters. If a day came when the remaining origin power was insufficient to threaten Death Abyss Douluo through self-detonation, both Skydream and Huo Yuhao would face certain doom.
"We'll give it!"
Skydream gritted out the words and summoned two radiant golden rings with a heavy heart. The Body Sect clearly harbored ill intentions. It was best to overcome the immediate crisis first and deal with the consequences later. At worst, they would avoid Death Abyss Douluo in the future, or Huo Yuhao could remain within Shrek Academy indefinitely. Skydream refused to believe that Death Abyss Douluo would dare barge into the continent's number one academy to extort them.
The golden rings transformed into halos that emerged from Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Sea and gently landed in Ling Bai's palm.
Ling Bai nodded in satisfaction. 200,000 years of Skydream's origin power were enough for him to enhance two of his spirit rings to the 100,000-year level. This was entirely Huo Yuhao's loss due to his lack of information. He was unaware of the secrets surrounding the Body Sect and the Second Awakening. Furthermore, the Body Sect's domineering actions had aroused the rebellious spirit of Huo Yuhao and Skydream, resulting in a situation where both sides lost and only Ling Bai profited.
"You two, kindly meet your end."
Ling Bai smiled at the two Spirit Douluo, his smile carrying a bone-chilling coldness. These two were already dead men walking the moment he saw they were from the Body Sect. Back then, they had come to provoke and arrogantly spoke of a marriage alliance between the two sects. Skydream's 200,000 years of origin power was actually just an unexpected windfall.
"Arrogant!"
Big Head roared in fury. When had the Body Sect ever endured such humiliation? Eight spirit rings instantly rose, and his seventh spirit ring flared. His aura surged dramatically. With his oversized head as the epicenter, the air within a ten-meter radius distorted violently. An illusory, bronze-colored giant head materialized behind him.
Body Martial Spirit Bronze-ranked Second Awakening, all attributes enhanced by 60%!
Second Awakening was the ultimate trump card for Body Martial Spirits. Combining the Martial Spirit Avatar with Second Awakening caused Big Head's combat strength to skyrocket, making him comparable to ordinary Titled Douluo like Vajra Douluo Xiong Mo. Moreover, Big Head was a spiritual-type Spirit Master, making his attack methods even more treacherous and unpredictable.
Intangible spiritual power shattered into countless star-like points, which then elongated into fine spiritual needles. Under Big Head's control, innumerable spiritual needles shot toward Ling Bai.
'This fellow has some skills!'
Skydream widened its eyes in surprise. As a fellow spiritual-type powerhouse, it understood Big Head's exquisite control over spiritual power better than anyone. Ordinary Spirit Masters could only overwhelm opponents with raw spiritual power, but Big Head had achieved the state of giving spiritual power form. Given time, he would undoubtedly break through Rank 90 spirit power and become a spiritual-type Titled Douluo of his generation.
'Unfortunately, he ran into Death Abyss Douluo...'
An image flashed through its mind: the time in the Extreme North when it had secretly probed Ling Bai's Spiritual Sea, only to be blocked by a fox.
Sure enough, just as Big Head confidently launched his fatal strike, an eerie, pale blue light blossomed. He saw a pair of misty, damp eyes. An illusory figure appeared within Death Abyss Douluo's Spiritual Sea. Nine enormous tails danced, constructing an impregnable defensive barrier!
Attached skill of the peak Class 8 Spirit Guidance Device, Thousand Illusion Charming Appearance: Spiritual Wall!
The Thousand Illusion Charming Fox's nine tails swept out, obliterating all the spiritual needles. Big Head abruptly fell into a stupor, captivated by the Thousand Illusion Charming Fox's enchantment.
Although Big Head was powerful, the 100,000-year spirit beast Thousand Illusion Charming Fox had once forced the three major Imperial Guardian Spirit Guidance Master Legions of the Sun Moon Empire to join forces. It was a true spiritual-type Titled Douluo, and it suppressed him with ease.
A pitch-black Spectral Gate materialized in the empty air, and the roars of countless spectral creatures echoed from another world. A hideous dragon claw extended forth. The claw was entirely corpselike white, tipped with piercing blood-red points. An endless aura of death permeated the air, bringing the chilling sensation of imminent death.
Big Head remained ensnared by the Thousand Illusion Charming Fox's enchantment. Despite possessing immense spiritual power, he could only tremble helplessly before the descending claw of the Death Abyss Bone Dragon.
Huo Yuhao's face turned pale, and he nearly collapsed. A Rank 25 Spirit Grand Master encountering a Rank 95 Death Abyss Bone Dragon; simply remaining conscious was a testament to his mental fortitude.
The only one to resist was the Qilin Arm Spirit Douluo. Bronze-colored light flared behind him as his seventh and eighth spirit rings lit up simultaneously. His right arm transformed into a thick, muscular bronze limb with bulging veins. The explosive aura emanating from it exerted a palpable pressure throughout the entire Star Emperor Hotel.
The bronze arm clenched into a fist and struck the dragon claw directly. The instant fist met claw, Qilin Arm let out an utterly wretched scream. Due to the vast disparity in attributes and spirit power, the Death Abyss Bone Dragon moved as if unopposed. With a light squeeze, the dragon claw crushed the fist he had swung with all his might.
In the next moment, Big Head and Qilin Arm dissolved into two pools of blood. The two great Spirit Douluo of the Body Sect had fallen.
Ling Bai closed the Spectral Gate, and the floor of the Star Emperor Hotel instantly became empty. Apart from the two puddles of blood on the ground, it was as if nothing had ever happened.
The tension within Huo Yuhao finally snapped, and he collapsed onto the floor, gasping heavily for breath. The confrontation between Death Abyss Douluo, Big Head, and Qilin Arm had been a battle entirely at the Titled Douluo level, placing immense pressure on him.
"Th-thank you, Death Abyss Douluo."
Huo Yuhao forced himself to express his gratitude.
"A pleasure doing business with you."
Ling Bai smiled faintly. This kid sure knew his manners. He'd been sold out yet was still helping count the money!
Having earned an unexpected windfall, Ling Bai left the Star Emperor Hotel to report his safety to Shadow Dragon Douluo. At that moment, his Spider Emperor Sense captured a hint of killing intent, and his expression became somewhat strange. He changed direction and headed toward the western gate of Star Luo City.
Star Luo City was vast. He walked leisurely and took half a day to reach the ancient forest outside the western city gate. The source of the killing intent had stubbornly followed him the entire time.
Ling Bai glanced at the dusky sky and spoke softly, "Come out. Hiding serves no purpose."
"Death Abyss Douluo… since when did the Douluo Continent produce an Evil Spirit Master at the Titled Douluo rank like you?"
A cold voice rang out as a disheveled, greasy old man descended from the sky.
Taotie Douluo, Elder Xuan!
Elder Xuan's gaze was dagger-sharp. This time, he wasn't even holding his iconic wine gourd and chicken leg, proving that he was serious.
Elder Xuan had remained hidden near the Star Emperor Hotel after returning to Star Luo City from Shrek Academy. The spiritual fluctuations from Big Head's Second Awakening had caught his attention. When he rushed over, he saw the two Spirit Douluo of the Body Sect die tragically at Ling Bai's hands.
Elder Xuan had suppressed his temper and refrained from immediate action, concerned for Huo Yuhao's safety. He revealed his killing intent only after Ling Bai left the Star Emperor Hotel.
"Evil Spirit Masters must be eradicated by all!"
Elder Xuan's hatred for Evil Spirit Masters had reached its zenith following the incident with the Death God Envoy. He couldn't be bothered to waste words with Ling Bai. Today, he was determined to slay this Evil Douluo and restore righteousness to the continent!
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Red!
Nine spirit rings materialized one after another, accompanied by the immense might of Rank 98 spirit power. Elder Xuan understood the terror of an Ultimate attribute Super Evil Douluo and dared not be complacent. His black seventh spirit ring flared, and his entire body instantly inflated like a balloon.
Godly Taotie Bull Avatar!
A creature stepped onto the air with the body of a sheep, teeth of a tiger, claws of a human, eyes beneath its armpits, and a pair of enormous spiral horns atop its head. Its overwhelming pressure snapped countless ancient trees in the forest below.
The Godly Taotie Bull exceeded thirty meters in length. Intense yellow light erupted as the nine spirit rings transformed into halos, circling between its giant horns, which spanned over five meters.
"Taotie Douluo, let us battle in the sky!"
The Spectral Gate opened, and earth-shattering dragon roars echoed across the sky. Ling Bai rode the Death Abyss Bone Dragon and charged straight into the clouds. He was eager to test the limits of this spectral bone dragon that had merged with the Death Abyss Demon Scythe. Furthermore, the name Death Abyss Douluo deserved to resonate throughout the Douluo Continent, and Elder Xuan was an excellent whetstone—and stepping stone!
Gray, Black, Black, Black, Black, Black, Red, Red, Red!
Elder Xuan's eyes twitched uncontrollably for a moment upon seeing the nine spirit rings surrounding Ling Bai. His resolve to eliminate Death Abyss Douluo hardened.
The clouds high in the sky formed a vortex, reaching down toward the ground like demons peering out from the clouds, with occasional flashes of lightning and rolling thunder.
Two colossal figures collided violently over a thousand meters above the ground, one radiating the aura of death, the other the essence of the earth. The very sky trembled from their impact. Black cracks spread across the sky like spiderwebs. Boundless power converged madly, invading, devouring, and crushing, only to be constantly annihilated.
The clear sky split into blood-red and earthen-yellow hues, as if doomsday had arrived. Claws capable of slaughtering all creation clashed against solid, heavy horns, causing even the setting sun to cower behind the clouds in fear.
BOOM—
The Godly Taotie Bull's spiral horns struck heavily against the Death Abyss Bone Dragon's claws. Two roars erupted simultaneously as the surrounding space shattered inch by inch. Both the Death Abyss Bone Dragon and the Godly Taotie Bull shuddered violently, thrown back several hundred meters before regaining stability. The impact sent Ling Bai and Elder Xuan's blood and qi surging like tides.
The Godly Taotie Bull stood suspended in mid-air, its body covered in bloody gashes. Hissing sounds of corrosion emanated incessantly from the wounds as the Ultimate Death attribute relentlessly destroyed its flesh and meridians.
"What a terrifying Evil Spirit Master! If he escapes today, he will undoubtedly become a major future threat to Shrek!"
Elder Xuan muttered to himself. From Rank 95 spirit power onward, each rank represented a distinct tier. Yet, despite his three-rank advantage, he couldn't gain the slightest edge against Death Abyss Douluo. It was terrifying to imagine a future where Death Abyss Douluo broke through to an even higher realm. Who on the Douluo Continent could possibly stop him then?
'Still lacking a bit...'
On the other side, Ling Bai swallowed a mouthful of hot blood that surged up and sighed inwardly. The Death Abyss Bone Dragon was created using the secret technique 'Divine Bone Dragon Transformation' to fuse the Death Abyss Demon Scythe into the Spectral Bone Dragon, thus creating a creature of Ultimate Death.
However, an insurmountable gap existed between such a creation and the Death Abyss Spider Emperor itself. If it had been the Rank 95 Death Abyss Spider Emperor fighting now, they would be feasting on beef.
'I can withstand two more moves.'
The battle between the Death Abyss Bone Dragon and the Godly Taotie Bull was approaching the very peak of Titled Douluo power. The residual shockwaves were far beyond what Ling Bai could normally endure. Fortunately, the Life Gold and his Undying Body granted his physique extraordinary resilience; otherwise, the shockwaves would have already torn him to shreds.
Even so, Ling Bai himself was nearing his limit. As his thoughts raced, the 100,000-year eighth spirit ring, disguised by the Thousand Illusion Charming Appearance, blazed brightly!
The Godly Taotie Bull instinctively tensed up upon witnessing this scene. He saw strange demonic patterns begin to emerge on Ling Bai's forehead, and the death aura he released became increasingly terrifying.
Ling Bai's eyes had transformed completely into a chilling crimson color. It was a dreadful, unnerving coldness, like a demon slumbering for ten thousand years awakening today. Even Elder Xuan felt a needle-like sting upon meeting that malevolent gaze.
Death Abyss Spider Emperor's Third Spirit Skill: Death Necromancer Eye!
The fusion of the 10,000-year Calamitous Ice Devil with the 100,000-year origin power of Skydream had triggered a second mutation, resulting in this skill. The Death Necromancer Eye allowed the user to perceive death points of varying sizes on the surfaces of most objects. The larger the death point, the weaker the enemy's defense in that area.
"Your largest death point... is actually here."
As a Rank 98 Titled Douluo, Elder Xuan possessed remarkably few death points. Within the Death Necromancer Eye's vision, apart from universally fatal spots like the heart, Elder Xuan's most prominent death point resided within his Spiritual Sea!
Elder Xuan suddenly felt a chill meeting those crimson eyes, as if his innermost vulnerabilities were exposed. The Godly Taotie Bull's figure shot forward, unleashing its own eighth spirit skill. Thick, earthen-yellow spirit power surged as a pair of enormous bull hooves stomped ruthlessly down towards the Death Abyss Bone Dragon!
Godly Taotie Bull's Eight Spirit Skill: Great Earth Trample!
"It hurts..."
"It hurts so much..."
"I'm in so much pain..."
The Great Earth Trample strangely halted mid-air. Elder Xuan felt as though he had plunged into a bottomless abyss, where billions of tormented souls wept and wailed in his ears.
Eerie voices continuously cried and laughed, like countless ants crawling into his ears, burrowing into his body, frantically gnawing at his very heart.
Calamitous Ice Devil's 100,000-year second skill: Abyss of Suffering!
"Petty tricks! Do you think this can stop me?"
Elder Xuan sneered coldly. How resilient was his heart? Mere ghostly wails and howls were not worth mentioning!
"Elder Xuan, why didn't you save me..."
A desolate voice suddenly echoed, and an illusory figure appeared beneath the Godly Taotie Bull's hooves.
"Xia- Xia Xuan?!"
Elder Xuan's expression was hard to distinguish between surprise and shock. "You... aren't you already dead? Died in..."
Years ago, twelve Inner Courtyard students had become separated from Elder Xuan and encountered a 100,000-year spirit beast. Eight of those twelve perished in the ensuing battle, and Xia Xuan was among them.
"Elder Xuan, why didn't you save me?"
Xia Xuan seemed capable only of repeating this single sentence.
"Child, I..."
Elder Xuan wanted to explain but didn't know how, because he had been too busy drinking wine and eating chicken legs and had carelessly lost them!
"Elder Xuan, it hurts so much!"
"That spirit beast tore me apart alive..."
"Elder Xuan, save me!"
One figure after another emerged, precisely eight in total!
"Xia Xuan... Song Chiyun... Shen Rong... Tang Ran..."
Though many years had passed, Elder Xuan still vividly remembered the names of the eight Inner Courtyard students who had met a tragic end at the claws of the 100,000-year spirit beast. It remained the deepest wound of his life!
"Children, I was powerless..."
The Godly Taotie Bull Avatar showed signs of imminent collapse as soon as these words escaped him.
"Powerless?!"
The eight people simultaneously roared with twisted faces.
"You are Taotie Douluo!
A Rank 98 Titled Douluo!
An Elder of the Sea God Pavilion!
Didn't you promise to protect us!
What exactly did you protect!"
The pain inflicted in the past, the regret haunting countless sleepless nights, the self-blame buried deep within his heart, the sins Elder Xuan himself had committed finally manifested as the overwhelming, unstoppable power of the Abyss of Suffering!
"I'm sorry... children, it's all my fault! All... my... sin!!!"
Martial Spirit Avatar, shattered!