The breakout battle had officially begun.
The elders of the Sea God Pavilion took the lead, with the rescue teams from the Four Great Empires covering the flanks and rear. Zhang Lexuan and Han Ruoruo were tasked with protecting the remaining members of the Inspection Corps. Everyone unleashed their full strength as they charged into the Ten Thousand Corpses Grand Array.
Previously, the array had held back slightly, which allowed the Four Great Empires' rescue teams to successfully enter the besieged zone of the Inspection Corps.
While the exit route wasn't completely sealed, the enemy certainly wouldn't let everyone leave freely—there were still too many survivors from the Inspection Corps.
The only reason the Corps still had so many survivors was that the Grand Array's initial purpose had been to encircle, not exterminate. Also, since the encirclement hadn't lasted long and supplies in the Corps' camp were still sufficient, no serious casualties had occurred yet.
But to escape—they would now have to pay the price.
The Grand Array began to exert its full power. Soon, it was filled with corpse miasma and death aura, along with corpse poison.
"Everyone, raise your soul-tool shields! The miasma is poisonous—inhale it carelessly, and you'll turn into zombies!" Elder Song urgently warned.
His warning was mostly for the supporting forces from the Four Empires.
The elders had already led teams through the Grand Array several times without success. Though the casualties were light, they still couldn't break through.
Thanks to Xuan Ziwen joining Shrek and the Academy's increased focus on soul tool research after suffering numerous setbacks, every Inspection Corps member was now equipped with defensive soul tools.
As for the supporting elite soul masters—they were naturally even less concerned. Even without soul tools, their soul power shields were enough to resist the miasma.
The team managed to resist the toxic air—for a while.
But soon, a new problem emerged.
The corpse miasma blotted out the sky, rendering the path ahead invisible. Even the moving zombies were difficult to spot with the naked eye.
And relying on soul perception didn't help either—the array disrupted all sensory abilities.
Combined with the endless activity of the corpse horde, the team gradually lost their sense of direction.
"At this point, we can only keep pushing forward and hope we're not off course," Kong Deming said gravely.
Even a Super Douluo couldn't be sure of their path inside the array.
Although Elder Song had warned them, no one expected things to become this chaotic.
This was a dangerous situation.
Everyone had to keep using their soul shields to block the miasma, while also fending off sudden zombie attacks. Soul power was being rapidly drained.
If they failed to escape before depleting their soul power—or couldn't retreat to a safe zone—they would be completely exposed within the array and doomed.
This was the very reason the Inspection Corps had been trapped in the first place.
Now, the team had burned their bridges—no retreat, only forward!
Many were already prepared to sacrifice themselves.
The fall of Shrek hadn't yet reached the ears of the ordinary Corps members—only some senior officials knew. And this knowledge made it clear to them: they must break through this encirclement.
The rest of the team placed their trust in their leaders.
The road ahead became pure torment for everyone.
No end in sight. No sense of direction. Constant exposure to poisonous miasma. Frequent zombie attacks. It tested both strength and willpower.
"Everyone, hang in there! We only need to go a little further—someone will be there to support us!" Nanmen Yuzhi encouraged, seeing that some were growing anxious.
She wasn't lying—there were support forces waiting outside.
This massive rescue operation wasn't only backed by the royal families of the Four Empires. Many clans and sects had sent reinforcements, just as Huo Yuhao had predicted.
Some even included hidden Titled Douluo experts.
Unfortunately, there were no pleasant surprises—no Super Douluo appeared. Most of the Titled Douluo were elderly and past their prime, with little to offer.
Back when Huo Yuhao wasn't yet a Soul Sage, any Titled Douluo was a rare and precious asset to him.
But now, Titled Douluo were just passable. Even Super Douluo didn't impress him anymore. Only gods could stir his excitement.
These reinforcements, due to their lower strength, remained outside, ready to assist as needed. When they saw the array tremble, they'd know someone was trying to break through—and they'd respond.
Eventually, someone inside began to falter.
Those with weaker soul power could no longer maintain their soul shields. Their shields flickered a few times—and then died out.
"No! I'm out of soul power! I don't want to become a zombie!" someone cried out in terror.
A comrade beside him, seeing an old friend in danger, gritted their teeth and offered a soul tool milk bottle—despite not having much soul power left themselves.
"Use this, quick!"
The frightened Corps member stared blankly at the bottle. The terror faded from his face.
But instead of taking the bottle, he gently pushed it back.
"What are you doing?" his comrade asked in shock.
The previously terrified member now wore a carefree smile, as if he'd defeated the fear within. Green-black corpse poison veins had already crept across his face, giving his grin a sinister air.
"Ha! Gotcha—I was just pretending to be scared!"
"I knew the moment I inhaled the miasma that it was already too late. No cure. So keep your bottle. Hold out as long as you can. If you get out—go find my parents, tell them… their son has failed them."
"Brother, I'm glad I met you. If I'm a woman in my next life, I swear I'll marry you! Hahaha… But this life—I refuse to die looking like a zombie."
"Eyes on me, everyone—because I'm about to look awesome!"
With that, the Corps member self-detonated, charging into the fog ahead.
"Let this be my final gift to Shrek. Let me clear the path for you all!"
BOOM—
With his self-destruction, his body forcefully blew apart the surrounding corpse miasma, revealing a small window of visibility.
Though the gap quickly filled again, it was enough for the experts to recalibrate their bearings.
This type of explosion was different from conventional self-destruction—it had been developed specifically by the Corps while fighting zombies. It was meant for those infected with incurable corpse poison to go out on their own terms—and take enemies with them.
They detonated their flesh and martial soul—even without soul power, it still worked.
Because they had learned that even whole corpses, if left intact, could mutate and turn into powerful zombies—some even headless.
No one wanted to linger as such a grotesque existence.
With one person leading the way, others infected by corpse poison made the same decision. After leaving their last words, they too charged ahead, detonating their bodies to blow open paths through the miasma.
In this way, the team was finally able to orient themselves—and push forward.
Truly, this was a path of escape paved with the flesh and souls of the Inspection Corps.
The senior officials, including Elder Song, shut their eyes in pain—but none dared stop these heroes or diminish their sacrifice.
Even Nanmen Yuzhi was deeply moved.
"The members of the Inspection Corps… are willing to sacrifice everything for their beliefs—just like us? Then the destruction of Shrek… was justified after all," Nanmen Yuzhi thought coldly.
Nanmen Yuzhi: "Those like me must die. They must die."
The hymn of humanity is the hymn of courage!
The Ten Thousand Corpses Grand Formation drained soul power at an alarming rate—dozens of times faster than normal. Even Soul Sages couldn't withstand such consumption.
One by one, members of the Surveillance Corps exhausted all their soul power and, without hesitation, sacrificed themselves, using their flesh and souls to carve a path for the others.
Some even preserved a bit of soul power solely to self-destruct with greater impact.
Others gave up their own life-saving milk bottles (soul power restoration devices), gifting them to comrades so they could continue the fight longer.
Wang Yan was one such recipient.
A Surveillance Corps member handed over his milk bottle to Wang Yan, hoping it would help him survive a bit longer.
"I can't accept this!" Wang Yan firmly refused.
But the member solemnly said:
"Teacher Wang Yan, I apologize for underestimating you in the past. Fighting alongside you has made me truly realize how important your wisdom is. Shrek doesn't lack Soul Masters like me, but it desperately needs a strategist like you."
"Promise me—live on. May you and Senior Sister Han Ruoruo have a long and happy life together. Take this milk bottle and my storage soul tool as a wedding gift from me."
And he wasn't the only one.
Soon, multiple milk bottles had been forcibly stuffed into Wang Yan's arms despite his protests.
Then, one by one, those who had exhausted or were near exhausting their soul power charged forward—offering up their lives to clear the way.
Wang Yan was already in tears.
What broke his heart even more was that this self-destruction method—originally designed for the dignity of fallen Surveillance Corps members—was something he had developed himself based on their feedback.
Now, it had become a means of sending these young warriors to their deaths.
"I'm a sinner of Shrek! A sinner!!!"
His invention had buried countless promising Shrek youth.
Meanwhile, Han Ruoruo, noticing Wang Yan's despair, bit her lip and remained at her post, holding off the zombie horde to ease the pressure and soul power consumption for the others.
What the Surveillance Corps didn't know was that their sacrifices—flesh and soul—weren't wasted.
Their remains were refined by the Grand Formation, used as nourishment to strengthen the zombies. Though the enhancement to any one zombie was minimal, the cumulative effect would soon lead to noticeable growth.
Eventually, when the number of casualties reached a critical point, a turning point came—reinforcements arrived.
When the breakout team met up with the reinforcements, Elder Song and the others were nearly moved to tears—they'd been tormented by guilt during this period.
At the head of the reinforcements were two Super Douluos:
Nan Shuishui, leader of the Earth Dragon Sect.
Heavenly Dragon Douluo, leader of the Heavenly Dragon Sect.
Nan Shuishui was the one taking command, as the Heavenly Dragon Sect had already joined Huo Yuhao's camp. The Heavenly Dragon Douluo had sensed trouble, compared the strengths of both sides, and quickly defected—a move that likely saved his sect from annihilation.
As part of their loyalty pledge, female disciples with True Dragon Spirits from the sect became Huo Yuhao's devoted followers, cultivating a furnace method in preparation for being "picked."
Among them were even two inheritors of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit.
Behind the two leaders followed a host of powerful figures from various sects and clans—some Titled Douluos, but mostly Soul Douluos.
"Thank you for your assistance—Shrek will never forget this kindness," Elder Song said emotionally.
"There's no need for such words. Shrek has protected the Douluo Continent for millennia. Helping Shrek now is our duty," Nan Shuishui replied nobly.
Then she added, "This isn't the time for small talk. Let's break out together—we're not far from the outside."
"Yes!" Elder Song nodded firmly.
Nan Shuishui's group also brought soul tools and milk bottles to help replenish soul power.
Just as hope began to rise, a terrifying pressure suddenly descended from above, instantly freezing the entire group in place.
Even the strongest among them were shaken as they looked skyward—where even the corpse aura-obscured sky was torn apart by the descending force.
From above, a shadowy figure emerged.
"Where do you think you're going?"
It was the Corpse God.
Floating in the sky, his body was surrounded by seven strange soul rings. Four of them (1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th) glowed crimson with a hint of regal gold—clearly, they had evolved.
His soul ring upgrade experiment had succeeded.
And just in time for this massacre.
"Corpse God!" Zhang Lexuan's pupils shrank with hatred in her voice.
The others had never seen him before, but they'd heard of him from her stories.
"He's the mastermind behind these zombies?" Elder Song frowned. She noticed his abnormal strength and special soul ring arrangement—suspecting he had twin spirits.
"Let's take him down! Even if he's an Ultimate Douluo, we have the numbers. Killing him will eliminate the zombie threat and remove a major enemy," Elder Zhuang declared.
At that moment, Nanmen Yuzhi, Nanmen Yuruo, and even Nan Shuishui looked visibly uneasy.
All three women thought the same thing:
"Us? Fight the Corpse God? Are you kidding?!"
As Huo Yuhao's people, they knew the Corpse God's true identity and power.
A bunch of non-god-level Soul Masters trying to fight a divine being? Were they dreaming?
If they hadn't needed to stay undercover, they would've slapped Elder Zhuang and shoved him to the front lines themselves.
But the Corpse God didn't appear just to chat—he came to crush hope.
"Let me show you the power of my new soul rings. As the first batch to experience it—feel honored."
With a wave of his hand, his fourth soul ring glowed, and two Martial Soul sigils floated above his palm.
One was the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.
The other was the Black Dragon Shield.
Elder Song and the others who had watched Qian Duoduo grow up recognized the Black Dragon Shield instantly. The Glazed Tile Pagoda was famous across the continent.
"Impossible! Those two? What is his Martial Soul? What kind of soul rings or soul skills does he have?!" Elder Zhuang exclaimed.
Before their shocked eyes, the two Martial Soul sigils merged and erupted with the brilliance of a Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
This was the Corpse God's breakthrough.
His soul rings were abnormal—traditional upgrade and fusion methods failed. So he devised a new method, mimicking Martial Soul Fusion, forcibly combining the powers of two zombie Martial Souls.
Thanks to Huo Yuhao and Jiang Nannan completing a god-level fusion, the Corpse God had gained deeper understanding—enough to achieve fusion.
Even an incomplete Seven Treasures Pagoda was still a top-tier support Martial Soul. The Black Dragon Shield was one of the top defensive tool spirits. Their combination was effectively a Super Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
When the fusion light faded, a luxurious tower appeared in his hand—about a meter tall but fitting his massive frame perfectly.
Most strikingly, it had nine floors and five faces.
He threw it into the sky, where it expanded and formed a five-pointed formation that crashed down toward the group.
"Black Dragon Tower Formation, Suppress!"
With a low growl, the formation descended, forcing even the strongest Soul Masters to their knees. Those below Super Douluo had their protective soul tools and shields shattered, collapsing to the ground.
The Super Douluos tried to resist, unleashing their true forms.
But their resistance was like ants against a boulder.
"Impossible! How can he be this strong?!!!"
Despair sank into every heart.
Heavenly Dragon Douluo: If I surrender fast enough, no one can kill me!
Everyone in the group was undoubtedly suppressed by the Corpse God, though he didn't strike a fatal blow.
However, that didn't mean they were safe.
On the contrary, while being suppressed, an even more terrifying corpse poison began to corrode their bodies—starting with the strongest individuals.
This was the Corpse God actively controlling the corpse poison.
"The power that suppressed you includes the martial soul of the Black Dragon Shield, which happens to originate from your own Shrek," said the Corpse God.
His words caused the pupils of Elder Song and the others to shrink sharply, their eyes filled with killing intent and hatred—yet they were powerless to resist.
The Corpse God continued,
"Shrek really is a place blessed with talented people. So many individuals of value. Once I turn you elders into zombies and add you to my zombie army, it will become even more terrifying!"
"Don't worry, I won't touch the people behind you—because they will become your first meal once you're turned into zombies!"
Then, ignoring their reactions, the Corpse God began inspecting the elders below, as if selecting goods.
He patiently waited for the elders to complete their transformation into zombies.
Among the elders present were not only Elder Song and Elder Zhuang, but also several background elders from the original story.
The Corpse God's third, fifth, and seventh soul rings required a zombie fusion array. His eighth, ninth, and tenth soul rings also needed suitable additions.
Several of these elders were seen as valuable by the Corpse God.
For instance, Elder Zhuang's martial soul was the Tree of Life. If combined with the Corpse God's Emperor Zombie martial soul, it might produce unexpected results.
Elder Song's martial soul, the Shadow Blue Divine Eagle, possessed extreme speed—something the Corpse God could utilize to enhance his own capabilities.
Another elder had a martial soul called the Ocean-Crushing Divine Iron—a super tool-type soul. It could absorb essence from metals to improve its quality. Legend had it that it once absorbed the power of a special extraterrestrial meteorite, gaining powerful star-based energy and evolving into a top-tier soul.
Huo Yuhao had even sought out this elder's descendants, who were still serving at Shrek Academy. Unfortunately, the descendant's martial soul had degraded into a high-level club-type weapon, losing its metal-essence absorption ability.
Another elder possessed the Wood-Spirit Dragon Staff martial soul.
It was said his ancestors were the peerless Dragon-Serpent Couple from ten thousand years ago, who had connections with Tang San. The family had passed down the Snake Staff martial soul, occasionally producing a Dragon Staff variant. When both martial souls appeared simultaneously, there was a higher chance of reawakening the legendary Dragon-Serpent Fusion Technique, combining dragon might with snake venom.
The Wood-Spirit Dragon Staff was a mutated version of the Dragon Staff.
It carried wood attributes close to the pinnacle of wood affinity. Even alone, it could unleash destructive power comparable to the fusion technique—but lacked the venomous aspect, instead carrying devastating wooden destruction.
Additionally, Huo Yuhao had observed that this martial soul harbored an aura of undying vitality, likely a latent effect allowing its user to survive near-death experiences.
This was a valuable trait.
However, since this elder had never encountered life-threatening injury and the martial soul's wood element was already outstanding, that undying aura had never been activated and remained unnoticed by others—except for someone like Huo Yuhao, who had studied life-and-death taboos and could sense it.
As for the remaining powerful figures—some were mere tools (furnaces), others were deemed unworthy by the Corpse God.
Not every powerful soul master had a martial soul that interested him.
For example, Wuyun, a worshiper of the Holy Spirit Cult, though a Super Douluo, had a Dark Crow martial soul. Its abilities overlapped with the Corpse God's own, providing no further evolution. Thus, he wasn't chosen to be used as a soul ring. Of course, the Corpse God had already tasted Wuyun's blood.
As the elders were gradually being transformed into zombies…
The Corpse God felt he was witnessing a harvest.
Just then, something unexpected occurred—an intruder broke into the Ten Thousand Corpses Grand Array, tearing through its defenses directly and charging at the Corpse God.
The Corpse God's expression shifted slightly.
To break through the Grand Array so easily would require at least an Ultimate Douluo, and not just an ordinary one.
Soon, the intruder appeared before him.
Upon seeing the person's face, surprise flashed in the Corpse God's eyes—followed by realization.
"Niu Tian?"
That's right—the one who arrived was none other than Niu Tian!
Though Niu Tian had sealed his cultivation, he still possessed peak mortal strength. He also had Primordial Spirit Power and Domain Power.
Around him swirled the Slowing Domain, which had evolved into a divine-level domain. Enhanced by Niu Tian's spiritual domain, the slowing effect was even more powerful.
Against the Ten Thousand Corpses Grand Array, the Slowing Domain effectively suppressed and weakened it, allowing Niu Tian to break through.
"Niu Tian came out? Could this be Tang San's arrangement?" The Corpse God began to wonder, becoming more cautious.
Niu Tian immediately locked eyes on the Corpse God, a flicker of surprise in his gaze.
"A god-level expert? But wait—he doesn't have a god position. I see… he must have just broken through to god-level on the continent, not from the God Realm."
Conclusion: No background, no need to worry.
After quickly assessing the situation, Niu Tian glanced at Elder Song and the others and confirmed they were still alive, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness they're still alive. Otherwise, it'd be hard to explain to Donge'r."
Niu Tian had brought Wang Dong'er with him to the Douling Empire to rescue people and had arrived just as the Corpse God attacked the Shrek group. Without hesitation, Niu Tian broke into the Ten Thousand Corpses Grand Array to save them.
He turned to the Corpse God and shouted,
"You half-human, half-ghost abomination! Release them now, or don't blame me for what comes next!"
With that, Niu Tian released his soul power—and even let out a trace of divine aura, letting the Corpse God know that he too had god-level power, and even stronger than his.
If possible, Niu Tian didn't want to fight the Corpse God, not wanting to expend too much energy for the sake of the Shrek people.
The Corpse God snorted coldly. Of course he wouldn't let Niu Tian take them away, and immediately struck.
His first soul ring lit up.
The image of a Death God Envoy and the shadow of a Scorpion Lion martial soul appeared beside him, fusing together and unleashing the light of a Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
Fusion Technique: Undead Catastrophe Array!
The powers of corpse manipulation and beast-soul control merged—not manifesting outwardly, but instead integrating directly into the Ten Thousand Corpses Grand Array under his control.
The array shook violently. Originally suppressed by the Slowing Domain, its power now more than doubled—reversing the suppression and pushing back against the domain.
This change made Niu Tian's expression shift.
He made a move too—raising his hand to strike the Black Dragon Pagoda Array, hoping to rescue Elder Song and the others first.
Corpse God: "Refine them for me!"
"Skyblue Annihilation Dragon Claw!"
Niu Tian's arm transformed into a dragon claw, entwined with the power of the Law of Annihilation. After charging for three seconds, he struck at the Black Dragon Tower Formation. Lightning burst from the dragon claw.
The Law of Annihilation was a law comprehended by Niu Tian, one that involved lightning attributes—also a core part of his innate powers.
This attack could be charged to increase its strength.
Three seconds wasn't the maximum charge, but it was enough to break the Black Dragon Tower Formation.
The Law of Annihilation carried immense destructive power and blasted directly into the phantom projection of the pagoda.
As expected, the Black Dragon Tower Formation was shattered, and everyone trapped within regained their ability to move.
Corpse God clearly understood the gap:
"So it's the power of laws... Looks like I need to set aside some time to comprehend them."
He had spent too much time battling mortals and hadn't fought divine-level opponents for a while, causing him to overlook the importance of law mastery.
His main body had long begun to comprehend the laws. This Corpse God clone had only recently broken through and had been busy upgrading soul rings, delaying his own comprehension of laws.
However, with the help of his main body, understanding the laws wouldn't be too difficult for him.
He didn't need to start from scratch.
Moreover, with the ultimate death attribute of the Doomsday Swan Martial Soul, it was easier for Corpse God to comprehend the Law of Death. Just a slight nudge could open up a new perspective.
The power of laws is a deeper perception and development of elemental powers. As elemental strength increases, the corresponding laws are naturally grasped.
"We're saved!" someone on the ground cried out in joy.
But—were they really saved?
Suddenly, zombie-like growls came from the mouths of Elder Song and the others, plunging the hearts of the survivors back into despair.
"That three-second charge you used... allowed them to complete their final transformation."
Corpse God smiled as he spoke to Niu Tian.
Niu Tian's face darkened—he was furious.
Having personally intervened to save them, only for such a flaw to occur—he felt deeply insulted.
"I don't care who you are. Since you dared to target them—prepare to die!"
Niu Tian growled with hatred.
Then, manifestations of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning appeared within the sluggish domain, expanding and strengthening it, before transforming into an attack directed at Corpse God.
Skyblue Four Symbols!
Niu Tian wielded the powers of wind, rain, thunder, and lightning.
And his dragon claw began charging once more—this time, it included the power of the sluggish domain.
"Skyblue Sluggish Divine Claw!"
If this attack landed, Corpse God's body and soul would be slowed—tenfold!
Meanwhile on the ground, Zhang Lexuan and the others, just freed, were desperately fending off the attacks from Elder Song and the other transformed elders.
The elders, now fully zombified, had become like wild beasts—ferocious and terrifying, their fangs protruding, attacking purely on instinct, desperate to drink blood.
Their souls were trapped in their dead bodies, suffering endlessly.
"Everyone else, fall back! Ruoruo, help me stop the elders! Senior members—please assist us!"
Zhang Lexuan pleaded with Nanmen Yuzhi and the others.
Nanmen Yuzhi and her companions stepped in solemnly to block the zombified elders like Elder Song and Elder Zhuang.
"How do we deal with them? Capture them alive?"
Nan Shuishui asked.
Zhang Lexuan hesitated briefly, then rasped,
"Please... destroy the elders. Let them leave with dignity—we can't allow their honor to be tarnished by their current state."
Receiving her approval, Nan Shuishui and the others unleashed their full strength against the zombified elders.
Of course, they still held back slightly, avoiding complete destruction of the corpses.
Sensing the threat, the zombies merged into the Ten Thousand Corpses Grand Array, receiving its power and becoming part of it.
Seeing there was no longer any chance to let the elders pass on with dignity, Zhang Lexuan—who had remained strong until now—could no longer hold back her emotions, and tears flowed from her eyes.
The rest of the Shrek Inspection Group were already in tears.
"We can't stay here—everyone, break out!"
Zhang Lexuan choked out.
Leading the survivors out of the Ten Thousand Corpses Grand Array was now the top priority.
Corpse God had already engaged in battle with Niu Tian, slowly adapting to combat with a divine-level opponent.
However, the Ten Thousand Corpses Grand Array, now strengthened by the Undead Calamity Array and the zombified elders, had become even more powerful and harder to break.
"I'll clear the path!"
One inspector stepped forward, preparing to self-destruct to clear away the deadly energy and corpse aura ahead.
"That won't work. The death aura and corpse energy are far denser now. Self-destruction won't be enough."
Nan Shuishui said gravely.
This verdict sank everyone's hearts.
Was this the end?
But—in despair, heroes rise!
Just as everyone stood helpless, on the brink of being swallowed by the Ten Thousand Corpses Grand Array...
A golden radiance tore through the darkness, descending from the sky. It shattered despair and shielded everyone in light.
"This power... the power of the Golden Ancient Tree?!"
Zhang Lexuan widened her eyes in astonishment.
The power enveloping and protecting them was unmistakable—no inner disciple of Sea God Island could fail to recognize it.
"But... wasn't the Golden Ancient Tree missing?"
She couldn't help but wonder.
Everyone looked up toward the source of the golden light.
Even Niu Tian and Corpse God paused their battle, staring at the descending figure.
The magnificent Golden Ancient Tree descended from the sky. Its roots were wrapped in glowing golden energy—its accumulated nourishment.
Though it bore scars of past battles and damage, the tree still stood tall, bringing hope and light to all.
At its roots sat a lone figure—dressed in ice-blue armor, bathed in golden light, a transparent cloak fluttering behind, exuding a refreshing aura.
It was—Huo Yuhao!
Niu Tian:
"Huo Yuhao?!"
"Yuhao!"
"The Pavilion Master?"
"It's the Pavilion Master—we're saved!"
The inspectors cheered.
The Golden Ancient Tree floated above their heads, golden light shielding them. Huo Yuhao sat at the root, looking up, eyes locked on Corpse God.
"Corpse God—there's a score I've been meaning to settle with you."
Huo Yuhao: The protagonist arrives!
The Corpse God sneered coldly as he saw Huo Yuhao arrive, letting out a dismissive grunt.
"Only a few days have passed. How much stronger could you possibly have gotten?"
"Strong enough to defeat you!"
"Heh, interesting."
Huo Yuhao didn't strike immediately. Instead, he waved his hand downward, a layer of light forming a protective barrier around the others. He then said, "We'll talk about the rest later. Senior Sister, take everyone and leave this area!"
"Alright! Yuhao, be careful!" Zhang Lexuan wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, her gaze becoming resolute once again.
The others, too, found their anchor in him.
Under the protection of golden light, everyone began retreating from the Myriad Corpses Formation. The corpse aura and death energy within were no longer a hindrance.
However, the number of surviving members of the inspection team had already dwindled to less than half.
Huo Yuhao and Niu Tian, on the other hand, stayed behind to face the full might of the Corpse God.
The Corpse God made no attempt to stop the others from leaving. It was as if the weak didn't even catch his interest—his targets were clearly Huo Yuhao and Niu Tian.
"Yuhao, be careful. This guy's a powerhouse beyond rank 100!" Niu Tian called out.
"Don't worry, Senior Niu Tian. I've fought him before. He played a major role in the fall of Shrek Academy!"
Huo Yuhao's eyes gradually turned icy cold. He finally rose from the tree roots beneath him. The Frost Centipede expanded, engulfing the surroundings. Simultaneously, his Spiritual Domain merged with it, enhancing the domain's power.
The Frost Centipede and Niu Tian's Slowing Domain carved out two safe zones within the Myriad Corpses Formation.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's skillful use, Niu Tian's eyes lit up, praising him, "A spiritual domain? I didn't expect you to form one so quickly!"
Then, with a tone of appreciation, he added, "Dong'er chose wisely."
Niu Tian wasn't particularly concerned with how Shrek fell. But he was impressed by Huo Yuhao's talent and methods.
From what he knew, Huo Yuhao had only learned about spiritual domains during a past visit to the Clear Sky Sect, when Titan explained it to him.
He never expected Huo Yuhao to form one of his own so soon.
Truly a rare genius.
Unlike the original novel, where Niu Tian and Titan initially disapproved of Huo Yuhao, they now both felt that if Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er ended up together, it wouldn't be a bad thing—he was clearly exceptional.
But in truth, the "spiritual domain" Huo Yuhao just displayed was merely a fraction of his true power.
His real spiritual domain came from his Saint Eyes Martial Soul—the Saint Eye Domain, filled with the power of ultimate spiritual energy.
What he had shown now was not even a ten-thousandth of that domain's full strength.
"Senior Niu Tian, you flatter me. Now, let me aid you in slaying this monster!" Huo Yuhao said seriously.
Niu Tian was even more pleased.
Just listen to those words—aid him in killing the Corpse God, not asking for help. That level of respect felt good.
It's true: when you like someone, even their flaws seem charming.
"Yuhao, the grudge between your Shrek and him—I'll carry that burden with you!" Niu Tian returned the respect.
The next moment, Huo Yuhao and Niu Tian struck simultaneously.
"Ultimate Ice Demon-Slaying Slash!"
"Azure Slowing Divine Claw!"
Earlier, Niu Tian's Divine Claw had failed to hit the Corpse God, repelled by his power. Now, with Huo Yuhao's support, he seized another opportunity to unleash the move.
The Corpse God grew more serious. Evil thunder radiated from his hands.
His fifth soul ring flashed—summoning the power of the Thunder Zombie, who had once been an elder of the Sea God's Pavilion with the Thunder Axe martial soul.
A thunder-forged axe materialized in his hand, and he swung it through the air.
"Thunder Slash!"
BOOM—
A deafening thunderclap resounded.
Even Zhang Lexuan and the others, who had just escaped the formation, heard the explosion. They turned back in worry but could not see the battle's progress. All they could do was silently pray for Huo Yuhao's safe return.
Just then, a figure flew in rapidly from the distance, landing before the group.
"Thank goodness! Senior Sister, Sister Ruo Ruo, Sister Xiaotao, Sister Luochen, and Xiao Xiao—you're all safe. That's such a relief!"
The newcomer was Wang Dong'er. Seeing that her familiar companions were unharmed, her eyes welled with tears.
Upon seeing Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao almost broke down in sobs.
But someone else rushed to her even faster, asking anxiously, "Wang Dong'er! What happened to the Academy? What about Nannan? If Yuhao is here, is Nannan safe too?"
Wang Dong'er lowered her head in silence. "I'm sorry. By the time I received the news, the Academy had already fallen. I don't know anything else."
"…How could this happen…" Xu Sanshi stood frozen, eyes blank and lifeless.
The atmosphere grew even heavier.
Their journey had been filled with tragedy—so many familiar comrades had fallen. Now, less than half of them remained.
And those who escaped were about to face an even harsher truth: the Academy destroyed, loved ones dead.
Back inside the Ten Thousand Corpses Formation…
The battle had reached its climax.
There were no feints or light attacks—each blow was delivered at full strength, meant to shatter defenses and seize victory in one strike.
Yet even with Huo Yuhao and Niu Tian fighting two-on-one, they had yet to land a single direct hit on the Corpse God.
After all, Niu Tian had sealed part of his power, and Huo Yuhao's displayed strength was only at the Limit Douluo level.
If the Corpse God had truly unleashed his divine power and full strength—if not for his apparent fear of the golden tree's power—he would've already defeated them both.
But Huo Yuhao knew better: the Corpse God was holding back—immensely.
In truth, the golden tree didn't suppress him much. The Corpse God had high resistance to both light and life attributes.
Worse yet, he hadn't even used his Ultimate elemental abilities.
Niu Tian sensed something was wrong. He began considering whether he should break his own seal to help Huo Yuhao finish this.
At that moment, the golden tree's power surged.
Huo Yuhao stood before the tree, pouring his strength into it.
"Senior Niu Tian, please stall him a little longer. I've prepared a killing move just for him!"
"Alright!"
Niu Tian didn't hesitate.
He transformed into his true form, the Sky Azure Bull Python, and activated the power of the Four Symbols—Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning—surrounding the Corpse God.
The Corpse God sensed danger and tried to escape.
But Niu Tian didn't give him a chance. And the Corpse God's reaction… came a step too late.
Because Huo Yuhao's ultimate move had already descended—even faster than expected!
"Gold, Ultimate Ice, Heavenly Poison!
Life and Light!
Willpower!
Channeling the totality of my power, with the dominance to rule all—take this:
The Ultimate Peak Punch!"
With that punch, the heavens trembled. Within the Ten Thousand Corpses Formation, a radiant ice dragon emerged, charging straight at the Corpse God!