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The Sword Soul realm perfectly fuses one's martial soul with sword techniques, infusing each strike with the power of the martial soul, amplifying its might.
At this moment, Groudon's martial soul was himself, allowing him to wield his martial soul's power flawlessly. It seemed he had finally tapped into the vast strength befitting a legendary beast.
The rock layer beneath Groudon's feet exploded violently, and flame totems emerged around his body. Deep beneath the city, a rumbling tremor echoed as the entire city's leyline energy surged forth in a crimson flood, coalescing into a massive basalt sword that spanned the heavens at an altitude of a thousand meters. The blade shimmered with molten lava patterns, and every crack radiated the fire of the earth's core.
Rayquaza's emerald dragon body churned amidst the clouds, its Delta Stream forming twelve hurricane-like vortexes.
However, when Groudon swung the colossal sword with both hands, time itself seemed to freeze for a brief moment—wherever the blade passed, black gravity ripples shattered all the hurricanes.
Rayquaza's dragon body lost balance, crashing into distant mountains under the overwhelming force. Thirty-seven towering peaks collapsed in succession, sending up mushroom clouds of dust akin to a nuclear explosion.
Hoopa's golden rings rose, about to teleport away, but Groudon used gravity to compress space, sealing off any possibility of escape.
Groudon ascended the molten staircase step by step, his gravity domain expanding layer upon layer, causing buildings within a hundred-meter radius to collapse into ruins instantly.
When the massive sword, carrying the weight of the earth's veins, descended, even light bent around it. The collision between the blade and Hoopa unleashed a blinding flash like a solar storm.
The outer layer of the sword crumbled piece by piece, revealing a boiling magma core beneath. The defensive barrier supported by Hoopa's six arms shattered like a spiderweb, its energy depleted, and it briefly fell unconscious.
"It's over."
Gu La sighed, his consciousness returning to his body, enriched by the insights gained from the Sword Soul.
Only the massive sword embedded in the ground began to crystallize slowly, its crimson energy surging along the leyline network.
Perhaps a century later, when explorers discover this place, they will find an extensive vein of top-tier Fire Stones spanning hundreds of miles—a testament to the might of a legendary beast.
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"Big Brother Gu La, Big Brother Gu La?"
Xu Xiaoyan had been chattering nonstop, recounting amusing childhood stories and her journey to Donghai Academy. But realizing she wasn't getting a response, she noticed Gu La had closed his eyes, seemingly asleep.
"Hmm, what?"
Gu La opened his eyes, a fleeting glimmer of dark gold passing through his pupils. He turned to Xu Xiaoyan, his previously boiling blood now calm and stable.
Xu Xiaoyan puffed up her cheeks like a pufferfish, her adorable face turning red: "Were you not listening to me just now?"
Gu La recalled briefly, his sharp mind instinctively retaining seven or eight out of ten things Xu Xiaoyan had said.
So he stubbornly replied, "Of course I was listening. For instance, how you were afraid of the dark as a child, couldn't sleep without the lights on, and needed someone to tell you stories…"
"Ahh!"
Xu Xiaoyan quickly stopped him. "You can't tell anyone!"
She regretted speaking now, wondering why she couldn't control herself. Yet, seeing Gu La's serene demeanor while "asleep," she remembered the striking scene where he effortlessly defeated her brother and then protected her during their escape from the Spirit Ascension Platform. This gave her a sense of security, making her want to draw closer.
"No problem."
Gu La agreed readily. To be honest, seeing Xu Xiaoyan's lively demeanor reminded him of Xiao Wu, and he wondered when he could return.
"What about Tang Wulin and the others?" Gu La looked around, not seeing them anywhere.
Xu Xiaoyan: "They thought you were asleep. Captain was starving after the battle and went to find something to eat first."
Gu La nodded, which fit his impression of Tang Wulin.
He stood up. "Let's go have lunch then. What do you want to eat?"
Xu Xiaoyan rose impulsively, hugging Gu La's arm. Realizing what she had done, her face turned red, but she didn't dare pull away immediately. Instead, she lowered her head and pretended to act nonchalantly: "Captain went to eat at a seafood buffet. Let's join them."
Gu La had no objections. After all, nothing tasted better than what he cooked himself.
"Sure."
Upon arriving at the restaurant where Tang Wulin was, they saw him in the middle of a conflict.
"Lizhi, don't talk to strangers so casually. There are many people with ill intentions outside, and you shouldn't be deceived."
The girl had short golden hair, beautiful azure eyes, and long lashes. Her fair, delicate skin glistened under the sunlight, her long legs and rounded hips giving off a jelly-like texture. Though her green uniform detracted slightly from her appearance, it still accentuated her spirited demeanor.
However, her expression and attitude exuded unparalleled pride, surpassing typical aloofness and even making others uncomfortable.
"Who are you calling ill-intentioned?!"
Xie Xie, unwilling to see Tang Wulin taken advantage of, immediately stepped forward to support his good friend.
Tang Wulin's expression darkened. Anyone would feel anger when their sincere intentions were misinterpreted as ulterior motives.
Maintaining the etiquette taught by his adoptive parents, he calmly replied, "This classmate, you've misunderstood."
Taking half a step forward, his gaze clear and his voice like morning mist, Tang Wulin continued, "Xu Lizhi and I became fast friends because we clicked. Don't suspect everyone of being bad. You don't have anything worth coveting from me."
Ye Xinglan crossed her arms, disdainfully retorting, "Hmph! Lies upon lies—I don't believe you don't recognize this uniform or that we're students of Shrek Academy's inner court."
Perhaps spotting Gu La, Xie Xie blurted out impulsively, "Shrek Academy uniform? So ugly—is it even real?"
At this, Ye Xinglan's face turned frosty. She lowered her arms, her eyes piercing like swords as she glared at Xie Xie: "Apologize for your words."
The girl's attitude left no room for dignity. Xie Xie's face flushed red. "Why should I!? What I said is true—your outfit really is ugly!"
"The glory of Shrek cannot be defiled. Apologize!"
Ye Xinglan's insistent voice rang out, and the restaurant's chatter suddenly quieted. Amidst the clinking of metal utensils, all eyes were drawn to the sharp tension in the air.
As Ye Xinglan stood with her arms crossed, she resembled a drawn sword. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden edge on her shoulders, yet it couldn't melt the frost in her brow.
Xu Lizhi hurriedly tried to play peacemaker: "Sister Xinglan, Wulin and the others are my friends—they even shared food with me. Let's just leave."
Ye Xinglan shot him a glare, and Xu Lizhi, holding a steamed bun, retreated half a step. The chubby boy's face twisted in anguish—Sister Xinglan always protected him like this, viewing everyone who approached as a potential threat.
The atmosphere stiffened, the air seeming to solidify.
The sword qi emanating from Ye Xinglan lifted her golden hair, and the wind chimes hanging by the window rattled violently.
Xu Lizhi frantically tried to tug at her sleeve but was repelled by an invisible force.
Tang Wulin's pupils contracted sharply, his right hand instantly covered in golden scales. His earlier restraint was for Xu Lizhi's sake—not because he feared trouble.
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