A massive meteor hammer suddenly grew enormous beyond measure, its surface blazing with dazzling light.
"CLANG—"
The gigantic meteor hammer was sent flying back, and even that Spirit Douluo was forced to retreat a dozen steps from the recoil.
"Boss, the attack seems to be working!"
Everyone's gaze turned to the energy barrier—cracks had appeared where he'd struck it.
Seeing this, the Spirit Douluo was overjoyed. He immediately broke free from the fallen ones supporting him, rolled his shoulders, and turned to the other Spirit Douluos nearby.
"Let's all attack together! First, we'll completely shatter this damn shield, then we'll fight fair and square to kill that 16258. Deal?"
"This barrier's too strong—no single person can break it. I think the plan to work together and break the shield makes sense."
"Then let's all attack together. Once the shield's down, may the best man win."
...
The Spirit Douluos exchanged glances and reached an agreement, but behind the scenes, each had already prepared their backup plans. Countless daggers, throwing knives, and other compact yet deadly weapons were hidden at their waists and up their sleeves.
The moment the defensive shield broke, they'd take out their "brothers" first. Only then would Ignaz be most likely to fall into their hands, giving them priority access to the Crimson Elder Token.
They summoned their martial souls—mostly swords, staffs, and war hammers. Very few of these fallen spirit masters had beast-type martial souls.
"BOOM! BANG! CLANG—"
As violent attack sounds rang out, one Spirit Douluo-level fallen master after another channeled their spirit power into their martial souls and continuously hammered away at the energy barrier.
"Think a measly little shield can stop us?"
"You're dead meat, 16258! Keep attacking, brothers!"
The cracks in the energy barrier kept multiplying. "CRACK—" The Spirit Douluo with the meteor hammer charged up for another strike.
"BANG—"
All six fourth-level defensive soul guide shields shattered completely, black smoke billowing and sparks flying everywhere.
"To get out of this godforsaken place—KILL!"
Just as everyone was getting fired up, they suddenly saw another energy barrier appear ahead of them.
They were all shocked, and the rage in their hearts erupted completely.
"That 16258 is one ruthless bastard—he's got another turtle shell! When I break through his shield, I'm gonna use his skull as a chamber pot!"
The six Spirit Douluos joined forces again, taking a full quarter-hour to smash the second defensive barrier. Just as the meteor hammer Spirit Douluo was about to charge forward and bash Ignaz's brains in with one strike—
Two spirit masters attacked from behind.
"THUNK—"
Two daggers simultaneously pierced the meteor hammer Spirit Douluo's back.
"You guys—"
The two attackers looked down at the fallen meteor Spirit Douluo, his face twisted with terror, and spat on his corpse. Then one charged toward Ignaz while the other blocked the remaining two Spirit Douluos.
"That 16258 belongs to us, brothers now. Get lost or die!"
Just as the dagger was about to pierce Ignaz's skull, his eyes snapped open. A massive blood-red killing aura directly blasted away the five surrounding Spirit Douluos and four to five hundred lower-tier fallen spirit masters.
Ignaz quickly gripped his Blood Thunder War Spear, took a running leap, and impaled the Spirit Douluo still flying through the air. Ignaz said excitedly:
"Then let this slaughter get even more intense!"
Using his Treading Waves Across Mountains and Seas technique as his foundation, Ignaz rapidly weaved through the fallen spirit masters, first taking out those still airborne from the blast.
Then he closed in again, wielding his Blood Thunder War Spear, his second self-created soul skill's blood-colored shield activated, continuously sending one fallen spirit master after another flying. In the crowd, Ignaz thrust, slashed horizontally, performed extreme piercing attacks, and charged.
Countless fallen ones let out pig-like screams. The entire scene was a bloody mess of flying flesh, like hell on earth.
"You're asking for it—"
The three surviving Spirit Douluos, now nearly mad with rage, attacked Ignaz from different directions.
Ignaz timed it perfectly and unleashed his 100,000-year soul bone skill. He soared into the air as four third-level soul guide rays on his arms and shoulders activated simultaneously.
As Ignaz spun continuously in mid-air, the soul guide rays shot down like a torrential barrage of cannon fire.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM—"
"Ah! Help me! I won't kill anymore! I want to leave this place!"
"I want out! I want out! Ahhh—"
Countless pleas for mercy rang out before being silenced. The three Spirit Douluos were also caught in the massive barrage of soul guide rays. One Spirit Douluo with weak defenses died instantly under the continuous bombardment.
The other two Spirit Douluos were severely wounded and nearly dead.
But just then, from 500 meters away, several—even dozens—of Spirit Douluo-level aura fluctuations appeared on various streets.
A massive black crowd was charging toward Ignaz's battlefield. Ignaz increased his spirit power output, and the red energy beams from his four third-level soul guide rays doubled in both power and length.
With Ignaz as the center, all buildings within a 400-meter radius were completely destroyed. Most of the fallen spirit masters present were blown to smithereens—reduced to ash and smoke.
Ignaz's body trembled as he landed exhaustedly on the devastated ground, now a hellscape of flames and the stench of charred flesh. He gripped his Blood Thunder War Spear, planted in the ground with both hands, gasping heavily.
"Spirit power... I need more spirit power!"
Ignaz's face was somewhat pale. Operating four third-level soul guide rays at full power had nearly drained the remaining four-fifths of his spirit power.
While the soul guides were indeed powerful, since the bombardment left no remains, he couldn't absorb fresh blood to replenish his spirit power.
Suddenly, four crisp metallic "clanks" rang out as the four continuously firing third-level soul guide rays shattered.
Seeing countless Spirit Douluos leading thousands of fallen spirit masters closing in on his position, Ignaz looked up and laughed bitterly:
"Hahaha—"
"Am I really going to die completely under these fallen ones' relentless attacks?"
"I'm not willing! I'M NOT WILLING—"
With intense battle intent, the blood in Ignaz's body flowed in reverse, returning to its ancestral state. His external skull bone completely fused with him and connected to his 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor soul bone. His spirit power growth and consumption reduction speed doubled directly.
Ignaz's eyes turned blood-red, his will completely dominated by powerful killing intent and battle lust. His Blood Thunder War Spear trembled, sending out a wave of absolute killing aura that knocked down all the charging enemies.
He gripped his Blood Thunder War Spear and walked toward the group of fallen spirit masters to the east.
"SCRAAAPE—"
The spear tip dragged against the ground, throwing sparks. Ignaz's steps grew faster and faster, and the smile on his lips became increasingly sinister.
"KILL—"
Seeing this, the four Spirit Douluos weren't afraid of Ignaz's desperate last stand. They immediately led their fallen subordinates in a charge toward him.
"Your life is destined to end at our hands!"
Just as the Spirit Douluo charging at the front raised his long spear to thrust at Ignaz, Ignaz swept horizontally. Where the spear blade's cold light passed, the Spirit Douluo was decapitated. Before his body could hit the ground, it transformed into countless streams of blood energy that surged into the Blood Thunder War Spear.