The power of the Crimson Nine-Headed Bat King far surpassed Chen Feng's expectations. It was no wonder this terrifying soul beast could parasitize Tang Chen's body. Even the Seven Kill Sword, a half-divine weapon, was pinned in place by its claws.
For a moment, the two were locked in a deadlock.
"Shriek!"
Behind the Bat King, the nine phantom heads began to solidify, turning from shadow into flesh. A strange, oppressive aura spread through the air.
All nine heads opened their jaws at once, releasing waves of piercing sound. Chen Feng's skull reverberated as though struck by thunder. His vision went black, and he nearly lost consciousness.
This was no ordinary feat. At present, Chen Feng's spirit power had already reached Rank 90. With the amplification of multiple spirit rings that far exceeded ordinary age limits, his true strength rivaled that of a Rank 97 or 98 Super Douluo, even if it did not quite touch the pinnacle of Rank 99 Limit Douluo.
In addition, his Wisdom Skull, which had evolved into a hundred-thousand-year quality spirit bone, gave him incomparably vast spiritual power—its depths impossible to fathom.
And yet, even with all this, the sonic assault nearly overwhelmed him.
On his forehead, the dark-red sigil of the Asura God flared. A beam of Shura's Light burst forth.
The crimson radiance clashed against the Bat King's own aura. To Chen Feng's surprise, the creature reacted like a nemesis had appeared before it, letting out a shrill screech as it released the Seven Kill Sword and hastily retreated.
White smoke hissed upward. The Shura Light had corroded its claws, grinding down sharp talons and leaving behind raw, gruesome wounds.
Seizing the opening, Chen Feng drew his sword and pressed forward. The Seven Kill Sword's path was always one of relentless advance—an unstoppable momentum. In battle, momentum was a weapon of its own. To falter was to lose strength. To advance unyieldingly was to strike with power beyond one's limits.
Unleashing Divine Dragon Nine Shadows, Chen Feng split into nine identical figures. Each wielded a blood-red Seven Kill Sword, their movements in flawless unison.
Nine scarlet characters for "Kill" blazed into existence, slashing toward the Bat King.
The Nine-Headed Bat King retreated with shocking speed. Possessing Tang Chen's body meant it also had access to powerful soul bones. Its agility was terrifying.
Even so, six of the nine strikes only narrowly missed, cleaving apart the mountains and buildings of the Slaughter City. Countless fallen dwellers were reduced to mangled corpses, their blood splattering across the battlefield.
The other three strikes landed true.
With a roar, three of the spectral bat heads behind it shattered instantly, vanishing into nothingness.
"Young one, you anger me!" the Bat King snarled, half-kneeling as it wiped blood from its lips. "For countless years, none have ever forced me to this state. Not even Spirit Hall could. For this, you will pay the price!"
Raising its hand, it drew upon the blood pool of the abyss below. A towering crimson column surged upward, congealing into globes of blood suspended in midair.
The Bat King devoured them, one by one. With each blood sphere swallowed, its strength surged back.
Chen Feng did not immediately attack. He stood calmly, eyes glinting, as though contemplating something.
"The power of blood will make me stronger," the Bat King said coldly. "And here, there is no shortage of blood. In the City of Slaughter, no one can defeat me."
From beneath its cloak, countless spheres of blood floated upward, orbiting like an endless supply of fuel.
"Kill!"
Chen Feng's eyes sharpened. He had found the key. The runes of the Seven Kill Sword lit once again, infused with Shura's divine power until they shone with blinding radiance.
His fourth spirit ring flared black—
Fourth Spirit Skill: Murderous Intent Unleashed!
The first strike carried three hundred percent critical power. It was one of Chen Feng's most devastating single-target abilities.
In the City of Slaughter, only the King could wield soul skills. For centuries, he had grown accustomed to suppressing all others under this restriction. But now, facing an opponent who could suddenly unleash soul skills freely, he was caught off guard.
He instinctively tried to clamp down the Seven Kill Sword again with his claws—but Chen Feng would not repeat the same mistake twice.
The Shura Light flared simultaneously, perfectly countering his grip.
The Bat King screamed, unable to withstand the divine radiance. But then, a strange purple light welled across its body, dissolving the Shura Light's corrosive force completely.
"Rakshasa Light…" Chen Feng muttered grimly. Only divine power could oppose divine power. No ordinary soul master could have blocked even a fragment of Asura's might.
The Bat King sneered. "Go on. Keep trying. Do you think Shura's Light is endless? The higher your affinity, the more you can release—but you have not yet become the true Asura God. I want to see just how many times you can wield it!"
It crossed its arms mockingly, blood spheres streaming into its mouth as its aura recovered at terrifying speed.
Chen Feng's brows furrowed.
In the City of Slaughter, the Bat King had near-limitless recovery. He himself was fighting an opponent far above his level, already punching beyond his weight. To drag this battle out would only end in his exhaustion—and slaughter.
A cold light flashed in his eyes. His hand brushed his waist.
"I hadn't planned to use you," Chen Feng whispered, "but now… You are my best chance against the Nine-Headed Bat King."
With renewed ferocity, he attacked again. His Seven Kill Sword tore through the air, his strikes relentless, colliding again and again with the Bat King's claws. The impact shook the ground, sending tremors across the underground world.
"Hah! Futile!" the Bat King screeched. "Here, no one can kill me. I can heal endlessly by drinking blood. How can you possibly defeat me?"
But Chen Feng pressed on, his swordplay as swift as a storm, every strike brimming with lethal intent.
At last, he forced the Bat King's claws upward, creating a fleeting opening.
In that instant, his hands swept across his waist. Guided by spirit power, a fine powder was scattered precisely across the Bat King's wounds.
"Success!"
Chen Feng leapt back immediately.
The Bat King froze, its body shuddering unnaturally.
"What… what did you do to me!?" Its voice had lost its composure, trembling with fear.
Chen Feng smiled coldly and raised a snow-white herb, holding it aloft with spirit power, careful not to touch it directly.
The plant gleamed crystalline white, each leaf so pure it seemed ready to drip dew. The stalk curved gracefully, its form like the arching neck of a swan.
This immortal herb, Chen Feng said softly, is called the Snow-Colored Swan Kiss.