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"Old Ghost, use the Martial Soul Fusion Skill!"
Yue Guan and Gui Mei's expressions changed drastically as the golden Divine Spear radiated an aura of death.
At the brink of life and death, they exchanged a look and stood back-to-back.
Eighteen spirit rings swirled around them, golden and black lights merging rapidly.
Suddenly, the rings shot skyward, and an invisible force radiated outward from the two of them.
In an instant, leaves drifting in midair froze in place. Everything within the area seemed to stop.
In the original story, Yue Guan and Gui Mei achieved great success with their fusion skill, and they believed it would stop Lan Minghua's attack now.
"So this is the Polar Stillness Domain? Not so impressive."
The Polar Stillness Domain might restrain Titled Douluo or ten-thousand-year spirit beasts—but it had no effect on Lan Minghua, who was empowered by his Peak Experience Card. The notion that their technique could withstand his strike struck him as laughable.
At the highest level of the Indestructible Vajra Body, one can transform golden light into any weapon. The Divine Spear was nothing more than solidified golden light—hard, yes, but otherwise unremarkable. Against a mere Titled Douluo's fusion skill, however, it was more than sufficient.
As the Polar Stillness Domain reached full effect, Yue Guan and Gui Mei showed brief relief.
"I refuse to believe he can break our Polar Stillness Domain! He'll regret defying the Spirit Hall!"
They were both furious that Lan Minghua had shown no respect to the Spirit Hall.
But the Divine Spear was unimpeded.
The moment its tip met the stillness field, a blinding flash erupted.
With a thunderous crack, the domain—once able to freeze all things—shattered like fragile glass.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei's faces drained of color; exhilaration turned to terror.
"How is this possible? Our fusion skill was broken!"
"Guan, dodge!"
Gui Mei shoved Yue Guan aside and leaped away, but it all happened too fast—they could not escape completely.
"Ah!!!"
Two anguished screams rang out as Yue Guan's right arm and Gui Mei's left arm were severed, blood spurting from the wounds. Their bodies flew backward like kites with cut strings.
Fleeing nearby, Tang Hao sensed the commotion, and a triumphant smile curled his lips.
"Keep fighting—I hope you both suffer grave injuries! Once I recover, I'll flay you alive!"
But to have any hope, he first needed to survive.
Lan Minghua watched with amused disdain as Tang Hao slowed his escape.
"I gave you a chance. If you're in such a rush to die, so be it."
The golden Divine Spear, still crackling with energy, launched toward Tang Hao's position. When Lan Minghua had thrown the spear, he knew Yue Guan and Gui Mei could not block it—this strike was meant to kill two birds with one stone.
At that moment, a shaft of sunlight pierced the canopy.
Tang Hao thought himself safe and began to conceal his aura.
Then an even more dazzling light burst from behind him, overshadowing the rising sun. He turned and saw the spear—a bolt of golden lightning—racing straight at him.
"No… I'm not ready to die!" Tang Hao roared.
A faint smile curved Lan Minghua's lips as he saw hope turn to despair on Tang Hao's face. For prey, the illusion of escape often heralds death.
In the next instant, the spear vanished into the depths of the forest.
A new sun rose from within the trees, brighter than the real one on the horizon.
"BOOOOM!!!"
A deafening explosion shook the forest as a massive shockwave rippled outward. A towering mushroom cloud billowed skyward, and the ground trembled as if the entire continent was quaking. Where the blast passed, trees were uprooted and rocks hurled into the air.
On the forest floor, Yue Guan and Gui Mei felt the tremor and stared in horror.
"Old Ghost, let's go!"
They used the chaos of the explosion to flee. Lan Minghua noticed their escape but did not pursue.
He had now officially revealed himself to the Spirit Hall. By demonstrating such overwhelming power, even they would hesitate to act against him. Offending an unstoppable force would be too great a loss, even for the mighty Spirit Hall.
"Tang Hao's aura has vanished. If I'm not mistaken, he's dead."
Lan Minghua concentrated and found no trace of Tang Hao's presence. His casual strike had been enough to slay a level-97 Titled Douluo. Tang Hao was a cripple, his strength long diminished. If he survived, it would be sheer luck.
"Time is short. While the experience card's effect lasts, I'll find the Sharp-Tailed Swift."
Lan Minghua cast his perception across the entire Star Dou Forest.
"So the Titan Giant Ape has reached the outskirts? Xiao Wu must be making her move. But if you're planning to leave, this is your last chance."
He had already shown mercy by not harvesting her spirit bones. She still hadn't chosen to depart, clinging to hope. But when the day comes that he needs spirit rings or bones, she shouldn't blame him for being ruthless.
Aside from the Azure Sky Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape, Lan Minghua sensed other powerful spirit beasts—still dormant, their rings and bones reserved for the future.
He focused on finding a Sharp-Tailed Swift between one thousand and ten thousand years old. Oscar's physique was strong; the Indestructible Vajra Body fortified even his internal organs. With enough willpower, a ten-thousand-year third spirit ring was attainable. And if he faltered, wasn't Lan Minghua there to help?
"Found it—a ten-thousand-year Sharp-Tailed Swift."
Lan Minghua murmured, "Oscar, your luck is incredible. Without the experience card, I'd never have found it."
He vanished, heading deeper into the forest.
Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji led Oscar and the others to the forest's edge. The Star Dou Forest was vast. Though they saw no explosion, they felt its tremors.
"What happened? Was that an earthquake?" Ma Hongjun exclaimed, unsettled.
Oscar and the rest were equally puzzled.
But Xiao Wu's face grew grave. The Titan Giant Ape, upon her entry, had used their unique bond to tell her the quake's cause.
"I need to slip away and find a way to mask my beast aura."
At that moment, Zhao Wuji's cold voice rang out: "No more questions. Find a suitable spirit beast for Oscar on the outskirts. And I won't tolerate any tricks behind my back!"
Tang San felt targeted but stayed silent. In this perilous forest, Zhao Wuji was the only one he could rely on.
"Hiss!!!"
After they pressed on, the ground trembled again.
Moments later, a hulking shadow the size of a small mountain tore through ancient trees, looming over their party.
Zhao Wuji's eyes widened in disbelief.
"The Forest King, the Titan Giant Ape? What is it doing on the outskirts?!"
(End of Chapter)