The tide of the battlefield was gradually turning against the inner courtyard students. Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, and the others were all growing increasingly anxious.
A sudden roar echoed across the battlefield as the Ghost Moon Forest Python King erupted with fury. Its massive body trembled violently, sending the surrounding Shrek students flying in all directions. Then, dark silver light surged from the twin horns on its head, converging into a glowing sphere between them. The sphere pulsed with violent tremors, as if it could explode at any moment.
"Sister Xiaotao, Sister Luowei, run!" Zhu Ziyang had been closely watching the battlefield, and he immediately noticed the python's abnormal movement. Sensing the buildup of terrifying energy between its horns, he shouted without hesitation.
As if responding to Zhu Ziyang's warning, the python slightly tilted its head, and the glowing sphere suddenly shot toward Ma Xiaotao and Luowei like a high-speed cannonball.
Fortunately, the two had been on alert after Zhu Ziyang's shout. Once they realized they were the targets, they reacted immediately. Ma Xiaotao spat a line of flames while Luowei fired a pink crystal arrow. Both attacks struck the glowing sphere dead-on. But what happened next left them utterly stunned—the glowing sphere absorbed both of their soul skills, and in an instant, it grew even larger.
"Run!" The two locked eyes, then darted in opposite directions without hesitation.
Boom!
They had barely taken a few steps before the sphere exploded. A fierce wave of heat burst forth, sweeping outward in layers, while a dark, eerie mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
This was the Ghost Moon Compression Light—the Ghost Moon Forest Python King's most powerful skill. It was the ultimate expression of its own abilities, infused with the absorbing traits of moonlight. It could absorb any soul skill weaker than itself, increasing its own power. The more energy it consumed, the more terrifying the final explosion would be.
The force of the blast was enough to obliterate a Soul Emperor-level expert instantly. Yet by some miracle, Ma Xiaotao and Luowei only suffered relatively severe internal injuries. It was thanks to Zhang Lexuan and Han Ruoruo's desperate efforts. Just before the explosion, Han Ruoruo's Shimmering Golden Rope wrapped around Luowei and pulled her to safety. Zhang Lexuan, embodying her role as senior sister, threw herself in front of Ma Xiaotao, shielding her from the brunt of the blast.
"Senior Sister!" Ma Xiaotao carried Zhang Lexuan, whose Martial Soul Avatar had vanished. Her voice choked with emotion as she brought her to Zhu Ziyang and Su Meng.
"Cough... Xiaotao, I'm fine," Zhang Lexuan coughed, her face pale as paper and blood trickling from her lips. She pushed Ma Xiaotao away and said, "Go support the others. Don't worry about me."
With Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, Ma Xiaotao, and Luowei all withdrawing from the battle, the pressure on the remaining four instantly intensified. The Ghost Moon Forest Python King attacked them relentlessly. Zhang Weiwei, Shen Xu, Wu Ming, and Long Yu were on the brink of collapse, barely able to resist.
"Got it!" Ma Xiaotao didn't argue—there was no time for that. Gritting her teeth, she turned and charged back toward the python, even though she was nearly out of soul power.
Zhang Lexuan coughed again but had no time to rest. Wiping the blood from her lips, she too prepared to return to the fray.
"Senior Sister, wait!" Zhu Ziyang called out.
"Don't worry, Ziyang." She turned around and forced a smile despite the pain on her youthful, worried face. "We will win this!"
"Senior Sister, if I can immobilize the Ghost Moon Forest Python King for three seconds, do you all still have the strength to strike it down?" Zhu Ziyang asked seriously.
His words shocked Zhang Lexuan and Su Meng, their faces filled with disbelief and a sliver of hope. Zhang Lexuan gave a bitter smile. They had reached their limit, but in front of even a glimmer of hope, she had no choice but to believe. "Ziyang, really?"
Zhu Ziyang nodded firmly. "It's my second Martial Soul's ability! But it only works once—we have to make it count!"
"A second Martial Soul?" Zhang Lexuan was taken aback, but there was no time to dwell on it. Her expression turned resolute. "Leave it to me!"
"Alright!" Zhu Ziyang took out a Soul Tool shield and looked at Zhang Lexuan. "Senior Sister, bring me close to it!"
Without a word, she grabbed his arm and soared toward the battlefield.
"Good luck!" Su Meng cried hoarsely. Her soul power had long been exhausted. She held the stabilized Zhu Lie in her arms, silently praying.
The situation was dire. Han Ruoruo and Zhang Weiwei's faces were pale, blood at their lips. Shen Xu's abdomen had been pierced, and Long Yu's legs were crushed. Wu Ming, Ma Xiaotao, and Luowei were covered in cuts and bruises. Everyone was on the verge of collapse.
The Ghost Moon Forest Python King wasn't doing much better. Not a single patch of intact scales remained on its massive body. Some were scratched, others split open, revealing flesh and blood. The most severe injury was at its jaw—Wanwan's Jade Scale Snake poison had spread to its neck, and the seventh scale was already festering.
If this continued, the python would eventually die—but the cost would be nearly all of Shrek's inner courtyard students.
"Senior Sister, get ready!" As they reached the heart of the battlefield, Zhu Ziyang jumped down and shouted. All the others turned to him and were stunned as he activated his second Martial Soul. His right arm transformed into a massive icy white dragon claw, and behind him rose a single blood-red soul ring laced with golden patterns.
Everyone froze. Even the Ghost Moon Forest Python King was shaken, its gaze fixed on Zhu Ziyang with rage and fear.
Zhang Lexuan was just as shocked—but more than that, she was excited. A surge of hope rushed through her. She realized that what Zhu Ziyang said might actually be possible.
Without hesitation, she burned her Martial Soul's origin, restoring her power to its peak. Her first, second, sixth, and seventh soul rings lit up simultaneously, and her full-strength Martial Soul Avatar state burst forth. Her power now surpassed that of an average pseudo-Soul Douluo.
Zhu Ziyang didn't hesitate either. The first soul skill of the Heavenly Frost Holy Dragon—activate!
A blue mist of chilling frost spread out, enveloping a 100-meter radius, freezing the space and air itself. The Ghost Moon Forest Python King instinctively tried to resist—but it was already too late.
Zhu Ziyang's right arm glowed. The Silver Dragon Wolf Right Arm Bone activated its second soul bone skill.
Heavenly Frost Cold Energy + Frozen Time!
The Heavenly Frost Cold Energy froze everything within the area, locking time and motion for all living beings. Base freeze time: 3 seconds. Against the vastly stronger python, that was reduced to 1 second.
But Frozen Time was a soul bone skill, and less affected by power disparity—it added 2 seconds.
Total: 3 seconds!
The Ghost Moon Forest Python King was frozen. Aside from the terror in its eyes, it couldn't move a muscle. Zhang Lexuan immediately seized the chance and unleashed her strongest strike ever. In her Martial Soul Avatar state, her full moon form fired a beam even more powerful than the Ghost Moon Compression Light. It blasted straight into the python's skull, melting its eyes and piercing into its brain!
The python roared in desperation, its body erupting in a frenzy. It broke the freeze, its body flailing, the tail sweeping like a pendulum, smashing the ground, trees, rocks—and a pitch-black shield etched with a curled black dragon.
The python's final outburst sent a chill through everyone's hearts. Zhang Lexuan and Zhu Ziyang were closest—directly in harm's way. Having exhausted almost all his soul power using the domain soul skill, Zhu Ziyang used what little remained to activate his Soul Tool shield.
Qian Duoduo's sixth soul skill—Black Dragon Shield Array!
It saved his life. The python's sweeping tail smashed into the shield.
Boom!
Zhu Ziyang felt a mountain-crushing force slam into him. He braced as best he could, but it was hopeless.
He and the shield were launched into the air.
"Ziyang!" Ma Xiaotao screamed, charging toward him—but she collapsed after just one step. With her soul power and stamina depleted, she could only watch helplessly as Zhu Ziyang vanished into the distance.
Zhang Lexuan sat slumped on the ground, unable to move. Having burned her Martial Soul origin, she awaited death as the python's tail came swinging toward her.
Some were unconscious. The rest, powerless, could only watch in horror.
But perhaps heaven took pity—for just before the massive tail struck Zhang Lexuan, it suddenly stopped. Then it fell heavily in front of her.
The Ghost Moon Forest Python King… was dead.
"You beast! How dare you!"
A furious roar thundered from above. An old man descended onto the ruined battlefield.
It was the Gluttonous Douluo—Xuanzi.
He looked at the fallen python and its drifting soul ring, then at the battered, bloodied inner courtyard students around him—and suddenly, he realized just how much of an absolute bastard he had been.
(End of Chapter)
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