BOOM!
Soul-guided beams roared.
Three massive cauldrons swung out horizontally.
A sky-filling net of blue hair ensnared.
Fists of devastating strength hammered forward…
They moved as one—supporting, covering, controlling—launching a coordinated assault on Chen Junting.
After brief recovery and healing from the waiting medics, Qin Lan and Wu Feng had re-entered the arena—one after the other.
Watching his team push him to reveal more of his power, Chen Junting couldn't suppress a faint smile deep in his eyes.
As the "guidance" (read: beating) continued, Qin Lan's group grew increasingly synchronized. But Chen Junting's focus now sharpened on Dugu Xin—
Because from the very beginning… he hadn't struck once.
Was he being saved as the secret weapon?
His thoughts didn't slow his hands.
Just then—
"Now!" Qin Lan's voice echoed—but his body remained unseen.
Instead, beams of light erupted from all directions, lashing out with blinding speed to bind Chen Junting's limbs—even trapping his Seven Kill Sword in their grip.
"Using array-based soul guidance devices against me?" Chen Junting raised an eyebrow. "Good timing."
"Not over yet!" ×2
The Lan Sisters cried out in unison. In the next second, they embraced—activating their Heaven's Net martial soul fusion. The sticky blue strands coiled around Chen Junting, layering control atop the light restraints.
In their minds, even a Soul Saint couldn't break free instantly—unless they used a martial soul fusion to shatter it outright.
"Lao Huang—there's an opening!"
The moment Qin Lan shouted, Huang Chutian's body flashed behind Chen Junting. A fist packed with earth-shattering force slammed toward his face!
But—
THUD!
From the side, a bear paw intercepted the blow, palm steady against Huang Chutian's knuckles.
"Don't get careless," Chen Junting chided, still bound yet utterly calm. "Remember—this isn't traditional soul combat. Beyond soul guidance and your own skills, soul spirit coordination matters too."
His gaze locked onto Huang Chutian.
"Right now… you've walked straight into my trap."
Mad King gripped Huang Chutian's fist, crushing pressure making his face flush crimson.
"I'll break free with raw strength!" Huang Chutian roared.
His Seven Kill Sword—still wrapped in light and net—screamed with sword energy, shredding its bindings and freeing Chen Junting entirely.
Chen Junting sidestepped a longitudinal Phantom Wind Blade from Qin Lan, shaking his head.
"Then let's see just how strong you really are."
Silent, Huang Chutian summoned his Gorilla soul spirit, swinging a counterpunch at Mad King.
Triple Power Stacking! Soul Force Eruption!
His pure strength was so immense it pierced the air, sending shockwaves rippling outward.
BOOM—!
Mad King struck again—using his Dark Gold Terror Claws to block Wu Feng's sudden lunge. This gave Chen Junting the opening to palm Huang Chutian's fist, yet his brow furrowed slightly.
This power… genuinely astonishing!
"HAAAA!"
Huang Chutian's arm muscles bulged like coiled steel.
Yet…
Seconds later, Chen Junting stood unmoved as a mountain. No matter how Huang Chutian struggled, he couldn't wrench free. Worse—Chen Junting parried Xiao Xiao's incoming cauldron with his sword, all while pinning the fist.
When Huang Chutian's resistance finally waned, Chen Junting turned, regarding him with a knowing, mocking smile.
Huang Chutian: "…."
Before he could react—bone-chilling cold surged up his arm, flash-freezing him into a massive ice block. (Chen Junting's precision left his arm exposed, unharmed.)
Then—yank!
Chen Junting seized Huang Chutian's arm, twisted his hips—and slammed him like a sledgehammer sideways!
CRASH!
Qin Lan, mid-sneak attack, flew backward like a ragdoll.
In one fluid motion, Chen Junting hurled Huang Chutian away, then flashed toward Gao Ming. His sword slashed down—razor-sharp sword energy tearing the air!
Gao Ming, seeing himself targeted, abandoned frozen Huang Chutian and activated a shield-type soul guidance device.
Xiao Xiao, seizing the moment, summoned her Nine Phoenixes Flute alongside her Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldrons. Her flute's melody—woven with soul rings—slowed Chen Junting's sword energy.
And now—
Dugu Xin struck.
Eight spider spears lashed from his back, stabbing at Chen Junting's throat and vital points.
His thrust was lightning-fast, confident it would pierce.
But Chen Junting activated his Fourth Soul Skill.
Ten Thousand Sword Rain!
Sword after sword plummeted, trapping Dugu Xin in the Raging Waves Sword Domain, where every step became agony.
"Xin—you should use your poison!" Chen Junting frowned, irritation flashing in his eyes. "Are you still hiding it?!"
You're a master of venom—a devastating AoE toxin specialist!
How did you end up playing melee?!
Who taught you this nonsense?!
But the next second—
"How do you know I haven't used it?!"
Dugu Xin, dodging sword rain, snapped—his stoic facade crumbling under Chen Junting's accusation.
Huh?
Chen Junting froze, realization dawning.
…Did I just wrong him?
Yes. Absolutely.
Behind Dugu Xin, six hidden soul rings now blazed openly—all six skills already active.
Then—Dugu Xin deactivated his Third Skill.
Suddenly, the previously empty air swirled with thick, colored miasma—its toxicity visibly lethal.
The truth unfolded:
From the start, their strategy relied on Dugu Xin's poison.
His Third Skill, "Deceitful Toxin Trail," rendered his poisons—and any he controlled—invisible, odorless, and tasteless, making Chen Junting absorb toxins without knowing.
To avoid detection, Dugu Xin meticulously avoided letting the mist touch surfaces—not even the arena floor—lest corrosion give it away.
The others had taken custom antidotes, rendering them immune, ready to capitalize.
But the toxin did nothing.
Forced to adapt, Dugu Xin escalated—layering Skills 4, 5, and 6—until his poison could kill effortlessly.
Still useless.
And now? Accused of not using it?!
Dugu Xin: "I've been wrongly accused!"
"Ahem… I see now," Chen Junting muttered, eyeing the sachet at his waist.
He'd forgotten to remove it during training. Infused with Aromatic Silk Beauty's "bane of all poisons" property, it nullified Dugu Xin's toxins completely.
Mental note: Prioritize Aromatic Silk Beauty research. Dugu Xin's poison can't have such a fatal flaw.
"Alright—let's continue."
Chen Junting tucked away the sachet—and instantly felt the lethal miasma press in. Without hesitation, his left arm erupted with glacial energy.
"Emperor Frost Heaven: Snow Dance, Blazing Sun!"
The beating resumed.
But this time—Qin Lan's group fared far better.
And with every strike, Chen Junting patiently explained, carving out moments for their growth.
Thirty minutes later—
The arena floor was shattered, vast patches eaten away by corrosive venom.
Not an inch remained unscathed.
To prevent antidote expiration from poisoning the fallen, Gu Tianchen teleported each incapacitated fighter off-stage the moment they were down.
Now, Dugu Xin's team lay scattered like broken dolls—every face bruised, every body groaning in agony. Merciless was an understatement.
"That's enough guidance for today," Chen Junting sighed, surveying the wreckage. Oddly… he felt refreshed.
"Wait—'today'?"
Qin Lan, barely lifting his head, stared with "you're a demon" eyes.
"You've guessed it," Chen Junting smirked, relishing their dread.
"Rest well. Same time tomorrow. But if you show no improvement… we'll train one-on-one."
A chorus of anguished groans rose from below.
Chen Junting ignored them.
Moan all you want—the training won't stop.
Then, he turned to the spectators—Ning Tian, Huo Yuhao, Gu Tianchen.
"After I catch my breath… all three of you at once."
"But your strength surpasses theirs. So next round—I won't hold back. Expect my True Body, Snow Empress, Tyrant… all of it."
The trio's eyes lit up with excitement.
Even Ning Tian, who disliked combat, showed no hesitation.
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