"A soul tool."
The moment Wang Lian realized the trap wasn't a soul skill but a carefully deployed soul tool, his expression shifted. He immediately began scanning the surroundings with heightened alertness.
There was no time to question how a group of Soul Masters and even Great Soul Masters could possibly subdue a Soul King like Xixi. He just reacted.
Ray guns began to materialize from his storage-type soul tool—but before he could even raise one to fire—
"Clang—clang—clang!"
A brilliant flash of sword light tore through the clearing. With three crisp metallic sounds, the barrels of Wang Lian's ray guns were cleaved clean off.
"Who's there!?"
Wang Lian shouted as he reacted instinctively. His Level 5 soul tool sword ignited with flame, and he slashed outward in a wide arc, the fire-enhanced edge sweeping toward the trees.
Then—a blur of white.
Several trees ahead shifted form, revealing human silhouettes hidden among the trunks. At the center, a white-haired figure lunged.
Chen Junting struck without hesitation, his Seven Killings Sword swinging down upon Wang Lian's flaming soul tool sword. The strike looked light—but carried immense force.
"The heavy sword carries no edge, yet nothing can withstand it."
Their swords collided with a thunderous clang, and the shockwave bent the surrounding Blue Silver Grass flat to the ground. Wang Lian's face twisted—he was being completely overpowered.
Even as a Soul King with a beast-type martial soul and a soul tool system, he was losing in pure strength.
But it wasn't over.
Cao Jinxuan'sClock Martial Soul activated behind them, soul rings lighting up as the clock's hands began to spin. Ripples of time distortion rolled outward.
Simultaneously—
•Wang Dong's Light Wing Guillotine
•Dai Huabin's White Tiger Strike
•Xiao Xiao's Soul-Suppressing Cauldrons
•Cao Jinxuan's time wave
•A white light cannon from the rear
All four attacks closed in from different angles—deadly and perfectly timed. (TL:oh hell nah!)
They weren't interested in a fair fight.
Wang Lian's eyes twitched. He raised his arm—and a wrist-mounted soul shield activated with a white flash, enclosing him in a defensive barrier.
Chen Junting raised an eyebrow. "Built-in defense module. He came prepared."
But that wouldn't save him.
From above—
A ten-thousand-year soul ring flared to life.
----
On the other front—
"Spiritual Shock!"
Huo Yuhao's eyes flared gold. A pulse of invisible spiritual energy slammed directly into Xixi's mind.
Still ensnared by the electro-net, Xixi's expression froze. Her mind blanked. Blood streamed from her nose and ears. Her limbs slackened.
Wu Feng moved in like a blazing comet.
Her right sleeve disintegrated under the heat as scarlet dragon scales crawled up her arm. Her claws extended—gleaming with heat and fury.
Two soul rings glowed as she was engulfed in flames. Her entire figure blurred into a streak of red light, with her claw aimed squarely at Xixi's chest.
Simultaneously, Ning Tian's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda released an amplification beam that struck Wu Feng mid-charge—boosting her power just before impact.
Xixi, regaining a shred of consciousness, tried to raise her arms to block. But it was too late.
BOOM—!
The fiery claw collided with her chest, and the resulting explosion sent her flying.
Her feet tore two deep furrows into the earth before her back slammed into a tree trunk. She coughed blood, her face pale and eyes filled with disbelief.
They'd been lured and trapped.
And Xixi was right.
After extracting intel from Chen Zifeng and Gong Yangmo, Chen Junting revised his strategy.
He noted the remaining five Inner Court seniors—four of whom were overconfident and looked down on soul tools.
This weakness had once nearly cost their lives at the hands of an Evil Soul Master. They wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
So, Junting's team set up the ambush at a pre-designated location, tailoring soul tool traps specifically for Xixi's agility-attack martial soul.
He even embedded a miniature energy-gathering array beneath the trap to sustain it longer.
Using Huo Yuhao's Mental Detection Sharing, the teams coordinated silently. As Yuhao's group approached, he activated Simulation and Five Senses Confusion, blending them into the forest like part of the terrain.
The plan unfolded perfectly.
As Xixi and Wang Lian engaged, Junting's final attack descended—
A massive sword of soul power crashed down from the sky, shattering Wang Lian's barrier.
Next: Sword Rain.
Thousands of blades descended in waves—
"Sword Domain: Raging Waves!"
But just then—
"Brother Junting, behind you!"
He sensed it too.
Three figures were rushing in fast.
"Focus on finishing them first," Chen Junting ordered sharply.
A chilling cold swept through the clearing, freezing trees and turning the rain of swords into ice.
The enemy's soul skill had arrived before they did.
But it wasn't enough.
Junting's sword finger drew across the air, activating the sword wings. With a wave, a storm of sword energy shattered the ice, and a new sword wave surged toward the newcomers.
Then—
He launched six sword slashes, each trailing a blue aura that twisted into a single glowing character:
"Kill" (杀)
The "Kill" slash tore through the air toward Wang Lian—unblockable and unavoidable.
"Ding—!"
Two badges fell to the ground.
With the defeat of Xixi and Wang Lian, their team had secured 28 points.
But the real challenge was just beginning.
---
Far off, the sky split.
A golden-white pillar of light shot up, and in its center, a crescent-shaped glow hovered ominously. Countless rays of energy cascaded from above, crushing Junting's sword wave instantly.
Dai Huabin's fists clenched. He took a step forward, anxiety surging.
He'd agreed to Junting's leadership for this moment.
His older brother was coming.
"MOVE!"
Blue light fell like rain. Pillars of ice erupted from the ground. Under Huo Yuhao's direction, the team scattered—
But three slower members were caught by the ice and frozen solid, statues mid-stride.
---
(End of Chapter)
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