Chapter 52: Soul Yuanpo, Your Death Is Near
"Only five left!"
At the entrance of the Xiao Realm, Xiao Tiance's cold words echoed through the battlefield.
The Soul Clan's remaining Dou Sheng experts quickly realized they were being counted down to their deaths. Xiao Tiance had no intention of letting them escape. The ferocity of their attacks intensified, filling the air with constant explosions.
Xiao Tiance smirked as he controlled the spiritual array, increasing its power. Inwardly, he sneered:
"Yes, keep going. Struggle harder. There are plenty of your comrades waiting for you on the Yellow Springs Road!"
Five minutes later.
Another late stage eight star Dou Sheng failed to dodge an incoming wave of sand from the spiritual array and was swallowed whole.
"Only four left!"
Time dragged on. Watching his comrades fall one after another, Soul Yuanpo's shock grew.
He finally understood that their attacks alone could not break this formation. Even if they somehow managed to shatter it, their dwindling Dou Qi would leave them defenseless.
His gaze flicked to Xiao Tiance, who stood outside the array with an indifferent expression, as if he wasn't even paying full attention.
Soul Yuanpo's heart sank. He knew they couldn't continue like this.
"If we keep this up, we'll all die. The only option left is to concentrate our strength on one person. That might give us a chance to break the array!"
Hearing this, the three remaining Soul Clan experts immediately redirected their focus. They deflected a rain of energy swords and swiftly regrouped around Soul Yuanpo.
"At your command, Elder!"
They understood his plan. Staying alive together was no longer an option. By empowering one of them, at least one might escape and return with news.
Each conjured a protective barrier and began channeling their Dou Qi into Soul Yuanpo.
Outside the array, Xiao Tiance observed the scene with a neutral expression.
"Hmm, this is starting to feel like I'm the villain in their story. How ironic. Their sacrifice makes them heroes in their eyes, while I'm just their hated foe. But such is the nature of battle perspective defines everything.
Let's see how strong Soul Yuanpo becomes after absorbing their strength. Perhaps he'll even break through to the nine star Dou Sheng level."
He increased the intensity of the spiritual array's attacks. Cracks began forming in the protective barriers of the three Soul Clan Dou Shengs.
"You are all heroes of our clan," Soul Yuanpo declared as he absorbed their Dou Qi. "When I return, I will personally report your sacrifice to the Clan Chief. Your families will be well cared for."
The three men nodded grimly, resigning themselves to their fate.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
As the last of their Dou Qi was transferred, the three barriers shattered. Energy swords pierced through their bodies, and their corpses were swallowed by the swirling sands below.
Suddenly, a surge of energy exploded outward. All the energy swords within the array were obliterated, and cracks began forming across the once impenetrable walls of the spiritual array.
"Hahaha! Xiao Tiance, it seems your formation isn't invincible after all!"
Soul Yuanpo now radiated an oppressive aura. His strength had clearly surged, brushing close to the initial stages of a nine star Dou Sheng.
"Impressive," Xiao Tiance admitted with a slight smirk. "The Soul Clan's mastery of soul manipulation is truly extraordinary. But even so, without fully reaching the nine star Dou Sheng level, you won't leave here alive."
Soul Yuanpo sneered. "Such arrogance! Watch as I destroy this pathetic array!"
He vanished in a flash and reappeared before one of the glowing walls. Black mist swirled around his fist as he struck.
"Boom!"
The array wall cracked further, and moments later, the "Eight Star Spiritual Sword Array" shattered completely.
"Hahaha! Xiao Tiance, your end is near!"
Buoyed by his success, Soul Yuanpo charged directly at Xiao Tiance.
Xiao Tiance stood unmoving, his hands deftly forming seals.
"Just one array was enough to nearly wipe out all of you, yet here you are, still boasting?"
Soul Yuanpo's fist hurtled toward Xiao Tiance, but an invisible force suddenly stopped it mid strike.
"Boom!"
The counterforce flung Soul Yuanpo back hundreds of meters, slamming him into the still active spiritual array's walls. He coughed up blood, his Dou Qi fluctuating wildly.
"Impossible! The array was already broken! How ?" Soul Yuanpo's face twisted in disbelief.
He realized too late that the array he had shattered was only one of several layers. Xiao Tiance had prepared five spiritual arrays in total.
Outside the array, Xiao Tiance's smirk widened. He was about to taunt Soul Yuanpo further when a black jade token emerged from his storage ring, glowing faintly.
His expression immediately darkened. This token had been left to him by Xiao Xuan, the patriarch. They had agreed: if the token's light ever fully extinguished, it meant Xiao Xuan had fallen.
And now, the dimming glow signaled that Xiao Xuan was in grave danger.
Xiao Tiance turned back to the array. Soul Yuanpo, though powerful, was beginning to show signs of strain.
"I had planned to toy with you a little longer," Xiao Tiance muttered. "But it seems I don't have the time. This ends now."
With a wave of his hand, the five remaining arrays roared to life. Sandstorms raged, towering waves surged, and mountains materialized in midair.
Inside the array, Soul Yuanpo's Dou Qi drained at an alarming rate, his body battered by relentless attacks.
"This… this is impossible! Xiao Tiance, what kind of sorcery is this?" Soul Yuanpo shouted, desperation overtaking his voice.
Xiao Tiance's gaze was calm and cold. "You don't need to understand. What you should know is that being targeted by five eight star spiritual arrays simultaneously is a privilege few will ever experience. Even Xiao Xuan only faced four when we sparred."
"You should feel honored. You'll die knowing you were truly outmatched."
"So… these are the so called spiritual arrays…" Soul Yuanpo murmured, his voice weak. "Eight star formations… their power truly rivals the eight star Dou Sheng level…"
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