"It's Soul Engineering devices!"
Realizing this wasn't a soul master's technique, Wang Lian instantly scanned his surroundings. Without hesitation, he pulled soul engineering ray guns from his storage device—how could mere Soul Masters and Soul Grandmasters restrain Xi Xi with such tools?
But just as he aimed—
CLANG CLANG CLANG—!
Sword flashes severed the gun barrels mid-motion.
"Who's there!?" Wang Lian roared, swinging his Soul Engineering greatsword. Flames wreathed the blade as it swept outward—
Suddenly, a sharp whistle cut the air. Before Wang Lian could react, nearby trees morphed into people. A white-haired figure lunged, slashing at the flaming greatsword's shaft.
The strike looked light—but carried crushing weight.
A heavy sword needs no edge!
With terrifying force, the Seven Kill Sword clashed against the greatsword. A shockwave of soul power erupted, flattening the blue silver grass beneath them.
Wang Lian's wrist buckled—his strength utterly overpowered. I'm a Beast Martial Soul Soul King! How can a Soul Ancestor dominate me like this!?
But it wasn't over.
As Chen Junting struck, the other five followed.
Behind Cao Jinxuan, a massive clock materialized—its hands formed by two soul rings. As they spun, invisible ripples warped time itself.
Prepared attacks erupted from all sides:
- Wing Guillotines
- White Light Orbs
- Black Claw Shadows
- Three Soul-Sealing Cauldrons
They trapped Wang Lian before he could move.
This was never a fair fight.
Sensing doom, Wang Lian gritted his teeth. His wrist guard flared white—a defensive soul engineering barrier enveloped him.
"A defensive device?" Chen Junting's brow rose. He's wearing it on his wrist—activation as fast as a one-button trigger!
No matter.
His 10,000-year soul ring rose slowly.
Meanwhile—
"Soul Shock!"
Huo Yuhao's eyes blazed gold. An invisible wave of spiritual power slammed into Xi Xi.
Trapped and helpless, she felt like her skull split open. Her vision whited out—blood trickled from her seven orifices.
Strike while the enemy is down.
Wu Feng seized the moment—
her sleeve exploded into ash, revealing crimson dragon scales. Claws extended as two century soul rings flared. Dark-red flames erupted from her body, warping the air with heat.
She became a streak of fire. With a violet flash, blinding red light erupted—her dragon claw smashed toward Xi Xi's exposed chest. Simultaneously, a beam from Ning Tian's Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda surged into Wu Feng.
BOOM—!
Xi Xi barely raised her arms—
but the explosion-laced claw crushed her chest. She rocketed backward, carving trenches in the earth before slamming into a tree. Blood poured from her lips, disbelief in her eyes.
They planned this. They lured us into an ambush.
And she was right.
After extracting the Inner Court seniors' identities from Chen Zifeng and Gong Yang Mo, Chen Junting had tweaked his plan—exploiting their arrogance and the martial soul students' disdain for soul engineering. (After all, that very arrogance had nearly gotten them killed by the Death God Envoy—a mere Soul King evil soul master.)
Chen Junting's squad had arrived early at the prearranged site. Using Xi Xi's martial soul as a blueprint, they'd laid Soul Guidance traps—even embedding miniature Energy Gathering Arrays beneath the devices to sustain their power.
Huo Yuhao, via shared Spirit Detection, had coordinated the ruse. Near the ambush point, his second soul skill "Sensory Confusion" and third "Imitation" disguised them as trees—completing the deception.
As Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao subdued Xi Xi, a soul power greatsword descended from the sky. Amplified by Ning Tian's terrifying boost, it shattered Wang Lian's defensive barrier.
Then—
Ten thousand sword rains fell.
"Sword Domain: Tempest!"
Sword qi flooded the area.
But suddenly—
"Brother Junting—watch out!"
Chen Junting's eyes narrowed.
Three figures raced toward them.
"Finish the current targets first," he ordered.
Before the newcomers arrived, frost spread. Trees and grass glazed with ice as a visible cold front froze most of the sword rain.
Their soul skills strike before they do.
But Chen Junting wasn't deterred.
A flick of his sword fingers—"Sword Wings Soar!"
Sword qi shattered the ice. A tidal wave of blades surged toward the approaching trio!
Simultaneously, six sword beams coalesced into a blue "Kill" character, slicing toward Wang Lian.
He couldn't dodge. Couldn't block.
DING—!
With the two Inner Court badges secured, their score hit 28 points.
But the real challenge loomed.
In the distance, a golden-white pillar of light pierced the sky. At its core, a crescent moon shimmered. Dozens of orbs rained down—effortlessly obliterating Chen Junting's sword wave.
Dai Huabin's fists clenched, tension etching his face. He'd swallowed his pride to follow Chen Junting's lead—for this moment.
His brother had arrived.
Just then—
"Dodge!"
Blue light rained from above. Ice prisons erupted from the ground.
Thanks to Spirit Detection, most evaded—but three weaker students were encased, frozen solid.
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