The distant trees shuddered violently. Three figures landed before Chen Junting's group, their aura crashing like tidal waves.
BOOM—!
Facing two Soul Kings and a Soul Emperor, Chen Junting's brow furrowed. The Seven Kill Sword Intent erupted from his body, repelling their oppressive pressure entirely.
The trio—led by Dai Yueheng—exchanged startled glances. A mere Soul Ancestor defied their combined might?
"Not bad, junior," Dai Yueheng praised, eyes locking onto Chen Junting.
"Senior flatters me," Chen Junting replied coolly, his gaze drifting to the blue-haired beauty beside them—Ling Luochen, ice staff in hand, five soul rings circling her.
"Will you surrender?" Yao Haoxuan grinned, his short stature and leering expression belying his harmless tone. "You may have beaten Chen Zifeng's group, but against us? No chance."
"Is that so?"
Chen Junting's smirk widened. Behind them, a hazy mirage surged—Ning Tian's "Illusionary Realm" from her Wisdom Head Soul Bone. The space warped into a dreamlike domain, boosting allies' spiritual power by 50% while weakening enemies' minds. A mental network linked the team, enabling silent coordination beyond Huo Yuhao's Spirit Detection.
"Attack!" Dai Yueheng roared, activating his White Tiger martial soul. His demonic eyes fixed on where he thought his brother and Zhu Lu stood—he charged.
ROAR—!
Yao Haoxuan stomped the ground. His uniform shredded as iron-gray hide erupted across his body, muscles swelling to over four meters tall. Two yellow soul rings blazed—
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Yellow shockwaves pulsed from him, sharpening Dai Yueheng and Ling Luochen's auras. But Chen Junting's team remained unaffected under Ning Tian's illusion.
"Dai Huabin! Zhu Lu!" Chen Junting's voice cut through the chaos.
Xiao Xiao and Cao Jinxuan struck instantly—Nine Phoenix Flute and Time Elapsing Clock slowing Dai Yueheng. Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu clasped hands—
Their bodies fused into the Nether White Tiger.
ROAR—!
Dai Yueheng whirled—just as a tiger claw slashed at his back!
"Hah—!" He threw up a white barrier. Even with Ning Tian's amplification, his easily withstood the blow with his Soul Emperor cultivation level.
Chen Junting knew this.
His goal wasn't victory—it was distraction. Dai Huabin's fusion skill, aided by Huo Yuhao's spiritual attacks and Ning Tian's illusion, would tie Dai Yueheng down. Wu Feng backed them up.
His true target? Ling Luochen.
As she raised her ice staff—fourth purple soul ring glowing—
"Yuhao."
No hesitation. Huo Yuhao vanished—replaced by the Ice Empress Emperor Scorpion. Primordial cold radiated from its crystalline yellow eyes, freezing Ling Luochen solid mid-cast.
Chen Junting lunged—
Seven Kill Sword flicked, snatching her badge. The cold nearly froze his blade.
"Worthy of the name Ultimate Ice," he murmured, then turned to Yao Haoxuan.
He closed the distance in a blur.
"You."
Yao Haoxuan's fist rocketed out, wreathed in yellow light—
but Chen Junting sidestepped, reappearing inches away. Sword met fist—
CLANG—!
Shockwaves rippled outward.
Wang Dong's group struck from the flanks. Yao Haoxuan paled. "Where's Ling Luochen!?"
No answer—only intensified attacks.
SCHINK—!
His hide-splitting claws bled under Chen Junting's sword qi.
Then—
ROAR—!
The Nether White Tiger collapsed—Dai Yueheng's White Tiger Adamantine Transformation had shattered the fusion. Only Wu Feng escaped, snatched mid-air by Ning Tian's Windrend Wings.
"Fifth soul skill—White Tiger Demon God Transformation!"
"Sixth soul skill—White Tiger Annihilation Slash!"
Sensing Ling Luochen's absence, Dai Yueheng went all-out. Golden claws crossed, carving a massive "Kill" character.
The Illusionary Realm shattered. Dai Yueheng stood unscathed before them.
"You're impressive," he admitted, scowling at Yao Haoxuan's wounds and Ling Luochen's elimination. Second-years humiliated his elite squad?
But he'd salvage this.
Or so he thought.
WHOOSH—!
Ning Tian dove at him, two golden shields flaring—Invincible Barriers. Pricey? Yes. Wasteful? Not for the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Array runes shimmered on the barriers. The first trapped Dai Yueheng, blocking his White Tiger Radiant Wave. The second encased both of them, sealing the Soul Emperor inside.
Chen Junting's nod was subtle—this tactic mirrored Lin Xi's move against Ma Xiaotao. But here? No tournament rules. No Ma Xiaotao's volatility.
Sword fingers flicked. Six sword beams—each laced with distinct killing intent—coalesced into a colossal "Kill" character. The air turned to slaughter.
WHIRRR—!
Then—
a single golden feather drifted down.
Its radiant light dissolved the killing aura.
Chen Junting checked the time.
Exactly two hours.
He sheathed his sword, smiling.
"Mission complete."
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