Wu Bingyu and Ye Xinglan

Like a knight, Chen Jianshu stood guard beside Xue Liushuang and Weng Daimin as they stayed where they were to recover their Soul Power, though the two sides had only formed a rough alliance.

Still, he knew he could not possibly withstand the relentless barrage of so many people on his own.

Clap, clap, clap!

"What a magnificent Martial Soul Fusion Skill. It truly is terrifying."

Just then, a boy with long, pale blue hair walked out, clapping as he came, like a big boss behind the scenes. Two Yellow Soul Rings circled him—he was unmistakably another Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster.

Chen Jianshu hardly knew what to say. Damn it! Why are there so many Soul Grandmasters? Am I the only one with one ring?

But perhaps because the First Generation Spirit Transmission Douluo had cooperated with Ferocious Beasts, everyone advanced a little faster in the early stages.

After all, there were plenty of heavenly treasures: Whale Rubber, Mystic Water Pills, Soul Ascension Pills, Origin Cultivation Pills, and the like, as well as medicinal baths. Advancement would be swift.

Chen Jianshu had no one to plan his use of pills for him. So far, he had only eaten one portion of thousand-year Whale Rubber, so his level had risen more slowly.

"In that case, my friend, please step aside. Our only targets are the two behind you."

The blue-haired youth wore a faint smile. A black-haired girl and a burly brown-haired man also stepped out beside him; both were unmistakably Two-Ring Soul Grandmasters.

Another four or five figures stepped out at the same time: two Soul Grandmasters and three One-Ring Soul Masters. They all seemed to be with them.

"Is that so? Taking advantage of people in a vulnerable position isn't right. These two ladies were willing to leave their backs to me, so naturally I won't back down."

Though Chen Jianshu was unsure of his chances, he was no fool. The eight opponents had already surrounded the three of them, and he did not believe they would let him go.

"Then I won't waste any more words. Press your companions' eject buttons for them yourself. That way, you can at least make your defeat look a little better."

"Being afraid before the battle has even begun isn't my style. Even if there are only three in my army, I've never been afraid!"

Chen Jianshu formed a sword gesture with his fingers. Seven Iron Swords circled him, and he held the Dawn Divine Sword in his hand, showing no sign of fearing battle. This was the Spirit Ascension Platform; even if he died, he would be fine.

"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Then I'll be the one to send you out!"

The other party was clearly quite annoyed. After all, Chen Jianshu was putting on far too much of an act. How could someone at the end of his strength still be so defiant? He immediately gave the order, and the others swarmed forward.

Just as Chen Jianshu prepared to fight to the death, a streak of scarlet sword Qi came flying in, aimed straight at the blue-haired boy leading them.

"What?! Spatial teleportation! Who was that?!"

Startled, the boy hurriedly used spatial teleportation to dodge and looked over, demanding to know who had ambushed him.

"So many against so few? That hardly seems fair. Why don't you count me in?"

Everyone turned toward the voice. A girl with long, pale hair and scarlet eyes was slowly walking over. She wore a wine-red dress that revealed her lower legs, clad in white stockings, and a pair of little leather shoes.

Chen Jianshu recognized her. She seemed to be the girl with the White Peacock Martial Soul, and the only Soul Grandmaster with two Thousand-Year Soul Rings circling her, so he remembered her clearly.

The girl held a longsword formed from peacock tail feathers, and she showed no fear at the prospect of being besieged by eight people.

"Who are you?!"

Clearly furious after being ambushed, the blue-haired boy immediately demanded an answer. Scarlet Soul Power circled the girl as she replied calmly.

"Remember this. My name is Wu Bingyu, and I've come to take you out too!"

Her chilling killing intent and terrifying presence made everyone nearby instinctively take a step back. Before one wave had subsided, another rose: a clear sword cry rang out, followed by glimmering points of starlight, and another girl's voice sounded.

"Count me in. I, Ye Xinglan, can't stand bullies who gang up on people."

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw a green-eyed girl slowly appear. Her golden hair was tied in a ponytail with a green ribbon fashioned into a bow.

She held a platinum-colored longsword and regarded everyone present with an equally chilly gaze. Two Soul Rings circled her, and her fitted golden combat outfit gave her a neat, efficient appearance.

"So what if two more people join you? Eight against three—the advantage in death is ours! Get them!"

Looking at the eight people on his side, the blue-haired boy remained utterly unruffled. At his command, they charged forward.

"Dark Gold Bear possession! Dark Gold Fury!"

The burly man charged straight at Ye Xinglan and brought a bear claw down with a surging force, only for the Stargod Sword to block it.

"Let me show you the Star Saint Ye Family's Star Saint Sword Technique!"

Hearing that name, Yang Nianxia visibly froze. His pupils abruptly contracted, and he cried out:

"You're the heir of the Star Saint Ye Family of Mingdu, the family that inherited the Three Swords of Heavenly Arrival!"

Clang!

Fierce starlight burst forth, and a flash of sword light drove him back. He looked down to see a sword mark across his palm.

"You do know a thing or two. But I don't need to use my Ye Family's Three Swords of Heavenly Arrival to deal with you!"

On the other side.

Wu Bingyu faced a Soul Grandmaster whose Martial Soul was a Yazi, driving him steadily backward with her sharp swordsmanship.

"What terrifying attack power! It's only a bird-type Beast Martial Soul like a peacock, so why is it this strong?!"

Ge Hu, whose Martial Soul was a Yazi, fell into a disadvantage after exchanging only five moves with her and was completely on the defensive.

At the center of the battlefield, the blue-haired boy, Luo Guixing, gave an order:

"Take care of the three in the middle first!"

Five figures immediately closed in: two One-Ring Soul Masters with Azure Shadow Snake Martial Souls, who were eager to make their move; Zheng Yiran, a Two-Ring Soul Master with the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul; Tai An, whose Martial Soul was the Great Strength Divine Ape; and Niu Bai, whose Martial Soul was the Ironclad Rhinoceros.

"Zheng Long, Zheng Hu! Tie him down!"

At Zheng Yiran's command, the two One-Ring Soul Masters with level-seventeen Soul Power and Azure Shadow Snake Martial Souls charged at him.

"Taking me down won't be so easy."

Chen Jianshu chuckled. Though he still felt some pressure, it was not much of a problem. Just as the two came coiling toward him like pythons,

he used spatial teleportation to evade them, then mercilessly ran one of them through with the Dawn Divine Sword.

"Teleportation again!"

Zheng Hu was killed instantly. Just as Chen Jianshu prepared to press his advantage and cut down another, a sense of danger came over him, and purple poison rushed toward his face.

"Second Soul Skill, Jade Phosphor Purple Poison!"

Zheng Yiran released poisonous gas and attacked him. He immediately retreated to Xue Liushuang and Weng Daimin's side.

"My Jade Phosphor Purple Poison is enough to poison you into collapse within a minute. If you don't want to die too ugly a death right now, withdraw on your own."

Zheng Yiran seemed highly confident in her poison, her tone expressing complete certainty about Chen Jianshu's fate.

"Is it that strong? I don't like it. You can have it back!"

Hearing her, he smiled, showing no fear of the Jade Phosphor Purple Poison. The amusement in his bewitching purple eyes immediately filled Zheng Yiran with a bad feeling.

P.S. The first update for July 11, bringing the total to two thousand characters.