Sword qi collided with the bull horns, sending sparks flying. The Sky Azure Bull Python swung its tail at Chen Xin. It wanted to break free quickly and support Er Ming—Er Ming was already on the verge of death!
Chen Xin twisted aside and pointed his sword at the python's eye. "I'm your opponent, and you still dare lose focus!"
The Sky Azure Bull Python let out a roar and had no choice but to resume its fight with Chen Xin. The three Soul Sages by the lake immediately stepped forward as well, continuously forming arrays and condensing their Soul Power into attacks to jointly restrain the Sky Azure Bull Python's movements.
Meanwhile, the Titan Giant Ape's injuries continued to worsen. Under the bleeding effect, its aura grew increasingly chaotic. There was no way those wounds could heal in the short term, so it could only fight more fiercely, throwing everything it had into a desperate battle.
"Damn humans, all of you die! Titan Strength!"
The Titan Giant Ape enhanced itself once more and recklessly hurled out its fists. Everyone present knew that this forest overlord was now putting up a strong front while weakened within. It was nearly unable to resist any longer.
"Talent Skill—Deep Sea Strangler!" Seizing the opportunity, Ao Tian gathered all the Soul Power in his body at his brow. In an instant, it formed a black-red beam of energy that pierced through the Titan Giant Ape's chest with lightning speed.
The Titan Giant Ape was blasted thousands of meters away. It collapsed on the ground, twitching continuously, its hands lying limply against the earth and its gaze unfocused.
"Er Ming, no... Damn humans!" Sensing Er Ming's faint and steadily fading life force, the Sky Azure Bull Python's eyes nearly split with fury.
The Sky Azure Bull Python twisted its horns toward the sky, and the heavens immediately changed color. Dark clouds gathered above the lake as fierce winds rose.
"Azure Ox Annihilation Divine Thunder!" A terrifying divine bolt carrying an aura of destruction shot from its horns toward Chen Chu and the others.
The black clouds hung oppressively low, while the gale swept the vapor off the lake into a curtain of mist. Before the Sky Azure Bull Python's blood-soaked roar had faded, the divine thunder from its horns had already lit up half the sky.
Chen Chu raised a hand to shield his face as his aura surged higher and higher. He turned and shouted to those around him, "Form a defensive array! Everyone, channel your Soul Power into Ao Tian!"
There was no dodging this kind of lightning. The distance was too close, its speed too fast, and its power too great. They could only withstand it head-on.
Ao Tian gave a low shout and charged forward excitedly. At some point, a layer of fine scales had appeared over his body. "Merman Sea Stabilizer, defend!"
As soon as Ao Tian spoke, the divine thunder was already upon him. It was not merely ordinary violet lightning; it also carried a deathly azure hue. The instant it struck the ground, it blasted a hundred-meter-deep crater into the lake, sending water and shattered rocks soaring into the sky.
Although Ao Tian blocked most of its power, the residual shockwave still sent the two Soul Sages in the front row flying. Blood poured from their seven orifices as they crashed into the distant forest.
Chen Xin steadied himself, then looked at Ao Tian again in disbelief. He had already found the Sky Azure Bull Python's opening, and the tip of his sword had been less than half a foot from its neck. Yet the divine thunder's power had truly been too great, forcing him back.
The Sky Azure Bull Python seized the chance to swing its head, smashing its horns against Chen Xin's sword blade. The immense force drove Chen Xin back again and again, his feet plowing two deep trenches through the ground.
"Human, you're the one losing focus!" The Sky Azure Bull Python's voice was filled with boundless fury and a trace of trembling. "If Er Ming dies, every one of you will be buried with him!"
Its tail slammed into the lake, and the water instantly froze into dozens of ice spikes that shot densely toward Chen Xin and the three Soul Sages. The Soul Sages who had only just recovered hurriedly formed an array, ripples spreading across their Soul Power shield. But before the ice spikes had even shattered, the Sky Azure Bull Python's head crashed into it. The Soul Power shield immediately broke apart, and the three Soul Sages spat blood and fell once more.
Chen Xin gritted his teeth as golden patterns of light spread across his sword. "Seven Kill Sword, Sixth Spirit Ability—Myriad Swords Return to Origin!" Countless sword phantoms surged out from behind him and swarmed toward the Sky Azure Bull Python like a hive of bees.
But the Sky Azure Bull Python did not dodge at all. It ignored the sword phantoms piercing its body and tearing bloody wounds through its scales, charging straight toward where Er Ming had fallen. It had only one thought now: take Er Ming away, even if it died here.
Seeing this, Chen Chu frowned at the Sky Azure Bull Python charging from behind. He could not let it approach Er Ming. Once these two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts reunited, it would become difficult to control the situation.
"Ao Tian! Stop it! I'll drag that beast farther away!" Chen Chu shouted.
Ao Tian had just withdrawn the black-red Soul Power from his brow. Hearing the shout, he immediately turned around and formed hand seals. "Talent Skill—Tidal Bind!"
The water of the lake suddenly rose up and wrapped around the Sky Azure Bull Python's limbs like chains. But the Sky Azure Bull Python merely roared as Soul Power erupted from its entire body, instantly shattering the water chains.
"It actually didn't work." Ao Tian cried out in shock. He clearly had not expected this Hundred Thousand Year little worm to possess such strength.
The Sky Azure Bull Python accelerated again and was about to reach Er Ming. Er Ming lay on the ground, his aura so faint it was almost imperceptible. His eyes were half-open. When he saw the Sky Azure Bull Python rushing toward him, his lips seemed to move, as though he wanted to call out "Da Ming," but in the end, he said nothing.
At that moment, Chen Xin suddenly appeared before the Sky Azure Bull Python. His clothes had already been torn, and blood still flowed from his arm, but the Seven Kill Sword in his hand was raised even more steadily. "I told you, I'm your opponent." Chen Xin's voice was deep. If he lost to a Soul Beast, he, Chen Xin, would be laughed to death upon returning. His pride would not allow such a thing to happen!
The Sky Azure Bull Python had no choice but to stop, staring at Chen Xin with bloodshot eyes. "Why must you stop me? I have no grievance with you!"
Chen Xin's expression changed as he shouted sharply, "Wretched beast, you still dare lose focus? Ninth Spirit Ability!"
"God-Demon Twin Slash!"
As his words fell, the sky was instantly torn open by a rift. Countless sword phantoms descended with boundless might, striking toward the Sky Azure Bull Python.
While Sword Douluo displayed his divine might and overwhelmingly suppressed the Hundred-Thousand-Year Sky Azure Bull Python, Chen Chu and Ao Tian each grabbed one of the Titan Giant Ape's legs and dragged it swiftly away into the distance.
Naturally, people in other directions also noticed what was happening here.
"What is that? What a huge monkey!" Hu Liena cried out as she looked at the weak-auraed Soul Beast being dragged away in the distance.
"That is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Titan Giant Ape!" Chrysanthemum Douluo's figure appeared beside them at some point. His brows were tightly furrowed as he stared in disbelief at the forest overlord whose life force was nearly extinguished.
"Nana, end your mission for now. Leave the Star Dou Great Forest immediately. It's very dangerous here now."
After giving the instruction, Yue Guan grabbed the three of them and sped toward the outer region.
He truly had not expected those people to suppress two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts and even take one of them away. It was simply too unbelievable. He had to return to Spirit Hall and report this as quickly as possible. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had somehow produced such powerful experts without anyone noticing!
"Ao Tian, here."
The two brought the Titan Giant Ape to a valley and set down the gravely injured, dying beast.
"You do it. I'll go set up an isolation grand array." Ao Tian gave Er Ming a disdainful look before flying out of the valley to begin arranging the formation.
Please keep following the story. There have been very few new bookmarks these past few days, and it has mostly been longtime readers supporting me. I'm very grateful. Please keep reading, and I'll keep writing seriously. If you have any suggestions or ideas, feel free to leave more comments.
Before you continue