Ambush Outside the City? Counterattack

Heaven Dou City's morning mist had yet to disperse when an "exhausted" team slowly walked out through the gates. The seven members of the Cauldron Sword Team carried simple packs on their backs. Oscar's Sausage Machine hung crookedly from his waist, as though he did not even have the strength to hold it steady. Only a weak flame remained in Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Fire, flickering out from time to time and requiring great effort from him to reignite. Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was slung diagonally behind her, its glow dim, clearly looking like her "soul power had been exhausted." Jiang Zhu supported Dai Mubai, whose White Tiger Claw hung limply at his side. Pale red blood still seeped through the bandages around his chest, making it look as though his "old injury had flared up."

Only Lin Che and Tang San remained relatively calm, though their expressions were grave as they repeatedly scanned the surrounding woods with vigilance. This was precisely the "show of weakness" they had carefully arranged, meant to make the Spirit Hall soul masters at Soul Severing Cliff lower their guard and activate the Netherworld Soul Devouring Array themselves.

"Captain, are we really going through Soul Severing Cliff? It's too dangerous there." Oscar's voice trembled as he deliberately raised it, making sure the Spirit Hall scouts watching in secret could hear him. "Why don't we take the long way around? It'll be slower, but it'll be safer!"

Lin Che "furrowed his brow" and looked at Tang San with feigned hesitation. "Taking a detour will cost us another three days, and we're running low on supplies... We can only go through Soul Severing Cliff. Just hold on a little longer, everyone. Once we get past the cliff, we'll be safe." His gaze swept "casually" through the depths of the forest, where a Black Shadow flashed past—it was a Spirit Hall scout, clearly already sending back the news that the Cauldron Sword Team was utterly weakened.

Tang San cooperated with a sigh and steadied Dai Mubai. "Mubai, can you still walk? If you really can't, we can rest for a while before continuing."

Dai Mubai nodded "with difficulty," his voice hoarse. "I'm fine... I can keep going... It's just this old injury. Whenever the weather turns damp and rainy, it hurts terribly..." He deliberately staggered, nearly falling, drawing a "cry of alarm" from Jiang Zhu. Their performance was flawless. Even the Spirit Hall soul masters hiding in the shadows believed it and quietly hastened toward Soul Severing Cliff to report to Ghost Douluo.

Half an Hour later, the Cauldron Sword Team finally reached the entrance to Soul Severing Cliff. The black mist at the cliffside was thicker than it had been the previous night, and a faintly bloody smell filled the air. Beneath the black soil, the tips of Poisoned Thorns could vaguely be seen. Yet Lin Che and the others pretended not to notice, continuing "with difficulty" into the cliff. Every step appeared cautious, as though they might collapse at any moment.

"Now!" Deep within Soul Severing Cliff, Ghost Douluo's voice rang out with malice. Standing at the center of the Netherworld Soul Devouring Array, he swiftly formed seals with both hands. Fifty Spirit Hall soul masters poured in their soul power at once, and black formation patterns instantly lit up, covering all of Soul Severing Cliff!

Bzzzz—!

Netherworld black mist surged up from the ground like a tide, thicker and more sinister than the black mist of the Soul Erosion Array from the finals. Countless tiny Soul Devouring Spider eggs were mixed within it, descending upon the Cauldron Sword Team like black raindrops. Trees touched by the mist withered instantly, while the rocks on the ground began to corrode with hissing sounds. This was the ultimate form of the Netherworld Soul Devouring Array. Once completely enveloped by the mist, even a Soul Ancestor would have all their soul power drained within the time it took to burn half an incense stick, becoming a host for the spider eggs.

"Not good! It's a formation!" Lin Che cried out, but there was not a trace of panic in him. Instead, he immediately thrust the Azure Water Sword into the ground. The Universe Cauldron expanded above his head as a pale golden soul power field spread out at once, protecting his companions in the center. "Everyone, gather your soul power! Don't let the black mist get close!"

This sudden response stunned Ghost Douluo. The intelligence had clearly said that the Cauldron Sword Team was completely spent, so how could Lin Che instantly deploy such a powerful defense? But the formation had already been launched; there was no turning back now. He could only grit his teeth and order, "Increase your soul power output! Don't give them a chance to resist!"

The black mist swelled again and pressed down upon the Cauldron Sword Team's soul power field. The pale golden barrier was forced to shrink continuously beneath the pressure, fine ripples spreading across its surface as though it might shatter at any moment. Oscar "frantically" pulled out his Sausage Machine, only for his hand to "slip," dropping the sausage onto the ground, where it was instantly corroded into black slag by the mist. Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Fire "barely" held back the black mist in front of him, but spider eggs entangled it, and the flame grew smaller and smaller. Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda lit up "with difficulty," but it could only cover two people and could not support the entire team at all. They kept up this "show of weakness" until the very last moment.

"Lin Che, find the formation core quickly! If this keeps up, we're finished!" Tang San's voice was filled with "anxiety," but he secretly sent Blue Silver Grass into the ground. Protected by the soul power field, the deep green blades spread rapidly along the veins of the soil. Based on the terrain Lin Che had surveyed the night before and the records in the Chinese Formation Atlas, they searched for the formation's core—the Netherworld Soul Devouring Pearl.

The atlas recorded it clearly: the Netherworld Soul Devouring Array used the "Netherworld Soul Devouring Pearl" as its core. The pearl stored the essence blood of ten soul masters and the soul power of fifty more. The formation core was usually located beneath a rock at the center of the array. The pearl emitted a dark purple glow and could only be detonated with Yang Attribute soul power. Once the pearl shattered, the formation would collapse on its own.

"Found it!" Tang San's voice suddenly rang out, carrying suppressed excitement. Beneath a huge boulder at the center of the formation, his Blue Silver Grass sensed intense soul power fluctuations. That was precisely where the Netherworld Soul Devouring Pearl was hidden! Deep green blades of grass silently wrapped around the pearl, and the refined iron patterns on their surface locked it tightly in place, preventing Ghost Douluo from noticing.

Lin Che understood immediately. He deliberately contracted the soul power field, revealing a "flaw" that allowed the black mist to break through the defense and wrap around Dai Mubai's arm. Dai Mubai let out a "miserable scream," and his arm instantly turned black-purple. Yet in secret, he condensed his White Tiger soul power to the limit, ready to ambush the formation core at any moment. "Captain, I can't hold on! My arm..."

Ghost Douluo took the bait exactly as expected. Thinking the Cauldron Sword Team had reached its limit, he personally led ten soul masters out of the black mist. Black soul power condensed into claws as they lunged straight for Lin Che's Universe Cauldron. As long as they destroyed the cauldron, the Cauldron Sword Team would lose its final defense and be at their mercy!

"Now!" Lin Che's voice abruptly became firm, utterly devoid of "panic." He poured all his soul power into the Azure Water Sword. Azure sword qi shimmered with pale purple armor-piercing patterns as it slashed toward Ghost Douluo. "Wind Scar Slash!"

At the same time, Tang San activated Blue Silver Grass. Carrying the residual energy of Sun Flame Grass, the deep green blades forcibly tore the Netherworld Soul Devouring Pearl out from beneath the rock! The pearl glowed dark purple, its surface wrapped in black soul power. Soul Devouring Spider eggs writhed endlessly within it, making it look disgusting and bizarre.

"Ma Hongjun!" Tang San tossed the soul-devouring pearl into the air.

Ma Hongjun had long been prepared. His previously "weak" Phoenix Fire instantly surged, and the evolved Sun Flame True Fire condensed in his palm into a fireball like a golden sun. "Sun Flame True Fire! Detonate!" The fireball shot forth like an arrow released from a bow, smashing precisely into the Netherworld Soul Devouring Pearl.

"No—!" Ghost Douluo's pupils contracted sharply. He finally realized he had been deceived and tried to rush over to stop it, only to be blocked by Lin Che's Wind Scar Slash. The azure sword qi, carrying its armor-piercing effect, easily tore through his black soul power and left a deep, bone-revealing wound across his shoulder. Black blood sprayed out.

Boom!

The instant Sun Flame True Fire collided with the Netherworld Soul Devouring Pearl, golden flames erupted like a volcano! The essence blood and soul power inside the pearl were ignited in an instant. Black soul power and golden fire intertwined in the air, forming a massive explosion of light that completely dispelled the netherworld black mist across all of Soul Severing Cliff! Without the pearl's support, the formation patterns quickly dimmed and shattered. The Poisoned Thorns on the ground were reduced to ash by the flames. The Netherworld Soul Devouring Array had been broken!

"How is this possible... My formation..." Ghost Douluo stared at the sight before him, his eyes full of disbelief. His soul power fell into violent disorder from the destruction of the array, while black blood continued to seep from his shoulder wound. His strength had plummeted to thirty percent, and none of his former arrogance remained.

Dai Mubai seized the opening, instantly manifesting his White Tiger True Body! The towering white tiger, carrying pale golden masculine soul power, charged at the remaining Spirit Hall soul masters. "White Tiger Light Splitting Wave!" The golden soul power wave pierced through the soul power barriers of five soul masters in an instant, blasting them away and sending them crashing heavily to the ground unconscious.

Holding the Azure Water Sword, Lin Che continuously unleashed azure sword qi. Every sword arc struck the soul masters' vital points with perfect precision, but none were fatal. Instead, they shattered their soul power meridians, leaving them unable to resist. The ten soul masters could not even last half the time it took to burn an incense stick beneath his blade before they all fell to the ground, groaning in pain. He did not kill them all, intending to leave survivors behind and force more information about Spirit Hall from them.

"You... dared to destroy my formation and injure my soul masters... Spirit Hall will never let you go!" Ghost Douluo's voice was filled with unwillingness and rage. He knew there was no hope of turning things around. If he remained, he would only be captured by the Cauldron Sword Team. Gritting his teeth, he gathered his last trace of soul power, forming a Teleportation Array beneath his feet with black soul power. "Lin Che, Tang San... remember this. I, Ghost Douluo, will repay today's grudge a hundredfold!"

The moment the Teleportation Array lit up, Ghost Douluo vanished from Soul Severing Cliff, leaving only his icy threat echoing through the air.

"Trying to run? Not so easily!" Ma Hongjun wanted to pursue him, but Lin Che stopped him.

"Don't chase him." Lin Che shook his head and looked toward where Ghost Douluo had vanished. "He's already at the end of his strength and won't be able to threaten us again anytime soon. Besides, we've already achieved our goal. We broke the formation, captured prisoners, and seized their supplies. There's no need to take more risks."

Only then did everyone notice that a great number of Storage Soul Tools and soul bones belonging to the Spirit Hall soul masters were scattered across the ground of Soul Severing Cliff. Oscar ran over excitedly, picked up a Soul Tool, and opened it. It was filled with all kinds of herbs and soul power recovery agents. "Wow! So much good stuff! There's even a two-thousand-year soul bone in this Soul Tool!"

Ning Rongrong also picked up a Soul Tool. Inside were several Spirit Hall maps marking the locations and resource reserves of various branch halls. "These maps are incredibly important to us! When we fight Spirit Hall in the future, we'll know where their branch halls are!"

Tang San walked over to the captured soul masters, his eyes icy. "Speak. Besides ambushing us, did Spirit Hall send you for any other purpose? What other plans does Bibi Dong have?"

The soul masters had already been scared witless by the Cauldron Sword Team's strength. With their soul power meridians shattered, they did not dare hide anything and hurriedly spoke. "We... we were only ordered to ambush you and take back the champion's trophy... We don't know the Pope Bibi Dong's next plan... Only Lord Ghost Douluo and the Golden Generation know..."

Lin Che nodded, signaling Tang San not to ask further. These ordinary soul masters truly could not have known Spirit Hall's core plans. Obtaining this much intelligence was already an unexpected gain. He turned to his companions with a smile. "All right, clean up the battlefield. Take the prisoners and supplies back to Heaven Dou City. We won this counterattack!"

Sunlight pierced through the clouds and fell upon Soul Severing Cliff. Golden light drove away the last of its sinister aura. The seven members of the Cauldron Sword Team began clearing the battlefield. Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun guarded the prisoners, Oscar and Ning Rongrong organized the seized supplies, while Tang San and Jiang Zhu checked for any remaining formation-pattern fragments. Every face bore the smile of victory. Their earlier "exhaustion" and "panic" had long disappeared, replaced by confidence and determination.

When they returned to Heaven Dou City with prisoners in tow and supplies piled high, even the guards at the city gates wore expressions of shock. No one had expected the Cauldron Sword Team, ambushed by Spirit Hall, not only to return unscathed, but to bring back prisoners and a huge amount of captured supplies! The news quickly spread throughout Heaven Dou City. The people cheered for the Cauldron Sword Team once more, and their previous fear of Spirit Hall was greatly dispelled by this brilliant counterattack.

In the courtyard of Shrek Academy, another victory banquet was set for the Cauldron Sword Team. This celebration was even livelier than the previous one. The captured soul bones were placed in the center of the table, giving off a faint glow. Spirit Hall's maps lay spread across the table as everyone gathered around to discuss their future plans. The captured soul masters had been handed over to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, where Emperor Xue Beng personally interrogated them in an attempt to uncover more secrets about Spirit Hall.

Lin Che sat on the courtyard threshold, holding a Black Token he had found inside a Soul Tool. Engraved on it was Spirit Hall's Six-winged Angel emblem, while the back bore the character for "Ghost." It was clearly Ghost Douluo's personal token. He rubbed the patterns on its surface, his gaze deepening. Ghost Douluo's escape and Bibi Dong's threats were both reminders that Spirit Hall's danger was far from over.

"What are you thinking about?" Tang San walked over to Lin Che and handed him a cup of wine.

Lin Che accepted the cup, took a drink, and looked toward Heaven Dou City. "I'm thinking about what Spirit Hall will do next. Ghost Douluo suffered such a huge loss. Bibi Dong definitely won't let this go. Their next retaliation will only be more ruthless and more insidious."

Tang San nodded, his expression turning grave as well. "That's right. And the maps we seized show that Spirit Hall has gathered a large number of soul masters in Spirit City. They seem to be preparing for something major. Senior Gu Rong also sent word earlier that Spirit Hall may launch a Soul Hunting Operation against the major soul master academies and sects."

"Soul Hunting Operation..." Lin Che murmured, tightening his grip on the token in his hand. "No matter what they're preparing, we won't be afraid. As long as our Cauldron Sword Team remains united in heart, and with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as our ally, there will be no obstacle we cannot overcome and no enemy we cannot defeat."

Tang San looked at Lin Che's determined eyes and smiled as well. Raising his wine cup, he called out to their companions in the courtyard, "Come! To our victory, and to the future of fighting Spirit Hall—cheers!"

"Cheers!" Everyone raised their cups, and their cheers once again echoed through the courtyard of Shrek Academy. Golden sunlight fell across them, bringing this magnificent counterattack to a perfect close. Yet after this counterattack, the struggle between the Cauldron Sword Team and Spirit Hall had also entered a new stage.