Ziji's Strength

The pitch-black seventh soul ring radiated brilliantly, and Zhao Wuji's body underwent another drastic transformation.

In an instant, Zhao Wuji became a gigantic beast over five meters tall. The muscles all over his body swelled to an exaggerated degree, making him look like a genuine Vajra Bear.

His originally tawny fur grew wildly, turning into a dazzling gold.

"Ziji, it's up to you now."

He hadn't expected things to get a little out of hand and anger Zhao Wuji.

Seeing Zhao Wuji instantly break free from his control in his Martial Soul Avatar state, Su Chen could only turn to look at Ziji.

"I've been sick of the sight of this human for a while now."

With a beat of her wings, Ziji attacked without hesitation.

Zhao Wuji, who had just broken free from the Wangchuan Blood River, fell into endless darkness once more.

"This dragon really isn't simple."

Although the Vajra Bear was not a soul beast that relied on elemental attributes.

Its weak gold attribute did not affect the foundation of its strength—its physical body.

But having cultivated this martial soul to level seventy-six, Zhao Wuji could naturally sense the changes in the elements.

"Mubai, be ready to retreat at any time. Don't look back. No matter what happens, don't look back."

Turning around, Zhao Wuji picked up Dai Mubai and hurled him away, finally freeing him from the Blood River's control.

"Teacher Zhao, what about you?"

Although Dai Mubai was a scumbag, he was still loyal when it came to matters like this.

He understood that Zhao Wuji was clearly planning to stay behind and cover his retreat.

But he also understood that staying here would be completely useless.

"Go! Don't worry about me!"

With a furious roar, Zhao Wuji actually attacked first.

"Sixth Soul Skill—Earthshaking!"

This was one of Zhao Wuji's few purely offensive soul skills.

In his Martial Soul Avatar state, this move was also Zhao Wuji's strongest attack at present.

With one stomp, the entire ground cracked apart layer by layer.

Stone pillars shot into the sky one after another, stabbing toward Ziji in midair.

"Such a petty trick, and you dare use it to embarrass yourself?"

Looking down at him with a disdainful glance.

Ziji mobilized her own Soul Power to counter it.

"Dark Water!"

This move was a preliminary fusion of water and darkness attributes. Its power was not particularly great, but it was highly effective against this kind of attack.

Under Ziji's influence, the bloodwater of Wangchuan transformed into an even darker, gloomier swamp.

The moment Zhao Wuji's attacks touched it, they were corroded without a trace.

"Damn it, there's no way to settle this by trading skills."

Seeing his strongest attack so easily neutralized, Zhao Wuji's heart sank.

He knew that he was likely doomed today, but he absolutely could not fall yet.

In such a short time, Dai Mubai would not be able to escape far enough.

No matter what, he had to hold on until Dai Mubai left safely.

"Fifth Soul Skill—Gravity Crush!"

Forcing himself to use a control skill, Zhao Wuji intended to use his last strength to engage Ziji in close combat.

Although, due to the combination of his soul rings and his luck, he had obtained suitable soul rings but not the soul skills he wanted.

As a result, his strongest attack was a long-range area-of-effect move.

But what the Vajra Bear martial soul—and Zhao Wuji himself—excelled at most had always been close combat.

This fifth soul skill was likewise meant to give Zhao Wuji enough opportunities to force a close-quarters brawl.

Enormous pressure came from all directions around Ziji, squeezing her body as it shot toward Zhao Wuji.

"You want to fight me in close combat? Then I'll indulge you!"

Ziji was the complete opposite. If classified by game roles, she would be a typical crowd-control, area-of-effect mage.

Close combat was her weak point. But no matter what, she was still a dragon.

As a dragon, her close-combat ability certainly could not be considered poor.

It was precisely because of her draconic pride that Ziji chose to engage Zhao Wuji in a direct melee battle.

The enormous dragon claw collided with the thick bear paw. Under the powerful fluctuations of Soul Power, even Su Chen was forced to take several steps back.

His body even swayed unsteadily, and he nearly lost his footing and fell to the ground.

"Pfft!"

Blood and qi churned through his organs. Zhao Wuji spat out a mouthful of heart's blood and felt that his end was near.

"I wonder how much longer I can hold on."

Looking back in the direction Dai Mubai had fled, Zhao Wuji reignited his final fighting spirit.

All the Soul Power remaining in his body erupted madly, as though he did not care for his life.

He had to buy Dai Mubai enough time.

"Second Soul Skill—Wangchuan's Difficult Crossing."

A chilly voice rang out, and Zhao Wuji suddenly felt as though his internal organs were about to burst again.

The Soul Power he had raised to its peak was forcibly interrupted. The backlash of Soul Power nearly took his life on the spot.

Dropping to one knee, the sea of blood around Zhao Wuji finally vanished.

But what happened next left him utterly despairing.

At some point, Su Chen had appeared behind him. And the unconscious person dangling from Su Chen's hand was none other than Dai Mubai, the student who had come with him.

"Still couldn't escape from this guy's hands?"

Feeling the bone-deep agony caused by his ruptured meridians, Zhao Wuji was completely hopeless.

He had never expected that the mighty Immovable Bright King, who had enjoyed such a glorious life, would ultimately fall at the hands of two soul beasts.

"Flender, Yu Xiaogang. I never thought it would be me, Old Zhao, who dragged you down."

As scenes from the past flashed through his mind, several hot tears fell from Zhao Wuji's eyes.

Back then, Zhao Wuji had accidentally injured the younger cousin of Titan, the patriarch of the Strength Clan. Titan hunted him everywhere, while the entire soul master world avoided him like he was a plague god.

Only Flender did not reject him when he had nowhere else to turn. Instead, he extended an olive branch.

Deeply moved, Zhao Wuji joined Flender in founding Shrek Academy.

He became the academy's first vice principal from then on.

Later, after recruiting the two geniuses Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, Flender entrusted Dai Mubai to Zhao Wuji for primary training because he believed in his martial soul.

It could be said that Flender had placed great trust in Zhao Wuji.

Yet he had never expected that he would betray everyone's trust during Dai Mubai's first soul ring hunt.

Not only had he failed to find Dai Mubai a suitable soul ring, but they were both about to die in the jaws of soul beasts.

Thinking of this, Zhao Wuji looked at Dai Mubai with a heart full of regret.

"Mubai, I'm sorry."

"Enough. Stop putting on this tragic act."

At that moment, a dignified voice suddenly echoed in Zhao Wuji's mind.

It was Ziji.

"You can get lost now. Remember to tell that little brat beside you to leave his clothes behind."

"What? You're actually letting us go?!"

Zhao Wuji froze. He had not expected that he would still be able to leave alive.

"That guy said earlier that he doesn't want to kill anyone."

As she spoke, Ziji turned and pointed at Su Chen, who stood nearby.