Inescapable Karma

"Word Spirit: Lord Flame!"

Light and flames far fiercer than when the Martial Soul Fusion Skill had activated erupted in an instant, exploding through the air.

A high-temperature, high-pressure shockwave struck the bodies of the two Sound Dragon Bats in an instant.

Their piercing shrieks cut off abruptly as the two Ten-Thousand Year Soul Beasts turned to charcoal and fell straight down.

Yu Mingfei had deliberately avoided Yin Shu and Jiang Zhu's positions.

The explosive torrent of flames swept through the area, destroying all vegetation within a hundred meters.

The soil cracked and scorched, while the river water evaporated.

Other than Yu Mingfei and the other three, every living thing within a hundred meters was burned to ashes by the high-temperature, high-pressure fiery blast.

Several white and yellow Soul Rings rose from different locations as countless plants became kindling and burned fiercely.

On the ground, Yin Shu and Jiang Zhu sat sprawled there, staring blankly up at the enormous figure in the sky, its body spread out like a cross.

Yu Mingfei did not move. He stared fixedly at a spot a hundred meters away.

From the shadows, those blood-red eyes met his for an instant before quietly vanishing.

After several more breaths, he finally confirmed that there was nothing else unusual in the forest.

The Flame Giant Dragon descended, Soul Power Fluctuations surged again, and the Martial Soul Fusion Skill was released.

The massive dragon body dissipated, and amid a crimson glow, Liu Erlong and Yu Mingfei's bodies reappeared.

"Dean! Mingfei!" Jiang Zhu hurried over and supported Liu Erlong's limp body, keeping her from falling.

Her face was pale, and barely any Soul Power remained in her body. It seemed this Martial Soul Fusion Skill had drained Liu Erlong tremendously.

Yet Yu Mingfei's condition was completely different.

After the Martial Soul Fusion Skill ended, he felt brimming with strength. His Soul Power was full, and as it circulated through his body, it seemed to carry an additional trace of scorching heat.

An inexplicable sense of fullness rose from within his body, leaving Yu Mingfei deeply surprised.

Shouldn't a Martial Soul Fusion Skill make both sides share the Soul Power consumption?

Why was Dean Liu so weak while I felt so energized?

It was not just his Soul Power and physical condition that were different.

Under Yu Mingfei's perception, the eight strands of special energy brought by the External Soul Bone, the Eight Spider Lances, near his Spine had also changed.

They had now almost fused completely with his spine, no longer as restless as before and instead incomparably docile.

Yu Mingfei tried to summon the Eight Spider Lances, but as a scorching sensation spread across his spine, the eight Spider Legs he remembered did not appear.

Eight Spider Legs did not emerge from his back.

Is this really the Eight Spider Lances? Where are the Spider Legs?

Yu Mingfei was puzzled for a moment, until he saw Liu Erlong's weakened state and immediately understood.

No, this really is the Eight Spider Lances!

The reason Dean Liu was weakened to this extent while my Soul Power was full was precisely because the Eight Spider Lances' ability to devour Soul Power had been triggered.

As for why the Spider Legs did not appear, perhaps some other change had occurred.

Pushing aside his chaotic thoughts, Yu Mingfei stepped forward and looked at Liu Erlong, whom Jiang Zhu was supporting.

"Dean Liu, are you all right?"

"I'm fine. As long as everyone is safe, that's enough."

There was something unusual in Liu Erlong's gaze as she looked back at him.

She looked around and found that Yin Shu and Jiang Zhu were unharmed, their hair merely a little curled and their clothes dusted with ash. She immediately relaxed.

"Mingfei, come back to the academy with us.

"As you have seen, the Beast Tide around the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest has not yet settled. It's too dangerous here now."

She looked at Yu Mingfei firmly, leaving no room for refusal.

"I still need to find a Soul Ring." Yu Mingfei changed the subject.

"That Soul Skill of yours killed quite a few Soul Beasts just now. Look around nearby and see whether there are any suitable ones!" Liu Erlong interrupted him, pointing at the dozen or so Soul Rings rising from the scorched earth around them.

Yu Mingfei responded with silence, and Liu Erlong was about to say more.

Crack, crack—

A crisp sound of snapping branches came from nearby.

The group turned their heads, and a green-haired old man entered their sight.

Liu Erlong and the other two looked at him warily.

Yu Mingfei's heart sank as old shadows clouded his mind.

"Leave? I don't think he can leave anymore."

This green-haired old man was none other than Dugu Bo.

Half a month ago, Yu Mingfei had escaped the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect right under his nose. Today, he had been caught red-handed.

Do Soul Masters all love running into the Star Dou Great Forest?

Should I be grateful that I didn't run into Tang Hao?

Dugu Bo approached calmly with his hands behind his back, looking at Yu Mingfei mockingly.

"Yu Mingfei, right? What a coincidence! The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect made this old man come for nothing before. Who would have thought I'd run into you in the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Liu Erlong forced herself to hold on and stepped in front of Yu Mingfei.

"Senior, may I ask how Mingfei has offended you? I hope that, for the sake of Blue Tyrant Academy and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, you will show mercy.

"Liu Erlong will repay you generously!"

Her body was weak, but she did not flinch as she met Dugu Bo's gaze.

Dugu Bo laughed twice, as though he had remembered something amusing.

"For the sake of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect?" His tone rose as he looked at them with disdain.

"Wasn't it the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect that wanted to hand him over to this old man?

"My precious Granddaughter suffers every day from poison consuming her body, and you want this old man to show mercy?

"Fine! Then this old man will show mercy. I'll let you die together with him, so you can keep each other company on the road to the underworld!"

Dugu Bo's tone turned vicious. Nine Soul Rings appeared around him, and the pressure of a Titled Douluo descended. Liu Erlong and the others froze, unable even to breathe properly, much less speak.

Just as they were about to suffocate, Yu Mingfei's voice rang out.

"If you kill them, your Granddaughter will definitely die. My word."

He went around Liu Erlong and Jiang Zhu, stepping before Dugu Bo.

"I heard your Granddaughter's Martial Soul is damaged and poison is consuming her body?

"If you kill them, your Granddaughter will turn into a pile of rotten sludge right in front of you. She won't even retain human form.

"My word."

"You dare threaten this old man?"

Dugu Bo flew into a rage. He condensed his pressure and focused it entirely on Yu Mingfei alone.

Tangible pressure crashed down from above. Yu Mingfei's face flushed red as he struggled desperately to resist.

Even though his body trembled, he held his back straight and stared directly into Dugu Bo's eyes.

"You can... try.

"See how tough... your Granddaughter's life is."

After a moment, Dugu Bo sneered.

"Fine. This old man won't pursue matters with them for now.

"But if you can't resolve the poison consuming my Granddaughter's body, I'll poison everyone in Blue Tyrant Academy to death right in front of you."

Dugu Bo did not look at Liu Erlong and the other two again. He grabbed Yu Mingfei and soared into the sky.

In the blink of an eye, he vanished from Liu Erlong's sight.

"Xiao Mingfei!"

"Leave Mingfei behind!"

"Damn it!"

Several dozen li away, upstream along the Nuoding River.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling sat on the riverbank, having removed their shoes and socks. Their feet soaked in the water as they gently kicked at the current.

Ye Lingling wore black clothes and black trousers, with even her face veiled, leaving only her eyes exposed.

She took a bite of fruit, her gaze falling on Dugu Yan's legs beside her.

No, not legs, but a Serpent Tail.

Dugu Yan was currently in Martial Soul Possession. Her legs had merged together into a long, slender Serpent Tail.

The lower half of the Serpent Tail was submerged in the river, swaying gently.

"Yanyan, can you still hold on? If not, use the medicine."

Ye Lingling's words were full of concern.

Dugu Yan fell silent for a while before firmly shaking her head in refusal.

"No. Although the Nine-Petal Golden Orchid can turn the poison into Soul Power, it will also make my Poison Arts disappear." Her expression was exhausted, as though she were bearing an enormous burden.

"All my Soul Skills are related to poison. Once the poison is converted, all my Soul Skills will be useless. I'll be no different from a cripple."

Although Ye Lingling understood, she could not help trying to persuade her.

"But your body... You've maintained Martial Soul Possession for ten days straight.

"If this continues, you won't be able to endure it.

"Forcing yourself to control the poison while in Martial Soul Possession will worsen the damage to your Martial Soul.

"When that happens..."

Ye Lingling did not continue, but Dugu Yan knew what the outcome would be.

Nothing more than the poison spreading through her body until she turned into a pool of poisonous water.

But she was unwilling to accept it.

Truly unwilling.

"Yanyan!" A familiar shout came from the sky.

The moment the voice arrived, Dugu Bo had already landed on the riverbank.

With a flick of his hand, Yu Mingfei fell into the river with a splash.

He landed directly in front of Dugu Yan's Serpent Tail.

He raised his head, and their eyes met.

Dugu Yan froze, a name slipping from her lips.

"Yu Mingfei?"