Encirclement
Just as the man in black robes was about to finish off the remaining people in the basin, the Soul Barrier he had set up vanished like shattered glass, completely connecting the inside and outside worlds.
With the barrier broken, the hustle and bustle of the Pill Tower could be faintly heard, making this small world, which had just experienced Soul impact, seem even more desolate before a storm.
The man in black robes stared intently at the young man in blue robes who slowly emerged from the fragments of souls, his teeth grinding together as he practically forced out the name he hated to the core from the depths of his throat.
"Lin! Ming!"
Those two words contained a resentment that even the waters of the Three Rivers and Five Lakes could not wash away. All the old and new grudges erupted at this moment, converging into a boundless Killing Intent.
At this point, the identity of the man in black robes was truly revealed in those words filled with boundless Kill Fury: he was none other than Elder Mu Gu.
The Elder Mu Gu froze on the spot, his once determined glint in his deep-set eyes now consumed by an even more intense and sinister rage.
"You little bastard! Last time you had Nine-Revolution Dou Venerate by your side, and I couldn't do anything to you. Now let's see who you have left!" Elder Mu Gu roared fiercely, his voice sharp and piercing.
Without another word, he unleashed his full power Three-Star Dou Venerate, bursting forth like a flood bursting its banks!
Dark gray Dou Qi erupted from his body, cold and viscous, like the chilling air from the Nine Nether abyss, instantly lowering the temperature of the area to freezing point.
The air seemed to groan under the weight of the storm, and thick, dark ice crackled and condensed on the ground, rapidly spreading towards Lin Ming's feet. The aura it exuded was one of absolute power, intent on freezing and crushing this mere Peak Eight-Star Dou Ancestor youth, along with the space behind him!
The terrifying energy pressure, like a tangible mountain, pressed down on them. Standing beside Lin Ming, Zi Yan's pretty face paled slightly. Even though she was Primordial Void Dragon with a powerful physique, she felt her Qi and Blood surging under this straightforward suppression of power. She instinctively reached out to step forward, and her Dragon Force began to surge within her.
However, a hand gently pressed on her shoulder. The pressure was light, yet carried an undeniable steadiness.
Zi Yan turned her head in surprise, only to see that Lin Ming's face showed no fear whatsoever, but rather a faint, cold smile on his lips.
Lin Ming's dark eyes were as calm as a deep well, reflecting the ferocious and twisted face of Elder Mu Gu and the violent torrent of dark Dou Qi, without the slightest ripple.
"A clown like him dares to make such a racket."
As the words fell softly, the space around Lin Ming slightly distorted, and in the next instant, three figures appeared in front of him without warning.
The figure on the left was a slightly slender Puppet, its body mostly golden, covered by a thin layer of white frost, exuding a bone-chilling cold that spread silently. It emanated the aura of Three-Star Dou Venerate —this was the Frost Puppet!
The figure on the right was burly and imposing, his entire body shimmering with golden light. His five fingers were slightly spread, and sharp golden light pulsed from his fingertips, Space-Rending and radiating an invincible aura. That aura was far stronger than that of the Frost Puppet, clearly possessing the aura of Five-Star Dou Venerate. And this was none other than Puppet One, strengthened to its limit!
The one in the center was covered entirely in crystal-clear ice-gold armor. The chill was so intense that fine ice shards and snowflakes filled the space around him. His ice-blue eyes were devoid of any emotion, only absolute coldness and deathly stillness. His aura was already comparable to that of many ordinary Dou Venerate. He was a terrifying being who had reached the seventh Dou Venerate — the Ice Puppet!
The three Puppet stood in a triangular formation, perfectly protecting Lin Ming in the center.
The three auras were equally powerful, with two of them even surpassing that of Elder Mu Gu. They were like three ancient volcanoes that had been dormant for thousands of years, suddenly awakening and erupting at this moment!
The icy cold, the sharp edge, and the chilling aura of Dou Venerate merged together, twisting into one, and crashed headlong into the dark torrent that Elder Mu Gu was unyieldingly unleashing.
Boom--!!!
An invisible collision exploded with a deafening roar in the void. Energy Ripple spread out like a destructive storm, completely sweeping away the remaining fragments of souls around them. The ground was scraped down three feet, revealing the hard rock beneath.
This caused the rescued group to exclaim in surprise.
The Elder Mu Gu's forward momentum suddenly stopped, as if he had crashed into an invisible and indestructible barrier.
The ferocious Killing Intent on his face froze instantly, replaced by extreme astonishment and disbelief; his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
"Three Dou Venerate Puppet?! How is this possible?!" he exclaimed in shock.
His voice became shrill and off-key from shock. The aura of Seven-Star Dou Venerate emanating from the Ice Puppet was like ice water poured over his head, chilling him to the bone.
The Five-Star Dou Venerate's Puppet One, the Three-Star Dou Venerate's Frost Puppet... Any one of these three Puppet alone would be enough to make him be on high alert, especially the seven-star Ice Puppet, which could pose a deadly threat to him!
This kid is only Eight-Star Dou Ancestor, where did he get three such terrifying Puppet?! The greed in Elder Mu Gu's heart had just risen when it was suppressed by an even deeper chill.
The situation seemed to be completely out of his control.
"Old dog, your eyes are still as repulsive as ever." Lin Ming's tone was calm, yet carried a chilling undertone.
"Last time, Xuan Kongzi let you go because of his indecisiveness. Today, you will stay."
"Roar!"
As soon as Lin Ming finished speaking, a deafening roar rang out!
Xiong Zhan's towering body suddenly swelled up, his clothes ripped apart, and his thick fur pierced his skin. In an instant, a colossal beast several dozen feet tall occupied half of the sky.
Once back to its original Xiong Zhan, Xiong Zhan's two large, crimson beast eyes were fixed on Elder Mu Gu. Two streams of scorching white breath spewed from its nostrils. The ferocious aura of Eighth Order Magical Beast, mixed with a powerful pressure no less than that of Three-Star Dou Venerate, swept outwards in an overwhelming manner!
The three Dou Venerate Puppet exuded Sectarian Qi aura, and with the Ancient Dragon Bear eyeing them from all sides, Elder Mu Gu was all alone, surrounded in the center.
The aura of Three-Star Dou Venerate that he originally exuded now appeared so weak and laughable under the combined pressure of these four powerful auras, like a small boat in a storm, which could capsize at any moment.
The muscles on Elder Mu Gu's face twitched violently. His previous rage and Killing Intent had long been replaced by horror and a hint of barely concealed panic. Cold sweat silently soaked the black robe on his back.
He initially thought it was a hunter, wielding a sharp blade, relentlessly closing in on the prey that had fallen into the trap.
In the blink of an eye, the positions of hunter and prey have been reversed.
He, Elder Mu Gu, Three-Star Dou Venerate, and Soul Hall Venerable Elder, was now the one surrounded!
"You... you all..." The Elder Mu Gu's throat was dry, and his gaze swept over the Ice Puppet, Zi Yan, and Xiong Zhan with suspicion and uncertainty. Finally, it landed on Lin Ming, who still looked calm, as if he had only done a trivial thing. An unprecedented chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
What kind of monster is this kid?!
"Kill!"
Lin Ming gave him no chance to think or catch his breath, his lips barely moving as he uttered a cold word.
The command was given, and the three Puppet moved instantly.
With Puppet One formed a thick Ice Lotus in the void beneath its feet. As it spread its arms, endless icy Dou Qi surged forth like a tide, transforming into countless crystalline Ice Lock that rattled and crisscrossed, instantly forming a massive Ice Cage that sealed off the surrounding space. Extreme cold permeated the air, even slowing down the flow of air.
With a swift movement, Puppet One transformed into a blurry gray-white afterimage. His speed was extreme, and incomparably sharp golden light condensed in his hands, forming two enormous golden blades of light that tore through the sky with a piercing shriek, slashing straight at the head of Elder Mu Gu from the side. The attack was ruthless and cunning.
The Frost Puppet silently merged into the surrounding chilling air. Strands of pale white frost, like venomous snakes, quietly coiled around Elder Mu Gu's feet. The Yin Cold Force did not attack directly, but rather continuously eroded his Protective Dou Qi, slowing his movements and weakening his strength.
The Three Dou Venerate Puppets, one for trapping, one for attacking, and one for disrupting, work together seamlessly!
"You bastard!" Elder Mu Gu roared in shock and rage.
If he were to hold back at this point, he would be courting death. Therefore, he dared not hold back in the slightest and poured out his dark gray Dou Qi without reservation, which transformed into a huge dark gray bone shield in front of him.
"Netherworld Bone Shield!"
Clang--!!!
Puppet One's golden blade slammed into the bone shield, unleashing a deafening clang of metal clashing and sparks flying. The bone shield trembled violently, a clear crack appearing on its surface, and Puppet One was thrown back by the recoil. However, it flipped in mid-air and charged forward again, fearlessly.
At the same time, the countless Ice Lock condensed by the Ice Puppet had closed, and the cold tips of the chains, like poisonous venomous needles, pierced towards Elder Mu Gu from all angles.
The Elder Mu Gu flashed away, his sleeves billowing as he unleashed a series of sharp sword Dou Qi streaks, shattering most of the Ice Lock. However, a few streaks still grazed his body, leaving a trail of blood. A terrifying chill also seeped into his body through the wounds, making him shiver.
The frost-like mist clinging to his feet was incredibly irritating, causing him to move noticeably slower than usual.
"Dragon Bear Earth Shaking Palm!"
The Ancient Dragon Bear that Xiong Zhan had transformed into seized the opportunity. Its enormous bear paw, carrying terrifying power capable of shattering mountains and splitting rocks, and enveloped in a thick, earthy-yellow light, slammed down like a small mountain! The pressure from the palm made the space itself groan under its unbearable weight.
The Elder Mu Gu's expression changed drastically. In a hurry, he had no choice but to gather his dark Dou Qi again and throw a punch upwards.
"Ghost Soul Fist!"
Their fists and palms collided, unleashing a dull, thunderous roar.
An energy storm exploded, causing Elder Mu Gu's body to tremble violently. He staggered backward several steps, each step leaving a deep footprint in the frozen ground. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and blood gushed out uncontrollably.
In the blink of an eye, under the combined attack of the three Puppet and Xiong Zhan, he was coughing up blood!
Entangled in Ice Lock all around, attacked head-on by golden blades, further corroded by frost, and weighed down by Dragon Bear from above!
Elder Mu Gu is in an unprecedented and deadly predicament!
"Ah!!!"
He let out a roar like a trapped beast, his eyes instantly turning blood red, and an extremely violent and sinister aura suddenly erupted from his body.
"You forced me to do this! Soul Sacrifice, Netherworld Dharma Body!"
The Elder Mu Gu suddenly formed a strange and complex hand seal with both hands, spitting out a mouthful of Essence Blood, which merged into the seal.
In an instant, a surge of Black Qi erupted around him. This Black Qi was not ordinary Dark Attribute Dou Qi, but rather an evil energy filled with countless shrill screams and wailing of vengeful spirits!
Black Qi churned and quickly coalesced behind him into a blurry black Dharma Body several meters tall. This Dharma Body had no features, only two clusters of eerie green Ghost Fire flickering in its empty eye sockets. Countless twisted Soul Shadow were entwined around it, emitting a nauseating stench and a chilling cold that penetrated straight to the soul!
Dharma Body took shape, Elder Mu Gu's aura suddenly surged, briefly breaking through the limit of Three-Star Dou Venerate and reaching the level of an early Four-Star Dou Venerate!
"You all, die!"
The Netherworld Dharma Body let out a silent roar, and its enormous black palm, carrying overwhelming Vengeful Soul Ferocity, slammed out in all directions!
The Ice Lock shattered, the golden blade was knocked away, and much of the frost was dissipated. Xiong Zhan's earth-shaking palm print also fluctuated violently under the black giant palm containing countless resentments, showing signs of being unable to withstand it!
Lin Ming frowned slightly, looking at the Elder Mu Gu, whose aura was surging and who seemed to be going mad, and the Netherworld Dharma Body that exuded an ominous and filthy aura. His eyes grew even colder.
"Sucker Punch."
He took a deep breath, and his Qi and Blood began to surge within him, with a faint, deep rumbling sound emanating from Lin Ming limbs and bones.
Beneath the skin, it seemed as if seven-colored light flowed, and a pure, supremely powerful physical force was slowly awakening.
"Your performance is over."
With a single step, his green robe fluttered even without wind, and Lin Ming seemed to transform into a divine Divine Weapon about to be unsheathed, ready to annihilate all evil.