Wu Sheng could use his Innate Secret Art, Mind Control, on at most two targets at a time. Man Gu had occupied one of those slots for years. Earlier on, Wu Sheng had used the other to briefly control a Little Wolf Cub, indirectly triggering a rampaging Wolf Beast Pack that attacked Yu Yan's original Elite Squad.
But once that incident was over, Wu Sheng quietly withdrew the control, setting the Little Wolf Cub free again.
This time, he used Mind Control on Li Hu. It was all part of his careful plan.
On such a chaotic battlefield, he and Li Hu were close by, and they were allies helping each other face a powerful foe. Even if Li Long had been right there, he couldn't have noticed that anything was wrong with Li Hu.
Besides, Li Long was still locked in a fierce battle with Leo.
Wu Sheng had used Mind Control twice before, so this time he handled it with ease. His Spiritual Force and willpower had also improved greatly. Before Li Hu could even resist, Wu Sheng branded a Control Mark onto his soul.
From then on, unless Wu Sheng chose to remove the mark, Li Hu would have almost no chance of escaping his control.
"Mm, hurry... hurry and... surround... him!"
Freshly controlled, Li Hu stumbled over his words under Wu Sheng's command. But since he was humanoid, he was easy for Wu Sheng to control.
Of course, the main reason was that everyone was so intimidated by the formidable Yu Yan that no one wanted to approach the young master of a great clan and risk being ordered to fight him.
"Haha, a pack of rabble!"
Yu Yan laughed wildly as he easily drove back several Elite Trial Takers.
They were all Elite Trial Takers, but those who had reached Sky Grade were the true elites. Their basic strength had increased dramatically, and they had also overcome many of their weaknesses.
Yu Yan had been through three Blood Trials. The Primal Force and Spiritual Force in his body had both been stuck at Ninth Order Earth Grade for years. This time, though, he had reached Sky Grade in both during just three years in the Trial Ground.
At First Order Sky Grade, his overall strength far surpassed that of an Earth Grade elite whose power was limited to a single attribute.
Of course, he still hadn't comprehended a Domain. Against so many Earth Grade elites attacking together, the most he could do in a short time was drive them back. He would need more time to kill them one by one.
For now, Yu Yan was only driving them back because his main target was still Wu Sheng.
He might have claimed to look down on Wu Sheng, but in his heart, he already considered him a true rival.
After all, even when Yu Yan had been at Earth Grade, he couldn't have matched Wu Sheng's current feats. And Yu Yan had been through three whole Blood Trials!
"Kid, you'd be better off dying soon. Once you're dead, I can finally relax."
Yu Yan looked at Wu Sheng again, his face alight with bloodthirsty excitement. Killing a genius like this would give him a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction no less than breaking through another major level.
Wu Sheng merely frowned, saying nothing. The moment Yu Yan entered his attack range, the Flowing Cloud Needle would strike.
"You bastards from Thunder Star Mountain! How dare you hurt our young master!"
"Haha, Young Master, we've come to join the fight!"
"Yu Yan, Yu Yan, you couldn't get the better of me in the previous three Blood Trials. How about we settle things this time? I, Zhe Luo, am ready whenever you are!"
Laughter suddenly rang out from beyond the battlefield. A dozen oddly shaped Prison Clan Members rushed into the fray. They all gave off the aura of Elite Trial Takers, and two of them had even reached First Order Sky Grade.
They found the old rivals they had once faced and greeted them as casually as if they'd run into friends.
If Yu Yan and the others hadn't gone deathly pale and fallen silent, anyone would have thought reinforcements had arrived from Thunder Star Mountain!
"Haha, perfect timing!"
In the distance, at the boundary where the Ice Snow Domain collided with the Thunder Domain, Li Long swung the Blue Spear in his hand and slammed away Leo's four- or five-meter-wide green fist. Blue light gleamed between his brows, filling him with an imposing aura.
"Leo, looks like this is all you've got! The Thunder Domain is strong, but you don't even have a single Domain of your own. Without one, it's all for show."
"Now I'll show you my ultimate move. I call it Frozen World!"
Li Long was in high spirits. Now that he knew the battle behind him was under control, he was ready to unleash his strongest attack and make Leo back down.
"Dragon of ice and snow, heed my command!"
Li Long raised his spear high, standing amid endless ice and snow. Empowered by his Domain, the snowflakes swirling through the sky gradually converged around him, eventually forming an Ice Snow Divine Dragon more than ten meters long.
It had a pair of wings and glowed blue. Beneath the flurry of snow, it bared its claws and fangs as it coiled through the air.
"You think you're the only one who can do that? Thunder Arm, appear!"
Leo roared. His purple wings beat once, revealing dark purple demonic markings across his body. At the same time, purple light blazed around his right arm. Bolstered by countless arcs of lightning, it suddenly doubled in size. The fist alone was nearly ten meters across.
"Good, very good! Haha, excellent! Leo, watch as my spear strikes like a dragon—Sky Breaker!"
Li Long leaped into the air. The Ice Snow Divine Dragon caught him securely on its head and carried him swiftly toward the ninety-meter-tall green giant.
"Take this! Shatter!"
Leo stepped forward. His enormous Thunder Arm suddenly boomed with a deafening roar. Amid a sea of lightning, it carried the might of heaven and earth as it smashed into the Ice Snow Divine Dragon's head.
There, Li Long already stood atop the white dragon's head, gripping the Blue Spear and waiting for him.
Boom!
Boom, boom!
Boom, boom, boom...
The explosions shook the heavens and earth. Even the fighters locked in a life-or-death battle behind them stopped and looked over.
Though they were thousands of meters away, they could still feel the immense pressure.
Bone-chilling cold and ear-splitting thunder rolled over from the distance. Those closest to the clash were hurled hundreds of meters backward by the shockwaves before they could finally steady themselves.
Everyone stared, dumbstruck.
When the dust settled, they saw the green giant Leo had become. His right arm had returned to normal, but anyone paying close attention could see a white stream of air rapidly spreading across its surface. Wherever it passed, layers of frost formed, as if trying to freeze his arm solid.
"Hmph!"
Purple light swept over Leo's right arm, shattering the white stream of air completely. Then he slowly straightened and said:
"You win. A Triple Domain—no wonder."
"Thanks for the compliment!"
Li Long smiled faintly below. He turned, lowered his spear, and let the endless snowflakes slowly fade. "My real target was Lei Ao, anyway. You're still not quite up to par!"
Hearing this, Leo looked as if he'd suffered some devastating blow. His eyes suddenly widened, and he fell straight backward.
His body quickly shrank until he was two meters tall, then crashed heavily to the ground.
"Young Master!"
Yu Yan screamed and tried to rush over. As an elite raised by Thunder Star Mountain, his first duty was to protect the Thunder Wing Giant clan. If he failed, he wouldn't survive even if he made it out of here.
"Don't worry, he's alive. But I can't say the same for you."
As Yu Yan passed Li Long, a flash of blue light suddenly appeared and easily sent him flying.
"Damn it!"
As Yu Yan hurtled through the air, another flash of red light engulfed him. He froze for a moment, falling into a brief illusion.
Pfft!
The Flowing Cloud Needle passed effortlessly through the helpless Yu Yan, killing him on the spot.
"Not bad willpower, hehe!"
Li Long smiled and praised Wu Sheng. Then he sat down where he was to recover his strength and energy.
"Haha, you brats from Thunder Star Mountain! Leo's lost, so what do you have to say now? Listen to my orders, everyone—kill them!"
Under Wu Sheng's control, Li Hu spoke excitedly.
At once, the Blood River Squad and Zhe Luo's group charged at Xuan Tong, Xuan Ming, and the others like starving tigers.
The tide had turned completely.
Throughout the battle, Li Long had never joined in. But simply sitting there, calm and steady, he represented an irresistible will of heaven and earth, making one thing clear at every moment...
With me here, you have no hope of turning things around. You can either die or run.
So this is what a true powerhouse looks like—absolute strength!
Wu Sheng was filled with longing. He'd been too narrow-minded before. This world was nothing like the one he'd come from.
Here, the strong were revered, and the weak were prey!
Before a true powerhouse, every obstacle and every scheme was useless.
Still, I'm not stupid enough to imitate him. Everyone has different opportunities. Someone like me, with no backing, still has to keep a low profile!
Wu Sheng shook his head helplessly again.
"Master, are you all right? I was so worried when I saw you charge forward just now."
Just as Wu Sheng was lost in thought, a bewitching Fishman woman approached Li Hu. She wore a blue dress and a veil, and as she swayed her slender waist, she clung tightly to Li Hu's arm and spoke coquettishly.
Master? Damn, Li Hu sure knows how to enjoy himself! He even brought a pretty girl along to the Blood Trial?
Wu Sheng cursed inwardly, but he couldn't help feeling envious. After two lifetimes, he still hadn't enjoyed a life as carefree as this young master's brief one.
"Uh, I was directing everyone in battle. I got carried away and rushed in."
Under Wu Sheng's control, Li Hu pulled his arm out of the woman's ample bosom and prepared to claim his share of the spoils.
What's wrong with Master? Is he going to abandon me?
The Blue-clad Woman's heart lurched, and she looked alarmed. She was in the Trial Ground now, and without Li Hu's help, there was no way she could make it out safely.
Suddenly, Wu Sheng had another idea. He controlled Li Hu into pulling the Blue-clad Woman into his arms. Through her white veil, he pinched her delicate chin and said with a smile:
"I almost forgot. When we get back..."
"Beauty, I want you to help me cultivate!"