Xue Tianyu VS Zhao Wuji!

The Fire Dragon King lowered its massive head, stirring up a scorching gust of air.

"Little one, you awakened us—do you seek to obtain our power?"

Xue Tianyu nodded without a hint of hesitation.

"I wish to borrow this precious land of yours, pluck a few immortal herbs, and break through my current level."

"And while I am at it, I shall borrow the strength of your lingering souls."

As these words fell.

The Ice and Fire Dragon Kings exchanged a glance.

They could clearly perceive the unfathomable potential residing within Xue Tianyu.

Rather than continuing to slumber here until their consciousnesses completely dissipated.

It would be better to entrust their remaining power to this youth who possessed heaven-defying talent.

"Very well!"

The Ice Dragon King let out a long, resonant sigh.

"Since you have such audacity, then this King shall grant your wish!"

"As long as you can withstand the baptism of the ultimate ice and fire, all the power here is yours to take!"

With that, the lingering souls of the two Dragon Kings transformed into a sky full of red and blue light particles.

They submerged back into the spring water of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, fully activating the energy of the entire water domain.

Having gained the approval of the Dragon Kings' souls.

The aura of the entire lake became incredibly docile, no longer possessing its previous violent rejection.

Xue Tianyu walked over to the milky-white spring, his gaze locking directly onto an immortal herb that was white from top to bottom.

The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass.

An object of extreme cold, it contained an immensely vast amount of pure ice-attribute energy.

It was exactly what he needed for his current cultivation.

He extended his right hand, his fingertips covered by a layer of solid ice, and pulled the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass out by its roots.

Without any hesitation, Xue Tianyu swallowed the immortal herb in one gulp.

He then sat cross-legged on the spot.

The violent medicinal power exploded within his body instantly.

Energy as cold as ten-thousand-year black ice surged wildly through his meridians, coursing across his entire body.

Xue Tianyu closed his eyes and began to circulate his internal cultivation technique.

He methodically guided this massive surge of energy into his dantian.

His breathing became extremely rhythmic; with every inhalation and exhalation, a trail of white cold mist sprayed from the tip of his nose.

The energy within the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was also drawn in by the aura within his body.

It transformed into a red and blue vortex, visible to the naked eye, and gathered frantically toward his body.

Time ticked away, second by second.

The aura emanating from Xue Tianyu began to climb steadily at a terrifying speed.

The soul power bottleneck that had originally stalled at level fifty-eight.

Under the impact of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the vast energy of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Was instantly shattered like dry wood.

Level fifty-nine!

Level sixty!

A crisp, sharp cracking sound echoed within his body.

The barrier that had hindered him from stepping into the Soul Emperor realm collapsed with a roar.

Xue Tianyu snapped his eyes open.

A beam of ice-blue light, as tangible as reality, erupted from the depths of his eyes, piercing a deep hole straight through the rock wall in front of him.

He had broken through!

Level sixty Soul Emperor!

At the very moment his level broke through.

The bottom of the entire Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well resonated violently once more.

A dazzling pillar of light, interwoven with golden-red and ice-blue, shot up from the lakebed toward the sky.

It completely enveloped Xue Tianyu's body.

This was the origin power that the lingering souls of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings had voluntarily offered upon sensing his breakthrough.

A vast amount of energy compressed and condensed frantically above the head of Xue Tianyu.

In the end, it transformed into a strange soul ring radiating endless majesty.

This soul ring was deep dark red throughout, yet it was covered in ice-blue dragon patterns.

A hundred-thousand-year level soul ring!

The soul ring descended slowly, settling firmly onto the martial soul of Xue Tianyu.

It shone in tandem with his previous five ten-thousand-year soul rings, emitting a terrifying fluctuation that was suffocating.

Xue Tianyu stood up, feeling the surging power within his body like a vast ocean.

The corners of his mouth curled up, revealing a satisfied smile.

The sixth soul ring, complete.

At the bottom of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

After absorbing the massive energy of the soul ring, the red and blue light gradually dissipated.

Xue Tianyu stood up and stretched his limbs slightly.

His bones emitted a crisp sound like popping beans.

The sensation of surging soul power was countless times stronger than when he was at level fifty-eight.

He could clearly feel that his meridians had been tempered by the extreme ice and fire until they were as tough as refined steel.

The primal power brought by the hundred-thousand-year soul ring was flowing endlessly through his limbs and bones.

Ice Emperor stepped forward, her gaze falling upon the dark red, dragon-patterned soul ring on him, a flash of shock crossing her eyes.

"A hundred-thousand-year level God-Bestowed Soul Ring."

"Even at my peak, absorbing energy of this magnitude would have required quite an effort."

"Your luck is truly enviable; even the inheritance of my Far North isn't this exaggerated."

Xue Tianyu chuckled, his tone calm.

"This isn't luck, it's strength."

"Without absolute physical fortitude, forcibly absorbing this power would only lead to one's body exploding."

The two left the bottom of the valley one after the other, returning to the mountain peak at the edge of the poison array.

Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan were pacing back and forth anxiously.

The earth-shattering dragon might that had erupted from the valley floor just moments ago, along with that pillar of light shooting into the clouds, had nearly caused the grandfather and granddaughter to go weak at the knees and collapse.

That god-level fluctuation, which stood above all mortals, was simply not something an ordinary soul master could contend with.

Seeing Xue Tianyu walk out unscathed, his aura even deeper and more terrifying than before.

Dugu Bo's heart shook violently; he hurriedly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply.

"Young Master, you... you have broken through?"

Xue Tianyu responded casually, his expression indifferent.

"I picked up a few things and leveled up twice in the process; I'm exactly level sixty now."

"This place is not bad; from now on, it is my private territory."

"Without my permission, no one is allowed to enter."

Dugu Bo nodded repeatedly, looking entirely like a man who would obey every command.

He was only thinking about how his and his granddaughter's lives were still in the other's hands; he dared not harbor the slightest thought of defiance.

"Rest assured, Young Master, this old man will guard the poison array to the death."

"Even if other Title Douluo come, they won't be able to take a single step inside!"

As he spoke, Dugu Bo very tactfully took out an exquisite green silk pouch from his robes.

He held the pouch with both hands and respectfully presented it to Xue Tianyu.

"Young Master, this is a storage Soul Tool that I carry with me."

"Inside are some Gold Soul Coins I have saved over the years, as well as a few herbs for strengthening the foundation that I picked from the outer perimeter of the poison array."

"Please accept this as a small token of my respect, and I hope you do not find it lacking."

Xue Tianyu glanced at the pouch, reached out without hesitation to take it, and tucked it into his robes.

"I accept these items."

"The toxins in your bodies have been suppressed; from now on, circulate your soul power according to the method I taught you."

"Within half a month, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent venom that has plagued you for years will be converted into your own cultivation."

Dugu Bo trembled with excitement, pulling Dugu Yan along as he prepared to kneel and thank him.

Xue Tianyu waved his hand, cutting off their movement directly.

"That's enough, spare me these empty formalities."

"I have other matters to attend to, I am returning to Heaven Dou City first."

Having said that, he took Ice Emperor and turned to leave without looking back, his figure quickly vanishing into the vast, poisonous fog.

Watching the back of Xue Tianyu as he departed, a strange light flickered in Dugu Yan's eyes.

"Grandfather, what kind of monster is he exactly?"

Dugu Bo let out a long sigh, his expression becoming extremely complex.

"Never mind what kind of monster he is; as long as we two hold tight to this thigh, we will absolutely be able to walk sideways across the Douluo Continent in the future."

Night had completely fallen over the secluded path on the outskirts of the Sunset Forest.

The cold moonlight was blocked by thick clouds, leaving the surroundings pitch black.

Only the howling night wind tore frantically through the treetops, emitting shrill sounds like ghosts wailing.

This forest was always filled with all sorts of unknown dangers at night.

The roars of high-level spirit beasts occasionally drifted from the extreme distance, intimidating everything in the vicinity.

Xue Tianyu and Ice Emperor walked side by side, their pace appearing slow and leisurely, yet they were actually covering great distances with every step, moving with incredible speed.

They made no attempt to restrain the faint, ultimate pressure emanating from their bodies.

The spirit beasts lurking in the shadows along the way, upon smelling this aura, all trembled in fear and dared not approach even an inch.

When they reached a narrow valley flanked by mountains on both sides, Xue Tianyu suddenly stopped.

He looked up at the ink-black woods surrounding them, a dangerous smile curling at the corners of his lips.

Ice Emperor also sensed that something was wrong; her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and the temperature around her plummeted like a cliff-edge drop.

"There are a few rats who don't know the meaning of death hiding in the shadows."

"That disgusting killing intent can be smelled from far away."

Xue Tianyu waved his hand gently, signaling for Ice Emperor to step aside.

"Since I just had a breakthrough, it wouldn't be bad to stretch my limbs a little."

He tilted his chin toward the dense thicket ahead, his voice sounding exceptionally loud in the silent valley.

"Since you've already come, don't hide like a tortoise shrinking into its shell."

"Get out here."

The moment his words fell, the thicket, which stood two people tall, was violently torn apart by a brute force.

Several trees as thick as a man's embrace were snapped in half, emitting a massive roar as wood chips flew through the air.

Heavy, mountain-like footsteps echoed violently through the valley.

The ground began to shake intensely with each of the man's strides, as if a small earthquake were occurring.

A burly man over two meters tall, his muscles bulging like granite, stepped out from the shadows.

His rugged face was full of coarse flesh, and his eyes glinted with an extremely cruel and bloodthirsty light.

It was none other than Zhao Wuji, who had come to intercept and kill him under Flender's orders!

To track down Xue Tianyu's whereabouts, he had been lying in wait nearby for the better part of a day.

Having accumulated a belly full of irritation and killing intent, he had finally found an outlet to vent.

Zhao Wuji crossed his arms and squeezed his fists hard, his knuckles popping with a crisp, cracking sound.

He looked Xue Tianyu up and down, his gaze as if he were looking at a cold corpse.

"Kid, your perception is quite sharp."

"Unfortunately, even if you grew wings today, you wouldn't be able to fly out of this valley!"

Xue Tianyu looked at the crude fellow before him, who resembled a bear more than a human, his eyes showing not the slightest ripple.

"People from Shrek Academy?"

Zhao Wuji grinned, revealing a mouthful of stark white teeth, his smile appearing extremely ferocious.

"At least you have some discernment, kid."

"I don't change my name or surname, I am the Immovable Wisdom King, Zhao Wuji!"

Upon hearing this title, Xue Tianyu didn't even lift an eyelid.

His tone was dismissive, even laced with undisguised mockery.

"Beat the young, and the old come out."

"Besides barking in packs like wild dogs, is there anything else you people at Shrek Academy can do?"

These words instantly struck a sore spot for Zhao Wuji.

Earlier that day, Tang San and the others had returned in a crushing defeat, their blood-soaked, miserable state too painful to look at.

The pride Shrek held so dear was being trampled into the dirt and ground into the dust.

The image of Flender's furious, roaring face still lingered vividly in his mind.

Zhao Wuji's expression darkened abruptly, his eyes instantly bloodshot, radiating a fierce and murderous light.

"You're at death's door and you still dare to run your mouth in front of me!"

"You severely injured our Shrek students and forced Little San to kneel and suffer humiliation in the middle of the street!"

"This blood debt must be repaid with your life today!"

He raised a hand as large as a palm-leaf fan, pointing it directly at Xue Tianyu's nose, his spittle flying as he shouted.

"Boss Flender has given the word: he wants to borrow your head to wash away the shame brought upon our academy."

"I advise you to stretch out your neck and accept your fate obediently; if I'm in a good mood, I might even leave your corpse intact."

"If you dare to resist, I will crush every bone in your body inch by inch and let you die wailing in extreme agony!"

Faced with Zhao Wuji's murderous bluster, Xue Tianyu felt not a shred of panic; instead, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"You? Based on what?"

"A piece of trash who isn't even a Titled Douluo, yet you dare to shamelessly demand my head?"

This light, airy remark was like a spark falling into a powder keg.

Zhao Wuji was incensed, his broad chest heaving violently as two thick plumes of white steam erupted from his nostrils.

"Arrogant brat!"

"When I was carving out my fearsome reputation as the Immovable Wisdom King in the spirit master world, you weren't even born yet!"

"Don't think that just because you relied on a bit of talent to defeat Little San and the others, you can act so high and mighty."

"I am a dignified level 76 Spirit Saint!"

"Today, I will let you see with your own eyes what a true chasm of power looks like!"

With a thunderous boom that shook the heavens, an incredibly violent surge of spirit power erupted from within Zhao Wuji's body.

The powerful air currents sent all the fallen leaves and gravel within dozens of meters flying into the air.

A dazzling, earthy-yellow light instantly enveloped his entire being.

Accompanied by a deafening, savage bear roar, the phantom of a massive Vajra Bear suddenly manifested behind him, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws.

Zhao Wuji's already burly frame expanded another circle, and thick, coarse brown fur sprouted all over his body.

His eyes turned a bloodthirsty crimson, and his hands transformed into heavy, razor-sharp bear paws.

Seven brilliant, eye-catching spirit rings rose from beneath his feet in sequence.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black!

The optimal spirit ring configuration!

The terrifying pressure of a level 76 Spirit Saint descended upon Xue Tianyu like a physical mountain.

Under this immense weight, the air emitted sharp, screeching cracks as if it could no longer bear the strain.

The ground beneath them began to crack inch by inch, spreading deep, spiderweb-like fissures.

Standing to the side, Ice Emperor watched this scene with a face full of disdain.

She stepped forward slightly, frost rapidly condensing on her fair fingertips.

"Just a slightly sturdier bear."

"To dare bark in front of you—let me just freeze him into an ice sculpture and shatter him."

Xue Tianyu reached out, gently blocking Ice Emperor to stop her movement.

"No need for you to intervene."

He watched the aggressive Zhao Wuji in the distance with calm eyes, as if he were looking at a perfect punching bag.

"I just obtained my sixth spirit ring, and I happen to be lacking a durable target to practice on."

"A level 76 Spirit Saint—barely good enough to serve the purpose."