"Light Dragon Storm!!"
Xie Xie's furious shout exploded through the black fog like a peal of thunder.
The center of the arena, which had been shrouded in darkness, suddenly erupted in blinding golden light!
The Light Dragon Blade spun rapidly in his hand, unleashing countless golden dragon-shaped waves of energy that swept wildly outward from him.
The fierce, domineering power of light descended like the blazing sun, tearing through the black fog Zhang Yangzi had released in an instant.
Golden light filled the sky, carrying a formidable dragon's might as it transformed into raging golden tornadoes that spread in every direction. The air itself was ripped apart by this force, releasing a piercing shriek.
Zhang Yangzi felt a terrifying force slam into him.
The black wings behind him trembled violently, and the aftershock of Light Dragon Storm sent him staggering backward. Even the arm he had braced against Wang Jinxi was beginning to go numb.
Wang Jinxi had only just recovered from Tang Wulin's punch. Before he could steady himself, he was once again enveloped by the superior dragon might of Light Dragon Storm.
That bone-deep sense of dread swept over him again.
The Soul Skill Wang Jinxi had been about to activate froze halfway through, and his bones trembled faintly.
"Gu Yue!" Tang Wulin called in a low voice. Strands of Blue Silver Grass surged forward, shooting toward the three of them to bind them.
At the same time, the Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Hammer in his left hand smashed toward Wang Jinxi.
Gu Yue's gaze was cool as she lifted her delicate hand again. This time, green, red, yellow, and blue light swirled around her fingertips.
The four elements of wind, fire, earth, and water instantly interwove beneath their opponents' feet, forming an elemental cage.
Xie Xie flicked his wrist, and the disassembled Light Dragon Chain took shape once more.
Once these three layers of restraints were fully in place, even if Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi fought with everything they had, they would have no chance of breaking free—let alone using a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
But at this critical moment, Xie Xie's body suddenly froze.
To his horror, he discovered that he had lost control of his body.
That brief delay of only a few seconds was all Zhang Yangzi needed. The black wings behind him beat with all their might, and the First Soul Ring beneath his feet suddenly blazed—
"Eagle Strikes the Sky!"
At the same time, Wang Jinxi felt the suffocating dread vanish without a trace. He immediately stopped hesitating. The Bone Dragon King erupted, and black, hardened bone armor covered his entire body in an instant.
The two of them activated their Soul Skills together, forcibly breaking through the double restraint Tang Wulin and Gu Yue had set up.
Seeing things take a bad turn, Tang Wulin's gaze sharpened.
A strand of Blue Silver Grass silently wound around Xie Xie's waist. It yanked him back to his side with a sudden burst of force.
Only after Xie Xie had retreated to Tang Wulin and Gu Yue did he regain control of his body. The strange sensation of being bound had vanished in an instant, as though it had been nothing more than an illusion.
Zhang Yangzi seized the chance to support Wang Jinxi and retreat at high speed, wrapped in a shadowy haze. He put a safe distance between them and the other three.
This time, it was two against three.
"Good. Very good!"
Though the two of them had been repeatedly put at a disadvantage, Zhang Yangzi's eyes brimmed with excitement and fighting spirit.
Beside him, Wang Jinxi watched Xie Xie and Tang Wulin with a complicated look.
Xie Xie stood next to Tang Wulin, breathing a little heavily.
"Are you all right?" Tang Wulin asked quietly.
"It's nothing." Xie Xie shook his head. "I just used up quite a bit of Soul Power. I'm fine otherwise."
Xie Xie had just used three Soul Skills in a row. Even with Light Cub and Shadow Cub helping him, he had still expended quite a lot of Soul Power.
Fortunately, Xie Xie would be back on his feet after a minute or two of rest. Anyone else would have been drained dry.
Zhang Yangzi didn't notice that anything was wrong with Wang Jinxi. Instead, he said, "Very good. You're much stronger than I expected. But this is as far as you'll get!"
"Now, let us show you what we can really do together—and what we're truly capable of!"
As he spoke, Zhang Yangzi spread his wings again. The black Canopy of Darkness surged, shrouding them both.
Xie Xie was at a loss for words.
Seriously, was this guy treating the match like child's play? He was still hiding his strength? Against anyone shameless enough, they'd lose even the clothes off their backs.
Just as Xie Xie was about to attack, Gu Yue held out a hand to stop him.
"You've used up quite a bit of energy. Let me handle this." As she spoke, the corners of her lips curled up, and she stepped forward twice to stand at the very front.
A faint silver glimmer flashed deep in Gu Yue's eyes. She raised her right hand, and a blinding golden light burst from her palm, as though she were holding a tiny sun.
A powerful aura of light burst forth from her.
Bathed in the light, Xie Xie immediately felt warm all over, and his Soul Power began to recover.
The darkness of Zhang Yangzi's Canopy of Darkness was weakened by the impact of the light element. The two figures inside became faintly visible.
Then, a blazing red light began to shine around Gu Yue.
Intense golden-red flames burst into life around her.
"An elemental combination?" Ye Yingluo was astonished once again.
As soon as the Canopy of Darkness drew near those golden-red flames, it retreated as if melting snow, unable to advance another step.
Zhang Yangzi raised a hand to shield his eyes from the dazzling light and shouted to Wang Jinxi, "Jin Xi, take down the girl who uses elements first!"
As soon as he spoke, a massive Bone Dragon Claw shot out of the Canopy of Darkness like lightning, crashing toward Gu Yue.
Along with the Bone Dragon Claw, six bone dragons with gaping jaws appeared. They swept around Gu Yue and lunged at Tang Wulin and Xie Xie behind her.
Just as the enormous Bone Dragon Claw crashed toward Gu Yue and the six bone dragons charged at Tang Wulin and Xie Xie with their fearsome jaws wide open—
"Roar—!"
Unlike Light Cub's babyish "awoo," a deep, resounding dragon's roar came from Shadow Cub.
Before Xie Xie could even switch forms, Shadow Dragon Power surged of its own accord.
The Light Dragon Blade instantly contracted, transforming into a pitch-black Shadow Dragon Dagger in his hand.
His hair turned pure black before their eyes, and his irises were completely swallowed by a deep crimson, becoming fearsome blood-red eyes.
There was no Soul Skill activation, no burst of Soul Power.
Shadow Cub's figure slowly took shape on Xie Xie's shoulder. Its crimson dragon eyes swept lightly across the scene.
A terrifying pressure, born of the Dragon Clan's supreme bloodline, silently swept across the arena.
In the next instant, the enormous Bone Dragon Claw descending from above abruptly froze in midair, its momentum cut short.
The six bone dragons charging forward shuddered violently, too. Their ferocious poses froze at once. Their jaws gaped, but they could not manage so much as a growl. Their bodies went rigid as stone, and they stood completely dazed.
Wang Jinxi's whole body convulsed. His face turned paper-white, and a soul-deep terror seized his mind and body. The Soul Power and Martial Soul energy within him nearly came to a complete standstill.
The whole arena fell silent.
Everyone stared in stunned disbelief at this sudden turn of events, unable to understand why the bone dragons' menacing attack had abruptly frozen and failed.
Tang Wulin immediately pulled Gu Yue behind him. His right hand turned gold as he swung it toward the Bone Dragon Claw.
Poor Wang Jinxi: Shadow Cub had just suppressed him, and now the Golden Dragon King had done the same. Once again, he became a human cannonball, blasted away by a punch from Tang Wulin.
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