As soon as Lin Chen finished speaking, the Soul Power around the seven Shrek students burst forth. Their Soul Rings rose one after another, and without the slightest hesitation, they followed in Lin Chen's footsteps, racing toward the depths of the forest.
After three days of hellish training, everyone's footwork and control over their Soul Power had improved tremendously. White Tiger Soul Power enveloped Dai Mubai as he strode steadily at the front, golden tiger claws gleaming faintly with a cold light. Zhu Zhuqing's figure became a shadow, darting through the forest like a phantom as she scouted ahead, her Hell Spirit Cat's keen senses spread wide to check for hidden dangers nearby. Ma Hongjun's flames were now restrained; no longer the tempestuous blaze of old, they had condensed into a faint golden-red glow, and his speed was no slower than that of an agility-type Soul Master. Oscar's fingers moved rapidly, and in the blink of an eye he had conjured several Recovery Sausages and Flight Sausages, handing them out to everyone according to type. Their preparations for battle were completed in one smooth motion. Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda floated before her, its seven-colored light flowing as she instantly boosted everyone's speed and Soul Power without the slightest delay. Xiao Wu held Lin Chen's arm, Soft Bone Soul Power flowing nimbly through her as her ears twitched, ever alert for anything unusual in the forest.
Their auras were focused and their teamwork seamless. In only a short while, they had ventured a hundred li into the forest. The air around them gradually grew cold and acrid, and thick, sickly-sweet poisonous gas filled the branches and leaves. Withered, blackened plants were scattered across the ground, and even the birds that had nested there were nowhere to be seen. In the oppressive silence, a heart-chilling pressure hung in the air.
"What potent poison! It's even fiercer than the poison formation Tang San set up before!" Ning Rongrong furrowed her brows. A soft glow rose from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, forming a simple energy shield to keep the drifting poison from corroding them.
Lin Chen raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop, and spread his divine sense across the area. In an instant, he understood the situation around them. "Tang San is hiding behind a boulder three li ahead. He's already provoked three mutated poisonous Soul Beasts: the Jade Scale Poison Python, the Bone-Rotting Demon Spider, and the Shadow-Eroding Poison Wolf. They're all a thousand years old, and the contamination of their Soul Power has made them far more poisonous and powerful than ordinary thousand-year Soul Beasts. They're closing in on us from every side."
Everyone's expressions turned solemn, but no one retreated. Instead, blazing fighting spirit kindled in their eyes.
Dai Mubai clenched his fists, and his White Tiger Martial Soul burst forth completely. The light of his third, purple Soul Ring blazed as powerful Soul Power swept outward. "Perfect. I can test the strength of my thirty-one-level Soul Elder cultivation. These poison beasts are the ideal test!"
"Brother Chen taught us how to deal with poison-based attacks ages ago. What's there to fear?" Flames suddenly surged around Ma Hongjun, and golden-red Phoenix Flame roared to life. Its temperature was so high that the poisonous gas around them ignited on contact and was burned away in an instant. "My Phoenix Flame is perfect for countering these sinister things!"
Zhu Zhuqing flashed into the shadows beneath the trees, vanishing from sight. Her cool voice drifted back to them. "I'll hold off the Shadow-Eroding Poison Wolf. It's the fastest and hardest to deal with."
"I'll keep boosting everyone, and Oscar's sausages will be ready whenever you need them!" Ning Rongrong's bright voice rang out. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda flared, its boosts growing stronger and pushing everyone's combat power to its peak.
Oscar quickly handed out Recovery Sausages and said gravely, "If your Soul Power runs low, eat a sausage. I'll keep you supplied!"
Xiao Wu was raring to go, Soft Bone Martial Soul Soul Power surging as a nimble glint flashed in her eyes. "I'll help Zhuqing take them on up close!"
Seeing that everyone had their roles in order, Lin Chen gave a slight nod. His aura remained calm, yet he kept the Soul Beasts ahead and Tang San's hiding place firmly in his sights. "Follow the plan. Dai Mubai, take the Jade Scale Poison Python head-on. Ma Hongjun, suppress the Bone-Rotting Demon Spider with your flames. Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, flank the Shadow-Eroding Poison Wolf. Rongrong and Oscar, support everyone throughout. Remember, don't get bogged down in a fight. Take down the Soul Beasts first, then deal with Tang San!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the ground shook violently. Three ferocious black shadows burst through the forest, trailing a torrent of poisonous gas as they pounced straight at the Shrek students!
The Jade Scale Poison Python led the charge. It was several zhang long, its dark green scales gleaming with a sinister sheen. It opened its jaws wide and spewed a dense cloud of green poison. Wherever the mist passed, deep pits instantly corroded into the ground. Its third thousand-year Soul Ring encircled its body as it swept its massive bulk toward them with astonishing force.
On the right, the Bone-Rotting Demon Spider was enormous, its eight legs covered in barbs. Its legs scraped across the ground, leaving black, corrosive tracks behind. Thick, sticky poisonous silk poured continuously from its abdomen, corroding the ground as soon as it landed. Both highly adhesive and toxic, the silk shot toward the group, its thousand-year Soul Ring flashing.
The Shadow-Eroding Poison Wolf brought up the rear. Its sleek body was pitch-black, its eyes glinting with a blood-red ferocity. It moved at incredible speed, black poisonous mist swirling around it as the plants in its path withered and rotted instantly. Its howl carried a mental shock that pierced straight into everyone's minds.
Three mutated, thousand-year poisonous Soul Beasts attacked together. Poisonous gas filled the air, and killing intent surged sky-high. Had they faced this before, the Shrek students would surely have been thrown into disarray. But now, their eyes were resolute. Each held to their role, and none panicked!
"White Tiger Intense Light Wave!"
Dai Mubai struck first, unleashing his third Soul Skill. A golden tiger-shaped wave of light, carrying powerful Soul Power, shot straight toward the Jade Scale Poison Python's toxic mist. The light wave collided with the poison cloud and scattered most of it instantly, its overwhelming force driving the python's massive body backward again and again.
Dai Mubai then charged forward, the phantom of his White Tiger True Body appearing behind him. His fists, carrying unmatched force, slammed into the Jade Scale Poison Python's vulnerable point seven inches behind its head. The strength of a thirty-one-level Soul Elder was on full display. He met the thousand-year poisonous python head-on without giving an inch!
"Phoenix Meteor Shower!"
Ma Hongjun soared into the air and unleashed his flame-based Soul Skill at full force. Countless golden-red flames gathered into a meteor shower and rained down, striking the Bone-Rotting Demon Spider with pinpoint accuracy. Phoenix Flame naturally countered evil poison. The moment the fiery rain landed on the spider and its web, raging flames erupted. The Bone-Rotting Demon Spider shrieked in agony. Its poison was suppressed by the flames, leaving it unable to use its toxic abilities; it could only dodge in a panic.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu attacked the Shadow-Eroding Poison Wolf together, flanking it from both sides.
Zhu Zhuqing's Nether Slash tore through the air, its black blade-light slicing straight for the poison wolf's neck, moving so fast that it left a trail of afterimages. Xiao Wu darted forward nimbly, her Waist Bow snapping into motion as she closed in. Her Soft Bone Lock clamped around the wolf's body, turning its own force against it and neutralizing its entire attack. Her Eight-Stage Throw was already poised to strike.
Ning Rongrong's boosts never let up. Strength, speed, defense, and Soul Power recovery—four kinds of enhancement shifted seamlessly, precisely bolstering each person and keeping everyone's combat power at its peak. Oscar kept his eyes fixed on the battlefield. The moment anyone's Soul Power ran low, he tossed them a Recovery Sausage to keep the team going.
A thrilling team battle had begun!
The Shrek students worked together flawlessly, their attacks and defenses perfectly coordinated. Each one used Lin Chen's teachings to the fullest. This was no longer a simple contest of Soul Skills, but a comprehensive test of Soul Power control, tactical coordination, and quick adaptation on the battlefield.
Dai Mubai held his ground, bringing the White Tiger Martial Soul's blend of offense and defense to its utmost. He endured the Jade Scale Poison Python's fierce attacks and kept searching for an opening. Ma Hongjun controlled his flames with precision, suppressing the poison without wasting Soul Power as he steadily pressed the Bone-Rotting Demon Spider. Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu's agility-based teamwork was flawless: one attacked while the other controlled, leaving the swift Shadow-Eroding Poison Wolf nowhere to run. It could only take hit after hit.
Though the three mutated poisonous Soul Beasts were fierce, the Shrek students had them pinned down. Phoenix Flame burned away the poisonous gas, and teamwork neutralized their attacks. The beasts gradually fell into a disadvantage.
Behind a boulder some distance away, Tang San watched everything unfold. His fingers clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, disbelief mingling with venomous hatred in his eyes.
He had thought that three poisonous mutated Soul Beasts attacking together would be enough to leave Lin Chen and the others exhausted and badly wounded, allowing him to reap the rewards. But he had never imagined that in a mere three days, the Shrek students would have transformed so dramatically. Their coordination and strength far surpassed anything he had ever known!
"Impossible! How could they have gotten so strong?" Tang San muttered through gritted teeth. His resentment and hatred grew ever more intense. He looked at the Shrek students dominating the battlefield, then at his own sealed meridians and the poison techniques he could no longer use. His obsession spiraled completely out of control.
He couldn't bear to see his plan fail again, nor could he bear to watch his former companions thrive while he himself had been reduced to a stray dog.
His gaze locked on Lin Chen, who was directing the battle with composure without having entered the fight. A ruthless glint flashed in Tang San's eyes. He quietly circulated a secret technique from the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, ignoring the excruciating pain in his sealed meridians as he forcibly drew on a faint trace of Soul Power. He gathered it at his fingertip and flicked a thin, nearly invisible thread of Mysterious Jade Hand force toward the Shadow-Eroding Poison Wolf battling in the field.
He would provoke the Shadow-Eroding Poison Wolf into a complete frenzy, forcing it to use a poison-core self-detonation that would take them all down with it. Even if he couldn't kill Lin Chen, he would make the Shrek students pay dearly!
The Mysterious Jade Hand force slipped silently into the Shadow-Eroding Poison Wolf's body. Already suppressed, the wolf let out a piercing howl as its black poisonous mist surged wildly. Its eyes turned completely blood-red, and its body began to swell violently. It was clearly being driven into the instinctive frenzy that preceded self-destruction!
"Watch out! It's going to detonate its poison core!" Lin Chen's gaze turned cold as he instantly saw through Tang San's little trick. He warned the others in a low voice.
At the same time, Lin Chen moved and finally entered the fight!
He released no powerful Soul Rings, yet a heart-pounding force of divine sense swept out, instantly suppressing the Shadow-Eroding Poison Wolf's rampaging aura. He raised his right hand and clenched it in midair. An invisible force locked the wolf's body in place, leaving it unable to move a fraction.
"Rongrong, boost me!"
The moment Lin Chen finished speaking, Ning Rongrong understood. All seven colors of light from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda surged toward Lin Chen as she unleashed her full boosting power.
"Concentrate your Phoenix Flame to the fullest!"
Ma Hongjun immediately halted his attack and drew every last flame around him into his palm, shaping them into a tightly condensed beam of golden-red light. Following Lin Chen's order, he fired it with a thunderous blast!
The beam pierced straight through the Shadow-Eroding Poison Wolf's body, shattering the poison core that was about to detonate. The Phoenix Flame incinerated the poisonous power completely. The wolf toppled to the ground without even managing a scream, lifeless.
With the self-destruction crisis resolved, Lin Chen's gaze turned icy. He looked straight toward the boulder where Tang San was hiding and said coolly, "Had your fun? Come out and face your death."
Behind the boulder, Tang San's face turned deathly pale. He hadn't expected Lin Chen to see through and undo his final scheme so easily. As he watched Lin Chen approach, then looked at the Shrek students standing ready for battle, their eyes cold, Tang San finally felt bone-deep despair and terror.
The poison plot he had meticulously planned and the Soul Beast ambush he had orchestrated were nothing before absolute strength and seamless teamwork. And now he himself had fallen into a hopeless trap with nowhere to run.
Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others gathered around, completely blocking Tang San's escape routes. There was no trace of wavering in their eyes as they looked at him, only cold resolve.
The scheme Tang San had set in motion would finally come to an end here.
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