Outburst! Unconscious

"Trap ahead! Stop!"

Cao Longyan roared. Without waiting to see whether the others had reacted, he clenched his right hand in the air, and the Ten Halls of Yama Martial Soul appeared.

He drove all his Soul Power into action, fully unfurling the Flame King Domain.

"Xu Chu, Dian Wei, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Scarlet King!"

As Cao Longyan's voice rang out, four enormous humanoid figures appeared from nowhere, while a three-headed crimson dragon soared above him.

They radiated immense energy, forming a gigantic crimson shield that enveloped everyone, even reaching Su Qingyue and Zhao Rui at the very front.

The Five Dragon Hellfire Shield!

Cao Longyan's sudden roar and the shield that had appeared out of nowhere startled the others. They stopped in their tracks and turned to look at him.

Seeing this, the Evil Soul Masters fleeing ahead realized their trap had been discovered. While their pursuers were still close to the blast site, they immediately lit the fuses.

Boom—!

Tens of thousands of soul tools bombs detonated almost simultaneously. The tremendous explosions echoed through the valley as scorching waves and white smoke surged toward them, battering the shield before their eyes.

"Quick, channel your Soul Power and help Longyan maintain the shield!"

Xuan Zi shouted to the others, then rose into the air and went to the shield's weakest point to channel his Soul Power into it.

The others hurried to do the same, though they all sucked in a breath at the thought of what might have happened.

If Longyan had not spotted the danger in time and acted at once, they would likely have been doomed...

The mountaintop

Zhongli Wu gazed down at the people who were as good as dead and sneered.

That red-haired brat was far more capable than Xuan Zi and the others. If he grew stronger, he'd become another huge obstacle. What a pity... he wouldn't get the chance!

"Holy Spirit Cult, follow me!"

"Yes, Cult Master!"

As the smoke from the explosions cleared and the shock waves finally died away, the shield at last gave out and vanished. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Cao Longyan, however, had spent seventy percent of his Soul Power along with a vast amount of spiritual and mental energy. He nearly toppled over, but Zhang Lexuan reacted in time, flashing to his side to support him and let his limp body sink against her chest.

"Th... thank you, Sister Lexuan..."

"Longyan, don't speak. You... you did so well..."

Zhang Lexuan looked down at Cao Longyan, who lay in her arms with his eyelids twitching wildly. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes, and worry and guilt filled her gaze.

Longyan had really grown up. He had said he would protect her, and he had kept his promise...

But she couldn't bring herself to feel happy.

Just as the survivors were about to check on Cao Longyan and thank him, countless dark figures swept toward them from every direction.

Xuan Zi, in the air, was about to fly down and shield them when a powerful cloud of black mist blocked his way.

"Xuan Zi, long time no see. How have you been..."

The black mist dispersed, revealing a silver-haired young man before Xuan Zi. His deep purple eyes fixed coldly on him, a sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Zhongli Wu! What are you doing here?"

Xuan Zi's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Isn't it obvious? I laid the trap for your mission. This is the burial ground I specially chose for you!"

"You... I won't let you have your way!"

As he spoke, Xuan Zi immediately activated Martial Soul Possession and his Martial Soul Avatar, then charged at Zhongli Wu. He had to end the fight quickly and save Cao Longyan and the others, who were surrounded below.

"Hmph. We'll see if you're capable of that!"

Zhongli Wu summoned the Death God Demon Puppet and activated his Martial Soul Avatar. Gripping the Death God Scythe Staff, he charged to meet Xuan Zi.

Bang—

The collision of their powers produced a mighty shock wave that sent them both flying several meters through the air.

Xuan Zi stared at Zhongli Wu in astonishment.

"You've reached Level 98?"

"You old fool. You really haven't improved at all since last time..."

Xuan Zi gritted his teeth at Zhongli Wu's taunt, then anxiously glanced down at the people struggling in battle.

"Oh, you still have time to worry about others? Worry about yourself first. Die!"

"Sister Lexuan, there are too many of them, and they're too strong. The five Soul Douluo in the rear haven't even joined the fight yet. We... probably aren't getting out of here..."

Lin Xiaoran moved closer to Zhang Lexuan, who was holding Cao Longyan, and spoke in despair.

"Don't give up. We'll make it back to Shrek safely! We have to believe help will arrive soon!"

The moment the dark figures had attacked, they had sent out Shrek's distress signal.

Zhang Lexuan shouted, trying to rally everyone, but all she got in response was silence—a silence as still as death.

Everyone's heads drooped as they struggled wearily against the relentless attacks of the Evil Soul Masters. Endless despair weighed on them all.

Zhang Lexuan wanted to say more, but when she saw their condition, she closed her slightly parted lips.

Cao Longyan patted her hand, then stood up and gave her the smile she least wanted to see.

"Everyone, get behind me!"

Cao Longyan's shout briefly jolted the numb group back to their senses. They gathered behind him without a moment's thought.

After what he had done earlier, they seemed to trust him instinctively.

At the sight of this, the Evil Soul Masters couldn't help cackling.

"Have you given up struggling and gathered together to wait obediently for death?"

"Don't kill those three beauties. I'm going to enjoy them properly. They must taste delicious..."

"Old Ghost, what are you thinking? They'd be much better turned into living puppets and kept at your side!"

Su Qingyue, Lin Xiaoran, and Zhang Lexuan couldn't help showing their humiliation and anger.

Even if they had to blow themselves up, they wouldn't let the Evil Soul Masters have their way!

The other five, however, turned curious eyes toward Cao Longyan's back.

They had no idea what Cao Longyan was about to do.

The Ten Halls of Yama appeared in Cao Longyan's right hand. Gripping it with both hands as it transformed into a blade, he closed his eyes and channeled all his remaining power into the blade.

Cao Longyan's eyes flew open. He roared.

"Third Soul Skill, Avici Hellfire Slash!"

He raised the crimson greatsword above his head, then brought it down in a mighty slash. A tremendous wave of fire, carrying Ultimate Fire's power to utterly purify evil energy, took the shape of a huge fire dragon and surged toward the Evil Soul Masters ahead.

The Evil Soul Masters who had been laughing and joking a moment earlier turned to ash and vanished in an instant.

Seeing the grisly fate of their companions up front, those farther back abruptly stopped smiling. Their eyes widened as they froze for a moment, then instinctively scattered and fled in the opposite direction from the wave of fire.

The Evil Soul Masters had no morals to begin with. At that moment, who cared about anyone but themselves? They ran as fast as they could. Some, unable to make sense of what was happening, were knocked down by others, who didn't even stop, trampling right over them. Many Evil Soul Masters were crushed into bloody pulp before the fire wave even reached them.

Cao Longyan finally couldn't hold on any longer. The Ten Halls of Yama fell from his hand with a clang. His eyes slowly closed, and his body toppled backward.

Zhang Lexuan caught Cao Longyan once more before he hit the ground. Seeing his eyes shut tight, she immediately channeled her Soul Power to check his condition.

Thankfully, he had only passed out from exhausting his Soul Power. Longyan, why are you so foolish? We should have been the ones protecting you...

She shook her head, picked up the Ten Halls of Yama from the ground, and looked toward the only path Cao Longyan had cleared for them. Then she turned and shouted to the other seven.

"Everyone, break through ahead and head toward Shrek! We can't let Longyan down!"