Outbreak! Coma

"Stop! It's a trap ahead!"

Cao Longyan let out a thunderous roar. Without waiting to see if the others had reacted, he gripped the air with his right hand, manifesting his Ten Halls of Yama martial soul.

He channeled his entire reserve of soul power, fully expanding his Flame King Domain.

"Xu Chu, Dian Wei, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Chi Wang!"

As Cao Longyan's voice fell, four distinct, towering humanoid figures materialized out of thin air, while a crimson three-headed dragon soared above his head.

They radiated immense energy, coalescing into a massive crimson protective barrier that enveloped everyone, including Su Qingyue and Zhao Rui, who were at the very front.

Five Dragon Hellfire Shield!

The others, startled by Cao Longyan's sudden shout and the abrupt appearance of the barrier, froze in their tracks and turned to look at him.

The Evil Soul Masters fleeing ahead saw this and realized their trap had been exposed; while they were still close to the blast site, they immediately ignited the fuses.

BOOM—!

Tens of thousands of soul-guided bombs detonated almost simultaneously. The deafening roar of the explosion echoed through the valley as waves of heat and white smoke rolled over, relentlessly battering the protective barrier before them.

"Quick, channel your soul power to help Longyan maintain this shield!"

Xuan Zi shouted to the others, taking the lead as he ascended into the air to channel his power into the weakest point of the barrier.

The others hurriedly followed suit, though they all gasped inwardly.

Had Brother Longyan not discovered it in time and acted immediately, they would likely be facing a grim fate by now...

On the hilltop.

Zhongli Wu looked down at the group of doomed souls below and offered a cold smile.

That red-haired brat was far stronger than the rest of Xuan Zi's lot; if he were allowed to grow, he would become a massive obstacle. What a pity... he wouldn't get the chance!

"Holy Spirit Cult, follow me!"

"Yes, Sect Master!"

As the smoke from the explosion cleared and the shockwaves dissipated, the protective barrier finally gave way and vanished, allowing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

However, having exhausted seventy percent of his soul power along with a vast amount of soul and mental energy, Cao Longyan nearly collapsed to the ground. Fortunately, Zhang Lexuan was quick-witted; she flashed to his side, caught him, and pulled his limp body into her arms.

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

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

Watching Cao Longyan collapse in her arms with his eyelids fluttering wildly, Zhang Lexuan couldn't help but let tears spill from her eyes, her gaze filled with worry and self-reproach.

Brother Longyan had truly grown up. The promise he once made to protect her—he had truly fulfilled it...

Yet, she couldn't bring herself to feel happy.

Just as the survivors prepared to check on Cao Longyan's condition and express their gratitude, countless black shadows descended upon them from all directions.

Xuan Zi, who was in the air, tried to descend to block their path, but was intercepted by a dense, powerful black mist.

"Xuan Zi, long time no see. I trust you've been well..."

The black mist dispersed, revealing a silver-haired youth standing before Xuan Zi. His deep purple eyes stared coldly, a sneer curling his lips.

"Zhongli Wu! How are you here?!"

Xuan Zi's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Is it not clear yet? This mission was a trap I laid for you. This is the burial ground I specifically chose for you all!"

"You... I won't let you succeed!"

Xuan Zi immediately activated his martial soul avatar and charged toward Zhongli Wu, intent on a quick victory so he could save Cao Longyan and the others who were being surrounded.

"Hmph, we shall see if you have the ability to do so!"

Zhongli Wu summoned his Death God Demon Puppet, activated his own martial soul avatar, and gripped his Death God Scythe Staff as he met Xuan Zi head-on.

BANG—

The collision of their powers generated a powerful shockwave, forcing both men back several meters in the air.

Xuan Zi looked at Zhongli Wu in astonishment.

"You've reached level ninety-eight?"

"You old fool, you really haven't made any progress since last time..."

Xuan Zi gritted his teeth at the arrogant Zhongli Wu, casting an anxious glance at the group below who were already locked in a bitter struggle.

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

"Sister Lexuan, there are too many of them, and they are too strong. Plus, those five Soul Douluos at the back haven't even made a move yet. I'm afraid... we won't be able to get out..."

Lin Xiaoran huddled next to Zhang Lexuan, who was holding Cao Longyan, and said with a hint of despair.

"Don't give up! We will definitely make it back to Shrek safely! We must believe that reinforcements are on the way!"

They had fired the Shrek distress signal the very moment the black shadows had struck.

Zhang Lexuan shouted, trying to rally everyone's morale, but she was met only with silence—a deathly, suffocating silence.

Everyone hung their heads, dealing with the relentless onslaught of Evil Soul Masters in a state of exhaustion, an endless despair shrouding every heart.

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

Cao Longyan patted Zhang Lexuan's hand, stood up, and revealed a smile she least wanted to see.

"Everyone, stand behind me!"

Cao Longyan's roar snapped the numb crowd back to reality, and without a second thought, they gathered behind him.

It seemed that, because of what had happened before, they held an instinctive trust in Cao Longyan.

The Evil Soul Masters watched this scene and couldn't help but let out cackling laughs.

"Are you giving up the struggle, gathering together to wait for death?"

"Don't you dare kill those three beauties; I want to enjoy them properly, they must be delicious..."

"Old Ghost, what are you thinking? It's clearly better to refine them into human puppets to keep by your side!"

Su Qingyue, Lin Xiaoran, and Zhang Lexuan couldn't help but show expressions of shame and fury.

Even if they had to self-destruct, they would never let them succeed!

However, the eight of them cast curious gazes at Cao Longyan's back once more.

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

The Ten Halls of Yama appeared in Cao Longyan's right hand. He gripped the weapon, now transformed into a blade, with both hands, closed his eyes, and channeled all his remaining power into the steel.

Cao Longyan snapped his eyes open and let out a thunderous roar.

"Third Soul Skill, Avici Hellfire Slash!"

Cao Longyan raised the crimson blade high above his head and swung it down violently. A massive wave of fire, carrying the absolute purifying effect of Ultimate Fire against evil energy, transformed into a giant fire dragon and charged straight at the Evil Soul Masters ahead.

The Evil Soul Masters, who were laughing and joking a second ago, vanished into ash the next.

The Evil Soul Masters in the rear saw the miserable state of their comrades in front and instantly wiped the smiles off their faces. Their eyes widened in shock, and after a moment of hesitation, they instinctively scattered and fled in the opposite direction of the fire wave.

At this moment, the inherently amoral Evil Soul Masters cared for no one but themselves, running as fast as they could. Some who were confused about the situation were knocked down, but no one stopped; they were trampled over, many crushed into pulp and bloodstains before they even touched the fire wave.

Cao Longyan finally reached his limit. The Ten Halls of Yama clattered to the ground, his eyes slowly closed, and his body fell backward.

Zhang Lexuan caught the falling Cao Longyan once again. Looking at his tightly shut eyes, she immediately channeled her soul power to check his condition.

Thankfully, he is just unconscious from soul power exhaustion. Little brother Longyan, why are you so foolish? We should be the ones protecting you...

She shook her head, picked up the Ten Halls of Yama from the ground, looked toward the only path of survival Cao Longyan had carved for them, and turned to shout at the other seven.

"Everyone, break through! Head toward Shrek; we cannot let little brother Longyan's sacrifice go to waste!"