Meanwhile, on Douluo Continent.
High above the Sky Screen, the two enormous light screens that had remained silent for so long suddenly erupted with dazzling crimson light.
Immediately afterward, two lines of blood-red words slowly appeared before the eyes of everyone across the continent.
[Explorer Dai Mubai, survived for one year, has returned.] [Explorer Cuihua, survived for one year, has returned.]
The moment those two lines appeared, the entire Douluo Continent was like a bomb had been dropped upon it, instantly erupting into unprecedented turmoil.
"They survived! Someone actually endured that entire year!"
"My heavens! They actually survived in that High-Dimensional World, where terrifying monsters were everywhere and even ordinary civilians possessed several thousand jin of strength!"
"A fortune! They brought back a heaven-reaching fortune! Hurry, find out where they descended!"
Countless hidden forces poured out in full force. The nerves of the entire continent were stretched to their limit. Otherworldly cultivation methods and Gene Serum capable of completely transforming a person were right before their eyes!
Heaven Dou Empire, Shrek Academy.
A violent gale suddenly swept across the previously tranquil dirt training ground.
Without warning, a thick pillar of white light tore through the clouds and crashed down upon the center of the training ground with irresistible spatial power.
The Shrek group, who had received the news long ago and had been waiting here, all retreated several steps.
Flender and Zhao Wuji stood at the front. They exchanged a glance, each seeing the tension in the other's eyes.
Although Master Yu Xiaogang had not come because he was occupied with other matters, fortunately, his deduction had been confirmed.
When the explorers taken away by the Sky Screen returned to Douluo Continent, they descended at the very place where they had been taken!
As the white light gradually faded—
A huge, twisted figure slowly came into view.
"Roar—!"
A massive beastly roar, inhuman and filled with endless savagery and brutality, exploded across the training ground.
The roar carried a strong stench of blood and madness, making the eardrums of lower-cultivated students like Tang San ache as they staggered backward.
Purple light flickered in Tang San's eyes as he focused his gaze, and his heart jolted violently.
Where was the handsome and dashing third prince of Star Luo they remembered?
What stood there was clearly a terrifying half-man, half-beast monster!
Dai Mubai's once-brilliant golden hair had long since fallen out, replaced by a coat of coarse, hard black fur.
His back was arched high, his legs twisted into the shape of reversed joints, and all ten fingers had grown sharp black claws like blades.
His facial features had been completely distorted. His mouth split wide, revealing two rows of interlocking white fangs, while not a trace of human reason remained in his cloudy yellow beast eyes.
"Th... that's Mubai?"
Flender sucked in a cold breath.
Though he had already seen through the Sky Screen the inhuman torment Dai Mubai had suffered in the underground laboratory, and had somewhat prepared himself mentally—
Seeing this ghastly, neither-human-nor-ghost appearance with his own eyes still sent a chill through the well-traveled Soul Saint.
"Mubai!"
Flender cautiously stepped forward half a pace, lowering his voice. "Can you still understand what I'm saying?"
He had to confirm Dai Mubai's identity immediately, as well as whether human thought still remained within that malformed shell.
Yet the only response he received was an even more frenzied roar.
Dai Mubai's yellow beast eyes instantly locked onto Flender. A wheezing, drafty sound came from his throat.
After enduring half a year of torture in the laboratory, his mind had long since been twisted beyond repair.
He hated Cuihua, hated the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, and hated everyone in this world who looked at him with strange eyes!
The guarded shock in Flender's gaze instantly stabbed at Dai Mubai's already sensitive and fragile pride. Even his teacher despised him. Even his teacher saw him as a monster!
Shrek Seven Devils?
Yet he had become a real monster?!
Those eyes that looked at him like trash all deserved to die!
"Kill... kill all of you!"
Muffled syllables squeezed through the gaps between his fangs. Dai Mubai offered no resistance, completely yielding to the violent, murderous beastly nature inside him as his legs suddenly kicked off the ground.
"Bang!"
The hard dirt ground was stomped into a deep crater.
Dai Mubai's huge body turned into a black blur, carrying a nauseating stench of blood as he pounced directly at Flender.
"Not good! He's completely lost his mind!"
Flender's expression changed drastically. He did not dare hold anything back. "Cat-Eagle, possess me!"
Zhao Wuji, standing nearby, reacted just as quickly. His Vajra Bear martial soul was instantly unleashed, and seven Soul Rings revolved beneath his feet.
"First Soul Skill, Immovable Wisdom King Body!"
Like an iron tower, Zhao Wuji blocked Flender's path, crossed his arms, and forcibly took Dai Mubai's thunderous claw strike.
"Clang!"
A deafening metallic crash rang out.
Zhao Wuji grunted, his arms going numb as he uncontrollably slid several meters backward, plowing two deep trenches into the ground.
"What savage strength!"
Zhao Wuji was horrified.
This pure physical explosive power was actually greater than his own, even though he was a level seventy-six assault-type Soul Saint!
The battle erupted in an instant.
Taking advantage of his ability to fly, Flender continuously released wind blades from the air to interfere.
Zhao Wuji clashed head-on with Dai Mubai at the front.
At the beginning of the battle, relying on their abundant combat experience and seamless coordination, the two Soul Saints did gain the upper hand. Zhao Wuji's Vajra Palm repeatedly slammed into Dai Mubai's chest, breaking his bones and making blood spray wildly from his mouth.
But as time passed—
The ribs Zhao Wuji had broken and the bone-deep wounds carved open by Flender's wind blades began healing at a visible speed amid eerie wriggling flesh!
This was the horrifying mutation produced after the various high-grade Monster Gene Serums from the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, none of which had undergone clinical testing, fused within his body.
Although Dai Mubai had lost his sanity, he had gained a physical body comparable to that of a top-tier monster and nearly monstrous regenerative abilities!
"Roar!"
After confirming the power of his current body, Dai Mubai fought more fiercely with every passing moment, completely abandoning defense.
He endured one of Flender's killing moves, allowing a chunk of flesh to be sliced from his shoulder, then viciously slammed a claw into Zhao Wuji's chest.
"Pfft!"
Zhao Wuji screamed. Five bone-deep bloody gashes appeared across his chest, and he fell to the ground.
"Watch out!"
In order to save his old friend, Flender was struck across the shoulder by Dai Mubai's backhanded punch as well. He crashed down at the edge of the training ground, coughing up mouthfuls of blood.
"Headmaster! Teacher Zhao!"
Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and the others cried out in alarm.
However, that shout caught the attention of Dai Mubai, who was in the midst of battle. He turned his head, and his scarlet beast eyes fixed on the group of former classmates.
"Kill... kill!"
A cruel curve pulled at the corner of his mouth. His legs bent as he prepared to tear apart every one of these people who offended his eyes.
Before you continue