Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell, Duobao Severely Wounded

Guang Chengzi immediately sensed that something was wrong and hurried toward the Bone-Eroding Pool.

Duobao also reacted, ignoring the injuries caused by the Six-Winged Golden Cicada's self-detonation as he rushed over.

Yet they were ultimately one step too late. The Six-Winged Golden Cicada shot toward Bai Ze at extreme speed.

Just as those wings, capable of severing all things, were about to fall upon Bai Ze's neck—

"Dong!"

An ancient and majestic Fishing Drum, covered in countless profound patterns, suddenly appeared and unleashed a dull boom that shook the soul.

In an instant, the Six-Winged Golden Cicada's pupils lost focus, and it fell into a daze.

Delighted, Bai Ze immediately activated the Fishing Drum. Another dull sound struck directly against the Six-Winged Golden Cicada's heart.

The Six-Winged Golden Cicada was completely stunned, frozen where it stood!

Seeing this, Bai Ze did not dare delay. Seizing the chance, he quickly plucked the Dream Orchid and stored it in a jade box before swimming swiftly toward the shore.

Had he not kept his spiritual sense around his body at all times, guarding against a sneak attack from the Six-Winged Golden Cicada, he would never have been able to instantly pull out the Innate Spirit Treasure Fishing Drum and raise it above his head.

It blocked the Six-Winged Golden Cicada's attack. Otherwise, he would likely have already been separated from his head and body.

After all, the Six-Winged Golden Cicada was an existence capable of battling Duobao for several hours without falling behind.

If it had still been at its peak, this offspring body of the Fishing Drum might truly have been cleaved apart by the Six-Winged Golden Cicada.

Fortunately, the Six-Winged Golden Cicada's strength had greatly declined. Not only had its strike failed to sever the drum, but the drum's soundwaves had also shaken its mind apart.

As for taking the opportunity to finish it off...

Bai Ze knew his own limits. Even heavily wounded, the Six-Winged Golden Cicada was not something he could finish off. It was already good enough that he had kept his life!

Still, this incident gave him a reminder: he had far too few means of preserving his life!

If the Six-Winged Golden Cicada had split open the Fishing Drum, he would have had only the Celestial Venerable Dharma Body left to block it.

And the Celestial Venerable Dharma Body was his final trump card for survival. If anything unexpected happened, he would truly be finished.

Still shaken, he touched his cool neck and looked toward the Six-Winged Golden Cicada, unable to stop himself from muttering inwardly.

How did this guy break through Guang Chengzi and Duobao's encirclement?

After regaining its senses, the Six-Winged Golden Cicada discovered that Bai Ze had already reached the shore and was being protected behind Guang Chengzi and Duobao!

It could only roar furiously at the sky before fleeing at high speed.

Seeing this, Bai Ze hurriedly said:

"Senior Brother, big brother, strike while he's sick and take his life! Hurry, kill that damn bug!"

Upon hearing this, Guang Chengzi and Duobao were about to step forward, but Guang Chengzi stopped Duobao.

"Your injuries are severe. Stay here and protect Junior Brother Bai Ze. I'll kill it!"

Duobao nodded and did not force himself. He had been closest to the Six-Winged Golden Cicada earlier and had suffered the worst of the self-detonation's power.

If he went forward now, he would only be causing trouble!

After Guang Chengzi gave chase, Duobao dropped onto the ground, panting heavily.

Seeing the injured Duobao, Bai Ze hurriedly took out medicinal pills for him to swallow.

But Duobao waved his hand. "Little brother, it's fine. Just let your old brother catch his breath."

With that, he sat cross-legged and entered meditation to heal.

Bai Ze stood guard beside Duobao. He also activated the Observation Stone, remaining alert for any danger that might appear.

Within the image, Guang Chengzi caught up with the Six-Winged Golden Cicada. Without wasting words, he took out a Dharma treasure and smashed it down.

The Six-Winged Golden Cicada was already seriously injured. Though it was extremely fast, it was caught off guard and its wing was grazed, sending it tumbling to the ground.

Then Bai Ze saw the Six-Winged Golden Cicada kneel before Guang Chengzi and beg for mercy. Yet before it could finish speaking, Guang Chengzi forcibly broke through the rules suppressing spiritual power in this place, raised his Dharma treasure, and smashed it down.

The next moment, the Six-Winged Golden Cicada turned into a puddle of bloody mush, while Guang Chengzi suffered backlash for breaking through the rules' restraints and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Yet even so, Guang Chengzi did not give up. Enduring the rules' suppression, he continuously poured out spiritual power and smashed it into that puddle of bloody mush.

Until, at last, the bloody mush completely vanished, transforming instead into a dark golden cicada pupa no larger than a little finger, one that could not be smashed apart no matter what.

Only then did Guang Chengzi stop. After taking away the cicada pupa, he hurried back toward them.

However, not long after Guang Chengzi left, a creature the size of a grain of rice, resembling a maggot, crawled out from the deep pit!

Bai Ze frowned at the sight and wanted to pursue it, but Duobao was still healing and could not be left behind.

He could only wait for Guang Chengzi to return while keeping a close eye on the white maggot's movements.

Before long, Guang Chengzi hurried back. Seeing Bai Ze waiting anxiously, he took out the cicada pupa and said, "I have not failed my mission. This fiend has perished."

Yet after Guang Chengzi spoke, Bai Ze's brows remained tightly furrowed. Guang Chengzi asked in surprise, "Junior Brother Bai Ze, is there something amiss?"

Bai Ze said nothing more and directly handed the array plate to Guang Chengzi. "Senior Brother, take a look."

Guang Chengzi accepted it and looked at the white maggot in the image. His brows knitted tightly in deep confusion.

Seeing this, Bai Ze explained, "Senior Brother, the Six-Winged Golden Cicada possesses an innate divine ability called Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell, which allows it to shed its shell and preserve its life."

Guang Chengzi waved a hand to interrupt Bai Ze. Frowning at the dark golden cicada pupa in his hand, he asked in disbelief:

"I know. But hadn't it already used it once when it self-detonated just now?

How... how could it use it again?"

Self-detonation?

Bai Ze's gaze flickered. No wonder the commotion earlier had been so great, yet the Golden Cicada had still managed to break through Guang Chengzi and Duobao's encirclement. It had already used it once!

But now...

Bai Ze took the dark golden cicada pupa from Guang Chengzi's hand and activated the Insight Divine Ability.

A message emerged the next moment.

Six-Winged Golden Cicada Pupa: Created when the Six-Winged Golden Cicada used Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell at the cost of most of its fleshly body, Primordial Spirit, cultivation, and lifespan.

Seeing this, Bai Ze hurriedly told Guang Chengzi the information.

Guang Chengzi suddenly understood after hearing it. "So that's how it is. I originally thought this life-saving divine ability could only be used once."

"Senior Brother, to escape, this fellow abandoned the vast majority of his essence to condense a false body.

Before it gets too far away, hurry and wipe it out completely!"

Bai Ze urged.

It was no wonder he was anxious. This creature was simply too hard to kill. He had thought Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell could only be used once, but unexpectedly, as long as its essence was not fully exhausted, it could continue using this divine ability.

With the terrifying evolution of Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell—where every shedding increased its cultivation, lifespan, and potential—it would not be long before the Six-Winged Golden Cicada returned in full force!

Guang Chengzi also understood the severity of the matter. Though he did not fear the Six-Winged Golden Cicada, neither did he wish to let this opportunity slip away!

He immediately nodded in agreement, instructed Bai Ze to protect the heavily injured Duobao, and chased after the Six-Winged Golden Cicada!

Just then, the array plate in Bai Ze's hand trembled slightly, and one of the images shattered. His brows furrowed.

Someone destroyed my Observation Stone?

He then took out another array plate. This one was exceptionally small and exquisite, its patterns even more profound and mysterious, more complex than both the set he had previously used and the one he had given Guang Chengzi.