Dugu Yan Battles a Soul Sage

Shi Nian was slightly startled, not expecting that this teenager would recognize him.

But when his gaze fell on the Clear-Verdant Spirit-Horned Deer beneath the three of them, and then caught sight of the antlers atop the green-clad girl's head, greed ignited in his eyes. He was certain that such a treasure could not be easily let go.

"It's all because of you that that Soul Beast escaped!" Shi Nian shouted unreasonably, "Today, you must give us this spirit deer in return!"

Lu Xuan shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with amusement. "If you want to rob someone, at least come up with a plausible excuse. Yanyan, this person is yours."

"No problem!"

Dugu Yan's eyes suddenly lit up, and a fighting spirit ignited in them.

Throughout her journey, she only encountered a few newly-entered Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast or ordinary Soul King. The battles always felt somewhat lacking in pressure and could hardly be considered real hard-fought fights.

Now that they had run directly into a Soul Sage blocking their path, they didn't hesitate for a second.

This is a perfect opportunity to test just how powerful my poison skills have become after absorbing two 100,000-year-old arm Soul Bone!

"Xiao Cai, let's go!"

Dugu Yan called out softly. The Seven-Colored Rainbow Phosphorus Serpent, which was resting on her shoulder, immediately raised its head. Its eyes flashed, and it instantly became alert. Its scales shimmered with colorful light, Sisi of poisonous mist spilled from its mouth.

Looking at the Shi Nian's poised and ready posture, Shi Nian couldn't help but sneer, his face full of disdain. "Three mere children, daring to resist an old man like me?"

"Martial Soul Possession!"

With a low shout, Dugu Yan unleashed the power of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul, which swept across her entire body, causing her Soul Ring to rise one after another from beneath her feet.

Black, purple, purple, black!

Four Soul Ring hovered silently, their color scheme completely different from that of ordinary Soul Ancestor. The black Soul Ring represented ten thousand years of cultivation. Such a configuration on a young girl was truly terrifying.

The moment Shi Nian saw this set of Soul Ring, the mocking smiles on the faces of Shi Nian and his companions behind him froze, and their hearts sank. They finally realized that they had probably kicked a hornet's nest today.

"First Soul Skill - [Seven-Colored Transformation]!"

"Second Soul Skill - [Rainbow Phosphorus Myriad Poisons]!"

Two clear shouts rang out in succession. With the blessing of her Martial Soul Possession, she activated two Soul Skill simultaneously, and two forces instantly swept over Dugu Yan's entire body. Her aura surged like a mountain torrent rising from the ground.

The current [Seven-Colored Transformation] is vastly different from what it used to be, capable of increasing her seven basic attributes by 50% at once. This boost is almost equivalent to two Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Soul Ancestor simultaneously casting their auxiliary Soul Skill on her.

With the added poison status effect from [Rainbow Phosphorus Myriad Poisons], her physical body, strength, and resistance are all maxed out. In terms of basic attributes alone, she is already comparable to a Soul Sage Saint.

The next instant, Dugu Yan flicked her right hand, and a long whip with a shimmering white luster and python patterns appeared from her palm. The whip was surrounded by a faint purple poisonous aura, which was the White Python Whip transformed from her Martial Soul.

Shi Nian's heart sank, thinking to himself: It seems that this girl's background is far more powerful than I expected!

He couldn't identify the External Soul Bone on Dugu Yan's body at a glance, but the two black and two purple Soul Ring under the girl's feet were enough to determine that there must be a very important person behind her.

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes at this thought.

The trouble has already been caused, and the facade has been torn off; there's no going back now!

Since we've already completely offended them, we might as well go all the way. No one should be left alive here today!

A murderous intent suddenly arose in his heart. Without hesitation, Shi Nian unleashed his Soul Power.

"Seventh Soul Skill - [Nightmare]!"

With a loud shout, the pitch-black spiritual power suddenly spread out, sweeping through the entire forest like a tidal wave.

An invisible and intangible Nightmare Domain instantly spread out, enveloping the people from the Canghui Academy behind him, as well as Dugu Yan, Lu Xuan, and Ye Lingling. The surrounding light seemed to dim, and a bewitching dream power permeated the air.

Without the slightest hesitation, Shi Nian used the Nightmare Domain as cover, his figure blurred, and he charged straight towards Dugu Yan, intending to deal with the most threatening girl first.

Just as his Seventh Soul Skill was unleashed and his mental Nightmare enveloped the surrounding area, a clear and melodious flute sound suddenly rang out, piercing through all the illusionary mist in the forest.

It was Lu Xuan who made the move!

Third Soul Skill, [Rouge Silent Dragon Roar]!

The melodious yet powerful sound waves spread outwards, and the Nightmare Domain Shi Nian had painstakingly created with his Soul Power crumbled like shattered thin ice in an instant.

At that Shi Nian, he was still in shock from the fact that his domain had been forcibly broken open, and his mind went blank for a moment before he could react.

"Smack!"

A sharp crack suddenly rang out.

Dugu Yan Yan's White Python Whip, infused with seven-colored phosphorus poison, suddenly lashed out and struck him hard in the face.

Her attributes were already maxed out, and her strength was approaching that of Soul Sage. In addition, this attack seized the initiative and was faster than expected.

Shi Nian was sent flying backward by the whip, and a whip mark with a mottled poisonous light instantly appeared on his cheek. The burning pain mixed with the poison spread rapidly along his skin and flesh.

"You bitch, I'll kill you!"

The excruciating pain and the poison burned his flesh together. Shi Nian's eyes were bloodshot, and with a furious roar, his Soul Power surged wildly as he lunged at Dugu Yan without regard for anything else.

Dugu Yan showed no fear, her gaze calm. She activated the two External Soul Bone to enhance herself, and the White Python Whip in her hand danced with layers of whip shadows, performing the [White Python Whip Technique] with fluid grace.

The colorful mist and poisonous light intertwined, engaging the Soul Sage in a fierce battle. For a time, the fight was evenly matched, with neither side gaining the upper hand.

On the deer's back, Ye Lingling watched the two fiercely battling in the arena and softly asked Lu Xuan, "Brother Lu Xuan, can Yanyan defeat Shi Nian? That person is ultimately Soul Sage, and his raw strength is far superior to Yanyan's."

"I just broke his Seventh Soul Skill. At this Shi Nian, Shi Nian's combat strength is only equivalent to Soul Emperor of level sixty-something." Lu Xuan said calmly, his gaze resting on the two locked in combat. "He's only able to hold on until now because Yanyan is deliberately holding back, using him to hone her combat skills. As long as Yanyan uses her Fourth Soul Skill, she can kill him in one move."

Dugu Yan's first two Soul Skill are both buff-type skills, while her Third Soul Skill is merely a group attack with potent poison, its power at most slightly stronger than the Fourth Soul Skill of others.

However, her Fourth Soul Skill is a truly powerful offensive Soul Skill!

Dugu Yan had previously tested it and found that the power of her full-force attack at full strength was even stronger than the Sixth Soul Skill released by Power Attack System Soul Sage without activating their Martial Soul Avatar.

Her Fourth Soul Skill, [Iridescent Phosphorus Poison Hand], is an instant-cast, powerful offensive Soul Skill! It can be used at both close and long range, and is not limited by distance.

Once Dugu Yan activates it, the power it unleashes even surpasses the Self-Created Soul Skill she learned from Lu Xuan.

This is the most fundamental difference between the Soul Skill bestowed by the Soul Ring's origin and Self-Created Soul Skill.