Sea God's Light!

Xiang Jun gave Ma Xiaotao no chance to catch her breath. He lit up the only Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring behind him.

Fourth soul skill—Raging Sea Torrent!

As he unleashed the skill, the once-calm surface of Sea God Lake surged violently. Great masses of water rose into the air and, in the blink of an eye, became four enormous water dragons, each over ten meters long!

Azure light shimmered across the dragons. A careful probe with spiritual power would have revealed that the water within them consisted entirely of molecules spinning at high speed, capable of shredding an enemy in an instant.

ROAR—!!!

The water dragons threw back their heads and roared before slamming straight toward Ma Xiaotao's landing point. The impact sent waves soaring dozens of meters high.

Trident in hand, Xiang Jun watched coldly from the air.

The old fellows at Sea God Pavilion had not intervened. That meant his attack was still within Ma Xiaotao's ability to withstand.

Though the eruption of evil fire had robbed Ma Xiaotao of all reason, it had also formed a natural suit of armor around her.

Just as Xiang Jun expected, a fierce dark-red glow suddenly flared beneath Sea God Lake. The terrifying heat made the lake water hiss and sizzle.

SCREECH!

A phoenix cry rang out from the lakebed, and a huge red phoenix burst from the water!

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black!

Behind the phoenix, six Spirit Rings in the optimal configuration flashed in turn.

Through the phoenix-shaped apparition of flame, Xiang Jun's gaze settled on the figure who had completely lost her reason.

Faint wisps of black energy rose from Ma Xiaotao's body, and her alluring eyes had turned entirely crimson.

She glared at the figure standing high above her. Madness flashed in her eyes, and without the slightest regard for her Soul Power consumption, she lit up her fifth Spirit Ring.

Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike!

As the ring lit up, blazing evil fire gathered above Ma Xiaotao and formed a flaming phoenix roughly three meters long.

Watching it race toward him, Xiang Jun's expression grew grave.

If that hit me, I'd be in for a lot worse than a few bruises.

The instant the phoenix apparition closed in, Xiang Jun moved.

He plunged downward, hoping to dodge the potentially fatal attack.

But something strange happened. The flaming phoenix turned with him and continued its pursuit.

Whoa, since when did it have a homing cheat?

With no time to think, Xiang Jun's pupils contracted. Soul Power surged through him, and his speed shot up.

"This isn't going to work!"

With the flaming phoenix hot on his heels, an idea struck Xiang Jun. He hurtled straight toward Ma Xiaotao.

Heh. Let's see how you like a taste of your own medicine!

Ma Xiaotao was fighting entirely on instinct. Seeing Xiang Jun charge toward her, she gave it no thought and swept her phoenix wings forward to meet him.

Got you!

Xiang Jun sneered as he silently gauged the distance between them.

Fifty meters, twenty-six meters, eighteen meters...

When only eleven meters remained, the purple Spirit Ring behind Xiang Jun quietly lit up.

Second soul skill—Ocean Current Crossing!

A pale-blue glow enveloped both Ma Xiaotao and Xiang Jun. The next instant, they swapped places!

Caught completely off guard, Ma Xiaotao collided head-on with the flaming phoenix.

BOOM—!!!

A thunderous blast shook the sky, and the shock wave sent Xiang Jun flying.

Once he steadied himself, Xiang Jun landed on the surface of Sea God Lake. Traces of Soul Power hidden in the water flowed through the soles of his feet into his core, rapidly replenishing the energy he had spent.

The prolonged battle, coupled with his earlier practice of the Golden Thirteen Halberds, had left his breathing somewhat ragged. Fortunately, he could draw on rivers and lakes to restore his Soul Power.

It was nowhere near as efficient as drawing from the sea, but it was better than nothing.

The flames in the air dispersed, and Ma Xiaotao came back into view.

Compared to moments ago, she was clearly much weaker.

The phoenix apparition formed from evil fire had grown dim and insubstantial. Even her black nightgown was torn in several places, offering glimpses of the skin beneath.

"So her fire affinity greatly reduced the damage?"

Xiang Jun stared at the battered figure in the air, his expression grave.

Seriously? How much health does she have?

Fine. If that's how you want to play it, I'll go all out!

Xiang Jun's face hardened. The trident mark on his forehead suddenly blazed with dazzling light.

The vast expanse of Sea God Lake began to boil. Towering waves rose one after another, and the old fellows watching from hiding frowned at the astonishing sight.

And they're telling me he's a Soul Ancestor?

They have to be joking!

Faint, ancient chanting rose from the depths of Sea God Lake. Its distant, ethereal sound carried such profound devotion that it made their scalps tingle.

The churning lake gradually calmed. Behind Xiang Jun, a towering, majestic apparition appeared out of thin air!

It stood over eight meters tall and looked like a middle-aged man, except for the trident-shaped crown atop its head, a symbol of the Sea God's authority. It held Seagod's Trident, and the overwhelming presence it seemed to have forged through a thousand years of battle made it difficult to look upon directly.

The next instant, blinding light burst from the apparition. Blue-gold radiance spread across all of Sea God Lake.

As the light fell, the dark-red evil fire raging around Ma Xiaotao began to tremble violently. As though it had met its natural enemy, it hissed under the golden light and soon vanished entirely.

The old fellows hidden nearby were so stunned by what Xiang Jun had done that none of them could speak.

As the human force on Douluo Continent most familiar with gods, they recognized the mysterious light emanating from the apparition at once.

Sea God's Light!

"Shaozhe, go. This battle is already decided." While Yan Shaozhe and the others were still in a daze, an aged, feeble voice suddenly rang through their minds.

That voice... Mu En?!

They stiffened and turned toward Sea God Island.

"Yes, Teacher." Yan Shaozhe bowed slightly toward Sea God Pavilion, then vanished from where he stood.

At that moment, in an unremarkable room within Sea God Pavilion, a withered figure sat motionless in a wheelchair.

Though he was not present, he had sensed every moment of the battle between Ma Xiaotao and Xiang Jun.