"All right, enough chatting. Pass the combat test first. If you want to talk, you'll have plenty of time afterward."
Chen Yang watched the endlessly chattering Ning Rongrong with a headache brewing. What she had said at first was fairly normal, but the conversation had veered further and further off course.
She had even strayed into girls' private affairs. He really couldn't understand what information she could possibly glean from those things.
Fortunately, Chen Yang stopped her in time, before Ning Rongrong could say anything outrageous. But judging by the shape of her mouth, she had been one breath away from mentioning panties.
Could you possibly understand someone by looking at their panties, the way Uncle Shang Bole judged people by their guns?
Ning Rongrong smacked her lips, still wanting more. Through this conversation, she had gained a basic understanding of Zhu Zhuqing's and Xiao Wu's personalities.
The former was aloof and cold, barely managing a sentence after ages.
The latter was lively and cheerful, even quicker to get friendly than she was, making her a good target for fishing out information.
As for this Chen Yang... a pervert. Those eyes of his... he glanced at Xiao Wu's legs ten times, at Zhu Zhuqing's chest seventeen times, and at my... he didn't look at me... damn it! What do they have that I don't?!
"Hmph!"
Ning Rongrong joined Zhu Zhuqing in the clearing, puffing her cheeks as they faced Zhao Wuji.
Off to the side, Chen Yang used the Blue Silver Emperor's Entanglement skill to make a large lounge chair and sat on it with Xiao Wu in his arms to enjoy the show.
Zhao Wuji lit a stick of incense and flicked it into the ground.
"As long as you last until this incense burns out, you pass."
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong exchanged a glance and quickly activated their Martial Souls.
"Seven Treasures Have Names, First: Strength, Second: Speed!"
Two beams of light shot from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into Zhu Zhuqing's body.
What an incredible boost. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda certainly lives up to its reputation.
She froze for only a moment before immediately lowering her stance, her cold eyes fixed tightly on Zhao Wuji ahead.
"First Soul Skill, Hell Stab!"
As her voice fell, Zhu Zhuqing became a pitch-black afterimage and reached Zhao Wuji in an instant.
Clang-
Her sharp claws raked viciously across the golden barrier around Zhao Wuji, unleashing an ear-piercing clash.
"Netherworld Hundred Claws!"
Dense black claw shadows swept toward the golden barrier around Zhao Wuji in an overwhelming barrage. Piercing clashes rang out one after another, sending sparks flying everywhere.
Yet however densely the claw shadows struck, they never broke through the Immovable Bright King Body's defenses.
Chen Yang shook his head slightly at the sight. The level gap was too great. Even though he had fed Zhu Zhuqing plenty of High-Grade Pokéblocks: Special Attack, which permanently increased the power of her Soul Skills, she still couldn't break through his defenses.
(Zhu Zhuqing, don't forget Cut and Throat Chop. Combined with your Hell Stab, their power can stack.)
Zhu Zhuqing immediately darted backward, swiftly opening up some distance and retreating to Ning Rongrong's side.
Zhao Wuji did not advance to attack either. He simply stood firmly in place, maintaining the defensive golden light of his Immovable Bright King Body.
"Cut."
Ning Rongrong stared in astonishment as a layer of lustrous white light wrapped around Zhu Zhuqing's right claw.
"A Self-Created Soul Skill!"
She instinctively covered her mouth, unable to suppress a quiet gasp. Admiration surged through her heart. This was undoubtedly a rare genius!
"Hell Stab!"
With three speed boosts stacked together, Zhu Zhuqing reached Zhao Wuji in the blink of an eye and swung her right hand hard.
Crack-
Slash-
Blood sprayed as Zhao Wuji looked down in shock at the cut across his abdomen.
Flender's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Was this right?!
Even if Zhao Wuji wasn't using his full strength, a mere Soul Grandmaster shouldn't have been able to break through his defenses!
Chen Yang nodded in satisfaction. Zhu Zhuqing used Cut much better than Xiao Wu did.
Here, Cut worked by compressing Soul Power to its limit, then unleashing it in a single slash. Both its defense-piercing ability and its release speed were exceptional.
With the extra kinetic energy supplied by speed, its power would only grow stronger.
It did have one drawback: its short range required getting close. But a speed advantage could offset that somewhat.
It was better suited to an agility-type Soul Master like Zhu Zhuqing: slash once and run, then slash again and run again.
Seeing that her Self-Created Soul Skill really could wound Zhao Wuji, Zhu Zhuqing's fighting spirit instantly blazed to life, and her gaze grew sharper.
"Cut!"
Zhao Wuji no longer dared let her attack unchecked. He barked in a low voice, "Again? Gravity Enhancement!"
An invisible crushing weight instantly enveloped Zhu Zhuqing. Her body sank sharply, as though enormous, thousand-pound stones had been tied to her feet, and her movement abruptly stalled.
The sharp claw originally aimed at Zhao Wuji veered off course, slashing hard into the ground. A deep, long trench split the hard stone paving on the spot, sending rubble flying everywhere.
(Zhu Zhuqing, can you keep going?)
Zhu Zhuqing knelt on one knee, gritted her teeth, and struggled with all her might, but she could barely stand and move.
(I can't, Brother Yang. Two uses of Cut and several Soul Skills have consumed well over half my Soul Power.)
(Then get ready for the final strike! A Z-Move! Relax now and feel our hearts beating in sync.)
Yes!
Zhu Zhuqing struggled to her feet and slowly closed her eyes.
Thump-thump!
Thump-thump!
I can feel it... is this Master's heartbeat? It's so powerful. It feels so safe...
Chen Yang lifted his left hand slightly, and the Normal-type Z-Crystal sparkled.
Beside him, Xiao Wu felt her scalp prickle as an unpleasant memory surged up. Her right leg twitched involuntarily, and even her voice trembled.
"Brother, isn't that going too far? Zhu Zhuqing's level is so low. She won't be able to take it."
"Trust her. She'll want this power."
Chen Yang stroked Xiao Wu's head, then crossed his hands.
The concealed white light silently poured into Zhu Zhuqing's body.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes snapped open. The Soul Power within her surged wildly beyond her control, and a heavy ring of white energy exploded outward around her!
Standing nearby, Ning Rongrong was completely unprepared. The shock wave knocked her clean off her feet, and she landed on her bottom.
"What secret art is this now? This is terrifying..."
Ignoring the pain in her bottom, Ning Rongrong stared blankly at Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhao Wuji swallowed. Suddenly struck by an ominous premonition, he hurriedly raised his hand to interrupt.
"Wait! I surren-"
"Pulverizing Pancake!"
Zhu Zhuqing charged at Zhao Wuji with utterly terrifying speed, pouring all her Soul Power into her right fist.
Pfft-
Zhao Wuji spat out a mouthful of blood. His Immovable Bright King Body shattered instantly, and his body curled like a cooked shrimp as he flew backward like a cannonball.
Zhu Zhuqing also suffered tremendous recoil, and the bones of her right arm gave a crisp crack.
Boom!!
Zhao Wuji smashed through three wooden houses in succession, sending beams and splinters flying everywhere. Finally, he slammed into the dirt in the distance and passed out, the impact leaving a deep depression in the ground.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing's right arm hung twisted and limp. Cold sweat poured from her in pain, but she gritted her teeth without making a sound, staring straight at the smoke-shrouded wreckage ahead.
"Zhu Zhuqing, are you all right?!"
Xiao Wu teleported to Zhu Zhuqing's side, at a loss for what to do. She wanted to examine the injury but feared hurting her.
[Hell Spirit Cat defeated Great Strength Vajra Bear, gaining 2,660 experience points] [Ding-ding-ding-ding~ Hell Spirit Cat gained 6 levels, reaching level 33]
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