Ning Yuhao's Soul Power was draining rapidly to sustain the Scarlet Flame Demon Bear. To prepare for the fighting ahead, he had no choice but to reduce its supply of Soul Power, but as a result, the Scarlet Flame Demon Bear grew increasingly illusory.
The Scarlet Flame Demon Bear, which had been trading blows evenly with Zhao Wuji, was now being beaten back. In this clash of pure strength, even the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's fine control was of little use. It was being overwhelmed.
Fortunately, the Scarlet Flame Demon Bear had already bought enough time-a full half an incense stick's worth. That was also thanks to Zhao Wuji getting hooked on the fight. Presumably, he rarely had anyone trade blows with him like this, so he had not used his full strength. Otherwise, the battle would likely have ended very quickly.
"Everyone, be careful!" Ning Yuhao poured one final surge of Soul Power into the Scarlet Flame Demon Bear, then cut off the supply.
"Third Soul Skill, Blazing Hell Mountain-Shaking Palm!"
The Scarlet Flame Demon Bear raised both hands high. Its fur turned crimson, as though ablaze, and its body rapidly faded until it was translucent. Its two paws, however, became even more solid than before.
Ning Yuhao controlled the Scarlet Flame Demon Bear, channeling all the Soul Power in its body into this strike, wringing out every last bit of the Soul Power he had given it before it left the field.
"Roar!"
The Scarlet Flame Demon Bear roared furiously and slammed both palms down.
"Immovable Bright King Body!" Utterly fearless, Zhao Wuji unleashed his First Soul Skill.
Everyone felt the earth tremble beneath their feet as absolute attack collided with absolute defense. A wave of heat spread outward from the two at its center, though its range was not very large, only about five meters. Everyone was keeping well away from the two bears and was not caught in it, but the blast of air still forced Ning Rongrong and the other two girls to retreat several steps.
After that single strike, the Scarlet Flame Demon Bear dispersed, turning into a streak of light that returned to the third level of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Strangely, however, after taking that strike, Zhao Wuji stood completely motionless. Just as Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were wondering whether to go up and land a blow to test their attack power, mudstone rose beneath Zhao Wuji's feet.
"Second Soul Skill, Mudstone Barrier!"
Yes, Ning Yuhao had anticipated this situation. Blazing Hell Mountain-Shaking Palm itself had a control effect that could suppress an enemy, but faced with such a vast difference in Soul Power, its effect was not very pronounced. That was why Ning Yuhao had saved it for the final strike.
After that, he summoned the Azure Armored Black Tortoise and used Mudstone Barrier to trap Zhao Wuji and buy time.
Yes, their core strategy was to stall. As for defeating Zhao Wuji outright, that would only barely be possible if Ning Yuhao revealed every trump card he had, and even steeled himself to face certain death.
A forty-level gap in Soul Power was like a heavenly chasm!
The control effect wore off quickly, and Zhao Wuji beat his chest and laughed. "Well done, kid!"
Then he moved to charge out before the Mudstone Barrier could close completely.
"First Soul Skill, Blue Silver Entanglement!"
Although Tang San had been shaken, he had not lost his judgment. He unleashed his First Soul Skill to stop Zhao Wuji.
Numerous strands of Blue Silver Grass rapidly broke through the ground, coiling around Zhao Wuji and binding him.
But Zhao Wuji did not even look at them. Without slowing, he snapped every strand of Blue Silver Grass.
"So fast!" Seeing his First Soul Skill prove almost completely useless, Tang San could not help widening his eyes.
His previously all-conquering Soul Skill was now no different from weeds by the roadside.
With his powerful control, he could claim that not a single strand of Blue Silver Grass had gone to waste.
But for the First Soul Skill of a level twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster to control a level seventy-six Battle Soul Master of the Soul Saint rank was still far too much of a fool's dream!
Finally, just as Zhao Wuji was about to rush out, the Mudstone Barrier closed, forming a round enclosure.
Only this time, the enemy was inside, while Ning Yuhao and the others were outside.
Seeing Zhao Wuji trapped, Ning Rongrong and the other two girls smiled, but Ning Yuhao and Tang San remained poised for battle.
Both of them had personally opposed Zhao Wuji, directly or indirectly, so they naturally knew that this Mudstone Barrier could not possibly hold him.
"Just under half an incense stick left!" Ning Yuhao glanced at the incense stick.
"Brother Sky Dream, come back!"
The little silkworm nodded in a humanlike manner, then turned into a streak of light and returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
After all, this was only a test. He could hardly have the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm use Spiritual Shock on Zhao Wuji. That would be inappropriate.
Besides, merely buying time did not require revealing so many trump cards.
Bang!
A dull thud came from inside the Mudstone Barrier. Clearly, Zhao Wuji was struggling against it. His tremendous strength actually pushed through, leaving the outline of a palm visible from outside. This also demonstrated Zhao Wuji's control over his own strength, with almost none spilling out wastefully.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang, bang, bang!
Zhao Wuji's attacks grew faster and faster, the sounds almost overlapping. Had the Mudstone Barrier been purely rigid, it would likely have cracked long ago.
Even now, things did not look promising. More and more palm and fist imprints appeared on its surface. Finally, with a furious roar from Zhao Wuji, the Mudstone Barrier collapsed completely!
"Tang San! Throw me over!" Ning Yuhao had been waiting for this very moment. He switched to his Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion Martial Soul, cold air surging around his body as ice crystals covered his hands.
The sight startled even Tang San. "Could you be..."
Before he could voice his guess, Tang San heard Ning Yuhao's words and unconsciously obeyed his command. "All right."
A thicker strand of Blue Silver Grass emerged beneath Ning Yuhao's feet and wrapped around his waist. Then, with a swing, Ning Yuhao flew toward Zhao Wuji.
"Hmm?" Zhao Wuji noticed Ning Yuhao too, but paid him little mind. He had already seen that Ning Yuhao's strength lay in his summoned beasts. Now that the boy was actually trying to fight him hand to hand, he could not help shaking his head. "Far too unwise."
Zhao Wuji had already decided that he would properly train Ning Yuhao's combat awareness in the future.
Without much concern, Zhao Wuji held his arm across his body and simply took Ning Yuhao's Ice Empress's Pincer head-on.
At some point, Xiao Wu had also run over. Zhu Zhuqing, on the other hand, had kept following Ning Yuhao's instructions, moving around at a distance.
"Xiao San! Let's do it too! Meteor Human Hammer!"
Seeing Ning Yuhao charge over, and with the scene no longer as intimidating as the battle between the two bears, Xiao Wu felt an itch to join in and attacked Zhao Wuji as well.
Tang San nodded. Thick Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Xiao Wu's body, and she kicked Zhao Wuji over and over.
Having landed his strike, Ning Yuhao naturally did not linger and hurriedly retreated.
Seeing Xiao Wu and Tang San's combination skill, he wore an utterly speechless expression. "Could this be Tang San sweeps the parking lot, Xiao Wu takes a plane ride?!"