Self-detonation, doubts

"Why is that Three-Legged Golden Crow so powerful?!!"

Shrek's many inner court disciples looked bewildered, yet carried a trace of indescribable shock.

Quite a few looked toward Wu Ming.

She was a Golden Crow too, so why was the gap between the two... greater than that between a person and a dog?

"How would I know!" Wu Ming flushed, saying in embarrassed irritation, "Maybe... because that's a Three-Legged Golden Crow?"

Shrek Academy had explored far too little of the Golden Crow's potential.

After all, no one knew that it was the sun's true form. Even Mu En had only regarded it as a strange bird that commanded relatively powerful flames, never once drawing any connection to the sun.

But now.

Only when Lu Cheng fully revealed the true form of the Three-Legged Golden Crow.

"There's nothing I can do. Even if I knew the secret of the Golden Crow Martial Soul, I couldn't bring out its potential." Wu Ming gazed up at the figure hidden within that blazing sun in the sky, and at the Three-Legged Golden Crow, her eyes wistful and filled with emotion.

"My talent falls far short..."

"Only he can reveal the Golden Crow's true strength."

As she spoke, she could even feel the Martial Soul inside her stirring restlessly, as though it too wanted to soar into the heavens and circle that blazing sun, bowing its head and living at its mercy.

"..."

Hearing this, the surrounding inner court disciples wore complicated expressions.

If they had a choice, who would want to be his enemy?

"Putting on a mysterious act! In that case, let this old woman test what you're really made of!" The corner of Elder Song's eye twitched. Behind her, the azure divine eagle became an azure shadow at a speed ordinary people could scarcely perceive, launching a surprise attack at Lu Cheng's back.

But in the next instant.

Lu Cheng's expression remained calm. At some unknown point, a flaming bow had appeared in his palm. Two fingers of his other hand drew back three arrows, then slowly released them.

The three arrows transformed into three Golden Crows.

Bearing Fire of Essence Sun, they surged forth.

And just as Elder Song was about to reach him in her surprise attack, her hand shaped into an eagle's claw, she slashed toward Lu Cheng's back with power that seemed capable of tearing space apart.

An arrow, however, had come shooting from behind her at some unknown point.

The scorching flames made Song Yunzhi feel the immense terror between life and death. Even her soul cried out in anguish, sensing a hint of annihilation into ash.

If I don't dodge, I'll die...

Song Yunzhi gritted her teeth, forced to dart aside.

Yet that figure remained standing with his back to her, never even turning his head. His eyes slowly closed, and the crimson arrow swept past Song Yunzhi's side, returning to Lu Cheng.

It transformed into a Three-Legged Golden Crow.

Of the other two arrows, one shot toward Xian Lin'er and exploded upon contact with her, unleashing a disturbance that shook heaven and earth, while the other flew back.

At the same time, a crimson barrier condensed around Lu Cheng. Both arrows circled outside it, transforming into two Three-Legged Golden Crows that wheeled around him, protecting his body without a single blind spot.

And at that moment, no one dared approach again.

"Pfft..."

With just one blow, Xian Lin'er turned pale and spat blood. Qian Duoduo also pulled back in time to guard her side, his small eyes studying Lu Cheng with considerable wariness.

"So this is him?"

Wei Ling'er's eyes were complicated as she gazed up at that mighty figure standing tall between heaven and earth. His back alone was enough to make countless people tremble.

Young girls admired the strong, and naturally, she too had liked him when she was younger.

But now...

Only rueful sighs remained.

After all, it was said that even Zhang Lexuan, that fellow's childhood sweetheart, had been used and abandoned, ending up utterly miserable. Although she had crossed paths with him before, she did not dare hope that she would be spared after the Holy Spirit Cult won.

"What a freak..." Lang Ya's eyes filled with emotion.

He fought an Evil Soul Master at the Soul Douluo level while dividing his attention, the formidable spiritual power of his brain Martial Soul surging forth to support his other companions nearby.

Back then, he could still fight him.

But now... the other man could already enter the highest-level battlefield, pressing a host of top experts so hard they could scarcely breathe.

That declaration back then, that everyone present was trash-it seemed he had no choice but to accept it.

Sunset Forest.

Within a valley of beautiful scenery.

On a patch of grass, Ma Xiaotao lay curled up, tear tracks still at the corners of her eyes. Her body suddenly twitched, and her lively phoenix eyes slowly opened, surveying her surroundings in confusion.

"Where is he?"

A sense of foreboding rose in Ma Xiaotao's heart.

A pair of fiery wings instantly sprouted from her back, and she shot into the air in a flash.

Yet her body felt light, and the Evil Fire within her, so dense it was almost abnormal, was now extraordinarily steady and calm, showing not the slightest sign of erupting...

"This is..."

Ma Xiaotao paused in midair, sensing the changes within her.

Her Martial Soul had advanced!

It was no longer the impure Evil Fire Phoenix it had once been, but a Divine Fire Phoenix bearing Fire of Sun Essence, which was even slightly above Ultimate Fire!

Even her Soul Power had broken through several levels in succession.

But at that moment, Ma Xiaotao felt no happiness at all. Instead, she flew frantically out of the valley toward Shrek Academy, her eyes somewhat numb, even fearful.

A line of clear tears slowly flowed down.

She bit her lip hard, her phoenix eyes fixed firmly ahead.

"Faster, faster..."

"Bastard, you're always like this. Do I need you to do this? Stop being so moved by yourself, you bastard..."

Curses left her mouth, but tears fell from the corners of her eyes like beads from a broken string, drop by drop.

Swept up by the breeze around her, they drifted off to places unknown.

"You mustn't die."

An entire night.

Above Shrek Academy.

The Golden Ancient Tree's protective barrier grew ever dimmer, while Mu En above it was covered in wounds, long since stripped of last night's imposing might. His originally jet-black hair had turned entirely snow-white, and even its tips were stained with traces of blood.

His body was terribly hunched, and he coughed up blood from time to time.

The phantom of the Radiant Sacred Dragon behind him had also dimmed until it seemed it would shatter at a touch.

Opposite him, Ye Xishui had likewise fought until her face was pale. She clutched her chest, forcibly suppressing her injuries.

The Death God Tower behind her had been crushed to dust, its remains fallen somewhere unknown.

She too was an arrow at the end of its flight.

They were only waiting for the other to reveal the slightest opening, and then victory or defeat would be decided.

On Long Xiaoyao's side, Du Busi had lost an arm. The imposing green giant had long since become a figure drenched in blood, and Xuan Zi had lost half his life as well, one of his Taotie horns forcibly snapped off.

Although Long Xiaoyao was not faring well either, his complexion was fairly good compared with the others.

Lu Cheng, the sole focus of the entire battlefield.

Had likewise suffered grievous injuries.

What baffled countless people was that he had clearly overwhelmed Elder Song, Xian Lin'er, and Qian Duoduo. His Martial Soul alone was like a blazing sun, pressing Shrek until it could scarcely breathe, yet he was growing weaker and weaker like a ball leaking air.

More and more powerless.

Though Elder Song and the other two had also suffered significant injuries, he should never have been in such a sorry state...

And just as dawn was about to break.

Du Busi and Xuan Zi exchanged a glance.

Their bodies abruptly swelled, and they flew toward Long Xiaoyao like madmen, their intent speaking for itself.

Self-detonation!