Shadow Slash: Leopard Slain, Dragon Wings Newly Formed
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The time flow in the Tower Spirit Space stopped at a ratio of 1.2 to 1. Nan Feng spent six months in seclusion, six months outside, and more than seven months inside the Tower.
In half a year, his Soul Power increased from level 42 to level 45. His meridian walls became completely solid, and his energy flowed smoothly without any obstruction.
"Level 45," Old Huai said. "Five more levels to reach 50. The fourth ring needs to be absorbed at level 50. Give us another three months."
The Nan Feng nodded.
Three months later, his Soul Power broke through level fifty. The nine floors of the tower lit up briefly, and the door to the fourth floor opened a crack, Return to Origin Power to seep out.
"Level 50." Old Huai's voice turned serious. "You can go hunt in the fourth ring now. But I must remind you— the Shadow Leopard Emperor is neither the Ghost-Faced Spider King nor the Earth Fierce Bear King."
"Top-tier Soul Beast aged 32,000 to 100,000 years, possessing mastery of speed, strength, and shadow magic. Their claws can tear apart Tower Realm, and their leopard tails can shatter bones."
Nan Feng stood up. His meridians were strong, his Soul Power was abundant, his Divine Power covered five hundred steps, and he was immune to both ice and fire.
That's enough.
The Old Huai leaped down from the immortal tree. "It's located in a canyon deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, shrouded in shadows and mist year-round. You possess the Treasure-Appraising Spirit Light, so the mist has no effect on you. Its lair is at the deepest part."
"Weakness?"
"Its shadow attribute allows it to blend into the shadows, and its core is its weakness to light. The Tower Suppression can suppress it; its Primordial World Power is a natural counter to shadow. The prerequisite is that you actually encounter it. It's too fast; even after reducing its speed by 30%, it's still twice as fast as you at full speed. You'll have to use Shrinking the Ground to an Inch."
Nan Feng nodded. He was at the second level of the Hell Road Shrinking the Ground to an Inch, taking twenty steps in one stride. With the addition of Shadow Step, he barely managed to keep up.
"And," Old Huai lowered his voice, "It has a mate, a 20,000-year-old Shadow Leopard Empress, and they're a tricky pair. You'll have to lure the queen away."
"Leopard Queen, I'll lure her away," Nan Feng said. "I have a plan."
Three days later, deep within the Star Dou Great Forest.
The canyon was shrouded in black mist. Nan Feng unfurled the Tower Realm, and a luminous membrane separated the fog. The Treasure-Appraising Spirit Light spread out a five-hundred-step map, revealing two dark red dots—the Leopard King and Queen.
He stepped into the canyon, swept past the Shadow Wolf, and crushed the bats.
Five hundred steps, four hundred steps, three hundred steps.
He stopped behind the withered tree. A hundred paces away, on an ancient tree that had stood for thousands of years, the Leopard King lay on the highest branch, its fur jet black, with a silver-white lightning bolt pattern on its forehead. The Leopard Queen lay on the lower part.
Nan Feng took out the Thousand-Year Soul Beast, imbued it with Divine Power fluctuations, and threw it to the side.
The piece of meat landed on the ground. The leopard's ears perked up, and it leaped down from the ancient tree, chasing after the creature into the mist.
The Leopard King raised its head, its golden leopard eyes looking towards the withered tree.
"We've been discovered," Old Huai said.
Nan Feng emerged, and the Tower Realm went into full force. The Leopard King leaped down from the ancient tree, landing silently. The mist receded to both sides.
The Leopard King saw the Soul Ring: the first ring was yellow, almost purple; the second ring was purple; and the third ring was black. Three-Ring Soul Elder, carrying a ten- Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.
The Leopard King moved.
A dark shadow flashed past, Nan Feng was sent flying, crashing into two withered trees and breaking them. Three deep claw marks were visible on his chest, and blood soaked through his outer robe. A layer of the Tower Realm shattered.
"Top left!" Old Huai shouted.
The Nan Feng moved three steps horizontally, Shrinking the Ground to an Inch. A dark shadow swept past, and the leopard's tail lashed the ground, carving a three-foot-deep trench into the rock.
Nan Feng adjusted its posture in mid-air, and Tower Shadow Return to Origin exploded beneath Leopard King's feet, reducing its speed by 30%. Leopard King transformed into a shadow, broke free, and disappeared into the mist.
"Its shadow attribute grants it partial immunity to gravity suppression!" Old Huai shouted, "Use your Primordial World Power!"
The Nan Feng landed. The Primordial World Imprint lit up, and golden power poured into the tower.
The nine stories of the tower trembled simultaneously. The door on the fourth floor opened. The Nan Feng slowed the flow of Soul Power within a hundred steps around him, and the Leopard King's speed fell into his capture range.
The Nan Feng blows, and this time there's no need for defense.
Bone Spike sprang from the left arm. The leopard's claws ripped towards the throat, but Nan Feng dodged to the side and took the hit. A bloody hole was pierced through the leopard king's right claw.
The Leopard King roared, but did not retreat. Its tail swept across, striking Nanfeng in the side. Nan Feng crashed into the stone wall, blood gushing from his mouth.
But the Nan Feng laughed.
After its right paw was injured, the Leopard King slowed down. Nan Feng slid down the stone wall, and Tower Return to Origin once again suppressed the attack. It moved to the side by Shrinking the Ground to an Inch, and the Bone Spike pierced straight into its neck. The Leopard King shook its head to avoid it.
The battle lasted a day.
The Leopard King grew slower and slower. Nan Feng broke three ribs, dislocated his left arm, and had a two-foot gash torn in his back. He did not fall. Tower Shadow Return to Origin repaired the damage, and Mountain Suppression Art deflected the force into the ground.
Finally, the Leopard King lay on the ground, covered in wounds. His right paw was pierced through, and the wound on his left shoulder was so deep that the bone was exposed.
Nan Feng walked up to it, the Bone Spike pressing against its forehead.
"You are very strong," Nan Feng said, "But I have a longer road ahead of me."
The Leopard King closed its eyes and let out a whimper. Nan Feng plunged the Bone Spike into its forehead.
A black Soul Ring rose from its body, hovering before it with a shadowy glow.
Guiding the Soul Ring.
Nan Feng sat cross-legged, drawing the Soul Ring into his body. A torrent of shadow flowed into his meridians, causing his bones to shatter densely. The shadow attribute eroded the walls of his meridians.
"Open all four levels to suppress them!" Old Huai shouted.
The Power of Devouring transforms energy into tower energy. The Power of Creation repairs the meridian walls. The Return to Origin Power suppresses destructive force to a minimum. Both patterns shine to their fullest extent.
The Nan Feng Circulates the Mountain Suppression Art. Golden light surges from the depths of the soul, and the shadow attribute is transformed inch by inch. The skin cracks, and blood flows from the seven orifices.
Four days and four nights.
At dawn on the fifth day, the Soul Ring was completely absorbed. The Soul Power increased from level 50 to level 54. The Primordial World Power in the dantian gained a touch of dark, eerie light.
Fourth Soul Skill: Tower Shadow - Return to Origin.
Two-layered effect. The first layer is the appearance of a tower shadow under the target's feet, exerting a powerful gravitational suppression, even stronger than Tower Suppression Mountain Suppression. The second layer is the Return to Origin Power to repair damage to oneself and allies, continuously restoring health during battle.
A dark Soul Bone hangs beside the Leopard King's corpse. It is an External Soul Bone the spine, long and wing-like, covered with dark shadow patterns, and is 100,000 years old.
Old Huai exclaimed excitedly, "External Soul Bone the spine! It can even fuse with the chest Soul Bone to form wings. If you fuse your ancient chest Soul Bone with it, you'll be able to fly!"
Nan Feng introduced the Soul Bone into his body. Two new bones grew on either side of his spine and fused with the Soul Bone in his chest. Excruciating pain spread from his spine.
The skin on his back was stretched open, flesh torn and then healed. A pair of dragon wings unfolded, with a wingspan of three zhang.
The spine has two External Soul Bone, which are skills.
First Soul Bone Skill: Dragon Wing - Suppressing Heaven. When the dragon wings unfold, they release a wide-range suppression, and the flow of Soul Power within a hundred steps below the wings is halved.
Second Soul Bone Skill: Dragon Wing - Sky Slash. The dragon wings retract and transform into two dark gold wing blades, cutting through space and ignoring most defenses.
After absorbing the Soul Bone, Nan Feng used the Return to Origin Power to stabilize his foundation, and his Soul Power increased by one level, from level 54 to level 55.
The dragon wings folded, fitting snugly against the sides of the spine. With a thought, they unfolded, their wingspan reaching three zhang, their speed far exceeding that of ordinary flying Soul Master.
The fourth tower door was fully pushed open, Return to Origin Power surged out, repairing the hidden damage. Star patterns spread from the middle section, and a dark gold star map covered the tower body.
The fourth evolution is complete.
"Level 55 now." Old Huai stepped forward. "From 50 to 55, you've gained five levels. Your Soul Power increased too quickly. You need to settle down for a year, stabilize at level 60, before heading to the Far North to find the Frost Giant Dragon."
Nan Feng nodded. He sensed within his body: his meridians were strong, his dantian was full, and his dragon wings could be extended and retracted at will.
"There's one more thing," Old Huai's voice turned strange, "The plan to lure the leopard away. What was that Divine Power fluctuation on that piece of meat?"
Nan Feng's lips curved slightly. "Ye Lingling's begonia blossom aura. The leopard queen followed the healing aura, only to realize she'd been tricked and think Soul Master skilled in healing had arrived."
Old Huai was silent for a moment, then cursed, "You brat, you even carry Ye Lingling's healing pills with you?"
Nan Feng didn't answer. He stood up.
It was already dark when we emerged from the canyon. The night wind carried the scent of pine resin and humus.
Within the Tower Spirit Space, the blue lotus rotated, its nine seeds pulsating in sync with the heartbeat. Star patterns glowed in the darkness.
"Let's go." Nan Feng turned and walked towards the southwest. "Let's find a safe place to settle down for a year. After a year, we'll go to the Far North."
Old Huai returned to the fairy tree, muttering "brat." Shifang poked his head out. "Brother Nan—the grilled fish is ready, want some?"
"Eat."
Nan Feng found an abandoned campsite at the edge of the forest, set up defenses, and sat down cross-legged. His Soul Power was stuck at level 55. He couldn't absorb his Fifth Soul Ring until he reached level 60.
One year later, in the Far North.
The Frost Giant Dragon awaits him. Deeper still, the stories of the Ice Empress and the Snow Empress also await him.
The red ribbon fluttered in the cold wind. Nan Feng stood at the edge, watching the dragon shadow in the snowstorm, and took a breath.
"Bring it on."