Sword Grass
The three nodded, but faced with those Sword Grass stalks nearly as tall as a person, they were at a loss for what to do.
This thing is born with sword energy; the sharp edges of its leaves can cut through Soul Power protection. You'll definitely suffer if you try to fight it head-on at close range.
Tang San tentatively raised the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, and the arrows in the casket shot out with a whooshing sound, accurately striking the outermost Sword Grass.
However, the moment the arrow touched the edge of the Sword Grass leaf, there was a crisp sound of metal colliding with stone—the arrow struck the Sword Grass leaf and sparked a few times before being sliced in two by the sword energy flowing on the leaf, falling to the ground with a clang.
Dugu Bo stood on a boulder behind him, arms crossed, his long, dark green hair fluttering slightly in the morning breeze, a half-smile playing on his lips. "So? Do you need my help?"
Wang Xingyu didn't mince words, "Sure."
"Dream on." Dugu Bo snorted, his emerald green snake eyes sweeping over the three of them. "Or use the three things I promised."
Wang Xingyu ignored him and actually missed Fatty a little. If he had Phoenix Fire Line, it would be much easier to deal with. He turned to Tang San and said, "Little San, send both Blue Silver Grass at once to test its attack range."
Tang San didn't ask any further questions. Two Blue Silver vines simultaneously emerged from his palms, wrapping around the nearest Sword Grass from the left and right.
As soon as the vines entered within three feet of the Sword Grass, the leaves of the Sword Grass trembled violently, and several sword energies shot out from the edges of the leaves, drawing several cold silver arcs in the air. The two vines were as if they had been thrown into a meat grinder, instantly being cut into dozens of pieces, which fell to the ground in scattered pieces.
"The attack range is three feet, and the sword energy is triggered faster than expected." Tang San retracted the remaining vines, his brows slightly furrowed.
If the surface doesn't work, then we'll go underground.
Tang San nodded, and the Blue Silver vines extended again, this time not attacking head-on, but instead burrowing into the soil close to the ground.
The vines slowly extended underground, bypassing the area covered by the Sword Grass leaves, gradually approaching its root system from below.
Just as the vine was about to touch the roots, the entire Sword Grass plant suddenly trembled—a very thin layer of sword energy also covered its roots. As soon as the vine touched the edge of the roots, it was shredded to pieces by that layer of sword energy.
Tang San retracted the broken vine and shook his head. "There's also sword energy protection underground, but the reaction is a little slower than on the ground."
Wang Xingyu pondered for a moment, then turned to Xiao Wu: "Xiao Wu, you rush over there, and once you're within its attack range, use Moon Shadow to create afterimages to confuse it, then immediately Teleportation back. Give it a try, see if it works? Old Monster, keep an eye on it."
Xiao Wu tossed her scorpion braid behind her back. "Okay."
Dugu Bo gave a faint "hmm".
She took a deep breath, lightly touched the ground with her toes, and charged directly towards the nearest Sword Grass.
The moment she stepped within three feet, the Sword Grass leaves trembled violently, and sharp sword energy instantly locked onto her position. Just as the sword energy was about to burst forth, Xiao Wu's First Soul Ring lit up, Moon Shadow was activated, and two afterimages split to the left and right. Her true body was enveloped in scarlet light at the same moment, and her Third Soul Ring lit up simultaneously— Teleportation.
With a few hissing sounds, the sword energy pierced through the afterimages, shredding the two phantoms into fragments, while Xiao Wu had already retreated steadily back between Wang Xingyu and Tang San.
"It really did try to cut my afterimage!" Xiao Wu steadied herself, her scorpion braid still swaying slightly. "When I rushed in, I sensed that there was a brief moment when I could grab it while it was releasing its sword energy."
Wang Xingyu closed his fan and tapped it twice in his palm. "Xiao Wu, you stay on the ground and attract the Sword Grass's attention. Don't get close, just draw its attacks. Little San, I'll use Symbiosis to transfer my First Soul Skill, Life Drain, to you. You sneak underground, and while the Sword Grass is attacking, use Blue Silver Grass to entangle its roots, then absorb its Soul Power."
They both nodded at the same time.
Xiao Wu lightly touched the ground with her toes and rushed towards the Sword Grass. As soon as she stepped into the range of sword energy, the Sword Grass trembled violently, and the sharp sword energy instantly locked onto her position.
Instead of forcing her way in, Xiao Wu moved sideways along the edge of the attack range, releasing Moon Shadow to draw attention from above.
The vines quietly emerged from the ground and precisely wrapped around the roots of the Sword Grass. Wang Xingyu's Symbiosis synchronization was activated, transferring his First Soul Skill Life Drain, to Tang San.
Taking advantage of the moment the Sword Grass attacked, the Blue Silver Grass tightened its grip, and Life Drain sucked away a bit of Soul Power along the surface of its roots. For the Ten-Thousand-Year Sword Grass, it was equivalent to a mosquito bite.
But its roots sensed it instantly—several sword energies shot out from the roots, twisting the Blue Silver vines wrapped around the roots into several pieces.
Tang San retracted the remaining vines, his brow furrowing slightly. "Absorbing too little at once, but it does deplete its Soul Power."
Dugu Bo stood on the boulder behind him, arms crossed.
"Heh, attract attention on the surface, secretly draw Soul Power underground. Although you can't draw much at once, after several draws, even the strongest Soul Beast will gradually weaken. This method might actually be able to wear it down to death."
But don't be too happy yet. The three of you are draining its Soul Power, and it is also draining yours. It's a matter of whose Soul Power Soul Power lasts longer—whether the three of you can't hold on first, or whether it will be drained dry first.
Wang Xingyu tucked his fan into his waistband and gestured with his chin towards Dugu Bo was perched on the boulder. "Old Monster, just you wait and see."
Dugu Bo snorted but didn't say anything.
The three began repeating the same movements. Xiao Wu moved back and forth in front, releasing Moon Shadow to attract attacks.
Tang San's Blue Silver vines reached underground again and again, each time precisely entangling the roots. Life Drain along the surface of the roots through Symbiosis transfer, extracting a trace of Soul Power.
During this time, Tang San also took out the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, which contained poison arrows that he had previously refined at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He didn't need to hit the target; he only needed to hit the soil next to it.
Wang Xingyu then used his Second Soul Skill to restore Xiao Wu's Soul Power. And so, the Sword Grass endured the torment of the three for the entire morning.
Dugu Bo had changed positions several times on the boulder—first standing, then sitting, and then simply sitting cross-legged, occasionally opening one eye to peek at the battle, then closing it again to continue resting.
By noon, the Sword Grass finally showed signs of fatigue. The sword aura at the edges of its leaves had dimmed considerably, and its once sharp edge, capable of cutting through iron like mud, could now barely sever a few vines. Several of its once straight, sword-shaped leaves, pointing straight to the sky, had drooped down, and the dark green veins eroded by the toxins had spread deep into the veins.
Dugu Bo opened his eyes, looked at the Sword Grass that had been worn down to the point of near death, and his lips twitched slightly. He said that these Little Monster were really good at wearing down the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
He lowered his arm, glanced at the three of them, and considered that the first hurdle had been overcome; now it was time for the Soul Shock test.