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In an instant, the two Spirit Saints were struck with sheer terror, their souls nearly fleeing their bodies. Soul rings ignited one after another across their forms, unleashing a barrage of soul skills in a desperate bid to break free from the encircling insect swarm. Amid their struggle, a deafening crash erupted between them. Green light clashed with gray energy as fourteen emerald light swords finally met the Green-Eyed Demon Wolf's martial soul true body head-on.
The gray energy effortlessly overpowered the green radiance. Twelve of the light swords managed to stall the giant wolf for only a fleeting moment before they fractured, inch by inch, and vanished into thin air.
Yet, in that same breath, four additional green arcs, lagging slightly behind struck first, slamming into the giant wolf's back.
A symphony of crackling thunder filled the air. After releasing faint golden electric arcs, the four green lights pierced through the massive wolf's body with ease. The Green-Eyed Demon Wolf let out a wretched howl, collapsed to the ground, and rapidly shrank, leaving behind nothing but Durant's lifeless corpse.
Ning Tian let out a soft "huh" of surprise.
Moments ago, he had deployed his third soul skill, Sword Shadow, without summoning any clones. Instead, he relied solely on the four Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Swords released through his sword domain to conjure twelve "weapon soul clones."
Even with the amplification of his first soul skill, they shattered under pressure. It was clear now, attacks wielding just a third of his full power were nowhere near enough to handle a Spirit Saint. They could only serve as a diversion.
That said, the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder proved its worth. He hadn't even needed to actively trigger his fourth soul skill; its passive effect alone effortlessly tore through Durant's body, a Spirit Saint in his Green-Eyed Demon Wolf martial soul true body state.
Meanwhile, the Fire Lion Spirit Saint, ensnared by the Gold-Devouring Beetles, had already been consumed entirely beneath their relentless swarm. Witnessing this, the Vajra Tiger Soul Saint, also trapped by the insects and clinging to survival through his martial soul's defenses, went pale as death. "Impossible! You can control two martial souls at once? Who are you?" A layer of green light cloaked his body, his face a mask of disbelief.
Under normal circumstances, even for someone with twin martial souls, manifesting both simultaneously was the absolute limit; no one could wield their attack power at the same time. Switching between them was the only option. Yet Ning Tian not only activated both martial souls in unison but had also dispatched two of his comrades with chilling ease right from the start. How could this not plunge him into abject terror?
Ning Tian had no interest in entertaining the question. With a flick of his hand, his fourth soul ring flared to life. A pale green light flashed, and a Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword, crackling with faint golden thunder, struck the green barrier, blasting a hole through it. The Gold-Devouring beetles surged in through the breach.
"No—" The Vajra Tiger Soul Saint's scream was cut short as the swarm engulfed him. His body convulsed briefly before he was devoured completely, not even a splinter of bone left behind.
Ning Tian chuckled inwardly: 'A Vajra Tiger martial soul, yet he chose a wood-attribute soul beast for his seventh soul ring. No wonder he could hold off the Gold-Devouring beetles for a moment.'
By now Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling and Zhu Qing stood frozen, their jaws dropped. They had assumed Jiansheng would step in, after all, for a Titled Douluo, crushing three mere Spirit Saints would be child's play.
But never in their wildest dreams did they expect Ning Tian, a mere Spirit Ancestor, to single-handedly obliterate three Spirit Saints in an instant.
"Speechless, huh? This kid's a freak. That pale golden thunder and those insects? They're tailor-made for slaughtering foes above his rank. I can't even imagine what he'll be like as a Titled Douluo," Jiansheng remarked, appearing beside Louise unnoticed.
As he directed the Gold-Devouring beetles to consume Durant's remains, Ning Tian turned to him. "Senior, please take Teacher and Lingling to our old base to absorb the soul bones. Zhuqing and I have one more matter to attend to."
"Go on, go on," Jiansheng waved dismissively, not prying into their plans. As long as this kid treated his daughter well, that was all that mattered. Learning Zhu Qing had secured yet another soul bone, his grin stretched ear to ear.
…..
Elsewhere, after parting from Flanders with Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun in tow, Xiao Wu led the pair on a seemingly aimless trek. Before long, they arrived at a small grove near Spirit City.
"Xiao Wu, is Third Brother really here?" Dai Mubai asked for what felt like the hundredth time. It wasn't eagerness to see Tang San driving him, it was fear. Who knew if Dai Weisi had assassins lying in wait?
"Little blacky said he'd meet me here. Just wait patiently," Xiao Wu replied, her tone growing icy and detached.
Ma Hongjun frowned. "Xiao Wu, what's with you? Boss Dai's just asking. No need to snap, right?"
Xiao Wu said nothing. She leaped onto a nearby tree, sat cross-legged, and closed her eyes to meditate.
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, however, were in no mood to meditate. Dai Mubai, especially, felt a gnawing unease. Until he laid eyes on Tang San and Tang Hao, peace eluded him.
…
A short while later, two sets of footsteps approached from behind.
"Third Brother…" Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun spun around, expecting Tang San and Tang Hao. Instead, they froze. It wasn't them, it was Ning Tian and Zhu Zhuqing.
Spotting them, Xiao Wu leaped down with a burst of excitement and flung herself at Ning Tian. "Little Six!"
Ning Tian caught her in his arms, earning a sidelong glance from Zhu Zhuqing that seemed to say, 'Since when are you two a thing?' He shot back a look promising, 'I'll explain later,' then turned to Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun. "Gentlemen, we meet again."
"Ning Tian, what's your plan?" Dai Mubai growled through clenched teeth. Seeing Xiao Wu in Ning Tian's embrace, paired with her newfound maturity of late, it clicked; Xiao Wu had long been won over by Ning Tian. And now, she'd lured him here for a purpose that needed no guessing.
Ma Hongjun, meanwhile, crumpled in fear. With a thud, he dropped to his knees before Ning Tian. "Boss Ning, mercy! If it's revenge you want, take it up with Dai Mubai. Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Oscar made me talk trash about you!"
"Fatty, what the hell are you blabbering about?" Dai Mubai snapped, stunned by Ma Hongjun's instant betrayal.
But Ma Hongjun ignored him, kowtowing frantically and begging for forgiveness.
Xiao Wu, still nestled in Ning Tian's arms, spoke up. "Little Six, don't buy it. Not long ago, this fatso was still bad mouthing you with Dai Mubai."
Ning Tian glanced at Ma Hongjun and shook his head. "Truth be told, you didn't have to die." He hadn't initially intended to kill this flip-flopper but his fate was sealed the moment he tagged along.
At those words, Ma Hongjun scrambled to flee, but before he could rise, a green flash streaked forth. It pierced his chest, pinning him to a tree a short distance away.
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