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"Oh? A mere six-ringed Soul Emperor like you dares to trap us with such a massive formation?" The old man's wrinkled face twisted into a smirk. "What? Do you actually think you can keep me here?"
Yet, the response he received was Bai Xu's sword, gleaming in his palm.
The golden blade slashed downward, but the old man remained unshaken, drawing a blood-red demonic saber to block the strike.
Clang!
The force of the collision sent shockwaves through the air, surprising the old man. "How does a mere Soul Emperor possess such strength? To think you could actually force me back!"
Though Bai Xu was flung backward by the recoil, the 95th-ranked old man had also taken a step back—an outcome that left him visibly stunned.
When Bai Xu remained silent, the old man chuckled. "Still not talking? Heh. Let's see if you'll beg for mercy in two minutes."
"Bloodfiend Demonblade!"
Eight black and one red soul ring materialized, unleashing the crushing pressure of a 95th-ranked powerhouse. A surge of energy erupted outward.
"Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul True Body! Boy, don't die from this strike!"
The demonic saber's true form stretched across the sky, a monstrous blade nearly a hundred meters long. Its dark-red surface pulsed as if blood flowed within, and faint wails echoed from its edge—proof of the countless lives it had reaped to achieve such power.
Bai Xu braced himself, his expression solemn. Metal-element energy coalesced within him.
A platinum-white blade expanded to match the demonic saber's size, defying the heavens as it clashed against the descending strike. It was as though Bai Xu had somehow unlocked the power of a Martial Soul True Body himself.
Boom!
The collision triggered a deafening explosion, sending shockwaves and dust rolling outward. The earth split apart, but the formation's barrier prevented the outside world from sensing the battle.
Whoosh!
Two figures emerged from the settling dust. Bai Xu appeared strained, while the old man hovered above, looking down with a hint of admiration.
"Impressive! For someone so young to withstand my Seventh Soul Skill… You have great potential. I can overlook your earlier insolence. Join the Holy Church, and you might even reach the level of the Two Emperors one day."
Though Bai Xu seemed exhausted, his voice remained steady. "Alone, I might not defeat you. But within this formation… that's another matter."
The old man and Yan Jie, who had been lurking nearby for an ambush, were taken aback, wondering if Bai Xu had lost his mind.
But in the next moment, Bai Xu raised a finger and uttered coldly:
"Within this formation, I reign supreme! White Emperor's Metal-Severing Divine Art!"
Hum—
An indescribable gray-white energy radiated from Bai Xu's body, spreading until it filled the entire formation. A razor-sharp aura saturated the air.
Without warning, a blade of gray-white energy materialized before the old man's face, slashing toward him.
Swish!
Though the old man dodged, the blade's edge still grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.
The old man's expression darkened. Then, the earth, the sky, even the withered grass—everything within the formation transformed into swords, their tips all aimed at the two figures in the air.
"Kill."
Bai Xu's command was merciless.
"You insolent brat!" The old man roared, unleashing his full power—no longer holding back his 95th-ranked strength. Yan Jie, too, scrambled to evade the endless onslaught of white blades.
"Ninth Soul Skill, Bloodfiend!"
"Ninth Soul Skill, Demon Scorpion!"
The two unleashed their ultimate techniques, conjuring massive vortices of energy—one crimson, the other black—to fend off the relentless blades.
The battle raged for three full minutes before the storm of blades finally subsided.
When the dust cleared, the old man was riddled with bloody wounds, while Yan Jie had lost an arm, his battle armor in tatters.
"To think a mere child could wound me like this… You cannot be allowed to live! Yan Jie, attack together!" The old man bellowed in fury, determined to end Bai Xu.
But Bai Xu only smirked. "If not for conserving energy to maintain the formation, I could have killed you."
"Arrogant!"
Bai Xu's breathing was labored, his energy clearly depleted. If this continued, the formation might collapse first.
The Demon Scorpion and Bloodfiend Saber True Bodies loomed over the battlefield, both striking at Bai Xu simultaneously.
Yet Bai Xu was not yet spent. He summoned a massive bronze cauldron, which expanded until it dwarfed even their Martial Soul True Bodies.
"Five Elements—Demon-Severing Ring!"
A ring of five-colored energy spiraled within the cauldron, ensnaring the two True Bodies.
Sizzle—
A corrosive sound filled the air.
"Impossible! Are you a Sacred Attribute soul master?!" The old man paled as the demonic energy of his saber was purified—this would weaken his very foundation!
Yan Jie was even more horrified. Bai Xu hadn't even used soul rings—every technique was self-created!
"Raaaagh!"
The two exchanged glances before slamming their True Bodies together, detonating their energy to shatter the restraining rings.
The three combatants stood at a standstill, all heavily wounded and panting. The final clash would decide everything.
"Let's end this."
The bronze cauldron enlarged once more as Bai Xu gripped its leg, swinging it like a weapon.
Clang!
Clang! Clang!
With soul power nearly exhausted, the battle came down to raw physical prowess.
Bai Xu's body shimmered as the Five Elements cycled within him, restoring his energy. The two evil soul masters, however, were being steadily worn down, their reserves dwindling.
Yan Jie's eyes flickered with malice. Glancing at the battered old man, he hesitated—then struck.
A scorpion's tail pierced the old man's chest, tearing a gaping hole as his flesh, soul power, and even his spirit were devoured.
"Heh… Elder, contribute one last thing to your subordinate," Yan Jie sneered.
The old man's eyes widened—
In an instant, the 95th-ranked elder of the Holy Church was dead. Yan Jie's power surged back to its peak.
"Truly, you are a man with the potential to become a god. To push me this far… I'm impressed. But if you have no more tricks, the victory is still mine!"
Bai Xu slowly retracted the cauldron, standing atop his sword. For once, he spoke:
"How did you find me? In the Star Luo Empire, I erased all traces."
Yan Jie grinned. "The Zhong brothers shared a mental link. Their martial souls resonated even in death. I sensed their final moments."
"I see…"
"Then… let's finish this!"
"Demon Scorpion True Body—Life-Sacrificing Puppet!"
Yan Jie finally revealed his trump card—a twin martial soul, switching between forms.
Bai Xu exhaled. "Very well. Let us end this karma."
"Dharma Heavenly Manifestation!"
A colossal five-colored avatar erupted within the formation, towering over the battlefield.
Yan Jie's pupils shrank. As the massive hand descended, he desperately reinforced his True Body, resisting with everything he had.
Bai Xu gritted his teeth. This was a battle of endurance—who could dredge up the last reserves of strength?
"Give up! I'll take your body!" Yan Jie cackled madly, his puppet-form True Body straining against the crushing palm.
"Perish! Five Elements—Demon-Severing Ring!"
Boom!
The moment Yan Jie's True Body was suppressed, the colossal hand slammed down, obliterating everything in its path. The Five Elements churned, reducing him to ash.
The formation dissipated. Sunlight returned.
Bai Xu lay on the ground, breathing heavily but smiling.
"Heh… The recovery speed of the Five Elements at the Meridian Opening stage is far beyond yours."
He rose, gazing into the distance. Without lingering, he vanished beyond the horizon.
He had already left a letter with Ge Mingren at the Spirit Pagoda. Now, it was time to return to the Douluo Continent.
---
One Day Later
The soul communicator buzzed to life.
Gu Yuena's voice came through:
"Let's meet on an island in the sea. Just the two of us."
"Understood."
Bai Xu, currently gliding on his sword just above the ocean, studied the map in his hands. His eyes settled on a dark speck emerging in the distance.