The Ghost realized he couldn't break through this strange blood-red barrier, so he focused all his attention on Oscar.
Just as he had said, as long as Oscar was dealt with, the barrier would naturally collapse on its own.
Feeling the immense pressure from the barrier, the Ghost immediately unleashed his Martial Soul True Body, transforming into a gigantic black specter. His level 95 soul power erupted in full force, ghostly flames flickering within his enormous pupils,terrifying and eerie.
The chilling ghostly shadow seemed to be formed by countless spirits gathering together. A freezing aura spread in all directions as its massive claw reached toward Oscar.
Facing the incoming claw, Oscar curved his right hand into a claw shape and struck out. A massive black tiger claw instantly condensed.
"Dark Demon Evil God Claw!"
The two enormous claw marks collided, instantly stirring up violent energy waves within the blood-red world.
Their claws clashed evenly, neither side gaining the advantage. The next moment, a brilliant sword light swept toward the ghostly figure, sharp enough to cleave the heavens.
"Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts!"
Facing the terrifying sword light, the ghostly giant quietly split apart, transforming into countless ghost shadows that surged toward Oscar. Each ghost's claw gleamed with a deadly dark light.
Countless ghosts lunged at Oscar. "Soul-Devouring Claw!"
A faint light appeared in Oscar's pupils, and the soul core in his dantian began to surge violently.
Under the effect of his elemental soul core, and with his soul power rapidly depleting, all the elements he possessed,fire, ice, wind, lightning, darkness, evil, time, and space,reached their extreme state.
"Hurricane!"
With a simple gesture, a storm capable of shredding everything appeared out of thin air, tearing the incoming ghosts apart.
"Thunder!"
He stepped forward, and the entire blood-red world seemed to tremble as heavenly lightning descended. Thunder roared across the sky, striking toward Ghost Douluo.
The explosive thunderclaps rang out, and the Ghost felt sheer terror. He never imagined the opponent he faced possessed such a horrifying lightning power.
Even the old dragon of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan might not have this ability.
But that wasn't the end. Alongside the hurricane and thunder, blazing flames erupted.
"Flames!"
Another element that restrained his ghostly martial soul appeared. Ghost's face changed drastically under the immense pressure.
He no longer thought of defeating Oscar. If he didn't find a way to break through the barrier now, he might be trapped here forever.
What he couldn't understand was how a soul master of his same special type could simultaneously control so many terrifying elemental powers.
And just moments ago, all those elements had reached their peak form.
The Ghost had lost all confidence in facing Oscar. Escaping would already be considered a blessing.
Moreover, the Sword Sect actually hid such a strange and powerful Titled Douluo. He had to take this news back, or the Sword Sect's future threat to the Spirit Hall would be unimaginable.
Most importantly, what about Oscar? Wasn't he supposed to be out alone obtaining a new soul ring after breaking through level 60?
Now the Ghost realized,the information they had received was fake. He didn't doubt Ailan, since Ailan had long been tied to them.
So… either there was a traitor within the Spirit Hall, or the Sword Sect had already been wary of Ailan, and this was merely a test for him.
Thinking of this, the Ghost stopped attacking and began to gather all his remaining power at a single point.
He still had a trump card.
"Nether Wraiths of Hell!"
His ninth soul skill finally exploded forth. A vast wail echoed across heaven and earth as countless evil spirits roared in fury and surged outward in all directions.
Like moths drawn to a flame, they rushed toward the extreme thunder and flames, their screams echoing endlessly.
Within the countless specters, a faint spatial fluctuation flickered and vanished. In this blood-red world formed entirely of spiritual and soul power, the fluctuation disappeared almost instantly.
But Oscar raised his brow slightly as he noticed the frenzied specters throwing themselves into the flames.
"A soul bone skill…" The Ghost's martial soul was too unique and lacked a physical form, but its spiritual power couldn't be hidden.
Yet these specters carried no trace of spiritual fluctuation at all. Oscar frowned. "A space-type soul bone skill?"
Oscar swung his sword once more. The specters vanished into nothing under the thunder and flames, dissolving like smoke.
He escaped…
Ghost Douluo actually escaped?
Although Oscar was only using a clone, its power was identical to his real body. His blood-red barrier formed from a hundred-thousand-year soul bone could only be broken in two ways,by killing Oscar or by Oscar dismissing it.
Aside from those, only one other power could do so,spatial power.
Yet even though Oscar possessed near-ultimate control over space, he had only sensed a faint ripple…
The Ghost was hiding a great secret.
Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to escape this crimson world so easily.
After retracting the soul bone skill, Oscar returned to the snowy plains, landing beside Xu Kun's corpse.
He extended his spiritual and spatial senses to the limit, but there was no trace of the Ghost. He was truly gone, without a trace.
This surprised Oscar greatly. With his current strength, he could deal with a level 95 Titled Douluo at full power.
Especially since his extreme lightning and extreme fire perfectly countered the Ghost's martial soul,how could the Ghost still escape?
In truth, it was precisely because of those restraining attributes that the Ghost lost the will to fight. Escape was his only option.
Otherwise, against either the extreme lightning or the extreme flames, he stood no chance.
Oscar was only level 79. Even with his immense foundation, there was still over ten levels between him and a level 95 Titled Douluo. Against other Titled Douluo, he might not have been able to win.
But because the Ghost's martial soul was directly restrained, Oscar hadn't been afraid at all and hadn't even thought of using his Life-and-Death Arena.
And yet, the Ghost escaped.
Fortunately, Oscar had never revealed his soul rings. When the opponent mistook him for a Sword Sect expert in disguise, Oscar simply went along with it.
Though now, Ailan's usefulness might be compromised.
Oscar thought for a while, then decided to return to the Sword Sect with Xu Kun's corpse first.
Since his clone also possessed a soul core, with its help and the recovery sausage, his soul power quickly replenished. Carrying Xu Kun's body, he sped toward the Sword Sect.
Since the Ghost escaped, he had to make some preparations.
In a lifeless snowfield, a ghostly shadow suddenly appeared. The black figure opened his eyes, filled with the joy of surviving death.
"The Sword Sect hid such a strong expert… I burned through so much soul energy just to escape. One moment later, and I'd be dead."
The Ghost was now almost completely drained. Though he survived, only he knew the price he had paid.
Though he had escaped death, he had no hope of advancing further. His lifespan was greatly reduced, and even his ghostly form grew unstable.
Though his opponent hadn't been strong enough to kill him instantly, the price he paid was staggering.
Rage filled his eyes. "Where did it go wrong? I've been played by the Sword Sect!"
The ghostly figure faded once again into the snow. He would reclaim the price he had paid,so long as he still lived, there was hope for recovery.
…
Oscar's true body was already speeding through the Frozen Forest toward the depths of the Extreme North.
Though he hadn't managed to kill the Ghost, he had gained a deeper understanding of his own power. Once he broke through level 80 and absorbed the Skydream Iceworm's soul ring, his strength would rise even further.
If he had met the Ghost after obtaining his eighth soul ring, he was confident the Ghost wouldn't have escaped.
With that thought, Oscar's speed increased again as he headed toward the Ice Cavern where the Skydream Iceworm resided.
Within just one day, Oscar reached the ice cave. The Skydream Iceworm sensed him and recalled what Ao Rong had told it.
"So you're the real body?" The Skydream Iceworm raised its round head, its golden eyes gleaming as it looked at Oscar.
Oscar sat cross-legged on the Ice Jade Bed, eating a recovery sausage to restore his soul power.
Seeing Oscar ignore it, the Skydream Iceworm didn't get angry,it was used to his attitude by now.
Sensing the strength of Oscar's body, drool almost dripped from its mouth. With their cooperation, it was certain they could one day reach godhood.
The God-Making Plan would truly begin.
After some time, Oscar opened his eyes and calmly looked at the Skydream Iceworm. "Let's begin."
The Iceworm had already discussed everything with Ao Rong. Now that Oscar's real body was here, there was no need for more words.
"You're only level 79 right now," the Iceworm said slowly. "So I'll first boost your soul power to level 80. Then I'll merge with you according to your limits. Any excess power will be sealed away, and you can use it whenever you wish."
Oscar nodded. "Do it."
The Iceworm grinned. "Here I go! Don't worry, I'll be gentle…"
As it spoke, it pressed its round head against Oscar's forehead.
Oscar actively began to merge with it, his spiritual power fully open. He saw ten golden rings on the Iceworm's body come alive and fly toward him.
The ten golden rings enveloped Oscar, and the Iceworm's body turned into streams of white light that poured into him.
During the process, Oscar sat cross-legged, soul power circulating at its peak. Before long, he broke through to level 80.
As his level rose, the fusion accelerated. Two yellow, one purple, two black, and two red rings floated around him, and a special eighth golden ring slowly formed.
This was the true color of a million-year soul ring. In the original story, the one given to Huo Yuhao had been disguised.
As the golden ring condensed, the Iceworm's body became illusory, turning into pure spiritual power that merged into Oscar's spiritual sea.
The immense million-year energy was condensed into ten golden orbs of power.
No one knew how long had passed when a pair of silver eyes opened within a vast, spotless white space.
Countless points of light floated around, endless yet all within his awareness.
A surge of energy gathered, forming ten enormous golden rings that hovered in the air. Within them, milky-white light flowed, growing brighter until they became ten giant glowing spheres.
The silver eyes began to take form, outlining a tall figure,Oscar,who gazed calmly upon the space. Here, he was the sole ruler.
Then, a cute white figure appeared out of nowhere. The Skydream Iceworm, now a soul spirit, cheerfully darted around, bouncing from orb to orb like a playful child.
This was Oscar's spiritual sea, now both the Iceworm's home and the place where his power was sealed.
Oscar could draw upon this power at will,not only to enhance his soul rings but also to replenish his soul power like a living battery.
With the Iceworm's million-year accumulation, Oscar now had enough strength to rival a level 99 Ultimate Douluo.
If he unleashed all the energy within those orbs, the resulting explosion could kill even an Ultimate Douluo,though Oscar himself would perish as well.
It was a final trump card,a self-destructive power meant for mutual annihilation.
Oscar never planned to use it that way. For now, the power would serve to strengthen his soul rings and amplify his strength.
Once his power grew enough, he would be able to face Ultimate Douluo directly.
The Iceworm laughed. "It's done. From now on, our lives are tied together. I've given you my full trust,feel free to use the power of a million years."
The baby-like Iceworm waved its tiny limbs. "I only have one request: get Bingbing for me soon!"
Oscar raised an eyebrow. "I've already heard your story from the Ice Empress,you're just lovesick."
The Iceworm wasn't embarrassed at all, rubbing its hands together. "That's not important. Now we're in this together, and your third martial soul is only in its infancy. You still need another one."
Oscar immediately understood. "You mean to have the Ice Empress become my third martial soul and soul ring?"
The Iceworm grinned. "How's that for a plan?"
Oscar nodded. "Not bad. But first, I need to stabilize my current power."
The Iceworm nodded in agreement. Oscar withdrew from his spiritual sea and opened his eyes. Eight soul rings,two yellow, one purple, two black, two red, and one gold,shone brilliantly around him.
As he retracted them, the terrifying aura of an eighty-fifth-level soul power was completely suppressed.
This advancement had granted him his first soul spirit,the Skydream Iceworm,and a million-year wisdom soul ring. His soul power had also soared straight to level 85.
Although the Iceworm didn't give him a soul bone, it had provided another invaluable treasure.
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