The Blue Demon Bird before Bai E and Maidemus was seven thousand years old; Huo Yuhao hadn't assigned it an excessively long lifespan.
The main purpose of recreating the Silver-Patterned Space Blue Demon Bird was to study its bloodline and explore the possibilities of using spatial domains.
Huo Yuhao didn't want to recreate the Phoenix Clan, as there was no need.
Moreover, Huo Yuhao's current research on the time domain was practically nonexistent; even if he conjured up the Golden-Patterned Time Blue Demon Bird, it would be his own version, lacking research value.
Regardless, as the Phoenix Ancestor, even with only seven thousand years of cultivation, its strength was terrifying; a normal Soul Emperor would likely have little resistance against it.
"So why aren't these three Soul Beasts moving?"
Maidemus frowned, his body tense, his surging soul power coursing through his meridians, maintaining peak condition at all times, ready to deal with any possible attack.
"Uh, maybe it's a mechanics issue?"
Bai E was also puzzled. When he saw Maidemus fall to the ground, he was already prepared to activate his Destruction Stance and fight them to the death.
Unexpectedly, they suddenly stopped, standing motionless on the distant cliff face.
Medemos had a hunch, and he took a small step forward, constantly observing the three soul beasts' movements.
The first step yielded no response, followed by the second, the third…
"Screech!!!"
At the eleventh step, the central Blue Demon Bird let out a loud screech, while the golden-haired lion-mastiff on the left and the Thunderous Hell Vine on the right also resumed their movements.
The three soul beasts glared menacingly at Medemos, their auras intertwining, causing the surrounding trees to shake violently, their branches rustling like the howls of ghosts in the silent forest, and even the air itself to stagnate.
Medemos immediately retreated, and the three soul beasts returned to stillness once more, all their presence abruptly ceasing, leaving only the still-trembling of the leaves.
Then, he conjured a longsword made of overlapping scarlet, high-temperature crystals in his hand.
He slashed at the eleventh step, the intense heat turning the soil a scorched brown, revealing a clearly visible long line before the two.
"This is it."
"Once you cross this line, these three soul beasts will attack the intruders."
"Just as you said, it should be some kind of mechanism.
These three soul beasts might be a test left by the owner of that fragment of the secret realm map."
Medemos turned to Bai E and said, Bai E giving him a bright smile.
"The novel 'Magic Network' truly lives up to its reputation; all secret realms possess a testing mechanism.
If I ever become a powerful being, I'll definitely leave behind a secret realm for future generations to test and reward!"
A slight smirk played on Madmos's lips as he deliberately avoided Bai E's gaze, mocking him, "Heh, let's talk about that when you're a powerful being.
For now, let's discuss how to deal with these three soul beasts."
"When they unleashed their soul power just now, I roughly estimated their age."
"The Thunderous Hell Vine is ten thousand years old, the Golden Lion Mastiff is at least four thousand, and the blue bird is about six to seven thousand."
"How do you plan to fight this battle?"
Bai E nudged Madmos's waist with his elbow, pondered for a moment, and then said,
"The Thunderous Hell Vine is of average strength, and the Golden Lion Mastiff is a good match for you.
If it's a one-on-one fight, how long would it take you to defeat it?"
Madmos pondered for a moment, his mind rapidly considering strategies and calculating the safest timeframe; he never underestimated anything.
"Providing false information is irresponsible to your comrades."
"One hour. If I activate my domain first, it will take me an hour to deal with it."
"My domain has higher priority; if I activate mine first, it can't activate its domain."
"Using the domain advantage, one hour is the safest time."
Bai E nodded, indicating he understood the information.
He summoned the blue-white Dawn Greatsword, his eyes sharp and full of fighting spirit, and said,
"One hour?"
"Okay!"
"I'll use Destruction Stance to hold off Thunderous Hell Vine and the blue bird.
Once you've dealt with the Golden Lion, we'll have a fair two-on-two."
"You should have enough Dream Coins, right? If not, I have some. Don't take out online loans!
Someone in the academy recently committed suicide because they couldn't repay their excessive online loans."
"The academy strictly forbids students from taking out excessive loans now,"
Medmos said with a cold snort.
"There's plenty. Preparing all supplies in advance is a basic quality of a qualified soldier."
It's worth mentioning that the student Bai E mentioned who committed suicide specifically chose the area around Seagod Lake, seizing the moment when Ma Xiaotao lost control and crashing headlong into it, leaving no trace of his body.
The screams directly traumatized Ma Xiaotao.
During the last trip to the Mingdou Mountains, as one of only two survivors of the main team, Ma Xiaotao had already begun to question whether she was some kind of jinx.
Coupled with this latest incident, her Dao heart was essentially shattered; she felt that cultivating to become stronger was utterly meaningless, and she could do nothing but harm her companions.
Of course, the reality is pretty much the same.
Even in the original timeline, the flames she painstakingly cultivated would still have ignited on her former companions like Huo Yuhao.
Now, she has a severe self-destructive tendency; her intense negative emotions cause her evil fire to burn even more fiercely, which in turn exacerbates her negative emotions, creating a vicious cycle.
If it weren't for the suppression by the Golden Ancient Tree and Mu En, she would already be an evil soul master.
Yan Shaozhe is so worried he's lost a lot of hair; he doesn't know what to do.
If the evil fire problem isn't resolved soon, Ma Xiaotao's life will soon be on a countdown.
That would be a tragedy of a parent outliving their child.
The vast Shrek Academy can't find a single ice-attribute soul master at the Title Douluo level.
Ling Luochen's ice attribute quality is high, but his cultivation level is too low, far below the requirements.
Ice-attribute Title Douluos seem to have vanished from the entire continent; they can't be found at all.
Even searching in Dragon City, the area with the highest concentration of ice-attribute soul masters, is fruitless.
The strongest ice-attribute soul masters in Dragon City were a husband and wife Soul Douluo, but they disappeared ten years ago, presumably killed in the far north.
They left behind only one daughter, Su Tong, a member of the O5 Council, a top-tier power on the continent.
Under Huo Yuhao's influence, Su Tong has never revealed her ultimate ice power; the outside world has always believed she possesses the Snow Spirit Martial Soul.
Yan Shaozhe has already decided that if he can't find a solution, he will sell his possessions and try every means to ask the Snow Empress, a member of the O5 Council, for help.
If the Snow Empress intervenes, Ma Xiaotao's condition will definitely improve.
Even if she can't continue cultivating, it's alright; just being alive is a blessing.
The people Yan Shaozhe cares about most in his life are Mu En and Ma Xiaotao.
Mu En is his mentor, and Ma Xiaotao is like a daughter to him.
He doesn't want to lose either of them, no matter the cost.
Back in reality, Bai E and Maidemus have already discussed their tactics.
The two exchanged a glance, their golden and blue eyes meeting, both seeing the fighting spirit in each other.
After crossing the line, the two sides bumped fists, seizing the prelude to the three spirit beasts' actions to begin their plan.
"Golden Domain!"
As planned, Medmos first activated his domain to suppress the golden-haired lion-dog.
His Golden Domain was meticulously designed when Huo Yuhao infused it into his spirit.
Derived from the golden-haired lion-dog's Domineering Domain, it surpassed its predecessor; the user not only wouldn't lose their sanity but would also gain a stronger boost than the Domineering Domain itself.
Blazing gold spread from Medmos's feet, gradually draping the earth in a golden coat.
High temperature and golden light formed the domain's base color, while savagery and chaos formed its core.
Unlike his Jeep training days, Medmos could now reliably activate his domain, controlling its power with his own will.
The golden-haired lion-dog roared loudly, instinctively trying to unleash its Domineering Domain, only to find it swallowed by the gold, becoming nourishment.
The four-thousand-year-old golden-haired lion-dog possessed only a sliver of reason; a hint of human-like confusion appeared on its black canine face, but unfortunately, this sliver of reason couldn't support further thought.
Driven by the desire to fight, it coordinated its leg muscles and charged towards Medemos at full speed.
Medemos was now brimming with fighting spirit, both of its spirit rings igniting simultaneously, its entire body enveloped in crimson flames, transforming into a majestic fiery lion's head.
The lion's head roared at the golden lion-like beast, layers of intense heat waves nearly igniting its fur.
With the enhancement of the Golden Domain, its power and the temperature of its flames surged simultaneously, reaching the edge of extreme fire.
Medemos coordinated and controlled the power of the Golden Domain, allowing it to envelop the fiery lion's head, which now resembled a golden statue.
The golden lion's eyes blazed with fire, countless high-temperature crimson crystals swirling around its body like the proudly raised mane of a lion.
Medemos charged with all its might, the golden lion's head tearing through the earth, leaving a golden path in its wake, colliding fiercely with the golden lion-like beast, carrying immense force capable of crushing everything and intense heat capable of incinerating all things.
"Screech!!!"
The Silver-Patterned Blue Demon Bird attempted to repeat its previous tactic, a blue shadow slicing through space, aiming directly at the Golden Lion's back.
The sound of space cracking was like the beeping of an air raid warning.
A greatsword, its blade gleaming with cold light, descended from the sky, directly blocking the Blue Demon Bird's path.
"I will not allow you to ambush my companions again."
Bai E gripped the Dawn-Inducing Greatsword tightly, the power of the Destruction Seed erupting, the destructive force surging through his meridians.
His clear blue eyes ignited, his divine golden eyes indifferently watching the approaching enemy.
"I am the rising sun!"
The destructive force fused with ultimate light, exploding instantly, and a sun fell to earth.
But the sun lost its former benevolence; everything enveloped in its light melted away like snow under the early spring sun.
(End of Chapter)
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