Chapter 41: Lightning and Fox (Martial Soul Fusion)

"First Soul Skill: Hell Magma Surge!"

As Nian Yun looked up, the Flame Lord had already charged right in front of him. He hastily infused his legs with wind elements, barely managing to dodge, though the explosive magma still grazed him.

"Your strength has improved quite a bit."

Hearing the masked man dare to judge him, Yan’s fury flared. He slammed his feet into the ground, unleashing Lava Destruction, which tore the earth apart with deep fissures.

"Fourth Soul Skill: Lord’s Grasp!"

Nian Yun tried to retreat, but the ground beneath him fractured, spewing molten lava. Simultaneously, two blood-red giant hands emerged from the earth to pin him down.

"Now, let's see how you run," Yan chuckled, charging at Nian Yun once more.

Not far away, Dugu Bo, who was locked in combat with Ghost Douluo, saw this and grew anxious.

"Old Poison, you dare to be distracted while fighting me?" Ghost flickered behind Dugu Bo, his shadow blades already swinging.

*Bang!*

A long, narrow fissure remained in the ground as Dugu Bo barely escaped the blow. "Little one, it seems you’ll have to rely on yourself."

Ghost glanced at the masked Nian Yun. "A mere Spirit Ancestor has you so worried? Come, let's kill that brat first."

As soon as he spoke, those nearby who were idle or fighting in groups turned toward Nian Yun.

"Dugu Bo, I’d like to thank you for this," Nian Yun muttered, speechless. He had wanted to sneak by unnoticed and make a clean getaway, but now he had no choice but to fight.

*Whoosh!*

The Flame Lord reached him, surrounded by figures in black.

*Crackle!*

"Thunder Seal!"

*Boom!*

A powerful surge of thunder elements exploded from Nian Yun’s body, shattering the Lord’s Grasp instantly as electricity arced in every direction. To Yan’s shock, the familiar lightning tore through his defenses, piercing his body and sending him reeling backward. The black-clad figures rushing in were so terrified by the violent thunder that they dared not approach.

When Yan looked up in astonishment, the dark purple blade he recognized was already in the hands of the masked man. Dugu Bo and Ghost, who were monitoring the situation, were equally stunned.

"Hahaha, I knew the little one could do it!" Dugu Bo looked exceptionally excited.

Ghost and Yan stared wide-eyed at the blade. "It’s him!"

The Spirit Hall spirit masters who recognized the weapon hesitated, unsure whether to proceed. After a moment of uncertainty, Ghost barked, "Keep him here!"

Upon the order, the group swarmed forward again.

"Little one!" Dugu Bo tried to intervene but was blocked by a shadowy figure. "Old Poison, where do you think you’re going?"

"Third Soul Skill: Supreme Body Defense!"

*Crackle!*

A bolt of violet electricity pierced through the encirclement, striking toward Yan.

*Clang!*

Yan hurriedly raised his arms to block.

"Where are Xie Yue and Na Na?"

"They went inside with Elder Ju."

"Tell them not to hold back. I cannot afford to be exposed."

"Understood."

After a brief stalemate, they separated, and the lingering thunder shadow exploded under Nian Yun’s command.

"All together now!" Yan roared. The others echoed his call, unleashing their spirit skills at Nian Yun.

"Fourth Soul Skill: Insulated Flag Seal!"

A massive black spirit ring rose slowly. Nian Yun slammed his hand, crackling with lightning, into the ground. A thunder field manifested within a hundred-meter radius of him.

"Eternity, Severance!"

*Bang!*

Inside the field, the Spirit Kings were forced to their knees, and the Spirit Emperors were left momentarily paralyzed.

"Wind Wings, unfold!"

Seizing the opportunity, Nian Yun spread his wind wings and darted toward the forest.

"Trying to run? Not a chance!"

"Fourth Soul Skill: Ghost Shadow Manifest!"

Countless shadowy figures erupted from Ghost’s hands, tracking Nian Yun’s flight path.

"Old Ghost, did you forget about me?"

"Medusa’s Gaze!"

Dark green eyes released a beam of pale light toward Ghost. Ghost veered away, and wherever the gaze touched, the earth turned to gray stone, devoid of life.

Nian Yun thought to himself, "I had to use my fourth soul skill immediately. Without Master Zhong, I’d never survive against a Ghost."

"Third Soul Skill: Wind Bow—Terminus, No Arrow!"

*Whoosh!*

*Whoosh!*

A powerful whirlwind formed a wall of wind, shielding Nian Yun from the shadow attacks as he fled deeper into the forest.

*Zoom!*

After traveling a thousand miles, Nian Yun encountered fewer spirit beasts and faced no further interference.

"ROAR!"

The sudden roar threw Nian Yun off balance. He narrowly avoided slamming into a thick tree trunk, tumbling onto the ground.

"Hiss... this roar doesn't sound right."

The roar carried a sense of suffocating pressure. Nian Yun trembled slightly. "This is bad."

*Thud—thud—thud.*

The footsteps were short and heavy. Sensing something blocking the sunlight, Nian Yun looked up as a giant object descended from the sky. The fear of death gripped his mind.

*BOOM!*

The giant figure landed before him, sending a thousand layers of dust into the air.

*Cough, cough.*

"Nian Yun?" A low growl echoed from the dust.

Nian Yun summoned a wind sphere to disperse the dust, finally seeing the massive creature clearly.

"Er Ming?" Without Fufu in his heart, Nian Yun felt a wave of anxiety, staring blankly at the Titan Giant Ape.

"Why are you here?"

"The center of the Star Dou Forest has been occupied by a Wind Demon Dragon. My brother and I were no match, so we retreated."

Sensing the Titan Giant Ape had no intention of attacking, Nian Yun finally caught his breath.

"Why are you here?"

"Never mind that. Er Ming, I have a way to subdue the Wind Demon Dragon, but I need help from you and Da Ming."

"You have a plan? Tell me, how can we help?"

"Not far behind me, the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall are fighting. I need one of you to join that fray while the other blocks the rest at the center. Leave the Wind Demon Dragon to me."

The Titan Giant Ape hesitated for a moment. "Fine. I’ll go tell my brother. If you can take care of that dragon, you’re my brother."

Nian Yun grinned. "Deal. See you later."

The man and the beast darted off in opposite directions.

*Ding!*

System: "According to current calculations, the host's success rate in capturing the Wind Demon Dragon is 0.01%."

"How can that be? In the first playthrough, I managed to subdue it just by using the divine artifact, Terminus!"

System: "That was because the host’s mission efficiency in the previous life was exceptionally high, and your luck value was constantly rising. As a Spirit King, you fortunately obtained a portion of the Water Dragon King Neuvillette’s power, which, when combined with the wind-type divine artifact, allowed for the capture."

Hearing this, Nian Yun stopped in his tracks.

"If that’s the case, aren't I just walking to my death?"

System: "Not entirely. The host only needs to combine a portion of power equivalent to the Water Dragon King with the divine artifact, Terminus, once more."

"Then give me a cheat already! Why didn't you say so earlier? Where am I supposed to find that kind of power now?"

System: "Calculations indicate the nearest 'cheat' is nearby. Hu Liena’s favorability toward the host is at 78. When the Goddess Value reaches 80, the host will unlock the Spirit Fusion Skill with the Goddess."

"Spirit Fusion Skill?" Nian Yun slowly raised his right hand. "Shadow... Fox... So that’s how it is."