Chapter 365: Suddenly Out-of-Control Killing Intent?
"It's Sect Master Ning! Poison Douluo!! They're here! The reinforcements have arrived!!"
On the city wall, someone was the first to let out a heart-wrenching cheer. This voice was like a spark, instantly igniting the hope of the defenders that had almost been extinguished!
Behind Iron Wall Pass, dust billowed as a team of Soul Masters, though far smaller in scale than the Spirit Empire's Soul Master legion before the city gates, possessed an equally strong aura. Led by Ning Fengzhi and Dugu Bo, they rushed to the rescue like a sharp arrow!
After arriving on the city wall, Dugu Bo said nothing. The jade light in his eyes instantly surged to the limit, and the terrifying pressure belonging to a Titled Douluo was released without reservation!
Simultaneously, behind him, a massive Jade Dragon phantom, covered in nine-colored variegated scales and looking incomparably ferocious, soared into the sky, letting out a sharp and ear-piercing dragon roar!
"A group battle? What this old man loves most is a group battle."
With a cold laugh, the Jade Dragon phantom behind Dugu Bo suddenly exploded, transforming into an endless, sky-blotting dark green poison cloud. At an incredible speed, it swept toward the Spirit Empire's army surging below the city!
This poison cloud was no simple mist; it contained nine kinds of extremely yin, extremely evil, and incomparably overbearing mixed poisons condensed from Dugu Bo's lifelong cultivation!
Corrosion, Paralysis, Ulceration, Soul-Devouring, Blood-Burning, Bone-Eroding, Mind-Confusing, Life-Extinguishing, and Martial Soul-Annihilating!
The nine poisons were interwoven and complemented each other, their toxicity reaching a terrifying extreme.
They could even easily penetrate and corrode Soul Power shields!
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Wherever the poison cloud passed, the air made terrifying sizzling sounds, as if even the air itself was being eroded by the poisonous force. The defensive line at the very front, composed of Soul Masters from the Elephant Armored Academy and Rock Antelope Sect, rapidly dissolved like ice and snow under the sun the moment they touched the poison cloud!
As soon as a sliver of the poison mist touched their skin, it immediately began to fester and ooze pus. The heart-piercing and bone-eroding pain caused these Soul Masters, known for their defense, to let out shrill screams. Their Soul Power dissipated uncontrollably, and they finally fell in large numbers, their bodies rapidly turning into bloody pus under the erosion of the poison!
Following closely behind were the attack system Soul Masters from the Sacred Dragon Sect, Wind Sword Sect, and others.
They attempted to disperse or break the poison cloud with Martial Soul Abilities.
But whether it was wind blades or dragon flames, once they crashed into that viscous dark green poison mist, it was like a clay ox entering the sea. Not only did they fail to disperse the mist, but they were also stained by the poison, which backfired on them!
Screams rose one after another as the Spirit Empire's Soul Masters fell like harvested wheat, black blood flowing from their seven orifices in a wretched death. The poison mist even began to erode their Martial Soul Origin; some Soul Masters with weaker cultivation saw even their Martial Soul phantoms begin to dim!
The agility-attack system Soul Masters from the Fire Leopard Sect, Black Tiger Sect, and Sparrow Bee Sect tried to use their speed to escape, but the speed at which the poison cloud spread far exceeded their imagination. They often hadn't even rushed out a hundred meters before their bodies convulsed and they collapsed to the ground, quickly turning into a pool of foul-smelling pus.
In just a short moment, the Spirit Empire's vanguard Soul Master legion suffered heavy casualties!
The originally orderly military formation was completely thrown into chaos. Wails filled the air, and poisoned Soul Masters struggling in pain and dying rapidly were everywhere.
Even the ordinary Spirit Empire soldiers in the rear, who were merely brushed by the afterwaves at the edge of the poison cloud, foamed at the mouth in large numbers and collapsed dead.
The momentum of the offensive was forcibly stifled by this terrifyingly large-scale poison attack! The Spirit Empire's army was in a state of chaos, and the Soul Masters retreated in terror, their morale suffering a heavy blow.
The powerhouses of the New Seven Great Sects also had drastic changes in expression. When had they ever seen such an overbearing, wide-ranging, and toxically complex poison attack?
This was simply a massacre targeted at Soul Masters!
"Dugu Bo, you're looking for death!"
Just as the Spirit Empire's legion was about to collapse, three streaks of light emitting earth-shattering auras shot out like comets from the commander's tent at the rear of the army.
They instantly arrived at the very front of the battlefield, at the edge of the poison mist!
The light dissipated, revealing three figures.
In the center was the Spirit Empire's Empress Bibi Dong, dressed in a magnificent imperial robe, wearing a crown, and holding a scepter! Her exquisite face was cold as frost, and her blood-red eyes burned with rage and Killing Intent, her entire body emitting a suffocatingly evil aura.
To her left was the Snake Lance Douluo, clad in dark gold armor and holding a Snake Lance.
To her right was the Porcupinefish Douluo, whose body was as round as a ball, with a skin color of an eerie purple-red, a short thick neck, and a comical appearance that no one dared to laugh at!
Facing that terrifying poison cloud that was still slowly spreading and devouring the lives of their Soul Masters, Bibi Dong had not yet made a move, but the Porcupinefish Douluo beside her had already let out a roar and stepped forward fiercely!
"Seventh Spirit Ability, Porcupinefish True Body!"
As the shout fell, nine spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—slowly spiraled up beneath the Porcupinefish Douluo's feet, with the seventh Soul Ring shining brightly.
In the next second, his body expanded rapidly like it was being inflated, his skin becoming even more purple-red, and countless sharp poisonous spikes emerged on the surface. He transformed into a massive Porcupinefish over ten meters in diameter, purple-red all over, covered in poisonous spikes, and with a belly bulging like a ball!
This was his Martial Soul True Body, an extremely rare poisonous Porcupinefish with special abilities.
"Inhale for this old man!"
Taking a step forward, the massive Porcupinefish True Body opened its mouth, which was comically small compared to its body size but now seemed to contain the suction of a black hole!
Suddenly, an irresistible and terrifying suction erupted from that giant mouth.
"Whoosh—!!"
It was like a great whale drinking water, or a storm swirling backward!
Under the pull of this strange suction specifically designed to counter gas and energy-based attacks, the originally rampaging and viscous Jade Phosphor Nine Absolute Poison Cloud actually flowed uncontrollably like a flood, madly surging into the Porcupinefish Douluo's open mouth!
Following that, the Porcupinefish Douluo's round belly became even more bloated at a visible rate, with purple-red light flowing on the surface. He was clearly using some innate ability to forcibly contain, suppress, and even... digest this terrifying poison!
The dark green poison cloud quickly became thin and its range shrank.
Although many Soul Masters at the edges had already died from the poison, the momentum of the poison cloud's spread was completely halted, buying the Soul Masters in the rear a chance to breathe and retreat.
"Porcupinefish Douluo, it's that old fellow again!"
Not far away, Dugu Bo stood on the city wall. Seeing his poison being countered in such a way, his face instantly became as dark as water, and he cursed in a low voice.
A moment later, the Porcupinefish Douluo licked his lips. His massive body trembled slightly, as forcibly devouring such a poison was clearly a great burden for him, but he still laughed wildly in a muffled and booming voice:
"Dugu Bo, your poison is nothing more than an appetizer to me! No matter how much more you have, bring it on! Let's see if this old man can drink it all for you!"
At the same time, Bibi Dong's eyes locked onto Dugu Bo on the city wall. She slightly raised the scepter in her hand, and an even more evil purple-black aura began to condense around her as she shouted, "Dugu Bo, you killed my people. Today, I shall use you, Old Poison, to sacrifice to my Empire's war flag!"
Her figure moved slightly, and she seemed ready to transform into a streak of light in the next instant to personally obliterate this Poison Douluo who had caused heavy casualties to the Empire's army and severely damaged their morale!
Above the city wall, behind Dugu Bo, the air rippled in succession. Then, three figures emerged almost simultaneously, standing side-by-side with him.
They were Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!
Three Titled Douluo, combined with the full support of the world's number one support system Soul Master, Ning Fengzhi.
This combination of Peak power that suddenly appeared on the Heaven Dou City wall caused Bibi Dong's forward momentum to come to a hard stop. Her pupils contracted slightly, and a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes.
Bibi Dong was certainly confident in her powerful strength, but facing three Titled Douluo in perfect condition and aided by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, even if she could win, it would definitely not be something that could be resolved in a short time.
And this was the opponent's home ground; the defenses of Iron Wall Pass were not yet broken, and her side had just experienced a poison mist attack, leaving morale low. Once they fell into a protracted battle, there would be too many variables.
More importantly... those old fellows from the Priest Hall had not accompanied the army to the Iron Wall Pass front lines this time. Without people from the Priest Hall to hold the line, she had to be more cautious.
Just as the two sides formed a brief and tense standoff above and below the city, a figure dressed in the black clothes of the Spirit Empire appeared silently like a ghost not far from Bibi Dong's side. He knelt on one knee and quickly reported via Soul Power sound transmission:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, urgent news! The Holy Maiden... has returned!"
"Liena is back?!" Hearing this, a gleam of pleasant surprise flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes, and the icy Killing Intent on her body softened slightly.
Hu Liena was the successor she had carefully nurtured. She had been training in Slaughter City for a long time, and now that she had returned, her strength must have greatly increased. This was great news for the Empire and for her personally!
Quickly suppressing the Killing Intent in her heart toward those people on the city wall, Bibi Dong rapidly weighed her options. Forcing an attack now, even if successful, might come at a cost exceeding expectations.
Iron Wall City was already a turtle in a jar; whether the city fell a day earlier or later didn't make much difference.
It would be better to temporarily retreat, integrate her forces, and wait for those old fellows from the Priest Hall to arrive. Then, she would crush this city in one fell swoop with the Empire's most Peak state!
Having made up her mind, Bibi Dong no longer hesitated. Looking down from above, she waved the scepter in her hand and shouted to the army below in a deep voice:
"Pass down my decree: the entire army is to retreat ten miles and set up camp! Rest and await further orders!"
Once the order was given, although the Spirit Empire's army felt some unwilling, they were even more relieved.
Under the command of officers at all levels, they began an orderly retreat, breaking contact with Iron Wall Pass.
The Snake Lance Douluo guarded her side, and the Porcupinefish Douluo also slowly withdrew his Martial Soul True Body, suppressing the toxins in his body while retreating with the army.
On the city wall, Dugu Bo, Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong watched the retreating enemy army like a ebbing tide. They did not feel any relief; instead, their expressions became even more solemn.
They knew that this was merely a brief respite before the storm. Bibi Dong's sudden retreat was by no means out of fear, but rather because she was waiting for a more suitable opportunity, or... the arrival of even greater power.
"She seemed to have received some good news just now?" Sword Douluo said, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Regardless of why the Spirit Empire retreated just now, their next attack will only be even more violent," Gu Rong sighed and said in a low voice.
Ning Fengzhi withdrew the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in his hand, looked at the Spirit Empire's army establishing a new camp in the distance, and said solemnly: "Waste no time. Reinforce the city defenses, treat the wounded, and tally the losses. At the same time... we must contact Tang Chuan as soon as possible. Without him, we won't be able to block Bibi Dong for long."
An hour later.
Inside the Spirit Empire's central command tent at the heart of the new camp ten miles back.
The tent flap was lifted, and a slightly travel-worn golden figure walked in quickly. It was Hu Liena, who had just returned after undergoing the trials of Slaughter City.
At this moment, a trace of icy Killing Intent that she hadn't completely restrained still lingered on her, but when she saw the figure seated in the main seat, a surge of uncontrollable filial-like devotion immediately rose in her eyes.
"Teacher!"
Hu Liena stepped forward quickly and knelt on one knee, her voice choking with the emotion of a long-awaited reunion.
Bibi Dong had already dismissed everyone else; only the teacher and Disciple were in the tent now.
Looking at her beloved Disciple kneeling before her, whose aura was clearly more solid than when she left and whose gaze had settled much more, the cold and majestic expression on Bibi Dong's face melted, revealing a genuine smile of a teacher's gratification. She stood up and personally helped Hu Liena up.
"Liena, it's good that you're back." Bibi Dong's voice was much gentler as she carefully examined Hu Liena and said softly, "It seems the training in Slaughter City has allowed you to reap a great harvest. Your aura is much steadier, and your Killing Intent is restrained within. Did you pass through the Hell Road?"
Hu Liena nodded forcefully, a trace of lingering fear flashing in her eyes as she said:
"Yes, Teacher! This Disciple did not fail her mission. I braved the Hell Road and obtained the... Slaughter God Domain!" After saying that, she slightly released a sliver of that cold and pure Killing Intent. Although she didn't fully expand the Domain, it already caused the temperature in the tent to plummet.
"Good! Very good!"
Seeing this, a sharp light shone in Bibi Dong's eyes, and she said 'good' twice in a row.
The teacher and Disciple conversed happily, with Hu Liena recounting her experiences in Slaughter City in detail.
She focused on describing the dangers of the Hell Road and... that blue-haired youth with the code name Death God, who called himself Xiao Yan, possessed unfathomable strength, and used ruthless and mysterious methods. She hid the embarrassing experience of almost being carried by the other party, but emphasized his terrifying nature and the strangeness of that golden long spear.
"Xiao Yan!? A golden long spear? Could it be him!?"
Hearing this, Bibi Dong's expression suddenly changed. Just as she was about to say something, her eyes erupted without warning into two blindingly bright clusters of deep-red blood light!
Immediately after, a violent, evil aura filled with endless resentment and Killing Intent erupted from her body like a volcano that had been suppressed for ten thousand years!
"What's going on?"
While she was thinking, the Slaughter God Domain markings on Bibi Dong's body suddenly shone brightly, breaking through her control in an instant. The massive Killing Intent was about to backfire on her.
However, Bibi Dong's Spiritual Power was simply too powerful. Under the instant counterattack of her Vast-level Spiritual Power, she immediately regained control of the Slaughter God Domain.
"Teacher! What's wrong with you?!"
Seeing this, Hu Liena was instantly shocked and pale with fear. She hurriedly stepped forward to support her, but was forced back a step by the chaotic and violent aura on Bibi Dong's body.
Bibi Dong did not answer. She suddenly raised her head, the blood light almost overflowing from her eye sockets, and turned her head to look toward the forest to the northwest of the main camp!
Her Spiritual Power probed directly into the interior of that target area.
The intense slaughtering aura formed a special barrier, and her Spiritual Power still felt a sense of chaos upon entering. She could only vaguely sense a massive amount of Killing Intent and blood-red color.
It was an old man wearing a blood-red robe with a high-collared cloak and a pale face
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