This can't go on. I have to break the deadlock!
Tang San's eyes shone with determination. Suddenly, a black light appeared in his left hand—a massive black hammer materialized, though no spirit rings attached. Nevertheless, its heavy, intimidating aura spread instantly.
"As expected, twin spirits,"
Yang Pojun's eyes narrowed, but he showed no fear—only a fierce will to fight.
"Come then!"
His wrist flicked, the Soul Breaking Spear vibrating sharply, its tip pointed at the legendary world's number one martial spirit.
"Ahhh!"
Tang San roared, leaping with his eight spider lances, body spinning. The Clear Sky Hammer in his hand traced a heavy arc, carrying accumulated momentum as he struck boldly at Yang Pojun.
A thunderous collision erupted—metallic sparks flying in a cascade. The Clear Sky Hammer's crushing force clashed fiercely with the Soul Breaking Spear's ultimate piercing power!
Yang Pojun's figure trembled slightly, his feet sliding half a step back, his spear arm going numb from the shock. Tang San was also knocked back by the rebound, his face turning even paler.
The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer technique was indeed strong, but his spirit power was insufficient. This was his first real fight using it, and he could not yet bring out its full might.
"Mubai!"
Tang San used the recoil to retreat, shouting at the same time.
"Tianheng, hold on!"
Dai Mubai yelled at Yu Tianheng, ignoring Huang Bin's fist as he took the blow on his shoulder, then abruptly turned and, like a tiger, charged straight toward Zhu Zhuqing at the right flank.
Yu Tianheng understood Dai Mubai's intention, roaring with fury as he poured his remaining spirit power into his dragon arm.
Lightning raged to the extreme as he blocked another punch from Huang Bin, blood spilling from his mouth, yet refusing to retreat, tying Huang Bin down.
"Trying to get away? Did you ask me?"
Dugu Yan sneered, her jade serpent's tail, wreathed in poisonous mist, lashing out like a massive steel whip toward Zhu Zhuqing, who was trying to join Dai Mubai.
"Seven Treasures are famed, and the second calls: Spirit!"
Ning Rongrong's face was pale, her spirit power nearly depleted, but she still mustered her strength to amplify Zhu Zhuqing.
Empowered by the vivid light, Zhu Zhuqing's spirit-possessed ghost cat form became nearly a blur of black smoke, barely evading the poison mist and serpent tail's assault!
"Fatty!"
Dai Mubai roared.
"Leave it to me!"
Ma Hongjun's eyes reddened—time to risk it all. Regardless of his depleted qi, blood, or soul power, his flames burned fiercely. No longer dodging the mist, he charged straight at Dugu Yan's serpent tail, paving a path for Zhu Zhuqing like a blazing fireball.
"You think you can?"
Dugu Yan smirked, her serpent tail's force only increasing.
A dull impact and the soft crack of bones rang out!
Ma Hongjun was sent flying like a broken kite, blood spraying from his mouth, his flames extinguished, curling up in pain and losing all fighting strength.
Yet his effort bought Zhu Zhuqing a crucial half-second!
Her shadow flashed, colliding with Dai Mubai as they dashed together.
A Nether White Tiger over five meters long emerged. At the moment of fusion, its massive claws slashed, ripping through the air with a sharp roar, striking Dugu Yan's pursuing serpent tail dead-on.
The energy-charged poison mist rippled, the Nether White Tiger staggered and fell back half a step, while Dugu Yan's serpent tail was flung away, leaving shallow white marks on its scales.
"Martial Soul Fusion?"
Dugu Yan steadied herself, a flash of surprise in her green snake eyes quickly replaced by fierce fighting spirit.
"Now this is getting interesting!"
Instead of withdrawing, Dugu Yan abandoned ranged poison mist attacks. Scales covered her slender legs, and her entire body shot forward like an arrow, pouncing directly on the Nether White Tiger.
As she charged, red-purple poison mist spread from her pores, rapidly filling half the ring and enveloping the Nether White Tiger.
"Roar!"
Sensing the poison's corrosion and Dugu Yan's threat, the Nether White Tiger roared, claws and serpent tail colliding in close combat.
To everyone's shock, Dugu Yan, using her mutated body and masterful close-quarters skills, did not fall behind at all against the Nether White Tiger's storm-like attacks.
"How is this possible?!"
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, fused in consciousness, were stunned. Their spirit fusion ability was enough to face even a Spirit King, yet here they were locked in direct combat with a mere Spirit Ancestor.
…
Meanwhile, at the front, the duel between Tang San and Yang Pojun reached a critical point.
The Clear Sky Hammer was strong, but with the vast difference in spirit power and Yang Pojun's near-perfect spear skills, Tang San remained at a severe disadvantage. His Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer was interrupted or repelled before gathering full force, his wounds multiplying, his Eight Spider Lances marred by spear strikes, and his spirit power rapidly depleting.
"I can't delay any longer!"
With determination in his eyes, Tang San watched as Yang Pojun found an opening to stab at his left ribs. Tang San's left hand swept the Clear Sky Hammer sideways, violently colliding with the Soul Breaking Spear!
Using the force, he shot backward, escaping Yang Pojun's attack range.
In midair, he flicked several water pouches like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, tossing them into the red-purple poison mist where Dugu Yan and the Nether White Tiger were fighting fiercely.
"Fatty, now!"
At the edge of the ring, the nearly unconscious Ma Hongjun jerked awake at Tang San's shout, mustering his last strength to spit a thin fireline at the water pouches.
The water bags burst instantly, the Realgar wine inside mixing with the flames to create a fiery rain that enveloped the poison mist with a pungent stench.
Tang San had devised this tactic based on his knowledge from his previous life and his understanding of the Jade Phosphor Serpent's poison, planning to use Realgar to counter Dugu Yan's poison field.
But—
"Heh..."
The fiery Realgar rain fell, making faint sounds as it contacted the poison mist. The mist wavered slightly and grew a little lighter in color, but instead of being neutralized or dispersed as expected, it seemed to agitate the poison further, making it surge even more violently!
"How can this be?!"
For the first time, disbelief appeared on Tang San's face.
Was Realgar wine ineffective against snake venom?
This was beyond his understanding!
"Heh... idiot,"
Dugu Yan's mocking voice came from within the poison mist.
"Do you really think my poison is just ordinary Jade Phosphor Serpent venom? That's so last year!"
Tang San, shocked by the tactical failure, suddenly felt a deadly aura enveloping him from behind—Yang Pojun had given him no respite! The Soul Breaking Spear turned into a shadowy black line, stabbing straight for his heart from behind.
"Damn!"
Tang San's hair stood on end. His Eight Spider Lances tensed and crossed behind him!
Another explosion!
He was sent stumbling, sparks flying from his lances, a faint cracking sound coming from the limbs.
"It's not over yet!"
Dugu Yan's cold shout rang out.
In mid-battle with the Nether White Tiger, her fourth, dark soul ring suddenly flared.
"Fourth spirit ability: Myriad Serpents Dance!"
A chilling hissing sound rang out.
Centered on Dugu Yan, countless energy serpents, condensed from turquoise poison mist and golden flames, sprang into the air. Each was vivid and fierce, fangs bared and eyes gleaming, surging from all directions to bite and entangle the Nether White Tiger, spitting venomous flames.
The Nether White Tiger roared, claws and tail sweeping away groups of snakes, but their numbers seemed infinite and their corrosion intense. Soon, its energy body dulled and slowed.
"Boxing Skill: Strike the Sky!"
Huang Bin roared, red and blue blood forcibly compressed and fused atop his right fist, transforming into a chaotic, violent gray. His mighty punch, locked onto the Nether White Tiger, seemed ready to shatter heaven and earth.
"Not good!"
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's fused consciousness screamed warning, but they were entangled by countless venomous snakes.
A terrifying punch landed solidly on the Nether White Tiger's waist and ribs.
A tragic roar, and the giant energy form cracked and collapsed with a thunderous crash. Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were flung apart, both vomiting blood, crashing down and unable to rise again.
Yu Tianheng fell nearby, completely unconscious.
Oscar and Ning Rongrong had exhausted their spirit power, faces pale with only despair left.
At this point, apart from Tang San, all the Shrek Seven were seriously injured.
Tang San steadied himself, watching his fallen teammates, the four Grand Martial members closing in from three sides, while the three on the sidelines—among them Shui Bing'er—remained calm. His heart sank into utter despair.
A total miscalculation!
My biggest reliance was the Realgar tactic against the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison, but it turned out to be completely ineffective!
"Still want to resist stubbornly?"
Yang Pojun pointed his spear at Tang San, his tone icy.
Tang San took a deep breath, panic and despair in his eyes quickly turning to a paranoid chill.
He quietly put away the Clear Sky Hammer.
Yang Pojun and the three others paused at this action.
In the next instant, to everyone's shock, Tang San wiped his hand at his waist and suddenly flung something out.
Countless black lights and silver flashes, like a rainstorm of pear blossoms, shot toward Yang Pojun, Huang Bin, and Dugu Yan.
"As expected—hidden weapons!"
Huang Bin and Jiang Hongfei sneered, qi and blood swirling to form a translucent, blood-colored wall in front of them. Most of the hidden weapons struck the wall with faint sounds, unable to penetrate.
Yang Pojun's Soul Breaking Spear spun like a wheel, the spear's shadow forming a barrier, perfectly deflecting every concealed weapon aimed his way.
Dugu Yan was more direct—the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor phantom coiled around her, poison mist shielding her body. Any hidden weapon striking the mist slowed drastically, quickly corroded and lost force, dropping to the floor with a clink.
At the edge of the ring, Shui Bing'er, who had been quietly observing, suddenly focused on Tang San's slightly lowered right hand.
In his palm, at some point, two black metallic spheres had appeared.
This was the Tang sect's forbidden weapon—the Mother-Son Soul Chaser!