Thunder Leopard's wild laughter echoed over the arena, carrying undisguised pride and contempt.
With his arms crossed, he looked down at the panting Wind Blows Snow, his eyes flashing with the sharp glint of a hunter locking onto prey.
"Hahaha, useless, useless, it's all in vain. In my eyes, Wind Blows Snow, you are the weakest now!"
This barrier looked solid, but in reality, it was crude—it was neither a sophisticated Spirit Ability nor an original defensive technique; it was merely a life-saving measure that Wind Blows Snow had hastily triggered in a moment of crisis.
As a Control System Spirit Master, Wind Blows Snow's defense was inherently weak. Now, facing the Sixth Spirit Ability of Thunder Leopard, a attack system Spirit Master under multiple buffs, this hastily condensed barrier was like a paper window, shattering at a single poke.
"Break!" Thunder Leopard roared, his fist wind like a thunderbolt, carrying blinding electric light as it slammed into the barrier.
With a crisp "crack," the pale blue barrier shattered upon impact, dissolving into specks of starlight that dissipated into the air.
Wind Blows Snow was sent flying back like a kite with a broken string, his body tracing a pathetic arc in the air before finally crashing heavily like a cannonball into the granite spectator wall.
Wind Blows Snow slid down the wall, kneeling on one knee, and violently spat out a mouthful of blood.
His face was pale as paper, his breathing rapid and chaotic, and every inhalation sent piercing pain through his chest—he could clearly feel that at least three of his ribs were broken.
A year had passed, and yet Thunder Leopard's strength had improved to this extent.
Wind Blows Snow endured the excruciating pain, calculating rapidly in his mind: when they last fought, Thunder Leopard was only a level 65 Spirit Emperor. Now, after obtaining a Spirit Bone, even the lowest-tier thousand-year Spirit Bone would be enough to increase his Soul Power by at least one level.
After all, the lowest quality in the Spirit Bone system was thousand-year grade; there had never been a record of hundred-year or ten-year Spirit Bones.
If one also factored in the efficacy of the soul ascension pill—that precious Medicinal Pill capable of allowing a Spirit Master to achieve a Breakthrough of a Bottleneck, though it could only be taken once in a lifetime—it would be no difficult task for Thunder Leopard's Soul Power to reach level 67.
Even if he had not taken the soul ascension pill, simply through a year of hard cultivation, increasing his Soul Power by one level would be a natural outcome.
But Wind Blows Snow never expected that the actual situation was far more terrifying than he had estimated—after successfully absorbing the Spirit Bone, Thunder Leopard's true Soul Power had already reached the terrifying height of level 69.
If not for the time constraints, Thunder Leopard would have long since taken the soul ascension pill to break through the level 70 barrier, and then gone to hunt a Ten-thousand-year Soul Beast to step into the Spirit Saint Realm in one go.
At that time, he would be the first powerhouse among the four to reach the Spirit Saint level, an honor that should have belonged to him.
However, after careful consideration, Thunder Leopard decided not to take the soul ascension pill for the time being.
He wanted to give this self-righteous Wind Blows Snow a bigger "surprise"—to defeat him uprightly at the same Realm.
That's right, in Thunder Leopard's overall plan, Wind Blows Snow had always been the stepping stone destined to be trampled under his feet.
This person was deep, cunning as a fox, never suffered a loss, and was even less willing to be used by others.
If he could not be made to willingly join the Axis Cult, or if he were allowed to leave, it would surely lead to endless trouble.
Completely defeating Wind Blows Snow in front of Yan Luo, City Lord of Savage City and Long Ziyun, City Lord of Ice Wolf City would not only subdue this difficult character but also establish prestige in front of the three of them, while letting them witness firsthand the benefits of joining the Axis Cult.
Although the Axis Cult had a Super Douluo like Neuvillette, Lady Furina did not seem to want to easily use this trump card.
As Furina's most loyal follower and a member of the Axis Cult, in order to repay the kindness bestowed by that Lady—the miracle of his son's severed arm experiencing Rebirth, and that precious thousand-year Spirit Bone—Thunder Leopard believed that no matter how much he paid, it would be hard to repay this grace.
Therefore, he had carefully planned this duel, swearing to subdue Wind Blows Snow.
Under the enhancement of his Spirit Ability, Thunder Leopard moved like lightning, arriving in front of the heavily injured Wind Blows Snow in the blink of an eye.
He looked down at this once arrogant opponent, his voice steady and powerful: "City Lord Feng, are you willing to admit defeat now?"
Wind Blows Snow raised his head with difficulty, his eyes filled with unwillingness and humiliation.
But the reality was right before him; he had no strength left to fight.
Blood continued to seep from the corners of his mouth. He took a deep breath and used his last bit of strength to say: "I accept the bet! From now on, I, Wind Blows Snow, am a loyal servant of the Axis Cult."
"There is no need to be a servant," Thunder Leopard's voice suddenly softened. He took a jade bottle from his embrace and poured out a Medicinal Pill that emitted a faint medicinal fragrance, "You only need to be a loyal follower."
This was the Bone-Growing Pill that Lady Furina had obtained through mysterious channels.
As a second-grade Medicinal Pill, it possessed a healing effect far superior to the first-grade Medicinal Pill, blood coagulation powder.
"I was too heavy-handed just now and couldn't hold back my strength for a moment, please don't mind."
Thunder Leopard handed the Bone-Growing Pill to Wind Blows Snow and took out an exquisite strawberry cream cake—this was the creation of Furina's First Soul Skill, "If you are worried, you can also taste this piece of cake. I believe you have seen the cake distributed by the Axis Cult to followers on the road; this is one of them. Its healing effect is also quite good, stronger than an average Healing System Spirit Master of the Spirit Master level."
Seeing that Wind Blows Snow was still hesitating, Thunder Leopard gently patted his shoulder, his movements cautious, afraid of triggering his injuries: "Rest assured, neither is poisoned. I have no need to harm my future companion, do I?"
Sensing the sincerity in Thunder Leopard's tone, Wind Blows Snow finally let down his guard and let out a long breath: "No need to test it. If I don't even have this bit of trust, wouldn't I, Feng, be too petty?"
After saying this, he took the Bone-Growing Pill and swallowed it in one gulp.
The Medicinal Pill melted upon entering his mouth, and a warm, moist medicinal power quickly flowed through his limbs and bones.
He was surprised to find that the injuries inside his body were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye, and within just a few breaths, they were about 40% healed.
Then he tasted that magical cake, and a warm, healing energy surged into his body, improving his injuries by another 20%.
Although not fully recovered, he was already able to move freely.
Standing to the side, Long Ziyun, City Lord of Ice Wolf City and Yan Luo, City Lord of Savage City looked at each other, both seeing shock in the other's eyes.
They were not only amazed at the magical healing effects of the Medicinal Pill and the cake but also shocked that the Axis Cult could bestow a Spirit Bone upon Thunder Leopard.
No wonder Thunder Leopard was so devoted to the Axis Cult.
After his breathing completely stabilized, Wind Blows Snow stood up and looked at Thunder Leopard with a complex gaze: "What Spirit Ability does your Spirit Bone provide? It could actually completely withstand my Sixth Spirit Ability, Nether Sound Wave Technique?"
"The Spirit Ability provided by this left-arm thousand-year Spirit Bone is called Tyrant Body."
Thunder Leopard told him frankly, "It allows me to be immune to the vast majority of control effects within 5 seconds, including mental attacks, which happens to be your nemesis."
What he didn't disclose was that even without the Tyrant Body effect of the Spirit Bone, the various enhancement and auxiliary Medicinal Pills bestowed by Lady Furina would have been enough for him to deal with Wind Blows Snow's strange control skills.
"So that's how it is…" Wind Blows Snow murmured, a glimmer of realization flashing in his eyes, but deeper within was an indescribable bitterness.
No wonder Thunder Leopard was so confident, while he had fallen into the trap carefully designed by Thunder Leopard from the very beginning.
Wind Blows Snow couldn't help but sigh deeply in his heart. Looking at the large pit he had crashed into on the arena and the shocking cracks on the wall, he finally admitted a cruel fact—from beginning to end, he had underestimated Thunder Leopard and overestimated himself.
Today's defeat was not an accident, but an inevitability.
Thunder Leopard watched Wind Blows Snow's shifting expression, knowing that this proud Control System Spirit Master had finally begun to truly submit.
He smiled slightly and reached out to support Wind Blows Snow's still somewhat weak body: "Brother Feng, from now on, we are partners serving the Axis Cult together."
"Lady Furina never treats loyal followers poorly. You will soon understand how correct today's choice is."
Long Ziyun, City Lord of Ice Wolf City and Yan Luo, City Lord of Savage City also walked forward. The three looked at each other and smiled, and a new alliance relationship was officially established at this moment.
Wind Blows Snow looked at Thunder Leopard's sincere eyes, finally let go of the last bit of resentment, and nodded solemnly.
At this moment, he understood that his Spirit Master career was about to begin a brand-new chapter.
And that mysterious organization called the Axis Cult, as well as that Lady Furina whom he had never met, would become the most important guides on his future path.