On the cliff, the Dragon-Serpent Couple watched the intense battle erupting in the distance, their expressions unusually grave.
"I never expected Sword Douluo to be so formidable," Dragon Duke murmured.
He had long heard that Sword Douluo was among the top-tier powerhouses on the continent. However, witnessing it firsthand today, he realized that the man's abilities far surpassed the rumors. Sword Douluo was actually suppressing a hundred-thousand-year emperor-level Soul Beast from the Star Dou Great Forest single-handedly.
"That Titan Giant Ape is no less impressive. If it had attacked us earlier... I fear..." Snake Granny glanced at Meng Yiran, her heart still trembling with fear.
"Indeed!" Dragon Duke sighed softly as he watched the Titan Giant Ape gradually losing ground. Only by witnessing the battles of such top-tier powerhouses could one truly realize their own insignificance.
As the two were lost in their thoughts, a sudden roar from the Titan Giant Ape in the distance pierced the air. Though far away, the word "big brother" clearly reached their ears.
The Dragon-Serpent Couple's expressions changed drastically. They had once heard a rumor that there were actually two emperor-level Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, and they were inseparable.
ROAR!!!
A deafening bellow that seemed to shake the heavens and earth echoed from the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, filling everyone's hearts with unease.
"The Sky Blue Bull Python! So the rumors were true!" Snake Granny exclaimed in shock, her gaze involuntarily shifting to Dragon Duke. "Old man, what should we do?"
"..."
"We've already promised Sword Douluo our assistance. If we abandon them now, it would be a breach of trust."
Dragon Duke's aged face wrinkled in thought as he unconsciously tapped his dragon-headed staff on the ground. He glanced at Meng Yiran, who was oblivious to the situation, and let out a deep sigh.
"The Titan Giant Ape is already injured and not in its peak condition. Old woman, let's step in and hold it off for a while so Sword Douluo can focus on dealing with the Sky Blue Bull Python."
"Old man!" Snake Granny was startled and wanted to say more, but Dragon Duke raised a hand to stop her.
"At our age, we're already halfway into the grave. But Yiran is still young and has limitless potential. We should make plans for her."
Dragon Duke seemed to have made up his mind as he glanced at Li Xun. "With Sword Douluo's cultivation, even if he can't win, he can certainly escape. The key to success lies in whether this child can quickly absorb the Spirit Ring."
"Besides, we're not going to risk our lives. We just need to hold off the Titan Giant Ape for a moment." With that, Dragon Duke charged toward the battlefield without looking back, incidentally intimidating the Soul Beasts fleeing in panic along the way.
Snake Granny turned to Meng Yiran. "Yiran, your grandfather and I will drive away the high-level Soul Beasts along the way. Stay here and don't go anywhere."
"Okay, Grandma." Though worried, Meng Yiran could only obediently comply.
Snake Granny forced a smile at Meng Yiran's obedient demeanor before quickly chasing after Dragon Duke.
Li Xun, though in pain, remained clear-headed. He had heard every word of their conversation.
Although the Dragon-Serpent Couple were making plans for their side and perhaps intentionally speaking for his benefit, he was indeed the one who stood to gain.
I'll remember this favor.
At this moment, the pain in his body was gradually subsiding. The violent energy from the Thunder Hell Vine within him was also stabilizing, quickly merging with his own Soul Power.
With the self-healing abilities of Wood Release and the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, the damage caused by the lightning inside his body was no longer a concern. He now treated it as a means to stimulate his cells and enhance his physical condition.
As for the soul impact, apart from the initial intensity, it had no other effect on him.
Sensing the external situation, Li Xun began to accelerate the absorption of the residual energy.
With the departure of the Dragon-Serpent Couple, the area no longer had a powerful aura to deter the Soul Beasts that had been frightened by the aftermath of the battle. They no longer avoided this place.
He had to fully absorb this Spirit Ring before any powerful Soul Beasts arrived.
Seeing the increasing number of Soul Beasts passing through the area, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Meng Yiran grew tense. The three of them gradually moved closer, forming a protective circle around Li Xun.
"Nine Treasures have names: one is Strength, two is Speed, three is Soul," Ning Rongrong summoned the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and applied Soul Power Amplification to Zhu Zhuqing and Meng Yiran.
As the three-colored lights merged into Meng Yiran's body, she looked at Ning Rongrong in surprise.
She had heard of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School before, but she never expected the amplification effects of this Martial Soul to be so pronounced. Meng Yiran could clearly feel herself becoming stronger.
"There's a Soul Beast coming up behind you!" Meng Yiran exclaimed as she looked behind Ning Rongrong. Just as she was about to use a Soul Skill, she was surprised to see a figure already stepping in front of the Soul Beast.
Zhu Zhuqing, holding a sharp sword, made a few swift strokes, and the Soul Beast fell lifelessly to the ground.
"Ah?" Meng Yiran's eyes widened in astonishment, and she let out a soft gasp.
She hadn't expected this silent, well-endowed woman to be so powerful.
Meng Yiran pursed her lips and tightened her grip on her staff. If Tang San and his group hadn't taken the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent, her strength would have been much greater now.
After dealing with the Soul Beast, Zhu Zhuqing quickly retreated to her original position.
Li Xun was currently immobile, and Ning Rongrong had no combat abilities, so she couldn't afford to stray too far.
"Zhu Zhuqing, there are two more Soul Beasts coming up on your side!"
Just as Zhu Zhuqing steadied herself, she heard Ning Rongrong's alarmed shout and quickly turned her head to look. Seeing that the approaching Soul Beasts were only a couple of hundred-year ones, she immediately relaxed.
Her sharp sword unsheathed, she thrust forward, and her figure suddenly disappeared. When she reappeared, she was already behind the two Soul Beasts.
Without paying attention to the already dead Soul Beasts, Zhu Zhuqing thrust her sword again and promptly returned to Ning Rongrong's side, killing the approaching Soul Beast.
In this manner, she darted back and forth at the top of the cliff for the time it took to burn an incense stick.
Even though Zhu Zhuqing's first Soul Skill consumed very little energy and she was only dealing with ten-year and hundred-year Soul Beasts, she still felt somewhat fatigued.
Looking at the dozen or so Spirit Rings floating on the ground, Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath to alleviate the fatigue from continuous combat.
These Soul Beasts, for some reason, had all climbed up the cliff together, as if driven by something.
Just as Zhu Zhuqing was catching her breath, seven purple-black shadows leaped up from the base of the cliff.
"A fifty-thousand-year Three-Eyed Magic Fox!" As the seven shadows gradually solidified, Zhu Zhuqing's lips parted slightly in astonishment. She hadn't expected such a powerful Soul Beast to appear in this outer region.
"Fifty thousand years! Zhu Zhuqing, are you sure you're not mistaken?" Ning Rongrong, feeling nervous, quickly moved closer to Li Xun.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded solemnly, "This Soul Beast has the ability to create clones, and it has always been used by our Zhu Family as the fourth Spirit Ring for the Netherworld Spirit Cat Martial Soul."
Most large families or factions have their own Spirit Ring systems, and the Star Luo Zhu Family is no exception. The fourth Soul Skill of the Netherworld Spirit Cat, the Netherworld Shadow Clone, is derived from the Three-Eyed Magic Fox.
"So, what should we do now?" Meng Yiran shrank her neck slightly upon hearing their conversation.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't respond but instead gripped the hilt of her sword tightly.
Facing an opponent with a vastly superior level, she felt a deep sense of helplessness. However, considering that Li Xun was right behind her, she had no choice but to muster her courage.
At that moment, the Peerless Dragon-Serpent had already arrived within the range of the fierce battle between the Sword Douluo and the Titan Giant Ape.
No one could help them.