Chapter 38: Feng Chuixue, you are the weakest!
Lei Bao's wild laughter echoed over the arena, carrying undisguised pride and contempt.
With his arms crossed, he looked down at the panting Feng Chuixue, his eyes flashing with the sharp glint of a hunter locking onto prey.
"Hahaha, useless, useless, it's all in vain. In my eyes, Feng Chuixue, you are the weakest now!"
This barrier looked solid, but in reality, it was crude—it was neither a sophisticated Soul Skill nor an original defensive technique; it was merely a life-saving measure that Feng Chuixue had hastily triggered in a moment of crisis.
As a Control System Spirit Master, Feng Chuixue's defense was inherently weak. Now, facing the Sixth Soul Skill of Lei Bao, a Attack System Spirit Master under multiple buffs, this hastily condensed barrier was like a paper window, shattering at a single poke.
"Break!" Lei Bao 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.
Feng Chuixue 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.
Feng Chuixue 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 Lei Bao's strength had improved to this extent.
Feng Chuixue endured the excruciating pain, calculating rapidly in his mind: when they last fought, Lei Bao 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 spirit 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 Lei Bao's spirit power to reach level 67.
Even if he had not taken the soul ascension pill, simply through a year of hard cultivation, increasing his spirit power by one level would be a natural outcome.
But Feng Chuixue never expected that the actual situation was far more terrifying than he had estimated—after successfully absorbing the Spirit Bone, Lei Bao's true spirit power had already reached the terrifying height of level 69.
If not for the time constraints, Lei Bao 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, Lei Bao decided not to take the soul ascension pill for the time being.
He wanted to give this self-righteous Feng Chuixue a bigger "surprise"—to defeat him uprightly at the same Realm.
That's right, in Lei Bao's overall plan, Feng Chuixue 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 Water God Cult, or if he were allowed to leave, it would surely lead to endless trouble.
Completely defeating Feng Chuixue 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 Water God Cult.
Although the Water God 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 Water God 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—Lei Bao 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 Feng Chuixue.
Under the enhancement of his Soul Skill, Lei Bao moved like lightning, arriving in front of the heavily injured Feng Chuixue 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?"
Feng Chuixue 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, Feng Chuixue, am a loyal servant of the Water God Cult."
"There is no need to be a servant," Lei Bao'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."
Lei Bao handed the Bone-Growing Pill to Feng Chuixue and took out an exquisite strawberry cream Cake—this was the creation of Furina's First Spirit Ability, "If you are worried, you can also taste this piece of Cake. I believe you have seen the Cake distributed by the Water God 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 Feng Chuixue was still hesitating, Lei Bao 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 Lei Bao's tone, Feng Chuixue 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 Water God Cult could bestow a Spirit Bone upon Lei Bao.
No wonder Lei Bao was so devoted to the Water God Cult.
After his breathing completely stabilized, Feng Chuixue stood up and looked at Lei Bao with a complex gaze: "What Soul Skill does your Spirit Bone provide? It could actually completely withstand my Sixth Soul Skill, Nether Sound Wave Technique?"
"The Soul Skill provided by this left-arm thousand-year Spirit Bone is called Tyrant Body."
Lei Bao 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 Feng Chuixue's strange control skills.
"So that's how it is…" Feng Chuixue murmured, a glimmer of realization flashing in his eyes, but deeper within was an indescribable bitterness.
No wonder Lei Bao was so confident, while he had fallen into the trap carefully designed by Lei Bao from the very beginning.
Feng Chuixue 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 Lei Bao and overestimated himself.
Today's defeat was not an accident, but an inevitability.
Lei Bao watched Feng Chuixue'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 Feng Chuixue's still somewhat weak body: "Brother Feng, from now on, we are partners serving the Water God 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.
Feng Chuixue looked at Lei Bao'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 Water God Cult, as well as that Lady Furina whom he had never met, would become the most important guides on his future path.