(The previous chapter was blocked.)
After Golden Crocodile's Spirit Possession, a brilliant light flashed in his eyes. His entire body was covered in fine golden scales, his hands transformed into razor-sharp claws, and a massive, scale-armored tail lined with spikes swept behind him.
"Xiao Zhang, be careful!" Golden Crocodile shouted, eyes wide.
"First Spirit Ability — Southern Barbarian Strength!"
The first spirit ability erupted. His strength surged by twenty-five percent as a spirit phantom manifested, striking everything within a fifty-meter radius and knocking targets back five meters.
Golden Crocodile's enormous tail lashed out, the phantom tail spinning violently as it whipped toward Yin Zhang.
Yin Zhang flapped the wings on his back, a powerful burst of force propelling him five meters away from Golden Crocodile's range. Even so, the spirit phantom continued to chase him relentlessly.
Seeing this, Yin Zhang didn't hesitate.
"Double Team!"
Under the sunlight, his figure split into more than a dozen clones in an instant.
Golden Crocodile identified the real body at a glance and chuckled.
"Good technique—but it still has obvious flaws."
"It's locked on?" Yin Zhang realized as the phantom continued to track him precisely.
He smiled faintly and spat out a blazing sphere of light.
It was the weather-type Spirit Ability—Sunny Day.
The blazing orb detonated in midair, turning the already warm sunlight into searing heat. Yin Zhang felt warmth spread through his body. After taking the First Spirit Ability head-on, he merely sank slightly in the air—nothing serious.
"Teacher, take one from me as well!" Yin Zhang called as the fourth spirit ring beneath him flared brilliantly.
Golden Crocodile smiled calmly. "Alright. I'll wait right here."
"Fourth Spirit Ability — Fire Dragon Flying Slash!"
Yin Zhang swung his arm three times. Accompanied by a thunderous dragon roar, the slashes transformed into three blazing dragon shapes that dove straight toward Golden Crocodile.
Golden Crocodile raised his right arm.
"Second Spirit Ability — Golden Armor!"
Golden armor instantly enveloped his body, drastically boosting defense and reducing damage from spirit abilities for a full minute.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three heavy collisions rang out in succession.
When the dust settled, Golden Crocodile stood unmoved, as though nothing had happened. Only his eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Yin Zhang.
Yin Zhang immediately understood—his teacher was getting serious.
Without hesitation, he activated another ability.
"First Spirit Ability — Azure Flame Shield!"
The first spirit ring flashed. Thick, scorching flames burst forth, wrapping around his body to form a circular shield. From afar, it looked as though he were burning in midair.
Yin Zhang's overall attributes surged to one and a half times their normal level, bolstering his confidence.
Golden Crocodile snorted coldly.
"Third Spirit Ability — Death Spin!"
A massive Golden Crocodile phantom lunged out from behind him, charging toward Yin Zhang at terrifying speed.
I can't let him get close!
Yin Zhang fired instantly.
"Solar Beam!"
A pillar-thick beam of searing light blasted forward.
But it wasn't enough.
The phantom merely dimmed slightly and continued its charge without slowing.
"Hmph!"
Yin Zhang was bitten—the impact was instantaneous.
Too fast!
Just as the death roll was about to begin, his second spirit ring flashed.
"Second Spirit Ability — Fire Dragon Evasion Kill!"
Spinning free, Yin Zhang shook off the phantom and shot straight toward Golden Crocodile.
"How bold!" Golden Crocodile's eyes flashed coldly.
"Fourth Spirit Ability — Tearing Crocodile Claw!"
His hands transformed fully into crocodile claws. Attack power surged, attack speed increased, and defensive effects were torn apart on contact. Any struck area bled profusely.
The earlier Death Spin had already shattered Yin Zhang's Azure Flame Shield. Blood flowed freely down his back, dyeing his scales crimson and making him look like a blood-soaked dragon.
Yin Zhang frowned. The lock-on effect of Fire Dragon Evasion Kill was completely ineffective against Golden Crocodile.
"Dragon Rush!"
Combining Dragon Rush with Fire Dragon Evasion Kill, Yin Zhang transformed into a massive dragon of energy and dove straight down.
Golden Crocodile waited calmly, raising his claws to meet him.
Bang!
Spirit King and Spirit Saint collided head-on.
Yin Zhang was blasted backward, forced to retreat, while Golden Crocodile slid one step back before steadying himself.
Golden Crocodile was briefly stunned, then surged forward again.
Yin Zhang steadied his breathing. Though blood continued to flow, the regeneration effect from the Overlord Reboot item kept him stable. Blood loss and fatigue simply couldn't accumulate.
Below, Qiangu Yunying watched anxiously.
"There's so much blood—why isn't Grandpa Golden Crocodile holding back at all? This is worrying me to death!"
She turned to Tang Zhen, who could only smile bitterly.
"Yunying, looking at me won't help. Even I don't fully understand the Second Consecrator. By the time I truly joined his faction, he had already been in that position for many years. He hasn't fought seriously in ages. When he does act, he's ruthless. Treating Xiao Zhang like this is already mercy—it's a test."
Qiangu Yunying nodded helplessly.
At that moment, Yin Zhang roared. He tore the gold bead chain from his neck and pressed his finger against the keystone embedded within.
Under Golden Crocodile's puzzled gaze, he shouted:
"The evolution that surpasses evolution—Mega Evolution!"
A blinding beam of light enveloped Yin Zhang, forcing Golden Crocodile to halt abruptly.
What is this?
Golden Crocodile glanced toward Qiangu Yunying below.
Her eyes lit up with excitement.
"This is Xiao Zhang's Mega Evolution! He finally used it!"
When Yin Zhang had first obtained the keystone, he had tested it once in front of her—the results had been astonishing.
Within the pillar of light, Yin Zhang's form transformed rapidly.
His already draconic body underwent a dramatic change. Deep blue scales replaced the old ones. His claws sharpened, his horns grew more acute, and his tail became heavier and more powerful.
More importantly, Yin Zhang could feel it clearly—his spirit power surged straight to rank 60. If not for the limitation of spirit rings, it might have climbed even higher.
Every attribute skyrocketed.
All his injuries vanished in an instant.
The light faded.
A completely transformed Yin Zhang hovered before Golden Crocodile.
"Roar!"