The team marched through the dark forest all night, exhaustion plaguing every limb and bone, yet danger lurked in their wake.
In less than half an hour, more than ten Soul Masters emerged from the dense forest ahead. Each of them had a fierce look on their face and violent Soul Power. They were obviously desperate criminals who had come for the Shrek Academy team.
"Prepare for war!"
Wang Yan gave a low shout, and everyone, despite their exhausted bodies, once again activated their martial spirits and plunged into battle.
The already wounded group found it increasingly difficult to cope. Ma Xiaotao's flame soul power was dwindling, Dai Yueheng's injuries were worsening, making defense increasingly difficult, and the reserve team members were all panting heavily, their soul skills becoming sluggish.
After a fierce battle, everyone was more seriously injured and almost exhausted. Before they could catch their breath, the team marched a few miles before being ambushed again.
Evil spirit masters and desperate spirit masters attacked in turn, as if they knew their route in advance. Every dense forest and every pass was filled with deadly intent.
The sounds of soul skills exploding were incessant, and the stench of blood lingered in the forest. The Shrek Seven Devils fought their way forward, their clothes soaked in blood, their steps growing heavier, and they were on the verge of collapsing at any moment.
Wang Yan's face was deathly pale. While directing everyone to resist the attack, he led his team to break through the encirclement with great difficulty. His doubts and worries grew heavier and heavier.
Where exactly did Master Xuan go?
If Elder Xuan, a Super Douluo, were here, a mere ambush would be nothing to fear. His great-grandfather, Xuanzi, had always protected the younger generation of Shrek Academy. His sudden departure and prolonged absence raises questions: did he encounter an accident, or is there some other unforeseen event?
Countless thoughts churned in Wang Yan's mind, but with his own life in danger, he had no way of finding Xuanzi's whereabouts. He could only grit his teeth and lead the group to break through the endless ambushes with difficulty.
Meanwhile, in a secluded valley a thousand miles away.
Xuanzi was rapidly moving forward following the fluctuations of soul power, wanting to rush back to support the Shrek Academy reserve team. The aura of the Gluttonous Divine Ox around him was faintly restless, and his heart was full of worry for his juniors.
A figure stood silently in the middle of the valley, blocking his way.
The person who arrived was Jiang Li.
He remained relaxed, his fingertips gently stroking the hilt of the Soul-Releasing Blade. He looked at Xuanzi, a faint smile playing on his lips, his tone calm.
"Hey, Xuanzi, long time no see."
The moment Xuanzi saw Jiang Li clearly, his blood surged, and his eyes were instantly filled with boundless hatred and killing intent.
The person before him had repeatedly sabotaged Shrek Academy's affairs and harmed Shrek Academy disciples. His hands were stained with Shrek Academy's blood, and he was someone he was determined to kill in this lifetime!
Without any hesitation, Xuanzi's spirit rings suddenly surged!
Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red—nine spirit rings surrounded his body. The bright red 100,000-year spirit ring was particularly dazzling. The spirit power of a level 97 Super Douluo erupted without reservation, and the terrifying pressure swept across the entire valley, instantly cracking the ground.
"The Gluttonous Divine Ox, possess me!"
A deep roar echoed through the valley. Xuanzi's body swelled up, surrounded by a halo of earthy yellow light intertwined with the power of devouring. The Taotie Divine Ox Martial Soul had fully possessed him. With its horns gleaming coldly, the ox charged fiercely towards Jiang Li with an aura of world destruction.
He attacked with deadly moves, showing no mercy, his only intention being to tear Jiang Li to pieces.
Jiang Li remained calm, as if he had anticipated all of this.
His purpose in showing himself was to kill Xuanzi.
Xuanzi is a super Douluo with formidable strength. If he is kept alive, he will surely ruin my entire plan against Huo Yuhao and Shrek Academy. Eliminating future troubles is the best course of action.
Faced with Xuanzi's thunderous charge, Jiang Li did not move, his body was tense, and there was no fluctuation of soul power around him, but he had his own intimidating aura.
As Xuanzi approached, Jiang Li raised his hand and grasped the Soul-Releasing Blade. With a slight flick of his wrist, the blade flashed with extreme speed, tearing through the void.
The absence of a powerful surge of soul energy still startled Xuanzi.
Where the blade swept across, the martial spirit protecting Xuanzi's body was rendered useless. A sharp pain instantly shot through him as the blade's energy slashed across his shoulder, leaving a deep, bone-revealing wound from which blood gushed out.
Xuanzi's expression changed drastically. He forcibly withdrew his power and retreated rapidly.
Before he could react, Jiang Li flashed forward, his speed far exceeding that of a Super Douluo, and instantly closed in, his left hand, the Heavenly Reversal Claw, striking out suddenly.
Just as Xuanzi was about to activate his fourth soul skill, the aura of his martial soul suddenly dissipated, the power of the Taotie Divine Ox possessing him instantly collapsed, the light of his soul ring dimmed, and the soul skill he was about to release came to an abrupt halt. He instantly lost the support of his martial soul, and his strength plummeted.
Jiang Li gave him no chance to catch his breath and unleashed the Soul-Releasing Blade once more.
The blade flashed fiercely, each move aimed straight for vital points. Xuanzi had lost the power of his martial spirit and could only rely on his physical body and combat experience to dodge. However, Jiang Li's physical strength far exceeded that of ordinary people. Every punch and kick, every slash, carried the power to shatter mountains and split rocks.
Xuanzi hastily defended himself, but his arm was struck by the blade's energy, inflicting another deep wound, and his bones throbbed with pain.
The level 97 Super Douluo was completely powerless against Jiang Li, and was suppressed throughout the entire process.
Xuanzi's eyes were bloodshot as he roared, trying to reactivate his martial soul. However, as long as Tian Ni Mou was there, his martial soul could not possess him at all, and his soul skills could not be released.
His pride and joy—the Gluttonous Divine Ox and his Super Douluo cultivation—were completely ineffective in front of Jiang Li.
Jiang Li moved with steady steps, attacking and defending with ease, each strike precise and ruthless.
Each time the Soul-Releasing Blade fell, it broke through Xuanzi's defenses and left wounds on his body.
Tian Nimu would occasionally stab out, keeping Xuanzi in a state of having no martial spirit or soul skills, leaving him only able to passively take hits.
With the absolute power of his physical body, coupled with the suppression of two top-grade cursed artifacts, Jiang Li completely overwhelmed Xuan Zi without any hesitation.
Xuanzi's wounds multiplied, his clothes were soaked with blood, his aura rapidly weakened, the light of his 100,000-year soul ring dimmed, and his once powerful Super Douluo soul power became chaotic.
His eyes were filled with hatred as he stared intently at Jiang Li, but he couldn't even touch the hem of the other's clothes. He could only watch helplessly as he was constantly suppressed and severely injured.
In the valley, only the sounds of fists clashing, blades whistling through the air, and Xuanzi's suppressed roar could be heard.
This duel was never in suspense from the very beginning.
Jiang Li met the attack with cold indifference, showing no mercy whatsoever. He had only one thought in his mind: to kill Xuan Zi and clear the way for his plan.
Meanwhile, the Shrek Seven Devils were still in the mountains, enduring endless ambushes. Wang Yan's concern for Xuanzi grew stronger, unaware that his great-grandfather was in a hopeless situation where certain death was imminent.
As the night grew darker, the sounds of fighting in the mountains and forests and duels in the valleys mingled together. A conspiracy surrounding Shrek Academy and Huo Yuhao was progressing in the direction Jiang Li had planned, as Xuanzi suffered repeated defeats.
The Shrek team's situation became increasingly difficult, with each member struggling on the edge of life and death, their physical strength and soul power nearly exhausted, yet the interception ahead continued unabated.
Wang Yan supported the injured Yao Haoxuan, looking at the injured and swaying students around him, his eyes filled with helplessness and anxiety. He called out Xuanzi's name again and again in his heart, hoping that this pillar of Shrek Academy would suddenly appear and resolve this crisis.
Little did he know that his great-grandfather, whom he had been so eagerly anticipating, was already severely injured and, under Jiang Li's absolute dominance, could not even protect himself.
Jiang Li looked at Xuan Zi, who was barely breathing but still filled with murderous intent, and raised the Soul Release Blade in his hand again, without any pity.
Xuanzi's existence was a stumbling block to his plan.
Today is the day of Xuanzi's death.
..................