The skeletal figure, thin and frail, stood within the grand hall. Originally a lustrous jade-white, after absorbing numerous blood mists, it now appeared a deep crimson, exuding a powerful sense of bloodlust. Within its eye sockets, two faint red glows flickered softly. Above the Bone Saint’s skull, two scrolls floated mid-air. During the earlier chaos, some fortunate soul had managed to snatch one, leaving these last two scrolls as unclaimed treasures. Naturally, under the intimidating presence of the Bone Saint, few dared to attempt stealing them.
When the hoarse, ancient voice gradually faded, the expressions of those in the hall shifted once more. It seemed that today, without overcoming this Bone Saint, they would not depart safely.
“There is no need for panic. The soul imprint within this Bone Saint’s remains is merely a fragment left behind by that powerful individual, not a true Bone Saint. Defeating it isn’t impossible, but we must unite, or we will be destroyed one by one,” Old Ghoul Starplucker said gravely.
“Old Sir Starplucker speaks wisely, but since you were the one who awakened it, you should take the first move,” Xiao Yan responded with a faint smile.
“Indeed, that makes sense. You bear the greater responsibility here. To have us join forces, you must lead the charge,” Tang Zhen nodded, expressing his agreement. Other strong figures, after a moment’s thought, also nodded, harboring resentment over Old Ghoul Starplucker’s reckless actions. A small retribution was quite satisfying.
Seeing this, Old Ghoul Starplucker’s withered face twitched, his eyes flashing with a sinister light as he looked at Xiao Yan. The young man’s words had directly placed him in the most perilous position, and it was clear there was no turning back; he had to face it head-on.
“Everyone has a point. Fine, I’ll go first. But let me remind you all, the fewer of us here, the more dangerous our situation becomes. Regardless of past grudges, we are now in the same boat. If it capsizes, none of us will fare well.” Under the gaze of the crowd, Old Ghoul Starplucker gritted his teeth and nodded, then spoke with firm resolve.
“Rest assured, Old Sir Starplucker, we won’t just stand by and watch you fall to this Bone Saint,” Xiao Yan smiled, though his words turned Old Ghoul Starplucker’s face pale.
“Enough chit-chat. If we’re going to fight, we must do so quickly. This Bone Saint appears to be absorbing the power from the blood mists to replenish itself,” the black-robed elder from the Heavenly Phoenix Clan growled, his face darkening as he spoke.
Hearing this, everyone’s eyes widened, and they saw that the Blood Saint’s surface grew darker, the blood mist around it rapidly surging into its body.
“Old Sir Starplucker, it’s time!” Xiao Yan roared.
Old Ghoul Starplucker’s eyes twitched, resisting the urge to slap Xiao Yan, “I know, no need for reminders.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he knew time was running out. His figure moved, transforming into a blurry shadow, darting towards the blood-red skeleton at the center of the hall. Vast Dou Qi surged from his body, akin to a volcanic eruption, reducing the blood mist significantly.
Seeing Old Ghoul Starplucker’s might, many felt their spirits lift.
“Skree…” The red glint in the blood-red skeleton’s eyes flickered, watching the black shadow rush forward with immense Dou Qi. It clenched its jaws, took a step, and its dark red skeletal hand reached straight for Old Ghoul Starplucker.
“Shiik!” The speed of the skeleton was terrifying. As its hand rose, the space before it ripped apart, and its arm thrust through the torn space, emerging before Old Ghoul Starplucker in an instant.
This horrifying speed made Old Ghoul Starplucker’s heart sink. He clenched his fist, focusing all his Dou Qi into his right arm, and then punched!
“Bang!” His fist slammed into the skeleton’s palm, but the supposedly fragile bone was as hard as steel. His full-force punch only pushed the Blood Saint back a step, while he himself was thrown back ten steps, appearing somewhat disheveled.
But Old Ghoul Starplucker was no pushover. His mission was to bring back the Skeleton Saint, so he couldn’t afford to slack off. After steadying himself, he darted forward, once again engaging the Skeleton Saint in a fierce battle.
Xiao Yan and others watched the battle in awe. The Skeleton Saint was indeed formidable, and even someone as powerful as Old Ghoul Starplucker was being pushed back relentlessly.
“This is just a residual soul imprint. What if it were a complete Bone Saint?” Many pondered, clearly awed by the Skeleton Saint’s combat prowess.
“Shiik!” As they marveled, several whooshes of wind erupted from the blood-misted hall. Figures burst forth like lightning, targeting Old Ghoul Starplucker viciously. Upon inspection, they realized they were the previously unattended human puppets.
After the intense battle, many puppets and strong individuals had perished, yet six remained. Seeing their appearance, Old Ghoul Starplucker’s face changed. Already at a disadvantage, with these puppets added, he would fall in fewer than ten moves.
“Damn it, what are you waiting for? Fight!” Stamping his foot, Old Ghoul Starplucker retreated, roaring furiously.
“Clan Leader Tang Zhen, Chief River Ice, and young Xiao Yan, let’s all act together to help Old Ghoul Starplucker defeat the Skeleton Saint. How about it?” Hearing Old Ghoul Starplucker’s roar, the black-robed elder from the Heavenly Phoenix Clan realized the urgency. He turned to Tang Zhen, River Ice, and other strongmen, surprisingly including Xiao Yan, whose strength was merely a single-star Battle Sect.
Xiao Yan’s fingers twitched, giving the elder a glance. Clearly, the old man wanted to pull him into the most dangerous fray, fearing he was too relaxed and potentially withholding his full strength.
“Alright,” Tang Zhen and River Ice exchanged nods. Seeing this, Xiao Yan had no choice but to agree. “As for the six puppets, we’ll leave them to the rest of you.”
“Xiao Yan, rest assured, we will handle these puppets,” one of the strong individuals said.
“Be careful,” Little Immortal Healer murmured.
“Same to you. If things go wrong, retreat. Don’t worry about me; I’ll be fine,” Xiao Yan nodded, his gaze intertwining with Tang Zhen and the others. Simultaneously, all four figures dashed into the hall, encircling the Skeleton Saint.
As Xiao Yan and his group began their assault, the other strong individuals in the hall also sprang into action. They rushed in, their formidable Dou Qi drawing away the six puppets. For a moment, the grand hall erupted with intense combat.
Seeing Phoenix Xuan and Tang Zhen arrive, Old Ghoul Starplucker sighed in relief. “Let’s move together, be wary of this creature’s speed.”
Acknowledging his warning, the group nodded. They were seasoned veterans, and even though Xiao Yan looked young, no one dared underestimate the youth who had outmatched many of them.
“Attack together!” The black-robed elder, Phoenix Xuan, bellowed. Instantly, wings extended from his shoulders, and his speed increased dramatically. In a flash, he appeared above the Skeleton Saint, launching a fierce palm attack.
Following Phoenix Xuan, Tang Zhen, River Ice, and Old Ghoul Starplucker joined in, their Dou Qi erupting, covering the Skeleton Saint like a tidal wave. Their powerful blows struck the bone, sparking violently.
Facing the combined assault, the Skeleton Saint struggled visibly, no longer the high-and-mighty Bone Saint of old. With their collective strength, victory was not out of reach.
“Clang, clang, clang!” Sparks flew as Xiao Yan and his team pounded the Skeleton Saint. Each strike diminished the crimson hue on the bones, and the red glows in the skeletal eyes waned.
Encouraged by their success, they intensified their offensive. Xiao Yan’s foot flashed, and he shot into the Skeleton Saint’s half-yard radius, his purple-brown flames wreathing his hand. He smashed the back of the Skeleton Saint’s rib, shattering the remaining crimson glow.
Just as Xiao Yan prepared to withdraw, his eyes froze on the jade-white rib. Faint, strange characters flickered on its surface.
Puzzled, Xiao Yan’s eyes traced the peculiar script, and a flash of enlightenment hit him. An unbelievable thought surged in his mind.
“These characters… could they be Celestial Rank Dou Techniques?”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage