But the next moment, silver arcs suddenly flared across the giant crab’s surface. Its upper and lower pincers strained with immense force, and with a deafening roar, it shattered the fiery chains in an instant. In another swift motion, it transformed into a bolt of lightning and slashed downward.
Lady Wanhua’s heart tightened. With a swift hand seal, a green wooden shield shot out from the top of her head as her black lion roared skyward, unleashing a black beam of light.
A thunderous explosion erupted as the crab’s strike hit the wooden shield, bouncing off before being pierced by the black beam. The attack dissipated in a flash.
Despite this, Lady Wanhua’s expression grew graver. She flicked her sleeves, releasing a dense barrage of black needles that formed a swirling black mist, spreading across the nearby void.
The golden crab’s casual strike had displayed terrifying power, forcing her to treat it as a formidable foe. For now, she could no longer spare attention for the Ice Soul Fairy.
Qingping Daoist, witnessing this, was both shocked and furious. He never expected someone else to interfere in what had seemed a sure victory.
But seeing the golden crab’s devastating attack, he knew Lady Wanhua’s aid was out of reach. Gritting his teeth, he flicked his whisk, releasing a denser volley of green threads toward his opponent. At the same time, he hurled a green mirror into the air.
The mirror shimmered, revealing a black-and-white Bagua pattern before abruptly appearing above the Ice Soul Fairy.
With a rumble, wooden rods shot out from the Bagua, swelling into massive pillars adorned with green runes, crashing down upon the icy shield.
Clearly, Qingping had realized that the Ice Soul Fairy, having recently ascended to the Great Ascension realm, was still vulnerable. Even alone, he stood a good chance of subduing her, hence his overwhelming assault.
Under the combined onslaught of green threads and wooden pillars, the ice shield began to falter, flickering erratically before cracks spread across its surface.
Inside, the Ice Soul Fairy remained calm. She took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and formed a hand seal. A crystalline light emerged from her head, coalescing into a massive, snow-white tortoise phantom.
The tortoise’s back bristled with icy spikes, exuding an extreme chill. As soon as it appeared, it spewed billowing white mist, which silently merged with the ice shield.
The shield, reinvigorated by the cold energy, glowed brightly as the cracks sealed instantly, stabilizing under the relentless attacks.
“The Profound Ice Tortoise!” Qingping exclaimed, his face paling. Without hesitation, he formed rapid hand seals and shouted, “Activate!” A colossal Daoist phantom materialized behind him, clad in a robe adorned with a black-and-white Taiji symbol.
Starlight converged from all directions, swelling the phantom to a towering hundred-zhang height. With a low chant, Qingping urged the phantom to clap its hands, summoning a storm of white thunderfire that surged toward the ice shield.
The Ice Soul Fairy, sensing the danger, channeled more energy into the tortoise, which grew larger and spewed thicker mist. The shield, bolstered by the intensified cold, barely held against the triple assault.
Qingping inwardly groaned. His opponent’s ice-based techniques were far more profound than he’d anticipated, and her defensive stance made a quick victory impossible. Resigned, he intensified his attacks, hoping to exhaust her energy.
Meanwhile, the golden crab and Lady Wanhua clashed fiercely, one wreathed in silver arcs, the other shrouded in black mist, neither gaining the upper hand.
As for Han Li, after initial probing, both sides escalated to their true powers.
The giant ape, realizing its fists were ineffective against Xiao Ming’s nine-eyed blood toad, summoned its three-headed, six-armed Dharma Form. With a flash of golden light, it transformed into the Six-Eyed Brahma Golden Body, its three faces mirroring Han Li’s but each bearing a different expression.
The ape roared, slapped its head, and released a black mist that vanished into the golden body. The Brahma Golden Body shuddered, its six eyes snapping open before it disappeared.
In the next instant, it reappeared above the blood toad, wielding six golden blades. With a swing, countless sword lights coalesced into a golden hurricane, descending with razor-sharp edges.
Xiao Ming, wary, avoided direct confrontation. The toad’s back erupted with silver runes, forming a protective net that absorbed the golden blades. Seizing the moment, the toad spat a massive, blood-streaked green orb that shattered the hurricane, revealing the damaged Brahma Golden Body.
Though half its blades were destroyed and its chest bore a gaping hole, the golden body regenerated instantly, its weapons reforming as it lunged again.
The blood toad shrank rapidly, spewing a crimson mist to obscure itself. Undeterred, the Brahma Golden Body plunged into the fog, triggering violent clashes within.
Han Li’s ape sneered, raising a massive fist to strike—only to abruptly twist its head 180 degrees, punching backward as a gray shadow lunged at its back.
A dull thud echoed as the shadow was sent flying by the ape’s counterstrike. Yet, it twisted midair and darted back, evading hundreds of furious punches with eerie agility.
“Your technique is intriguing,” the ape growled. “But let’s see how it fares against this!” With a finger flick, a green sword light bisected the shadow—only for it to dissipate, revealing the real attacker, the expressionless Wugou Patriarch, standing unharmed nearby.
The ape’s eyes narrowed as it glanced toward Hua Xi’s battle. There, the golden fire-being still rained fireballs upon the second mountain, while Hua Xi struggled under the first.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage