Under the protection of the Dragon Scale Armor, Shang-Chi wasn't severely injured by the Ten Rings.
Of course, Wenwu seemed to have hit him hard, but in reality, he held back.
Wenwu stepped closer to his son, who had once again climbed to his feet, and looked at him expressionlessly.
"I think I made it clear before. I'm not blaming you for daring to challenge me.
But if you can't prove to me that you have the qualifications, then continue to stand by fearfully, just like back then, and silently watch."
"That's impossible!"
Shang-Chi took a couple of breaths and forced an ugly smile.
"Dad, when Mom was gone, and we needed you the most, you only cared about those rings...
You trained me to be an assassin, and you ignored Lingling. We don't resent you anymore.
But today, you must break free from the control of that monster and return to us!"
"So, you trust the words of outsiders more than helping your own father?"
Wenwu's gaze had already moved past Shang-Chi and looked at the massive Dragon Scale Gate on the opposite shore.
"It's right within reach, and you're still unwilling to let me bring your mother back?"
"If you continue to insist on going your own way!"
Shang-Chi assumed his attacking stance once again and his eyes were filled with determination as he remembered Oaks and the divine dragon's words.
"You will regret this!"
"It's only when I can't achieve my goal here that I'll regret it for a lifetime!"
Wenwu let out a low growl and launched an attack!
The Ten Rings could not only be worn on the arms to enhance strength but could also be detached from the arms for mid-range attacks similar to the "Iron Fist." They could even be used as long-range magical tools for a frenzy of ranged strikes.
When Wenwu stopped holding back, Shang-Chi was no match for him.
In no time, Shang-Chi was blasted into the water by Wenwu. After a moment of silence, Wenwu used the Ten Rings to launch a fierce attack to soar into the sky and landed in front of the Dragon Scale Gate.
"Save me... My love, save me..."
"Almost there. I'll smash it soon, and we'll go home together!"
A dark glimmer flashed in Wenwu's eyes as the immense power of the Ten Rings surged and attacked the Dragon Scale Gate.
"Boom, boom, boom..."
The Ten Rings seemed to have a special effect on the Dragon Scale Gate. As it attacked, it also absorbed the divine dragon power from the scales—
The magical glow that had never been shaken for thousands of years on the Dragon Scale Gate dimmed, and under the vibration, it became loose!
As the Ten Rings absorbed the magical power from the scales, the defense gradually weakened, and Wenwu's attacks inflicted greater damage. Finally, the first Dweller in Darkness' avatar broke through the gate!
"What is that..."
Wenwu's expression froze, but he suddenly turned his head—
Behind him, a swirling column of water appeared!
The water column carried Shang-Chi as he landed in front of the gate!
After being knocked into the water by Wenwu, Shang-Chi, in his despair, heard the voice of the Great Protector and comprehended the water-bending method of the divine dragon power, returning to the battlefield!
"Dad! Haven't you seen it yet? The monster behind the gate!"
Although Shang-Chi knew that Chairman and the divine dragon would ensure that the Dweller in Darkness wouldn't harm their side, the members of the Ten Rings were not within their care.
"Regular weapons are ineffective against them. Your Ten Rings members will soon be devoured by them!"
"..."
Wenwu looked at the numerous beings emerging from behind the gate and flying towards the village across the lake, and his eyes were filled with confusion for a while.
But suddenly, another voice came from behind the gate!
"Save me! Please save me!"
"Charge!"
Without hesitation, Wenwu exerted all his strength, and the Ten Rings fiercely struck the gate once again!
"No!"
Amidst Shang-Chi's roar, the gate shook violently. Countless Soul Eaters poured out like a flood, completely blocking out the sky as they flew toward the village on the other side of the lake!
"Boom!"
Shang-Chi flashed in front of Wenwu, and with his Dragon power upgraded once again, he sent the unsuspecting Wenwu flying!
"Get out of the way!"
"No chance!"
"Then, come on!"
Father and son clashed once again.
But this time, Wenwu, whose mind had been influenced by the being behind the gate, couldn't stably suppress Shang-Chi, who had once again elevated his power!
The first batch of Dwellers in Darkness that arrived at the battlefield before the village had already shown their terrifying nature, devouring the souls of several members of the Ten Rings.
This led the members of the Ten Rings, who didn't want to die in vain, to join forces with the Ta Lo villagers, who were capable of harming the Soul Eaters using Ta Lo's weapons to fight against them.
Xialing, the Mistweaver, generously used her Qi to heal the injuries of the Ten Rings members, leaving them in awe of their own young lady!
However, the number of these Soul Eaters was simply too great.
And so, the Great Protector took action.
"Boom, boom, boom..."
The surface of the lake trembled violently. The shimmering golden water surged up like a waterfall and soared into the sky behind the massive dragon shadow, engulfing more than half of the Dwellers in Darkness in the air!
"It's the Great Protector!"
The Ta Lo villagers were energized and immediately launched long-range attacks with their bows and arrows!
The Soul Eaters were incredibly fast in flight, and there were still a large number of them that managed to slip through the cracks, forcing the villagers to engage them in close combat.
The most dangerous attack method of the Soul Eaters was soul absorption, but they found that this move was not very effective against these people!
They couldn't even seize the souls of these mortals immediately!
This was simply unbelievable. Typically, they only needed a few seconds to absorb a soul!
Both the Ta Lo villagers and the members of the Ten Rings noticed this issue—
Compared to the Ten Rings members who had their souls devoured by the Soul Eaters earlier, they were much safer now.
"It's the teacher!"
Xialing was the first to realize the reason—
On the battlefield, magical flowers emitting a blue light had suddenly bloomed, covering the area with their shimmering glow.
These flowers seemed to firmly lock their spirits and souls within their bodies, neutralizing the Soul Eaters' proud soul-absorbing techniques!
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, the crowd felt as if they had been slapped, and a large purple bear paw print flashed above their heads and disappeared.
Everyone felt that their combat abilities had been significantly enhanced from all directions!
A red-haired youth slowly emerged from the nearby woods, followed by a vast army of spirit beasts and avian spirits!
Without exception, the spirit beasts had a blue glow in their eyes, which was Oaks' soul protection magic.
"Go and help everyone deal with these vile creatures!"
With Oaks' command, the spirit beasts and avian spirits charged towards the bewildered Soul Eaters.
Although they were invincible themselves and their natural spiritual power was unable to cause effective harm to the Soul Eaters, they could still hold them off.
And as long as the Ta Lo villagers, who were capable of effectively damaging the Soul Eaters, hit their targets, that would be enough!
"Teacher!"
Xialing controlled the Qi to heal the injuries of the crowd. Seeing that Oaks had brought reinforcements, she couldn't help but feel uplifted.
"This move..."
"Well, this move is something you won't be able to learn. It belongs to a special inheritance."
Oaks shrugged and patted her head.
"The divine dragon has taken action. Your brother is already engaged in a fight with your father. I'll go and see... You guard this place."
"Don't worry, Teacher!"
Xialing watched as Oaks transformed into an azure dragon and soared into the sky, then pursed her lips.
"I won't lose to my brother!"
In front of the Dragon Scale Gate, Shang-Chi struggled to get back on his feet.
Although Wenwu couldn't suppress him firmly anymore, the influence from the being behind the gate on him was growing stronger, and his attacks became increasingly ruthless—
Previously, no matter what, he was only fighting against his own son, and he held back to some extent.
But now, he was fighting with the same force as with his enemies!
"Buzz—"
The Ten Rings formed a connected line, and Wenwu viciously whipped at Shang-Chi with plasma tendrils!
"Boom!"
However, after being subjected to so many rounds of attacks, Shang-Chi had made progress—
Under his father's strikes, he was inching closer to the threshold of the harmonious integration of mind, body, and technique!
The power of the divine dragon erupted, and Shang-Chi's divine dragon power sent the Ten Rings flying!
Looking at the Ten Rings scattered on the ground, unresponsive to his command to retrieve them, Wenwu heard a voice in his mind once again.
He took a step forward, looking at his son with excitement.
"I must save her! She's calling for me!"
"I hope it's true."
Shang-Chi sighed deeply, pointing towards the large gate behind him.
"Dad, take a good look... What's inside there!"
As the battle progressed, the sealing power of the Dragon Scale Gate weakened more and more.
And now, even Shang-Chi could hear the voices coming from behind the gate!
"Release me! Let me out quickly!"
How he wished that it was truly his mother's voice!
"Boom, boom, boom..."
They no longer needed the help of the Ten Rings. The main body of the Dwellers in Darkness launched an attack from within the gate, almost obliterating the weakened seal!
"Boom!"
With complex expressions, Wenwu and Shang-Chi watched as the gate was blasted open.
The ferocious and terrifying Dwellers in Darkness, with his wife's voice echoing, rushed out of the gate. Wenwu's face turned pale, as if his entire soul had been sucked away.
"This is the truth, Dad."
Shang-Chi had already seen it. Over the center of the lake, the transformed Oaks, in the form of a blue dragon, took over the role of the Great Protector and was clearing away the Dwellers in Darkness' avatars. And the Great Protector immediately flew over to this location!
"Roar—!"
However, there was no time for father and son to speak. The Dwellers in Darkness also noticed the arrival of its arch-nemesis, the Great Protector.
Having just broken free from the seal, it urgently needed souls to restore itself. For some reason, apart from the initial wave, it seemed that none of the avatars had brought back even a single soul!
And there were two prime souls nearby!
"Boom!"
"Dad!"
When Shang-Chi snapped out of it, he found himself already being knocked away by his father.
Meanwhile, Wenwu himself, who had knocked away his son, was entangled by the tentacles of the Dwellers in Darkness, which were devouring his soul!
Perhaps because Wenwu's soul was exceptionally strong, the process was slightly slower.
At that moment, Shang-Chi's mind was struck by a thunderbolt.
The power of the divine dragon erupted, and the Ten Rings scattered on the ground underwent a complete transformation. The golden divine dragon power enveloped the Ten Rings, replacing the blue plasma mode they had when in Wenwu's hands.
With Shang-Chi's roar, the Ten Rings soared into the sky, shattering the tentacles binding Wenwu imposed by the Dwellers in Darkness!
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