Chapter 75: Scorching Sun Fire Dragon, Dazzling Golden Rope Avatar

Word Count: 3,023 Words

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The Fifteen Ton Ant was a type of spirit beast known for its exceptionally tenacious vitality and immense strength. It could lift objects over 500 times its own body weight. The black carapace covering its back provided decent defense and granted it a certain level of resistance to physical attacks. As for its innate spirit skills...

Sorry, it didn't have any.

Ordinary Fifteen Ton Ants didn't awaken any spirit skills. There was a saying that perfectly described them: 'the Blue Silver Grass of the animal kingdom,' a complete waste.

Fortunately, the Fifteen Ton Ant species had extremely strong reproductive capabilities, which allowed their presence in all the major spirit beast forests across the Douluo Continent.

The entity launching the attack from underground was precisely a colony of Fifteen Ton Ants. As soon as these ants emerged, they swarmed toward the four people in a frenzy. Although most were only 10-year spirit beasts, their overwhelming numbers made up for it. Ten thousand Fifteen Ton Ants gathered together resembled dark clouds blotting out the sky, their momentum no less imposing than a massive army!

Among the four, the first to take action was the hot-tempered Wu Ming. She unfolded a pair of magnificent golden-red fire wings and soared into the air. The scorching firelight illuminated the distant forest, casting Ling Bai, Han Ruoruo, and the others into the shadows behind the flames.

Her second yellow spirit ring shone brightly. Wu Ming raised her right hand, and a cluster of golden-red flames danced in her palm.

Second Spirit Skill: Golden Crow Primordial Fire Combustion!

The intense Golden Crow Primordial Fire enveloped the endless black torrent of the Fifteen Ton Ant swarm. Before it even had a chance to descend, the weaker 10-year and 100-year Fifteen Ton Ants had already suffered heavy casualties, roasted by the Golden Crow Primordial Fire until not even their corpses remained. The appearance of one dazzling spirit ring after another attested to Wu Ming's formidable battle achievements.

The Fifteen Ton Ant swarm suddenly panicked when they sensed the Golden Crow's aura. Bird-type spirit beasts were the nemesis of insect-type spirit beasts, and the Golden Crow was one of the most powerful among birds. Using it against the Fifteen Ton Ants was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

"Screech—"

A sharp cry resounded from underground. The Fifteen Ton Ants immediately calmed down upon hearing this sound. A dark-golden figure drilled out of the earth and stared coldly and fearlessly at Wu Ming.

"This Fifteen Ton Ant... it's huge!"

Chu Qingtian's mouth dropped open in surprise. Every time they hunted for spirit rings, he'd see quite a few Fifteen Ton Ants. Ordinary 10-year Fifteen Ton Ants were about three inches long and had a pair of sword-like mandibles capable of biting through hard objects. Their body length doubled upon reaching 100 years of cultivation. By the time they reached 1,000 years, they'd be nearly a foot long. However, this dark golden Fifteen Ton Ant was over one meter long—a veritable giant among ants.

"A mutated Fifteen Ton Ant King."

Ling Bai said calmly. "Its cultivation is between twenty to thirty thousand years. For the Fifteen Ton Ant colony to establish a foothold underground in the Core Region of the Star Dou Forest, they must be relying entirely on this fellow's strength."

"It's no match for Ming'er."

Han Ruoruo appeared calm. The mutation certainly made the Fifteen Ton Ant King far surpass ordinary Fifteen Ton Ants, but Wu Ming possessed the Golden Crow Martial Spirit after all. Moreover, she was a top-tier genius cultivated through more than a decade of education at Shrek Academy. Defeating a mutated Fifteen Ton Ant King with less cultivation than herself would be a piece of cake.

Bang!

The Fifteen Ton Ant King heavily stomped its leg on the ground. The terrifying force of the impact gave it an extremely strong rebound, propelling it toward Wu Ming in the sky like a cannonball. Its two front pincers flickered with dark-golden light, slashing out a huge cross-shaped light blade.

Due to the mutation, in addition to pure strength, the Fifteen Ton Ant King gained the earth attribute and awakened the long-desired innate spirit skill:

Great Earth Ant King Slash!

Wu Ming curled her lips in disdain. The Fifteen Ton Ant King truly didn't know how the Inner Courtyard's 'Active Volcano' got her name. She suddenly clasped her hands together in front of her body. Her fifth spirit ring shone brilliantly, and a golden-red pillar of fire instantly erupted from between her joined hands.

Fifth Spirit Skill: Golden Crow Fire Pillar!

The thick pillar of fire, with a diameter of one meter, shot straight toward the Great Earth Ant King Slash. She chose to meet the Fifteen Ton Ant King's attack head-on!

Han Ruoruo was right. Wu Ming's Golden Crow Fire Pillar remained in a stalemate with the Great Earth Ant King Slash for less than half a second before breaking through and striking the Fifteen Ton Ant King directly. However, after awakening the earth attribute, the Fifteen Ton Ant King's defense had become frighteningly high. This attack actually failed to penetrate its carapace but sent it crashing to the ground in a trail of golden-red sparks.

Wu Ming was about to smirk when she realized something was wrong. By sheer coincidence, the Fifteen Ton Ant King had landed on their tent. In an instant, flames shot skyward as the Golden Crow Primordial Fire engulfed the fabric tent.

"My tent!!!"

A piercing scream shot into the clouds, scaring the Fifteen Ton Ant King into scrambling to its feet. It no longer dared to challenge the Golden Crow Holy Lady. It called to its minions for a swift retreat.

"Where do you think you're going!"

In her enraged state, how could Wu Ming let the Fifteen Ton Ant King escape easily? With a flap of her Golden Crow fire wings, she ignored Han Ruoruo's calls from behind and disappeared from the sight of the three.

"This Ming'er!"

Han Ruoruo was so angry that she stamped her feet. The tent being destroyed was one thing, but pursuing a spirit beast in the Star Dou Forest at night was bound to create a huge commotion, very likely attracting other powerful spirit beasts!

"We have to catch up with her!"

They were a team, and the three of them couldn't abandon Wu Ming. They hurriedly chased after her and the Fifteen Ton Ant King in the direction they had left.

"Heh... heh heh..."

Ling Bai frowned when he heard the constant giggling next to him. He asked, "Qingtian, what are you laughing about?"

Chu Qingtian rubbed his hands together like a fly, his face flushed with an indescribable redness. He whispered, "Don't you think Senior Sister Wu Ming looked absolutely stunning when she chased after the Fifteen Ton Ant King alone?"

"Huh???"

Ling Bai was greatly shocked.

Absolutely stunning?

More like absolutely stupid!

Ling Bai took a deep breath and sighed, "Qingtian, you're in trouble."

"Why?"

Because you're falling in love!

There's a reason these two ended up together, after all.

Boom——

Suddenly, a thunderous explosion sounded from ahead. Fiery waves swept in all directions like a tidal surge, the scorching heat causing the surrounding trees to wither rapidly.

"This doesn't feel like just Senior Sister's Golden Crow Primordial Fire..."

Chu Qingtian snapped back to reality and murmured.

A figure came flying back, crashing through a centuries-old tree and landing heavily on the ground. When everyone looked closely, they saw it was Wu Ming.

Her condition looked somewhat haggard at this moment. She was kneeling on one knee, her hand clutching her lower abdomen. Fresh blood continuously flowed from between her fingers, staining a large patch of her lower garment red. Blood was also trickling from her mouth and nose.

"Senior Sister, you're bleeding," Chu Qingtian said meekly.

Wu Ming fiercely wiped away the blood from the corner of her mouth. "Of course I know that, you idiot! Pay attention, that thing is coming. It's a fire-attribute spirit beast with 70,000 years of cultivation. The Fifteen Ton Ant King's defense didn't last more than a few seconds under its flames!"

This wasn't Han Ruoruo's first time entering the Star Dou Forest with Wu Ming. They had encountered numerous 10,000-year spirit beasts, but she had never seen Wu Ming so serious before.

A blazing crimson light shot into the sky. A scarlet figure brutally burned through everything obstructing its path and charged toward them. Its appearance was an amalgamation of various spirit beasts. Antlers like a deer, head like a camel, eyes like a ghost, neck like a snake, belly like a clam, scales like a fish, claws like an eagle, paws like a tiger, ears like an ox. A combination of ordinary features, yet it formed this true overlord among spirit beasts—a dragon!

A 70,000-year spirit beast, the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon!

"You're really in luck!" Wu Ming turned to look at Ling Bai, her tone disgruntled.

This Scorching Sun Fire Dragon's fire attribute and cultivation level happened to perfectly match Ling Bai's requirements for his fifth spirit ring. It was a spirit ring delivered right to his doorstep.

She was the one getting beaten up, while Ling Bai reaped the benefits!

After saying that, Wu Ming spat out another mouthful of blood with a "pfft." That Scorching Sun Fire Dragon was a sinister, cunning, and dishonorable sneak attacker. Earlier, she had been focused on pursuing the Fifteen Ton Ant King and was caught off guard, taking a direct hit.

The Scorching Sun Fire Dragon opened its enormous draconic maw. An unparalleled gale whipped up, and a sonic boom like a landslide and tsunami nearly ruptured everyone's eardrums.

"Coordinate with me!"

Han Ruoruo's first spirit ring flashed. The Dazzling Golden Rope moved like a living thing as it trembled slightly to the left and right, outlining two golden halos that looped toward the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon from head to tail.

Although Wu Ming was injured, she was equally unwilling to show weakness. Facing a 70,000-year spirit beast, she and Han Ruoruo were the main combat force. With a valiant shout, her fourth purple spirit ring instantly burst into radiant light.

A red, gem-like light sphere the size of a dragon's eye soared into the sky. Initially small upon appearance, it expanded rapidly in the blink of an eye. By the time it rose to about fifty meters above the ground, it had grown to the size of a round table. Then, like a falling meteor, it charged straight toward the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon's head.

The Scorching Sun Fire Dragon let out a resounding dragon roar. Its sinuous, elongated body turned into a translucent crimson, like a piece of fine glazed warm jade. The aura it released almost doubled instantly. The scorching dragon flames forced back Chu Qingtian, who was attempting a sneak attack from behind. The dragon's mouth opened wide and spewed out a thick pillar of searing flames that clashed head-on with Wu Ming's fourth spirit skill, the Golden Crow Primordial Fire Ring. It even successively withstood several of Han Ruoruo's and Ling Bai's spirit skills without falling behind. Despite being besieged, it appeared at ease, its dragon might overwhelming.

Han Ruoruo no longer held back upon seeing this. She raised both arms simultaneously, silver light bursting from her eyes. The Dazzling Golden Rope began to rapidly spin and dance around her delicate figure. Her seventh spirit ring suddenly shone brilliantly. It was the spirit skill that only Spirit Masters who had broken through to Spirit Saint could use:

Martial Spirit Avatar!

The Martial Spirit Avatar revealed the true form of one's Martial Spirit. After releasing the Dazzling Golden Rope Avatar, Han Ruoruo's figure disappeared from the battlefield, yet seemed to be everywhere at once. Countless gold-and-silver Dazzling Golden Ropes flew out in all directions as they covered the entire battlefield.

Gold-and-silver halos rapidly appeared one after another and extended toward the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon with lightning-like speed. Sensing the threat of the Dazzling Golden Rope, the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon spat out a deep red pillar of dragon flames. However, the Dazzling Golden Rope seemed to ignore the extremely high temperature of the dragon flames as it spiraled along the fire pillar, tightly constricting the flesh of the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon.

The Scorching Sun Fire Dragon roared angrily, the temperature of the flames on its body soaring once again. But this Dazzling Golden Rope had myriad uses, combining softness and hardness, flexibility and rigidity. When coiling, it was as pliable as sinew; no matter how the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon struggled, it couldn't break free from the restraints. Its hard side was even more terrifying, possessing an almost indestructible force. The Scorching Sun Fire Dragon's solid dragon scales shattered inch by inch, exposing the flesh beneath. Dragon blood flowed down like a creek, gathering into a steaming pool.

Chu Qingtian, who had dodged aside earlier, absolutely wouldn't miss this opportunity to kick someone when they're down. He silently appeared behind the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon. The leopard shadow formed by lightning shone brightly, and his sharp claws viciously stabbed into the exposed flesh. The Scorching Sun Fire Dragon's entire body flickered with electric light as it twitched like a writhing giant worm.

"Hot! Hot! Hot!"

Chu Qingtian quickly retreated after landing a successful hit and frantically shook his reddened hands. This earned him a sidelong glance from Wu Ming—it served him right for getting his claws burned! The dragon flames constantly guarded the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon's flesh.

Immediately after, under the dark night sky, golden light swords rose into the air one after another. The sword rain flew in clusters across the sky, like a myriad of fireflies. The radiant flames turned the forest into brilliant gold, leaving exquisite semicircular golden arcs in the night sky.

The Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory swiftly descended from above. The closer they got, the more the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon felt that terrifying power. At this moment, it truly faced a life-threatening crisis.

Blazing crimson dragon flames burned wildly and soared into the sky. A scarlet fire wheel appeared midway along the dragon's body. It began to rotate rapidly and radiate bursts of dazzling light. The fire wheel detached from its body and gradually expanded, becoming a massive fire wheel over ten meters in diameter.

Scorching Sun Fire Dragon's Innate Spirit Skill: Scorching Sun Wheel!

For a moment, under the Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory, the crimson Scorching Sun Wheel swept across like a vast blazing sun ascending to the heavens, overshadowing the moonlight that belonged to the night!

The Scorching Sun Fire Dragon had only rejoiced for a few seconds before it suddenly froze. This was because a surge of light erupted from Ling Bai's right arm. That golden light, dozens of meters wide, pierced the sky like a heaven-reaching, earth-standing golden holy pillar!

The golden holy pillar in the sky meandered downward. A dragon's body, dragon scales, dragon claws, dragon fangs. It was as if a master craftsman had carved a golden holy dragon onto the holy pillar.

Holy Dragon True Form!

The Light Holy Dragon formed by the Holy Dragon True Form dove down from the sky at an extremely fast speed. Its target was locked onto the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon twisting and turning on the ground, desperately trying to break free from the Dazzling Golden Rope's control.

The Light Holy Dragon collided thunderously with the Scorching Sun Wheel. Instantly, piercing dragon roars echoed across the land, like two raging dragons battling each other, ceasing only when one perished.

Sparks and light scattered everywhere. As they passed, the air scorched red, and the earth wept scorching tears. A majestic bird's cry resounded as the Golden Crow joined the battlefield of the two giant dragons. The balance was instantly broken. The Light Holy Dragon smashed unimpeded into the ferocious dragon's head. The light in the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon's eyes slowly faded, and a deep, abyss-like black spirit ring floated up into the air.

The Dazzling Golden Rope withdrew, transforming back into Han Ruoruo's figure. She was the greatest contributor to this battle, having completely controlled the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon. However, the Martial Spirit Avatar did not mean immunity to damage. The Scorching Sun Fire Dragon's violent struggles and dragon flames had caused fire energy to invade her body, making her feel as if her internal organs were burning. She couldn't even utter a word before sitting cross-legged on the ground to dispel the fire energy.

"I need to treat my injuries too. Chu Qingtian, stay here to protect Sister Ruoruo and Ling Bai."

Wu Ming hurriedly ran to a distant thicket; the wound on her lower abdomen needed treatment, which wasn't appropriate to do in front of two males.

"Qingtian, I'm counting on you."

"Got it!"

Ling Bai used his spirit power to guide the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon's black spirit ring. The earlier towering flames had nearly turned night into dawn, so they had to quickly absorb the spirit ring and get moving. If other powerful spirit beasts were attracted, they could bid farewell to the world with laughter.

"Keke... roasted meat for dinner tonight..."

Accompanied by a sinister laugh from the Death Abyss Spider Emperor, the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon completely lost any chance of turning the tables. Half an hour later, Ling Bai successfully completed the absorption. Yellow, purple, purple, black, black—the sight of the five great spirit rings made Chu Qingtian's mouth water.

Staring at the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon's corpse, Ling Bai knew it was time to open another spirit beast blind box.

Han Ruoruo and Wu Ming were still treating their wounds. Given Chu Qingtian's luck—having drawn a black examination assignment—it probably wasn't very promising either.

Ling Bai raised both hands and stared intently at the lines on his palms. Can I trust you just this once?

May the gods bless me again!

After diligently working for a while, Master Ling finally...

Extracted a scarlet spirit bone resembling a human spine!

70,000-year Scorching Sun Fire Dragon Torso Spirit Bone!