Chapter 184: The Cost of Sacrifice
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The Azure Bull Python raised its head and roared in fury, struggling desperately, but it was all in vain.
In the face of the towering giant, as imposing as a deity, it felt as insignificant as a tiny snake. An overwhelming sense of helplessness, unlike anything it had ever experienced before, arose from the depths of its heart.
"Azure Annihilation Thunder!"
Activating its bloodline, the Azure Bull Python unleashed its most powerful attack, akin to how a Soul Master would release their Martial Soul True Body.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The massive horn on its head shone with dazzling light as endless thunder gathered. With a deafening roar, it released a pillar of lightning from its horn, shooting it straight at the giant.
Bang!
The thunderous beam struck the giant's massive hand, sending sparks flying. Snakelike lightning flickered erratically, scorching and exploding upon impact. A crater formed in the palm, leaving behind blackened scorch marks.
But that was all. With the Blue Silver Emperor's vitality, such damage could be healed in mere moments. The giant's hand continued its descent, undeterred.
The Azure Bull Python's eyes widened in shock—its strongest attack had proven utterly futile. Panic set in, and without hesitation, it activated its innate domain:
"Azure Deceleration Domain!"
A layer of azure light spread outward, enveloping the giant. Its movements slowed slightly, yet its hand never stopped. Despair gripped the Azure Bull Python as it watched helplessly. Not only did it lack the strength to counterattack, but even fleeing was no longer an option.
The moment stretched unbearably. However, the Azure Bull Python was not one to submit easily. As the giant's hand descended, it lashed out, sinking its fangs into the giant's wrist.
Wang Li chuckled.
This giant was formed from the Blue Silver Emperor, inheriting all of its traits—including its deadly Ice-Fire Venom. Without hesitation, he activated it.
The Azure Bull Python had aimed to sever the giant's wrist, but instead, it bit down on a mouthful of lethal poison. The Ice-Fire Venom spread rapidly through its body, unleashing terrifying effects. Freezing and burning alternated in a relentless cycle, ravaging its organs and extinguishing its life force.
Within moments, the Azure Bull Python lost all ability to resist, hanging limply like a lifeless snake, its nape seized in the giant's grip. Wang Li only needed to exert a little force, and this hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast would be crushed.
"Titan Earth Force!"
A furious roar echoed as the Titan Giant Ape, wielding mastery over gravity, condensed a massive stone projectile. With a thunderous charge, it hurled itself at the giant.
Wang Li controlled the colossus, gripping the Azure Bull Python in one hand while swatting at the incoming stone with the other.
Boom!
The stone shattered into countless fragments. Even if some debris struck the giant, it barely felt a thing.
Immediately, the giant lifted its enormous foot and stomped down on the Titan Giant Ape.
"Roar!"
The Titan Giant Ape bellowed in rage, pounding its chest before bracing itself for direct impact. Yet the overwhelming force sent it toppling backward, embedding it deep into the earth.
Lift. Stomp. Lift. Stomp...
The cycle repeated. Even the mighty Titan Giant Ape, at this moment, was powerless under the relentless assault.
This colossus possessed no intricate abilities—only the Blue Silver Emperor's vitality, an unyielding body, immense strength, and terrifying regenerative power. That was enough. As long as it could not be destroyed, it could bulldoze through any enemy in its path.
By now, the Azure Bull Python had regained some semblance of consciousness. The Ice-Fire Venom had ravaged its body beyond recognition. Even if it escaped, death was inevitable.
Its eyes dimmed with resignation before it spoke with great difficulty:
"Human, stop. What you want is nothing more than my soul ring and soul bone. But not just anyone can absorb them. Release my younger brother, and I will offer myself as a sacrifice. Otherwise, I will self-destruct immediately."
Upon hearing this, Wang Li halted the giant's movement. He trusted Dugu yan's abilities, but if the Azure Bull Python was willing to sacrifice itself, it would make things far easier.
Raising his voice, he declared:
"If you offer yourself, I will spare the Titan Giant Ape. But do not attempt any tricks. Just as I can let it go, I can just as easily capture it again."
The Azure Bull Python spoke angrily:
"Human, do not think of me as despicable like you. Once I make a promise, I will never go back on my word."
When the Titan Giant Ape finally managed to claw itself out of the ground, it weakly but resolutely declared:
"Big Brother, if we live, we live together. If we die, we die together!"
The Azure Bull Python, if given the chance, did not truly wish to die. But with the Ice-Fire Venom ravaging its body, even if it escaped, survival was impossible.
At this moment, it transmitted its thoughts to the Titan Giant Ape:
"Er Ming, go! Don't forget—Sister Xiao Wu is still in the hands of the Spirit Hall. In the future, even if you must die, it must be on the path to saving her!"
The Titan Giant Ape froze. On one side was its sworn brother, Da Ming; on the other, the one it had secretly loved, Xiao Wu. In the end, it turned away in agony, saying nothing as it sprinted into the distance.
Once the Titan Giant Ape was gone, Wang Li controlled the giant, releasing the Azure Bull Python. He then walked forward with Dugu Yan and said:
"It's your turn. Begin the sacrifice."
The Azure Bull Python's lifeless eyes shifted from Wang Li to Dugu Yan. Wang Li already had nine soul rings. Naturally, the one who needed this soul ring was the woman at his side.
In a deep voice, it spoke:
"Human, I should have chosen to self-destruct. But I will keep my word. Consider yourself lucky—do not waste my power."
Boom! Boom!
The Azure Bull Python ignited its cultivation, sending a pillar of azure light soaring into the sky, enveloping Dugu Yan while forcefully repelling Wang Li.
Sacrifice—a unique ritual. Once initiated, only the sacrificing soul beast and its chosen recipient could remain. All others were expelled, unable to interfere, let alone forcefully interrupt the process.
Standing outside the ritual's range, Wang Li observed as the Azure Bull Python's body gradually turned ethereal, dissolving into pure energy that flowed into Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan had already entered her Martial Soul Possession state, her lower half transforming into a serpent's tail. Two yellow, two purple, and three black soul rings coiled around her. Now, a red eighth soul ring, gradually solidifying, hovered above her.
Unlike the usual pain of absorbing a soul ring, the Azure Bull Python's power merged seamlessly into her body and Martial Soul, enhancing her in every possible way.
Wang Li nodded in satisfaction and patiently waited for the sacrifice to conclude. During this time, a thought crossed his mind, and he activated the Blue Silver Domain.
The domain spread out, swiftly covering the entire Star Dou Forest. He glimpsed the Titan Giant Ape fleeing but paid it no mind. Instead, he summoned all the Blue Silver Grass, invoking the Sea Embracing All Rivers technique.
Boom!
The entire Star Dou Forest trembled. Countless thousand-year and ten-thousand-year soul beasts turned their eyes toward the once-insignificant Blue Silver Grass around them, now regarding it with the wariness one would give a deadly foe.
Every strand of Blue Silver Grass contributed its energy, converging in the sky, flowing toward Wang Li like an endless azure tide. This ocean of power suppressed the countless soul beasts of the forest. Some fell to the ground in submission, while others scrambled away in panic. Even mighty ten-thousand-year soul beasts dared not act recklessly.
All this energy spiraled, coiling into the shape of an enormous funnel. And at the heart of it—was Wang Li.
The power poured into him in torrents, his lifeforce surging dramatically, no less than that of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast…
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(End of Chapter)