Chapter 10: Slaying the Soul Saint

"Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul True Form!"

The aged Soul Saint closed his eyes, the Shattered Star Blade in his hand abruptly enlarging. With a single hand, he slowly lifted the massive blade, its scorching radiance exploding outward. The silver-white brilliance dazzled beyond compare, as if an incomparably dominant roar echoed madly through the air.

In this moment, the old Soul Saint seemed to merge completely with the Shattered Star Blade, his entire being like the blade's hilt. The weapon gradually transformed in his grip, its once white body turning into a resplendent silver-white, shimmering with starlight. The blade rapidly shrank, stopping at a length of three meters.

Silver light enveloped the Soul Saint, his aura perfectly synchronized with the Shattered Star Blade.

With a slight gesture, a silver phantom of the Shattered Star Blade expanded before him, infinitely magnifying.

"Gulp, gulp, gulp..."

Chen Xiaoming swallowed hard. He hadn't even seen the attacking blade light, yet his Azurewood Tree body had been cleaved in two. Five meters above the ground, a clean cut divided his trunk. His upper half slowly shifted.

"Martial Soul True Form... this terrifying?"

Thoughts flickered through his mind before he hastily activated the recovery function on his system interface.

A warm current surged through him, rushing to the severed trunk. In the blink of an eye, light flashed, and the wound instantly healed.

Wiggling his roots, Chen Xiaoming swayed his branches flamboyantly, a smug smile curling at the edges of his consciousness. His leafy canopy rustled mockingly.

So what if Martial Soul True Form is badass? I have the system. Today, you're dead for sure.

With his "Windfire Wheels" spinning, Chen Xiaoming's massive body charged forward with renewed vigor.

The ten-thousand-year leopard Soul Beast watching from behind was utterly dumbfounded.

Wasn't Tree Bro just dismembered? How is he fine again?

Its simple mind couldn't comprehend what was happening.

"Leopard Bro, take those two in the back!"

Even as Chen Xiaoming was sent flying once more by the Soul Saint's blade, he bellowed out a command in the beast language only soul beasts could understand.

The leopard glanced at Chen Xiaoming—who had just been slashed again but was already recovering—and made up its mind. If Tree Bro could stall the Soul Saint, the other two were his for the taking.

With a flash, the leopard charged toward the battlefield.

Chen Xiaoming, mid-clash, was momentarily stunned.

What the hell? Is that leopard trying to die? Daring to challenge a Soul Saint in Martial Soul True Form?

"Beast, your opponent is me!"

The Wolf Martial Soul Soul Emperor, who had been sidelined all along, finally sprang into action, his third soul skill igniting as he closed in.

Tsk tsk, so naive.

The Soul Emperor had fallen into the trap. The leopard's innate ability activated again, phantom images surging forward without turning back, closing in on the Soul Saint.

Waiting. It was waiting for the Wolf Martial Soul Soul Emperor to come just a little closer.

Chen Xiaoming and the Soul Saint clashed repeatedly. Under Martial Soul True Form, the old Soul Saint's power far outstripped before. The Azurewood Tree could barely defend itself, shielding its vulnerable canopy with countless branches while ramming with brute force.

Chen Xiaoming's strategy was simple—entangle him and drag things out.

As long as his vital point wasn't cut, he wouldn't die.

He refused to believe the old man's seventh soul skill could last forever. Once it ended, it would be his turn to strike back.

"Crack!"

A bone-snapping sound echoed. Chen Xiaoming glanced sideways in time to see the leopard sinking its fangs into the Wolf Martial Soul Soul Emperor's head. Though blood trickled from its own wounds, none were fatal.

"Rip!"

With a vicious shake, the Soul Emperor's body was torn apart, the battlefield painted in gore.

The female Soul King standing behind froze in shock. She had just amplified the Soul Emperor's strength, only for him to fall prey to the leopard moments later.

The leopard had been waiting. As the Soul Emperor advanced, three phantom images pounced from different angles, cutting off all escape routes.

Before the Soul Emperor could unleash his sixth soul skill, the leopard gambled on a brutal exchange, sealing his fate.

"Not good!"

The Soul Saint's face darkened. His side had suffered catastrophic losses. Two Soul Emperors had fallen, leaving only the auxiliary-type female Soul King.

If he continued to fight, death was certain.

Glancing at the unscathed Azurewood Tree, hatred and disbelief flickered in his eyes.

He had wounded it countless times—once even slicing into its canopy. Such an injury should have been fatal, yet moments later, the tree was as good as new.

"Retreat!"

The Soul Saint's figure flickered, making for the female Soul King. Too many had died—if they didn't flee now, none would survive.

"Trying to run? Leopard Bro, let's finish him!"

After dozens of recoveries, Chen Xiaoming finally saw the Soul Saint faltering.

His branches lashed out, crazily entangling the retreating Soul Saint.

Think you can come and go as you please? Did you even ask for my permission?

Branch after branch wrapped around the Soul Saint, halting his escape.

The blood-soaked leopard turned its predatory gaze toward the last remaining female Soul King.

What a bountiful harvest today!

Despite the wounds on its belly, the leopard's killing intent and bloodlust sent the Soul King's expression into sheer panic.

Against a twenty-thousand-year soul beast, her fate was sealed.

Though the Soul Saint wanted to help, the relentless Azurewood Tree blocked him at every turn.

Moments later, the female Soul King lay dead, and the Soul Saint's seventh soul skill finally crumbled. Exhausted and cornered, he recalled a scene from his youth—witnessing a Soul Douluo's tragic death deep within the inner circle.

Not long after, his cold corpse lay beneath Chen Xiaoming's roots, a thick branch skewering his chest.

"Remember, I don't kill humans... but provoke me, and you're dead!"

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