CHAPTER 283: Descent of the Taotie, the Wrath of Snow

Chapter 283: Descent of the Taotie, the Wrath of Snow

  "What did you say just now? What alliance?"

  Tianfu Alliance? Who came up with such a provocative name? Are you openly declaring hostility toward the Soul Palace?

  "Tianfu Alliance," Du Bu Si said calmly.

  The moment he finished, Xuan Zi suddenly charged toward Xiao Qiang. "Old Poison, why waste words with him? Boy, you dare harm my Shrek! Die!"

  Soul power surged in Xuan Zi's palm, transforming into a massive hand that reached to seize Xiao Qiang.

  "Sigh… You're the ones barging into the Soul Palace, and you still have the nerve to speak like that!"

  Xiao Qiang swung the Sky Fire Sacred Sword. Forged from the Dragon Pill of the Fire Dragon King, it erupted with his soul power—amplified far beyond regular extreme fire—and slashed a searing wound into the giant hand, forcing Xuan Zi back.

  "Hiss! You brat… no wonder Tianyang and the others couldn't beat you before. Not only Ultimate Ice, but also Ultimate Fire? What a pity…"

  Before Xuan Zi could finish, Xiao Qiang had already launched a soul shock. The force blasted into Xuan Zi's mind, causing him to bleed from the nose and mouth.

  "How is this possible!?"

  Shock rippled through the spectators. They knew Xiao Qiang was a spiritual and ice-type soul master, so they had all come prepared with mental defense soul guides. Yet, Xuan Zi still ended up in that state—clearly, their defenses weren't working as expected.

  "Spiritual defense soul guides are useful, sure," Xiao Qiang said, calm and cold. "But you can't manufacture them yourselves. You rely on the Sun-Moon Empire's secret exports, and those only reach level eight. Do you think a level-eight soul tool can fully withstand my soul shock?"

  In the original timeline, Shrek might've accessed level-nine mental defense soul guides through their vast connections. But now, under Xiao Qiang's absolute control of soul technology, such hopes were dashed. Unlike Huo Yuhao's Soul Transfer Tower, Xiao Qiang's Soul Palace had zero tolerance—traitors would never be supplied with weapons to fight him.

  This meant the upper limit of black market soul guides remained capped. Shrek's access was tolerated only because it was inconsequential to Xiao Qiang. Even so, that soul shock nearly crippled Xuan Zi—if not for his Taotie Divine Bull Martial Soul and being at level 98, it might have outright killed him.

  "This is not going to be easy." Du Bu Si's expression grew grim as he activated the second awakening of his martial soul, tripling his power. He rushed at Xiao Qiang, determined to stop a repeat of the massacre from two years ago.

  But before he got close, a jade-white palm swept toward him—deadly and silent.

  A chilling aura enveloped him. Instinct took over, and he barely dodged in time. Cold sweat drenched him immediately. He knew—had that palm connected, he would've died instantly.

  "You dodged quite quickly."

  The Snow Empress—Jing Liu—wasn't concerned with the miss. From her palm, a long sword of snow crystalized, then flashed forward like lightning toward Du Bu Si.

  A suffocating sense of death gripped him. Only now did he understand why Moon En had agreed to such harsh terms during negotiations. With this level of power, even burning one's life wouldn't be enough.

  Du Bu Si's foundation far surpassed Moon En's. But in the face of Jing Liu—this true Extreme Douluo—even he could not trade his life for hers. His awakened martial soul could barely hold her off, and not for long.

  "Xuan Zi! What are you doing? Move, now!"

  Du Bu Si cursed aloud, on the brink of collapse.

  "I know! Lao Zhao!"

  "Here it comes!"

  Without hesitation, a Titled Douluo from the Body Sect with a bloodline martial soul teleported behind Xuan Zi using his spirit bone ability. His hand slapped onto Xuan Zi's back—and the two instantly merged their martial souls.

  "Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Bloodline Awakening: Taotie Descends!"

  A monstrous aura erupted as the bull bloodline in Xuan Zi's martial soul roared. The legendary beast Taotie manifested, unleashing a terrifying suction that pulled Xiao Qiang into its gaping maw. With a roar, Taotie swallowed him whole.

  "You dare!!"

  The Snow Empress's face twisted in fury. She bolted toward Xuan Zi, who was now fully transformed into the monstrous Taotie, determined to cut him open and retrieve Xiao Qiang.

  But Du Bu Si threw himself in front of her.

  "If you want to get through—step over my dead body first!"

  Xue Di's sword transformed into a greatsword, her aura exploding with unimaginable pressure. Slashes rained down, and Du Bu Si's wounds worsened with each second, but he gritted his teeth and held on.

  "Give up! Xuan Zi may not be as strong as before, but the Taotie Divine Bull Martial Soul is invincible in devouring! Even the Beast God Di Tian couldn't escape once inside! Xiao Qiang is strong, yes—but he's not even a Titled Douluo! He's finished!"

  In desperation, Du Bu Si began burning his soul power, pushing his strength to the limit to fend off Xue Di. He managed to hold on, for now. But even at this heightened state, he could barely trade blows—her power was far beyond anything he had anticipated.

  He recalled how Xiao Qiang had once called this woman "Sister Jing Liu." But with such terrifying strength—an Extreme Douluo who had likely cultivated for decades—how could she be just a sister?

  She could probably be a grandmother instead!