Chapter 190: Lu Bu: "Surprised? My wife protects me!"
"Gu Zhen, you did it... huh? Wait, that's not Gu Zhen?"
A figure flickered into view, exuding a familiar energy fluctuation from the Emperor Seal Technique. Gu Luan instinctively cheered, but when she looked closer, it wasn't Gu Zhen it was Lu Bu.
"How does he know the Emperor Seal Technique?" Gu Luan's beautiful eyes widened in shock. Could it be that the young lady not only gave him a command token but also taught him the technique?
Wait… what? What's going on? The young lady gave him that too?
Gu Luan froze on the spot, her mind filled with countless thoughts. Why was the young lady treating Lu Bu so… specially? Then there was Xiao Yan… and the three of them… Oh, my god!
As her thoughts swirled, Gu Luan stood there dumbfounded. Dozens of gossip worthy scenarios flashed through her head, and in the end, her face twisted into a strange expression. Finally, she murmured, "Miss really is incredible!"
Lu Bu, unaware of what Gu Luan was imagining, shouted loudly and hurled his energy crystal seal downward. The attack shot like a cyan beam of light, crashing directly toward Shen Tu Protector.
"The Emperor Seal Technique?!"
Shen Tu Protector, who had just barely escaped the encirclement of the Black Abyss Army, didn't even have time to catch his breath before he was met with the oncoming force of the Triple Stacked Emperor Seal.
"ROAR!"
A piercing beastly roar erupted from the black mist, and Shen Tu Protector's arms waved frantically. Suddenly, a black glow emerged from the mist, spinning and hissing. In an instant, a massive black serpent materialized. Its deep, scarlet eyes gleamed with a terrifying glow, as if Shen Tu Protector himself had transformed into a venomous viper.
The moment the black serpent appeared, the surrounding space warped. Light itself seemed to be pulled into the black serpent's body, leaving no trace of escape. It was unnervingly eerie.
"Hmph!" Lu Bu's eyes gleamed sharply as the cyan crystal seal smashed straight into the black serpent with unwavering precision.
"Damn it… Shen Tu's in trouble!" Wu Ma Protector exclaimed in panic from a distance. Whether it was the terrifying energy radiating from the cyan crystal seal or the monstrous presence of Shen Tu's black serpent, both were horrifying. Without hesitation, he rushed forward to assist.
"Retreat! Get out of here now!" Su Qian's urgent voice rang out. He shouted at Elder Ge and the five other Dou Wang instructors, urging them to flee. These Dou Wangs and Dou Huangs wouldn't be able to withstand the aftermath of such an explosive clash of power.
Elder Ge and the others were well aware of this. They scrambled to retreat, dragging along the completely exhausted Xiao Yan as they fled.
"Trying to run? Not so fast!" Wu Ma Protector snarled, ready to intercept.
But before he could act, Yao Lao's eyes flashed with a cold glint. With a furious roar, he unleashed a massive white blade of energy from the Heavy Xuan Ruler, slicing it toward Wu Ma Protector.
If it were up to Yao Lao's usual temperament, he'd have taken the chance to escape already. With Lu Bu's ridiculous luck and the protection of someone as strong as Medusa, it wasn't like Lu Bu was in real danger.
But not this time. Yao Lao had completely revealed himself in this battle, standing in opposition to the Soul Hall. If these two Protectors weren't eliminated, the next to come would be the terrifying Soul Hall Elders.
These two Protectors had to die. Besides, this was a rare opportunity to claim victory in such a critical battle. As a seasoned strategist, Yao Lao wasn't about to let that slip away.
"Yao Lao, you're courting death!" Wu Ma Protector screeched in fury. Though Yao Lao wasn't his equal, the old man could still stall him for a while if he fought recklessly.
"Don't forget about me!" Su Qian's eyes glinted coldly as his figure flashed, appearing in Wu Ma Protector's path. He struck out with a powerful palm.
"Su Qian, if this ends badly for me, I'll destroy your Jia Nan Academy!" Wu Ma Protector hissed, his voice filled with venom.
Before the words even settled, on the other side of the battlefield, the cyan crystal seal and the black serpent collided with an earth shattering impact.
Under the horrified gazes of everyone present, the world was instantly split into cyan and black hues. Strangely, the expected explosion didn't occur. Instead, in the next moment, the cyan and black colors vanished, replaced by a searing white brilliance.
In an instant, the heavens and earth lost all color. The Black Abyss Army and everyone present were blinded by the radiant white light, their world replaced by the glaring glow.
Moments later, an overwhelming energy ripple spread across the sky. The force tore through the land, reducing the forest to nothing but fine powder. The ground trembled and cracked as massive boulders and chunks of earth were hurled into the air, scattering like projectiles.
Outside the forest, Xiao Yan and the others stared, dumbfounded, at the chaotic energy ripple surging toward them. They hastily retreated further, eventually finding shelter in a nearby valley, where they narrowly escaped the storm.
The terrifying energy storm naturally engulfed both Shen Tu Protector and Lu Bu. As the two instigators of this massive explosion, neither could avoid its effects.
Yet at the critical moment, a multicolored barrier of light suddenly radiated from Lu Bu's body. Though the barrier appeared thin, it completely shielded him from the raging storm, leaving him entirely unharmed.
Unfortunately, Shen Tu Protector wasn't so lucky. The black serpent shattered instantly, and the overwhelming energy slammed into him directly. Even amid the roaring winds, his muffled groan could be heard clearly. His black mist dissipated, revealing a faint, blurred figure, showing that he had been severely injured.
As with all storms, the energy's fury eventually subsided. The wild energy ripple gradually faded before vanishing altogether.
Gu Luan's eyelids twitched. "Gu Zhen, is his Emperor Seal Technique really this strong?"
"I… don't get it either…" Gu Zhen's lips twitched. The memory of Lu Bu casually clapping his hands and effortlessly casting the technique made him feel utterly defeated. He had never seen the Emperor Seal Technique used so absurdly.
It was outrageous. Neither the young lady nor Qing Yang Commander had ever taken the Emperor Seal Technique to this level!
On the battlefield, Shen Tu Protector's black mist had nearly vanished. His figure swayed unsteadily, as if a light breeze could scatter him entirely.
"Damn it…" Shen Tu Protector's expression was as dark as ever. "How am I supposed to deal with the Black Abyss Army now?"
That pale pretty boy had exchanged a direct blow with him, so he had to be gravely injured, right? His focus should now be on fending off the Black Abyss Army. Their combined strength was irritatingly effective, almost as strong as a Dou Zong.
"At least that pretty boy didn't team up with the Black Abyss Army. Otherwise, I'd already be dead. He must be seriously injured now. I just need to hold out until Wu Ma finishes off Yao Lao…"
Just as Shen Tu Protector breathed a sigh of relief, feeling both bitter and hopeful, a white silhouette flashed across the sky.
It was Lu Bu.
Wings of cyan fire spread behind him as he floated leisurely down, his aura only slightly weakened and his body completely unscathed.
"What… how is this possible?" Shen Tu Protector's face twisted in shock. "Impossible! How are you not injured? Why aren't you hurt?!"
"Surprised?" Lu Bu sneered, his grin predatory. "My wife protects me! How could a nobody like you compare?"
As he spoke, his chest shifted slightly, and the tiny seven colored Heaven Swallowing Python poked its head out from under his robes. It glanced lazily at the Soul Hall Protector before retreating back into his clothing.
Medusa wasn't just sticking close to Lu Bu because she wanted to be near him… though that was her main reason.
During battle, her presence gave him a critical edge. From the outside, Lu Bu seemed to be alone, but hidden within his robes was a seven colored python whose strength rivaled his own. Who would ever expect that?
Medusa had no intention of stepping in. Lu Bu's strength was sufficient to handle this opponent, and there was no need for her to expose herself in front of the Black Abyss Army as a trump card.
So… she simply watched the show. Lu Bu would take care of everything.
"Whoa !"
Elsewhere, Gu Zhen and Gu Luan pulled the reins of their four winged unicorns sharply. The beasts reared up on their hind legs, letting out high pitched cries.
"How… how is he completely unscathed after a clash of that level?" Gu Zhen was stunned, unsure of how many times he had been left speechless by Lu Bu's actions.
Even if it were him, clad in the Black Abyss Army's standard armor, it would have been impossible to escape such a violent energy storm without injury. Yet Lu Bu had managed it. Aside from appearing slightly weakened, there was not a single scratch on him.
"Forget it, let him handle that Protector. We'll deal with the other one," Gu Luan said helplessly. This man was beyond ordinary. He was so exceptional that she, as a prodigy of the Gu Clan, didn't even feel the urge to compete with him anymore.
Because she had already lost. Completely.
In terms of age and combat prowess, she couldn't measure up. The only thing she had in her favor was her cultivation level. But even then, she was merely a one star Dou Huang, while Lu Bu was already at the peak of Dou Wang and not far behind her.
"This guy's strength isn't below that of Qing Yang Commander!" Gu Luan thought as she stared at Lu Bu, her beautiful eyes sparkling with curiosity. He was intriguing… but she wondered if he could keep up with those of them who had undergone the Imperial Altar's baptism.
If he could… well, that wouldn't be bad either.
A glint of light flashed in Gu Luan's eyes. After all, the young lady already had Xiao Yan. Surely she wouldn't also turn her attention to Lu Bu, right?
If that were the case… then she might just have a chance!
With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Gu Luan and Gu Zhen charged toward Wu Ma Protector. Under his relentless assault, Yao Lao and Su Qian were teetering on the brink of collapse. If they didn't intervene, it was only a matter of time before Yao Lao and Su Qian fell.
With the Black Abyss Army joining the fray, the tides quickly shifted. This time, it was Wu Ma Protector who found himself on the verge of defeat.
"Soul Hall Protector, huh? Don't even think about running you won't escape." Lu Bu brushed his sleeve casually, his aura locking onto Shen Tu Protector. The moment he tried to flee, he would be met with Lu Bu's ferocious retaliation.
"Ha… you think you've got me?" Shen Tu Protector let out an enraged laugh. A mere Dou Wang at the peak of his rank, who had barely survived their earlier clash thanks to a secret technique, dared to think victory was assured?
Where did this confidence come from?
"Boy, you'll regret what you've done today!" Shen Tu Protector sneered coldly, slapping his soul pouch. Three disoriented souls emerged, floating in the thin black mist with confused expressions.
"Nine Forests Devouring Souls!" Shen Tu Protector's eerie laugh echoed as the black mist surged forward, engulfing the three souls.
Crunch… crunch…
The sickening sound of chewing filled the air, making one's skin crawl. A fierce wind howled as the black mist condensed into a figure clad in dark armor, rising slowly into the sky.
The black armor bore three horrifyingly contorted faces, their mouths agape in silent screams, terror etched deeply into their expressions.
The Nine Forests Devouring Souls a secret technique Shen Tu Protector had used before. When Lu Bu first encountered Wu Protector, this technique had left him battered and barely able to defend himself.
If it weren't for his cleverness, he would have died back then. He never expected to see this technique again.
"Need my help?" Medusa's sultry voice whispered in Lu Bu's mind.
"No need." Lu Bu chuckled softly, raising his hand as a golden purple glow began to swirl. Perfect this was a good chance to test his new move against the Nine Forests Devouring Souls.
"…Fine." Medusa was silent for a moment. Her small serpent head peeked out from his robes once more. While Lu Bu had declined her offer, she suspected it was just male pride. She decided to keep an eye on him anyway. If he got hurt, it would be her heart that ached for him!
"You're dead, boy!" Shen Tu Protector cackled hoarsely, his confidence reignited by the power of his completed secret technique. His aura surged dramatically. At this moment, he felt unstoppable even against someone like Yao Lao.
"Is that so?"
A calm, ethereal voice rang out. A gust of wind roared, and Shen Tu Protector suddenly realized that Lu Bu had somehow appeared directly above him.
"This technique? Wu Protector used it too. Not as impressive as you claim." Lu Bu's tone was indifferent, as golden purple light surged madly around his raised hand. As the glow intensified, his palm sprouted layers of dark golden scales.
In the blink of an eye, an enormous dragon claw of dark gold took shape. The oppressive pressure it exuded was suffocating. Shen Tu Protector's confidence wavered; the certainty of victory began to slip from his grasp.
"What… what is this?" Medusa's beautiful eyes widened in astonishment. Her man had yet another hidden ace?
In that instant, the aura radiating from Lu Bu sent shivers down her spine, an instinctive reaction as the queen of snakes. It was deeply unsettling. Throughout history, there were few magical beasts capable of rivaling the power of a seven colored Heaven Swallowing Python.
"I see now why he's so strong…" Medusa's eyes lit up. She was an eight star Dou Zong with a beastly body and the bloodline of an ancient species.
Back in the chamber, she had thought their "first experience" left her overwhelmed simply because it was her first time. Now, it was clear it wasn't her weakness, but her man's strength!
"So that means… I can go even harder next time?" A glimmer of delight flashed in Medusa's eyes. Dual cultivation wouldn't need to hold back anymore!
"What… what is this!?" Shen Tu Protector screamed in terror. From the massive golden claw above him, he sensed death's unmistakable presence.
Impossible! He had just consumed three powerful souls, each equal to his own strength, through his secret technique. While the price was severe leaving him in a weakened state it also granted him an overwhelming surge in power. Even a peak Dou Zong would be hard pressed to defeat him in this state.
And yet… even with this newfound strength, Shen Tu Protector felt death looming.
This attack was anything but ordinary!
Lu Bu's eyes gleamed coldly. After his dual cultivation with Medusa, his Azure Dragon Transformation Technique had advanced significantly. The incomplete state he had struggled with during his battle with Mo Tianxing was no more.
"Azure Dragon Palm, Shattering Soul!"
Golden purple light flared in Lu Bu's eyes as the massive dark gold dragon claw descended. It tore through the void, transforming into a radiant streak that slashed toward Shen Tu Protector, the black armored figure looming in the air.
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