Zhuqing's Martial Soul… it's definitely no longer the Hell Spirit Cat!
Did her Martial Soul evolve?
Zhu Zhuyun found it hard to believe.
The evolution of a Martial Soul was every Spirit Master's dream.
As the eldest daughter of the Hell Spirit Cat family, Zhu Zhuyun knew this all too well. For generations, their family had sought a way to evolve the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul.
Yes, thanks to the ability to perform the Martial Soul Fusion Ability Hell White Tiger with the Star Luo imperial family's Evil Eye White Tiger Spirit Masters, their family had allied with the Dai family and helped found the Star Luo Empire.
This had made the Zhu family the most powerful Spirit Master family in the empire—second only to the royal family itself.
But human ambition knows no bounds.
In the eyes of the Zhu family, their ancestors had sacrificed just as much as the Dai family's during the founding of the empire.
So why was it that the Dai family became royalty, while they could only remain vassals?
In the end, it came down to one thing: strength.
If the Hell Spirit Cat Family could achieve Martial Soul evolution and raise their power even further, maybe they could overturn the status quo and replace the Dai Family as the new imperial family of the Star Luo Empire.
As for the Hell White Tiger Fusion Ability? They'd still keep it. But it would be the evolved Zhu Family leading it, inheriting the Duke of Hell title.
Everyone else in the family would just be side branches.
And now, Zhu Zhuqing had actually managed to evolve her Martial Soul?
Zhu Zhuyun was stunned. She couldn't wait to go ask Zhuqing how she did it, and to report this shocking news to their father, Duke Hell Zhu Xuanfeng, as soon as she returned home.
Inside the Star Luo Royal Academy's private viewing box—
Seeing five Spirit Rings rise under Ye Yu's feet, Dai Weisi narrowed his eyes with a cold smirk.
So, he really is a Spirit King.
But thanks to the Martial Soul Fusion Ability Hell White Tiger, even a Spirit King meant nothing to him.
What surprised him more was that Dugu Yan was also a Spirit King.
Two Spirit Kings…
That was troublesome.
Meanwhile, in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team's formation, aside from Ye Yu and Dugu Yan being Spirit Kings, Zhu Zhuqing, Shi Mo, Shi Mo (yes, repeated in raw), and Ning Rongrong were all Spirit Ancestors.
This revelation caused alarm among the female members of the Tianshui Team, all except Shui Bing'er.
"Don't lose heart!" Shui Bing'er called out sharply, her voice calm despite the situation. "We haven't lost yet. We still have a chance!"
Everyone knew what she meant—their ultimate trump card:
The Martial Soul Fusion Ability between Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu—Drifting Snow!
After summoning his Martial Soul, Ye Yu took up the rear position in their formation.
To his left and right stood Ning Rongrong, the auxiliary-type Spirit Master, and Dugu Yan.
At that moment, Ning Rongrong had already released her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, her four Spirit Rings glowing and swirling around her.
Splitting her attention expertly, she applied the most suitable buffs to each of her teammates—Zhu Zhuqing, Shi Mò, Shi Mó, Yu Feng, Ye Yu, and Dugu Yan—with radiant colored light raining down on them.
Once in Martial Soul Possession state, the tall and burly Shi Mò and Shi Mó stood in the center like twin iron walls.
Zhu Zhuqing and Yu Feng took to the flanks, their bodies becoming streaks of black and white as they launched toward the rear line—targeting Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu.
Among the Tianshui Team members:
Shen Liuyu: Spirit Beast Martial Soul Enamel Lucky Crocodile, Power Attack Type, Spirit Elder (Rank 38)
Qiu Ruoshui: Spirit Beast Martial Soul Green Lotus Perch, Power Attack Type, Spirit Elder (Rank 37)
Yu Hairou: Spirit Beast Martial Soul Coral Barracuda, Power Attack Type, Spirit Ancestor (Rank 41)
Gu Qingbo: Spirit Beast Martial Soul Blue Sailfish, Agility Attack Type, Spirit Elder (Rank 38)
Shui Yue'er: Spirit Beast Martial Soul Dolphin, Agility Attack Type, Spirit Elder (Rank 36)
All rushed toward Zhu Zhuqing, trying to intercept her.
Gu Qingbo and Shui Yue'er barely managed to reach her position thanks to their agility-type specializations, but the others couldn't keep up.
Given their lack of high-end power and speed attackers, and the fact that Dugu Yan's Spirit Abilities were dangerous but easily countered and somewhat destructive, they were reserved unless necessary.
Thus, Shi Mo and Shi Mo each charged to block Shen Liuyu and Yu Hairou.
Caught in a direct clash, the two Tianshui Team members were instantly entangled, unable to shake off their opponents.
Qiu Ruoshui tried to circle around to guard Xue Wu from Yu Feng's aerial assault.
But even though Gu Qingbo and Shui Yue'er were agility-type Spirit Masters, their Spirit Beast Martial Souls were only high-tier, not top-tier.
They simply couldn't match the evolved speed of Zhu Zhuqing's Dark Devil Hell Tiger—the form her Martial Soul had taken after evolution from the Hell Spirit Cat.
At this moment, Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu were activating their counterattack.
With Ice Phoenix Martial Soul Possession, Shui Bing'er radiated icy aura as her four Spirit Rings glowed.
"First Spirit Ability: Ice Bind!"
"Second Spirit Ability: Ice Armour!"
Her voice rang out crisply.
The first Spirit Ring flared, launching two beams of freezing light—one targeting Zhu Zhuqing, the other aimed at Yu Feng in the air.
Meanwhile, the second Spirit Ring activated Ice Armour, sending several icy-blue rings of light to wrap around Qiu Ruoshui, Yu Hairou, Shen Liuyu, Shui Yue'er, and Gu Qingbo.
In the blink of an eye, their bodies were protected by crystalline suits of Ice Armor.
At the same time, Xue Wu, her Martial Soul resembling drifting snowflakes, floated calmly as her Spirit Rings shone.
Above the arena, dark clouds gathered, and thick raindrops began to fall in torrents.
Caught in the downpour, Zhu Zhuqing, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Yu Feng found their movements significantly hindered.
In contrast, the rain slid off the bodies of the Tianshui Team like water off lotus leaves—leaving them unaffected.
Back in the rear, Shui Bing'er's Ice Bind launched, aiming directly for Zhu Zhuqing and Yu Feng.
But under Ye Yu's control—
The Blue Silver Jade Tree Martial Soul, normally only a meter thick, suddenly began growing massive tree roots, which slithered rapidly across the ground toward the Tianshui formation.
Just before Ice Seal could hit Zhu Zhuqing, several thick tree roots surged upward, forming a wall of crystal-blue wood that intercepted the beam mid-flight.
Ye Yu chuckled softly.
"So what if it has auto lock-on through Spiritual Force?"
"You may be able to track targets… but what if I just block your beam directly in its path?"
What then?