Ghostmoon Shockwave—a unique soul skill of the Ghostmoon Python Emperor. In an instant, it devours everything within its path, turning the world to dust with a sweeping beam of annihilation.
The massive light wave, over a meter wide, carried with it the palpable scent of death. As Zhang Lexuan's warning shout rang out—"DODGE!"—everyone scattered in all directions, doing their best to avoid the shockwave's irresistible pull.
But the python didn't stop there.
It swung its head from side to side, and the massive wave moved with it. Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, and others who had tried to sidestep were forced to retreat even farther outward. The best way to counter Ghostmoon Shockwave was to ascend—but this was the Core Zone of the Star Dou Forest.
Any being who flew above one hundred meters would immediately become the target of indiscriminate attacks from the forest itself.
Thus, even those with flight abilities could only endure the humiliation of being grounded.
Finally, Cheng Hui, the Skyblade Roc Soul Sage, lost patience. Leveraging the agility of his martial soul, he accelerated with explosive speed and circled behind the Ghostmoon Python Emperor.
His sixth soul ring gleamed.
A bluish glow enveloped him, and with a cry, massive wings spread open. His head, body, talons, and tail aligned in a straight line, transforming his figure into a great cross-shaped silhouette.
He became a celestial arrow of vengeance.
Skyblade Roc's Sixth Soul Skill – Divine Bird Special Attack!
His attack stunned the others, reigniting their fighting spirit. Bodies tensed. Muscles coiled. All prepared to strike again.
Then—something terrifying happened.
Just as Cheng Hui's attack was about to land, the Ghostmoon Python Emperor twisted its massive neck backward in an unnatural motion, contorting at an angle exceeding 270 degrees. A move no earthly creature should be capable of.
Its gaping maw now faced directly upward—right at Cheng Hui's incoming charge.
Its exposed throat glowed with power. Its seventh scale, shimmering ominously, faced the team below.
Cheng Hui's eyes went wide—but he had no time to react.
In the next instant, his body crashed head-on into the Ghostmoon Shockwave still spiraling skyward.
In a blink, his figure was vaporized—disappearing before everyone's horrified eyes.
There was no time to mourn.
From a distance, another massive figure surged forward. It was Zhu Lie, previously struck and believed down. Blood-red eyes blazing, his aura roared like a berserk beast. He shot forth like a spear—directly toward the python's exposed weak point.
"Wanwan—NOW!" he bellowed mid-charge.
Zhu Lie's spiraling form slammed into the seventh scale, his horn-like spike piercing deep into the python's flesh, crashing into bone.
The Ghostmoon Python Emperor shrieked. Pain erupted across its body.
It tried to turn its head, intent on swallowing this upstart human whole—but before it could even move ninety degrees, another ambush struck.
Wanwan, the Jade-Scaled Serpent Soul Emperor, had been waiting in hiding. He darted forward and dumped a full barrage of six different serpent poisons into the gaping wound Zhu Lie had created.
Though both were serpent-type beasts, the Ghostmoon Python was a non-venomous constrictor, while the Jade-Scaled Serpent was one of the most poisonous known.
Wanwan's toxins took immediate effect.
He had waited for this exact moment. On his own, he'd never land a hit. But together—with years of trust and perfect teamwork—they struck with devastating precision.
Wanwan's face twisted with sorrow and rage. One friend had already died. He wouldn't let that sacrifice be in vain.
The Ghostmoon Python Emperor shuddered again. The sting of poison enraged it beyond reason. For the serpent sovereign to be stung by another snake—unforgivable.
With a deafening roar, it spun its massive coils violently. Razor-sharp scales expanded outward, transforming its body into a bladed storm, slicing everything in its path.
Air screamed from the pressure. Razor gusts tore through the forest.
Zhang Weiwei and Han Ruoruo reacted instantly, working together to rescue Zhu Lie and Wanwan. Han's Shining Rope lassoed Zhu Lie's waist and pulled him to safety.
But Wanwan was not so lucky.
Zhang Weiwei's branches reached for him, trying to reel him in. But vines are not ropes. The ten-odd willow strands she extended were shredded instantly, and with them—Wanwan himself.
Blood exploded in the air. The soil turned crimson.
"WANWAN!!!"
Zhu Lie collapsed to his knees, tears flooding down his cheeks.
The others looked on in grief—but no one dared pause. The crisis was far from over. They had dealt a serious blow to the Ghostmoon Python Emperor, yes—but in exchange, they had lost two powerful Soul Emperors.
And the python still stood—furious and unrelenting.
Even with Wanwan's poison coursing through it, its vitality as a 100,000-year beast meant it could endure for days.
Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, Zhang Weiwei, Shen Xu, Luo Wei, Long Yu, Wu Ming, and Ma Xiaotao continued their desperate assault. Each of them was already injured.
In the rear, Zhu Ziyang and Su Meng knelt beside the unconscious Zhu Lie. Su Meng's Rainbow Dandelion Martial Soul offered healing, but to Zhu Lie's near-fatal injuries, it was little more than a drop in the ocean.
Zhu Ziyang clenched his teeth.
He pulled out a glowing jade-green pill—the Hundred Healing Pill given to him by Elder Zhuang—and handed it to Su Meng.
"Senior Sister, give this to him!"
"Ziyang! This… this is incredible!" Su Meng's eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she popped the pill into Zhu Lie's mouth and gently breathed it down his throat.
Zhu Ziyang watched in silence, fists clenched.
He knew full well—he was useless here.
He had only three soul rings. He had yet to obtain his fourth. Even if he joined the fight, he'd be dead in seconds. Worse, the others would have to waste strength protecting him.
For the first time, he truly felt the weight of powerlessness.
All his pride, his arrogance—it shattered in that moment.
Compared to true elites… I'm still an ant.
I still have so far to go.
"A hard lesson, but a necessary one," Electrolux murmured in his mind, a trace of comfort in his ancient tone.
"The best kind of growth comes after tasting your own limits."
On the battlefield, the eight remaining fighters struggled on.
Through seamless coordination and sheer grit, they managed to hold the python at bay—barely. But with every second, their injuries worsened. Their spirit power drained. Their limbs slowed.
Among them, Ma Xiaotao and Luo Wei, both Soul Kings, were in the worst state.
Their power was dropping fast. They were moments from collapse.
If either of them fell, the balance of the fight would crumble—and the Ghostmoon Python Emperor would slaughter them all.
Where are you, Elder Xuan?!
Ma Xiaotao screamed internally, fury and fear clashing in her heart.
Meanwhile…
Where had Elder Xuan gone?
Backtrack to the morning of their second day in the Core Zone.
"Hmm? What's that smell?" Elder Xuan sniffed the air. Something had caught his nose—a strange aroma, rich and intoxicating.
It stirred the gluttonous urge that was the flaw of his martial soul.
"Better check it out," he mumbled, veering off course.
He wandered through dense paths, weaving left and right—until he was hopelessly lost.
But he didn't notice.
Moments later, he gasped in delight.
"Heavenly Hunger Fruit!"
His old eyes sparkled as he beheld a small tree bearing a dozen bright red fruits.
The Heavenly Hunger Fruit was a rare immortal treasure. Despite its ominous name, eating one allowed the consumer to go ten full years without feeling hunger.
Elder Xuan forgot everything else. The disciples, the mission—none of it mattered now.
He popped a fruit into his mouth and sat down to refine it.
Moments later, tears streamed down his face.
Two hundred years… I've finally tasted true fullness again…
When he finally remembered the others—it was already nightfall.
"OH NO!" he roared, jolting up as the sound of battle echoed in the distance.
With a curse, Elder Xuan sprinted toward the source, heart full of dread.