Chapter 257: Illusion

Zhao Wuji's already massive body began to swell rapidly as if it were a balloon; in the blink of an eye, his height exceeded five meters, his muscles expanded in an exaggerated fashion, and his brownish-yellow fur grew wildly, transforming him into a genuine giant bear.

For all Spirit Masters who possess a beast martial soul, the seventh soul skill they obtain after reaching level 70 is similar: it is the Martial Soul True Body.

As previously stated, the watersheds of strength for Spirit Masters on the Douluo Continent are... Spirit Master, Soul Elder, Soul King, Soul Saint, and finally, the Title Douluo realm!

Among these, the most obvious gap is the watershed of the Soul Saint realm.

It can be said that some Spirit Masters can defeat a Soul King at the Soul Ancestor realm, or go head-to-head against a Title Douluo at the Spirit Douluo realm...

But it is very difficult for anyone to defeat a Soul Saint at the Soul Emperor realm, and some peerless genius Soul Saint powerhouses might even defeat a Spirit Douluo across ranks.

This is because of this... Martial Soul True Body! For a beast martial soul Spirit Master, possessing the Martial Soul True Body significantly boosts their strength; at the same time, this skill is also their trump card for desperate situations.

What Zhao Wuji is using at this moment is precisely his seventh soul ring skill, which is also the most domineering and side-effect-heavy soul ring skill: Martial Soul True Body.

What he is manifesting is the true form of his martial soul, the Vajra Bear.

Once the Martial Soul True Body is used, one can use all soul skills below the seventh ring, excluding the Martial Soul True Body itself, without restriction for thirty minutes, with power at 150% of the original.

The Vajra Bear's Martial Soul True Body also adds a terrifying attribute of 200% increased defense.

This is already Zhao Wuji's most powerful reliance, and also the most powerful reliance for all Soul Saint powerhouses! The difference between having and not having a Martial Soul True Body is simply too great, because this seventh soul ring skill, which is mandatory, basically determines one's approximate, extremely stable upper limit and very high lower limit.

No matter how poor the soul ring is, the Martial Soul True Body it provides will not be too bad, and it remains a Martial Soul True Body.

The only downside is that no matter how high it goes... it cannot go very high.

It is just like how, in the original plot, Tang San broke through level 70 soul power during the Sea God Divine Examination, obtained a God-Bestowed Spirit Ring, and through his temperament that far exceeded ordinary people, obtained a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring-level seventh soul ring.

Logically speaking, a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring should come with two soul skills, but Tang San's seventh soul skill only had the Blue Silver Emperor Avatar skill.

And the effect of the Martial Soul True Body...

Everything cast by the Blue Silver Emperor has its enhancement increased by 100%, and any single strand of Blue Silver Emperor can become a vessel for Tang San himself.

That is to say, unless all the Blue Silver Grass is completely destroyed, Tang San can make his body appear anywhere within the reach of the Blue Silver Grass at any time to dodge attacks.

It is essentially using Blue Silver Grass to shift shadows, rather than being immortal or indestructible and regenerating directly using Blue Silver Grass.

It can only be said that a soul skill given by such a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring really cannot be considered powerful.

It is only slightly stronger than the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring skill Xiao Wu sacrificed, the Void Explosion Eight-Stage Slam.

But the soul bone skills Xiao Wu sacrificed to Tang San, Invincible Golden Body and Teleportation, are both very powerful.

In short, the Martial Soul True Body skill really determines a very high lower limit, while the upper limit is not high.

Yet this does not prevent the Martial Soul True Body, which represents the watershed of a Spirit Master's combat power, from being quite strong.

Of course, every time the Martial Soul True Body is used, the Spirit Master's own attributes will be weakened by 50%, and it takes seven days to recover.

Therefore, unless it is a last resort, Spirit Masters above level 70 will never easily use their Martial Soul True Body.

Zhao Wuji is clearly desperate and can no longer play fair; even if he is accused of bullying the small with the big, he accepts it.

In any case, that was how it was when he tested Tang San before; if he hadn't gotten serious, he would have been defeated by Tang San on the spot.

So he stopped playing fair and got truly serious.

Now, seeing Ning Feiliu insult Flender and him in front of his face, Zhao Wuji can no longer hold back and uses his Martial Soul True Body directly... to attack! As his body completely transforms into a bear shape, the brownish-yellow fur changes color instantly, shining with a brilliant golden light.

"Brother! Be careful!"

"Feiliu!"

At this moment, Ning Rongrong and Ning Mingrui, who saw this scene from behind Ning Feiliu, both had eyes full of terror and shouted a warning.

Ning Rongrong even took a step forward first and rushed over.

She seemed to want to block in front of Ning Feiliu.

Ning Mingrui also rushed up in terror; even if it cost him his life, he had to protect Ning Feiliu, his younger brother and the hope of the future Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, if there was even a sliver of a chance! However, at this moment, Ning Feiliu's expression remained quite calm.

Mere Zhao Wuji... even if he uses his Martial Soul True Body, so what?

An aura, intangible and somewhat peaceful, instantly spread out with him as the center, yet it caused Zhao Wuji and Flender to feel a trace of fear in their hearts at this moment.

Samsara... Domain! One of the rewards Ning Feiliu obtained along with the Dark Harvest Rune after coming out of Slaughter City.

The effect might not be very powerful, and it is not an outrageous boost to combat.

But when facing opponents without a domain... it can effectively isolate the opponent's influence.

And then... a force suddenly condensed within his body that made everyone present feel as if their breathing had stalled.

It is... cold!

Extreme cold, an extreme cold that makes one's body and spirit feel as if they are about to freeze.

"That is..." Xiao Wu widened her eyes at this moment, looking at Ning Feiliu in disbelief.

But just at this moment...

She seemed to see an extremely beautiful phantom appear behind Ning Feiliu.

That phantom glanced at her, seemingly finding it a bit strange, but it soon disappeared again.

And this phantom was only seen by Xiao Wu; she looked around at Tang San and the others, and it seemed as if they had not seen the phantom at all.

It was as if this were her hallucination.

Yet Xiao Wu was very certain that this was absolutely not her illusion.

Inside Ning Feiliu... there is someone just like her... no! A Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast several or even ten times more powerful than her! I fear that the power of that Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast is no less than Daming or Erming.

It is just why...

Why does that Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast seem to have merged with this human named Ning Feiliu, and also... retains its own Spirit Soul and consciousness? Flender and the others felt the terrifying power within Ning Feiliu at this moment, but they did not have the vision of Xiao Wu, who was a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast in human form; they only felt that this power was very strong, and at the same time...

"Could it be... a soul bone?!" Flender said in disbelief.

He had seen Spirit Masters with soul bones use soul skills; after all, he had traveled the Douluo Dalu, and although soul bones are rare, there are quite a few Spirit Masters on the entire Douluo Continent who possess them. "Soul bone?!" Tang San had also learned from Yu Xiaogang about soul bones, which are peerless treasures belonging to Spirit Masters, but he had indeed not yet seen a Spirit Master with a soul bone fight, and now he was also watching this scene with curiosity.

Just at this moment... Ning Feiliu's soul bone skill was activated.

Zhao Wuji was crashing toward him like a meteorite from Mount Tai, already within reach, as if there were no way to avoid it.

But at this moment, Ning Feiliu extended his right hand, and the extreme Profound Underworld Ice seemed to spread out from the depths of the world; a blue-black light flashed, and he gripped fiercely toward Zhao Wuji—

"Extreme Ice Underworld Coffin!"

Just like that, layers upon layers of blue-black ice began to spread across the body of Zhao Wuji, who was currently as huge as a small hill in mid-air.

This ice was extremely thick, and Zhao Wuji attempted to use the terrifying strength he possessed after activating his Martial Soul True Body to shatter the ice congealed upon him.

But...

His eyes were instantly filled with terror; with the strength he currently possessed that could crack giant boulders, he was actually unable to break free from this seemingly fragile congealed ice?!

Ning Feiliu's expression was indifferent; the soul skill from the 600,000-year Ice Jade Empress Torso Bone, Extreme Ice Underworld Coffin, truly possessed the ultimate ice and snow power of this world.

For a Soul Saint like Zhao Wuji to want to shatter the Extreme Ice Underworld Coffin after activating his Martial Soul True Body, wouldn't that make Xue Di look like she had no face? "Ahhhhh——!!" Zhao Wuji was gradually frozen, instantly emitting a sound of extreme pain.

His tall body, released after activating his Martial Soul True Body, was frozen just like that in mid-air, and the ice continued to spread, connecting to the ground, creating a frozen area of about ten meters with him at the center.

Ning Feiliu casually protected Ning Rongrong, who had run over from behind, and gave her a gentle push to move her away from the area frozen by the Extreme Ice Underworld Coffin.

Feeling that gentle push from Ning Feiliu, as well as the gentleness and reliability of him shielding her, Ning Rongrong immediately revealed a happy smile, staring blankly at Ning Feiliu's back.

But Flender and the others clearly did not think Ning Feiliu was gentle.

Everyone saw that at this moment, Zhao Wuji had become a lifelike ice sculpture; his eyes were wide open, and his gaze was filled with the terror of being unable to move.

"Old Zhao!!" Flender and the remaining teachers of Shrek Academy, including Li Yusong, all shouted loudly, their eyes filled with fear and worry.

The seventh soul ring behind Flender also lit up instantly; at this point... he could not worry about so much anymore.

After all, he could not watch his little brother die before his eyes! However, just at this moment...

"If you dare to make a move... he will truly die here." Ning Feiliu's faint voice came from the side.

Flender looked at Ning Feiliu, but his body trembled as he retracted his soul power and soul ring.

"Not bad, you are still somewhat clever, it's just a pity that this big blockhead is too stupid." Ning Feiliu nodded expressionlessly, looked at him, and said, "Actually, this matter would end just like this; I am not some evil person, and I won't just think that everyone who offends me has a 'way of death'."

Tang San was stunned for a moment when he heard his words.

Why did he feel... that the term "way of death" in Ning Feiliu's mouth had some other deep meaning?

Others, however, felt that what Ning Feiliu said was really... not problematic at all.

First of all, just now when Ning Feiliu used the Moon Emperor Prison-Suppressing Lock, he did not affect anyone else; it was just the foul-mouthed Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun, who had suffered for some unknown reason, who were affected.

However, after everyone learned about Ma Hongjun releasing his Evil Fire, they basically had no sympathy for him anyway.

Then there was the fact that Ning Feiliu clearly had the ability to go on a killing spree; at the very least, Flender, who had just insulted Ning Rongrong and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect...

If it were Tang San, and he were as powerful as Ning Feiliu, and Xiao Wu had received such humiliation from Flender...

Flender's corpse would already be turning purple and black by now.

What is this about "before becoming a Title Douluo, I am timid and keep saying I and my father were wrong; after becoming a Title Douluo, where was I wrong?! I wasn't wrong at all! The ones who were wrong were you people for not burning the last drop of blood of the Clear Sky Sect for the sake of my parents' beautiful love!" In Tang San's view, Ning Feiliu was truly being a bit too benevolent.

He even wanted to point out and lecture Ning Feiliu, telling him this was womanly kindness.

However, Ning Feiliu was just too lazy to go on a killing spree; sometimes, senseless slaughter really had no meaning.

The most critical point was...

Who knew if Tang Hao was still nearby? He had just finished teaching Zhao Wuji a lesson last night.

He didn't know if the person had left today; just in case he was still around... Ning Feiliu could afford not to be afraid, after all, he still had Xue Di.

But he still had to be slightly considerate... his big brother Ning Mingrui and Ning Rongrong were on the scene.

All in all, there was no need for him to take this risk, nor was there any need to go on such a senseless killing spree.

Flender had only verbally insulted the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Ning Rongrong, and since he had already paid the price, his crime did not warrant death.

Although the internet in his previous life was full of hostility, often hoping that others would not only drop dead on the spot but also have their whole family buried with them just because of a single sentence.

But in reality, being foul-mouthed really didn't warrant paying the price with one's life.

Moreover, Flender had already received several, or even a dozen times, the humiliation; he had lost all face, so there was no need to pursue it further.

That was on the condition that Zhao Wuji didn't lose his head later and still want to make Ning Feiliu pay the price.

"However, if you continue to make a move, there is no third time; if there is a third time, I will not hold back." Ning Feiliu looked at Flender and the other teachers, saying this with a terrifying murderous aura amidst his indifference.

Even at this very moment, Flender, Li Yusong, and even Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing all felt as if they could smell a blood-scent that was thick to the extreme.

And this blood-scent... came from Ning Feiliu! Cold sweat kept dripping down Flender's forehead; he could feel... Ning Feiliu was not joking.

And... this peerless genius had definitely stained his hands with the blood of hundreds or thousands of lives.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for his aura to be so terrifying; he was simply... like a ghost or god returned from hell!

"But this brother of mine..." Flender took a deep breath, then thought for a moment and said, "Do you know who is behind us?"

He was now trying to use Tang Hao's reputation to make Ning Feiliu back down.

After all, the great name of the Clear Sky Douluo was something even the Spirit Hall had to fear by three points, and Ning Feiliu was a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects...

Surely he would give some face to Tang Hao, who was also a member of the Upper Three Sects and a senior? And just as Flender wanted to quietly tell Ning Feiliu about Tang Hao's name and Tang San's background...

"His father?" Just then, Ning Feiliu glanced indifferently at Tang San beside him and said, "Oh, and then what? His father is very powerful, but don't forget, it is precisely because of his father that those guys who play with hammers have fallen to their current state..."

(End of chapter)