Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Evil Fire Phoenix, Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory (II)
Word Count: 2,982 Words
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The moment the brawny young man pinned helplessly to the ground by the red-haired woman spotted Ling Bai, it was as if a savior had descended from the heavens. He screamed at the top of his lungs:
"Big brother, save—"
As soon as he cried out, Ling Bai snapped back to his senses. "Sorry to interrupt, please continue!"
Interrupted the casting!
Then—
Shut the door!
And run away!
Damn, it's her!
When Ling Bai opened the door, he had clearly seen the frenzied crimson eyes of the red-haired woman, along with the blazing flames behind her condensing into the shape of a phoenix!
Evil Fire Phoenix, Ma Xiaotao!
The black shield on the ground was the shield armor of the top-level Mystic Deep Turtle Martial Spirit, revealing the identity of the wailing young man!
Mystic Deep Turtle, Xu Sanshi!
"Unlucky, unlucky, unlucky..."
His neighbor was an active volcano, one that could erupt at any moment!
Ma Xiaotao had inherited the Phoenix Martial Spirit from her ancestor Ma Hongjun but was also afflicted with the troublesome evil fire. Before Huo Yuhao merged with the Ice Empress, she always sought out Xu Sanshi, who possessed the dual-attribute water and earth Mystic Deep Turtle Martial Spirit, to help her resolve the evil fire problem. Tonight was one of those occasions, and Ling Bai had happened to walk right into it!
His feet moved like the wind, wishing he could grow another pair of legs. Judging from Ma Xiaotao's spirit power fluctuations just now, she had definitely broken through to the 6-ringed Spirit Emperor rank. It was a full twenty ranks higher than himself!
Better to avoid unnecessary trouble—running away was the best strategy!
Boom—
Ling Bai instinctively tilted his head, and a Phoenix Fireline as thick as a bowl spun past his ear, shooting into the ground ahead. After the sound faded, the flames ignited the surrounding plants, firelight spread, and thick smoke billowed straight into the sky.
"Stop right there!"
A voice filled with wildness and explosive energy resounded like thunder. Ling Bai turned around with a cold expression, his golden eyes locking onto Ma Xiaotao as she stepped out of the door. He lightly touched his scalded earlobe with his index and middle fingers.
"You've got guts."
In the web-like world constructed by the Spider Emperor Sense, if Chu Qingtian's hostility toward him was like a flickering flame, then Ma Xiaotao's hostility at this moment was like a raging inferno!
Sweeping his gaze around, Ling Bai caught sight of a sneaky figure inching along the wall inside the room, trying to escape outside.
Xu Sanshi!
"Heh... heh heh... Big Brother!"
Realizing he'd been discovered, Xu Sanshi's sneaky steps paused, and he gave Ling Bai an awkward yet polite smile.
"Hurry up and run. I won't be responsible if you get caught in the crossfire."
Ling Bai said coolly. Xu Sanshi was currently only a 3-ringed Spirit Elder, and his spirit power was nearly depleted after helping Ma Xiaotao dispel the evil fire. Staying here would only make him a burden. It was better for him to get lost now and settle accounts later!
"Got it! Don't worry about me, Big Brother, I'm a fast runner!"
As soon as he heard this, Xu Sanshi immediately took off, diving into the Sea God Lake and disappearing without a trace.
"...Well then, a turtle probably won't drown."
Retracting his gaze, Ling Bai turned to look at Ma Xiaotao, whose entire body was engulfed in rising flames. She was not someone a half-baked Inner Courtyard freshman like Chu Qingtian could compare to. With the buffs of Shrek's Inner Courtyard stacking onto her top-level Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Spirit approaching the Ultimate Fire, she was undoubtedly an elite expert among Spirit Emperors on the Douluo Continent!
But Ling Bai was never one to swallow his anger. Spirit Emperor? So what?
He took a deep breath and shouted, "Angelic Domain!"
Buzz—
The air shattered like a disturbed lake, rippling with thousands of shimmering golden rays!
Holy light crisscrossed!
Sword energy raged!
A brilliant golden domain descended out of thin air!
The innate domain of the Seraphim—Angelic Domain!
Effect: The Angelic Domain filled the covered area with holy power. Ling Bai's own attributes increased by 20%, his spirit power consumption reduced by 50%, and his opponents' attributes weakened by 20%. Additionally, the Angelic Purification continuously purified all the elements within the domain into holy attribute, steadily dissolving the opponent's spirit power!
The Seraphim, also known as the Six-Winged Angel or Seraph, was the embodiment of holiness, light, and flame. Ling Bai could absorb the power of the sun through the Angelic Domain to replenish and restore his spirit power while accelerating the healing of his own injuries!
The Angel Sword, amplified by holy power, had its sword energy evolved into Holy Sword Energy. This greatly increased its attack power and penetration power. The Holy Sword Energy equally suppressed all non-ultimate attributes, and its power doubled when fighting enemies with darkness and evil attributes!
With the Angelic Domain activated, holy power flowed endlessly and seamlessly as if it were an extension of his own limbs. Ling Bai felt an unprecedented sense of control over his surroundings!
Although Ma Xiaotao was controlled by the evil fire, her long-cultivated combat instincts remained. She keenly sensed the suppression of her Phoenix Flames by the holy attribute and immediately condensed a layer of flame shield. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black—her yellow first spirit ring flashed, and a straight line of crimson Phoenix Flames shot out!
First Spirit Skill: Phoenix Fireline!
"Evil-Banishing Slash!"
The Angel Sword carrying Holy Sword Energy slashed out. Even after obtaining his fourth spirit skill, the Evil-Banishing Slash remained the Seraphim's strongest single-target attack spirit skill!
Boom—
Ma Xiaotao's Phoenix Flame Shield sizzled and smoked as the divided stream of flames slid past Ling Bai's body and landed on the innocent plants of Sea God Island. The residual heat emitted white wisps of vapor, which were instantly extinguished by the holy power of the Angelic Domain.
Crack, crack, crack... bang!
The flame shield seemed to groan in agony before finally shattering violently under Ma Xiaotao's shocked gaze!
The Evil-Banishing Slash, empowered by the Angelic Domain, was terrifying to such an extent!
"Radiant Spirit Array: Bind!"
With Chu Qingtian, Ling Bai could afford to hold back due to his overwhelming strength advantage, but he wouldn't spare any effort against Ma Xiaotao, whose spirit power was twenty ranks higher than his own!
A magnificent seven-pointed star array bloomed beneath Ma Xiaotao's feet like stars lighting up, and holy power converged into chains that locked onto her limbs!
"Dean, am I seeing this correctly? Xiaotao is actually being restrained by a 4-ringed Spirit Ancestor?"
Two figures stood side by side in the sky above. The figure on the left wiped his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing.
The figure referred to as the Dean looked at Ling Bai and Ma Xiaotao on Sea God Island with great interest, "His appearance is very unfamiliar. Is he a new student this year? Seraphim... Incredible, the legendary God-level Martial Spirit!"
The Dean's tone unconsciously rose with excitement at the end of his sentence.
The figure on the left fully understood the Dean's excitement. Any one of the God-level talents of the Seraphim was something that ordinary Martial Spirits could only dream of.
Ultimate Attributes were usually considered the pinnacle of Martial Spirits, but for the Seraphim, which innately awakened with the Ultimate Holy attribute, this was merely the gateway to a God-level Martial Spirit!
The most extraordinary aspect of the Seraphim was that its bloodline was protected by the Angel God. This prevented any reduction in cultivation speed due to the Ultimate Holy attribute, thus avoiding the only drawback of Ultimate Attributes, which was the decrease in cultivation speed after reaching rank 30!
Moreover, domain-type skills were always rare and hard to come by. Spirit Masters generally only had a chance to acquire a domain upon breaking through to Titled Douluo. An innate domain was an even more exalted status, something that ordinary people could only look up to!
Not a single student in Shrek Academy possessed an innate domain, including the Big Senior Sister of the Inner Courtyard, Zhang Lexuan.
Even top-level Martial Spirits like the Clear Sky Hammer, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could not awaken an innate domain. This showed just how powerful and rare an innate domain truly was!
As for the Rank 20 innate spirit power, it went without saying—the Seraphim was the only one among the millions of Martial Spirits on the entire Douluo Continent!
"Old Li, I must get this little fellow!"
The Dean's tone was resolute, speaking to Teacher Li and also to himself.
"Dean, is the Seraphim really that unreasonably powerful?"
Teacher Li pointed downward and asked in confusion, "That boy's spirit power is only rank 41, yet even Xiaotao isn't his match?"
Under the binding of the Radiant Spirit Array, Ma Xiaotao's ample bosom rose and fell continuously, and an unnatural flush spread across her neck. She resembled a bird trapped in a snare, struggling desperately but to no avail!
"Of course not."
The Dean gave a mysterious smile and said, "Xiaotao is my direct disciple whom I have taught hand-in-hand. Although the Seraphim is strong, it's not enough to defeat her across a 20-rank spirit power gap. Old Li, have the other students return to cultivate. I want to see if this kid has any more tricks up his sleeve!"
"Understood."
The commotion caused by the Evil Fire Phoenix and the Seraphim was too great. One setting fires and the other emitting bright light had nearly turned night into day. They had attracted a large number of Inner Courtyard students heading this way. The Dean did not want them to interfere with this battle, so he sent Teacher Li to make them return and rest.
Ling Bai looked at Ma Xiaotao with a calm gaze. Like the Dean, he did not think that relying solely on the Radiant Spirit Array would restrain the rampaging Ma Xiaotao!
Crack, crack—
The holy chains trembled and emitted unbearable creaking sounds under the scorching Phoenix Flames. The six spirit rings on Ma Xiaotao's body shone brightly under the illumination of the flames, and her second and third spirit rings lit up simultaneously!
Second Spirit Skill: Bathing Fire Phoenix!
Third Spirit Skill: Phoenix Wing Ascension!
Two major amplification skills!
Scorching Phoenix Flames erupted like a geyser. Ma Xiaotao bathed in the raging flames. The crimson flames outlined magnificent phoenix wings as she broke free of the chains and soared straight into the sky!
Ling Bai ascended like a whirlwind with a flap of his angelic wings. Holding the Angel Sword, he gazed at Ma Xiaotao opposite him. At this moment, she was even more frenzied than before, with a trace of deep black mixing within the crimson Phoenix Flames!
Crimson flames suddenly erupted from her legs; waves of ripples continuously surged out, and then phoenix fire pillars burst forth from beneath her feet!
'Spirit Bone Skills...'
Ma Xiaotao's legs had already absorbed spirit bones, and they were from the same type of spirit beast, granting her identical spirit skills—acceleration!
With the ten-thousand-year heritage of Shrek Academy and Ma Xiaotao's status, the two spirit bones must have reached the 10,000-year level!
The acceleration provided by two 10,000-year spirit bones was terrifying. In just an instant, Ma Xiaotao's speed far surpassed that of the Berserk Lightning Leopard Chu Qingtian, famous for speed in the Outer Courtyard. The air erupted with a series of explosive and whistling sounds as she hurtled toward Ling Bai like a cannonball!
"Angelic Domain, Converge!"
Ling Bai learned and adapted on the spot. The holy power filling the Angelic Domain condensed into a shield before him. He advanced instead of retreating in the face of Ma Xiaotao's meteor-like attack. His third spirit skill, Holy Heart, was simultaneously released. Under the double amplification of Angelic Domain and Holy Heart, it seemed as if another pair of golden wings appeared behind him, a sign that he was about to evolve into the Four-Winged Angel!
Boom—
Radiant gold and crimson flames continuously plummeted toward Sea God Lake. This was a feast of holy power and Phoenix Flames!
"Holy cow!"
Xu Sanshi, hiding in Sea God Lake and blowing bubbles, poked his head out and gazed at the evenly matched duo above him. He couldn't help but utter a heartfelt exclamation.
Over the years since enrolling, he'd always been 'tormented' by Ma Xiaotao and was fully aware of her fierceness. Yet here was Ling Bai, holding his own against her with just a 4-ringed cultivation. Xu Sanshi could only sigh in admiration—Big Brother was too formidable!
Holy Sword Energy spread like ink on a canvas, pushing back the phoenix flames that, though near Ultimate Fire, could not match the true Ultimate Holy attribute of the Seraphim. The flames spraying from under Ma Xiaotao's feet grew thinner and thinner!
The power of the God-level Seraphim Martial Spirit was fully unleashed!
At this moment, Ling Bai also felt an exhilarating sensation!
Just as the Bathing Fire Phoenix was about to fade away, Ma Xiaotao's fourth spirit ring suddenly lit up!
Ling Bai retreated rapidly. Having read the original work, he knew that Ma Xiaotao's and Ma Hongjun's first seven spirit skills were exactly the same, perhaps as a kind of legacy or simply because the author was too lazy to create new ones.
Fourth Spirit Skill: Phoenix Roar Air Strike!
This skill consists of a dizzying air shockwave and a follow-up Phoenix Magma Surge comparable to a volcanic eruption. Anyone hit by the first strike would inevitably be hit by the second.
Ling Bai distanced himself from Ma Xiaotao to avoid the air shockwave!
But things didn't proceed as he imagined. The shockwave from the Phoenix Roar Air Strike did not occur. Instead, scorching flames continuously gathered in Ma Xiaotao's palms, the temperature so high that the surrounding air began to distort!
Huh?!
Ling Bai's expression was one of utter disbelief. This wasn't the Phoenix Roar Air Strike he remembered...
Where's the startup animation!?
Changing a charged skill into an instant cast? That was playing dirty!
'An advanced version...'
Ling Bai understood. Who said Phoenix Roar Air Strike had to follow a set sequence!
Just like his Evil-Banishing Twin Blade Slash, Radiant Spirit Array: Bind, and other spirit skills, Ma Xiaotao had created an advanced version of Phoenix Roar Air Strike!
She bypassed the restrictive first part of the skill and went straight for the explosive second part!
Screech—
A resonant phoenix cry pierced through the clouds and mist, carrying a metallic clang!
Phoenix Roar Air Strike, erupt!
Boom!
The Phoenix Flames blasted onto a holy whirlwind, which almost instantly turned into a two-colored swirl of gold and crimson!
The seven-pointed star array reversed into the pattern of the Big Dipper and completely enveloped the bi-colored whirlwind before hurling it toward Sea God Lake. The lake water was smashed into the air, making it seem as if cerulean rain was falling from the dark sky.
Radiant Spirit Array: Storm!
Stacked with:
Radiant Spirit Array: Guard!
Under the amplification of the Angelic Domain, the two seven-pointed star arrays combined to block the Phoenix Roar Air Strike!
"Hmph!"
Ma Xiaotao let out a cold snort. The Evil Fire Phoenix drove her eyes to be bloodshot. The constant erosion of her spirit power by the Angelic Domain also pressed on her already fragile mind. She gradually lost the ability to think rationally, driven solely by a desire to attack!
Her fifth spirit ring lit up!
A burst of scorching airflow exploded outward from her body as the center. The Phoenix Flames around her rapidly soared upwards, but she suddenly vanished without a trace, as if merging into the flames.
The cool night air above Sea God Lake became scorching hot as aggressive heat currents surged upward, permeating the air with a slight smell of smoke and magma.
An indescribable aura of majesty emerged the next moment. Dominant crimson flames transformed into a magnificent and exquisite fire phoenix that soared through the sky. Under the illumination of the burning crimson flames, the majesty of the king of all birds was fully displayed!
"Screech—"
A resounding phoenix cry rang out. The phoenix carrying an unparalleled splendid tail flame left traces of crimson starlight in the sky as it swooped toward Ling Bai like a blazing sun.
Fifth Spirit Skill: Phoenix Cloud Piercing Strike!
The previously agitated lake water slid down Ling Bai's cheek and dripped onto the back of his hand holding the Angel Sword, only to be evaporated by the approaching heat. He looked down at the phoenix swooping toward him, the golden light in his eyes shining even brighter than the Phoenix Flames illuminating the night!
"Ten Thousand Blades—"
Ling Bai's golden eyes were as cold as frost. With a long, whistling sound, the Holy Sword Energy filled the sky and resounded in unison, the sword hum echoing as if intending to tear the world asunder!
The continent's most majestic and pure holy power amplified by the Angelic Domain transformed from ethereal to tangible, from intent to blade. In an instant, thousands upon thousands of sword blades condensed!
The Dean and the other unseen elders of Sea God Pavilion watching the battle were instantly astonished when they saw the sudden appearance of thousands of holy sword blades in the empty air.
Especially when they sensed the terrifying holy power contained within the myriad blades—their faces turned aghast.
A faint aura of solemnity emerged from Ling Bai's figure as the myriad swords all revealed their sharp edges. He softly called out:
"Ten Thousand Blades—Radiant Glory!"
Seraphim's Fourth Spirit Skill, Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory!
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