Soul-Slaying Maiden: Master Of Ancient Divine Weapons

Inside the Five Heavenly Locks.

The violently shaking world provided Li Shutong with an opportunity.

As the seal loosened, a trace of power leaked out from his body. Li Shutong immediately reacted.

White mist surged out, enveloping his entire figure.

On the lake surface.

One side was shrouded in white mist, while the other was surging with black mist. The two collided, neither retreating.

"LI SHUTONG!"

The Nightmare Beast felt fear in its heart. Manipulating the three chains it had conjured, it tried to regain control over Li Shutong.

Li Shutong's expression remained indifferent as his clothes fluttered without wind. With sheer force, he pried apart the shackles binding him.

CLANG!

Both of them seemed to hear the sound of these illusory chains breaking.

Before the Nightmare Beast could react, a fist had already appeared before its eyes.

The tide had turned, resistance was futile. The Nightmare Beast was unwilling, but in just an instant, the powerful sealing artifact, the Five Locks of Sealing Heaven, was broken by Li Shutong's fists.

———

Outside, Han Zhan held the Bodhi Treasure Tree in his hand, his eyes fixed on the meatball-like barrier he had destroyed.

Suddenly, with a loud boom, the meatball barrier shattered from within, revealing Li Shutong's figure.

"Teacher!"

"Grandpa!"

Xia Youwei and Li Lingzhen exclaimed with joy. Hearing their voices, the fierce expression in Li Shutong's eyes softened slightly.

"Teacher, what about the Ninth-Tier Zerg Emperor Nightmare Beast?"

"I've gravely injured it. The Nightmare Beast's power lies mostly in its illusions. Once the illusions are seen through, its physical form isn't strong."

"Be careful it doesn't possess one of you from the shadows."

"Don't worry, Teacher. It won't escape."

Before Li Shutong could finish his sentence, Han Zhan once again activated the Bodhi Treasure Tree. Its golden light radiated brilliantly, illuminating the entire area.

The tree's brilliance extended in all directions, with every leaf shining dazzlingly, forming a vast golden net.

Not long after, they heard a wretched scream from above.

A mass of black mist was revealed under the golden net's restraint—it was none other than the Ninth-Tier Zerg Emperor Nightmare Beast.

The Nightmare Beast had planned to lurk in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to possess one of them.

But it had never imagined that the unremarkable human spirit contractor before it would master the use of the Bodhi Treasure Tree.

The Bodhi Treasure Tree was a natural nemesis of illusions and spirit entities. As a world-bearing artifact, it could see through all falsehoods.

The humanoid face of the Nightmare Beast displayed a look of horror. Any attempts to act were already too late.

"THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!" it shouted, its voice panicked and desperate.

The Bodhi Treasure Tree was an ancient relic discovered by the Zerg race.

Human spirit contractors were fundamentally incapable of using it.

What was happening completely overturned its understanding.

It wasn't just the Nightmare Beast—Li Shutong was equally stunned as he looked at his student.

'Han Zhan can use an artifact from the ruins?'

Before they could process the implications, the Bodhi Treasure Tree once again radiated light.

This time, the transparent sphere hanging from the tree, which had previously dimmed entirely, suddenly unleashed an enormous suction force.

The Ninth-Tier Zerg Emperor, along with the golden web that bound it, was absorbed into the sphere and disappeared completely.

"You captured the Ninth-Tier Zerg Emperor?"

"It was already gravely injured. I merely finished the job," Han Zhan explained, addressing the shocked crowd.

After the Bodhi Treasure Tree recognized him as its master, Han Zhan's control over it had become seamless. This display had stunned everyone, granting him a moment to shine.

"Teacher, the Ninth-Tier Zerg Emperor Nightmare Beast has been dealt with. The crisis is over."

Li Shutong looked at his youngest student with pride and nodded in satisfaction.

"If it weren't for you, this would've been much more troublesome. I wasn't wrong about you."

Li Shutong did not hold back his praise for Han Zhan.

Even Li Changhao, who had previously been defiant, now remained silent, saying nothing about challenging him.

Joking aside, just the thought of facing billions of war spirits made him break into a cold sweat.

"This crisis came suddenly. I need to contact the old folks from the other organizations. You've all worked hard. Go rest for now."

It was no surprise that someone who had defeated three Great Zerg Emperors in a row could remain calm and composed even after an ambush.

The group nodded in agreement.

Just as they were about to leave, Li Shutong called out to Han Zhan.

"Han Zhan, stay back."

———

In the Zerg territory, within the Boundless Sea of Blood.

This was the stronghold of the Zerg race, where tens of thousands of high-level Zergs hatched and emerged every moment.

The sky was stained blood-red, and the air reeked of the unique stench of the Zerg race.

A phantom figure slowly condensed within the Sea of Blood.

With a splash, the blood membrane encasing it ruptured, and the Ninth-Tier Zerg Emperor Nightmare Beast emerged.

Outside, several Zerg entities had been waiting for some time.

These weren't their true forms.

One was a phantom Zerg shadow, its countless eyes emitting an eerie glow.

Another was a colossal blood-flesh puppet, its enormous tumors oozing pus that pooled beneath its feet.

The last was an endless darkness, seemingly the embodiment of blackness itself, spreading corruption wherever it lingered.

Even the other entities had to expend energy to resist its corrosion.

Seeing them, the Nightmare Beast nodded.

"A dignified Ninth-Tier Zerg Emperor, reduced to such a state. If not for the Boundless Sea of Blood, you might've perished," a mocking voice said, dripping with disdain.

The Nightmare Beast glanced coldly at the blood-flesh puppet, the silent phantom shadow, and the looming darkness before speaking.

"My mission is complete."

"Was it Li Shutong who killed you?"

"No. He gravely injured me but failed to deliver the final blow. The one who killed me was an insignificant human."

"Beneath the Ninth Tier, all are ants. How could an ant kill you?"

The Nightmare Beast recalled the events, its tone carrying a complex mixture of emotions.

"He used the Bodhi World to kill me. The artifact has fallen under his control."

"What?"

"A human using an artifact? You must be joking."

"There's no benefit for me to lie about this. We've inadvertently uncovered another future threat to our race, haven't we?"

The Nightmare Beast sneered, annoyed by their disbelief.

"Tell me his name."

"I gleaned from Li Shutong's memories that he is Li Shutong's ninth student, Han Zhan."

A human capable of wielding relic artifacts—this was a grave concern for the Zerg race. Han Zhan's name was now on their kill list.

But this was merely an unexpected revelation. The gathering of the four Great Zerg Emperors clearly had a greater purpose.

From the endless darkness, an ancient voice spoke.

"Have we discerned Li Shutong's strength? Is it greater or weaker than before?"

After a moment of silence, the Nightmare Beast replied.

"Weaker than before."

Hearing this, the four Ninth-Tier Zerg Emperors in the Boundless Sea of Blood fell silent before breaking into laughter.

"Ha! Excellent. The plan proceeds as scheduled."

"This year's end will be Li Shutong's day of reckoning."

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