Chapter 60: The Might of the Twelve Tribulations of the Azure Lotus, Returning to Tiandou City

Wielding soul beasts of the wolf family are the most troublesome.

Because they understand the art of coordinated combat.

Dozens of howling moon wolves surged forward like a tidal wave, splitting into two distinct factions.

The first faction, led by the wolf king, lunged directly at the members of the Wind Sword Sect.

The other faction entangled Dugu Yan, Ye Lengleng, and the other four.

"Damn beasts!"

Dugu Yan and Ye Lengleng bit their silver teeth.

Anxious and burning with impatience, they had no heart to tangle with the wolf pack, their minds wholly set on searching for Li Zhexian.

With their composure in disarray, flaws naturally emerged in their combat.

Moreover, the howling moon wolves were exceptionally fierce, launching relentless and vicious attacks.

Before long, Dugu Yan, Ye Lengleng, and their companions were stained with blood, bearing multiple wounds upon their bodies.

On the other side, the wolf king led a larger contingent of howling moon wolves, pinning down the Wind Sword Sect.

Even though the disciples of the Wind Sword Sect deployed the Wind-Thunder Sword Formation, they found themselves unable to break away to offer rescue in the short term.

The wolves were cunning, merely putting up a facade of engaging everyone in combat.

Yet their true target had long since been locked onto the core of the team—Ye Lengleng!

A few howling moon wolves tightened their formation, quietly closing in on Ye Lengleng, who was guarded at the rear.

By the time they reached a lethal distance,

and Dugu Yan and the others realized the danger,

it was already far too late!

Several howling moon wolves suddenly pounced on Dugu Yan and her companions, entangling them inextricably.

Simultaneously, the ferocious intent in the eyes of one howling moon wolf was fully exposed. Saliva dripped from its bared fangs, accompanied by a thick, nauseating stench as it lunged fiercely toward Ye Lengleng!

"Lengleng, watch out!"

Dugu Yan and the other four cried out in unison.

Though soul power surged wildly within their palms, they remained unable to shake off the vicious wolves before them.

The oncoming wave of foul wind scraped across Ye Lengleng’s delicate face, turning it deathly pale.

Stumbling backward and losing her footing, she collapsed to the ground.

She could only watch in horror as the wolf's maw, stained with scraps of flesh, rapidly magnified in her vision.

Terror compelled her to tightly close her eyes.

Right at this critical juncture...

Except for Ye Lengleng, who kept her eyes shut, everyone else watched in astonishment as a streak of flowing light pierced through the air.

Its speed was utterly unimaginable.

In a fraction of a second, it pinned the howling moon wolf lunging at Ye Lengleng firmly to the ground.

Only then did they see clearly.

Piercing straight through the wolf's neck was a sword.

A sword upon whose blade bloomed twelve azure lotus flowers.

"Could this be... the Azure Lotus Sword?!"

The pupils of Dugu Yan and the others constricted sharply, the familiar sword shadow drawing gasps of disbelief from their lips.

Ye Lengleng’s eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her beautiful eyes.

Imprinted in her vision was the corpse of the howling moon wolf, its neck pierced by the sharp sword while dark blood bubbled from its mouth.

Instinctively, she raised her gaze, fixing it upon the familiar Azure Lotus Sword, a brilliant radiance bursting forth within her eyes.

"Li Zhexian!"

As her words fell,

a blood-stained figure in white robes swept out from the dense mountain forest.

"Sister Dugu, Ye Lengleng, retreat quickly!"

Hearing Li Zhexian’s commanding shout and realizing he was safe and sound, the heavy stones in everyone's hearts finally dropped, leaving them with no desire to continue the battle.

Instantly, they unleashed their soul power and rapidly withdrew backward.

At that moment,

Li Zhexian had already arrived before them.

Under the gaze of numerous shocked eyes,

a magnificent soul ring—swirling with various elemental forces and engraved with twelve sword feathers—rose from beneath his feet.

"Third Soul Skill—Twelve Tribulations of the Azure Lotus!"

Hum—hum—

Hum—hum—

Twelve azure lotus swords whistled through the air.

The sword light wove into a net, enclosing the pack of howling moon wolves within its perimeter.

Among these twelve swords, one was forged as if from condensed starlight, dazzling and eye-catching; another was intertwined with ice and fire, simultaneously scorching and freezing; while the remaining ten were clear and crisp like jade marrow, not yet imbued with sword intent.

Within the sword formation,

sword qi crisscrossed and slashed like an invisible net.

The howling moon wolves trapped inside had their snow-white fur stained crimson with blood in an instant, emitting shrill and agonizing roars.

They frantically slammed into the prison woven from sword light.

Bang—

Bang—

The twelve azure lotus swords trembled violently.

Li Zhexian’s figure flashed like lightning as he swept into the sword formation.

The moment he stepped into the formation, the light and shadow within shifted, unexpectedly manifesting two more copies of Li Zhexian.

One held the Starlight Azure Lotus Sword.

The other tightly gripped the Ice-Fire Azure Lotus Sword.

The three figures of Li Zhexian crossed paths, their sword qi sweeping majestically across the space.

His movements were so fast that only afterimages remained.

In the eyes of Dugu Yan, Ye Lengleng, and the others, they could only see the blood-stained white robe fluttering wantonly within the sword formation, while sword qi of various attributes swept and ravaged like a tempest.

Accompanied by this were the shrill wails of the howling moon wolves, alongside blood and wolf fur splashing across the sky.

This scene!

Filled Dugu Yan, Ye Lengleng, and the others with profound shock and awe!

Even the members of the Wind Sword Sect, who were still fiercely battling the other group of howling moon wolves, had their minds severely shaken!

"This... what kind of soul skill is this?!"

"A self-contained sword formation?! And it can even split into clones possessing the combat strength of the original body?!"

Roughly dozens of breaths later.

The bloody mist permeating the sword formation gradually thinned, revealing the scene clearly.

The ground was littered with the corpses of howling moon wolves, and a thick, pungent smell of blood filled the air.

Three blood-stained white-robed figures stood holding swords, slowly walking out from the sword formation.

As they moved, the twelve azure lotus swords gradually faded away, and the two clones also transformed into streaks of flowing light, merging back into Li Zhexian’s body.

"Li... Li Zhexian! It's good that you're safe!"

After a brief moment of stupefaction,

Dugu Yan and Ye Lengleng hurriedly rushed forward, anxiously looking him up and down with deep concern.

Yufeng, Osero, and the Shi brothers gazed at Li Zhexian with eyes full of almost worshipful shock.

"Idol..."

"So this is your third soul skill!"

"Terrifying, absolutely terrifying!"

The corners of Li Zhexian’s lips curved upward into a satisfied smile.

He was extremely pleased with this "Twelve Tribulations of the Azure Lotus."

Most crucially, this was a growth-type soul skill that perfectly suited him.

Currently, he had only comprehended two styles of the Azure Lotus Sword Song and mastered starlight and ice-fire sword intents, which was why he could only manifest two clones.

As the Azure Lotus Sword Song was perfected, for every new sword intent comprehended, an additional sword-intent clone possessing the full strength of his original body could be added.

The might of this soul skill could truly be called heaven-defying.

It was fully worthy of being bestowed by a rare beast tainted with divine aura.

"Elder Fengxiao, Brother Buyu, do you require assistance?"

Li Zhexian looked toward the members of the Wind Sword Sect who were still entangled with the howling wolf king.

Boom—!

A deafening roar resounded.

Splat—

A flash of blood appeared.

The head of the howling moon wolf king rolled off in response.

A profound, dark black soul ring slowly rose into the air.

Elder Fengxiao calmed his roiling blood and qi, and laughed heartily:

"Many thanks for your concern, Young Hero Zhexian!"

"Seeing that you are safe and sound, this old man can finally rest easy."

"Allow me to absorb this soul ring first, and we shall converse further shortly!"

With those words, he sat down cross-legged to absorb the soul ring.

Feng Buyu walked swiftly up to Li Zhexian, unable to conceal the astonishment in his eyes.

"Brother Zhexian, your sword... has grown even stronger!"

He did not inquire about that magnificent soul ring.

Knowing full well that everyone possessed their own fortuitous encounters and opportunities, to hastily probe further would be impolite.

Li Zhexian held a favorable impression of this courteous young master of the Wind Sword Sect, and the two exchanged a few brief words.

Before long.

A majestic and formidable wave of soul power emanated from Elder Fengxiao.

His hair and beard whipped about wildly, and the black silk blindfold covering his eyes fluttered without any wind, faintly allowing a sharp, substantive keenness to pierce outward.

"Young Hero Zhexian!"

Elder Fengxiao stood up to his full height, his voice sonorous and clear.

"To encounter the young hero today is truly a matter of great fortune!"

"We shall not linger here any longer!"

"Should the young hero have free time in the future, you are welcome to visit the Wind Sword Sect as a guest, where we will sweep the mats to welcome you!"

"Our Sect Master would undoubtedly be most willing to discuss the path of the sword with an exceptionally brilliant rising star of swordsmanship like yourself!"

As he spoke, he cupped his hands while holding his sword with the true demeanor of a swordsman.

"Farewell!"

The disciples of the Wind Sword Sect, led by Feng Buyu, also re-tied the black silk over their eyes, cupping their fists in unison with ringing voices.

"Farewell!"

Watching this group of intensely proud blue-robed swordsmen, Li Zhexian returned the salute with a smile:

"In days to come, Zhexian will surely pay a visit to impose upon you!"

Swish—

Swish—

The sound of the wind rose.

The figures of the Wind Sword Sect moved like the wind.

Within a few bounds, they vanished into the boundless sea of forests.

Li Zhexian turned around, a relaxed smile resting upon his face.

"Let's go, the mission is complete."

"Thank you all for your hard work on this trip to the Star Dou Forest."

"Once we return to Heaven Dou City, I will play the host and treat everyone to a hearty meal."

Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan and Ye Lengleng broke into radiant and charming smiles.

Though this journey had its twists and turns,

the fact that Li Zhexian was safe and sound was the greatest possible ending.

Yufeng danced with joy.

"Then I'll really have to open up my stomach and eat my idol into poverty."

Osero habitually gave him a slap on the back of the head.

"You contributed the least, yet you're the first to think about eating?"

"Hey! Damn you, Osero, looks like your skin is itching for a beating again..."

Yufeng feigned anger.

The two instantly descended into a lively scuffle.

Seeing this, the Shi brothers chuckled foolishly and joined the "fray," playing the part of biased mediators.

Li Zhexian, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lengleng looked at one another, unable to hold back their laughter as they burst out heartily.

Meanwhile, just as the seven of them set off on their return journey to Heaven Dou City,

in Soto City,

Zhu Zhuqing returned to Shrek Academy after a weary journey...