When the Star Snake Rope was paired with the Star Cloud Millstone, its power surged dramatically. The Fragrant Shaman Yin Sculpted Wolf, even though it was an ancient desolate beast, did not excel in strength, and Helangzi had not transformed into a perfect ten-percent form. Under the pulling force of the Six Path Star Snake Rope, it struggled in vain and was ultimately dragged back by Fang Yuan.
Helangzi was trapped inside the Star Cloud Millstone. Instantly, countless rays of starlight bombarded him, grinding against his wolf body, tightening all the skin and flesh on his frame as the pressure skyrocketed.
At the same time, the Six Path Star Snake Rope coiled around the Fragrant Shaman Yin Sculpted Wolf's entire body, continuously constricting with tremendous force. Before long, it had carved deep grooves, embedding itself into the Fragrant Shaman Yin Sculpted Wolf's flesh.
Helangzi couldn't even open his wolf's maw. He could only feel wave after wave of force grinding into him, his bones beginning to creak and groan.
Yet Helangzi remained composed in the face of danger. His thoughts flashed like lightning: "This transformation only gave me the speed of the Fragrant Shaman Yin Sculpted Wolf—its defense and strength are severely lacking. And this opponent before me possesses a formidable soul foundation. Just now, when I landed a hit on him with the Fragrant Shaman Yin Sculpted Wolf's attack, he acted as though nothing happened! It's clear that the Fragrant Shaman Yin Sculpted Wolf's soul-damaging attacks have little effect on him."
In a single instant, Helangzi had worked it all out.
Though his wolf's mouth was bound tight by the ropes, this didn't prevent Helangzi from using Gu Insects. He let out a furious roar at Fang Yuan: "Since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish!"
The words had barely left his mouth when lightning erupted violently.
Massive bolts of thunder shot out in every direction.
Boom boom boom!
Sphere after sphere of electric light exploded in devastating blasts.
Fang Yuan's Six Path Star Snake Rope was swallowed amid the electrical detonations—first snapping apart inch by inch, then utterly annihilated.
Helangzi regained his freedom, his entire body bathed in crackling lightning. He threw back his head and let out a long howl.
Awoooo—!
After several breaths, the lightning gradually dissipated. The wolf's howl faded as well.
What appeared in its place was no longer the Fragrant Shaman Yin Sculpted Wolf. Instead, it was a Thunder Radiance Giant Wolf!
This too was an ancient desolate beast, possessing Seventh Transformation combat power.
The giant wolf was enormous, roughly the size of an elephant. Its entire body was covered in blue fur, and the tips of its wolf hair had transformed into peculiar blue crystals that emitted a faint electric glow.
The Fragrant Shaman Yin Sculpted Wolf had been gaunt and scrawny, but the Thunder Radiance Giant Wolf was imposing and majestic.
"To think he converted his Dao Marks into the Lightning Path so quickly. It must have been that burst of thunder and lightning just now—some Immortal-level killer move I don't recognize, with such a wondrous effect."
Fang Yuan's pupils contracted slightly. He committed this precious intelligence to memory.
Next time he fought Helangzi, Fang Yuan would attempt to disrupt that Immortal-level killer move and make Helangzi's transformation fail.
For now, though, he would let it go.
Helangzi wouldn't give him that chance again, anyway.
Moreover, Fang Yuan knew full well that the outcome of this battle was certain defeat. The only question was how long he could delay.
His opponents were, after all, two Seventh Transformation Gu Immortals—renowned powerhouses who had long since made their names. As natives of the Northern Plains, their combat power exceeded that of cultivators from the other four regions.
Fang Yuan, on the other hand, was only a Sixth Transformation Star Path cultivator. This time, his main objective was to use real combat to test Meeting Like Old Acquaintance, along with his various Star Path killer moves.
A few moments later.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion erupted as a pillar of lightning shot skyward, violently shattering the already critically damaged Star Cloud Millstone.
Fang Yuan's azure-blue long robe was in tatters. His entire body was riddled with wounds.
Fortunately, since these injuries had been caused by lightning, the wound edges were charred black. No blood spilled, which inadvertently helped Fang Yuan conceal his flaws.
The Thunder Radiance Giant Wolf let out a triumphant howl. Then, in a human voice, it spoke: "Without a battlefield killer move, you thought you could trap me? Hmph. You're far too naive. Die!"
With that, it opened its massive jaws and spat out a pillar of lightning.
The electric column hurtled toward Fang Yuan with terrifying momentum. Fang Yuan's face was bathed in an eerie blue glow. A sharp gleam flickered through his eyes and vanished in an instant, but he still maintained his leisurely composure: "Hehe, wanting me dead—that's not so easy."
As he spoke, Fang Yuan's body shuddered, and he suddenly split into six figures that scattered in every direction, letting the lightning column strike empty air.
Star Path Immortal-level Killer Move — Six Phantom Star Bodies!
"One body splits into six—which one is the real one?" Huifengzi had been watching the battle the entire time. Out of wariness toward the hidden Strength Path Gu Immortal lurking nearby, he had not intervened.
The six figures streaked through the air, trailing arcs of blue starlight, and surrounded the Thunder Radiance Giant Wolf in the center, attacking in unison.
In an instant, starlight flickered and swirled as countless mortal-level killer moves hammered into the Thunder Radiance Giant Wolf.
Helangzi raised his defenses, weathering Fang Yuan's furious barrage while launching powerful counterattacks.
But after expending considerable effort to destroy one of Fang Yuan's phantom figures, another phantom clone would immediately take its place.
Helangzi struck left and right, destroying a total of eight of Fang Yuan's phantom star bodies—an impressive feat by any measure. Yet the moment a phantom star body was destroyed, another was born, as if the cycle would never end!
Six Fang Yuans remained, continuously surrounding the Thunder Radiance Giant Wolf and bombarding it without pause.
Helangzi couldn't help but feel a splitting headache.
In this situation, he could only use Immortal-level killer moves for defense, consuming Seventh Transformation Immortal Essence. His opponent, meanwhile, was using only mortal-level killer moves, consuming True Essence.
If this war of attrition continued, he would suffer a tremendous disadvantage!
Yet he couldn't afford to stop defending—his physical body simply couldn't withstand this kind of relentless bombardment.
He launched attacks of his own, but with Fang Yuan's Six Phantom Star Bodies endlessly regenerating, for a time Fang Yuan actually seized the initiative, turning the tide of battle back in his favor.