Chapter 696: Super Fusion Skill — Netherwhite Tiger

Qian Renxue began absorbing the True Solar Fire at any cost, and Tang San dared not be careless either, commencing his absorption of the ocean's energy at ten thousand meters above the sea.

At such an altitude, the height should have posed an obstacle for Tang San. But the Sea God's Eight Wings — formed from his External Spirit Bone, the Eight Spider Spears, which had no business existing in the Sea God's divine armor — made it far easier for him to draw upon the ocean's power. Even at this extreme altitude, nothing could hinder his absorption of the sea's energy.

Tang San's expression grew solemn as he watched Qian Renxue in silence. He could see that she was truly prepared to fight to the death. The Sea God's armor on her body had lost all trace of its golden hue, having turned entirely the crimson of fire. Even the patterns on its surface had become difficult to discern. This spoke to the sheer magnitude of the True Solar Fire she was absorbing. After all, absorbing the sun's energy in this reckless, all-or-nothing fashion — a single slip in control, and she could set herself ablaze. Under normal circumstances, why would she ever resort to this?

High above, two gods faced each other in standoff. On the ground below, war had already begun.

When Tang San and Qian Renxue ascended into the sky simultaneously, both armies naturally lost the cover of their god-level domains. On the Tian Dou Empire's side, their high morale merely stuttered for a moment. But the defending forces of the Spirit Empire were like an army that had lost its backbone — after all, their morale had been suppressed too thoroughly, and the Angel Domain had not been in effect long enough to reverse the balance of spirits between the two forces. This was precisely why Tang San had pressed forward with his Sea God Domain step by step, forcing Qian Renxue into combat ahead of schedule. He would not allow the morale advantage he had built to be undone by her. And Qian Renxue, left with no choice, had been compelled to enter a state of battle with Tang San before she was ready.

Seated among the troops, Xue Beng was perhaps the most exhilarated person in the Tian Dou Empire's million-strong army. He had never imagined that his well-intentioned lie would become reality at this most critical moment. This turn of events had dragged his heart back from the brink of death. He could see that Tang San held the advantage over Qian Renxue. Moreover, Tang San's return had brought back the other six members of the Shrek Seven Devils, all of whom had now ascended to the rank of Titled Douluo. What was supposed to be a desperate, do-or-die gamble had instantly transformed into the perfect opportunity to strike with everything they had and annihilate the enemy entirely. How could Xue Beng possibly let such an opportunity slip?

When Xue Beng drew the Emperor's Sword and raised it high into the sky, pouring every ounce of strength he had into his roar, the name Tang San rose to an unparalleled place in his heart. Tang San's appearance today had not merely turned the tide of this battle — it had saved the entire Tian Dou Empire. His cry of "ten thousand years" might have been a touch reckless, but he felt not a shred of regret, because in his heart, Tang San absolutely deserved such a title.

"All forces of the Tian Dou Empire — our great Prince Lan Hao has ascended to godhood! Today, Jialing Pass lies before us! We will grant the enemy no more chances! We shall use their blood and sovereignty over Jialing Pass to celebrate our Empire's Guardian God, Prince Lan Hao! Full army — charge!"

The order for a full-scale assault was given, and Xue Beng was far from the only one whose blood ran hot with fervor. Every soldier in the Tian Dou Empire's great army now harbored only the unshakeable belief that they would prevail. Before them, Tang San had repeatedly demonstrated what it meant to be an invincible legend. The words "Empire's Guardian God," spoken from Xue Beng's lips, struck directly at the heart of every soldier.

A million-strong army launched its thunderous charge. From Grand Marshal Gelong at the very top of the chain of command down to the lowest-ranking corporal, every man and woman was seized by boundless excitement. The legions spread across the vast plain in their full formations, advancing steadily toward Jialing Pass.

The Shrek Six Devils led the vanguard, with Dai Mubai at their head serving as the arrowhead of the million-strong army. The other five followed at his side. All of them had consumed one of Oscar's Enhanced Flight Mushroom Sausages, the spectral wings on their backs beating steadily as the walls of Jialing Pass drew ever closer.

Tang Hao and Tang Xiao exchanged a glance, their minds perfectly in accord. Both men leaped into the air simultaneously, and in a few bounding strides arrived at the front of the army. The pitch-black Clear Sky Hammers materialized in their right hands, and they stood shoulder to shoulder with the Shrek Six Devils.

How could they minimize heavy casualties on their own side? Undoubtedly, having the powerful ones decide the outcome first was the most critical factor. Both Tang Hao and Tang Xiao understood this well.

Atop Jialing Pass, there was no doubt a massive defense composed of numerous Soul Masters. To breach such a defense with soldiers alone was simply impossible. Soul Masters above a certain level could each hold off a hundred opponents without breaking a sweat — and that was before accounting for the formidable fortifications of Jialing Pass. Therefore, the clash between the powerful few was of paramount importance. Only by eliminating the enemy's strongest Soul Masters could they hope to breach the pass quickly under the leadership of their own elites.

Tang Hao and his brother were not the only ones who understood this. Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, Bone Douluo Gu Rong, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan Master Ning Fengzhi, and the four hall masters of the Tang Sect had all surged forward. Together with the Shrek Six Devils, over a dozen powerhouses formed a line and accelerated as one, charging directly toward Jialing Pass.

As the saying goes, the bold are emboldened by their skill. Despite the tens of thousands of Spirit Empire Soul Masters atop Jialing Pass, they dared to launch such an attack — a testament to their absolute confidence in their own strength.

Atop Jialing Pass, the Golden Crocodile Douluo, over a hundred years of age, watched the enemy army bearing down and felt his eyes redden with fury. He roared, "Soul Masters below the eighth rank — fall back! Everyone else, come with me and destroy these ignorant children!" Soul Masters above the eighth rank were no longer something that could be handled by sheer numbers. In the course of its war against the Tian Dou Empire, the Spirit Empire had suffered devastating losses in Soul Master personnel. Training a Soul Master was no simple matter, and Golden Crocodile Douluo had no desire for his subordinates to be caught in the crossfire of a battle between supreme experts and sustain catastrophic losses.

As the saying went — soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals. If Tang San and Qian Renxue were king against king, then what was about to unfold was general against general.

Jialing Pass drew ever closer. Dai Mubai bellowed, "Leave those six Guardians to us! Leave the rest to our seniors!" As he spoke, Dai Mubai threw his head back and unleashed a frenzied roar. His seventh Soul Ring flared brilliantly, and his entire body erupted in explosive growth. Golden fur burst through his skin, and in the blink of an eye he had transformed into a colossal tiger over ten meters long. Every strand of fur stood on end like golden needles, and all nine Soul Rings blazed to life around him — the final one, a blood-red hundred-thousand-year ring, radiating an aura that struck terror into the heart. His heterochromatic eyes blazed with wild ferocity. His hind legs drove down with explosive force, and in an instant he had cleared the moat, becoming the first to hurtle toward the battlements.

Following Dai Mubai's charge, a resplendent phoenix cry pierced the air. A blinding column of red light shot skyward, its brilliance matching that of Dai Mubai's enormous body. Nine phoenix heads shrieked across the sky, and immense wings generated a surging wave of heat. This was the Martial Soul Avatar of Phoenix Douluo Ma Hongjun — the Nine-Headed Fire Phoenix.

This was only the beginning. Even more dazzling displays were yet to come. As Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun launched ahead, a streak of black light followed silently in Dai Mubai's wake, its ethereal silhouette nearly impossible to make out — it seemed to move like his very shadow. Launching simultaneously was Oscar, who consumed one of his Copy Mirror Sausages. His entire body shimmered and transformed, becoming an exact replica of Dai Mubai, his aura no weaker than the original. He charged onto the battlements right behind the genuine White Tiger.

Pink light erupted alongside them. Within that rosy haze, Xiao Wu's body swelled to enormous size against the wind. Her Martial Soul Avatar was not a transformation into a rabbit — instead, six identical copies of herself materialized at her side, formed from pink luminous energy, guarding her flanks. The light flickered, and all seven figures surged toward the wall at once.

Xiao Wu's Martial Soul Avatar differed from those of Tang San and Dai Mubai. She had been cultivated from a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast, and after breaking through, had fully transformed from beast into human. Although her Martial Soul was still the Soft Bone Rabbit, the fact that her beast form had been completely refined into a human shape meant her Martial Soul Avatar could no longer take on the form of the Soul Beast. These six clones, however, each possessed seventy percent of her own strength — though they could only attack on instinct, prioritizing Xiao Wu's protection above all else. It was worth noting that Xiao Wu's current strength was at the ninety-sixth rank. Even at only seventy percent of her power and limited to instinctual attacks, these six clones were terrifyingly formidable.

Just as the five Devils surged forward together, as the last of their number, Ning Rongrong did not cross the moat. Instead, she came to a halt at the water's edge. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda she held aloft instantly expanded, and in a flash it had become a towering pagoda standing a full thirteen meters tall. As for Ning Rongrong herself, she vanished quietly within.

The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had drawn little attention when held in her hand — few could even make it out clearly. But now, magnified a hundredfold, it became the focal point of the entire battlefield.

The Soul Rings enlarged alongside the pagoda. Each of the nine resplendent rings swelled to a diameter of ten meters or more, creating a spectacle of breathtaking splendor. The final blood-red ring, in particular, proclaimed to the Spirit Empire Soul Masters upon the walls the might of a hundred-thousand-year power.

Upon seeing the magnificent Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, light blazed in the eyes of Ning Fengzhi, clan master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. He thought to himself, *It has finally come time for me to retire.* Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had finally passed through the final threshold. Nine rings! The dream of every member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had, at long last, been realized through his own daughter.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ning Fengzhi shifted his form, and another pagoda appeared. Though it had only seven tiers and seven Soul Rings, its glow far dimmer by comparison, its simultaneous appearance on the battlefield was no less stunning.

Everyone knew that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was the foremost support-type clan in the world, and that its pagoda could possess at most seven rings. The appearance of an ultimate Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul Avatar alongside a nine-tiered Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda delivered a paradigm-shattering shock to the Spirit Empire's powerhouses on the walls.

In truth, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda that Ning Fengzhi had manifested was merely illusory — it served only to enhance his own support abilities to a modest degree. But Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was not merely her seventh Soul Skill, the Martial Soul Avatar. It was also her eighth Soul Skill — Nine Treasure Divine Light Protection. With this defense in place, unless facing god-level powerhouses like Tang San or Qian Renxue, no one could hope to shatter it in a single blow. For a support-type Soul Master to possess such formidable defensive power meant that on the battlefield, she could unleash her full strength without reservation.

The instant Ning Rongrong completed her Nine Treasure Divine Light Protection, she demonstrated to every Soul Master on the battlefield what the foremost support-type clan truly meant — and what it looked like when the world's premier support-type Soul Master took the field.

A full thirty beams of resplendent multicolored light erupted from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in a sudden cascade. The first six Soul Rings on the pagoda blazed simultaneously, and this dazzling display was so magnificent that it temporarily caused soldiers on both sides to forget the two gods battling in the sky above.

Thirty beams of light, each set of six falling upon one person — providing perfect augmentation to the five Shrek Devils charging Jialing Pass. It had to be understood that after reaching the ninetieth rank, Ning Rongrong's augmentation across all categories had reached one hundred percent. This meant that bathed in those six beams of light, the five Shrek Devils received a doubling of their strength, agility, Soul Power, defense, attack power, and elemental attributes.

Even Soul Masters above the ninety-fifth rank — advancing from ninety-five to ninety-six — received only a doubling of Soul Power, with the increases in other areas falling well short of such magnitude. Under Ning Rongrong's augmentation, the overall strength of the five Shrek Devils had now surged past the ninety-fifth rank. The glow radiating from each of them erupted into a second, indescribable blossoming of power.

Dai Mubai, the first to charge forward, was still at the forefront. The moment Ning Rongrong's six augmentation beams enveloped him, Dai Mubai unleashed the fearsome might befitting the strongest assault-type Battle Soul Master among the Shrek Seven Devils. A layer of frenzied crimson light erupted from his right leg, instantly spreading across his entire body before settling in his heterochromatic eyes. Dai Mubai's aura became wild and savage. Though his body — already over ten meters long — did not grow further in length, every muscle swelled grotesquely under the combined effect of the six augmentations and the red light. The terrifying pressure he exuded in that moment was enough to leave the Spirit Empire Soul Masters below the ninetieth rank gasping for breath atop the walls, weakening even the Soul Skills they tried to unleash by more than thirty percent.

That crimson glow was the Bloodlust skill attached to his Hurricane Right Leg of Blood Frenzy, instantly elevating his combat power to its absolute peak. Dai Mubai understood clearly that this was the most critical moment — only by charging onto the battlements could they face the Spirit Empire's elite Soul Masters head-on. And it was during this charge that they would face the heaviest barrage of attacks. Therefore, at the very onset of the charge, each of them had consumed one of Oscar's seventh Soul Skill, the Firm Golden Fly — Ning Rongrong included. This meant that her augmentation was not a simple one hundred percent. Though she had released thirty beams of light at once, her formidable power and precise control — honed to the ninetieth rank and beyond — allowed her to execute all thirty simultaneously. While each beam did not reach the one hundred and fifty percent multiplier that a single augmentation boosted by the Firm Golden Fly could achieve, they were nevertheless boosted by an additional twenty percent, reaching a total of one hundred and twenty percent. Combined with the Firm Golden Fly's own augmentation that Dai Mubai had already consumed, the moment his Martial Soul Avatar manifested, his strength absolutely reached a terrifying level — not one bit inferior to Golden Crocodile Douluo, the most powerful combatant atop Jialing Pass.