Chapter 259: The Golden Tree's Disturbance
In the next moment, a terrifying attack carrying immense soul power suddenly erupted.
Long Xiaoyao had witnessed the might of Ning Qitian's eighth soul skill earlier, but now, as two Limit Douluo-level ninth soul skills came crashing toward him simultaneously, he dared not relax for even an instant.
He leapt into the air, retreating rapidly.
The phantom spear and sword, infused with annihilating energy, tore through the air and blasted toward Long Xiaoyao and Zhongli Wu.
The air rippled violently in their wake, and everything around them exploded into ruin.
"Go!"
After forcing Long Xiaoyao and Zhongli Wu back, Chen Xinghai and Bai Xuan's faces lit up with relief.
They immediately took Ning Qitian and vanished from sight.
"Trying to escape? Foolish dream!"
Murderous intent flashed in Long Xiaoyao's eyes.
"Seventh Soul Skill: Dark Holy Dragon True Body!"
"Ninth Soul Skill: Black Dragon Night Sever!"
Long Xiaoyao unleashed his strongest combination of attacks.
The massive Dark Dragon transformed into three colossal blades of jet-black light that tore apart the darkness and illuminated the sky like day, releasing the ultimate essence of destruction.
Just as Chen Xinghai and Bai Xuan were celebrating their successful escape, they suddenly felt an overwhelming killing aura surge from behind.
Turning around, they saw two beams of boundless energy hurtling toward them—attacks carrying annihilation itself.
Their expressions turned grim. They knew they could not withstand such attacks.
Even if they survived, they would be severely wounded.
Ning Qitian noticed at once. The ninth illusory soul ring on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda flared with radiant brilliance.
"Ninth Soul Skill: Nine Treasure Invincible Divine Light."
In an instant, a multicolored glow enveloped the three of them.
"Don't worry. My ninth soul skill grants an invisible shield to each person. It can block three fatal attacks."
Ning Qitian calmly explained the ability to Chen Xinghai and Bai Xuan, reassuring them.
Hearing this, both men relaxed and continued their rapid flight.
A breath later, Long Xiaoyao's devastating attack struck their previous location—but as it hit, an invisible ripple pulsed outward, neutralizing the destructive energy completely.
The attack vanished into nothingness.
Everyone who witnessed it was stunned. They stared at the disappearing figures of Ning Qitian and his companions, hearts pounding in disbelief.
For those who knew about the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's ancient soul skills from ten thousand years ago, the shock was even greater.
Everyone knew that Ning Rongrong's ninth soul skill back then, Nine Treasure Invincible Divine Light, only granted one second of true invincibility.
But what had they just seen?
Ning Qitian had shared the effect with others, giving them each a shield capable of full protection.
No one could tell how long it lasted or how many times it could activate—but it was clearly far beyond the former version.
"Damn it!"
Long Xiaoyao and Zhongli Wu's faces twisted with humiliation. They could only watch as Ning Qitian vanished. Moments later, the two Limit Douluo also departed from the scene.
It was utterly disgraceful—two Limit Douluo unable to stop three people from escaping.
After both the Holy Spirit Church and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect left, the area outside the Star Auction Pavilion fell silent.
This battle had made something clear to all: the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had undergone an earth-shaking transformation. It had now truly entered the ranks of the top sects.
As long as they held the Heaven-bestowed Soul Bone, the sect effectively possessed the equivalent of two Limit Douluos.
Although no one yet knew how many people Ning Qitian could enhance at once, the implications were enormous—if his support could extend to multiple allies, the entire strength of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would skyrocket.
Once the various powers had departed, Jiang Li stood before a fourth-floor window of the Star Auction Pavilion, gazing at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda that had evolved through the soul bone. A glimmer of awe crossed his eyes.
"Ning Qitian's eighth and ninth illusory soul skills are like enhanced versions of Ning Rongrong's ancient ones."
Using his divine sense, Jiang Li probed the intricacies of the martial soul's transformations.
The eighth soul skill granted limitless protection against all attacks, restrained only by Ning Qitian's remaining soul power.
The ninth, however, intrigued him even more. He had clearly seen Zhongli Wu's blast nullified by an invisible shield—it was genuine invincibility, not the one-second window seen in the past.
…
Shrek Academy.
On Sea God Island, within the Sea God Pavilion, Mu En had convened another meeting.
Floating before each member was the Origin Heart, the treasure they had obtained earlier from the Star Auction Pavilion. The council was discussing how it should be best used.
"What do you think? How should we utilize this Origin Heart?"
Mu En broke the silence, eyes thoughtful.
The artifact's possible applications were too wide, and they had yet to decide its best purpose.
"Teacher," said Yan Shaozhe, "why not use it to evolve your martial soul? Perhaps it could ascend into a god-level martial soul."
He had personally witnessed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda evolve into a god-level soul, granting unmatched support abilities.
The sheer power of a god-level martial soul had left him deeply impressed.
If his teacher's martial soul could likewise evolve, Shrek Academy might one day produce a true invincible being on the Douluo Continent.
"It seems like the most worthwhile use," another elder, Xuan Zi, agreed softly.
"However," Mu En replied gently, "the Star Auction Pavilion never guaranteed that the Origin Heart could truly elevate a martial soul to god level. If it fails, we would waste the treasure—and an invaluable opportunity."
"Using the Origin Heart on me, this old man, would not be worthwhile."
Though he admitted that the evolution might allow him to reach toward godhood, Mu En lacked complete confidence. Squandering such a treasure on uncertainty was senseless.
Just as he finished speaking, a brilliant golden light suddenly filled the room.
Before anyone could react, a golden branch extended into the Sea God Pavilion, wrapping itself around the Origin Heart and dragging it outward.
"What's happening? That's a branch of the Golden Tree!"
Everyone was stunned.
Mu En stared, baffled.
By all logic, the Golden Tree never acted on its own. Why would it suddenly stir—and target the Origin Heart of all things?
"Elder Mu, what does this mean?" one of the pavilion's elders asked nervously.
None dared to intervene.
The Golden Tree was Shrek Academy's very foundation. If they damaged its essence by accident, the consequences would be irreversible.
"Don't rush," Mu En said calmly. "Let me try to communicate with it."
He summoned his Golden Holy Dragon martial soul, his brilliant light element aura filling the entire island as he attempted to connect with the Golden Tree's consciousness.
(END CHAPTER)
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