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The Bloodthirsty Mad Shark let out a furious, warning roar. Being forced to permanently increase its cultivation by three thousand years in a single battle was a heavy price to pay. Such a sudden leap could potentially increase the difficulty of building its future foundation by about one percent—a loss it deemed acceptable, if barely.
But if the three human Spirit Masters continued to overstep their bounds, the shark was prepared to endure an even greater sacrifice. A cruel glint flickered in its crimson eyes. If pushed, none of them—neither the humans nor the three Demon Spirit Great White Sharks—would leave this place alive! A hundred-thousand-year Great White Shark that had survived its tribulation was a rare delicacy; consuming it would go a long way in recouping its losses.
"This beast actually possesses such a method!"
Su Wen was genuinely surprised; this was the first time he had witnessed a temporary breakthrough on the Douluo Continent. Breakthroughs mid-battle felt out of place in this world—Spirit Masters almost never leveled up their rank during combat, let alone soul beasts increasing their cultivation years.
However, Su Wen quickly realized this wasn't so much a breakthrough as an explosive burst. Analyzing the shark's hidden trump card, he deduced that this burst came with severe side effects, likely causing a portion of that temporary power to solidify into permanent cultivation. While most soul beasts would dream of such a leap, for this particular shark, it was a painful burden on its long-term potential.
And eleven thousand years wasn't even its limit.
Su Wen's perception was terrifyingly acute. The Phantom Spirit Pupil manifested at the center of his forehead, seemingly peering right through the shark's physical form. During the previous explosion of devouring power, Su Wen had sensed a massive reservoir of energy stored within the beast.
That energy was enough to temporarily push the Bloodthirsty Mad Shark to the one-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-year level!
Hiss—
Su Wen made the judgment and felt a chill in his heart. This shark was incredibly well-prepared. It possessed immense ambition and deep reserves; under normal circumstances, it likely would have grown into a true Great Beast—perhaps even reaching the level of the Top Ten Great Beasts.
Four hundred thousand years? It might have had a chance.
Unfortunately for the shark, these were not normal circumstances.
Its warning fell on deaf ears. Instead, the display of its hidden power only served to ignite the battle intent of Spirit Douluo Zhan Tian and Sea Dragon Douluo. Both were battle maniacs. Over the past month on Sea God Island, they had clashed at least five times, not to mention the dozens of matches they had fought in Su Wen's Academic Spirit Arena under equalized conditions.
Sea Dragon Douluo had been suppressed for too long; he craved the thrill of a fight. Teaming up with Zhan Tian Douluo against the Bloodthirsty Mad Shark gave him a genuine sense of crisis—a feeling rooted in the fact that the opponent could, and would, kill them.
Roar!
The shark's eyes turned a deep, bloody red. The surrounding seawater darkened as a staggering wave of energy erupted from its body, its devouring power exploding outward. Cracks appeared across its hide, and the wounds from earlier began to bleed profusely as its body struggled to contain the surge.
Yet, its aura became increasingly terrifying. Its soul power fluctuated violently.
Twelve thousand years!
Thirteen thousand years!
Fifteen thousand years!
In one breath, it forced its cultivation to the 150,000-year mark. This was a smart beast—it knew that half-measures would only lead to loss. If warnings failed, it would go all out to kill its pursuers and minimize its deficit. Considering it had started at just over 100,000 years, this nearly 50% increase in power was an amplification no less significant than a Super Douluo gaining a rank.
Roar!
The blood gushing from its wounds mixed with its soul power, forming a mist of crimson energy that shrouded the shark, making it look like the ultimate apex predator of the deep.
Xiao Bai couldn't help but shudder.
Su Wen, however, remained calm as the tide of battle turned. Standing atop Xiao Bai's head, hands behind his back, his long robes fluttering in the sea breeze, he projected an air of absolute confidence. Perhaps sensing his steadiness, Xiao Bai stopped trembling.
Zhan Tian Douluo and Sea Dragon Douluo felt the crushing weight of the pressure. They were being suppressed, caught in a disadvantageous position. The shark fought with a frantic, suicidal madness, relying on its superior soul beast vitality to trade injuries. Its bloodthirsty soul power invaded their bodies, relentlessly devouring their energy and blood.
"Su Wen, strike!" Zhan Tian Douluo shouted, exhilarated by the intensity.
The Bloodthirsty Mad Shark's eyes flashed with disdain. It didn't believe the three sharks in the distance or the "weak" human could change anything.
A threat? I have never even deigned to look at him!
Space rippled. Su Wen appeared at the very center of the chaotic battlefield between the shark and the two Super Douluos.
"Healing Light!"
Two beams of light fell upon the two Super Douluos, mending their wounds. However, the shark's bloodthirsty power clung to them like maggots on a bone, drastically reducing the effectiveness of Su Wen's healing.
Su Wen then pulled out a spirit bone—one radiating an immense wave of soul power. It was crystal clear, a beautiful blue-gold with flickering starlight inside, pulsing with a vibrant sense of life.
The Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone!
"Wildfires cannot destroy it; the spring breeze brings it back to life!"
Su Wen summoned his External Avatar to temporarily fuse with the bone, unleashing the spirit skill contained within to heal the two Douluos. Their wounds began to close at a rate visible to the naked eye.
"A hundred-thousand-year spirit bone!" Zhan Tian Douluo was shocked. He had never seen Su Wen use this before—and he was even more stunned that Su Wen possessed such a treasure without having absorbed it into his own body yet.
While the avatar focused on healing the two men, Su Wen's main body faced the shark's direct assault. While he could replicate the bone's skill, using the bone itself as a medium through the avatar saved him significant mental energy, allowing him to focus on more complex maneuvers.
A pitch-black hole manifested in front of Su Wen.
The moment the black hole appeared, it expanded rapidly until it reached a diameter of fifty meters, hovering over the ocean. The Bloodthirsty Mad Shark, caught in its momentum, plunged straight into it.
Su Wen was sucked into the black hole as well, and both vanished instantly.
On the ocean's surface, the violent waves quickly subsided. The bloodthirsty aura began to dissipate. The sea churned, the storm died down, and a strange, sudden silence returned to the waters.
(End of Chapter)