Facing that overwhelming pressure, Shui Wuhen's face instantly turned pale. This spirit beast was indeed even stronger than the previous one.
That previous spirit beast had only been driven away thanks to Articuno, but now Articuno had already fallen into an overload state. Relying on himself alone, it seemed he could not escape this time!
But immediately after, a ruthless thought arose in Shui Wuhen's heart. Since he couldn't escape, then he wouldn't run!
The next instant, Shui Wuhen flipped his hand, and a ice-blue long blade appeared in his grasp. The blade pointed directly at the "Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion" as he roared, "Beast, take my strike!"
As his voice fell, Shui Wuhen flapped his wings behind him and, resisting that overwhelming pressure, transformed into an ice-blue streak of light charging straight toward the "Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion."
If the final outcome was that he had to die anyway, then Shui Wuhen would die in the midst of his charge!
And the "Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion," upon seeing that Shui Wuhen not only didn't flee but instead rushed toward it like a madman, showed a trace of panic in its eyes.
This wasn't how it had imagined things going. The appearance it had taken should have been the creature this human feared most. Why, after seeing his greatest fear, did the first reaction not become escape—but attack instead?
However, there was no time for further thought, because Shui Wuhen had already arrived in front of it.
His gaze sharpened as his right hand blurred into afterimages.
In an instant, fifteen brilliant blade lights appeared, slashing toward the "Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion" from all directions.
During the past six months, Shui Wuhen had not only raised his level to 70, but also pushed Ice Slash to the level of instant fifteen strikes.
Fifteen strikes meant five cycles of triple-slash techniques. The accumulated power had already surpassed the level of a ten-thousand-year spirit skill and was beginning to approach the level of a hundred-thousand-year skill.
At level 70, Shui Wuhen's Ice Slash – Fifteen Consecutive Strikes had power exceeding most Soul Douluo's killing techniques, enough to instantly kill many Soul Douluo.
Faced with this terrifying attack, the "Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion" panicked completely. This level of power clearly exceeded what it could withstand. Wasn't this human only a Soul Emperor? How could he unleash such a powerful move?
The next moment, the "Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion" rapidly retreated, while Shui Wuhen's fifteen brilliant blade lights passed through its body.
Yet instead of feeling joy at the success, Shui Wuhen's first reaction was shock.
Because he could feel it clearly—his attack hadn't actually landed. It had missed!
"Wrong… this spirit beast is not the same as before!"
In an instant, Shui Wuhen realized that the creature in front of him was absolutely a mere facade.
If it truly possessed such strength, its first reaction to his attack should have been anger and retaliation, not retreat.
Thus, with the intention of testing it, Shui Wuhen swung his blade again and chased after the "Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion."
As a blade light sliced through something, a burst of white liquid sprayed out, and the scene before him changed.
The terrifying, massive jade-green ice scorpion slowly disappeared, replaced by a giant white jade-colored flesh worm.
This worm looked very similar to a silkworm. Its entire body was white jade, with faint flowing light beneath its skin. Starting from half a meter below its head, golden patterns appeared at intervals, totaling nine golden rings.
After seeing its true form, Shui Wuhen laughed coldly. "Heh, so it was a mutated ice silkworm. I actually got scared by something like this."
Ice silkworms were at the very bottom of the food chain among ice-type spirit beasts. Even many plant-type spirit beasts preyed on them.
Their combat ability was extremely poor— even a ten-thousand-year ice silkworm could likely not defeat a thousand-year ordinary spirit beast. Compared to martial spirits, it was on the same level as the废武魂 Blue Silver Grass—truly the weakest of the weak.
The only noteworthy ability of the ice silkworm was mimicry. It could imitate the appearance and aura of other spirit beasts to deceive and survive.
"Damn it, I've been exposed!"
Seeing itself revealed, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm panicked internally, but still put on a stern voice. "Very well, human. After so many years, you are the first one who dares to provoke me."
"Hm? Speaking human language, a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast?"
Hearing this, Shui Wuhen's expression immediately tightened. At his current state, he couldn't deal with a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast.
Seeing Shui Wuhen seem somewhat wary, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm secretly rejoiced. So you're afraid of this? Good.
Then it said disdainfully, "Hundred-thousand-year spirit beast? I am an ultimate ferocious beast that has lived for 990,000 years, the strongest spirit beast on the entire Douluo Continent. Those trash hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts you mentioned aren't even worthy to be compared to me."
"990,000 years?"
Shui Wuhen froze.
As far as he knew, the highest level for spirit beasts was a hundred thousand years. After that, aside from transforming into human form, they could only live for at most another thousand years. Since when did a 990,000-year spirit beast exist?
"That's right, 990,000 years. I sense the aura of Bing Bing on you—she is a 380,000-year Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion who has survived three heavenly tribulations. But in terms of strength, compared to me, who has survived eight tribulations, she is far inferior."
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm continued to raise its head proudly.
Perfect. Just like this. I am extremely, extremely terrifying—hurry up and run.
380,000 years.
Hearing this, Shui Wuhen suddenly understood. So that Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion was actually that powerful—not a normal hundred-thousand-year spirit beast!
At this moment, he believed half of what the ice silkworm said. The reason it was only half was because he didn't believe a single word about its own introduction.
If Tianmeng Ice Silkworm were truly a 990,000-year ferocious beast, then how could it have been so embarrassed earlier? And how could it have the patience to talk so much with him?
There was only one explanation: it was extremely wary of his strength. If the fight continued, things would not end well for it.
It might even be nothing more than a paper tiger.
Thus, Shui Wuhen sneered, "You say you are a 990,000-year ferocious beast? Fine, then prove it in the next fight!"
In Shui Wuhen's view, this ice silkworm had either been lucky, mutated, or gained some opportunity that gave it speech early—but its actual age was only a few tens of thousands of years.
Even if it truly had reached the ten-thousand-year level, so what?
Ice silkworms had extremely weak combat power. Even a hundred-thousand-year ice silkworm might not defeat some powerful ten-thousand-year spirit beasts.
And his current strength was comparable to a 70,000-year spirit beast. Even if this ice silkworm really was at the hundred-thousand-year level, it might not be unbeatable.
More importantly, its behavior gave him confidence—it was definitely not as strong as it claimed.
Without any hesitation, Shui Wuhen raised his blade and charged toward Tianmeng Ice Silkworm.
Since they had already become enemies, he could absolutely not let it escape, or who knew what kind of revenge it might bring later.