Douluo Dragon King: Embarking on the Path to Godhood from the Start

Chapter 111

He focused on direct attacks, using his exquisite swordsmanship and powerful ice control to keep most of the black-robed man's attention and soul power occupied, forcing him to constantly engage in head-on confrontations.

Shen Yi provided flexible support from the flank. Her "Fanghua" battle armor was biased towards life and support. The green aura it released could not only heal minor injuries of her own side and dispel some of the death erosion, but also form disruptive vine bindings and energy impacts, forming a wonderful suppression and cooperation with Wu Changkong's ice.

Although Long Huantian and Zhang Zhenpeng did not have battle armor, they were still genuine Soul Emperors.

The two moved from left to right, attacking from both sides. Their soul skills did not aim to inflict a fatal blow, but rather to provide continuous harassment and interference.

Various soul skills constantly forced the man in black robes to divert his soul power for defense or evasion, accelerating the consumption of his already limited soul power and life force.

The four mechs, like the most loyal hunting dogs, patrolled the perimeter at high speed.

The pilots were experienced, and their soul-guided rays were precise and cunning, constantly targeting the escape routes the black-robed man tried to dodge and the weak points of his energy shield. At critical moments, they would even use their energy shields to withstand the black-robed man's wide-range attacks, creating valuable opportunities for Wu Changkong and the others to launch close-range attacks.

The more the man in black fought, the more terrified he became, and the more frenzied and violent he grew.

He was already severely injured, and his seventh and eighth spirit rings could hardly provide any effective support for powerful spirit skills. He relied entirely on his Spirit Douluo level, experience, and remaining spirit power to barely keep going.

Every time he clashed head-on with Wu Changkong's Heavenly Frost Sword, his soul power would violently fluctuate, his old wounds would rupture, and black blood would continuously spill from his mouth.

Each time he was grazed or hit by the mech's scorching soul-guided rays, his chilling death energy melted and dissipated like ice and snow meeting the blazing sun.

The harassment from Long and Zhang kept him busy and distracted.

"You...will all be buried with me!!"

The man in black robes let out a shrill, desperate roar, his eyes blazing with crimson light to their limit, as he recklessly began to burn away the last vestiges of his life force and soul power!

The black aura around him erupted like a volcano, transforming into countless twisted and ferocious black shadows that seemed to be formed from vengeful spirits and poisonous insects. They emitted silent shrieks and swept across all directions!

This is a true, all-out, suicidal move! Its power far surpasses the previous sneak attack's ray!

"Watch out! Back off!"

Shen Yi exclaimed in shock; she could feel the destructive energy contained in this strike.

However, with a cold look in his eyes, Wu Changkong actually took a step forward instead of retreating when faced with this desperate attack!

On the Heavenly Frost Sword, azure light frantically condensed and compressed, as if gathering the power of an extremely cold icy plain at the tip of the sword.

He moved with his sword, becoming one with it, and with an indomitable and resolute spirit, he faced the swarming shadows of death head-on!

"Sixth Soul Skill, Frost Condensation! Fourth Soul Skill, Whisper of Frost! Slash!"

Rumble—!!!

The icy blue River of Eternal Swords clashed violently with the twisted and frenzied torrent of black shadow scorpions!

The terrifying energy shockwave exploded in a spherical shape, instantly blasting and annihilating the ground in the center of the arena!

The sturdy soul-guided protective shield flickered wildly, groaning under the strain!

In the nearby, already emptied seating area, the seats were torn to shreds and blown away like pieces of paper, and the hard stone stands were cracked inch by inch!

"puff--!"

Wu Changkong was the first to be hit. He groaned and a lot of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. His Heavenly Ice Armor was instantly covered with fine cracks, and the azure light dimmed to the extreme. Clearly, taking this desperate blow had put him under unimaginable pressure and backlash.

But he remained rooted to the spot, shaking violently, yet he did not retreat an inch!

He shielded Shen Yi and the others behind him from most of the impact!

The man in the black robe fared even worse.

The deadly attack unleashed by burning his very essence was forcibly and head-on shattered by Wu Changkong in a near-self-destructive manner. The terrifying backlash surged back like a tsunami, causing him to feel as if he had been struck by a tremendous force!

"Snap... Pfft!"

His crimson battle armor cracked under the strain, peeling off piece by piece until it finally disintegrated completely!

The surging black energy around him dissipated and vanished instantly, like a punctured balloon!

He coughed up several mouthfuls of dark blood mixed with fragments of internal organs, his body flying backward like a kite with a broken string. His breath plummeted, and he became extremely weak. The scarlet light in his eyes flickered uncertainly, a sign that he was on his last legs.

"Now!"

Despite the surging of blood and qi caused by the energy shock, Shen Yi let out a delicate shout. The emerald spear formed from the Mimosa martial soul burst forth with the purest life radiance at this moment, like the light of dawn piercing through the darkness. It broke through the air and pierced the black-robed man's chest, which was completely exposed due to the backlash!

Almost simultaneously, Long Huantian and Zhang Zhenpeng, seizing the opportunity, also used their last bit of soul power to unleash two powerful soul skills that had been building up for a long time, slamming them hard into the back of the black-robed man who was completely unprepared!

"Ughh ...

The man in black robes let out a final, piercing scream filled with endless resentment, unwillingness, and pain. His chest was pierced by the emerald green spear light, and his back was blasted into a bloody mess by flames and lightning.

He looked down in disbelief at the spear tip gleaming with a vibrant green light emanating from his chest, then struggled to raise his gaze to Wu Changkong, who, though covered in blood and with his armor nearly destroyed, still stood tall with his sword in hand and a cold, resolute look in his eyes, and to the "ants" around him, who were also covered in wounds but with resolute eyes.

"I...am not reconciled...Shrek...Spirit Tower...you little beast..."

His lips moved, uttering a muffled curse. His crimson gaze was finally fixed on Yu Chen, who was being firmly protected behind Gu Yue and coldly watching him. He seemed to be trying to gather his last bit of strength, but the breath of life was already like a candle in the wind, quickly extinguished.

Finally, his shattered body crashed heavily onto the wrecked ground, raising a cloud of dust, completely lifeless. Only his gradually dimming crimson eyes still held a deep-seated resentment and madness.

A once-powerful and evil Soul Douluo ultimately perished here due to injuries, resentment, and madness.

The arena was deathly silent, save for the howling wind whipped up by the aftershocks of energy, and the heavy, suppressed breathing and coughing of the crowd.

"Cough...cough cough..."

Wu Changkong was the first to give in, collapsing heavily to one knee. He managed to stay upright only by using his cracked Heavenly Frost Sword to support himself.

He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, his face was as pale as paper, and his breath was extremely weak.

The Heavenly Ice Armor let out a mournful cry and automatically retracted into its body, revealing its tattered and blood-stained clothes and body covered with fine cracks.

He withstood the desperate attack of the Soul Douluo, which burned his very essence. Even though the opponent was at his last gasp, he still paid a heavy price. His internal organs were severely injured, his meridians were damaged in many places, his soul power was completely exhausted, and his mental energy was also greatly depleted.

However, just as the silver aura surrounding Wu Changkong's body gradually receded and the Heavenly Ice Battle Armor was completely retracted into his body, a strange scene appeared—

A deep, solid black soul ring, seemingly capable of absorbing the surrounding light, quietly emerged from beneath his feet, like ink dripping into clear water!

The spirit ring slowly expanded, floated upwards, and emitted a powerful and brand-new spirit power fluctuation. Then, it slowly and steadily merged into the Heavenly Ice Battle Armor that had been returned to the body, as if injecting it with new vitality and a deeper chill.

After this life-or-death battle, under the pressure of the desperate situation, Wu Changkong broke through the bottleneck that had plagued him for a long time and officially stepped into the realm of the seven-ring Soul Saint from the six-ring Soul Emperor!

However, his injuries were too severe at the moment, and the improvement brought about by this breakthrough could not be immediately converted into combat power. Instead, he needed to rest and recuperate to stabilize it.

Shen Yi was also pale and exhausted, but she had suffered less direct impact and was in slightly better condition.

Seeing the black spirit ring appear on Wu Changkong's body, a complex and unfathomable expression appeared on her tired face, a mixture of relief, worry, and above all, a sense of relief at surviving a calamity.

This guy actually broke through at this time... If he had been a Soul Saint before the battle, perhaps this battle wouldn't have been so tragic.

But there are no "what ifs" in life; being able to survive is already a great blessing.

Long Huantian and Zhang Zhenpeng were in even worse shape. They almost collapsed to the ground, their bodies soaked in cold sweat and blood. The wounds on their bodies, corroded by death energy, were emitting a putrid black aura. Their auras were extremely weak, and they didn't even have the strength to stand up.

They faced considerable pressure during the siege and sustained serious injuries.

The four mechs also suffered varying degrees of damage. One of them was even blown away by the energy shockwave and crashed into the stands, causing severe damage. Fortunately, the pilot ejected in time to escape.

The other three also had dented armor and partially disabled weapon systems, but they could still barely maintain hovering vigilance.

Fortunately, thanks to Wu Changkong's calm command, everyone's desperate fighting, and the crucial protective shield that bought them reaction time, although the process was thrilling and everyone was injured, the worst outcome did not occur—no one died.

This is a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

Soon, amidst the piercing alarm, more high-ranking officials of the East China Sea Alliance, elite security personnel, several more advanced mechs, and a team of healing-type Soul Masters who had been urgently mobilized rushed to the scene, quickly taking control of the situation, treating the wounded, and clearing the battlefield.

With Gu Yue's help, Yu Chen walked to Wu Changkong and the others.

The dark gold token on his chest had returned to normal temperature, but its luster was slightly dim, indicating that he had consumed a lot of his stored energy when he blocked that attack.

His face was also a little pale, which was the mental exhaustion from instantly dealing with the crisis and activating Time Zero, but his body was unharmed.

Looking at the disheveled state of everyone, his golden eyes shone calmly, yet carried a deep sense of guilt and a chilling killing intent.

This sudden life-or-death crisis, which began with him, ultimately led to a bloody battle for his teachers and seniors, who even nearly perished.

"Teacher Wu, Uncle Shen, Dean Long, Director Zhang... I'm so sorry to have dragged you into this."

Yu Chen's voice was low and sincere, filled with apology.

After taking the healing pills handed to him by Shen Yi and receiving initial treatment from a healing-type Soul Master, Wu Changkong's complexion improved slightly.

He looked at Yu Chen, his gaze lingering on his chest for a moment before returning to his face. His voice, though weak, remained steady:

"This is none of your business. Evil spirit masters are enemies of everyone. It's good that you're alright."

He paused, his gaze towards Yu Chen's chest carrying a hint of inquiry.

Yu Chen understood and whispered, "It's a protective token that Master gave me before he left."

Wu Changkong nodded slightly and asked no further questions.

Leng Yaozhu's gift is enough to explain that amazing defense just now.

Shen Yi also released the Mimosa Martial Soul once again. The soft and vibrant green aura enveloped Wu Changkong and Long Zhang, who were the most seriously injured, temporarily stabilizing their injuries and preventing them from worsening.

She looked at Yu Chen, her eyes filled with lingering fear and relief: "Luckily, your master was prepared. Otherwise, that attack just now..."

She didn't finish speaking, but everyone understood the consequences.

At this moment, a high-ranking member of the alliance stepped forward with a solemn expression, bowed to Wu Changkong and the others, and spoke with a tone full of apology and lingering fear:

"Gentlemen! Today's events were caused by the inadequate security of our East China Sea Alliance, which nearly led to a major disaster! We are deeply responsible for the fright and injury suffered by you all!"

"The Alliance will thoroughly investigate this matter and give everyone and the Spirit Pagoda a satisfactory explanation! The Alliance will bear all treatment costs and compensation for losses! Now, please proceed immediately to the best treatment room for comprehensive treatment!"

Wu Changkong nodded without refusing.

Right now, recovering from injuries and stabilizing their cultivation level are the top priorities. Shen Yi, Long Huantian, Zhang Zhenpeng, and the others had no objections.

Soon, surrounded by medical staff and security personnel, Wu Changkong, Yu Chen, Gu Yue, Shen Yi, and their group quickly left the devastated battlefield filled with blood, death, and icy chill.

The audience had already been evacuated, and the huge stadium appeared empty and silent, with only the damaged field and residual energy fluctuations telling the story of the brief but brutal life-or-death struggle that had just taken place.

A day passed in the blink of an eye.

Wu Changkong and Gu Yue sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in their hotel room, the afterglow of the setting sun shining through the glass and bathing the entire room in a warm golden-red hue.

Yu Chen leaned back on the sofa, holding a glass of warm water in his hand, his gaze fixed on the setting sun outside the window.

The East China Sea Alliance Grand Tournament concluded successfully yesterday.

With Wu Changkong's tactical arrangements and Yu Chen's explosive performance, Class Zero successfully won the championship of this competition.

This is the best result Donghai College has achieved in recent years, and the college's leadership has decided to hold a grand celebration ceremony.

After the competition, Shen Yi took Ye Xinglan and the others back to Shrek Academy. Before leaving, he made a special trip to see Yu Chen and confirmed that he had only overdrawn his soul power and needed to rest for a few days to recover.

"How are you feeling?" Wu Changkong's cool voice broke the silence of the room.

Yu Chen turned his head and smiled slightly: "Much better, teacher. My soul power has recovered by 30-40%, and it should be fully recovered by tomorrow."

Gu Yue sat quietly on the sofa next to Yu Chen, her gaze fixed on him.

Hearing his answer, she breathed a slight sigh of relief, but her face remained expressionless.

Wu Changkong nodded, a rare hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes:

"You performed very well in this competition. Especially in the last match, you were able to maintain your formation and find counter-attack opportunities against Shrek Academy's strong offensive, which is not easy."

"It's all thanks to the teacher's excellent guidance," Yu Chen said modestly, then looked at Gu Yue, "and it's also thanks to Gu Yue's control."

Gu Yue shook her head slightly, her voice calm: "It was your final outburst that broke the deadlock."

Her gaze lingered on Yu Chen's face for a moment before shifting to the window. The last rays of the setting sun were disappearing below the horizon, and a deep purple twilight was spreading across the sky.

Wu Changkong stood up, his tall figure appearing particularly imposing in the twilight: "Get a good rest tonight. We'll return to Donghai City first thing tomorrow morning. The academy has already prepared a victory celebration banquet."

"Yes, teacher."

After Wu Changkong left, only Yu Chen and Gu Yue remained in the room. Night quietly fell, and the city lights in the distance gradually lit up, like twinkling stars.

Yu Chen placed the water glass on the coffee table, leaned back, and gently exhaled. The joy of winning the championship gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of relief and exhaustion.

"Are you tired?" Gu Yue asked softly.

"A little." Yu Chen nodded honestly, "But...it's worth it."

His gaze fell on the championship trophy placed in the center of the room.

It was an exquisite gold trophy, which still gleamed faintly in the dim light.

Gu Yue followed his gaze, remained silent for a moment, and then whispered, "Don't work so hard in the future."

Yu Chen was slightly taken aback and turned to look at her. Gu Yue was facing away from him, half of her face was hidden in shadow, so her expression was not clear, but her voice carried a rare gentleness.

"I'll be careful," Yu Chen said softly. "However, some risks are still worth taking."

Gu Yue turned her head and looked him straight in the eyes.

Her eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the dim light, like the brightest star in the night sky.

"Victory is important," she said, "but you are more important."

These words were spoken softly, yet they struck Yu Chen's heart with tremendous force.

He looked at Gu Yue, unsure how to respond.

The air in the room seemed to freeze, with only the faint sounds of the distant city noise and the steady breathing of the two people.

After a long silence, Yu Chen finally spoke softly, "Thank you, Gu Yue."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for your cooperation during the game, and thank you... for always being here."

Yu Chen's gaze softened. "I know you don't like these lively occasions, but you've stayed to keep me company anyway."

Gu Yue shifted her gaze and looked again at the night view outside the window. Her profile was exceptionally clear in the light of the streetlights outside, and her long eyelashes drooped down, obscuring the emotions in her eyes.

"We're teammates," she said casually, though her ears were slightly red.

Yu Chen smiled and said nothing more. He leaned back on the sofa, closed his eyes, and felt the soul power slowly recovering within his body.

Gu Yue didn't speak again, but just sat quietly beside him.

The room was filled with a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere, as if the two of them could understand each other's feelings without needing to say much.

The night outside the window grew darker, but the city lights shone brighter. Tomorrow they will return to Donghai Academy with the honor of being champions, welcoming the glorious moment that belongs to Class Zero.

But at this moment, in this brief tranquility, Yu Chen felt that everything was just right—the joy of victory, the bond of the team, and the silent companionship beside him.

He slightly opened his eyes and looked at Gu Yue's quiet profile, a warm and firm strength welling up in his heart.

No matter how many challenges await them in the future, at least for now, they are companions walking side by side, each other's strongest support.

that's enough.