Soul Land: Legend of Saint Seiya

Chapter 208: The Nether Sea Dragon

"Vile beast, prepare to die!"

Huo Wu shouted as her Fire Shadow Martial Soul possessed her. Two yellow, two purple, and one black spirit ring rhythmically surrounded her as her body turned into a streak of light, charging directly at the leopard.

The leopard moved with explosive speed, even faster than Huo Wu. After all, speed was a leopard's greatest strength.

"What is she thinking? Charging head-on like this is a sure way to suffer!"

Qian Renxue frowned at Huo Wu's decision. With her spirit power between levels 55 and 56, Huo Wu's strength was roughly on par with the leopard. Instead of playing to her strength as a control-type soul master, she chose a direct, brute-force approach.

"Relax, Xue'er. Huo Wu may have a fiery personality, but she's more cunning than she looks," Xiao Yu said with a small smile, as if he already knew what Huo Wu was planning.

Just as the two were about to collide, Huo Wu's left arm suddenly emitted a golden light. It was the soul bone ability left by the 100,000-year-old Soft Bone Rabbit—Invincible Golden Body. For three seconds, it provided absolute defense below god-level and doubled her strength.

The golden light enveloped Huo Wu entirely. Under the Invincible Golden Body's protection, the leopard slammed into her like it had hit an iron wall, rebounding violently and rolling several times before coming to a stop.

"Fifth Spirit Ability: Fire Dance Storm!"

Seizing the opportunity, Huo Wu unleashed her fifth spirit ability. A fiery vortex of intensely high temperatures trapped the leopard within.

All five of Huo Wu's spirit rings glowed as she gathered flames in her hands, forming a massive white fireball above her head.

Her goal in using her fifth spirit ability was to immobilize the leopard, buying time to unleash her most powerful attack, her fourth spirit ability, which had been enhanced by her spirit fusion.

Sensing the life-or-death situation, the leopard struggled desperately within the vortex. However, the power of a 10,000-year spirit ring was not so easily overcome.

Huo Wu's fireball, bolstered by her spirit power, now approached the strength of a Soul Emperor's attack.

"It's over!"

Huo Wu shouted coldly as the giant fireball left her hands. With its homing capability, the fireball struck the leopard trapped in the fiery vortex with unerring accuracy.

A deafening explosion echoed as the leopard was blasted to the ground. The intense flames incinerated it completely, leaving behind only a charred corpse and a shimmering green inner core.

With a flick of her wrist, Huo Wu retrieved the inner core.

Though the leopard's cultivation wasn't particularly impressive, and its attributes didn't align with her own, the inner core wouldn't dissipate over time like spirit rings. It might come in handy someday, or perhaps it could be gifted to someone else.

"Well then, so this is your so-called 'master'?"

Having dealt with the leopard, Huo Wu returned with a smug expression. Now that she was mentally prepared, even the ferryman's grotesque face didn't faze her. She grinned triumphantly and said, "I've dealt with it. Now there shouldn't be any issue ferrying us across, right?"

"No problem, no problem!"

The ferryman was utterly terrified, bowing his head submissively as he quickly untied the boat's mooring rope and prepared to set sail.

"Lingling, let's go!"

Huo Wu grabbed Ye Lingling's arm and, brimming with excitement, headed for the boat. She even shot Qian Renxue a provocative glance along the way.

Qian Renxue snorted softly but quickened her pace to follow.

Xiao Yu, however, remained standing where he was.

"Xiao Yu, why aren't you coming?"

Huo Wu paused, confused, and called out to him.

Xiao Yu ignored Huo Wu's call, standing still as he stared at the relatively calm waters of the Styx before him. With a composed tone, he spoke, "Come out. I know you're hiding in there."

"I suspect you've known about our strength from the start. After all, the three-headed Hellhound guarding the gates of the Underworld has already been defeated. As the guardian of this next trial, it's impossible for you to be unaware. You deliberately orchestrated this farce, trying to lull us into boarding the boat without suspicion. Then, in the deepest, coldest part of the river, you'd ambush us, overturn the boat, and leave us at your mercy!"

Qian Renxue was the first to react, her expression shifting to one of realization. "I knew something was off. The strength of this second guardian is far inferior to the first. So that's the reason!"

The ferryman, hearing Xiao Yu's accusation, immediately tried to run.

But Qian Renxue's quick reflexes sent a burst of soul power, knocking him to the ground again. She stepped on his chest with a cold sneer. "Your master's scheme wouldn't work without your cooperation. I'll start with you!"

"Stop!"

Just as Qian Renxue prepared to strike, a deep voice echoed from the Styx.

The once-calm river began to boil violently, rippling outward in concentric circles before transforming into massive waves that crashed toward the shore.

Xiao Yu, Qian Renxue, Huo Wu, and Ye Lingling retreated quickly to avoid contact with the Styx's waters, which could sink even a feather. Qian Renxue dragged the ferryman along with them as they backed away.

As the group retreated, a colossal figure emerged from the river.

It was a massive beast over ten meters in length, with a flat body, a short tail, and a long, flexible neck. Its appearance resembled that of a snake passing through a turtle shell. Its small head featured nostrils close to its eyes, and its jaw was lined with numerous long, conical teeth.

This was the true guardian of the Acheron River, the Nether Sea Dragon.

Having spent countless years in the water, its limbs had evolved into fleshy fin-like appendages, resembling large oars that allowed it to move effortlessly and pivot with agility. In mere moments, it had climbed onto the shore, its icy gaze like a blade sweeping over the group before settling on the ferryman.

"Release him!"

The beast's voice was cold and commanding.

Though the ferryman was weak, his role was irreplaceable. The Underworld was not short on powerful beasts—like the leopard Huo Wu had incinerated, which was merely one of the dragon's minions from the Eight Hells. The dragon didn't care about such losses. However, competent ferrymen were rare. Without the ferryman, the Acheron River's operations would grind to a halt.

"A talking beast. It seems this one has the power of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast!"

Qian Renxue casually tossed the ferryman aside and stared at the dragon with a glint of excitement in her eyes. Having just broken through to the Soul Saint realm, she was eager to test herself against such a formidable opponent.

(End of Chapter)

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