"You've fallen into my trap! Third Soul Skill, Frozen Seal of Profound Ice!"
After Lin Ye's Hidden Wind Sword and Zhu Zhuqing's sharp claws simultaneously struck his body, the Tyrant immediately smirked sinisterly and activated his third soul skill, Frozen Seal of Profound Ice!
As the third yellow soul ring surrounding him lit up, an intense burst of cold air erupted from the Tyrant's body in an instant. The frigid energy traveled along the Hidden Wind Sword, freezing Lin Ye's right hand in the blink of an eye and rapidly spreading across his entire body.
Zhu Zhuqing suffered the same fate, even worse than Lin Ye.
While Lin Ye wasn't immediately frozen—since the cold traveled through the Hidden Wind Sword—Zhu Zhuqing had directly pierced the Tyrant's body with her right claw.
Had Zhu Zhuqing not reacted swiftly and activated her third soul skill, Netherworld Slash, to shatter the ice, she might have been completely frozen. Even so, her right arm was already encased in ice, and her skin had turned pale, a clear sign of the cold energy invading her body.
Though Lin Ye was also affected by the cold, the Nine Yang Divine Power quickly neutralized the invasive chill, leaving only his half-frozen right arm still trapped.
"Third Soul Skill, Golden Vajra Bear Transformation!"
Seeing that both Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing had been ambushed by the Tyrant's third soul skill, the Bear King, not far away, let out a furious roar and activated his own third soul skill, Golden Vajra Bear Transformation!
Upon activation, the Bear King's strength, attack power, and defense would all increase by one hundred percent. In this state, his strength could surpass five thousand jin!
Within the same realm, unless facing a defense-type soul master, almost no soul master could withstand the Bear King's current might.
Originally, due to his slow speed, unless the enemy was restrained, even with Golden Vajra Bear Transformation active, this soul skill could hardly display its full potential. However, upon seeing Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing fall victim to the Tyrant's Frozen Seal of Profound Ice, the Bear King immediately seized the opportunity and decisively activated the skill!
Facing the enraged, charging Soul King, Lin Ye frowned and shattered the ice on his right arm with a palm strike.
For others, being frozen and invaded by the cold energy would slow their movements, leaving them helpless against the Bear King's assault. But Lin Ye was clearly an exception.
Though he had regained mobility, Lin Ye had no intention of evading the Bear King's attack. At the Soul Elder level under the identity of "Sword One," even if he wielded the Dugu Nine Swords to perfection, he couldn't breach the Bear King's defense.
This wasn't because the Dugu Nine Swords had weakened. On the contrary, Lin Ye had always considered them the strongest sword technique. The Dugu Nine Swords could dismantle almost any weapon or combat style—such prowess was undeniable!
However, the Dugu Nine Swords excelled primarily against tool soul masters, as they specialized in countering weapon-based techniques. Against beast soul defense-type soul masters, once they activated their spirit soul possession, their entire bodies became impervious. No matter how masterfully Lin Ye executed the Dugu Nine Swords, they would be useless!
Defense-oriented beast soul masters were, so far, the only counter Lin Ye had discovered to the Dugu Nine Swords. Of course, if Lin Ye unleashed his full power or summoned the Xuanyuan Sword spirit soul, most defense-type soul masters would pose no threat.
But under the identity of Sword One, he was merely an ordinary Soul Elder. As such, he had to approach the problem from that perspective.
While the Dugu Nine Swords were ineffective against the Bear King, that didn't mean Lin Ye lacked a sword technique to counter him. Just days ago, Lin Ye had acquired the Xuanyuan Sword Technique, a skill transcending conventional sword arts!
Unlike the Dugu Nine Swords, which emphasized technique, the Xuanyuan Sword Technique prioritized cultivation and mastery over internal true qi. With sufficient control over true qi, one could unleash sword energy. And with adequate cultivation, one could even execute sword techniques akin to soul skills using sword energy!
Of course, sword energy itself was similar to soul skills, though not as powerful as the major techniques of the Xuanyuan Sword Technique.
"Slash!"
Having decided to employ the Xuanyuan Sword Technique, Lin Ye immediately began circulating his true qi along the technique's prescribed pathways. However, since launching sword energy was akin to a soul skill attack, Lin Ye needed to mask it with a soul ring.
Thus, just before releasing the sword energy, he manipulated the artifact, Myriad Forms, to illuminate the first soul ring surrounding him.
As the illusory soul ring lit up, Lin Ye swung his sword. Instantly, a golden sword energy shot from the tip of the Hidden Wind Sword, whistling through the air before striking the Bear King.
"Thud!"
The all-destroying Xuanyuan sword energy pierced the Bear King's chest, breaking through his defense before exploding violently. Blood sprayed from the wound as the Bear King was forced back several steps.
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"How?! A mere hundred-year soul skill broke through my defense?!"
Feeling the sharp pain in his chest, the Bear King staggered back. When he saw the mangled wound, disbelief flooded his mind.
"Only breached the defense, so it's just a minor injury?"
Observing the Bear King's chest—though bloodied and torn—Lin Ye noted it was merely a flesh wound, not deep enough to reach the bone. He shook his head slightly.
Despite the Xuanyuan Sword Technique's might, it still relied on cultivation as its foundation. Expecting a single sword energy slash to kill a peer opponent was unrealistic.
"Though the damage is still lacking, that sword energy consumed less than one percent of my Soul Elder-level true qi!"
After repelling the Bear King with the first strike, Lin Ye raised his sword again. This time, he wouldn't settle for mere sword energy—he would unleash the first form of the Xuanyuan Sword Technique!
Admittedly, Lin Ye hadn't yet fully mastered the first form, and executing it completely with Soul Elder-level true qi was a stretch. But opportunities to test it against a sturdy defense-type soul master like this were rare.
"Take this!"
Previously, the Bear Tyrant Duo had always attacked first. Now, it was Lin Ye's turn to strike.
"What?!"
Hearing Lin Ye's roar, the Bear King tore his gaze from his chest wound and looked at the approaching figure. Seeing Lin Ye charging at him, the Bear King felt a mix of surprise and excitement.
As a power-type soul master, he was usually the aggressor; few dared to engage him head-on. Yet, amid his excitement, caution crept in. After all, Lin Ye had just pierced his defense with a mere hundred-year soul skill. And Lin Ye still had a thousand-year soul skill in reserve—this was no time for carelessness.
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