Chapter 472 - 455: Combined Technique of Fear and Shadow (2)

The Brain Array was naturally ready as well.

Thanks to its Cultivation experience in the dream, it was easy for Ah Kun to activate the Array. However, to start it instantly in an emergency, it still needed its master’s help.

Ah Kun, who was struggling to maintain the Water Wall, suddenly had a profound light flash in its eyes.

A formless, intangible Fear Ripple, one that reached straight into the depths of the soul, gushed forth.

It was a terror originating from the Yichuan Ruins, a horror that had survived from a previous era.

It precisely attached itself to the pulverized water particles that had yet to fully dissipate around the arena.

As these water particles scattered, the Fear Ripple silently invaded the Molten Rock Giant Ape and the Wind Fang Wolf King!

The two Pet Beasts, who were giving their all to maintain the Combined Techniques, froze simultaneously!

The fighting spirit in the Molten Rock Giant Ape’s eyes was replaced by a flicker of inexplicable panic.

The Wind Fang Wolf King’s agile movements also faltered for an instant.

It was an instinctual fear of the unknown, of the deep water.

Amplified by the Array, it was driven into their consciousness like a Heart Anchor!

’Now, Ah Ji!’ Gu Ming’s Divine Sense flashed, transmitting the thought.

The opportunity was fleeting!

Ah Ji, who had been lurking in the shadows, sharply seized the opening created by its opponents’ fear!

Shadow Teleportation!

Like a ghostly assassin, it leaped out from the shadow of an obstacle on the ground, ignoring the distance of Space.

Its pitch-black claws, carrying the Power to tear through shadows, flashed to the Wolf King’s flank in an instant!

RRRIP!

"AWOOO!"

Half of the Wind Fang Wolf King’s shadow was torn open, and it let out a pained howl.

The feedback to its physical body manifested as several deep wounds.

Because of this, the maintenance of their Combined Techniques was affected.

"Beautiful! A counterattack!" the commentator shouted excitedly.

However, Zhao Qing was a combat-oriented elite, after all. Though startled, he remained calm. "Don’t panic! Keep up the pressure!"

"They can’t hold out for much longer!"

Although the power of the Combined Techniques weakened due to the Wolf King’s injury, it was still terrifying.

Ah Ji, having just evened the score, was forced back by a magma-infused fist from the Molten Rock Giant Ape before it could press its advantage.

Physical attacks were normally useless against Ah Ji when it was in shadow form.

But the searing, bright fire erupting from the Molten Rock Giant Ape’s body contained the power of the Light Element, which just so happened to be effective against the Dark Element Ah Ji.

Even if the damage wasn’t at one hundred percent, a direct hit on Ah Ji could knock it back into its physical form.

It could only retreat into the shadows, dodging the attack just in time, but it didn’t dare to emerge again right away.

’If I had learned a Light Element Defense Skill and wore a cloak of light-elemental power,’ Ah Ji couldn’t help but think, ’the Molten Rock Giant Ape’s searing hot fist probably couldn’t have done anything to me.’

Unfortunately, there were no ’if’s.

Only in a real battle could one discover their own weaknesses.

Ah Kun’s Water Wall was pierced again by the subsequent barrage of rubble, and its body swayed.

’There’s no other choice...’

Gu Ming saw that Ah Kun’s Wave-Swallowing Technique was still just short of being fully charged, and Ah Ji was also being pushed to its limit.

He took a deep breath and made a decision. "Ah Ji, Spiritual Awakening! Ah Kun, prepare the Wave-Swallowing Technique: Abyssal Stop!"

Receiving the command, a look of determination flashed in Ah Ji’s eyes.

It no longer hid. Instead, it activated the Enlightenment Mental Array in its brain and let out a cat-like cry!

Spiritual Awakening Techniques, activate!

A majestic Spiritual Power erupted like a volcano!

Its Shadow Cloak and Shadow Simulation Ability were pushed to their absolute limits. Light and shadow intertwined, instantly simulating and condensing outside its body into the vague form of a Profound Celestial Beast Ghost Soul clad in black armor!

This Profound Armor Form had no physical Attack Power, but it emanated an overwhelming spiritual pressure!

Grayish-black flames burned atop the armor’s head. Ah Ji grew out from the Wolf King’s shadow, its enormous form now rivaling the wolf’s in size.

Ah Ji’s giant, grayish-black armored hand, formed from shadow, pressed down hard into the empty space before it!

This was a pure Spiritual Attack!

It was simple and unadorned, beyond reason or any Skill Template. It was a direct, head-on attack that simply used an overwhelming amount of Spiritual Energy to crush the opponent.

An invisible, soul-shaking shockwave spread out in a fan shape, simultaneously blasting the nearby Molten Rock Giant Ape and Wind Fang Wolf King!

"Urgh!"

The two Pet Beasts suffered no severe physical injuries, but their Seas of Consciousness were struck as if by lightning, setting off colossal waves.

Their Combined Techniques instantly broke. Both pets clutched their heads and let out agonized screeches.

They felt as if their heads had been smashed by a heavy hammer, their consciousness thrown into chaos!

And this Spiritual Shock happened to have a reinforcing effect with the seed planted earlier by the Fear Heart Anchor!

If the enemy’s two Pet Beasts used the Power of Wind, Fire, and Earth to form their Combined Techniques...

...then the powerful Profound Celestial Beast Ghost Soul form from Ah Ji’s imagination, stacked with the Fear Attribute Spiritual Ripples from Ah Kun, had worked together to create a massive spiritual crest.

In this way, it was also a Combined Technique where one plus one was greater than two!

「The next instant.」

It was as if countless terrifying Illusions erupted in the depths of their minds, as though they had been dragged into the execution grounds of a Terror Executioner!

The fear from the depths of their souls was completely detonated!

"Now!" Gu Ming said.

Ah Kun, which had long been ready, released all the Power it had absorbed and accumulated, along with its entire reserve of Water Element Energy, without holding anything back!

Above the Sports Arena, a hundred-meter waterfall seemed to appear out of thin air!

That wasn’t ordinary water, but tens of thousands of pounds of seawater imbued with the Abyssal Stop Power!

Like the celestial river pouring down, it crashed down with a roar, instantly Devouring the mentally broken and helpless Molten Rock Giant Ape and Wind Fang Wolf King, dragging them under the water!

The water didn’t surge everywhere. Instead, under Ah Kun’s absolute control, it formed a massive Water Ball, trapping the two Pet Beasts tightly within.

This was precisely the high-tier application of the Wave-Swallowing Technique: the Water Prison Cage.

Under the effect of Abyssal Stop, the water flow approached a state of temporal stasis, and everything within it was stopped.

The enemy Pet Beasts were not frozen solid, but they were still affected by the Abyssal Stop Power.

To resist this stasis-like power, they also had to consume a large amount of Mana.

But Ah Kun didn’t give them time to resist. It drained its own Mana in one go, setting the supremely still water into motion.

"Explode!"

BOOM—!!!

The massive Water Ball, along with everything inside it, shifted from the ultimate "stillness" to the ultimate "motion"!

A terrifying energy was released from within, and the Water Ball exploded with a deafening roar!

Countless streams of water shot out in all directions like cannonballs, slamming against the protective shield with thunderous booms!

When the water mist cleared, the Molten Rock Giant Ape and the Wind Fang Wolf King were lying on the shattered platform, the whites of their eyes showing, having completely lost their ability to fight.

Ah Kun was also heavily drained, panting slightly.

As for Ah Ji, it had deactivated its Profound Armor Form and looked a little weary, but its eyes were still bright.

The entire stadium fell silent for a moment, then erupted in earth-shattering cheers!

"He won! My god! A comeback in under ten seconds!" the commentator yelled himself hoarse.

In the high-up viewing seats, the Thirteenth Prince, Zhou Shichen, watched Gu Ming calmly recall his Pet Beasts below. His eyes flickered, and the corners of his mouth turned up in an almost imperceptible smile.

He gave a slight nod, still not saying a word, but his admiration was unspoken yet clear.

On the other end of the live broadcast, Teacher Huo let out a long sigh of relief and cursed with a smile:

"That kid... he scared the hell out of me!"

Then he couldn’t help but stroke his beard, a look of immense satisfaction on his face.

Inside Wenquxing University, Lu You’s heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled.

She stared for a long time at the close-up of Gu Ming’s beaming face on the screen.

Mouse Treasure SQUEAKED a few times, wanting to celebrate with its master.

But after it called out several times with no response, it could only crawl out of her arms to celebrate with Mianmian, waving its paws around as it explained how Ah Ji and Ah Kun had instantly turned the tables.

Gu Ming stood on the stage, listening to the tsunami of applause. His gaze swept over his opponent, the audience, and finally rested on the exit tunnel.

The first battle was a success, but this fight had forced Ah Kun and Ah Ji to reveal quite a few of their trump cards. Ah Kun’s Fog Concealment Talent, awakened by Devouring the Fog Dao Pearl, remained unexposed, and Ah Ji’s Blazing Light Fist hadn’t been used. Now, Gu Ming’s only remaining unrevealed trump card was Cyan Treasure.

At this thought, Gu Ming glanced at the five Achievement Points he had just won from his first victory.

’I need to hurry up and train some new Combat Techniques!’