Chapter 524 - 338: Successive Advancements, Reverse Suppression (Part 2)

Chapter 524: Chapter 338: Successive Advancements, Reverse Suppression (Part 2)

The Crystal Jade barrier hemming in Egg Pancake and the others had long since become illusory and unstable, thin as a cicada’s wing, looking as if it might shatter at any moment.

In contrast, Egg Pancake, Yin Yi, and the others were still brimming with vigor, their Spiritual Energy remaining at peak levels.

"Excellent. Shatter this turtle shell completely and attack the Destruction Apostle’s body!"

After seven days and seven nights, Han Ning felt no fatigue. On the contrary, the prolonged consumption of his Spiritual Power, which was being frantically replenished by the Flood Dragon True Essence and the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm, had led to a significant increase in his Spiritual Power.

It had shot up from roughly 10% of the way into Tier Four at the start of the battle to 80% of the way through!

He was already not far from Tier Five.

The Flood Dragon True Essence was truly worthy of its reputation as a supreme treasure. It not only replenished his losses but also slowly expanded his Spiritual Limit. It was like a pool the size of a badminton court gradually expanding to the size of a basketball court, and then continuing to grow toward the size of a soccer field.

Ruiyue had long fallen silent. Three days prior, she had changed her battle strategy from aggressive engagement to a defensive one. She was now focusing most of her attention on deciphering the great hall’s Spiritual Array, intending to merge the divided halls back together and rescue the Destruction Apostle.

The other Monarch IV Soul Beasts by her side were eager for a fight, wishing they could hurl themselves onto the battlefield and tear weaklings like Han Ning to shreds!

But... reality was not so kind.

The complexity of the Spiritual Array within the Dragon Palace was beyond Ruiyue’s imagination.

The fact that she had run into Han Ning earlier was purely a matter of good luck.

Even the Wangchao Race, who specialized in researching Spiritual Arrays, hadn’t managed to crack the Array and enter the Treasure Hall, to say nothing of her, who was no expert on the subject.

Out of her pride as a chosen daughter of the Holy Crystal Race, she kept her lips sealed, refusing to compromise with Han Ning and continuing to command the Destruction Apostle in battle.

"Lady Ruiyue, why the silence? If you don’t come up with something soon, your Soul Beast... is going to be in real danger."

Just then, Han Ning’s spiritual message was transmitted through the Destruction Apostle.

Although his Spiritual Power contained no trace of mockery, when Ruiyue heard the message in her mind, she felt that every word from the vermin on the other side was dripping with scorn!

"You’re just showing off for a moment, relying on the power of the Flood Dragon True Essence! If we were to truly fight, I’d blast you and your Soul Beasts to dust within three seconds!" Ruiyue gritted her teeth, her hoarse voice echoing through the empty hall.

Overcome with frustration, she unconsciously vented her emotions both in the native tongue of the Holy Crystal Race and through her Spiritual Power.

Han Ning said nothing. He wasn’t the type to rub an advantage in his opponent’s face relentlessly.

It was just that Ruiyue had started the taunting, and seeing her on the back foot, he couldn’t resist a single retort.

After that one remark, he threw himself wholeheartedly back into commanding Egg Pancake and the others in battle.

Spiritual Energy surged as the tremendous sound of impacts echoed through the Treasure Hall.

This situation continued for another day.

「Until the morning of the third day.」

BOOM!!

With a tremendous roar, the Crystal Jade barrier deployed by the Destruction Apostle shattered completely.

A ferocious glint flashed in Egg Pancake’s eyes. It shot forward, its miniaturized Holy Beast body transforming into a speeding arrow aimed straight at the Destruction Apostle’s body.

Although the Destruction Apostle’s entire body was composed of Crystal Stone and looked exceptionally tough, it was not actually skilled in close combat. Strictly speaking, its close-quarters combat experience was inferior to Egg Pancake’s.

It crossed its arms defensively, its thick Body curling into a ball. Spiritual Light flickered around it, forming a round Shield that enveloped it.

At this moment, the Destruction Apostle completely switched from offense to a passive, defensive posture. The surging Spiritual Energy within its body weakened further.

Meanwhile, under Han Ning’s command, Egg Pancake, Yin Yi, and Fei Lin did not let their guard down. They maintained their formation, with Egg Pancake at the forefront acting as the main attacker and tank. Yin Yi and Fei Lin remained in the rear, unleashing ranged Soul Techniques and guarding against a sudden counterattack from the Destruction Apostle that could instantly kill the two weaker Soul Beasts.

"All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm, go on the offensive! Break down its Spiritual Energy Shield!"

The Elemental Shield was practically useless against Egg Pancake, who possessed Dragon Power. Combined with the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm’s innate Armor-Piercing ability, they were practically attacking the Destruction Apostle’s Body directly.

’As expected of a Monarch IV Soul Beast, its combat strength is truly formidable.’

Watching the Destruction Apostle withstand the frenzied bombardment of three Soul Beasts with its Body alone, Han Ning couldn’t help but admire its immense power. It was unlike any opponent of the same tier he had ever encountered.

Even the Soul Beast controlled by the High Priest from the Alatake Clan he had once met on the Insect Continent couldn’t hold a candle to the Destruction Apostle.

To say nothing of the likes of Qing Dou and Cang Tong. Despite also being Monarch IVs, the former’s Soul Beast would probably be smashed to pieces by the Destruction Apostle in a matter of minutes.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Blow after blow from Egg Pancake landed on the Destruction Apostle’s defenseless Crystal Stone Body, sending shards flying and making it tremble.

"CLANG..."

The Destruction Apostle made no sound, enduring the assault silently, like an unmoving mountain.

Five hours later, the Destruction Apostle’s body was covered in cracks.

Twelve hours later, its right leg shattered, causing it to collapse into a half-kneeling position on the ground.

Twenty hours later...

CRASH.

With a loud crash, its entire Body shattered into pieces.

An Energy Core, blazing with a dazzling light, still maintained a thick Shield.

Thirty hours later, the massive, perfectly smooth core, over two meters in diameter, was also covered in a spiderweb of cracks.

"Alright, Egg Pancake, stop."

"Chirp?"

Hearing its master’s voice, Egg Pancake immediately stopped its attack, looking confused.

"Lady Ruiyue, I know you’re watching. If you don’t want your Soul Beast to be destroyed completely, why don’t we have a proper talk?"

Han Ning smiled faintly.

"What do you want to talk about?" A few seconds later, Ruiyue’s spiritual message came through the Destruction Apostle.

For some reason, Han Ning could feel a deep, simmering resentment hidden within her spiritual message.

He could almost picture the furious, teeth-gritting expression on Ruiyue’s face.

"I remember we started out as friends, didn’t we? Teacher Liang even invited you to be a guest on Grey. How about we bury the hatchet?"

"State your terms." Ruiyue clearly didn’t believe Han Ning would be kind enough to let her Soul Beast go.

"Smart."

Han Ning said with a note of approval,

"There’s still a long time left in this trial, and the Secret Realm is full of treasures. Why don’t we join forces and claim the rest of them together? You and Irena, plus me and Lin Ke—our combined strength would easily rank us among the top of this batch of Trialists."

Ruiyue said nothing.

Han Ning continued, "Of course... to prevent you from going back on your word and launching a surprise attack, we’ll have to sign a Spiritual Contract. What do you... say?"

’There was no benefit for him in completely destroying the Destruction Apostle.’

’Not only was there no benefit, but it would earn him Ruiyue’s undying enmity.’

’If driving out her brother and her existing grudge with Irena had already put them in a state of mutual hostility...’

’...then killing her Soul Beast would escalate that hostility into a blood feud, making them mortal enemies.’

’It wasn’t worth it just for a moment of emotional release.’

He presented the Spiritual Contract he had already drafted to Ruiyue.

It was the purest form of a Spiritual Contract from the Witch Spirit Race, eliminating any possibility of Ruiyue ever breaking it.

"Must not attack Han Ning, Irena, Lin Ke, or any of their Soul Beasts. Must not even harbor hostile intent..."

"Must not..."

As Ruiyue read the contract’s contents, her fair cheeks instantly flushed crimson.

With barely a moment’s hesitation, she roared madly, "Impossible! Impossible! I would rather die than sign this contract!"

"Really? Impossible?"

A smile played on Han Ning’s lips as he gave Egg Pancake a knowing look.

"Chirp!"

Egg Pancake understood. It raised its fist and—BAM! BAM! BAM!—struck the Destruction Apostle’s nearly shattered Energy Core.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Each of Egg Pancake’s blows was like a heavy hammer, striking mercilessly upon Ruiyue’s heart!