Shi Mo's Black Tortoise Turtle spirit might be a top-tier defensive spirit, rivaling even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, but the power gap between him and Yaomei was nearly fifty levels. His full-powered turtle shell defense was shredded like paper by Yaomei's moon blades.
Shi Mo felt an overwhelming sense of defeat, realizing he was the one who needed protection. For the Heaven Dou team, he ended up being the first to be eliminated.
A roar echoed as Su Ming's Wood Dragon, summoned alongside his Wood Puppet, shielded Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling within its massive body. Even as Yaomei tried to fend it off with a spirit skill, the dragon's power deflected the attack, sending the moon blade spinning back into Yaomei's hand.
By then, Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing had positioned themselves behind Yaomei, having already eliminated every Spirit Hall team member except Yaomei and Qian Renxue in just a few seconds.
Hu Liena frowned, realizing their initial attack strategy had backfired and that the Heaven Dou team had them trapped.
"Nana, we underestimated them," said Xie Yue. "Time to go all out and show our true power."
"Phantom Fox Skull Skill: Phantom Domain!" Hu Liena activated her spirit bone skill, unleashing a dense red mist centered around her.
This skull skill, combined with Yaomei's red mist, enhanced her mental power and reduced her opponents' senses and battle power. However, she quickly realized her skills were ineffective—Su Ming's sixth spirit skill had amplified the Heaven Dou team's mental strength so much that their defenses were only mildly weakened, which Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could easily reinforce.
Feeling trapped and frustrated, Hu Liena could only grit her teeth as Xiao Wu mocked, "Hu Liena, Xie Yue, we've got you surrounded. What tricks do you have left?"
Meanwhile, Su Ming, from his vantage point atop the Wood Puppet's head, casually remarked to Qian Renxue, "Seems like your team's losing the match."
Qian Renxue, unfazed, replied with a smile, "Not necessarily. If I win against you, I can handle the rest of your team."
Su Ming gave her a knowing smile, his gaze shifting to Hu Liena. He found it odd that she already possessed a spirit bone for her head, as a valuable head spirit bone was supposed to be among the Spirit Hall's championship rewards, supposedly a gift reserved for Hu Liena by Bibi Dong.
System: Uh-oh!
The system sensed trouble but couldn't intervene in time. Meanwhile, Hu Liena continued to reveal her other spirit bone abilities.
"External Spirit Bone: Fox Tail!"
"Left Leg Bone Skill Activated!"
In the face of the Heaven Dou team's encirclement, Hu Liena used all three spirit bones in her possession. Her skull bone enhanced her mental strength and lowered her opponents' sensory perception, while her fox tail boosted her attack power, and her left leg bone increased her speed.
Seeing this, the crowd was in awe, many people whispering in amazement at the wealth and power of Spirit Hall. Some couldn't suppress their greedy glances; three high-quality spirit bones all at once!
Targeting the support, Hu Liena locked onto Ye Lingling, assessing her as a greater threat than Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda due to her healing abilities.
"Wood Dragon, protect Lingling. We'll handle the battle," ordered Dugu Yan.
The Wood Dragon, Su Ming's precautionary measure, remained by Ye Lingling's side, as Dugu Yan believed that she, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu could defeat Yaomei on their own.
"Fifth Spirit Skill: Medusa's Gaze!"
For the first time in the tournament, Dugu Yan unleashed her fifth spirit skill, acquired from a Medusa spirit beast with nearly 30,000 years of cultivation. This skill would have been even more powerful if it had come with a Medusa spirit bone like her grandfather's.
As Yaomei prepared his next attack, Dugu Yan activated the skill, locking eyes with him to unleash the petrifying gaze. Hu Liena felt her body freeze completely, unable to move.
Taking advantage, the green snakes hidden within the jade poison mist tried to bite her, but the protective golden light deflected them.
Dugu Yan clicked her tongue in annoyance. "This golden aura is such a nuisance, preventing my venomous snakes and poison from having much effect. Xiao Wu, Zhuqing, attack now! I can only petrify him for one second at most!"
Recognizing the opportunity, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a quick glance.
"First Spirit Skill: Ghost Thrust! Third Spirit Skill: Ghost Slash!"
Their combined assault hit Hu Liena just as the petrification wore off, her defense weakened by the brief stun.
"That petrification didn't even last a second," Dugu Yan noted, frustrated. "I didn't account for his three spirit bones' defensive boosts!"
Prepared for another attack, Yaomei closed his eyes this time, refusing to meet Dugu Yan's gaze.