Douluo: My Clone Is Groudon

Deep within the Great Star Dou Forest, frost clung to the gnarled branches of ancient locust trees.

Xiao Wu's slender rabbit ears trembled slightly, and fine beads of sweat seeped through her light pink hair.

Witnessing how easily these strangers had negotiated a plan to hunt souls for the soul bone, Xiao Wu couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow. Her tear-filled rabbit eyes buried themselves in Gu La's shoulder.

"Soul bone…"

She bit her lower lip, mumbling softly, her nails digging deep into her palms. Suddenly, Gu La's broad hand covered her chilled hand, his fiery soul power enveloping her trembling body like a warm spring.

A hundred meters away, in the clearing, Flender adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. The lenses reflected the six ice prisms hovering around Shui Qianqiu.

"Shui Clan Leader's ice-element martial soul will control the battlefield. My Owl will handle aerial suppression. Elder Shui will lead the frontal assault, and Elder Zhu will deliver the final blow. How does that sound?"

"It's standard, but it suits us since we're unfamiliar with each other."

Shui Qianqiu nodded, and no one objected. With their tasks agreed upon, the three groups quietly lay low, waiting for the ten-thousand-year spirit beasts to weaken each other.

The battle between the Ground Demon Bear and the Shadow Frost Crow had already reached a fever pitch from the start.

In the central battleground, a hundred-meter radius was left in ruins—no grass or trees remained. Half the area was frozen solid, while the other half was petrified.

After half an hour, the Ground Demon Bear still had ample soul power, but black pus oozed continuously from the cracks in its rocky armor.

The Shadow Frost Crow's left wing was partially broken, and it struggled to maintain flight, already contemplating retreat.

"Now!"

Flender barked softly, and the four Soul Sages simultaneously activated their seventh soul rings.

The translucent shadow of the Owl behind them suddenly solidified, and the seventh soul ring radiated intense black light: "Seventh Soul Skill—Owl True Form!"

"Ice Element True Form!"

"Netherworld Cat True Form!"

"Ice Phoenix True Form!"

Shui Qianqiu entered an elemental state, transforming into an ice crystal humanoid creature. For the next half-hour, he was immune to physical damage, leaving trails of frost flowers with every step as he closed in on the Ground Demon Bear.

Icy blue soul power transformed into freezing cold, triggering large-scale explosions of ice crystals that froze the Ground Demon Bear's legs and the Shadow Frost Crow's wings.

Elder Zhu's Netherworld Cat True Form split into nine afterimages amidst a shroud of black mist, its claws tearing through the Shadow Frost Crow's wings, splattering icy blue blood mist.

Flender, wearing a blue crown, summoned a hurricane and soared into the sky, his sharp claws targeting the Shadow Frost Crow's eyes.

The dying Shadow Frost Crow unleashed its remaining soul power, releasing a bone-chilling, life-sapping cold wave.

Under the dark chill, Shui Qianqiu's ice-crystalized right arm suddenly shattered, and Elder Zhu grunted as a rock spike pierced his left shoulder. His blood froze mid-air into coral-like ice before it could hit the ground.

Flender's soul rings glowed brightly, his gaze resolute as his claws struck the Shadow Frost Crow's eyes.

With one successful strike, the Shadow Frost Crow's eyes were destroyed, blood gushing out along with a piercing caw. A simultaneous attack of frost and rock spikes erupted from both the sky and the ground.

Experienced in combat, even during their first collaboration, Flender and his team displayed remarkable coordination. Within ten seconds, they had severely wounded a forty-thousand-year-old spirit beast.

Shui Qianqiu formed an ice crystal shield to block the rock pillar attacks for everyone.

Elder Zhu disappeared into the shadows, vanishing without a trace.

The six Soul Emperors from the Star Luo squad cooperated nearby, keeping the Ground Demon Bears occupied so they couldn't escape.

Finally, the Shadow Frost Crow collapsed first, condensing a soul ring upon its death. Unfortunately, there was no soul power fluctuation from its corpse, indicating no soul bone had appeared.

Without time to feel disappointed, the group continued their assault on the Ground Demon Bear. After much effort, the Ground Demon Bear gradually bled out and collapsed.

Flender stopped his movements, warily watching his previously cooperative teammates. "Gu La, it's your turn."

Elder Zhu and Shui Qianqiu didn't stop him. Their soul power levels were slightly lower than Flender's, and they were injured. They wouldn't risk breaking the fragile peace.

Over a dozen pairs of eyes watched Gu La, more than half belonging to six-ring Soul Emperors. If it were anyone else, the pressure would have been immense, but Gu La seemed unfazed. He jumped down from the tree and walked forward calmly.

Maintaining the illusion, he stepped into the sunlight, approached the male Ground Demon Bear, and condensed a rock spear to deliver the final blow to the thirty-thousand-year-old spirit beast.

The Ground Demon Bear's corpse emitted a soul power fluctuation. Gu La's eyes flickered slightly as the illusion crystal rapidly consumed energy to mask the fluctuation.

Disappointment flashed across the faces of the others as they turned toward the second moaning spirit beast.

The forest was still thick with the stench of blood, and the cold wind swept dead leaves across the desolate battlefield.

Shui Qianqiu's knuckles turned white as he stared at the fallen corpse of the second Ground Demon Bear. His lips twitched uncontrollably.

He clearly felt Elder Zhu's gaze pierce him like poisoned needles, making his neck tingle.

Damn it, blame him for bad luck? Your spirit beast didn't drop a soul bone either.

"This is truly bizarre."

Elder Zhu understood Shui Qianqiu's expression and shared his frustration. He stomped on the bear's skull, his sinister gaze sweeping over the three corpses. His black robes fluttered without wind.

Not a single soul bone dropped from slaying three ten-thousand-year spirit beasts—a probability akin to ants devouring an elephant. How could his mood be good?

Flender adjusted his skewed crystal glasses and bent down to pick up a broken bear claw. He rubbed the sharp tip with his fingertips, gesturing toward the Ground Demon Bear's chest, laughing heartily: "At least this bear bile can make a few good jars of wine."

Shui Qianqiu didn't move. The Shui Family, as one of the main cities of the Tendo Empire and the inheriting family of Sky Water City, had the Sky Water Academy to recruit talented commoners. He couldn't bring himself to scavenge materials from spirit beasts.

Of course, it also had to do with their incompatible attributes.

His peripheral vision remained locked on the Soul Emperor wearing deer skin gloves from the Star Luo squad.

Flender carefully stored the bear bile and followed Shui Qianqiu's gaze, his lips curling slightly: "Alright, let's not waste time. Let's sort out the spoils quickly so we can get back to business."

Upon hearing this, the Soul Emperor glanced at Elder Zhu. After receiving permission, he retrieved the storage soul-guiding device found near the Shadow Frost Crow's corpse.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, he extracted its contents.

Inside was a twenty-thousand-year-old torso bone of the Shadow Frost Crow, glowing with a dim light, along with several coins and spirit beast materials.

"A torso bone!"

Shui Qianqiu's eyes narrowed. It was an ice-attribute bird-type torso bone—an excellent match for the Shui Family.

Coincidentally, Elder Zhu also thought the dark-attribute torso bone suited him perfectly.

As their thoughts raced, they exchanged a subtle glance at Gu La, who was fusing the soul ring.

"Cough!"

Flender cleared his throat lightly, casually revealing the Mega Evolution device on his wrist. 

Shui Qianqiu's pupils contracted. How could he fail to recognize the Mega Evolution device that had stirred the world's waters?

But a mere Flender, a wandering soul master who'd luckily obtained a soul bone—where did he even get the Mega Evolution device made?

Elder Zhu also considered this point. His gaze shifted subtly toward Flender. Behind his carefree demeanor, there seemed to be a dense fog, obscuring clarity.

"Flender, you jest. We are all people of standing; none of us would renege on our word. Dividing the soul bone requires time. Why don't we sit and enjoy a cup of tea?"

Shui Qianqiu put on a gentle smile, pulling out a tea set, as if he hadn't just been ready to turn hostile moments ago.

Elder Zhu, a noble soul master capable of flexibility, laughed heartily: "Then today, I'll taste the fine tea of the Shui Family from Sky Water."

Flender chuckled softly, letting his sleeve fall to cover the Mega Evolution device, blocking everyone's eager and heated gazes.

Smiling warmly, he looked like a mild-mannered scholar. "Since Clan Leader Shui has kindly invited me, I won't refuse."

The three sat down, brewed tea, and began discussing various topics, chatting about everything under the heavens and the earth.

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