This volume's "Blood Shadow Puppet" should be "Blood Shadow Dharma Idol"; I mistakenly used the former earlier, only realizing it now.

My apologies to everyone.

Since I’ve mentioned it, I won't waste the opportunity, and I’ll ask again for recommendation votes—if the weekly count reaches one thousand, there will be an immediate bonus chapter! ^^ "Th-this..." Yuan Ru’s lips trembled slightly, his smile freezing on his face.

He split his Dharma Idol in two: one half remained within his body, the other transformed into the "Azure Water Celestial Dragon," a massive dragon whose very body contained nearly all of his divine power.

He thought that after swallowing Nie Kong, victory was assured, but he soon discovered that the squeezing and binding force of his divine power caused Nie Kong absolutely no harm.

Instead, a mere flip from Nie Kong sent the giant dragon crashing to the ground.

How could this be? Yuan Ru stood frozen, utterly unable to comprehend.

Nie Kong had only just passed the First Spiritual Tribulation as an Illusionary Spirit Master, still very far from the Spirit God realm.

Yet, how could he withstand the divine power of a Spirit God without yielding in the slightest? "Screeech!" A piercing tearing sound echoed as a fissure suddenly split open along the dragon's spine.

Nie Kong’s body, now restored to its original state, stood up from within the rupture. "It feels truly incredible after passing the Second Spiritual Tribulation!" Nie Kong laughed loudly, unconcerned with those around him, instantly revealing an overwhelmingly potent aura. "The Second Spiritual Tribulation! You actually passed the Second Spiritual Tribulation!" Yuan Ru awoke as if from a dream, shock blooming in his eyes.

Compared to before, Nie Kong's aura had increased at least tenfold.

The instant he felt this power, even Yuan Ru, a Spirit God, felt a slight tremor in his heart—a primal sense of dread. "Nie Kong, what exactly are you cultivating?" Nie Kong smiled faintly. "I call it 'Chaotic Divine Power.'" "Chaotic...

Divine Power?" Yuan Ru murmured the name, and a distant legend suddenly surfaced from the depths of his consciousness.

He started in shock, staring at Nie Kong with horrified eyes. "Chaotic Divine Power?" "Surprised, aren't you?" Nie Kong glanced at him mockingly. "Taishu Yan's Fire Vulture Dharma Idol helped me pass the First Spiritual Tribulation; Zhuang Yu's Lightning Sword Dharma Idol helped me pass the Second Spiritual Tribulation.

To pass the Third Spiritual Tribulation in one go, I still need at least two more Spirit God Dharma Idols.

Coincidentally, there are two suitable Spirit Gods right here today!" "Old fellow, haven't you always been yelling at me not to run? I'm granting your wish now!" As he finished speaking, Nie Kong's expression darkened, and he savagely thrust his right arm into the body of the giant dragon. "Roar!" Yuan Ru sensed the connection, and the giant dragon roared in response, its body struggling violently.

Forcing down the shock brought by the 'Chaotic Divine Power,' Yuan Ru’s hands danced rapidly in the void.

The giant dragon immediately responded to his summons, turning its head to approach him.

Then, starting from the dragon’s head, it began to dissolve into streams of azure light, pouring back into Yuan Ru’s body. "Trying to take it back? Not a chance!" Nie Kong sneered coldly.

Centered on his right arm, threads of Chaotic Divine Power spread out like a spiderweb in all directions.

In the blink of an eye, the majority of the remaining dragon body was covered in dense, white filaments, some of which followed the azure light into Yuan Ru’s own form. "Contract!" Nie Kong roared, twisting his right arm, causing the Chaotic Divine Power to rapidly constrict.

The immensely large dragon body shrank in an instant to the thickness of an infant's arm, held tightly in Nie Kong's right palm.

The neck and head of this small dragon had already pierced into Yuan Ru’s chest, while the rest of its body thrashed wildly.

A look of fierce determination flashed in Yuan Ru’s eyes.

The dragon body snapped where it met his chest, and he twisted his form, shooting away toward the west.

He was escaping! A dignified Spirit God expert from the Grandmist Heavenly Mansion was choosing to flee from an Illusionary Spirit Master who had only passed the Second Spiritual Tribulation! If this news got out, he would become the laughingstock of the entire Divine Void Realm, mocked by the Spirit Gods even when he crossed the Boundary Gate into the "Grand Sovereign Spirit Realm" early next year.

But now, he couldn't afford to care.

He had an increasingly strong premonition: if he didn't escape quickly, he might very well have his Dharma Idol ripped out by Nie Kong, becoming the catalyst for Nie Kong to pass the Third Spiritual Tribulation! Losing about thirty percent of his Dharma Idol versus losing all of it—he had no hesitation in choosing the former.

Losing the Dharma Idol was worse than death.

He absolutely would not allow himself to sink to the fate of Taishu Yan and Zhuang Yu, so he could only run.

Abandoning Marquis Wu felt slightly disloyal, but he had only come to help.

Nie Kong had already taken the "Grand Void Divine Water," and he absolutely could not sacrifice himself too.

As for Marquis Wu, he could only fend for himself. "Thinking of leaving now? Too late!" Nie Kong chuckled, his figure suddenly merging with the void. "Whoosh!" Like a wisp of smoke, Yuan Ru instantly traveled nearly a thousand meters.

He dared not use direct space-crossing techniques anymore, highly vigilant after Zhuang Yu's precedent.

His steps didn't falter, and in another moment, several thousand meters had passed.

Yuan Ru felt a flicker of doubt—he couldn't sense Nie Kong’s aura at all.

Had he not pursued? While speeding away, Yuan Ru couldn't help but glance back.

He saw a spectral, familiar silhouette appear silently behind him.

The distance between them was less than a meter.

The instant their gazes met, he could even see the mocking amusement in Nie Kong's eyes. "Nie Kong!" Yuan Ru's heart trembled violently, an icy chill running down his spine, accompanied by a sudden feeling of sheer terror. "Come out!" Nie Kong stretched out his arm, his palm pressed against Yuan Ru’s back.

Guided by the power that had previously slipped into his body, the terrifyingly immense Chaotic Divine Power poured out, rushing madly into Yuan Ru's form, instantly binding his Water Dragon Dharma Idol and pulling it outward.

Yuan Ru's face turned ashen with horror.

He shot forward, surging his own profound divine power from the Dharma Idol to break free from the Chaotic Divine Power's restraint. "Nie Kong, stop! Release my Dharma Idol, and I will grant any condition you name, even lending you the 'Grandmist Heavenly Tome' to examine." "The Grandmist Heavenly Tome?" Nie Kong did not stop his actions, sneering, "That thing is useless to me.

With your Water Dragon, plus Marquis Wu’s Fire Cauldron—the Dharma Idols of two Spirit Gods—water and fire in harmony will be enough for me to pass the Third Spiritual Tribulation and achieve Spirit God status.

Old fellow, accept your fate, you cannot escape!" Feeling the Dharma Idol continuing to move outward from his body, Yuan Ru grew even more panicked. "You...

you...

Nie Kong, I am Du Jian's master! You are Du Jian's friend!" "Trying to pull strings now? When you came with Marquis Wu and the others, why didn't you think about me being Du Jian's friend?" Nie Kong sneered dismissively, suddenly exerting force with his right palm.

A cyan dragon head was yanked out of Yuan Ru’s body, roaring continuously, attempting to retract back inside. "Nie Kong, you are too cruel! I'll fight you to the death!" Despair flared in Yuan Ru’s eyes.

He stopped fleeing immediately, a strangely violent and terrifying aura churning out from within him, seemingly intent on pulverizing everything around them into dust.

Nie Kong was not startled; instead, he laughed. "Trying to burn your soul for a mutual kill? Dream on!" As he spoke, a perfectly round water sphere abruptly leaped out of the pet backpack.

Nie Kong flipped his palm and slapped this mass of "Grand Void Divine Water" directly onto Yuan Ru’s head.

…… ……RO