Mohan inwardly sneered, Your body is so tough, but I don't believe your head is armored as hard as your torso. Let’s see how you handle this. Yet, just then, the Skeleton Spirit’s massive jaws gaped open, and it spat forth a crimson orb of magic, hurtling directly toward Mohan’s chest.

Startled, Mohan desperately tried to evade, but the distance was too short. Caught completely off guard, dodging was impossible. He had no choice but to focus all his Dou Qi onto his chest, bracing to endure the blow. The impact sent him flying backward, and his offensive strike aimed at the Skeleton Spirit's head dissolved uselessly.

Although Mohan relied on his protective Dou Qi to avoid any substantial injury from being blasted away, the sheer force churned his internal energy, causing his chest to heave with suppressed energy. He silently counted himself lucky; only because his Dou Qi level had recently advanced was he able to withstand that hastily prepared defense. Had he been even slightly weaker, that strike might not have killed him, but it certainly would have wounded him deeply.

Simultaneously, Mohan felt a fierce, whistling sound—the rush of weapons tearing through the air—coming from behind and to his sides. He knew the other two Skeleton Spirits were capitalizing on his momentary vulnerability, aiming for an easy kill.

Thinking this, Mohan let out a cold laugh internally. He whipped around, unleashing a torrent of Dou Qi toward his back. This time, Mohan had infused his own research—an elemental wind infusion—into his Dou Qi. Its speed instantly escalated, and its destructive power surged significantly, carrying him directly in front of the Skeleton Spirit attempting the sneak attack from behind.

The attacking Skeleton Spirit was completely unprepared for this counter. It was struck squarely by Mohan's Dou Qi, now laced with magical energy, and was immediately sent hurtling away. Immediately afterward, Mohan swung his sword to deflect the advance of the third Skeleton Spirit attacking from the flank.

He had effortlessly nullified his crisis.

By then, the Skeleton Spirit Mohan had first struck had already returned, but where its black armor had been pristine, there was now a white streak, and alarmingly, a visible crack. It was clear that Mohan’s integrated attack—the fusion of magic and Dou Qi—had inflicted real damage.

Witnessing this, the mysterious shadowy figure revealed a rare flicker of surprise in his tone. "Boy, what kind of Dou Qi was that just now? It seems different from any Dou Qi I’ve witnessed before. Both the speed and destructive capacity have increased considerably. How did you achieve that?" Evidently, the mysterious figure recognized the unusual nature of Mohan’s power, yet even racking his brain wouldn't lead him to guess that Mohan had incorporated magic into his Dou Qi to amplify its power.

But how could Mohan reveal such a secret to his enemy?

As expected, Mohan scoffed, replying, "Want to know? I'll tell you next year on your death anniversary. Stop wasting your effort."

Hearing this, the mysterious figure spoke calmly, "Boy, don't imagine you can defeat my Skeleton Spirits with those bizarre tricks of yours. You are merely dreaming."

With those words, the mysterious man directed a beam of black light toward the three Skeleton Spirits, which instantly merged into their bodies. The red glow in the eyes of the three creatures brightened considerably—clearly, their power had been boosted.

"Boy, this is the true strength of the Skeleton Spirits. Enjoy it slowly, hehehe…" the mysterious figure chuckled triumphantly.

The three Skeleton Spirits immediately charged Mohan again, their speed vastly increased. Seeing this, Mohan dared not be careless. He leaped to evade their onslaught while simultaneously pushing his own Dou Qi to its absolute limit, the wind-infused energy surging furiously toward the trio.

Although the three Skeleton Spirits were faster after the dark figure's enhancement, they were still struck repeatedly by Mohan’s dense torrent of Dou Qi. Significant cracks now riddled their black armor, causing the cloaked figure watching nearby intense distress. These three creatures were his trump cards, painstakingly trained over a long period. To see them beaten this way filled him with both shock and fury.

The mysterious figure’s hands began to move rapidly, chanting an incantation. A cluster of black spheres materialized before him. With a sudden roar, "Shadow Orbs!" the numerous black spheres flew toward Mohan under the figure's precise control.

Under the dark figure’s direction, the Shadow Orbs expertly maneuvered around the Skeleton Spirits, targeting Mohan directly. This immediately intensified the pressure on Mohan. These black spheres were clearly not to be trifled with; Mohan had no desire to be struck by them. Given the dark figure’s repertoire of bizarre artifacts, who knew what dire consequences a hit might bring?

At this point, Mohan abandoned all restraint. He swiftly pulled a Magic Orb given to him by Mo Xiuyi from his robes and crushed it instantly. The high-level Water Guard Magic, 'Azure Water Aegis,' immediately enveloped him in protection. All the Shadow Orbs slammed harmlessly against the barrier.

The mysterious dark figure was astonished. "Boy, I didn't expect you to possess so many treasures! Even a Magic Orb! That exceeds my expectations. It seems you are truly not simple. I wonder if there are any other surprises you haven't revealed yet."

As the shadow spoke, the three Skeleton Spirits halted their attack, standing still.

Seeing this, Mohan smiled faintly. "You don't seem short on treasures yourself. We are equals in that regard."

The dark figure nodded at this. "How about we strike a deal? I can't subdue you right now, and you certainly can't kill me. On this Dragon Ascent Continent, experts like us are rarer than phoenix feathers. If you agree to cooperate with me, we can set aside our past grievances and work together to conquer the entire continent. Wouldn't that be better? We could split the continent between us?" Mohan responded with a cold laugh, "Oh, you expect me to believe a word you say? What guarantee do you offer for your promise? The trustworthiness of you Necromancers, I hardly need to elaborate on, do I?"

The mysterious dark figure was secretly elated, believing Mohan was tempted. He quickly pressed on, "Naturally. Once you join my ranks, I can establish a Soul Pact with you. If either of us breaks the oath, we are doomed to a terrible end. That should reassure you, boy. I see you as truly promising talent, which is why I offer this partnership. You should consider it carefully."

Under the protection of the 'Azure Water Aegis,' Mohan slowly channeled his Dou Qi to glide back to the ground, landing beside Xiao Mo and the others. He maintained his calm demeanor. "And what benefits do I receive? You expect me to sell my service for mere empty promises? You are calculating things too finely." The dark figure bristled slightly. "Then what do you want? Tell me what terms you propose."

In truth, the mysterious dark figure was uncertain he could definitively defeat Mohan, given the sheer quantity of treasures the boy possessed. Coupled with Mohan’s endless supply of strange tactics and the Light Saint Sword, even if he managed to eliminate Mohan, his three Skeleton Spirits would certainly be destroyed. These were key assets for his future conquest of the continent; losing them now would be too great a cost. This is why the dark figure had humbled himself to propose cooperation—it was his greatest concession. Yet, Mohan maintained an utterly unimpressed attitude, which fueled the figure's growing anger.

Mohan remained unruffled. "Wait, give me some time to consider. This is a major decision, and you wouldn't want me to agree rashly, would you?"

The dark figure could only nod reluctantly. "You had better be quick. I don't have endless time to waste with you."

The Skeleton Warriors on the ground also ceased their attacks, and a momentary quiet settled over the area. Inside the protective barrier, Mohan finally allowed a true smile to grace his lips. Protected by the barrier, he slowly turned and drew the Staff of the Sacred Dragon from his spatial ring.

This Staff of the Sacred Dragon was the super staff once wielded by Mo Xiuyi—a true Divine Artifact. Legend held that its shaft was forged from the bones of a Dragon Clan member, and the embedded magic crystals were said to be the crystallized hearts of deceased dragons. It was the only staff among the continent's Ten Great Divine Artifacts. Mo Xiuyi had used this staff to vanquish countless foes, earning renown as the revered Saint Magister across the continent.

Mohan rarely used it, partly due to lack of opportunity, and partly because Mo Xiuyi had warned him: over-reliance on an artifact’s power, while offering temporary boosts to cultivation, would cause one's inherent actual strength to stagnate. Therefore, Mohan had refrained from using it until now.

Leaping up—