"Arrogant Plum Blossom in Frost!"
Tang Jingjing spun her umbrella. The paper umbrella, originally adorned with blue orchids, instantly transformed into white plum blossoms. As Tang Jingjing rotated the umbrella, a bone-chilling wind swept through the hall, coating the ground with a thin layer of white ice, causing the tree root monsters to move even more sluggishly.
Behind them, Zhang Hanshan manifested a phantom of purple-golden arms. Four hands, each holding a purple steel fork, charged headlong through the tree root monsters, attempting to break through to Guo Dahai.
With their coordinated efforts, most of the tree monsters were forced into a tight cluster, only to be eliminated by an RPG from the Supernatural Abilities Administration.
While these individuals were human before transforming into monsters, they ceased to be so after their transformation. They lacked even the consciousness of being killed, blindly obeying Guo Dahai's commands and relentlessly pressing forward.
Tao Tu, watching the approaching figures advance towards the high platform, maintained the [Heavenly Net] with one hand while turning to ask a nearby commander of the ability reaction team holding a shield, "How much ammunition do we have left?"
The commander flinched for a moment before replying, "Three micro spiritual energy cannon shells, half a box of spiritual energy magazines. The rest are still being tallied."
Tao Tu frowned, then her gaze fell upon Guo Dahai, who remained stable on the high platform, and the three flesh puppets behind him that had not transformed into tree root monsters. Sensing something was amiss, Tao Tu quickly surveyed the battlefield and discovered a detail that startled her:
All the blood and corpses had been absorbed by the tree root monsters, leaving behind only a brown carpet and shriveled bodies. Furthermore, when a tree root monster was defeated, the surrounding tree root monsters would immediately swarm it, absorbing it into a pile of decaying wood.
However... the tree monsters were not using the flesh and blood to recover from their injuries or for any other purpose as Tao Tu had guessed. Instead, they were storing it.
"This is bad... Guo Dahai is charging up a big move..." Tao Tu reacted to the abnormality immediately and urgently stated, "Mission primary objective changed: apprehend the target while preventing further casualties!"
But it was too late.
Guo Dahai seemed to realize that Tao Tu had figured out his plan. He stopped waiting and simply raised his hand. All the tree root monsters instantly turned into flying ash, while clusters of blood-red light rose and rapidly converged on Guo Dahai.
Zhang Hanshan also reacted instantly. A stream of karma fire ignited on his body, and he activated his three skills simultaneously, moving rapidly towards Guo Dahai. With the obstruction of the tree root monsters gone, he quickly approached Guo Dahai, who was undergoing transformation, and swung his flaming iron fist.
Clang!
A scene that astonished everyone unfolded.
A flesh puppet that had not transformed into a monster in the previous moment blocked Guo Dahai's path. Without using any supernatural abilities, it raised its arms and took the full force of the attack.
Fist met arm with a sound like colliding metal. Zhang Hanshan's expression changed. Just as he was about to follow up with another strike, another flesh puppet kicked him off the high platform.
Zhang Hanshan clutched his stomach as he rolled down, being caught by several members of the ability reaction team.
The three flesh puppets then also transformed into tree root monsters. However, they did not attack. Instead, they extended their branches, intertwining them to tightly shield Guo Dahai.
Guo Dahai continuously absorbed the bloody light clusters, his body gradually swelling. Blood-red patterns stretched across his skin, giving his face a slightly ferocious appearance.
"Hahaha... this familiar vitality..." Guo Dahai muttered to himself, driven to madness. "This is something that cannot be exchanged for devouring countless blood meals... hahahaha..."
Suddenly, Guo Dahai's mad expression shifted to one of pleading. He spoke towards a certain direction, "You have already resurrected, please leave my body and let me reincarnate..."
Then, Guo Dahai reverted to his mad state, a cold smile playing on his lips. He sneered at someone, "Want to leave? My death was all your doing. Your physical body, your soul, will suffer eternal torment with me! Hahahaha!—"
As he spoke, two dark dragon horns sprouted from Guo Dahai's head, piercing through the skin of his forehead. Fresh blood flowed down his face.
Scales, mane, claws, dragon whiskers, dragon tail... Guo Dahai's body gradually expanded, his aura steadily growing. Moans and wild laughter rang out simultaneously, creating an exceptionally bizarre and distorted spectacle.
Concurrently, outside the hall, Huiyang, who was organizing personnel, seemed to sense the frost plum. He glanced in the direction of the hall and murmured, "Dragon's might..."
Just as Guo Dahai entered his half-dragon, half-human state, his eyes suddenly bulged, and he vomited a mouthful of blood. His entire being weakened, and he collapsed powerlessly onto the ground.
Maintaining his half-dragon, half-human state, he looked back in disbelief. The colossal divine statue had cracked open, revealing its core as branches and shattered earth fell away.
"That's..." Zhang Hanshan exclaimed in disbelief, "Dragon bone?!"
Guo Dahai let out a strange cry. He hurriedly broke free from the protection of the tree root monsters and frantically began stuffing the scattered earth back onto the statue with his hands, seemingly intending to repair it.
But the statue eventually crumbled into white bones and a pile of yellow earth. A white light flew out from within, vanishing into Mo Chuan's brow in an instant.
"No! No! Why... Ao Xiu! Why did you leave me!" Guo Dahai's emotions completely broke down. More blood began to seep from his body, and a dark, serpentine form slowly emerged, akin to a snake shedding its skin.
Just as Tao Tu gave the order to fire, a bloody hand trembled as it grasped Guo Dahai's withered wrist. Mo Chuan directly activated [Hell's Curse], his eerie green eyes fixed on Guo Dahai. Blood coated his body, making him appear exceptionally terrifying. He pulled the stunned Guo Dahai closer and whispered, "How about that, surprised?"
Seeing the bewildered Guo Dahai, Mo Chuan burst into laughter. He then summoned his hook and lantern, smashing a lantern into Guo Dahai's face, sending him flying. He shouted, "You're the one called King Yama!?"
Before Guo Dahai could spit out his broken teeth, a sharp hook pierced his body and yanked him back. He met a pair of glowing green eyes, accompanied by a resentful voice, "You're the one called Guo Dahai?"
Then, Mo Chuan abandoned the hook entirely. He mounted Guo Dahai, unleashing a flurry of wild punches, battering Guo Dahai's face while shouting obscenities, "You damn bastard, you dare to talk conditions with me? And explain what a surprise is?! You really think I have no temper?!"
Everyone watched as Mo Chuan fought and cursed like a street brawler, leaving them momentarily unsure of what to do.