Chapter 305: Thunder

This was no practice fight; they were giving it their all from the get-go.

Mo Tong channeled all his soul power, his aura so intense it seemed capable of splitting the heavens and earth. The Titan Axe in his hand blazed with golden light, briefly eclipsing the rising sun, like a brilliant meteor streaking down from the heavens.

"Die!"

He roared!

The black eyes behind the iron mask flickered, and the HexSky Mace, previously dragging on the ground, was suddenly lifted.

A thunderous crash!

A terrifying collision erupted, sending a massive shockwave rippling outward.

Mo Tong's dual strike was forcefully blocked!

The intense soul power clashed between the Titan Axe and the HexSky Mace. Caesar Mo planted his right leg firmly on the ground, his body leaning slightly back.

Mahoraga's strength was legendary, and wielding a single mace was a bit too cocky. A fierce glint flashed in Caesar Mo's eyes as he dropped his left shoulder slightly, his body leaning forward diagonally before gripping the HexSky Mace with both hands.

"Roar!"

Blue light shot from the eye holes of his steel mask as a terrifying force burst forth. The power of the HexSky Mace doubled, sending Mo Tong, who was resisting it, flying.

Tumbling...

Mo Tong somersaulted a dozen times in the air before landing firmly, his eyes alight with excitement. This was the first time someone had outmatched him in raw strength.

A deafening crash!

The moment he landed, he sprang forward, barely pausing as he charged and changed direction in a flash, closing the gap. The Titan Axe transitioned from a slash to a crushing blow.

On the other side, Caesar Mo stepped forward instead of back, the HexSky Mace sweeping out horizontally.

Boom!

The two colossal forces clashed once more, the terrifying shockwaves sending leaves raining down around them. This time, neither of the two titans gave ground, immediately locking into a fierce battle.

Honestly, the hero of the land had a point. Mo Tong's ranking might not be top-tier, but he was a true force to be reckoned with, definitely underestimated in Hei Wukai's shadow.

He panted heavily...

Mo Tong's breathing was deep and heavy, like a bull's, a signature of Mahoraga's Hundred Breaths Combat Technique. His muscles rippled as his axe swings grew faster and faster, as if a dozen axes were striking at once: "Chop! Chop chop chop!"

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The relentless clang of metal was deafening, visible shockwaves rippling outward, shaking the surrounding trees without pause.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Caesar Mo left deep footprints with each step, his iron tower-like body causing the ground to tremble violently with each landing. It wasn't just his own strength; he was also redirecting Mo Tong's attacks into the ground.

The manipulation of soul power, the true mastery of strength, might manifest differently, but it was always filled with skill.

In just a short one or two minutes of combat, the small clearing of a few dozen square meters was already cracked and shattered, and the damage continued to spread outward.

Caesar Mo's speed seemed slightly slower than Mo Tong's, being overwhelmed by Mo Tong's rapid strikes, the relentless barrage of the Titan Axe pressing him, seemingly at a disadvantage. But upon closer inspection, his defense was too solid, so solid that Mo Tong felt he hadn't truly pressured Caesar Mo. The advantage was merely maintained through the continuous offensive of the Titan Axe.

Because Caesar Mo was stronger than him! It was astonishing that someone could surpass Mahoraga in strength. After all, if it were purely a contest of strength, even Hei Wukai would find it hard to beat Mo Tong.

But Caesar Mo pulled it off.

Each seemingly awkward swing of the HexSky Mace forced Mo Tong to parry with two or even three swings of his axe.

Both fighters were fierce and robust, yet with subtle differences. Mo Tong's ferocity was marked by agility, with Mahoraga's close combat skills being top-notch, where small movements and techniques were second nature.

In contrast, Caesar Mo's ferocity was steady and unyielding, like a towering mountain or an endless ocean, standing unshaken no matter the storm.

One attacked to defend, the other defended to counter.

"Whoosh! Kill! Kill! Kill!" Mo Tong, driven by his primal instincts, had already torn off his clothes, revealing his muscles, bulging like a bull's.

And his breathing, like rolling thunder, with each breath, his soul power shifted slightly, enhancing Mo Tong's speed and strength.

This was the climax of his Hundred Breaths Combat Technique, Mo Tong's eyes gleamed with intensity, his skin flushed a deep crimson, though his strength was slightly less, his speed was overwhelmingly dominant, seemingly suppressing Caesar Mo.

Caesar Mo's eyes turned icy as the fight progressed. Mahoraga's ranking wasn't high, but his strength was truly fearsome. Normally, he might have wanted to gauge his opponent's skill, but they were in the Soul Illusion Realm.

The battle was too noisy, lasting over five minutes would likely draw other masters, bringing too many unknowns.

It was time to finish this fast!

A sinister light flashed in Caesar Mo's eyes as he locked gazes with Mo Tong.

Boom!

Mo Tong felt the surroundings suddenly darken, and he uncontrollably fell into a strange space.

The surroundings were dim, as if void.

Before he could react, his hands felt light, his body felt cold...

Mo Tong was stunned, he found himself instantly stripped naked, not a thread on him, the Titan Axe nowhere to be seen...

What the hell is this?!

"The Origin Soul Realm, your grave!"

A hoarse voice, this was the first time Mo Tong heard Caesar Mo's voice.

Immediately, fully armored Caesar Mo appeared before him, raising the HexSky Mace high and smashing it down!

Mo Tong, shocked, ignored his nakedness and frantically retreated, but after only one step, he felt he hit an invisible air wall, blocking him.

By then, the HexSky Mace was already descending upon his head, Mo Tong had nowhere to retreat, nowhere to dodge, could only raise his arms to meet it.

Boom!

The terrifying force, no matter how strong the flesh, could not compare to the hardness of the HexSky Mace.

An almost breaking pain shot through his arms, the massive impact forced Mo Tong to his knees.

Kneeling to dissipate the force, Mo Tong rolled to the left in pain, but was immediately met with a steel-like foot.

Mo Tong instinctively raised his arms to block, but his just-injured arms couldn't withstand the terrifying weight.

Boom!

The blocking arms were directly pressed down, and his chest took a heavy blow.

Crunch, crunch, crunch!

Mo Tong heard the sound of his ribs breaking, his internal organs were instantly damaged, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out.

His eyes widened; the opponent's attack didn't seem much more powerful than before, but the terrifying part was that his Hundred Breaths Combat Technique seemed ineffective here!

This wasn't the real world; this was...

"This is the world of souls, a battle of souls!"

Caesar Mo's eerie, hoarse voice echoed. With a swing of the HexSky Mace, he easily struck the barely-standing Mo Tong. His entire back felt like it was shattered, and Mo Tong was violently hurled several meters away, hitting the invisible air wall on the other side, and then thudded back to the ground.

Secret Technique: Origin Soul Realm!

This is the domain of souls. Those pulled in have excellent souls, quite similar to each other.

The issue is, upon first entry, you simply can't adapt to this soul-dominated combat environment like Caesar Mo. The Hundred Breaths Combat Technique failing is entirely normal. Without it, Mo Tong's strength was greatly diminished. Besides, this is a soul realm created by Caesar Mo. Here, he was armed, while his opponent was not.

The entire space was just ten meters square. With the HexSky Mace and relentless punches and kicks, Mo Tong was purely defensive, almost unable to fight back.

Caesar Mo was equally frustrated; this guy's endurance was simply beyond imagination. It seemed like one strike would end it, but he held on for a full half minute!

Boom!

Another heavy mace strike, and Mo Tong spat blood again, hammered away. This time, he wasn't stopped by the invisible air wall and was directly flung out.

The dim surroundings suddenly lit up, and Mo Tong's body flew like a broken kite, falling unconscious into the bushes.

The Origin Soul Realm couldn't last forever; half a minute was its limit. But Mo Tong should have reached his limit too. To endure half a minute of my beating, Mahoraga's iron bones are well-deserved!

The Eight Tribes' badge must not be lost.

A sinister light flashed in Caesar Mo's pupils as he strode forward to catch up. But just as he approached the bushes, three black objects suddenly flew out. What the hell?

Caesar Mo's pupils slightly contracted, instinctively swinging the HexSky Mace to intercept. But just as the mace touched the three black objects.

Boom!

A terrifying explosion, the massive shockwave directly blew Caesar Mo's large body away, sending him flying backward seven or eight meters, the back of his head hitting the ground heavily, instantly dizzy and almost suffocating.

Skyburst Grenade?!!

…………

In the jungle, a white figure was carrying two people, running wildly.

Its speed was extremely fast, like a white lightning bolt.

Huff, huff, huff...

The heavy breathing wasn't from Mo Tong, but from the Snow Wolf King.

After breakfast, Old Wang had routinely sent out the ice bees for surveillance, and also dispatched two or three to scout around the Spore Forest, hoping to run into Old Hei by chance.

But unexpectedly, instead of seeing Old Hei, he saw Mo Tong, who had just confronted Caesar Mo.

Old Wang was also shocked. After all, the opponent was one of the top three experts from the War Academy. Estimating that Mo Tong was likely no match, he quickly summoned the Snow Wolf King and rode over at full speed, just in time to save Mo Tong's life.

The three Skyburst Grenades really did their job. The close-range explosion was devastating, but Caesar Mo was decked out in heavy armor, so it was unlikely to kill him. As Old Wang caught Mo Tong, he hurled the grenades and bolted, using the Snow Wolf King's speed to race over ten miles in one go.

By then, they were long gone from the scene where Mo Tong and Caesar Mo had clashed. With no sounds of pursuit, Old Wang's racing heart finally started to calm.

Looking down, he saw that Mo Tong in his arms was deathly pale. Each leap of the Snow Wolf King made Mo Tong grimace, nearly suffocating.

They were surrounded by a dense forest, still a ways off from Old Wang's hideout. But with Mo Tong in such bad shape, they couldn't keep running.

Old Wang pulled up short, spotting a hidden thicket. He helped Mo Tong down from the Snow Wolf King, laying him flat, then fished out a life-saving potion from his pocket.

But Mo Tong's eyes were shut tight, his jaw clenched shut.

Old Wang had to slap Mo Tong's face hard: "Junior brother! Junior brother!"

The pain seemed to jolt him awake, and Mo Tong's teeth suddenly unclenched, letting out a heavy breath.

He gasped, eyes still shut, but he seemed to recognize Old Wang's voice.

"Drink this," Old Wang tipped the potion into his mouth.

Mo Tong swallowed hard, his breathing steadying a bit. With effort, he weakly pointed to his chest.

Old Wang smacked his forehead.

What potion beats Mahoraga's healing elixir?

He opened Mo Tong's clothes and pulled out the familiar small bottle.

The Spirit Jade Ointment worked both inside and out. Old Wang gave him a dose, then stripped him down.

Damn, Old Wang winced at the sight—it was brutal!

Half his chest was caved in, ribs shattered. His right arm was a mess, the left worse—forearm mangled, bone jutting through skin.

Thankfully, there was Old Wang...

Setting the bones, aligning them—Old Wang wasn't a professional, his methods were rough, causing Mo Tong to sweat profusely from the pain. But Mo Tong was tough, gritting his teeth without a single groan.

The method was correct, and roughness had its benefits. Old Wang quickly applied large amounts of Spirit Jade Ointment, then cut two hard branches from the nearby thicket to make a simple splint for the broken forearm.

The Spirit Jade Ointment had a strong numbing and pain-relieving effect. With both internal and external application, by the time Old Wang finished, Mo Tong's pain had significantly lessened. His spirit seemed to relax slightly, then his head tilted, and he passed out.

"Junior brother? Junior brother? Wake up?" Old Wang slapped his face again, but this time Mo Tong was truly unconscious and didn't wake. However, checking his breathing, it seemed much steadier than before.

It seemed his life was saved.

Old Wang wiped the sweat from his forehead, about to relax, but then faced another dilemma. The broken bones in Mo Tong's chest and arm had just been set. No matter how miraculous the Spirit Jade Ointment was, moving immediately was out of the question.

But if they didn't move, just sitting there together in the open?

When using the ice bees for reconnaissance earlier, he knew this jungle wasn't as peaceful as the spore forest where he had hidden. Many disciples from both sides frequented it, and battles were frequent. If the War Academy discovered a tail-end 500th ranker and a severely injured 30th ranker together, they would be the most tempting targets!

As for the Skyburst Grenades, they were good for surprise and intimidation, but for direct confrontation, they were lacking, especially against true experts. Unless the opponent stood still foolishly, letting you blast them to death... but was that possible?

Damn it, no choice but to execute the second plan.

Old Wang carefully propped up the half-paralyzed Mo Tong into a sleeping position.

Then it was his turn to prepare.

He donned Hei Wukai's mask, strapped the Yecha Wolf Fang Sword to his waist, and slipped into a loose robe that looked like pajamas. Then he sprawled out on the tree branch!

Damn, it looked just like the Eight Tribes taking a group nap!

Hopefully, no one would come and ruin their peace...

The Snow Wolf King had already been stashed. Old Wang lay flat on the treetop, breathing steadily, though his mind was uneasy.

The disguise was perfect, but his confidence wasn't the same as yesterday. Yesterday, he had a clear mission to intimidate, but today was full of unknowns. Who knew if he'd bump into some fearless maniac or face off against a master like Caesar Mo? That would be a total disaster.

This whole thing was... oh right, Caesar Mo!

Old Wang's mind raced, and as he feigned sleep, his consciousness linked with the nearby ice bees.

The fifty ice bees had shifted their positions. Most were patrolling the area, while a few stealthily moved toward where Mo Tong and Caesar Mo had fought.

Buzz, buzz, buzz...

The ice bees patrolled, their wings fluttering softly.

The area was far less peaceful than the spore forest. In that short time, Old Wang had already spotted three or four groups from the War Academy, along with a few Holy Sanctuary disciples. Some passed by and noticed Old Wang and his companion, but the sight of Hei Wukai resting made them retreat instantly, too scared to come closer.

The ice bees fanned out and soon reached the spot where Mo Tong and Caesar Mo had clashed.

Caesar Mo, however, was nowhere in sight. Instead, they saw the two Holy Sanctuary disciples who had been with Mo Tong earlier, peeking around suspiciously.

Old Wang finally let out a sigh of relief.

The ice bees had scoured the area thoroughly, not just a few, but covering a broad range. It seemed the enemy hadn't given chase.

No top-tier experts from the War Academy were nearby. As for the lesser threats, Hei Wukai's reputation was enough to keep them at bay. It seemed they were safe for now...

Caesar Mo hadn't pursued. Instead, he was recuperating. In fact, he wasn't as composed as Old Wang had thought.

Mo Tong wasn't a pushover. Their brief fight was intense every second. Even with his demon armor, Mahoraga's divine power had left his limbs feeling weak. Plus, activating the origin soul realm secret technique had taken a toll on Caesar Mo.

More importantly, he hadn't expected three Skyburst Grenades to be thrown out from the bushes!

Honestly, masters generally didn't fear things like Skyburst Grenades too much. After all, they were external objects. Their power was great, but the premise was that you had to hit the target. In a direct fight, who would be foolish enough to stand there and get hit by a Skyburst Grenade? These things cost two to three hundred thousand each. If you missed, that's two to three hundred thousand down the drain. Who could afford that? Besides, if you encountered someone skilled in subtle techniques, they could just flick it back at you, and you'd be the one losing out.

Flashy but impractical, and ridiculously expensive.

It was just some Holy Sanctuary disciples. Who would have thought someone would throw Skyburst Grenades like they were beans? And shamelessly, three at once!

The shockwave from the explosion wasn't too bad. After all, he was clad in demon armor with exceptional defense. The Skyburst Grenades couldn't kill him; they couldn't even crack his shell. But the problem was...

Could you imagine the pain of being in a metal barrel and enduring such an explosion up close?

It left him dizzy, his eardrums almost shattered!

Now that he had finally recovered, a fierce glint flashed in Caesar Mo's dark eyes. He stood up, his pitch-black pupils overflowing with dark energy.

Don't let me catch that bastard who threw the Skyburst Grenades. If he falls into my hands, I'll tear him to pieces.

And that Mahoraga kid. The Steel Demon's subordinates never leave survivors, and Mahoraga won't be an exception. Of course, more importantly, killing the small fry might attract the big fish!

A cold, sinister light flickered in his eyes.

That Yecha tribe's Hei Wukai!

Hehe, among the five hundred Holy Sanctuary disciples, only Hei Wukai and the top-ranked Ye Dun are the most interesting targets to me.