"No wonder it's a forty-thousand-year soul bone. Without defending with a spirit skill, even I was sent flying." Gu Ran steadied himself, eyes burning with desire for the Emperor Gold Elephant Soul Bone.

Huyan Li, seeing his attack succeed, was about to strike again—but suddenly, his whole body went numb, blood congealing, soul power unable to gather—Meng Yiran's poison had taken effect.

"Soul Bone Skill: Soul Lock Chain!" Gu Ran seized the chance, using Tian Lin's newly gifted soul bone. Chains of soul power bound Huyan Li, preparing a stronger attack.

"Fifth Spirit Skill: Phoenix Meteor Shower!"

But someone was faster—Ma Hongjun attacked. Tian Lin had said whoever killed Huyan Li would get the soul bone.

The Fire Phoenix's explosive power overcame the Diamond Mammoth's defense.

Diamonds on the mammoth were burned brittle, some even melting.

"How is this possible?" Huyan Li was shocked. His Diamond Mammoth had never feared fire.

Ordinary diamond melts at nearly 3,800°C; as a Soul King, his was over 5,000°C, yet he still couldn't block it.

Ever since taking the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Ma Hongjun's flames had been purified by medicine. With hard training, he might not have ultimate fire yet but was on the right path.

Feng Moheng tried to help Huyan Li, but Meng Yiran blocked him. She didn't care for the head bone anymore.

"Out of the way! Wind Sword—Storm Chapter!"

After years of training, Feng Moheng mastered the final chapter of Wind Sword. A downward slash brought a storm of slicing wind.

"Dragon-Serpent Staff Technique!" Meng Yiran, from a great clan, had her family staff techniques.

With her level lagging, she increased training, integrating her soul bone's poison enhancement into staff techniques, creating a new skill.

The essence: "Poison shocks heaven and earth, dragon god strikes, purple light flashes, golden snake bites."

Her staff swung, turning poison into a huge, hissing, glowing purple serpent rushing at Feng Moheng.

Under the storm sword, the snake was quickly chopped into pieces.

But the segments didn't vanish, instead forming many small snakes.

Splitting again and again, soon Feng Moheng was in a pit of ten thousand snakes.

"These snakes are formed from my soul power and poison—so long as I have soul power, you can't kill them all!" Meng Yiran laughed.

In terms of soul power, she and Feng Moheng were equal—except she had Ning Rongrong's boost. Ning Rongrong, now a rank 58 Soul King, could boost by sixty percent.

At this moment, Meng Yiran had real Soul Emperor-level strength.

"Take this—Venom Pool!"

Countless snakes swarmed, completely engulfing Feng Moheng. Oscar shivered at the horrible screams—if he ever angered Meng Yiran, what if she used this on him?

Feng Moheng was killed. The rest of the Elephant Armored Academy and black-clothed attackers were shot dead by Oscar's invisible squad. Only Huyan Li remained.

Huyan Li's diamond defense was almost completely melted by Ma Hongjun—he wouldn't last long.

Gu Ran and Ma Hongjun struck together to finish him.

In such a situation, either could land the final blow. Having followed Tian Lin for so long, Gu Ran had learned all his tricks.

He glanced at Ye Lingling, who smiled and winked.

Though Ma Hongjun was her friend, he wasn't as close as Gu Ran. She was going to help Gu Ran cheat.

Gu Ran slowed down a bit, letting Ma Hongjun attack first.

"Haha, the soul bone is mine! Fourth Spirit Skill: Phoenix Roar!" Ma Hongjun went all out.

Scorching magma erupted from the ground. Even a Soul Emperor wouldn't dare take it head-on.

But Huyan Li, bound hand and foot, couldn't escape.

"Ahhh!" Huyan Li screamed in agony.

"Done!" Ma Hongjun crowed.

"Are you sure? Look again." Gu Ran, surrounded by his Fifth Spirit Skill—Death Bones—pointed out Huyan Li wasn't dead.

Ma Hongjun was stunned. Huyan Li was still breathing, critically wounded but alive.

"What the—how is he not dead? Is he a cockroach?" Ma Hongjun wondered. He'd used up all his soul power.

Just then, he noticed flower petals in the air merging into Huyan Li.

"That's Nine-Hearted Begonia! Gu Ran, you're cheating with Sister Lingling!" He finally understood—Ye Lingling was using her spirit to keep Huyan Li alive.

With Nine-Hearted Begonia, it was almost impossible to die.

"Hehe, sorry, Fatty, this soul bone is mine. Death Bones, go!" Gu Ran attacked. Ye Lingling withdrew her healing, and Huyan Li was impaled by countless bones.

"Easy win!" Gu Ran struck a pose.

"Rongrong, you have to back me up! Gu Ran cheated!" Ma Hongjun protested to Ning Rongrong.

She looked troubled. Gu Ran's method was underhanded, but not cheating—claiming a kill was all about skill and using every resource.

"Alright, Fatty, the Emperor Gold Elephant Soul Bone suits me better. But I promise to get you another one in the future." Gu Ran offered.

"Really?" Ma Hongjun was skeptical—soul bones were hard to find.

"Hmph, I'm the boss's number one follower! When has the boss ever broken a promise? I won't let him lose face!"

Hearing this, Ma Hongjun finally let it go, pretending to be indifferent. "Fine, this time I admit defeat."

Seeing them reconcile, Ning Rongrong smiled, looking toward the mountain. "Sword Brother, we've wiped out all the attackers here. How are things on your side? You, Father, and the elders must all be safe!"