Douluo: Martial Soul of Lightning

"Roar... Roar..."

Despite taking Xiao Wu's full Eight-Stage Drop combo, the Shadow Nether Panther remained completely unscathed. However, her relentless assault had clearly enraged it.

A surge of pitch-black aura exploded from the Shadow Nether Panther's body as it launched itself at Xiao Wu with terrifying speed. Tang San, ever focused in battle, reacted instantly. The Blue Silver Grass coiled around Xiao Wu's waist tightened as he yanked her back out of danger.

Although Dai Mubai also noticed Xiao Wu's attack had failed to injure the spirit beast, he didn't hesitate. A blazing beam of white light erupted from his mouth, roaring toward the Shadow Panther. Now that Dai Mubai had broken through to the Spirit Ancestor rank, his attack power had significantly increased compared to when he was a Spirit Elder.

Boom! Boom!

The scorching beam of white light struck the Shadow Panther head-on. The black aura enveloping its body surged violently, resisting Dai Mubai's assault as it staggered several steps back.

At that exact moment, Zhu Zhuqing, who had been lying in wait, seized the opportunity. The instant the white light connected, she shot toward the Shadow Nether Panther with lightning speed. Her claws extended sharply, her movements accelerating further, her body cloaked in a dark energy eerily similar to the aura radiating from the Shadow Panther itself.

Her strike hit—clean and precise.

But strangely, instead of taking damage, the Shadow Panther's form shattered into fragments of black shadow, drifting gently to the ground like smoke.

Sensing something was wrong, Zhu Zhuqing didn't linger for even a second. She immediately retreated at high speed.

Sure enough, the scattered fragments of black shadow began to coalesce once more—this time splitting into nine distinct Shadow Panther clones.

"Not good... That's at least a nine-thousand-year-old Shadow Panther!" Yu Xiaogang's voice rang out anxiously from a distance.

The Shadow Nether Panther species possessed a unique racial talent: Shadow Clone. For every thousand years of cultivation, it could generate one shadow clone. Each clone retained at least fifty percent of the main body's strength. More importantly, even after creating these clones, the original's power remained unaffected.

By the ten-thousand-year mark, the nine shadow clones created would grow increasingly close in power to the original body. According to legend, a Shadow Nether Panther that reached one hundred thousand years could produce nine clones nearly identical in strength to its true form. However, no such creature had ever been confirmed to exist on the continent.

"Flender, can these kids really handle a nine-thousand-year spirit beast?" Yu Xiaogang asked, concern heavy in his voice.

In contrast, Flender remained calm. "Relax, Xiaogang. Even though it's a nine-thousand-year-old spirit beast, both Lin Jie and Mubai are Spirit Ancestors, and Zhuqing and Xiao Wu have all reached Rank 40. With Ning Rongrong's support, I trust they'll be fine. Besides, we're here too. If anything goes wrong, we'll intervene immediately. Think of it as part of their training."

Liu Erlong turned to Yu Xiaogang and said indifferently, "Xiaogang, you're underestimating Lin Jie. He's not nearly as simple as you think."

Though Lin Jie hadn't shown his full strength in front of her, Liu Erlong still understood his capabilities quite well.

Yu Xiaogang felt a little awkward at Liu Erlong's calm tone, though he couldn't say exactly why. Still, he nodded faintly.

Back in the fight, Lin Jie was also surprised upon seeing the nine identical clones. This was his first time encountering a spirit beast with clone-type abilities. And these weren't weak illusions—each clone retained half the strength of the original.

If he were here alone, handling the Shadow Panther would actually be easy. But Lin Jie clearly had no intention of using those things—his real trump cards. Those were for life-or-death moments, not sparring with a single spirit beast.

Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others had also heard Yu Xiaogang's warning. Their expressions grew tense. A nine-thousand-year-old beast—its strength rivaled that of a peak Spirit King, possibly even the level of a weaker Spirit Emperor!

Nine panthers. No numerical advantage on their side.

The team regrouped, all eyes falling on Lin Jie.

Lin Jie looked around at everyone and said, "Did you notice? These clones only have about half the strength of the original."

"Yeah, they definitely feel weaker," Dai Mubai nodded.

"We're outnumbered, and spirit beasts don't fight like humans in formation battles. We need to end this quickly. Tang San, I'll leave protecting Rongrong and Xiao Ao to you." Lin Jie turned to him.

"Got it. Don't worry," Tang San replied firmly.

"Then let's go all out this time." Lin Jie's voice grew sharper. "Zhuqing, Xiao Wu—you two take the three on the left. Dai Mubai, Fatty, you handle the right three. I'll take care of the middle. Rongrong, stay ready to support us at any time. Xiao Ao, have your sausages prepared."

"Lin Jie, isn't this a bit risky?" Dai Mubai glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, then back at Lin Jie.

Hearing this, Lin Jie replied calmly, "What, you don't trust your own strength? Or mine?"

Fair enough. Dai Mubai couldn't argue. Back when Lin Jie was only in his thirties level-wise, he could already beat Dai Mubai in solo combat. Now Lin Jie's Spirit Power had surpassed his own. If Lin Jie wanted to beat him again, it wouldn't be difficult.

"Alright, then. Let's give it everything we've got."

Though they'd exchanged many words, the team had already finished coordinating their roles in just a few seconds.

Now that the original Shadow Panther had split into nine clones, its power was naturally diluted.

Ning Rongrong's support ability hadn't even reached its peak yet. As everyone took one of Oscar's sausages, they charged straight toward the advancing Shadow Panther clones.

This wasn't the time for elaborate tactics. It was time to charge head-on.

Zhu Zhuqing's Eight Spider Lances sprang from her back, pulsing rhythmically as she shot toward the three panthers on the left. Xiao Wu followed right behind her—her third Spirit Ability, Teleportation, allowed her to instantly traverse up to a hundred meters. Perfect for sudden flanking.

Dai Mubai exchanged a glance with Ma Hongjun. These two had been goofing off together for so long, they could read each other like a book.

As for Lin Jie—dealing with three Shadow Panther clones was nothing to him. He hadn't had a proper fight since returning to Heaven Dou City. This would be a good warm-up.

Extending his right hand, Lin Jie clenched his fingers into a fist. A surge of blue-and-white lightning crackled to life in his palm. With a powerful step, he launched himself at the panthers like a bolt of lightning.

"Roar... Roar!"

The clones howled in fury, their dark forms flickering as they surrounded Lin Jie at high speed.

A smile curled on Lin Jie's lips. "Not bad, these spirit beasts are pretty fast. But too bad... you ran into someone even faster."

With nine-thousand-year cultivation, the Shadow Nether Panthers possessed a certain level of intelligence. Understanding his taunt, they all growled furiously in unison. Then, shrouded in dark mist, their claws slashed toward Lin Jie.

"Second Spirit Ability—Charm!"

"First Spirit Ability—Waist Bow!"

Bang! Bang!

Under the effects of Xiao Wu's Charm, one of the Shadow Panther clones was momentarily stunned, leaving it wide open as she unleashed a flurry of strikes.

"Hell Rush Stab!"

"Hell Hundred Claws!"

Zhu Zhuqing seized the moment, her attacks landing precisely on the immobilized clone.

Puff! Puff!

Thanks to Lin Jie's day-by-day enhancement and the effects of Immortal Herbs, Zhu Zhuqing's attack power had skyrocketed.

Under her assault, the Shadow Panther clone shattered, dissipating into wisps of dark shadow energy. Those remnants slowly drifted toward the remaining two clones, seemingly absorbed into their forms.