With his right hand, Dugu Yunshan punched the bone claw, shattering it into bone powder. Propelled by Deng Feihong's full power, the Chuan Yun Boots carried them forward, fleeing.
"Still trying to run?" Mud surged into the sky ahead, and a black figure appeared.
The Lu Xi Giant, wielding a long whip, blocked their path. This long whip, named Wave Breaker, was made from an entire python skin.
"Heh heh," the Lu Xi Giant let out two ghostly laughs, "Seeing you all scurrying around the swamp in a panic, I set a small ambush, and I didn't expect to actually catch you." Their Head Chess was that Caizhu. It was also he who released the Grinding Ghost.
Behind Qian Duoduo and the others were a Star-Burst Crocodile and a Spirit Water Python.
"Smack, smack," the Lu Xi Giant swung its long whip fiercely, completely sealing off their escape route.
The raindrops from the whip landed in the swamp and lake, making the Star-Burst Crocodile and Spirit Water Python even more irritated. Their bodies grew a size larger, and they pressed closer to them.
Falling into a three-sided encirclement so quickly was something Qian Duoduo and the others hadn't anticipated.
"Charge through from the Spirit Water Python's side," Qian Duoduo said to everyone with his Spiritual Awareness.
Qian Duoduo consecutively threw three Wolf Fang Black Iron Hammers at the Spirit Water Python, exploding them and making it unable to open its eyes. Qian Duoduo and the others swept over its head. With his right hand, Dugu Yunshan took out the Gilt Light Mirror and aimed it at the Lu Xi Giant.
A golden light instantly illuminated the swampy sky, striking the Lu Xi Giant's head before it could dodge.
"Hiss," like hot iron juice falling into cold water, a wisp of smoke rose from the Lu Xi Giant's head, followed by a deep gasp.
The Gilt Light Mirror had a restraining effect on Cultivators of ghost-demon nature. This attack should have injured the Caizhu.
The sudden strong light also startled the Spirit Water Python and the Star-Burst Crocodile. The Spirit Water Python immediately burrowed into the mud and disappeared. The Star-Burst Crocodile floated on the lake, coldly observing the situation.
The injured Lu Xi Giant did not retreat but counterattacked, its figure suddenly accelerating as it pursued Qian Duoduo and the others.
In the swamp, nine skeletons emerged, throwing themselves desperately at the Chuan Yun Boots. If they couldn't reach, they self-destructed in the air, slowing down Qian Duoduo and the others' movements.
Driven to desperation, this Caizhu was also a ruthless person.
In the torrential rain, the water whips swung by the Wave Breaker whip created considerable trouble for Qian Duoduo and the others.
The Wave Breaker whip was originally effective in water combat. If used in water, its power increased by thirty percent. And after leaving the main body, the formed water whips had about thirty percent of the main body's power.
If it were a direct fight, this wouldn't be a problem. But Qian Duoduo and the others were fleeing, and thirty percent of this power striking them made it impossible for them to run fast.
"Smack," a water whip, like a long snake, flew from their rear-left and landed on Qian Duoduo and the others' left leg. He Shi'an endured the pain and tried to balance their bodies, but he still couldn't control it and swayed involuntarily.
"Hmph. Weak." Deng Feihong, who was about to exert force with his right leg, couldn't help but lose his temper.
Although He Shi'an and Deng Feihong were both Condensing Qi Stage Level Eight, their actual strength differed significantly.
Qian Duoduo and the others had just stabilized their bodies, but from front, back, left, and right, several whip shadows came at them simultaneously. They couldn't run anymore.
Turning around and charging, the Lu Dong Giant closed the distance with the Lu Xi Giant, and Dugu Yunshan flipped his hand, immediately using the mirror.
A dazzling strong light burst forth, directly piercing the Lu Xi Giant's head.
If they took out their Head Chess, they could win!
The Lu Xi Giant flashed to the side, and the strong light struck its left shoulder, causing the Lu Xi Giant to stumble.
At the same time, Xu Fa, with his left hand, continuously pointed his sword arts, and streaks of sword light collided with the whip shadows.
"Smack," a whip shadow passed through the sword light, fiercely striking the Lu Dong Giant's left hand. The robe tore in response, and the left hand was cut open to the bone.
The left hand twitched. Xu Fa took several deep breaths before he managed to control it.
"How is it?" Qian Duoduo asked Xu Fa.
"Half-crippled." Xu Fa's answer made everyone's hearts sink.
"Fight!" Dugu Yunshan roared. While the Gilt Light Mirror was charging, he threw a punch at the Lu Xi Giant.
The Lu Xi Giant's left hand clenched into a fist and counterattacked Dugu Yunshan, while its right hand continuously swung the Wave Breaker whip, using streaks of whip shadows to lock down the sky above the swamp.
Missing a punch, Dugu Yunshan flipped the Gilt Light Mirror, and the Lu Xi Giant hurriedly dodged to the side.
Who knew it was a feint? The Gilt Light Mirror's Spiritual Qi hadn't been fully infused yet.
Seeing Xu Fa's sword light becoming scarcer, Qian Duoduo quickly threw out a handful of Wolf Fang Black Iron Hammers. He used the self-destruction of the Wolf Fang Black Iron Hammers to relieve defensive pressure.
"I've long heard that Jin Buhuan of Lu Dong is a rich man. Seeing it today, it's indeed true. Trading Magic Treasures for lives," the Caizhu of Lu Xi mocked.
"That's a skill too! If you're not convinced, you can throw them too." Cao Yueying occasionally spat out fireballs, but she wasn't in the main attacking position, so her effect was limited.
With his right hand, Dugu Yunshan raised the Gilt Light Mirror and aimed it at the Lu Xi Giant again. The Lu Xi Giant dodged again.
"It's fake. Just to scare you," Cao Yueying sneered.
Before her words fell, "Boom," a strong light shot out.
The Lu Xi Giant, unable to dodge in time, extended its left hand to block the strong light, protecting the Head Chess Caizhu.
"Hiss," a smell of barbecue immediately filled the air. A large chunk of flesh was missing from the Lu Xi Giant's left arm, leaving only a bone connected to the arm.
The Gilt Light Mirror was truly powerful, but it took too much effort and time to infuse.
With its left hand crippled, the Lu Xi Giant's attacks became even fiercer.
"Whoosh," the Wave Breaker whip flew over and wrapped around the Lu Dong Giant's leg. The Lu Xi Giant threw its right hand, letting the long whip circle around Qian Duoduo and the others. It clenched its right hand into a fist and fiercely slammed it towards the Lu Dong Giant's Head Chess.
The long whip tightly entangled the two giants, making it impossible for either to dodge.
Dugu Yunshan's clenched heavy fist also slammed towards the Caizhu.
"Bang." The two giants fell into the swamp, but neither cared, still exchanging punches and fiercely kneeing each other's vital points. The Wave Breaker whip and the Gilt Light Mirror could no longer be used.
Xu Fa, with his left hand, trembled as he reached out to gouge the Lu Xi Giant's eyes. Two skeletons drilled out of the eyeballs and bit his fingers...
In the mud, Qian Duoduo couldn't see anything. In his Spiritual Awareness, the bodies of the two giants were entangled, striking each other with every movable part, attacking each other with every usable Spell.
He Shi'an was the first to lose contact with Qian Duoduo, then Guan Rong, Ning Hao... When Cao Yueying no longer responded to Qian Duoduo's Spiritual Awareness, Qian Duoduo felt the Lu Dong Giant being ridden by the Lu Xi Giant. After a while, Qian Duoduo's Spiritual Awareness heard the voice of the Artifact Spirit.
"Third round, Lu Xi wins."
As if waking from a dream, Qian Duoduo and the others returned to the Magic Treasure vault, collapsing to the ground. Although none of them had a single injury on their bodies, their hearts were riddled with holes and covered in scars.
How could this ultimate battle be fought, how could it still be fought?
With Lu Xi having won three consecutive rounds, if they lost one more, the ultimate battle would be over.
This result perhaps tied the worst in history.
After a long silence, Deng Feihong looked at the several Cultivators who still hadn't sat up, and hesitantly said, "How about we surrender and suffer a little less?"
"No." Cao Yueying firmly objected, "We can't surrender even if we're beaten to death!"
Qian Duoduo smiled, "That's right. Why surrender? We did so well just now, we almost won."