Douluo Continent: Thunder Roar

The left hand, which had been hanging limply at her side and seemed motionless, suddenly rose up like a lurking venomous snake, with astonishing speed and a whistling sound as it slammed into her waist!

The palm strike was fierce, carrying the power of violent lightning. Before it even reached her, the lightning scorched her clothes at the waist, causing them to sizzle and her skin to sting.

Ma Xiaotao reacted extremely quickly. The moment she sensed the danger, she instinctively lowered her left arm, desperately trying to block at her waist. Her soul power frantically gathered in her left arm, attempting to block this fatal blow. However, Ling Yu's speed was too fast, his strength too great, and the violent lightning power far exceeded her expectations.

Bang! ! !

That palm struck her left arm squarely!

The violent power of lightning, like a flood bursting its banks, instantly broke through her soul power defense. It surged wildly into her body along her left arm, and a numbing sensation swept over her entire body. Her left arm instantly lost all feeling, and it felt as if most of her strength had been instantly drained away.

Ma Xiaotao flew out like a kite with a broken string, leaving a long trail of water on the surface. Water splashed everywhere, and she tumbled several times before barely managing to steady herself. She knelt on one knee on the water, her body trembling slightly. Her left hand hung limply at her side, shaking violently, her fingertips unable to bend properly.

The force of that palm strike was immense, so much so that half of her body went numb, her internal organs trembled slightly, and a faint, metallic taste rose in her throat, which she forcibly swallowed back.

She slowly raised her head and looked at Ling Yu. The shock in her eyes had not subsided, but even more so, there was an increasingly intense excitement and competitive spirit.

She never imagined that she would be hit so easily, never imagined that she would encounter such a powerful opponent—this sense of oppression, this exhilarating confrontation, made her blood boil.

Ling Yu remained standing in the same spot, without taking a single step back, and his body didn't even sway in the slightest.

He glanced down at his left hand, the lightning on his fingertips flickering slightly, as if savoring the power of the palm strike he had just delivered. Then he slowly raised his right hand, the silvery lightning on his two claws still crackling and pulsating wildly. His aura remained violent and tyrannical, showing no signs of weakening.

Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the numbness in her left arm and the discomfort in her body, and slowly stood up. Her body swayed slightly before she could barely stand.

She stared intently at Ling Yu, the excitement in her eyes not diminishing but rather growing stronger like a wildfire, a defiant smile even playing on her lips.

"Again!"

She shouted, her voice hoarse but filled with undeniable stubbornness and fighting spirit. With a light touch of her feet on the water, her body transformed into a streak of crimson light once again, rushing swiftly towards Ling Yu!

This time, she did not choose to confront him head-on—she knew clearly that Ling Yu's strength far exceeded hers, and she had no chance of winning in a direct confrontation.

She pushed her speed to the limit, her fiery wings flapping wildly behind her, leaving streaks of crimson afterimages in the air. Her movements were as agile as a ghost, launching a fierce and relentless attack on Ling Yu from all directions!

Without a fixed pattern or rhythm, each strike was fast, accurate, and ruthless, each strike carrying the ultimate phoenix flames, attempting to find Ling Yu's weakness and break through his defenses.

A punch, burning with intense heat, slammed into his back!

The fist was fierce, and the flames were raging, attempting to deliver a fatal blow when he was off guard!

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Ling Yu didn't turn around. He just slightly turned his body and raised his right claw with lightning speed, accurately blocking behind him. With a muffled "bang", fist and claw collided. Flames and lightning collided again. Ma Xiaotao's fist was slightly numb from the shock and her body was forced to take half a step back, while Ling Yu remained motionless.

Before Ma Xiaotao could regain her footing, she launched another attack. She touched the water with the toes of her left foot, instantly flipped her body, and threw out her right fist, which was filled with violent flames, aiming straight for his side waist!

The angle was tricky, and the speed was swift, giving Ling Yu no time to react!

Ling Yu twisted his body, his movements fluid and swift. His left claw rose like lightning, accurately blocking her fist. Another muffled thud, lightning flashed, and flames splattered. Ma Xiaotao's fist was once again numb from the shock, but she still did not back down. Using the recoil, she dodged back again and then launched the next wave of attacks.

A punch was aimed at his face! Flames on the fist surged, attempting to scorch his face!

Ling Yu raised his hand, his right claw gently blocking her fist. The force was not great, but it carried absolute control. No matter how hard Ma Xiaotao tried, she could not move forward an inch. His scarlet eyes watched her quietly, his gaze calm, as if he were toying with his prey.

No matter how swift her attacks were, no matter how tricky her angles were, his claws were always there, blocking every single one of her attacks.

Ma Xiaotao fought faster and fiercer, her soul power running at full speed, and the flames burning even more intensely. Her speed, strength, and reaction were all pushed to their limits!

She didn't believe it, she just couldn't believe that Ling Yu's defense was flawless, she just couldn't believe that he could block every single one of her punches!

She suddenly accelerated, her soul power surging wildly within her body. Her entire being transformed into a fiery red streak of light, spinning and weaving around Ling Yu, leaving countless afterimages, making it impossible to distinguish which was the real her and which was the illusory afterimage.

A punch comes from the left, flames roaring; a punch comes from the right, powerful and heavy; a punch comes from behind, unexpected; a punch comes from above, commanding from above—

Ling Yu blocked with his left claw and defended with his right, his movements fluid and unhurried. No matter how dense her attacks were or how fast she was, he could handle them with ease.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!

The explosive sounds of fists and claws clashing were like a dense drumbeat, exploding wildly on the lake surface, one after another, endlessly!

Each collision exploded into a ripple of thunder and fire, the ripples spreading and churning the lake surface; each clash stirred up a violent airwave, the airwave sweeping up bamboo leaves and pebbles from the shore, lifting them into the air and then slamming them down.

Lightning flashed, flames roared, and white mist filled the air above the lake. Two extreme forces clashed and tore at each other, creating a scene that was both tragic and spectacular, enough to make anyone's heart tremble.

Ma Xiaotao's breathing became increasingly rapid, her chest heaving violently like a broken bellows. Each breath carried a scorching heat. Her soul power was being rapidly depleted, and her physical strength was constantly declining. Her arms were becoming increasingly numb, and her tiger's mouth had split open, with bright red blood dripping down her fingers and merging into the lake water, where it was instantly diluted by the surging waves. Yet, she still did not give up and continued her frantic attack, her fighting spirit still intense.

Ling Yu remained standing still, motionless.

His body, over two meters tall, stood firmly on the water like a towering iron tower. His purple-gold eyes were fixed on her, his gaze terrifyingly calm, without the slightest fatigue or ripple.

Ma Xiaotao gritted her teeth, suddenly retreated several feet, creating distance, and gasped for breath, her chest heaving violently. Sweat mixed with lake water, sliding down her cheeks and dripping into the lake.

Her left arm was still numb, the wound on her hand was getting bigger and bigger, and blood kept dripping down. Most of her soul power had been consumed, and the brightness of the flames had dimmed a bit, but her eyes were still fixed on Ling Yu, without the slightest hesitation.

Ling Yu didn't chase after her. He just stood there, quietly watching her. His towering figure exuded an aura of dominance. Lightning still flickered on his snow-white fur, and his black claws were dripping with water droplets condensed from the air. Every move he made revealed absolute confidence and control.

Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath, slowly calming her rapid breathing, her gaze fixed on Ling Yu. He stood there like an insurmountable mountain, lightning crackling on his snow-white fur, his muscles taut, brimming with explosive power, as if he could launch a fatal blow at any moment and utterly defeat her if he so desired.

Suddenly, she laughed, a flamboyant, arrogant, and unrestrained laugh, as if the storm-like attack just now was not a pathetic struggle, but a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Ling Yu didn't speak, nor did he show any expression.

He simply raised his right claw slightly, the tip pointing at her, the movement simple and direct, the meaning clear—continue.

Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath, slowly straightened her body, and forcibly suppressed the fatigue and discomfort in her body. The numbness in her left arm was still there, but she didn't care at all.

A burning fighting spirit rekindled in her eyes, and the remaining soul power within her surged wildly, all converging on her wings and fists. The fiery wings on her back unfurled once more, the flames not as intense as before, but still carrying the power to incinerate everything.

The next second, the fourth spirit ring beneath her feet lit up again, its light dazzling and far surpassing the brightness of the previous spirit rings! "Fourth Spirit Skill—Phoenix Roar Strike!"

She shouted sharply, her voice hoarse but carrying an undeniable power. Her soul power surged wildly into her soul ring, preparing for this attack—this was her wide-range, powerful soul skill, but it required three seconds of charging time.

She was waiting, waiting for three seconds to build up her power, waiting for this attack to explode and turn the entire lake into scorched earth, enough to break through Ling Yu's defense!

But Ling Yu couldn't possibly give her three seconds.

Almost the instant her soul ring lit up, the lightning beneath Ling Yu's feet suddenly burst forth. The silvery-white lightning enveloped his body like a tide. His massive body was surprisingly fast, far exceeding Ma Xiaotao's expectations. Almost instantly, he traversed several meters and arrived in front of her, closing the distance between them!

Right claw sweeps horizontally!

It moved with lightning speed, accompanied by a whistling sound as it cut through the air, carrying the violent power of thunder, and swept fiercely towards her side. The force was so great that it was enough to break her spine, giving her no chance to gather her strength!

Ma Xiaotao's heart tightened, and she subconsciously dodged, while simultaneously throwing out her left fist, still carrying the remnants of flame, fiercely striking his ribs, trying to force him back and buy herself a moment to gather her strength!

But Ling Yu didn't give her any chance at all.

He neither dodged nor evaded, letting her fist strike his ribs, while simultaneously meeting her fist with his left claw with lightning speed and precision!

Bang!

Fist and claw collided with a muffled thud, and the violent force exploded instantly. Ma Xiaotao felt a tremendous force coming from her fist, and she was shaken back three zhang before she could barely steady herself. Her arm was numb, and the wound on her tiger's mouth reopened, gushing blood. Ling Yu, on the other hand, only took a slight step back and then stood still. The snow-white fur under his ribs was only slightly blackened by the flames and did not suffer any real damage. His scarlet eyes still looked at her calmly, without the slightest ripple.

Ma Xiaotao gritted her teeth, her stubbornness growing stronger. Without the slightest hesitation, she pounced on him again!

She knew perfectly well that she couldn't let him disrupt her rhythm!

But as soon as she got close, Ling Yu's claws were already there!

Left paw! Right paw! Left paw! Right paw!

Claw after claw, palm after palm, the attack was fierce and unstoppable. Each strike was as heavy as a thousand pounds, carrying the power of violent thunder. Each strike was as fast as lightning, extremely accurate, without any fancy moves or pauses. Like a storm, it bombarded Ma Xiaotao!

The claws howled and lightning flashed. Each claw strike tore through the air, leaving faint cracks. Each strike carried a world-destroying power, leaving Ma Xiaotao with no way to avoid it and no way to defend against it.

Ma Xiaotao fought with all her might, using every part of her body—fists, elbows, knees, and legs—gathering all the remaining soul power within her to try and block the ferocious attack.

Her movements became faster and more frantic, her face was covered in sweat, and her breathing became more rapid. But Ling Yu's offensive showed no signs of weakening; on the contrary, it became more and more fierce, more and more violent, and the sense of oppression grew stronger and stronger.

Bang!

She tried her best to block Ling Yu's left claw, but before she could regain her footing, Ling Yu's right claw, crackling with violent lightning, slammed into her face, only an inch away!

She instinctively tilted her head to dodge, the sharp claws whistling past her cheeks, lifting a few strands of hair. At the same time, the lightning on the claws burned her cheeks, leaving a faint scorch mark.

Bang!

She blocked Ling Yu's right claw again, but Ling Yu's left claw struck like lightning, slamming into her chest. She was forced to retreat, blocking with her knee at the same time. With a muffled thud, a huge force came, her knee went slightly numb, and she staggered, almost falling on the water.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!

The explosive sounds of claw strikes echoed wildly across the lake, far more intense and violent than the previous clashes of fists and claws!

Ma Xiaotao's arms became increasingly numb and weak. Her tiger's mouth was completely split open, and blood kept dripping down, staining her hands red and also staining the lake surface beneath her.

His breathing was completely disordered, his chest was throbbing with intense pain, his soul power was completely exhausted, and the brightness of the flames became extremely weak, almost going out.

His body was becoming increasingly exhausted. Every block required his full strength, and every dodge became extremely difficult. Yet Ling Yu's offensive continued unabated, still sharp and ferocious.

Those purplish-gold eyes remained eerily calm.

The left palm deals high damage, the right palm deals high damage—that's the beauty of numbers.

Previously, her six-ring Evil Fire Phoenix stats were higher than his three-ring Ninja stats, allowing her to suppress him with her superior soul power and martial soul. But now, with his Undying Thunder Possession, his stats far surpass hers, overwhelming her in strength, speed, and defense. All her advantages have vanished, leaving her only in a pathetic struggle.

Ma Xiaotao finally couldn't hold on any longer.

Bang!

Ling Yu's right claw, carrying the power of violent lightning, slammed hard onto her shoulder!

The immense force instantly swept over her entire body, shattering the last trace of her soul power. The numbness in her left arm spread throughout her body, and she could no longer support herself. Like a kite with a broken string, she was sent flying and crashed heavily into the water, splashing up a huge spray. Her body created a small dent in the lake.

She lay on the water's surface, gasping for breath. Her breath was weak, and her chest heaved violently. Each breath was accompanied by excruciating pain. Her soul power was exhausted, and her physical strength was completely depleted. Her whole body was trembling, and she didn't even have the strength to lift a finger.

Ling Yu did not pursue her; he waited for her to stand up, for her to continue, and for her to launch another attack.

"Sister Tao, it seems like I've won now."

Ma Xiaotao struggled, using all her strength to reach out and brace herself on the water's surface, trying to lift her body up.

She managed to prop herself up halfway, but her arms gave way, and she fell heavily back down, her cheek pressed against the cold lake surface. Sweat, lake water, and blood mingled together, making her look utterly disheveled. Yet, in her eyes, there was still no sign of retreat; a stubborn light still shone through.

She lay there, panting heavily, her chest heaving. Just when everyone thought she was going to give up, she suddenly laughed—a loud, unrestrained, and exuberant laugh.

There was no embarrassment or resentment in the laughter, only pure excitement and relief, which lingered on the empty lake.

After laughing, she raised her head, using the last of her strength to look at Ling Yu. Her voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible, but with a hint of relieved joy, she clearly said, "I'm not fighting anymore. I can't win."