Piercing Gold Spell Breaks the Celestial Horned Tiger

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While the two were flirting and teasing each other, the massive "Celestial Ironwood Array" formed by the Earthglow Trees outside suddenly came alive, slowly rotating and starting to press in on them. Countless sharp, sturdy branches shot toward the protective light barrier of Shawn Young's "Celestial Guardian Charm," exploding in flashes and sending ripples of gray-white energy through the air. Yet, the "Celestial Guardian Charm" remained unshaken, as solid as a fortress!

After a round of fierce attacks failed to make a dent, the dense Earthglow Trees started to rotate in a highly organized pattern and dispersed outward.

"Heh, your protective spell is really something! With this charm, those weird trees don't stand a chance against us!" Jade Swann couldn't help but praise.

"Uh—I'm afraid it's not that simple! My protective charm is strong, but it's not unbreakable. If the force is powerful enough, the barrier can be torn apart!" Shawn Young frowned, sensing that something was about to happen.

Just as he finished speaking, the mass of Earthglow Trees outside suddenly exploded one after another—"Bang—Bang—Bang—"—transforming into swaying gray-white phantoms that spread out, blanketing the entire Sleeping Dragon Hollow in a bizarre haze!

"Hmm! The Celestial Ironwood Array's formation is changing! This array shifts according to the North Star, and it's full of unpredictable transformations. I bet it's about to unleash its trump card on us! We need to be careful!" Shawn Young said urgently to Jade Swann, his eyes sharp as he watched the scene unfold.

As soon as he finished, the hazy gray-white energy swirling around them quickly condensed on both sides. In less than half a minute, it transformed into two monsters that looked like tigers, but their bodies glimmered with gray-white stripes. Most striking of all—each had a sharp, luminous horn on its forehead, shining brilliantly!

"Uh—are those the legendary Celestial Horned Tigers? I heard they're incredibly powerful—" Shawn Young's scalp tingled at the sight of the strange beasts, and memories from the Codex of Ascension flashed through his mind: "Celestial Horned Tiger, ethereal spirit beast, born from concentrated wood elemental energy, fiercely aggressive, with boundless strength—"

"Hmm? Can those two monster tigers really break through our protective charm?" Jade Swann asked anxiously.

Before Shawn Young could answer, the two Celestial Horned Tigers let out a wild howl—"Awooo—Roar—"—then, one after the other, they charged at lightning speed. In a flash, the first Celestial Horned Tiger reached the edge of the "Celestial Guardian Charm" barrier, its massive body leaping high as its claws smashed down with tremendous force—"Boom—Boom—" The barrier rippled like water but quickly closed up again, still unbroken.

"Heh—looks like even that big guy can't do anything to us!" Jade Swann exclaimed excitedly. But before she could finish celebrating, the second Celestial Horned Tiger charged up, not to attack directly, but to let out a strange roar and leap onto the back of the first. Instantly, the two tigers merged into one, transforming into a super-sized Celestial Horned Tiger!

"Holy crap! Celestial fusion! This thing's become sentient!" Shawn Young cried out in shock. No sooner had he spoken than the super-sized Celestial Horned Tiger leapt backward, landing more than ten meters away. Its front paws planted firmly on the ground, its golden eyes fixed on the two inside the barrier, and its body arched like a drawn bow, emitting a low, menacing growl.

"Watch out! It's about to get serious!" Shawn Young quickly warned Jade Swann.

Sure enough, the super-sized Celestial Horned Tiger suddenly straightened its body, and the sharp horn on its forehead—"Boom!"—spun out at incredible speed, whistling through the air. The fierce wind kicked up dust and debris, its momentum wild and unstoppable!

"Whoa—" Seeing this, Shawn Young knew the "Celestial Guardian Charm" couldn't withstand such a brutal attack. He quickly grabbed Jade Swann and dove to the ground—"Bang—Boom—" After a blinding flash of gray-white light, the protective barrier around them was shattered! The powerful shockwave even sent Shawn Young and Jade Swann rolling several meters before they finally came to a stop.

"Pfft—pfft—this thing is seriously fierce!" Jade Swann spat out dirt as she scrambled up from the ground.

"Huff—" The super-sized Celestial Horned Tiger didn't give them a moment to react, leaping into the air again and lunging viciously, intent on finishing them off.

Seeing the danger, Shawn Young realized it was a life-or-death moment. He quickly bit his left middle finger, letting blood drip onto the tip of his Raikiri Dagger. Then, crossing his hands—left hand supporting his right wrist—he swiftly formed the "Immovable King Seal," channeling his true energy and chanting: "Celestial North Star, reverse the heavens, summon the Five Thunder Gods, lightning blaze, bind ghosts and subdue demons, break through with military might, come forth Vajra, Piercing Metal reveal yourself, Nine Heavens Divine Lord, by my command—Break!"

As the incantation ended, Shawn Young's Raikiri Dagger burst into dazzling, blinding golden light, soaring into the air and releasing a surge of biting cold energy. It spun upward—"Swish!"—the freezing light flared, transforming into a radiant golden beam, slicing through the air with unstoppable blade energy, and cleaving straight toward the massive body of the airborne Celestial Horned Tiger.

Sensing danger, the Celestial Horned Tiger tried to twist away, but it was too late. Empowered by the "Piercing Metal Spell," Shawn Young's Raikiri Dagger spun in midair—"Crack!"—striking the beast squarely on the forehead. The golden light vanished—"Awooo—Roar—" The Celestial Horned Tiger let out a mournful howl as its massive body shattered in midair, pieces scattering across the floor, unable to reform under the razor-sharp edge of the Piercing Metal Spell's cold blade.