135: 40-layer target - Light and Shadow Eclipse Tiger

Meanwhile, after dealing with the Thunder Horned Horse, Zhou Xing quickly continued to challenge the next level.

For every level's challenge, one's state would be restored to its Peak.

However, the intensity of the subsequent levels was not low; levels 37, 38, and 39 took Zhou Xing a full hour in total.

Especially the Earth Vein Giant Rhino on the 39th level, which had reached the F-rank Middle Stage; its powerful defense made it difficult for even the explosive power of the Triple-element Fusion to cause significant damage, forcing a battle of attrition.

After nearly 20 minutes of going all out, Zhou Xing finally managed to deal with it.

This also made Zhou Xing realize that perhaps he needed to find a way to organize several skills with stronger explosive power to deal with these Mutated Beasts or even human Awakened Ones with ultra-strong defensive capabilities.

On the 40th level of the Challenge Tower, the environment changed once again.

The originally empty wilderness instantly turned into a world of twisted, distinct light and shadow.

[Current Level: Level 40]

[Target: Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger (F-rank Middle Stage)]

[Traits: Light-Dark Dual-Form Switching, extremely high battle intelligence]

This level was considered a checkpoint; the System even added a trait of the target Mutated Beast as a reminder.

"Roar!"

Soon, a low tiger roar came from not far away. Immediately after, a massive white tiger appeared hundreds of meters in front of Zhou Xing, its tyrannical eyes locking onto him instantly.

It seemed to be in its Light Form for now.

Zhou Xing looked at the big guy in front of him, his expression turning solemn.

Tiger-type Yao Beasts had always been among the particularly powerful species within the same rank of Mutated Beasts. The Wind Blade Tiger he encountered while traveling from Dragon City to Star City last time had left Zhou Xing and the others in a bit of a mess.

Although it was displayed as F-rank Middle Stage, in reality, its full explosive power was enough to rival the strength of a human in the Late Stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm.

I must seize the initiative.

Zhou Xing did not hesitate at this moment. Without waiting for the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger to charge over, he already planned to strike first.

Frost Power surged as he waved a single hand—

"Frost: Thousand Blades!"

In an instant, countless ice blades emerged, shooting toward the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger in a sky-covering barrage.

However, facing Zhou Xing's attack, the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger merely raised its left paw. Auras of light reappeared around it, and streaks of light blades emerged, sweeping outward.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The moment the ice blades touched the light blades, they were actually vaporized instantly.

Taking advantage of this opening, the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger leaped forward and pounced.

"Bang!"

In his haste, Zhou Xing condensed a double-layered defense of Ice-Fire Power, but in terms of pure strength, there was a significant gap between the two. The defense was instantly torn apart, and he was swatted away by the claw, leaving three gashes on his chest where blood welled up.

Zhou Xing immediately condensed a burst of Healing Power on himself, recovering quickly.

At this time, a flash of human-like intelligent light actually crossed the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger's massive pupils. Giving Zhou Xing no time to breathe, its massive tiger body arched, and a divine light of the light element erupted around it.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—!"

Countless needles of light shot out from its fur, sealing off all of Zhou Xing's evasion routes.

"Ice-Fire Dual Stream: Absolute Defense!"

In an instant, Zhou Xing constructed a defensive barrier to envelop himself.

"Puff, puff, puff!"

The light needles struck the barrier. Although most were neutralized, some still penetrated the defense, leaving fine bloody streaks on Zhou Xing's body.

At this moment, Zhou Xing suddenly discovered that a surge of shadow energy had appeared on these wounds, trying to erode his divinity like maggots on a bone.

Healing Power surged around him, but he found that the healing effect was greatly diminished.

This made Zhou Xing realize he had to end the battle quickly.

It was created by the Challenge Tower, after all; in terms of intelligence, it definitely surpassed a Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger in reality.

Moreover, it was obvious that the opponent's dark energy countered his healing ability.

However, just then, with a "swish," the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger's figure vanished into thin air.

"Not good!"

Zhou Xing whipped his head around, only to see the opponent leaping out from his own shadow, its body entirely pitch-black. It had clearly switched to its other form, the Shadow Form.

At this moment, dark energy surged on the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger's right claw as it aimed straight for the back of Zhou Xing's heart!

"Shadow Leap: Displacement!"

In the moment of crisis, Zhou Xing activated his shadow ability, swapping positions with a nearby shadow as if teleporting.

However, the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger's attack did not stop. Its massive tiger tail swept out like a steel whip, and dark energy transformed into dozens of black spikes, completely blocking Zhou Xing's path of retreat.

"Chii—!"

Several black spikes even pierced Zhou Xing's shoulders. The powerful corrosive ability immediately began to destroy his body, and the intense pain made him groan.

This was even after being weakened by his own nearly Level 5 Corrosive Poison Resistance; otherwise, Zhou Xing might have completely lost his combat capability in an instant.

This was not a fair duel to begin with; Zhou Xing was currently fighting across an entire major Realm.

"I haven't even seen it go all out yet..."

The realistic sensation of pain caused cold sweat to break out on Zhou Xing's forehead.

The opponent's dual light and dark elements, combined with its special corrosive ability and unparalleled advantages in speed and strength, made it difficult for Zhou Xing to hold his own for a while.

This wasn't something that could be made up for just by having multi-elemental abilities.

"Fine, then let's see whose light and dark powers are superior."

Zhou Xing took a deep breath and suddenly surged the divine power within his body.

"Light-Dark Same Origin: Simulated Image!"

"Buzz!"

At this moment, Zhou Xing's body suddenly split off a relatively illusory Clone, its appearance identical to the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger.

The moment it appeared, the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger's movements visibly stalled, clearly not expecting the human before it to possess such an ability.

This was the first time Zhou Xing had used the God of Simulation's ability; needless to say, the effect was quite good.

Feeling provoked, the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger roared and pounced once again.

Zhou Xing's main body and the Simulated Clone attacked simultaneously!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The forces of both sides constantly collided, and bursts of energy storms exploded in the center of the battlefield.

At this time, Zhou Xing secretly activated the passive abilities of the god of war and the god of strength. His own strength increased exponentially, and with his Battle Acuity, he accurately predicted every attack of the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger.

The Simulated Clone possessed 70% of the opponent's strength. Although it directly consumed nearly 50% of Zhou Xing's power, with their mutual coordination, a brief balance of combat power was formed, and the fight became deadlocked.

However, it was just a simulation after all. With every collision, its own power would weaken by a bit.

In less than ten minutes, the Simulated Clone's power was exhausted and it was torn apart by the Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger's claw.

But Zhou Xing's goal of depleting its strength had been achieved.

Compared to the beginning, the current Light-Shadow Eroding Tiger had decreased in both strength and speed, allowing Zhou Xing to catch a moment to breathe.