Cuttings Technique

"Th-this... two Ten Thousand Year Spirit Rings!"

Zhao Wuji had already been deeply shocked upon hearing that Mu Yuan was a level forty-nine Soul Ancestor. Now, seeing this astonishing spirit ring configuration, he could hardly stop himself from doubting his own eyes.

Tang San stared blankly at the four Yellow, Purple, Black, Black spirit rings around Mu Yuan. In that instant, Grandmaster's invincible theory was utterly shattered by those four rings.

At that moment, everyone's attention was drawn to Mu Yuan.

Only Ning Rongrong at the very back lowered her eyes and silently bowed her head.

Again. It was happening again.

Of course she knew about Mu Yuan's talent.

She admitted that it was a little impressive.

But it should not be like this every time, with him stealing everyone's attention the moment he appeared.

It had been like this in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and it was still like this after leaving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ever since she was little, she had clearly been the most noble little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the one who should have received everyone's attention. Yet her father and everyone else had always kept their eyes on Mu Yuan.

No matter how hard she chased after him, it was useless.

This was unfair!

"First Spirit Skill, Cuttings Technique!"

Mu Yuan raised a hand, and countless sharp Wood Thorns instantly shot from his palm, filling the sky.

"That many?!"

Zhao Wuji's gaze sharpened. He instantly activated Martial Soul Possession and used his First Spirit Skill, Immovable Ming King Body.

Zhao Wuji's body swelled as golden defensive light burst from him, blocking the overwhelming Wood Thorns before him.

As the two clashed, a series of crisp, rapid sounds rang out behind Zhao Wuji. Zhu Zhuqing had flashed behind him and launched an attack.

However, Zhu Zhuqing's attack failed to break Zhao Wuji's defense.

"Little girl, an attack at that level can't do anything to me!" Zhao Wuji laughed.

At that moment, Xiao Wu suddenly sprang out from the front and viciously kicked at Zhao Wuji's face.

Zhao Wuji raised a hand to block her.

"Blue Silver Bind!" Tang San's voice rang out from behind.

A great amount of Blue Silver Grass quickly wrapped around Zhao Wuji's arm, preventing him from moving freely.

However, Zhao Wuji's expression did not change in the slightest. He exerted force with his arm and instantly tore apart Tang San's Blue Silver Grass. Then, he grabbed Xiao Wu's incoming ankle and flung her away with a backhanded toss amid her cry of alarm.

Seeing this, Mu Yuan hurriedly leaped up and supported Xiao Wu's back with his hand, rescuing her from the air.

Zhao Wuji raised his palm, taking advantage of the moment Mu Yuan had just landed, and struck at him!

"Watch out!"

Xiao Wu warned him hurriedly.

Mu Yuan brought his hands together.

"Second Spirit Skill, Wood-Block Wall!"

A large number of thick trees rapidly grew from the ground, forming a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree circular defense that protected Mu Yuan and Xiao Wu from every direction without a single blind spot.

Zhao Wuji's palm strike landed on it, but only shattered part of the wood. He could not destroy the entire defense at all.

"Good kid, what a powerful defensive spirit skill!"

Zhao Wuji praised him as his second spirit ring lit up. His right palm directly enlarged several times, radiating dense earth-yellow Soul Power.

"Then try this move—Great Vajra Palm!"

Zhao Wuji struck again, his palm landing on Mu Yuan's Wood-Block Wall with a boom.

With the enhancement of the spirit skill, the power of the Great Vajra Bear martial soul was immense, its might incomparably fierce.

With a crack, the trees on the outer layer of the Wood-Block Wall shattered apart.

From Mu Yuan's side, he could clearly see that the area inside the Wood-Block Wall that had borne the greatest force had been struck with cracks that ran all the way through. A few more palm strikes, and the defense would completely collapse.

"A Soul Sage's power really is formidable!"

Mu Yuan muttered to himself. Then, he hurriedly mobilized the Soul Power within his body and controlled a large number of trees to grow, instantly repairing the spot Zhao Wuji had just cracked.

Outside, Zhao Wuji stared at the instantly restored defense for a moment before shaking his head and saying with some amusement,

"Kid, squandering Soul Power like this isn't a wise move. How long can you keep it up?"

As he spoke, he continued launching palm strike after palm strike at the Wood-Block Wall.

Under the attacks of the Great Vajra Palm, large amounts of wood shattered, and pits appeared all across the Wood-Block Wall's defense.

Tang San and the others hurriedly used their spirit skills outside to stop Zhao Wuji's assault, but unfortunately, against a Soul Sage, their skills had little effect.

Inside the Wood-Block Wall, Mu Yuan kept his hands tightly pressed together, drawing out large amounts of Soul Power from his body to spur the trees' growth and repair every spot Zhao Wuji had damaged.

Although this method consumed an enormous amount of Soul Power, Mu Yuan had been born with somewhat more Soul Power than ordinary people. He could endure this level of expenditure for several days without any problem. According to the rules, he only needed to hold out for An Incense Stick to pass the assessment.

Xiao Wu stood beside Mu Yuan at that moment. As she sensed the life aura leaking from him due to his massive expenditure of Soul Power, the instincts of a soul beast made her unable to stop herself from moving closer and closer to him.

This was a survival method etched into a soul beast's genes: instinctively seeking the environment most suitable for its survival.

Mu Yuan, who was maintaining his spirit skill, sensed Xiao Wu drawing ever closer until she was practically pressing against him.

"Xiao Wu?"

Mu Yuan's puzzled voice startled Xiao Wu awake.

Xiao Wu hurriedly calmed herself, restraining the instinct within her body as she said,

"Well... I was a little worried about you. Can your Soul Power still hold out?"

Mu Yuan did not suspect anything and replied,

"It's fine. This little bit of Soul Power is nothing to me."

Outside, Zhao Wuji had already been attacking continuously for half an incense stick's time. Yet Mu Yuan's Wood-Block Wall showed no damage at all and remained as intact as ever.

At first, Tang San and the others had used their spirit skills to support Mu Yuan and stop Zhao Wuji's attacks. But as time passed, they seemed to realize that Zhao Wuji appeared to be unable to... break Mu Yuan's defense.

Wasn't this too outrageous?!

Wasn't he a Control System Soul Master?

Zhao Wuji also began to feel that he was losing face.

This kid seemed to have a little too much Soul Power.

It was not that he truly could not break through this defense. If he went all out and activated his Martial Soul Avatar, he should be able to break it.

But as a Soul Sage-level powerhouse, activating his Martial Soul Avatar just to fight a group of students would be far too shameless...

Zhao Wuji stopped.

Based on Mu Yuan's performance so far, Zhao Wuji had already acknowledged his strength. However, there were still other students who had not been tested.

Zhao Wuji decided to switch targets.

He bent his knees slightly, gathering earth-yellow Soul Power in his legs.

"Not good!" Tang San was startled.

The next moment, Zhao Wuji leaped from the ground like a cannonball, rapidly jumping to the rear where Ning Rongrong stood.

Tang San naturally knew how important a Support Soul Master was. Both spirit rings around him lit up at once, and he unleashed his first and second spirit skills together. Blue-black vines carrying poison and parasitic effects lashed toward Zhao Wuji, intending to stop him.

However, Zhao Wuji had activated Immovable Ming King Body earlier when facing Mu Yuan's First Spirit Skill, coating his entire body in a layer of golden defensive light.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had never possessed much power to begin with, and coupled with the enormous gap in Soul Power between them, Tang San's spirit skills could not harm Zhao Wuji at all.

Zhao Wuji ignored everything and charged toward Ning Rongrong.

Zhu Zhuqing emerged from the shadows to stop him, but she likewise could not affect Zhao Wuji.