Blue Silver Grass Entanglement

A yellow soul ring rose beneath Tang San's feet, drawing startled cries from the students gathered at one side of Nuoding Academy's square.

"Look, his first soul ring is actually yellow! Who is he? Why haven't I seen him before?"

"It's a Hundred-Year Soul Ring! Is his family nobility?"

"The other guy is done for. Most people only obtain a Hundred-Year Soul Ring after reaching level twenty."

"Yeah, the difference between having a soul ring and not having one is enormous. Not to mention it's a Hundred-Year Soul Ring."

A few girls, however, did not look at Tang San at all. Their eyes never left Ye Lan as they said with certainty, "He's so handsome. It would be even better if he were stronger."

"Dream on. Go like the one with the yellow soul ring. He looks ordinary, but he's not ugly either."

"Compared to strength, I still prefer the blue-haired one. Even if he has no strength, I'd still like him!"

Ye Lan had no time to pay attention to the commotion outside the arena. He was calculating Tang San's abilities. Although Tang San had claimed that his Blue Silver Grass was at level eleven, Ye Lan knew that when Tang San had tested his Soul Power at Spirit Hall, the level he revealed had been thirteen.

That meant Tang San's Soul Power was six levels higher than his, in addition to his Hundred-Year Soul Ring and Blue Silver Bind.

This Tang San was far more troublesome than when they had fought last time.

Judging Tang San's current strength based on their previous encounter, the thing Ye Lan needed to watch out for most was his Hundred-Year Soul Ring.

On Douluo Continent, most Soul Masters relied on soul rings to support their strength. Soul ring skills were also tied to their age. A Hundred-Year Soul Skill was already capable of threatening Ye Lan as he was now.

In just a few seconds, Ye Lan had finished analyzing all the information he had on Tang San.

The moment Ye Lan finished speaking, Tang San took the lead. Relying on physical strength, he rapidly closed the distance between them. Rather than retreat, Ye Lan charged forward.

As Tang San saw Ye Lan draw near, he used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. With a step, he flashed to Ye Lan's right.

Tang San raised a fist and struck directly at Ye Lan's waist.

Sensing Tang San's intention to attack, Ye Lan remained calm.

He pressed his palm against Tang San's right fist and used the force to lean backward.

This time, Tang San's strength was several degrees greater than before.

Unfortunately, after consuming Whale Rubber, Ye Lan's physical condition was still superior to Tang San's.

Tang San's advantages over him right now were his Soul Power reserves and his Hundred-Year Soul Ring. But my Soul Power efficiency far surpasses his, so the deciding factor will probably be that Hundred-Year Soul Ring. If I dodge it, Tang San won't be much of a threat. After receiving Tang San's blow, Ye Lan immediately identified the key to this battle.

Tang San, however, paid no heed to any of that. Thrilled by the changes in strength brought about by his dual breakthrough in Soul Power and the Mysterious Heaven Skill, he freely unleashed his newly gained power.

In mere seconds, Tang San had already thrown more than a dozen punches.

Yet his fists seemed to be striking cotton—his power had nowhere to go, and Ye Lan evaded every blow.

Ye Lan continuously moved around Tang San, drawing out Tang San's attack range.

Seeing that his probing attacks had achieved little, Tang San decisively circulated the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Purple light steadily filled his eyes, while his footwork became even swifter and more ghostlike.

Tang San's sudden change in tempo made Ye Lan seem as though he had fallen a beat behind.

Seeing that Ye Lan was slower than him, Tang San attacked at once, pressing his advantage without mercy.

A white glow flashed over Tang San's hands—it was the Mysterious Jade Hand. He no longer gave Ye Lan a chance to keep drawing him around, intending to force Ye Lan into a direct contest of Soul Power.

Ye Lan, however, did not mind. He divided his attention in two, dealing with Tang San's storm-like barrage while keeping watch on Tang San's yellow soul ring.

Their fists and palms became like afterimages as they collided again and again.

To the others watching, it was impossible to tell who held the advantage and who was at a disadvantage.

Only Tang San, who was exchanging blows with Ye Lan, knew that Ye Lan was somehow even harder to handle than last time. His physical strength and Soul Power were both nearly depleted, yet Ye Lan's expression remained unchanged.

Ye Lan understood his own advantage perfectly. Compared to Tang San's crude use of Soul Power, he used his Soul Power flawlessly. Tang San had wasted an unknown amount of Soul Power in this exchange.

By comparison, Ye Lan only needed to use eighty percent of his Soul Power enhancement to deal with Tang San's attacks. Even if Tang San had several more levels of Soul Power reserves than he did, judging by the rate at which both sides were consuming Soul Power, the scales of victory would ultimately tip in Ye Lan's favor.

After dozens of exchanges, Tang San no longer intended to keep wearing Ye Lan down. He still had thirty percent of his Soul Power left, enough to use a soul skill.

Tang San made up his mind. During their next exchange, as the two of them darted in and traded moves—

Tang San pretended to be running out of strength, using Ye Lan's punch to instantly pull away from him.

His Purple Demon Eye swiftly locked onto Ye Lan's figure. He silently chanted, "Blue Silver Bind!"

Blue Silver Grass covered in snake-like patterns rapidly sprang up beneath Ye Lan's feet. Just as Tang San thought his scheme had succeeded—

Ye Lan moved away from his original position as though he had known about Tang San's soul skill all along.

Just when Tang San thought he had missed and inwardly lamented the loss, he saw that Ye Lan's ankle had already been cut open by his soul skill, with tiny beads of red blood seeping out.

Tang San was overjoyed. His Blue Silver Grass did not merely bind targets—it also carried poison with a numbing effect.

"Admit defeat. My Blue Silver Bind not only controls you, it also carries a Poison Attribute. Be careful, or you may lose your life!" Tang San looked as though he truly did not want Ye Lan to die.

Ye Lan had not expected Tang San's Hundred-Year Soul Skill to be so fast. Tang San had also seized his timing well, striking precisely as both of Ye Lan's feet touched the ground. Though injured, Ye Lan knew Tang San's First Soul Skill was not lethal; it merely had a numbing effect.

After quickly assessing the situation, Ye Lan said irritably, "Cut the nonsense. The victor hasn't been decided yet!"

Seeing that Ye Lan had not admitted defeat, Tang San felt it was a pity.

Still, Tang San felt that victory was within his grasp.

As long as the Paralysis Poison spread throughout Ye Lan's body along with his Soul Power, victory would be his. Tang San steadied himself and decided to drag out the battle.

Yet Ye Lan gave Tang San no chance to stall. Soul Power clung to his waist, back, and arms. He used Instant Body to close in at extreme speed, concentrating the strength of his waist and back into his right fist as he launched a full-force attack at Tang San.

Facing that heavy, powerful punch, Tang San could only circulate the Mysterious Heaven Skill with all his strength, continuously reinforcing the defensive power of the Mysterious Jade Hand. The jade glow around Tang San's hands seemed to solidify, his hands becoming completely jade-like.

Hissss!

Tang San's soles scraped continuously against the floor, leaving behind two dark skid marks.

Ye Lan's powerful punch sent Tang San sliding several meters backward.

But Tang San had ultimately blocked the punch, though the bones in his palms ached from the impact.

Facing Ye Lan, who kept closing in at extreme speed, Tang San gritted his teeth and continued circulating the Mysterious Jade Hand, constantly defending against Ye Lan's fierce barrage.

Just as the jade glow of the Mysterious Jade Hand was being battered dim, Tang San noticed that Ye Lan's hand movements were gradually slowing down.

Tang San was overjoyed. Almost there. I'm going to win!

At that moment, Tang San abandoned his defensive stance, raised his Mysterious Jade Hand, and counterattacked Ye Lan.

At first, Ye Lan was still able to trade blows with Tang San, but gradually, Tang San's speed seemed to grow faster and faster.

Seeing Ye Lan gradually becoming paralyzed, Tang San was certain of victory and began to relax.

Just as Ye Lan could no longer keep up, Tang San seized an opening. Using the little Soul Power he had left, he lowered his body, white light flashing in his hand as he fiercely struck at Ye Lan's lower abdomen.

Tang San impatiently revealed a victor's smile, thinking, I won!