"Su Yun, I can't lose this match today," Tang San said gravely.
"Then let's see," Su Yun replied with a grin.
In an instant, a flash of white light appeared on Tang San's small hand, and he slapped it toward Su Yun's chest.
One of the Tang Sect's Six Great Techniques, the Mysterious Jade Hand.
His hands were like white jade, indestructible.
Su Yun had never underestimated Tang San's close-combat ability.
With Soul Power generally low, there wasn't much difference between Soul Masters' physical strength.
And when Tang San had been in the Tang Sect, he had learned many close-combat techniques.
So, facing Tang San's palm strike, Su Yun didn't let his guard down for a moment. With Soul Power reinforcing the wooden spear in his hand, he thrust!
This thrust was just like Su Yun's very first attack today: a straight jab!
Only this time, Su Yun's technique was more precise, and he put more force behind it.
After sparring with others at the academy and with the two freaks Tang San and Xiao Wu, even without any eye-training technique, he could still spot Tang San's weakness at a glance.
His thrust was even faster than Tang San's palm strike.
The second to move, but the first to arrive!
Realizing that Su Yun's spear technique had improved considerably, Tang San inwardly cried out that something was wrong, but his mind remained calm as he analyzed his next move.
So, the Blue Silver Grass beneath Tang San's feet rose up once more.
At the same time, purple light seemed to swirl in Tang San's eyes.
One of the Tang Sect's Six Great Techniques, the Purple Demon Eye.
Tang San judged that Su Yun's thrust was aimed at his ribs, so he decisively controlled the Blue Silver Grass to weave together and Bind across his flank.
"Pfft!"
Just as expected!
Su Yun's spear struck the Blue Silver Grass.
Tang San was secretly pleased.
However, before he could savor that feeling for long, he suddenly saw the spear that had struck the Blue Silver Grass jerk upward!
Not good!
A feint!
Tang San's pupils abruptly contracted!
He suddenly realized that Su Yun was forcing him to sacrifice a pawn to save the king!
Or perhaps his real target had been the pawn all along!
Realizing the danger, Tang San yanked his hand back, but it was already too late!
"Clang!"
The wooden spear—or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a wooden staff—shot toward Tang San's wrist at astonishing speed!
With that strike, Su Yun intended to briefly deprive
Tang San of the use of one hand.
It might even create an opening for a series of follow-up attacks.
A person had four limbs, and if one was suddenly injured, their movements would inevitably be affected.
That was especially true of an opponent like Tang San, whose movements were unpredictable.
It was exactly this sort of thing he feared most.
However, Su Yun's upward sweep was still a little too slow.
He failed to strike Tang San's wrist.
Instead, he struck Tang San's Mysterious Jade Hand.
The Mysterious Jade Hand only protected the palm; it couldn't protect the wrist.
That was why Su Yun had aimed his sweep there.
Unfortunately, against Tang San's Mysterious Jade Hand, Su Yun didn't think a mere wooden staff could break through his defense.
So the strike only briefly threw Tang San off balance, making him stumble backward a few steps.
Tang San's reactions were also extremely quick.
After retreating a few steps, he immediately used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. At the same time, he braced himself with Blue Silver Vines on the ground, using them to change direction. Within moments, he had opened up a gap between himself and Su Yun.
That brought the first exchange between them to an end.
Anyone with a sharp eye could see that Su Yun had held the advantage in that first exchange.
"Wow, Tang San actually came off worse in the first exchange?!"
"The agility of those two boys is on another level—not something Soul Masters of their rank can match."
"That kid named Su Yun is more skilled with a spear than I am, and my Martial Soul is a spear!"
"His combat instincts are excellent. If Tang San hadn't reacted in time just now, and Su Yun had managed to knock his right hand all the way up, Tang San would have lost more than just temporary control of one arm."
Some people had sharp eyes and immediately saw what Su Yun had been trying to do.
"The younger generation is impressive. It's just a shame Su Yun's Martial Soul isn't a spear. He really is a promising talent with one."
"Don't forget, Tang San's reactions are quick too. He probably won't give Su Yun another chance like that."
"His first Soul Skill turns Blue Silver Grass into vines that he can control from a distance. He'll probably pursue the control-type Soul Master path."
"Perhaps his first priority from now on will be to keep his distance from Su Yun."
"..."
Aside from the audience's discussion, Yu Xiaogang was also surprised by Su Yun's combat instincts after seeing Tang San lose the first exchange.
"This kid actually managed to put Xiao San at a disadvantage."
"Still, Xiao San was careless."
"I've told him before that control-type Soul Masters shouldn't let their opponents get close so easily. He was too eager to defeat Su Yun, and that gave Su Yun an opening."
At that thought, Yu Xiaogang's brow furrowed slightly. "And Su Yun still hasn't used his first Soul Skill."
"The situation is still quite unfavorable for Xiao San."
For no apparent reason, Yu Xiaogang's heart suddenly lurched.
Could Xiao San really lose?
Yu Xiaogang shook his head sharply.
No!
He had already made his position clear. By now, all of Notting City—and even many cities beyond it—knew about his wager with Su Yun.
If Xiao San lost, he would have to admit in front of everyone that he wasn't worthy of the title Grandmaster.
Besides, he wouldn't admit that he was inferior to the teacher Su Yun had mentioned.
Yu Xiaogang had always believed that he was the person with the deepest understanding of Martial Soul Theory on the entire continent—and the greatest expert in the field!
Before Yu Xiaogang could think any further,
the second clash between Su Yun and Tang San had already begun in the sparring area.
Just as expected.
This time,
Tang San didn't rush forward.
Instead, he patiently waited for Su Yun to make a move.
There was no time limit for sparring matches. They continued until one side ran out of Soul Power or surrendered.
Tang San believed that, since his Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, he had used little Soul Power even after activating his Soul Skill. He could keep fighting while retreating and slowly recover.
"It's a shame I can't use Hidden Weapons here. Otherwise, if I used the techniques from Hundred Variations of Hidden Weapons together with my first Soul Skill, Su Yun would definitely be the one at a disadvantage right now."
Tang San lowered his eyes, watching Su Yun's movements. At the same time, he felt a twinge of regret.
But Su Yun gave him no chance to recover his Soul Power. In the distance, he finally moved again.
In an instant, a fierce rush of wind accompanied the long staff in Su Yun's hand as it came whistling toward Tang San!
The long staff lashed like a whip, howling through the air.
Su Yun abruptly charged forward, and at the same time, a streak of blue light appeared in his left hand.
With his Purple Demon Eye, Tang San naturally took it all in.
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