The instant Azhdaha unleashed Ley Line Extraction.
Countless streams of bright yellow Geo Element power gathered around Xu Yue like a vortex.
Slow yet swift, in the blink of an eye, the Vortex Vanquisher in his hand began to glow with golden light.
At that moment, the weapon's weight also began increasing rapidly.
Two hundred kilograms, five hundred kilograms, until it finally reached a staggering four tons.
Even the muscles in his arms bulged and knotted.
But soon, as the black-red Gravity Domain enveloped the spear shaft, it stabilized instantly.
When Xu Yue's momentum had built to its peak, the Vortex Vanquisher in his hand carried gravity waves of terrifying intensity.
He swung it heavily at the black Poison Dragon before him.
Lithic Spear Technique, First Form.
Mind-Ape Menogias!!!
(General Mind-Ape, Minu)
Boom!
Countless black Gravity Beams intertwined with Geo Element power condensed to the utmost limit, forming a Gravity Slash in midair that seemed capable of tearing space and time apart.
Combined, they bore down on Yang Xiong like a rolling tidal wave.
The ground in their path was crushed downward by several centimeters, cracks spreading everywhere.
It was as though the ground had been repeatedly run over by a Soul Guidance Heavy Truck weighing dozens, even hundreds, of tons.
"This..."
Yang Xiong's eyes widened sharply at the sight of that strike.
He knew he had already lost this match.
Though he did not know how heavy Xu Yue's Vortex Vanquisher was at that moment, the distorted gravity waves and the warning bells exploding in his heart told him just how terrifying the attack was.
Without hesitation, the Soul Power he had originally kept at level fifty-one rose rapidly, climbing several levels almost instantly.
The next moment, the black Poison Dragon formed from the Soul-Breaking Spear in his hand grew increasingly vivid and ferocious.
Boom!
The black Poison Dragon collided head-on with the black-red Gravity Torrent.
Screech!
The Soul-Breaking Spear in Yang Xiong's hand bent instantly. His feet slid backward more than ten meters, leaving two conspicuous marks on the ground.
Three seconds later.
Only after Xu Yue's gravity wave had swept across most of the Training Ground did it slowly dissipate.
Yang Xiong looked at Xu Yue several dozen meters away, gradually reining in the aura that far surpassed that of a level fifty-one Soul King. His expression was complicated as he spoke.
"Was this a spear technique you developed by combining it with your own Martial Soul?"
"That's right!" Xu Yue likewise withdrew his Martial Soul and nodded lightly. "I call it the Lithic Spear. What I just used was its first form, Mind-Ape Menogias."
"Remarkable!" After exclaiming in amazement, Yang Xiong said heartily, "I lost this match!!"
In that final exchange, he had needed to use Soul Power comparable to that of a Soul Emperor just to barely block the attack formed from that gravity wave mixed with Ultimate Earth.
"Xu Yue, you... have graduated!"
Hearing that, Xu Yue respectfully bowed to Yang Xiong.
"Thank you for your guidance during this time, Teacher Yang!"
Yang Xiong stood still and accepted the bow. Once Xu Yue straightened up, his expression turned serious as he warned him.
"Although you won this match, never apply that to all Soul Kings."
"You must understand that after becoming Soul Kings, Soul Masters can wield a complete set of Battle Armor. Even the lowest-quality One-Word Battle Armor can boost a Soul Master by more than ten levels."
"Thank you for the reminder, Teacher Yang. I'll remember it!"
Xu Yue had wanted to say more to Yang Xiong, but a burst of cheering suddenly came from a corner not far behind him.
"A-Yue, you're amazing!!!"
"A-Yue!!"
Hearing those two cheers, Xu Yue froze. Without bothering to say anything more to Yang Xiong, he immediately turned around and looked back.
In the rest area outside the Training Ground stood two youthful, beautiful girls with stunning features.
They were Xu Xiaoyan and Mu Xi, who had supposedly gone shopping.
Xu Yue waved at them, then turned back to Yang Xiong with some embarrassment. "Teacher Yang, I..."
"Haha!" Yang Xiong wore an expression of complete understanding as he laughed. "Go on, go on. You're young; I understand!"
With Yang Xiong's permission, Xu Yue gave another bow before jogging quickly toward the two girls.
Thump!
Before he could even get close, Xu Xiaoyan's petite body flew into his arms.
"A-Yue, you're incredible!" Xu Xiaoyan cheered. "You even defeated someone as powerful as Teacher Yang."
"Don't talk nonsense." Xu Yue smiled as he hugged Xu Xiaoyan, spun her around twice, and only then set her down. "Teacher Yang was just holding back while testing me. He didn't even use Battle Armor."
"That's still amazing." Xu Xiaoyan looked at him with worshipful eyes. "Even Teacher Yang admitted it himself."
Only then did Xu Yue ask in confusion, "Didn't you two agree to go shopping? Why did you come here?"
Xu Xiaoyan blinked innocently at that and tilted her chin toward Mu Xi.
"It was Sister Mu Xi. She brought me here!"
"Xiao Yan, you..." Mu Xi grew flustered when she saw Xu Xiaoyan's gesture, but under Xu Yue's amused gaze, a blush rose on her fair face. She stammered slightly.
"Xiao Yan and I... just happened to pass by while shopping! A-Yue, don't overthink it."
How could Xu Yue not know that Commercial Street and the Training Ground were in opposite directions? It was impossible for them to have happened to pass by.
Watching Mu Xi say one thing while meaning another, he smiled and led Xu Xiaoyan over to her.
Without saying anything, he simply opened his arms.
Seeing Xu Yue's gesture, the blush on Mu Xi's face deepened. She muttered, "You just finished fighting. You're covered in sweat; I don't want to."
Though she said that, her feet still moved unconsciously toward Xu Yue.
Seeing this, Xu Yue did not hesitate. He reached out and pulled Mu Xi into his arms, breathing in the fragrance of her hair as he said softly.
"Sister Mu Xi, why are you getting more and more tsundere as you grow up?"
"Hmph!" Mu Xi gave a soft huff. "How am I... I can't even be bothered with anyone else!"
Xu Yue chuckled softly but said nothing.
Just as Xu Yue was about to release Mu Xi's slender waist, her voice, as faint as a mosquito's buzz, sounded.
"This is your reward. Don't overthink it!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a warm, soft touch brushed across his cheek like a dragonfly skimming the water, vanishing in an instant.
"...Congratulations on graduating, A-Yue!"
After Xu Yue exchanged hugs with the two girls, he turned and bade Yang Xiong farewell before leaving the Training Ground.
In the Training Ground, Yang Xiong watched the three of them leave, then swept his gaze over the devastated Training Ground and smiled as he shook his head.
Beep. Accompanied by a soft sound.
A slightly lazy, mature female voice came from the communicator.
"What's the matter?"
Though the other party could not see him, Yang Xiong still straightened his back respectfully and said with reverence:
"Your Highness, Xu Yue has graduated from my tutelage."
"Oh? So soon?" Leng Yaozhu sounded somewhat surprised. "What is your assessment of him?"
"My assessment is that he is unparalleled in the world."
Yang Xiong sighed. "He has already mastered my Soul-Breaking Spear and begun to integrate its principles, creating his own spear technique.
"And... he has already achieved results."
"I estimate... he is not far from the realm of Spear Intent. He only lacks an opportunity."
"Very good!" Leng Yaozhu sounded extremely pleased. "You've worked hard during this time. I'll increase the agreed reward by another twenty percent."
"Thank you, Heavenly Phoenix Crown!"
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