Agility and Mega Punch

A skill like Agility strengthened the legs with Soul Power, making them move faster.

A skill like Mega Punch strengthened the arms with Soul Power, then combined that strength with techniques such as Inch Punch or a wide swing to deliver attacks so powerful they could send bricks flying.

The next morning, as usual, Ye Chen finished breakfast, then headed toward the hills outside the village with Torchic to begin his morning training.

At the same time, in the small woods east of the village, Tang San raced along at tremendous speed, his feet tracing Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Everywhere he went, a string of afterimages trailed behind him.

Just before he was about to crash into a tree ahead, Tang San swerved to the left and, in the blink of an eye, circled behind it. He stood back to back with the tree, calm and composed.

On closer inspection, one would notice a deep dent in the trunk on the tree's front side. It had appeared at some point just moments ago. That was the attack Tang San had landed as he flashed past.

"As expected, the Hammer Martial Soul is far more suited to combat than the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul!"

As he spoke, Tang San raised his left hand. A small, pitch-black hammer appeared in his palm.

When he awakened his Martial Souls two months ago, he hadn't told Su Yuntao or Ye Chen the secret that he possessed Twin Martial Souls.

The small, pitch-black hammer now resting in his palm was his second Martial Soul, in addition to the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.

It looked like an ordinary hammer, but the Hammer Martial Soul was incredibly heavy.

When he used Hidden Weapon techniques to hurl it at an enemy while darting about with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, leaving layers of afterimages, the enemy would be knocked unconscious by its weight before they even saw what it really looked like.

He only needed to release and withdraw the Hammer Martial Soul at the instant of his attack. That way, he wouldn't have to worry about anyone discovering it.

This would let him keep his promise to his father not to reveal the Hammer Martial Soul in public without good reason, while still giving him the power to knock Ye Chen down in a single blow.

At the thought, a faint smile tugged at Tang San's lips. Though his first two sparring matches had ended in crushing defeats, they had given him a clearer understanding of how to use his Martial Soul and of the profession of Soul Master.

The thought that one day he could fight with two Martial Souls, while also drawing on Tang Sect techniques and all kinds of Tang Sect Hidden Weapons, filled Tang San with excitement.

He had already mapped out his training for the future: he would focus on Tang Sect techniques and Tang Sect Hidden Weapons, with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and Hammer Martial Soul as support.

One day, he would surely make the Tang Sect's techniques and Hidden Weapons flourish. He would build a new Tang Sect on Douluo Continent—a Tang Sect of his very own!

And in the future, his abilities and strength would surely far surpass Ye Chen's, who had only a Torchic Martial Soul. There was no need to stay fixated on him as a target to strive toward.

A resolute glint flashed in Tang San's eyes. He felt that he could lose, but the Tang Sect's techniques could not.

Since he had lost to Ye Chen several times while using Tang Sect techniques, he had to win at least once and prove their worth.

Ye Chen was leaving Holy Soul Village tomorrow and moving to Pallet Village. That made this the perfect chance to challenge him to one last spar.

This time, he'd use the Hammer Martial Soul as a Hidden Weapon to launch a sneak attack, backed by the Tang Sect's exquisite Hidden Weapon techniques. There was no reason he should lose again!

The next morning.

At the entrance to Holy Soul Village.

After breakfast, Old Jack walked out of the village with Ye Chen. The two were preparing to head to Pallet Village, a kilometer away.

"Little Chen, starting today, you're a member of Pallet Village. Make sure you listen to the new village chief, all right?" Old Jack reminded him.

Ye Chen nodded. "I understand, Grandpa Jack."

They had just finished talking when a voice rang out behind them. "Wait!"

Old Jack and Ye Chen turned around at the same time and saw Tang San.

Tang San had just run out of Holy Soul Village. He quickly reached the two of them.

Old Jack chuckled. "Little San, did you come to see Little Chen off?"

"Yes, Grandpa Jack." Tang San respectfully bowed to Old Jack before turning to Ye Chen and getting straight to the point. "Ye Chen, I heard you're moving to Pallet Village. Before you go, let's have one last spar."

"Sure. If you want to fight, I'm always up for it." Ye Chen met Tang San's gaze and laid down the rules first. "Same as before: we'll take it easy. No serious injuries."

"What counts as a serious injury?" Tang San asked.

"Like we agreed before, knocking someone out doesn't count," Ye Chen explained. "Breaking their bones or leaving them seriously injured would count as going too far."

Tang San was delighted to hear that. If knocking someone out wasn't against the rules, he could use the Hammer Martial Soul without holding back.

As long as he made sure no one saw him use the Hammer Martial Soul, and knocked Ye Chen out without crippling him, he would win this spar!

"Now that we've settled that, let's get started."

As he spoke, Tang San retreated ten meters. Purple light swirled in his eyes, and both his hands turned to Mysterious Jade.

He extended his right hand in a gesture inviting Ye Chen to make the first move, while his left hand remained habitually hidden behind his back, ready to release the Hammer Martial Soul at any moment.

"Come out, Torchic!"

Ye Chen swept his right hand forward. With a dull thump, a streak of red light shot from his hand.

When the red light hit the ground, it transformed into Torchic.

Then a golden glow circled Torchic, making it shimmer brilliantly.

Compared with when its Martial Soul had awakened two months earlier, Torchic had grown several times bigger. It now stood forty centimeters tall and weighed two and a half kilograms.

"Chamo, chamo, Piplup!"

Torchic let out an excited squawk, then began bouncing from side to side on its two chicken feet, its eyes full of fighting spirit.

With the help of Purple Demon Eye, Tang San noticed that the footwork Torchic used with each bounce looked lighter and faster than it had a month ago.

Could Torchic's strength have improved again over the past month?

Or had it already stacked up a speed boost?

Either way, Tang San's Purple Demon Eye could keep track of Torchic's speed, so he didn't need to worry too much.

The only thing he had to watch out for was that he couldn't use the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and Hammer Martial Soul at the same time.

He would need to avoid fighting Torchic directly, then use Blue Silver Grass vines to Bind Ye Chen's whole body and leave him unable to move. Only then could he circle around behind him and use the Hammer Martial Soul for a sneak attack.

Besides, based on what he had learned from their last spar, Ye Chen would very likely notice his sneak attack.

So, to keep Ye Chen from dodging, he had to be extremely cautious and avoid exposing the Hammer Martial Soul or giving Ye Chen a chance to counter him.

"Torchic, use Focus Energy!"

At Ye Chen's command, Torchic took a deep breath. A ring of yellow light gathered around its head, sharpening its focus and greatly increasing the chance of striking a vital point.

When Torchic suddenly charged at him, Tang San stuck to the plan he'd just worked out. He stepped into Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, slipped past Torchic, and charged straight at Ye Chen, who was directing the fight.

Ye Chen seemed to have expected this. After strengthening his legs with Soul Power, he burst forward with a Burst Step, and in an instant entered a state of Agility.