"Watch out, junior!"
Xu Sanshi assumed his opening stance. Martial Soul Possession! The shell of a Mystic Tortoise appeared behind him, and the temperature across the entire Soul Fighting Arena suddenly plummeted. At the same time, four Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet—two yellow and two purple, the optimal Soul Ring configuration!
Xiao Yan and Xiao Yulü also advanced slowly. One used Martial Soul Possession, while the other summoned his Martial Soul. Two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, appeared. In an instant, flames surged, and the heat from the blaze dispersed the cold created by the Mystic Tortoise, bringing the temperature back to normal.
"A Thousand-Year Soul Ring?"
Xu Sanshi asked in surprise. The first ring was already beyond its age limit? Had they gone that far?
No wonder they had the courage to challenge a Level 40 opponent at Level 10. They really did have the confidence to back it up.
In that case, he truly didn't need to hold back.
"First Soul Skill! Black Tortoise Shock!"
A tortoiseshell shield appeared on the back of Xu Sanshi's hand. He slammed it fiercely into the ground, cracking the surface. At the same time, rings of ripples spread outward in all directions from the point of impact!
"Ground waves? You've developed your Martial Soul quite well, senior."
Xiao Yan reached out into thin air. Pale Blue Flame ignited in his hand, and he slapped the ground. Earth Fire surged up, blocking the incoming ripples.
"Xiao Yulü, you go first."
"Sure."
After holding off that wave of attacks, Xiao Yan turned to his good friend. Xiao Yulü didn't waste words. He spun the Flame Splitting Wave Devouring Ruler in a flashy flourish, hoisted the Giant Ruler onto his shoulder, then leaped high into the air:
"First Soul Skill! Thousand Jun Momentum!"
Xu Sanshi raised his shield and held it before him. A shield warrior charged fearlessly ahead, unafraid of any storm.
Xiao Yulü brought the Heavy Profound Ruler down in a mighty cleaving strike. With his Soul Skill activated, its weight had increased by nearly thirty percent. This blow was truly powerful and heavy.
"That's all?"
Xu Sanshi's lips curled up as his First Soul Ring lit.
Black Tortoise Shock!
Ripples rolled across the surface of the shield. The powerful shockwaves traveled through Xiao Yulü's arm and spread throughout his body.
Xiao Yulü grunted, then staggered back three steps.
"Your defense really does live up to its reputation, senior."
He shook his numb arm, his fighting spirit burning even brighter.
"Then how about this blow?"
Xiao Yulü leaped into the air again. The Flame Splitting Wave Devouring Ruler swelled against the wind. This was his own self-created ultimate technique, named after his Martial Soul—the Flame Splitting Wave Devouring Ruler!
As he unleashed the move, Xiao Yulü also diverted some of his Soul Power. His First Soul Ring flashed brightly—he had added the First Soul Skill, Thousand Jun Momentum!
"Thousand Jun! Wave-Devouring Ruler!"
The Giant Ruler came crashing down from above. Xu Sanshi's expression shifted slightly as his Third Soul Ring lit up.
Black Tortoise Power!
The shield darkened in color, and its defense instantly rose by a whole level.
Crack—
Even with Black Tortoise Power activated, the Mystic Tortoise Shield was nearly shattered. A hint of solemnity flashed through Xu Sanshi's eyes.
This kid's Martial Soul was no ordinary one. It might not be the very finest among weapon-type Martial Souls, but its attack power was almost unmatched among those of the same level.
"Not bad, but still not enough."
He drew a deep breath, and his Fourth Soul Ring lit up.
Black Tortoise Shell!
A thick tortoiseshell extended from his back, encasing his entire body.
Thud, thud, thud!
Seeing his first strike fail, Xiao Yulü immediately used its momentum to strike again. Like a madman, he swung his Giant Ruler again and again. After more than a dozen consecutive attacks, the cracks across the shell's surface multiplied.
Xu Sanshi stood motionless, but a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
Though the Black Tortoise Shell offered unmatched defense, the shockwaves still passed through it and into his body.
"That's enough."
Xiao Yan's voice rang out.
Xiao Yulü stopped attacking and gasped for breath, slowly retreating to the side. Clearly, keeping up that assault had taken a heavy toll on him.
"I'll take it from here."
Xiao Yan walked forward two steps and patted Xiao Yulü on the shoulder. The Pseudo Bone Spirit Fire in his palm then began to flicker even more violently.
Xu Sanshi withdrew his shell, his face somewhat pale.
Although Xiao Yulü's attacks hadn't broken through his defense, they had still consumed a great deal of his Soul Power. The young man was worthy of being called a prodigy.
"Come on, junior. Show me what you can do."
Xiao Yulü had already been so fierce. Just what was Xiao Yan capable of?
"Watch out, senior!"
Xiao Yan snapped his fingers and instantly completed Martial Soul Possession with Charmeleon.
After evolving, Charmeleon's possession looked even more ferocious. Its claws were sharper, and the phantom Dragon Claw looked savage. Its golden scales gleamed more brightly, while the flame on its tail had taken on a hint of pale blue.
A phantom dragon's head also covered Xiao Yan's entire head, its features faintly resembling Charmeleon. Most striking of all, a dragon horn had grown from the top of his head. It looked somewhat incongruous, but made his entire form seem sharper.
A phantom covered Xiao Yan's eyes, where Pale Blue Flame now surged.
"First Soul Skill, Blazing Sun Domain!"
The young man spoke calmly. The entire Soul Fighting Arena seemed to be bathed in sunlight, and Xiao Yulü even felt his body grow a little lighter.
"A domain-type Soul Skill? That's rare."
Xu Sanshi didn't interrupt him. Instead, he watched as Xiao Yan slowly prepared.
Xiao Yan raised a hand, and a crimson Fire Lotus gradually took shape.
"Buddha Fury Fire Lotus... Beibei told me about this move. It's roughly equivalent to a Soul Elder's full-power strike. With my defense, though, I should have no problem blocking it."
Xu Sanshi murmured. For some reason, however, his hands and feet felt a little cold.
Was it an illusion? Was he afraid of Xiao Yan's flames?
Xu Sanshi took a deep breath, and the Soul Rings around him gleamed.
"Third Soul Skill, Black Tortoise Power! Fourth Soul Skill, Black Tortoise Shell!"
He chose to trust his instincts and use all his strength to defend against Xiao Yan's attack!
But after condensing one Fire Lotus, Xiao Yan didn't release it. Instead, he raised his other hand!
Pseudo Bone Spirit Fire ignited in his palm. Pale Blue Flame slowly gathered, forming a second lotus: the Ice Crystal Jade Lotus!
Then Xiao Yan brought his hands together, abruptly merging the two lotuses!
"Watch out, senior!"
Lotus Flower Flame swirled, half ice and half fire. This fusion of extreme cold and scorching heat combined in a bizarre way!
With his terrifying control over flames, Xiao Yan made the two kinds of fire surge separately without letting them touch at all!
He had learned this move from the Fire Spin that day. Combining the power of two sources of flame wasn't as simple as adding them together. It was multiplication!
The Fire Lotus drifted slowly forward, yet radiated a terrifying aura of destruction. Xu Sanshi's eyes widened as he looked around, but there was nowhere to escape!
"Damn it!"
He could only pour all his strength into driving his Soul Skills, trying to withstand the terrifying blow!
The next instant, the Fire Lotus bloomed!
Flames swept over him, attacking without pause. The Mysterious Underworld Shield shone brightly, holding them back again and again. The clash of water and fire was an even match!
"It can only just hold its own, even with the boost from the Blazing Sun Domain..."
Xiao Yan murmured, then curled the corner of his mouth into a smile.
"Then how will you deal with the Pseudo Bone Spirit Fire, Sanshi?"
Rattle, rattle—
Xu Sanshi froze. What was that sound?
His Mysterious Underworld Shield shouldn't break while defending against this kind of flame, should it?
But that sound, like cracking ice... Cracking ice... Ice!?
"What?"
Xu Sanshi's expression changed drastically.
Under the Fire Lotus's relentless assault, his Mysterious Underworld Shield had actually... frozen over!?
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