Black Dragon Swallows Snow, Forcing Out the Battle Armor (Battle Frenzy!!!)

The noon sunlight poured over Eastsea Academy's training ground like molten gold, roasting the air until it shimmered faintly.

Yet amid the scorching heat, a biting chill stood in opposition to an overbearing pressure.

Tang Linyuan held his spear in one hand, its tip angled toward the ground, his dark eyes fixed tightly on Wu Zhangkong ten meters away.

"Teacher Wu, since it's a bet, there has to be a standard for winning and losing."

A wild, arrogant curve lifted at the corner of the boy's lips. His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly across the entire field.

"I said last time that I'd force out your Battle Armor next time. Today, that will be the line."

"If I can force you to use your Battle Armor, even just one piece of it, I win. If I win, you must agree to one request from me without conditions. How about it?"

The entire field erupted in an uproar.

Most of the students from Grade One Class Five had no idea what Battle Armor was, but they understood the weight of the words "unconditional request."

Xie Xie's eyes widened, his mouth hanging open in an O.

Wu Zhangkong did not get angry. There was not even the slightest ripple on his eternally icy face.

He merely looked at Tang Linyuan calmly. The Sky Frost Sword in his hand traced an icy-blue arc, and the surrounding temperature instantly dropped.

"You're quite bold."

Wu Zhangkong nodded lightly, accepting the seemingly absurd wager.

"But I won't hold back. This time, I'll suppress my Soul Power to level forty. For a Soul Elder, that is already an insurmountable chasm."

Level forty, the realm of a Soul Ancestor.

It was a dividing line, signifying a qualitative transformation in Soul Power and a tremendous leap in quantity.

Tang Linyuan only chuckled and shook his head, battle intent blazing in his eyes like fire.

"Teacher Wu, you underestimate both the Tyrant Profound Divine Spear and your student. Even without using Spear Intent or my self-created spear techniques, level forty... probably isn't even enough to warm me up."

Boom!

Without the slightest probing, the alloy floor beneath Tang Linyuan's feet exploded as he shot forward like an arrow leaving the bowstring.

In midair, the first deep-purple Millennium Soul Ring beneath his feet suddenly lit up.

First Soul Skill: Tyrant Decision!

The originally pitch-black shaft of the Tyrant Profound Divine Spear instantly expanded by a full circle, dark-golden patterns flowing across it like magma.

This was not merely an increase in power, but a "weighting" on the level of laws.

As the spear thrust out, the air seemed to turn into viscous mercury and let out an overloaded boom.

Wu Zhangkong's eyes narrowed slightly. An expert could tell the quality of another expert's move at a glance.

The weight of this spear was actually thirty percent greater than during their last spar!

Heaven Frost Slash!

Instead of retreating, Wu Zhangkong advanced. The longsword in his hand transformed into a streak of brilliance and precisely struck the side of the Tyrant Profound Divine Spear's tip.

However, at the instant sword and spear collided, Tang Linyuan's second Soul Ring lit up immediately afterward.

Second Soul Skill: Void Vibration!

A violent dragon roar rang out. On the Tyrant Profound Divine Spear, Xiao Mo, the black Dragon Soul Spirit that had originally been nothing more than a pattern, suddenly came alive. It transformed into a substantial black dragon phantom that spiraled around the spear shaft.

A black shockwave erupted from the spear tip. What had merely been an immensely heavy thrust now carried terrifying high-frequency vibrations and tearing force. If this Soul Skill were used together with Void Splitting, the third style of the Nine Calamity Annihilation Styles, they would complement each other and become even more terrifying.

Screech—!!!

A teeth-grating sound of friction rang out.

Wu Zhangkong felt a strange vibrating force crazily drill through the Sky Frost Sword into his palm, attempting to shatter his protective Soul Power. At the same time, that overbearing force came crashing down like a mountain, forcibly bending his sword momentum by half an inch!

What a powerful combination!

Wu Zhangkong was secretly shocked.

This brat's Soul Skill combination was practically perfect. One focused on "weight," the other on "breaking." Layered together, even a level-forty Soul Power barrier could not withstand them!

Bang!

The two clashed and separated in an instant.

Tang Linyuan used the force to flip backward and land, while Wu Zhangkong was actually shaken back half a step, his sword-holding right hand slightly numb.

Ancient Martial Arts: Silk-Winding Force!

Before Wu Zhangkong could adjust his breathing, Tang Linyuan's spear wrapped around him again like a parasite clinging to bone.

This time, it was no longer broad, sweeping attacks, but viciously tricky close-range strikes.

The spear shaft moved like a soft whip and the spear tip like a venomous snake, every attack aimed at critical joints such as Wu Zhangkong's throat, wrists, and knees.

With the support of ancient martial arts techniques, Tang Linyuan brought both "an inch longer, an inch stronger" and "an inch shorter, an inch deadlier" to their fullest extent.

Even Wu Zhangkong, with level-forty Soul Power, felt a trace of... frustration!

His sword was fast, and his Soul Power was strong, but whenever he tried to exert force, Tang Linyuan always used an extraordinarily clever angle to either redirect his strength or interrupt it, leaving him with the feeling that he could not use his power at all.

After forcing Wu Zhangkong into a dead corner once again,

Tang Linyuan withdrew his spear and stood straight. Rather than pressing his advantage, he looked at the somewhat disheveled Wu Zhangkong and said calmly,

"Teacher Wu, I told you. Level forty isn't enough."

"Show me your real ability. Raise your Soul Power to level fifty or higher. Otherwise, this battle is meaningless."

Wu Zhangkong stood silently. The indifference in his eyes finally faded, replaced by seriousness.

"Fine."

Boom!

An even more terrifying cold current erupted from Wu Zhangkong's body.

Level fifty!

Since level forty could not secure victory through technique, then he would crush him with the absolute power of a Soul King!

As his Soul Power was unsealed to level fifty, the blue glow on the Sky Frost Sword surged three feet in an instant, and the surrounding air directly froze into ice crystals.

Wu Zhangkong's speed more than doubled. Sword shadows filled the sky like a blizzard, instantly suppressing Tang Linyuan's offensive completely.

Clang clang clang clang—!

The dense sounds of metal clashing were like a violent storm.

Though Tang Linyuan was at a disadvantage, he was like a reef standing firm amid crashing waves. No matter how wind and rain battered him, the Tyrant Spear in his hand defended without the slightest gap.

"My god..."

At the edge of the field, Xie Xie stared until his eyes nearly fell out.

He was still clutching his Light Dragon Dagger, and it felt like a toy in his hand.

"That's your brother? Is... is he even human?"

Xie Xie swallowed and turned toward Tang Wulin beside him, his eyes sparkling with little stars called "admiration."

"He can fight Teacher Wu to this extent? He even forced Teacher Wu to raise his Soul Power?"

Tang Wulin proudly lifted his chin. Though he too was dazzled by the battle, that was his own older brother. Praising him felt just like praising himself.

"Of course! My brother is a man who wants to pierce the heavens! Do you think just anyone can be my brother's opponent?"

"Amazing... too amazing..." Xie Xie muttered. As he watched the black-clad figure in the field, the small bit of pride he had as a rich young master had long been thrown beyond the clouds.

Is this the world of the strong? I want to... become as strong as him too!

At the center of the battlefield, the situation had reached a fever pitch.

Tang Linyuan's clothes had already been sliced open in several places by sharp sword energy, and his stamina was draining rapidly.

Against level-fifty Wu Zhangkong, pure technique could no longer bridge the gap.

"I can only use that move."

Tang Linyuan suddenly took a step back, opening the distance.

At that moment, his gaze became calmer than ever, like the stillness before a storm.

"Xiao Mo!"

He shouted in his heart.

Roar—!

The mutated Soul Spirit coiled within his sea of consciousness let out an earthshaking dragon roar.

A pitch-black stream of light instantly covered the entire Tyrant Profound Divine Spear. The dark-golden patterns on its shaft immediately turned an eerie blackish-purple, as though a living black dragon had opened its fangs.

Then, a horrifying sight unfolded.

The first and second Soul Rings beneath Tang Linyuan's feet began to collapse like melting candles, rapidly transforming into two streams of incomparably pure energy that madly poured into the third Millennium Soul Ring!

Soul Ring Fusion!

This was an extremely dangerous advanced technique. A single mistake could result in backlash.

Yet under Tang Linyuan's powerful spiritual control, everything flowed as smoothly as clouds and water.

Buzz—!!!

The third Soul Ring burst with dazzling black light, instantly doubling in size.

Self-Created Soul Ring Fusion Skill: Tyrant Heaven Strike!

Core principle: Xiao Mo's "ultimate sharpness" as the edge, the first Soul Skill's "ultimate weight" as the bones, and the second Soul Skill's "ultimate vibration and tearing" as the wings. Trinity as one, staking everything on a single strike!

"Teacher Wu, take this!"

Tang Linyuan gripped the spear with both hands, and his body vanished in an instant.

This time, there was no sound at all.

Because he had become so fast that even sound could not catch up.

Wu Zhangkong only saw a blur before an unprecedented sense of danger engulfed his entire body.

It was not the lock-on of a Soul Skill, but the instinctive shudder of having the Death God Scythe pressed against his throat!

That spear was too fast! Too heavy! Too sharp!

My Soul Power barrier can't stop it!

The thought flashed through Wu Zhangkong's mind.

He could clearly sense that the ultimate spatial tearing attribute carried by the spear tip was enough to cut through his level-fifty Soul Power defense like tofu.

If he did not evade, he would be pierced through!

But the pride of being a teacher would not allow him to dodge.

Clang—!

At that critical moment, Wu Zhangkong had no time to think. His body made the most honest, instinctive response.

A deep blue glow instantly lit up from his right hand.

It did not cover his entire body, only his right palm and forearm.

It was an exquisitely crafted piece of armor, icy blue throughout and engraved with intricate snowflake patterns. It looked as though it had been carved from ten-thousand-year black ice, radiating a sacred and inviolable aura.

Sky Ice Battle Armor: Right Arm Gauntlet!

Wu Zhangkong raised his right hand and directly grabbed the fatal thrust.

Ding—!!!

The spear tip collided with the gauntlet.

The piercing metallic screech made everyone present cover their ears in pain.

A terrifying shockwave spread outward from the two of them. The grass on the training ground was ripped up by the roots, while surrounding dust was blasted dozens of meters away.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The dust settled.

Tang Linyuan maintained his thrusting stance. The shaft of the Tyrant Profound Divine Spear was slightly bent, its tip pressed firmly against Wu Zhangkong's right palm.

There, it was blocked by a layer of blue metal armor radiating cold air.

Though the spear tip had failed to pierce the Battle Armor, it had still left an incredibly tiny yet clearly visible white mark on the indestructible armored surface!

Wu Zhangkong's face remained cold and stern, but his gaze was filled with complexity.

He looked at the Battle Armor on his right hand, then at the boy before him, whose face was pale and whose lips bled, yet who wore an utterly unrestrained smile.

"Battle Armor..."

Tang Linyuan withdrew his spear. His body swayed, and he used the spear shaft to support himself as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. The light in his eyes was more dazzling than the sun.

"Teacher Wu, this icy-blue Battle Armor is really beautiful."

"Even if it's only one gauntlet..."

"I won."

Wu Zhangkong was silent for a moment. The blue light around his right hand gradually receded, and the Battle Armor sank back into his body.

He did not argue or make excuses.

"Mm."

Wu Zhangkong's voice remained cold and clear, but everyone could hear the acknowledgment within it.

"You won."

"Remember your request. As long as it does not violate my principles, you may make it at any time."

Under the sunlight, the teacher in snow-white robes and the boy in fluttering black clothes stood facing one another.