First Soul Skill, Mountain Moving

Tang San frowned deeply.

He had been defeated by Lin Hao.

The Tang Sect Secret Arts had been suppressed by Lin Hao at every turn. Unless he mastered them completely, he had no confidence in defeating Lin Hao with equal Soul Power using only the Tang Sect Secret Arts.

Precisely because he had been defeated by Lin Hao, Lin Hao's excited laughter pierced Tang San's heart like countless needles.

Tang San clenched his fists and charged toward Lin Hao. When he reached him, he threw a punch.

"Watch out!" Xiao Wu cried urgently.

Compared to before obtaining his Spirit Ring, Tang San's running speed had clearly increased.

After obtaining his first Spirit Ring, Tang San's Yin Qiao Vessel and Yang Qiao Vessel had been opened. The benefit was a considerable increase in the speed of his footwork.

"His movement speed has increased!" Lin Hao was startled inwardly, though a smile curled at his lips.

Whenever Tang San threw a punch or swept out a kick, Lin Hao intercepted it.

Occasionally, Lin Hao struck back, only for Tang San, whose pupils had turned violet, to block and intercept his attacks as well.

Lin Hao and Tang San traded blows, but in terms of fighting techniques, Lin Hao was slightly inferior.

Yet as time passed, Lin Hao gradually figured out Tang San's fighting style. Little by little, Tang San could no longer gain any advantage against him.

"It's a draw!" Xiao Wu said.

Tang San panted slightly, his head covered in sweat.

Lin Hao's clothes were soaked with sweat as well.

The fight had lasted for more than half an hour.

A draw?

Tang San was very dissatisfied with that result.

The most notable characteristic of the Mysterious Heaven Skill was its "unceasing vitality." It could continuously restore Soul Power, giving Tang San nearly limitless endurance in battle, far surpassing ordinary Spirit Masters.

Moreover, the Mysterious Heaven Skill could compress and purify Soul Power, accelerating cultivation.

Tang San had learned from his previous lesson. This time, he did not seek a quick victory. From the start, he had intended to fight an attrition battle and wear Lin Hao down through the Mysterious Heaven Skill's properties.

"You wanted to fight an attrition battle with me?" Lin Hao saw through Tang San's intentions, a smug smile on his lips. "You didn't expect this, did you? My Soul Power has been purified. Even if we fight for another half hour, you still won't be able to wear me down!"

Tang San frowned slightly at those words.

His scheme had been seen through by Lin Hao, leaving Tang San extremely displeased.

Even so, Tang San remained confident. "Lin Hao, apologize to me."

"What should I apologize for?" Lin Hao asked. "I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I apologize to you?"

Tang San said sternly, "You spoke recklessly about my father. You must apologize to me!"

Lin Hao laughed. "You're the one who should apologize. I didn't say anything wrong. Your father was very irresponsible. He gave birth to you, yet didn't raise you. Even if he had his reasons—whether he owed debts, had to conceal his identity, or feared that attention because of himself might even bring you death—he still shouldn't have abandoned you and left. Taking a step back, I still think that even if he had stayed in Holy Soul Village like before and remained a drunkard, he could have stayed by your side and watched you grow up. Rather than... leaving you, or silently watching over and protecting you from afar!"

Tang San was stunned.

Lin Hao continued, "I'm the same age as you. For children, what they want most isn't to become abandoned children. What they truly want is for their father and mother to be by their side as they grow up. Isn't that right?"

Tang San was speechless.

Lin Hao said seriously, "Do you still think I said anything wrong?"

"Blue Silver Grass, Entanglement!"

Tang San's first Spirit Ring rose from beneath his feet as he slapped his palm against the ground.

In an instant, Blue Silver Grass shot out at high speed, attempting to bind Lin Hao's feet.

Lin Hao had anticipated it. He tapped the ground with his toes, then rapidly began circling around Tang San.

"Phantom Step!"

Afterimages appeared behind Lin Hao. As he ran, Tang San refused to give up, controlling the Blue Silver Grass to continue pursuing him. His bright eyes tracked Lin Hao's movements.

"First Soul Skill—Mountain Moving!"

Lin Hao's first Spirit Ring rose from beneath his feet.

The Talisman in his hand turned yellow.

A rune symbolizing the earth element appeared on the yellow Talisman.

"Go!"

With a wave of Lin Hao's hand, the Talisman burst with yellow light and transformed into a ten-meter-tall mountain peak.

It looked like a mountain peak, but it was actually more like a massive boulder shaped like a mountainside, crashing down from the sky toward Tang San.

Damn it!

Tang San's heart trembled. He had been focused on using his Soul Skill to bind Lin Hao and had never expected Lin Hao's first Soul Skill to be one that crushed opponents beneath a giant peak.

By the time Tang San reacted, it was already too late.

"Boom!"

Tang San was smashed to the ground. The mountain peak pressed down on his body.

"You lost." A smug curve formed at Lin Hao's lips.

This was the first time he had used his first Soul Skill in a duel against a Spirit Master. His first battle had ended in victory.

Lin Hao looked at the unconvinced Tang San, shook his head slightly, and waved his hand to withdraw his Soul Skill before turning to leave.

The moment he turned around, a sharp gust of wind suddenly sounded behind him.

"Watch out!" Xiao Wu cried out again.

A Sleeve Arrow shot from Tang San's sleeve.

Unwilling to accept defeat, Tang San shamelessly launched a sneak attack at Lin Hao's back.

The sharp arrowhead reflected a cold white gleam beneath the setting sun.

However, the Sleeve Arrow was not aimed at any of Lin Hao's vital points. Instead, it shot precisely toward Lin Hao's waistband.

Tang San narrowed his eyes, as though he could already see Lin Hao's embarrassing state.

In the blink of an eye.

Just as the Sleeve Arrow was about to shoot off Lin Hao's belt, yellow light burst forth.

"First Soul Skill—Mountain Moving!"

A mountain-shaped protective barrier enveloped Lin Hao's entire body.

"Clang!"

With the sound of metal striking metal, the Sleeve Arrow collided with the protective barrier and fell to the ground.

Tang San was shocked. "Golden Bell Shield!"

At that moment, Lin Hao looked like a martial hero who had unleashed the Golden Bell Shield.

The words "Golden Bell Shield" slipped from Tang San's mouth.

"No..." Tang San overturned his previous conclusion in his heart. This isn't the Golden Bell Shield. This is a clever application of his first Soul Skill. The books call it a Self-Created Soul Skill!

The protective barrier was produced by the Talisman and came from Lin Hao's first Soul Skill. Its essence had not changed at all.

Lin Hao turned around and glared furiously at Tang San.

Xiao Wu could no longer endure it. She stepped between Tang San and Lin Hao, pointed at Tang San's nose, and scolded, "Tang San, how can you be so despicable? We agreed this was a spar, yet you ambushed Lin Hao from behind."

Tang San did not care and argued, "Sneak attacks are my specialty!"

The Tang Sect Secret Arts focused primarily on hidden weapons.

Tang San was not wrong. Sneak attacks were indeed his specialty.

But in his determination to win, he had ignored the fact that during a spar—especially after Lin Hao had already defeated him—firing a hidden arrow from behind was something anyone would find disgraceful.

"Besides, I didn't admit defeat just now. Since I didn't admit defeat, that means the spar wasn't over yet." Tang San argued logically, explaining why he had attacked just now.

"Fierce Tiger Fist!"

"Roar!"

Amid the faint roar of a tiger, Lin Hao's fist slammed into Tang San's chest.

Xiao Wu had blocked Tang San's line of sight, leaving him unable to react when Lin Hao pulled Xiao Wu aside and unleashed the Fierce Tiger Fist.