The instant the Ninth Soul Ring shattered, all its blood-red Soul Power poured into the Clear Sky Hammer. The hammerhead, already covering half the sky, swelled again, forcing down the defensive formation the three Consecrated Elders had raised together.
"Black Copper Sky Wall, hold firm!"
The Shield-Bearing Consecrated Elder pressed both palms against his shield. The Ninth Soul Ring beneath his feet blazed almost blindingly, yet the Profound Copper Great Shield still slid backward. Soul Power rippling from its edges sheared great slabs of rock from both sides of the valley.
The White-Haired Consecrated Elder braced his Long Staff Martial Soul against the back of the copper shield and shouted.
"Don't scatter your Soul Power! He's already detonated his Ninth Soul Ring. After this blow, he'll have nothing left. Hold it, and we can take his life!"
The Twin-Winged Consecrated Elder beat the wings of his Martial Soul Avatar, laying sheet after sheet of gray feather-blades across the shield.
"Tang Hao, you've forced a Ring Detonation despite your old wounds. Even if you break through, your Heart Meridian won't last half an hour. Why throw your life away here?"
The skin along Tang Hao's arms split open, and blood ran down the hammer's handle.
"If you want my life, take this hammer blow first!"
The Clear Sky Hammer fell.
A thunderous crash tore through the Valley. The outermost layer of gray feather-blades shattered first. Clear Sky Soul Power swept hundreds of them away and drove them into the cliffs and trees, leaving dense stretches of deep holes.
The Twin-Winged Consecrated Elder's chest caved in, and he sprayed blood across his Martial Soul Avatar.
"We can't hold it! Fall back!"
"We can't!"
The White-Haired Consecrated Elder braced himself against his companion's back. Cracks rattled through his Long Staff Martial Soul.
"If