Yu Tianheng's Contempt

Yu Tianheng, the favored son of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, had grown up surrounded by countless praises and expectations.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was hailed as the greatest beast Martial Soul in the world, and its clan possessed the longest legacy among the Upper Three Sects. This profound foundation and glory inevitably made Yu Tianheng regard Soul Masters of commoner origin with a hint of condescension.

In his eyes, Zhao Ming had merely been lucky enough to awaken Innate Full Soul Power and then happen to catch His Highness the Crown Prince's eye, gaining entry into his residence and thus earning the opportunity to stand here today.

This arrogance was displayed to the fullest during his spar with Zhao Ming. After activating Martial Soul Possession, Yu Tianheng did not launch an attack. Instead, he placed one hand behind his back and made a gesture for Zhao Ming to proceed.

Yu Tianheng's posture somewhat changed the nature of this spar.

It was as though this were not a contest between equals, but guidance from a senior to a junior.

Zhao Ming curled his lips. He would not get angry over something so trivial, but since his opponent was being so overconfident, there was no need for him to be polite.

The next instant, the two Soul Rings beneath Zhao Ming's feet lit up at the same time. His first soul skill, Vajra Body, and second soul skill, Emerald Feather Protection, activated almost simultaneously.

A layer of pale golden light surged from within him and covered the surface of his skin. At the same time, a faint emerald membrane as thin as cicada wings emerged around him, enveloping his entire body.

With the two enhancements layered together, Zhao Ming's aura abruptly rose by a great deal. The pressure he exuded even made the Royal Dou Team members standing at the edge of the field reveal looks of surprise. Empowered by these two soul skills, Zhao Ming's presence was no weaker than that of the level 29 Yu Tianheng.

Yu Tianheng, however, dismissed it with disdain.

Having received excellent Soul Master training since childhood, he almost instantly determined that Zhao Ming's first and second soul skills were most likely both enhancement-type skills.

This judgment made him shake his head inwardly, lowering his opinion of Zhao Ming by several more notches.

Enhancement-type soul skills did indeed have their advantages. In the later stages of a Soul Master's cultivation, their value would grow ever greater, because they were not limited by Soul Power Level and could continuously boost a Soul Master's combat strength.

But the problem was that, in the early stages of a Soul Master's cultivation, choosing two enhancement-type soul skills meant severely lacking active offensive methods.

For Soul Masters with family legacies, they could perhaps supplement their offense through Self-Created Soul Skills, combat techniques passed down by their ancestors, or even special secret combat arts handed down within their clans.

But who was Zhao Ming? A commoner Soul Master without any family background. Who would teach him such things?

In Yu Tianheng's view, Zhao Ming's choice of soul skills could only be described with the word "foolish."

Yet this thought remained in his mind for less than a breath before the sight before him shattered it completely.

Because Zhao Ming was too fast.

Despite possessing only an ordinary blunt-weapon Martial Soul, Zhao Ming erupted with a burst of speed in an instant that rivaled Yu Feng's surprise attacks.

Yu Feng was the owner of the Wind Chime Bird Martial Soul and the fastest agility-attack Soul Master on the Royal Dou Team.

Yet the burst speed Zhao Ming displayed at this moment was no less than Yu Feng's speed at a full sprint.

In the blink of an eye, Zhao Ming had crossed the more than ten meters between them. The Steel Whip in his hand carried a fierce gale as it smashed mercilessly toward Yu Tianheng's head.

Yu Tianheng's expression changed instantly. He had no time to consider why a strength-type assault Soul Master could unleash speed of this caliber. His survival instincts made him react at once.

The second Soul Ring beneath his feet flashed sharply as his soul skill, Thunderous Might, activated.

In an instant, countless bolts of blue-violet lightning shot outward in every direction from Yu Tianheng. Dense lightning arrows covered every inch of the three-meter area around him. The air filled with heart-pounding crackles, as though the entire area had been completely sealed off by the power of thunder.

The instant Zhao Ming's arm came into contact with those lightning arrows, an intense numbing sensation traveled through the Steel Whip, causing his movements to stall. The Steel Whip's descent slowed considerably as a result.

Yu Tianheng seized this fleeting opportunity, twisting aside to evade Zhao Ming's surprise attack. At the same time, he gathered the power of thunder around his right foot. His entire right leg was wrapped in blue-violet lightning as he viciously kicked at Zhao Ming's shoulder with the force of Thunderous Might.

If this kick landed solidly, even if it failed to severely injure Zhao Ming, it would be enough to force him back and buy Yu Tianheng an opportunity to readjust.

However, Zhao Ming's response completely exceeded Yu Tianheng's expectations.

Facing this heavy, powerful kick, Zhao Ming neither dodged nor evaded. He did not even assume a defensive stance. Enduring the numbing force of the lightning, he exerted strength with both arms and swung the Steel Whip diagonally upward, aiming directly for Yu Tianheng's chest.

There was no flashy technique in this strike, only pure overwhelming force. The whistle of the Steel Whip tearing through the air was piercingly sharp, as though the very space around it were about to be ripped apart.

Their attacks struck each other almost simultaneously.

Yu Tianheng's thunderous kick landed squarely on Zhao Ming's left shoulder. Violent lightning force surged wildly into Zhao Ming's body through the point of contact, attempting to destroy his meridians and muscles.

However, Zhao Ming's first soul skill, Vajra Body, displayed its true value at that moment. The one hundred percent increase in defense brought his physical strength to a terrifying level. Though Yu Tianheng's lightning force was tyrannical, it could only leave a charred mark on the surface of his skin and could not harm his bones or muscles at all.

Zhao Ming was kicked back three steps before steadying himself, but the expression on his face did not change in the slightest. He remained exceptionally calm.

Yu Tianheng, on the other hand, was in far less favorable condition.

Zhao Ming's Steel Whip struck solidly across his chest. In that instant, Yu Tianheng felt a mountain-crushing force surge into his body through his breastbone, violently jolting his internal organs.

As the greatest beast Martial Soul in the world, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul possessed defensive power far beyond that of other Martial Souls at the same level. Yu Tianheng's physical qualities were also outstanding even among those his age.

Yet even so, this whip strike still made him cough up a mouthful of blood on the spot, staining the front of his clothes red.

That was only thanks to the formidable physique granted to him by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. Otherwise, it would not have been as simple as coughing blood. Had it been a Soul Master with slightly weaker defenses, several ribs would likely have been broken.

Yu Tianheng staggered as he steadied himself, raising a hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. When he looked at Zhao Ming again, none of his earlier contempt remained. It had been replaced by unprecedented solemnity.