"Yu Tianheng, martial soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Twenty-ninth-level assault-type Soul Grandmaster."
Yu Tianheng raised his chin a little higher, his gaze sweeping disdainfully over Zhang Fei. His voice carried undisguised arrogance. "Today, I'll show you the strength of the number one beast martial soul in the world."
Zhang Fei remained unhurried. With a thought, he activated his martial soul.
One yellow and one purple Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet.
The next instant, a dragon's roar, more majestic and ancient than that of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, resounded throughout the entire Spirit Arena!
A phantom of a colossal golden dragon unfurled behind Zhang Fei, its body gleaming with brilliant gold. Its horns were imposing, and its five claws were razor-sharp.
The pressure of a sacred dragon spread outward like a tangible force, steadily overwhelming the aura of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon opposite him.
"Zhang Fei, martial soul: Golden Dragon. Twenty-third-level assault-type Soul Grandmaster."
Zhang Fei curled his lips into an unapologetically mocking smile.
"In my eyes, your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is nothing more than a long worm with legs."
The instant his words fell, the two draconic pressures collided soundlessly at the center of the arena.
The Golden Dragon was of the sacred dragon class, while the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was merely of the true dragon class. The disparity in their bloodline ranks was displayed in full at that moment.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon phantom behind Yu Tianheng suddenly shuddered!
Though it did not tremble and prostrate itself like an ordinary beast martial soul, its imposing presence clearly weakened. Its dragon head lowered slightly as it let out an unwilling whimper.
Yu Tianheng's expression shifted slightly. The confident smile on his lips stiffened for an instant, and his brows drew together.
On the viewing platform, Yu Yuanzhen's expression darkened as he sensed a draconic pressure even purer than that of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Without drawing attention to it, he gripped the armrest, his knuckles turning faintly white. His eyes remained fixed on the golden dragon phantom behind Zhang Fei, his expression exceptionally grave.
Yu Yuanzhen silently assessed the situation. This boy must not be allowed to live!
"The spirit battle begins!"
The host's voice abruptly rose, breaking the brief silence over the arena.
Yu Tianheng moved first.
He kicked off the ground fiercely, shooting toward Zhang Fei like a blue-violet bolt of lightning. Crackling electricity wrapped around his right fist as it shot straight for Zhang Fei's face.
The full-force speed of a twenty-ninth-level Soul Grandmaster was terrifyingly fast. Even the bluestone beneath his feet was stamped with a shallow mark.
Rather than retreating, Zhang Fei advanced. Golden dragon scales instantly covered his arms, his pupils turned vertical, and he threw a punch forward to collide viciously with Yu Tianheng's fist.
Bang!
The collision of their two forces exploded into a wave of air at the center of the arena. Golden light and blue-violet lightning interwove and burst outward.
Both men retreated half a step. Yu Tianheng swayed slightly before steadying himself, while Zhang Fei planted his feet firmly.
After all, there was a six-level gap in their Soul Power Levels. Yu Tianheng had been supported by the vast resources of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan since childhood, and his strength could not be underestimated.
Neither side gained much of an advantage from their first direct clash.
Zhang Fei made a rapid judgment. His advantage lay in strength and defense, but his opponent's Soul Power Level was higher, and his lightning attacks carried a paralyzing effect. Fortunately, the Golden Dragon possessed extremely high lightning resistance. That terrifying current merely made his arm slightly numb, nowhere near enough to affect his movements.
Yu Tianheng's attack failed, but he did not pause. His first Soul Ring beneath him suddenly lit up.
"First Soul Skill, Thunderclap Dragon Claw!"
His right hand shot open. Blue-violet lightning rapidly gathered between his fingers, forming a massive phantom dragon claw covered in electric arcs. Wrapped in a fierce gust of wind, it swept horizontally toward Zhang Fei. Its power was far greater than his previous ordinary strikes.
Zhang Fei's gaze sharpened as his first Soul Ring lit up at the same time.
"First Soul Skill, Golden Armor Body!"
His strength and defense both doubled. That surging power flooded every part of his body, making his arms as steady as stone pillars.
Clang!
The Thunderclap Dragon Claw smashed viciously into Zhang Fei's crossed arms. Lightning burst apart, and the piercing ring of metal striking metal echoed out.
Zhang Fei was forced back half a step by the force. His feet scraped a shallow trail across the black iron stone platform, but he had blocked it.
Yu Tianheng frowned. His second Soul Ring lit up immediately afterward, giving him no time to catch his breath.
"Second Soul Skill, Thunderous Force!"
Blue-violet lightning erupted from his entire body, gathering around him into a crackling web of electricity before crashing down upon Zhang Fei.
This strike was even more violent than Thunderclap Dragon Claw. Countless electric arcs blanketed the area, sealing off Zhang Fei's paths of escape to either side.
Zhang Fei had no intention of dodging either.
After Ice-Fire Body Tempering, mere lightning was nothing more than a tingling sensation, while its burning effect was utterly useless.
He braced himself, Soul Power surging wildly through him. The golden dragon scales shone even brighter, bursting with dense sparks under the bombardment of lightning.
Lightning crackled and exploded as electric arcs raced across the surface of his dragon scales, only to be firmly blocked by that golden defense. Not a trace of it could penetrate.
Yu Tianheng's breathing grew slightly hurried.
He had already used both Soul Skills, yet he had not even managed to break through his opponent's defense. A wave of agitation rose in his chest.
Since childhood, he had been praised as a genius. He had never encountered an opponent of the same rank who could withstand two of his Soul Skills head-on.
Impossible! Yu Tianheng roared inwardly.
The pride and self-respect repeatedly instilled in him by his clan since childhood turned into reckless, desperate ferocity at that moment.
Roar!
Yu Tianheng let out a low roar, pouring all his Soul Power into his arms. Abandoning his Soul Skills, he launched a torrential assault against Zhang Fei.
Punch after punch came crashing down. Blue-violet lightning exploded from his fists in showers of sparks, and every blow carried the ruthless ferocity of a man fighting for his life.
Facing that storm-like offensive, Zhang Fei did not retreat in the slightest.
Their fists collided violently again and again. Dull bang, bang, bang sounds exploded continuously across the Spirit Arena as shockwaves rippled outward.
The foundation forged through Ice-Fire Body Tempering, coupled with the doubled enhancement of Golden Armor Body, allowed Zhang Fei to stand as immovable as a rock before Yu Tianheng's full-force attacks.
His gaze remained calm as he tracked his opponent's movements through the dense barrage of fists.
Yu Tianheng was already at the end of his strength.
After several exchanges, Zhang Fei stopped holding back. The deep-purple second Soul Ring beneath his feet suddenly lit up.
"Second Soul Skill, Dark Gold Dragon Claw Hand!"
Zhang Fei's arms were instantly covered in even denser golden dragon scales. His finger bones gave off crisp cracking sounds as his fingertips rapidly lengthened, narrowed, and curved, turning into ten razor-sharp dragon claws.
He did not use the Heaven-Rending Claw in his right hand, because there was no need.
Zhang Fei's aura surged dramatically at that instant.
His golden dragon claws slashed head-on into Yu Tianheng's fists. Every claw strike carried a shrill whistle through the air, sharp enough to seem capable of tearing the air itself apart.
Rip!
The dragon claws swept past, shredding three tears across Yu Tianheng's clothes at the chest. Though they did not reach his flesh, the sight still sent cold sweat pouring down his back.
The moment Zhang Fei unleashed his three-thousand-five-hundred-year second Soul Skill, Yu Tianheng's expression changed completely.
He discovered that every one of Zhang Fei's claw strikes forced him to dodge desperately. The aura emanating from those dark gold dragon claws made the hairs on his back stand on end. If he were caught solidly, even his bones might be gouged out.
Yu Tianheng retreated several steps in succession, forced to shift from offense to defense as he blocked in a miserable state.
The situation reversed in an instant.
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