Two and a Half Years, Level Forty

The battles that followed fell into a strange stalemate.

Zhang Fei's attacks surged like waves, his dragon claws flashing through the air. Every strike ripped out a piercing whistle and burst into dense showers of sparks against Yang Ming's body.

But Yang Ming was a level-sixty-seven defensive Soul Emperor. The Scale Armor Beast's defense was absurdly powerful; though Zhang Fei's attacks were fierce, they could never truly break through his scaled armor.

Yang Ming's counterattacks were just as sharp. His fists and kicks carried overwhelming force, each blow powerful enough to shatter boulders.

Yet when they struck Zhang Fei, most of their power was first neutralized by the Sacred Dragon Golden Body, while the remaining force was blocked by his Golden Armor Body and dragon scales.

"H-how are they supposed to fight this? They're both iron turtles! Neither of them can hurt the other!" Li Gang stared in disbelief from the sidelines.

"No, it's different." Meng Yiran's voice was solemn. "Have you forgotten? Teacher Yang is a Soul Emperor, while Zhang Fei is only a Soul Elder. Although Teacher Yang doesn't specialize in offense, this is still a battle across three major ranks."

Li Gang and the others immediately understood. Only then did they remember that Zhang Fei was still merely a Soul Elder. Even if he could only temporarily fight to a draw, that already made him a monster among monsters.

After the time it took to burn an incense stick, the stalemate was finally broken.

Zhang Fei's attacks gradually slowed, and the light on his dragon claws began to dim.

His consumption was simply too great. With three soul skills stacked atop Dragon Transformation, his Soul Power drained away like floodwaters through an opened sluice gate.

Yang Ming, however, was a Soul Emperor after all. His reserves of