Having learned from Li Kai's mistake of charging head-on and being sent flying by a single strike, Sun Chuantao did not choose to attack at close range.
He raised an arm, and the Ringed Great Blade flew from his hand, carving a sharp arc through the air. With a piercing shriek that tore through the air, it spun toward Ye Han from the side.
At the same time, the great blade split into two, then two into four as it flew. In the blink of an eye, it became four afterimages that converged to kill from different directions.
This was Sun Chuantao's long-range attack method. It was incredibly fast and came from tricky angles; one careless move, and vital points would be sliced open.
Ye Han's gaze sharpened. He held the Coiling Dragon Staff upright before him, both hands steadily gripping its middle. A mountain-like, weighty aura spread from his body.
Third Form of the Unyielding Staff Technique, Heaven and Earth!
This form emphasized a stable stance and the staff's unyielding force. The long staff swept out an impenetrable curtain of dark-golden shadows around him, protecting his entire body like a wall of bronze and iron.
The afterimages of the Ringed Great Blade slammed into the staff shadows one after another, producing dense clashes of metal. Sparks flew everywhere, yet not one attack broke through the defense.
Sun Chuantao frowned deeply and drove his Soul Power harder. The four afterimages attacked even more fiercely, repeatedly slicing in from all directions.
Yet no matter how he changed the angles, that curtain of dark-golden staff shadows remained as steady as a boulder, never revealing the slightest opening.
That relentless barrage consumed a considerable amount of Sun Chuantao's Soul Power.
His assault slowed for a moment.
At that instant, Ye Han moved.
His body flashed. The Coiling Dragon Staff swept upward from below, its dark-golden shaft bursting through the remaining blade shadows with unstoppable momentum. It struck the true body of the Ringed Great Blade with perfect precision.
Clang!
With a thunderous crash, the great blade shuddered violently under Zhen's blow, gave a mournful cry, and flew back.
Sun Chuantao caught it, but Zhen's immense force transmitted through the staff left his wrist numb. He staggered back several steps before barely steadying himself.
But Ye Han gave him no chance to catch his breath.
The moment he knocked the great blade away, Ye Han had already charged forward. Like an arrow released from its bow, he crossed the distance and appeared three feet before Sun Chuantao in an instant.
The Coiling Dragon Staff swept horizontally, its fierce wind carrying crushing power as it smashed straight toward Sun Chuantao.
Sun Chuantao's pupils contracted. In his haste, he raised the Ringed Great Blade before himself, Soul Power surging wildly as he tried to block.
But that force was even more ferocious than he had expected.
With a dull boom, he was blasted away by the staff and crashed to the ground dozens of meters away.
The arena fell silent once more.
If Li Kai's defeat by a single strike could still be blamed on carelessness, then this battle proved otherwise. Facing the full-force attack of Level Forty-Six Sun Chuantao, Ye Han still had not released his Spirit Rings, yet he had easily defeated his opponent with nothing but a long staff.
That was enough to prove his strength.
Ye Han put away the Coiling Dragon Staff, swept his gaze over the crowd again, and said calmly,
"Does anyone else want to try?"
Two teammates had been defeated in succession, and Ye Han had not even released his Spirit Rings.
Yan was still somewhat unconvinced and had just prepared to step forward when Hu Liena beat him to it.
"Looks like your offense and defense are both very strong. I wonder how your spiritual power is?"
Hu Liena's voice was slightly husky, carrying an innate seductive charm.
Her Martial Soul was the Demon Fox, a control-type Martial Soul.
As Pope Bibi Dong's personal disciple, Hu Liena's talent and strength were considered among the very best of her generation.
Having witnessed Ye Han's strength, Xie Yue had wanted to stop her.
But he also wanted to see whether Ye Han's spiritual power could withstand Hu Liena's control.
"Spiritual power? Give it a try."
Ye Han remained perfectly calm.
Hu Liena said nothing more and walked directly into the arena.
Soul Power surged from her body, and the faint phantom of a Demon Fox appeared behind her.
With Martial Soul Possession, her hair turned fiery red, and a large fluffy tail grew from behind her.
Her aura changed abruptly as well. A faintly enchanting seductiveness veiled her brows and eyes, and every smile or frown could stir the heart.
Two yellow and two purple Spirit Rings rose beneath her feet.
"If I'm not mistaken, your Spirit Rings should also be the optimal configuration of two yellow and two purple rings. My Martial Soul is the Heavenly Fox, and my Soul Power is level forty-eight. Opponents at the same level are all restricted by my charm skills. Show your Spirit Rings. I don't want to win unfairly."
Ye Han shook his head.
"No need. Make your move."
Hu Liena's smile stiffened for an instant.
She was Pope Bibi Dong's personal disciple. Since childhood, she had never fallen behind among her peers. When had anyone ever looked down on her like this?
Even during sparring within the team, Yan and Xie Yue had to focus completely when facing her charm skills.
This boy would not even reveal his Spirit Rings. Was he really so confident that he could withstand her spiritual attack?
A trace of displeasure at being slighted rose in Hu Liena's heart, and her gaze became sharper.
"Fine. Then be careful."
The moment she finished speaking, her second Spirit Ring lit up.
A ripple of Soul Power spread outward, and an invisible force descended toward Ye Han.
Fox Charm.
A spiritual attack that inflicted forced dizziness.
This was Hu Liena's signature skill.
Any opponent with slightly weaker spiritual power or insufficiently firm will would fall into a brief daze the instant they were hit. Even an opening lasting only a breath or two was enough for her to secure victory.
But when that ripple of Soul Power touched the area around Ye Han, nothing happened.
Ye Han remained standing straight where he was, his gaze clear and his expression unchanged.
The Coiling Dragon Staff stood before him, its dark-golden shaft glowing faintly, as though an invisible barrier had blocked all of that charming force outside.
Hu Liena's pupils narrowed slightly.
She refused to believe it and immediately changed tactics.
Her third Spirit Ring lit up.
Ripples of sound spread from her mouth.
The melody was gentle and lingering, mournful and alluring, carrying a bewitching power that ensnared the heart.
Heavenly Fox Melody!
The sound waves covered a wider area, focusing on spiritual penetration as they continuously battered Ye Han's will.
Yet Ye Han still did not move in the slightest.
The Coiling Dragon Staff stood upright before him. Its dark-golden shaft trembled faintly with Zhen, released a solemn aura, and completely shut out every trace of spiritual interference.
Hu Liena bit her lip, a stubborn glint flashing in her eyes.
Her fourth Spirit Ring lit up.
Fallen Fox Nightmare!
This was currently her strongest spiritual control skill. It used her Soul Power to create an emotional domain, plunging all opponents within its range into negative emotions such as fear, grief, and despair. Those with weak wills would lose their fighting spirit outright.
Spiritual ripples spread outward, covering an area more than ten meters wide.
When the domain touched the space around Ye Han, the dark-golden light on the Coiling Dragon Staff suddenly brightened. A faint, deep dragon roar seemed to emerge from the staff.
The sound was not loud, but it carried an immense, righteous presence.
The gloomy pinkish-purple aura rapidly faded beneath the dragon's roar.
"Don't waste your effort. Your charm-type skills are useless against me."
Ye Han had not moved a single step from beginning to end. He merely allowed the Coiling Dragon Staff to stand before him.
A Break Evil Dragon was sealed within the Coiling Dragon Staff.
Its powerful Evil-Breaking Attribute completely neutralized Hu Liena's charm power.
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