(Third update)
The elites from the Heaven Dou Empire's major Advanced Soul Master Academies were generally stronger than the Royal Knights. The moment they made their move, they might not have possessed the overwhelming spectacle of a legion in battle, but the teams of five to seven displayed a different kind of coordinated combat prowess.
Everyone released their Martial Souls. Yellow, purple, and black Soul Rings shone in dazzling, soul-stirring colors. Each academy formed groups of five to seven, protecting their Support Spirit Masters at the center while assault-type and defense-type Spirit Masters stood at the perimeter.
Rocks continued to rain down from the hills on both sides, but the assault-type Spirit Masters smashed them apart one by one, or they struck the defensive soul skills of the defense-type Spirit Masters, unable to harm them in the slightest.
Some rocks were hurled toward Yang Ming's side as well, but he did not even need to act. When the falling rocks struck the Black Tortoise Shield, the rebounding force shattered them into even smaller fragments.
Yang Ming advanced with the others while fighting, without slowing in the least. They continued toward their predetermined destination, striving to rush out of this narrow mountain passage before the falling rocks blocked the road ahead.
Seeing that they were about to pass through the stretch between the two hills, many academy students breathed a sigh of relief. Even the Royal Knights covering the rear, after suffering a number of casualties, began preparing to retreat after holding the line.
But at that moment, a piercing whistle sounded from somewhere unknown. Thousands of black-clad figures suddenly appeared atop the hills on both sides and charged downhill at an astonishing speed.
At that moment, the Royal Knights were still in the midst of retreating, and their Soul Power