First Under Heaven Among Tool Martial Souls-And That's It?

The instant a small black hammer appeared in Tang San's left hand, the chatter around the training ground rapidly died down.

Dai Mubai and the others already knew Tang San had a Second Martial Soul, but seeing him release it before everyone still caught them by surprise.

Flender especially.

As a Soul Saint, he had seen far more than any ordinary academy student.

The hammer was black from end to end and looked unremarkable, but the heavy, domineering aura that surged out when it appeared was unmistakable.

"The Clear Sky Hammer..."

Flender spoke quietly, but his expression had turned serious.

Liu Erlong looked at Yu Xiaogang too.

She finally understood why Yu Xiaogang had been willing to take a child with a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul as his disciple after meeting him just once.

Blue Silver Grass was ordinary, of course. But if a Clear Sky Hammer was hidden beside it, that was another matter entirely.

Yu Xiaogang, however, looked grim. "Xiao San, put your Martial Soul away."

Tang San did not move. He knew exactly why his teacher wanted to stop him.

His father had warned him explicitly: until he was strong enough, he must not add Soul Rings to the Clear Sky Hammer lightly, much less reveal his Second Martial Soul in public.

But he had fought all the way to this point today. He had used Blue Silver Grass, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Mysterious Jade Hand, and even Hidden Weapons, yet he still had not truly defeated Ling Yun.

Xiao Wu was watching from the sidelines, too.

Tang San knew pulling out the Clear Sky Hammer now was somewhat impulsive, but he did not want it to end like this.

"Teacher, I won't use a Soul Skill."

Tang San tightened his grip on the handle and fixed his gaze on Ling Yun again. "Just the Martial Soul itself."

Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth, then said nothing more to stop him.

Ling Yun had been studying the little black hammer from the start.

The Clear Sky Hammer.

Finally, I get to see it with my own eyes.

He had to admit there was a reason it was called the first among tool Martial Souls under heaven. Even without a single Soul Ring attached, its sheer sense of power far surpassed that of an ordinary tool Martial Soul.

"Xiao San, you hid that pretty deep."

Ling Yun suddenly chuckled. "Blue Silver Grass in one hand, a hammer in the other. No wonder Grandmaster looked like he'd found treasure the first time he met you."

Tang San did not answer.

Yu Xiaogang frowned at once.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing."

Ling Yun waved a hand. "I just realized Grandmaster took in a Blue Silver Grass disciple, but Blue Silver Grass might not have been what caught his eye."

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened noticeably.

Tang San said in a low voice, "Teacher didn't take me as his disciple because of the Clear Sky Hammer."

"Sure, sure."

Ling Yun did not argue. "If you say so. Let's fight first, before you lose and blame me for throwing you off."

Tang San said nothing more. His left hand clenched, and in the next instant, he activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.

Unlike before, Tang San did not spread Blue Silver Grass across the field. He charged straight at Ling Yun with the Clear Sky Hammer.

Ling Yun did not underestimate him either. The Clear Sky Hammer was no Mysterious Jade Hand. If that thing struck his head, Ice and Fire Body Tempering was not a reason to test a hammer with his skull.

Tang San was fast.

Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track excelled at shifting position in tight spaces, and gripping the hammer with both hands had not visibly slowed him. In just a few breaths, he reached Ling Yun.

The black hammerhead swept across.

Ling Yun activated Wave Treading and slid backward. The hammerhead skimmed past his chest, its gust of wind whipping his clothes behind him.

"That's some serious power."

After landing, Ling Yun glanced at the wooden post the Clear Sky Hammer had grazed.

The post had not snapped. It had exploded from the middle. A hit like that on a person would leave more than a few bruises.

Tang San gave him no time to look. The first strike missed, and he spun with its momentum, bringing a second strike crashing in from the side.

Using the momentum.

Ling Yun's eyes shifted slightly.

This blow was clearly stronger than the last.

Tang San had not learned the true Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer yet, but as a Tang Sect disciple, he was plainly familiar with techniques that borrowed and built up force.

Ling Yun chose not to meet it head-on. A Water Shadow Clone appeared, and the hammerhead slammed into one of the figures.

Water burst apart, but Tang San did not even look. His Purple Demon Eye tracked the field and locked onto another moving Ling Yun.

Another swing. Another clone.

After missing twice in a row, Tang San did not grow impatient. Instead, he stopped immediately.

He had spotted the problem.

The Clear Sky Hammer had plenty of power.

But against the way Ling Yun fought, all that power meant nothing if he could not land a hit.

Standing over a dozen meters away, Ling Yun could not help laughing. "Xiao San, that hammer of yours is scary, all right. There's just one problem."

Tang San knew what he was about to say. "I can't hit you?"

"Smart."

Ling Yun nodded. "No wonder you're Grandmaster's prized disciple. You catch on quick."

A vein twitched on Tang San's forehead.

In the next instant, masses of Blue Silver Grass shot up from beneath Ling Yun's feet.

Some of the amusement left Ling Yun's face.

As the Blue Silver Grass sealed off his escape routes, Tang San charged again. This time, Ling Yun had no room to keep retreating. The Clear Sky Hammer came down straight at him.

"Let's see where you dodge now!"

Ma Hongjun could not help shouting from the sidelines.

Ling Yun raised his right hand. His Second Soul Ring lit up, and a Water Shuriken rapidly took shape.

He did not aim it at Tang San. Instead, he sent it slicing through the Blue Silver Grass at his feet. The rapidly spinning water blade severed swathes of vines, and Ling Yun slipped sideways through the opening.

The Clear Sky Hammer struck the ground.

Boom!

A deep pit appeared in the training ground.

Ling Yun glanced at it.

"Tsk."

"Academy property."

"Remember to pay for the damage."

Tang San nearly sent his next swing wide.

Quite a few Blue Tyrant students on the sidelines burst out laughing.

But Yu Xiaogang did not laugh.

He had realized that even with the Clear Sky Hammer out, the situation had not fundamentally changed.

Ling Yun gave Tang San no chance to use his advantage in strength.

And swinging the Clear Sky Hammer repeatedly was draining Tang San's Soul Power and stamina.

"Xiao San, stop chasing him," Yu Xiaogang warned grimly. "Limit where he can move!"

Tang San had clearly reached the same conclusion.

Blue Silver Grass spread rapidly across the entire training ground. Rather than trying to bind Ling Yun directly, it divided the field into separate zones.

There were fewer and fewer places where Ling Yun could use Wave Treading.

"Not a bad idea."

Ling Yun glanced down, and his fourth Soul Ring slowly lit up.

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed at once.

"Watch out for the mist!"

Too late. A thin water mist spread outward, and the white haze soon swallowed most of the training ground.

Tang San immediately activated Purple Demon Eye.

But in the next instant, he heard Ling Yun's voice from the left.

"Xiao San."

Tang San whipped around. Nothing. Then the voice came from behind him.

"Nice hammer."

Tang San turned again. Still no one. Ling Yun seemed to be circling him on purpose.

"But have you noticed something a little embarrassing?"

Tang San tightened his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer.

"Your Blue Silver Grass can't hit me."

"Your Hidden Weapons couldn't take me down either."

"And now you've even pulled out the first among tool Martial Souls under heaven—"

The voice suddenly drew close. Tang San spun and swept his hammer across, but struck only a water shadow. As water exploded outward, the real Ling Yun appeared on his other side.

Ling Yun's Soul Power tongue-scarf instantly wrapped around the wrist holding the hammer.

Tang San immediately exerted force.

But Ling Yun did not wrestle with the Clear Sky Hammer. He used the tongue-scarf to wrench himself in a new direction, skimming over the water to circle around Tang San's side.

His kick landed squarely on Tang San's waist. Tang San flew sideways and rolled twice before regaining his footing.

He still held the Clear Sky Hammer, but his face had gone noticeably pale.

Ling Yun walked slowly out of the mist and looked from Tang San to Yu Xiaogang.

"Grandmaster. Back then, you said my Martial Soul was useless."

Behind Ling Yun, Greninja crouched silently.

Across from him, Tang San held the Clear Sky Hammer in his left hand and Blue Silver Grass in his right. Both of his Twin Martial Souls were now exposed.

"Now your favorite disciple has even brought out his Second Martial Soul."

Ling Yun grinned. "And it looks like he still can't beat my useless Martial Soul."

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened completely. Tang San tightened his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer again, but before he could advance, a voice sounded behind him.

"Enough."

Flender finally stepped forward.

His gaze was not on Ling Yun.

It was fixed on the Clear Sky Hammer in Tang San's left hand.

"Xiaogang, don't you think you owe us an explanation?"