"That's the Moonlight Garment..."
Fang Qianyuan had not been cultivating for long and failed to recognize the silver screen of light, but in and around the stands, the expressions of several elite disciples and elders of the Training Institute changed at once.
They knew it was an exceptionally powerful defensive Inscribed Talisman for someone at human rank, one with countless threads of connection to the ancient spell-path Divine Ability, Moon Spirit Gang.
In short, it was a simplified, weakened version of Moon Spirit Gang. By applying talismans to the body's surface and channeling spiritual power to imitate the power of moon spirits, it provided nearly flawless protection.
The protection this Inscribed Talisman offered depended on the Spirit Tamer's Spirit Essence. Those with deep reserves could use it to withstand more attacks, while those with weaker reserves could still avoid injury as much as possible until their Spirit Essence ran dry.
Naturally, such a powerful Inscribed Talisman could not be applied to just anyone. It required Spirit Essence of the corresponding nature to function, and Ye Tianming's primary Spirit Creature happened to be a moon-howling gray wolf.
This Spirit Creature was a mixed-blood descendant of the Moon-Howling Heavenly Wolf. It possessed considerable yin-aspected moon-spirit power, perfectly meeting the requirements for using the garment and even producing a stronger effect than other primary Spirit Creatures.
"They actually equipped Ye Tianming with the Moonlight Garment. The Ye Household really is sparing no effort to nurture him!"
"With this, Fang Qianyuan is bound to lose..."
Ding Long, Wei Wen, and the others were also taken aback at the sight, then immediately bristled with indignation.
"Damn it, this is downright bullying! An Inscribed Talisman like that costs at least several thousand pieces of spirit jade, as much as a supreme-grade Spirit Creature!"
"How is he supposed to fight that? With Junior Brother Fang's cultivation, even breaking through his defenses won't be easy. If Ye Tianming wanted, he could win without moving a muscle, couldn't he?"
"That's utterly shameless!"
They had every reason to be upset, because with their backgrounds, there was no possibility of obtaining an Inscribed Talisman like this.
To them, using something like this was nothing short of bullying.
Ning Yuerong also looked a little worried. "This probably wasn't prepared for the Training Institute's selection, but for the Sect Grand Tournament, was it? Junior Brother Fang is really in danger this time."
On the platform, after praising Ye Tianming, Fang Qianyuan heard a clamor of discussion nearby. Everyone seemed astonished by the screen of light that had just appeared, which surprised him a little as well.
But he had no time to dwell on it, because Ye Tianming's counterattack arrived swiftly.
He too used Claw Strike from the Wolf-Taming Method. This technique condensed Spirit Essence into claw gang, forming sharp blades that wounded opponents. Its greatest difference from Gang-Splitting Slash was that it could extend only an inch or so beyond the body and needed the user's body to sustain its existence.
But as a basic technique, this attack was undoubtedly the most widespread and efficient way to use Spirit Essence. Even those who advanced to higher ranks could not do without it.
Ye Tianming's fundamentals were extremely solid. The claw gang he condensed reached nearly three inches in length, shrouded in silvery-white light like silver-plated blades.
Fang Qianyuan retreated to evade him, then condensed his claw gang again, parrying and counterattacking with Berserker Wolf Claw.
They exchanged blows rapidly, probing and clashing several times in the space of a breath before Ye Tianming gained the upper hand and pressed Fang Qianyuan back.
Fang Qianyuan felt fierce gusts rushing into his face without pause. Waves of cold, razor-edged menace swept over him like wildly dancing swords, making his scalp prickle.
Under such an assault, it seemed that a single careless moment would leave him torn apart by wolf claws.
Yet amid this danger, like dancing on the tips of blades, he showed no fear. Instead, a strange excitement rose within him.
The longer he fought, the more excited he became, and the more exhilarated he felt. His mind gradually opened up, and the Spirit Essence within him surged like a gale, continuously jetting from the apertures all over his body.
Gale Wind Protection!
This was another defensive technique similar to the Moonlight Garment, but it originated from a spell. It used Spirit Essence to channel the power of the wind path, creating gale-like pressure differentials across the body's surface.
These fierce winds could withstand some attacks, but their effectiveness fell short of the Moonlight Garment, and they consumed enormous amounts of Spirit Essence.
In his excitement, however, Fang Qianyuan disregarded the consequences. Still channeling the fierce winds, he lunged fearlessly at his opponent.
At that instant, he seemed to leave himself wide open, completely abandoning his defenses.
A sharp gleam flashed in Ye Tianming's eyes. He showed no mercy, sweeping his wolf claws fiercely.
In an instant, his claw gang pierced the wind barrier, leaving several long, bloody gashes across Fang Qianyuan's waist and abdomen.
But Fang Qianyuan's expression turned ferocious. As though utterly oblivious to his injuries, he still brought his Spirit Essence claws slashing down.
Clang!
A streak of silver flashed through the air. His wolf claws struck the Moonlight Garment heavily, producing a sound like metal clashing against metal.
It blocked me...
The thought flashed through Fang Qianyuan's mind, leaving him utterly astonished.
"Crescent Slash!"
The next moment, Ye Tianming turned his palm over, and a crescent-shaped blade of energy shot out.
Fang Qianyuan hurried to dodge, but the long energy blade swept across his waist and abdomen, scattering sprays of blood.
A massive wound several inches long and about an inch deep immediately appeared on his body.
"It's over!"
Ye Tianming murmured indifferently, then abruptly unleashed his Spirit Essence and drove a fist toward Fang Qianyuan's face.
But just as it was about to land, a powerful hand stopped his fist.
It was Fang Qianyuan's hand.
"You're only making things harder for yourself by stubbornly holding on like this." Ye Tianming frowned and spoke with displeasure.
"You don't need to worry about me. You'd better worry about yourself first." Fang Qianyuan smiled, then exerted strength through his arm and pushed Ye Tianming's fist back.
"What?" Feeling the tremendous strength coming from Fang Qianyuan, Ye Tianming could not help looking startled and doubtful.
Fang Qianyuan knew what puzzled him.
Ordinarily, injuries and exhaustion would inevitably diminish a person's strength. But his physique was powerful, and although the attacks just now had looked terribly severe, he was already recovering rapidly.
It was merely a little suffering of flesh and skin, nowhere near enough to seriously injure him.
How could wounds like these weaken his strength?
The power of the gale berserker wolf circulated throughout his body, working with the formidable physique bestowed by the Mysterious Treasure Pill. Fang Qianyuan, a Spirit Tamer at the fourth transformation, actually forced Ye Tianming's fist back through sheer strength.
Under everyone's incredulous gazes, fierce winds surged around him, and a savage aura descended through the air amid an intense blue-green radiance.
He had pushed the Spirit Taming Art to its utmost limit, abruptly unleashing all the Spirit Essence in his body.
Fang Qianyuan clenched his teeth tightly, like a vicious wolf baring its fangs. All over his body, Spirit Essence stood out like needles, as though he had grown a coat of wolf fur. Claw gang sprang into being and abruptly extended to over three inches, its sharp, icy gleam chilling the heart.
Riiip!
Amid a sound like tearing cloth, his sharp claws sliced through the air itself, their vicious edges suddenly raking toward Ye Tianming.
But almost immediately, silver light flashed again, and the Moonlight Garment blocked his claws.
Amid a shrill sound like long nails scraping sheet metal, their Spirit Essence ground violently against each other. The next moment, Ye Tianming abruptly retreated. Unable to control the momentum of his claws, Fang Qianyuan plunged them into the platform.
Boom!
He gouged a hole deep enough to swallow his arm up to the elbow into the thick bluestone floor.
Blocked again. What the hell is this technique?
Panting heavily, Fang Qianyuan could not help cursing inwardly.