Silence settled over the clearing.
Tang San slowly raised his head, revealing his purple eyes.
Looking at those two pairs of eyes, one purple and one red, Zhao Wuji couldn't help slowing his steps.
"Teacher Zhao, watch out!"
Tang San raised both hands. Ten streaks of cold light burst from between his fingers, all aimed at vital spots such as the eyes, throat, and groin, with no two targeting the same place.
Zhao Wuji jumped in alarm. Speed was his weakest point, so he immediately shielded his vital spots with both hands as soul power surged through his body.
The instant the ten streaks of cold light touched the golden glow covering his body, a series of metallic clinks rang out, and all of them bounced away.
Tang San narrowed his eyes slightly, but he didn't stop. He moved through the clearing like a phantom, constantly shooting streaks of cold light from his hands straight at Zhao Wuji's vital spots.
Zhao Wuji stood still for a few seconds. Once he sensed that Tang San's hidden weapons couldn't penetrate his defenses, golden light blazed around him, and he walked toward Tang San, weathering the attacks head-on.
Tang San used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to widen the distance, his hands never stopping, as though he had an endless supply of hidden weapons.
Zhao Wuji frowned slightly and was about to say something when a wave of heat suddenly swept over his back. He hurriedly turned around.
At some point, Lin Yang had appeared behind him. More than a dozen balls of fire flew toward Zhao Wuji from every direction.
Seeing that they were smaller than the earlier flames, Zhao Wuji turned back around and continued toward Tang San, completely ignoring the fireballs.
But a moment later, the golden glow behind him suddenly flickered. His expression changed, and he hurriedly channeled more soul power into his back.
Several metallic clangs rang out amid the sound of flames exploding. He turned around, only to find another volley of fireballs hurtling toward him.
He narrowed his eyes. This time, he saw clearly: hidden weapons gleaming with cold light were visible between the fireballs and even inside them.
Lin Yang reached out again, swiftly picking up several hidden weapons that had bounced onto the ground, then raised his hand and hurled them with force.
He opened his mouth, and several bursts of flame followed, either enveloping the weapons or covering them as they flew toward Zhao Wuji together.
Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson.
Countless hidden weapons wreathed in fireballs struck Zhao Wuji. Their penetrating power and impact surpassed Tang San's attacks, and they carried flames as well.
Just as Zhao Wuji was fending off Lin Yang's attacks, a string of metallic clinks sounded behind him. His expression changed, and he quietly increased his soul power output.
Tang San hadn't stood idly by to watch. He and Lin Yang attacked relentlessly from opposite sides, pinning Zhao Wuji between them and leaving him unable to move.
Several times, Zhao Wuji tried to strike back with his palms, but Lin Yang and Tang San were both so nimble that he couldn't even touch the hems of their clothes.
Once their hidden weapons were nearly exhausted, Lin Yang and Tang San began darting around the clearing, constantly attacking Zhao Wuji but withdrawing the instant they made contact.
Zhao Wuji was like a blind bear, his heavy, powerful paws striking nothing but air.
Everyone outside the clearing stared in astonishment. Working together, these two were making a monkey out of Zhao Wuji.
Zhao Wuji felt utterly stifled under their attacks. He glanced over and saw that a third of the incense stick had already burned away.
"You two slippery brats. Trying to stall for time?"
"Get back!"
Lin Yang suddenly shouted and retreated at once.
The next second, Zhao Wuji's third soul ring lit up, and an invisible ripple spread across the ground.
Although Tang San had retreated without hesitation the moment he heard the shout, he was still a fraction too slow. His body suddenly grew heavy, and his feet felt as though they had sunk into a mire.
"Hahaha! Let's see how you run now, brat. I'll deal with you first."
Zhao Wuji laughed as he walked toward Tang San. If Lin Yang wanted to come to his aid, he would have to enter the range of Zhao Wuji's third soul skill. Once that happened, neither of them would pose a threat.
Lin Yang indeed stayed away. Instead, he stood where he was and formed hand seals with one hand, while the soul power throughout his body began circulating and gathering in an orderly fashion.
Zhao Wuji swung his palm. Tang San barely dodged it using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, but before he could adjust to the sudden increase in gravity, Zhao Wuji's next strike was already coming.
Tang San evaded several of Zhao Wuji's attacks in succession, sweat already beading on his forehead. This couldn't go on. He glanced toward Lin Yang.
Unable to take Tang San down, with Lin Yang seemingly gathering power behind him, Zhao Wuji thought, I can't let this drag on any longer.
At that thought, his fourth soul ring blazed with purple light. The next second, it actually flew off on its own.
Under Tang San's horrified gaze, the soul ring slipped directly around him, yet he felt no discomfort.
"Forcing me to use my fourth soul skill means you're qualified for admission."
Zhao Wuji grinned, bent his knees slightly, and sprang into the air.
Tang San hurriedly shifted his position, but he discovered that no matter how he moved, the airborne Zhao Wuji remained aimed straight at him.
This is... a target-locking soul skill!
Tang San instantly understood the soul skill's effect. With a wave of his hand, countless strands of blue silver grass burst from the earth and instantly bound Zhao Wuji just as he landed and prepared to attack.
Taking advantage of that brief opening, Tang San leaped backward. He raised his hand, and six streaks of cold light shot out like lightning.
Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted. The golden glow around him suddenly flared, flinging away both the blue silver grass and the six streaks of cold light-six black crossbow bolts.
Tang San used Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to pull himself away in an instant, dodging Zhao Wuji's counterattack.
His chest tightened, and a cluster of steel needles accompanied by a cloud of thick mist shot toward the charging Zhao Wuji.
The thick mist made Zhao Wuji's head swim. Then pain struck his chest, and he looked down in shock to discover that his defenses had actually been breached.
A tingling pain followed, spreading from within his body.
"Poison!"
Zhao Wuji's expression changed, and he forcefully squeezed the steel needles out.
But before he could make his next move, a searing heat came from behind him.
It was Lin Yang. A blazing red stream of fire shot from his mouth, spreading abruptly as it struck Zhao Wuji's back.
This time, he didn't stop. The flames continuously battered Zhao Wuji's back, yet they simply couldn't breach his defenses.
The golden glow of the Immovable Bright King Body could ward off physical attacks, but it couldn't stop the steadily rising temperature.
Zhao Wuji's face gradually reddened, and great beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.
How does he still have so much soul power?
Lin Yang's earlier one-handed seals hadn't been for gathering power at all, but for restoring his soul power. The gestures had merely been a show for Zhao Wuji.
Strike while the enemy was down-Tang San wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. Ten golden glimmers shot from between his fingers.
The golden glimmers forced their way through the Immovable Bright King Body's defenses and pierced Zhao Wuji's body.
The stinging pain throughout his body and the searing heat against his back made Zhao Wuji roar in anger. His fifth soul ring, a black one, lit up.
Lin Yang and Tang San simultaneously felt immense pressure bearing down from every direction, as though it would crush them into a ball.
Tang San's gaze sharpened, and he abruptly lowered his head. A seven-inch crossbow bolt shot from his back.
The bolt likewise ignored the Immovable Bright King Body's defenses and flew straight toward Zhao Wuji's wide-open mouth.
At the critical moment, Zhao Wuji snapped his mouth shut and clamped his teeth firmly around the bolt. But a cloud of poisonous mist instantly spread inside his mouth, making his head swim once more.
At the same time, under the astonished gazes of everyone outside the clearing, a purple soul ring slowly rose around Lin Yang.
Lin Yang closed his left eye, then abruptly opened it.
His eye instantly became bloodshot, and the three rapidly spinning black tomoe briefly converged.
"Amaterasu!"
Before you continue