The spear swept upward in a smooth circle, tracing a deep-blue ripple of flowing water. At an inconceivably ingenious angle, it struck precisely at a weak point in the force behind the heavy short hammer crashing down at him!
"Crack!"
A muffled crack that made the bones ache and tingle rang out. Tie Man's massive body was sent tumbling backward several steps by that deft upward thrust!
Before Tie Man could regain his footing, Luo Lie came rushing through the air at Xiao Xuan's side on a swirling gust of wind, his claws already inches from the back of Xiao Xuan's neck!
Yet Xiao Xuan seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. Without even turning his head, he pivoted slightly on his left foot, turning his body halfway and swinging his spear through a half circle!
"Turning Spear--Flowing Water Ring!"
The shaft traced a rapidly spinning, translucent ring of watery Qi through the air, slipping flawlessly through a gap in Luo Lie's claw shadows!
"Bang!"
Luo Lie felt as though his claws had raked a heavy, rapidly spinning millstone of water. Not only were his fierce claw winds shredded in an instant, but a surging, unceasing wave also slammed into his chest!
"Pfft!"
The soul light protecting him shattered on the spot. With a muffled grunt, Luo Lie was flung sideways like a kite with its string cut!
From the moment the two launched their sudden attack to the complete collapse of their offense, only two or three breaths had passed in a flash!
The two were knocked off the arena almost simultaneously.
The entire venue fell silent in an instant.
Several breaths later, a thunderous wave of exclamations finally erupted!
"He... he won?! One against two, and two high-level Soul Elders couldn't even last three moves?!"
"He didn't even use his Martial Soul's Soul Rings!! His spear technique is nothing short of divine!!"
Tie Man and Luo Lie, who had landed on their backsides below the arena, got to their feet, disheveled and covered in dust.
They looked at each other and reached out to feel their uninjured torsos. Aside from shock, their eyes held only deep relief.
They knew very well that Xiao Xuan had not used his full strength just now.
Taking deep breaths, the two respectfully cupped their fists and bowed to Xiao Xuan on the arena, saying:
"Thank you for showing mercy, Brother Xiao Xuan! We brothers were outmatched, and we accept our defeat wholeheartedly!"
Xiao Xuan smiled faintly.
Though life and death in the arena were left to fate, he was no bloodthirsty, battle-crazed madman.
"Yanyan, you were right! Our junior really won!"
Ye Lingling clenched her fists excitedly.
Unlike the two happy women, Yu Tianheng, sitting beside them, looked utterly grim.
Two pieces of trash! Two against one, and they couldn't even force him to use a Soul Ring!
But...
Yu Tianheng stared fixedly at the bamboo spear in Xiao Xuan's hand.
Now, he had to admit that Xiao Xuan's spear technique really was something.
But... the greatest bane of a Power Attack System fighter would always be an indestructible, ultimate defense!
No matter how pretty those flashy moves look, there will always be a defense they can't break!
Yu Tianheng leaned back in his chair and turned toward the contestants' waiting area, a cold sneer of assured victory returning to his lips:
If either Shi Mo or Shi Mo went up alone, Xiao Xuan might still win. But now the brothers are going up together. Let's see how you break through their defense!
After Xiao Xuan's spectacular one-against-two feature match came to an end, the Great Soul Arena promptly arranged another four or five ordinary one-on-one duels.
But after watching Xiao Xuan's match, the spectators showed little interest.
Fortunately, those matches proceeded swiftly.
About an hour later.
"Honored guests!"
The host's ringing voice exploded beneath the hall's domed ceiling like thunder out of a clear sky.
"Sorry for the wait! Let's welcome contestant Xiao Xuan back to the arena!"
Whoosh-!
The somewhat subdued stands were instantly set alight again!
Many gamblers and spectators began cheering once more, and the atmosphere throughout the venue began to soar again.
Amid the roaring waves of noise, the host paused briefly, then raised his voice:
"And the challengers in this match are no ordinary contenders!"
"These two hail from the main lineup of Heaven Dou Royal Academy! Known as the Twin Stars of Defense, they have inherited one of the finest defensive Martial Souls on the continent, renowned throughout the world for its imposing solidity and unshakable strength!"
The host spread his arms and roared at the top of his lungs:
"On one side is the bamboo spear, unbroken through a hundred battles and fierce in attack. On the other is the iron-walled Black Tortoise, steady as a rock and said to be immovable as a mountain! Will the spear prove sharper, or the heavy shield stronger? Let's wait and see!"
As the host's commentary built the anticipation, the heavy gates on both sides of the contestants' passage opened with a rumble.
Dressed in black and carrying his spear, Xiao Xuan walked slowly out of the western passage with an unhurried stride.
From the eastern passage, two burly figures, as massive as small hills, strode out side by side. Their heavy battle boots struck the obsidian flagstones with solid, muffled thuds.
Hearing phrases like "known for their defense" and "unshakable" echoing throughout the venue, Xiao Xuan, standing on the western side of the arena, raised his brows slightly, a touch of indescribable oddness on his face.
Known for their defense?
Xiao Xuan glanced at his Blue Jade Bamboo, the faintest trace of a smile quietly curling his lips.
If he encountered a Control System opponent skilled at kiting from a distance, or an Agility Attack expert with elusive movements and lightning-fast speed, he might have had to put in some extra effort maneuvering for distance.
But when it came to standing firm and taking blows head-on, or defending in formation...
Wouldn't that be just like paper before him?
Across the arena, more than two zhang away.
The brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo stood shoulder to shoulder. Although battle intent churned in their eyes, as large as copper bells, there was no sign that they were underestimating their opponent.
The brothers had seen Xiao Xuan's one-against-two battle in the previous match.
They knew Xiao Xuan was powerful, far beyond even their expectations.
Thus, the two had completely discarded their original plan and decided instead to...
Only defend, without attacking!
The brothers believed that as long as they did not take the initiative and expose an opening, no one at the Soul Elder level could break through their combined defense.
So this match could only end in a draw.
That outcome was enough for the two brothers.
"Match-begin!!"
At the referee's command, the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo wasted no words, revealing their Martial Souls and Soul Rings at the same time!
Hum-!
Hum-!
Yellow!
Yellow!
Purple!
The brothers had identical Soul Ring Configurations.
As they used Martial Soul Possession, the bones along their backs rapidly bulged outward, forming two enormous plates of ink-black heavy armor covered in rugged ridges and angles, as though cast from granite.
Immediately afterward, the two crossed their arms, each taking a thick, heavy half of a giant turtle shield from his palms and overlapping them together without the slightest gap!
"Black Tortoise Heavy Formation--Impregnable!"
The two giant shields overlapped, and an earthy yellow halo transformed into a thick, enormous, translucent barrier. Like a heavy bronze bell overturned on the ground, it completely enveloped the brothers at its center, from head to toe.
They did not charge forward or move so much as half an inch. Not even a wisp of wind could slip through the shield formation, and its defenses were as dense as those of a natural mountain-rock fortress!
Sheltered behind the heavy armor, Shi Mo let out a hearty laugh and called out in a booming voice:
"Junior Xiao Xuan! Your spear technique is formidable! But here on this arena today, no matter how formidable it is, you won't break through our brothers' interlocking heavy shields! You can forget about winning this half of the match!"