The previous two-on-two and one-on-one Soul Fighting did not attract much attention.
The audience had been eagerly anticipating Black Bamboo's performance over the past few days.
As the two sides probed and fought back and forth on the platform, many people yawned, and the cheers became sparse.
More than half an hour later, the Soul Guidance Lamp at the four corners of the dome suddenly turned, and the beams of light fell simultaneously on the center of the obsidian arena.
The host raised the megaphone and shouted:
"Greetings, everyone! The highly anticipated match of today's seventh division is about to begin!"
"Four consecutive matches without a single Soul Ring activated, a perfect record of four wins! Let's welcome -- Black Bamboo!"
The stands instantly became lively.
The audience rose to their feet, waving their betting tickets, and whistles and shouts filled the air.
The iron gates of the athletes' passage were raised.
Xiao Xuan, dressed in dark-colored close-fitting clothes and wearing a black iron mask, slowly walked onto the arena, carrying a blue spear in one hand.
The east side passage was also opened.
A burly man, over two meters tall and clad in heavy chainmail, stepped onto the platform, his heavy footsteps causing the obsidian slabs to creak and groan.
"His opponent is the renowned level 47 Power Attack System Soul Ancestor of the Western City— the Mountain-Breaking Mad Hammer, Tie Lie!"
The two stood about ten feet apart in the center of the arena.
Tie Lie's rough hands rested on his waist, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Xuan's shoulders, arms, and spear. Facing this newcomer who had won four consecutive matches, he clearly had no intention of underestimating him.
On the second floor, in the VIP area for general guests, the Shrek members sat side by side.
Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back by the stone railing, carefully examining the bamboo spear in Xiao Xuan's hand for a moment, a look of understanding on his face.
"Its entire body has a jade-like luster, and the tip of the spear conceals a sharp edge; it is indeed a benign mutation."
Dai Mubai and Oscar and the others stepped forward, waiting for him to continue explaining.
Yu Xiaogang turned around, put his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth for a couple of steps.
"However, even a benign mutation cannot change its fundamental nature as a plant-based Martial Soul. Too strong, too weak; this bamboo spear may look sturdy, but its internal structure may not withstand a heavy blow."
"It naturally has an advantage against flesh and blood or light weapons. But in a real clash of heavy weapons, the fragility of grass and trees will be exposed, and it is far inferior to a powerful Tool Martial Soul."
At this point, he glanced at Tang San.
Tang San understood, and a smile appeared on his lips.
The number one Tool Martial Soul in the world is the Clear Sky Hammer.
No matter how much bamboo mutates, how long can it withstand that pure and overwhelming force?
Yu Xiaogang withdrew his gaze and said firmly:
"If he encounters a truly powerful and heavy Tool Martial Soul, his bamboo spear will be unable to continue."
Ma Hongjun and the others nodded repeatedly, and their surprise and doubt about Black Bamboo dissipated considerably.
On the stage, Tie Lie had already spread his arms.
A dark hammer, over ten feet long and with a head as thick as a water vat, materialized in his palm, while four Soul Ring, two yellow and two purple, rose from beneath his feet.
Martial Soul: Mixed-Iron Mountain-Shaking Hammer!
The powerful Soul Power of level forty-seven spread outwards, stirring up gusts of wind.
Xiao Xuan stood opposite him with his spear hanging down, still not revealing his Soul Ring.
Tie Lie gripped the hammer handle tightly and said in a deep voice:
"Kid, your footwork and internal strength are indeed quite impressive; those people before you didn't lose unjustly. However, my Mountain-Shaking Hammer is far superior to fists and feet!"
"Hurry up and show me your Soul Ring. Don't blame me for being ruthless when I smash that bamboo skewer of yours in half with one blow!"
Beneath the mask, Xiao Xuan smiled.
If you can break this bamboo spear, you win this round.
A gasp of surprise erupted from the stands.
The gambler who had bet on Tie Lie excitedly waved his ticket.
"Smash it! Smash it like crazy, smash that bamboo pole to pieces!"
Someone immediately shouted back from the other side:
" Black Bamboo, let him smash it! Let's see if he has the ability!"
The shouts from both sides grew louder and louder, and the atmosphere in the arena quickly heated up.
On the second floor, Ning Rongrong turned her head to look at Yu Xiaogang.
" Grandmaster, do you really think Tie Lie can break that spear?"
Yu Xiaogang flicked his sleeve and said calmly:
"While the Mixed-Iron Mountain-Shaking Hammer isn't a peerless divine weapon, it's still a top-tier, powerful Tool Martial Soul. The Jade Bamboo's hardness has indeed increased after its mutation, but it's still ultimately made of plant matter. Against blunt force impacts from heavy weapons, its resilience is insufficient."
" Tie Lie is confident of victory in this match."
Flender's facial muscles twitched twice.
He adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, coughed lightly, and lowered his voice:
" Xiaogang, your judgment... is it really infallible?"
Yu Xiaogang looked at him.
Flender' face fell.
"Just now... I bet 100 Gold Soul Coin on Black Bamboo to win."
Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others immediately adopted strange expressions.
"Not much, only one hundred Gold Soul Coin..."
Flender forced a smile, but his eyes were still twitching.
Those one hundred Gold Soul Coin were enough for all the teachers and students of Shrek Academy to eat fish and meat for several months. After listening to Yu Xiaogang's analysis, he felt that the money was already gone.
On the stage, Tie Lie suddenly stomped his foot on the ground.
"Since you're courting death, don't blame me!"
" Third Soul Skill, Earth-Shaking Heavy Cleave!"
The third Purple Soul Ring lit up, Tie Lie used the momentum to leap into the air, swinging a hammer weighing over a thousand pounds and smashing it down on Xiao Xuan's head!
The hammer left a dark shadow, and heavy wind pressure pressed down on the table first.
The audience held their breath.
Xiao Xuan neither retreated nor moved a step.
He merely lowered his forearm slightly, channeling a hidden, flowing force into the Five-Star Lone Bamboo, and raised it horizontally to meet the attack.
clang--!
The clang of metal echoed throughout the stadium, sparks flying from the point of impact.
The bamboo spear did not break, nor was it even pressed down by half an inch.
Tie Lie's expression changed drastically.
The force of the recoil surged along the hammer handle straight to his arms, causing his tiger's mouth to crack and even nearly dissipating his protective soul light.
How could that be!
Is this really a bamboo spear?
Tie Lie didn't have time to think it through. He gritted his teeth and used the recoil to flip in the air, and his fourth Purple Soul Ring suddenly lit up.
Fourth Soul Skill: Giant Hammer Topples the Heavens!
The iron hammer swelled in the wind, transforming into a massive black iron hammer the size of a house, its pressure enveloping half the arena.
"Break!"
Tie Lie's face contorted as he poured all his level 47 Soul Power into this attack, pressing down on Xiao Xuan once more!
The countertop creaked under the weight.
The gamblers who had bet on Black Bamboo turned pale, and some couldn't help but stand up, shouting for him to run away quickly.
The giant hammer had already loomed overhead; dodging was no longer an option, the only choice was to take it head-on.
Xiao Xuan's eyes sharpened, and his Great Accomplishment Spear Intent erupted.
The Demon-Breaking Heaven-Splitting Spear Art Technique - Destruction!
He lowered his wrist and channeled his strength, the power flowing from his spine into his arm, and the Five-Star Lone Bamboo Shoot thrust upwards to meet the giant hammer!
Fine black spatial folds rose around the tip of the spear, unleashing the full force of the laws of Armor Piercing and absolute destruction.
Boom!
The giant hammer collided with the spear tip, and the booming sound echoed throughout the entire Soul Fighting Arena.
Tie Lie's Fourth Soul Skill, which he had placed high hopes on, cracked the moment it made contact. The massive hammer shadow shattered inch by inch, turning into countless black energy spots.
The spear's momentum hadn't dissipated; its hidden force, capable of Armor Piercing shadows and struck Tie Lie!
His protective aura completely collapsed, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His burly body flew dozens of meters backward and crashed hard through the stone wall behind the arena.
As the rubble fell, Tie Lie got stuck in a hole in the wall and immediately lost consciousness.
One shot shattered the Fourth Soul Skill, sending the level 47 Power Attack System Soul Ancestor flying!
The stadium was quiet for a few moments, then erupted into cheers even louder than before.
The gamblers who won the Black Bamboo jumped up and down, waving their tickets amidst shouts and applause.
On the second floor, in the VIP section, Yu Xiaogang suddenly stood up from his wooden chair and rushed to the railing in a panic.
He gripped the stone railing tightly with both hands, his face deathly pale, staring at Xiao Xuan standing below, gun in hand.
The bamboo spear was intact.
The one who fell was Tie Lie, whom he had confidently declared victory in his grasp.
Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth, but his mind went blank.
Flender, standing behind him, wore a completely different expression.