Soul Power shone as Soul Rings rose one after another.
Looking past the Shi Mo Brothers, Fang Lin fixed his gaze on Dugu Yan, who was possessed by her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul. The snake scales on her forearms and neck had faded considerably compared to before. Apart from the long, slender snake tail swaying behind her, her upper body was almost no different from normal.
The battle began. The ground exploded beneath Fang Lin's feet, fine cracks spreading across the bluestone where he had stood.
As Fang Lin moved, a wisp of soft blue poisonous mist emerged from Dugu Yan's lips and drifted toward the Shi Mo Brothers, who stood shoulder to shoulder, enveloping them both.
"Second Soul Skill, Jade Phosphorous Blue Poison."
When used on teammates, it could numb their sense of pain and increase their defense.
The shells of the brothers' Black Tortoise Martial Souls visibly grew more lustrous, and their presence became several degrees more imposing.
Fang Lin had already charged up to them. Gathering force in the long saber in his hand, he brought it crashing down with a sharp, forceful momentum.
"First Soul Skill, Black Tortoise Body Protection."
Shi Mo and Shi Mo shouted in unison. Earth-yellow light bloomed around them, forming a protective barrier as they met Fang Lin head-on.
But in an instant, the earth-yellow barrier shattered with a crash. The long saber's force did not diminish as it struck the shell on Shi Mo's chest, sending a ringing spark bursting from the blade. Shi Mo's body shuddered violently from the blow, and a muffled "ungh" escaped his throat. It felt as though a heavy axe had struck him, sending agonizing pain churning through his chest.
"Brother!"
His younger brother Shi Mo cried out in alarm. At the same time, the Second Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up, and the shells on his chest and back detached, each swelling into a massive, sturdy turtle-shell shield that smashed toward Fang Lin.
"Controlling shields with Qi?"
Fang Lin stepped aside to dodge, curiosity stirring as he looked at the yellow Soul Power connecting the two turtle-shell shields to Shi Mo.
He wondered whether this method of controlling turtle-shell shields from a distance came from a Soul Beast's Soul Skill, or whether it was a characteristic of the Black Tortoise Martial Soul.
"I'm fine."
The elder brother Shi Mo recovered and used his second Soul Skill as well. The four turtle-shell shields moved in the brothers' hands like nimble sheets of paper, relentlessly pursuing Fang Lin. Whenever he cleaved one aside, another came at him, and for a time they actually managed to suppress him.
"Get out of my way!"
Fang Lin grew angry at the pair's constant throwing. His arm muscles surged as he delivered four powerful, heavy slashes in an instant, sending the four turtle shells crashing apart and down onto the ground.
As the yellow Soul Power links were severed, both brothers grunted at once, as though struck by the impact.
Without their shells, the two were no different from squishies. Fang Lin rushed up to them, ready to take each of them out with a single slash.
"Second Soul Skill, Transform into Shield!"
The Shi Mo Brothers shouted at the same time, and the scattered turtle-shell shields reappeared in their hands. This time, rather than repeat the same trick, they raised their shields and brought them together. The four shields fused perfectly, even the patterns on their shells joining into one.
The enormous shield was like an imposing chariot, charging fiercely at Fang Lin.
"Second Soul Skill, Shadow Blade!"
Light flashed in Fang Lin's eyes as he poured Soul Power into his long saber. Red-and-blue saber light tore through the air, carrying tremendous, crushing force as it slammed into the massive, joined shield.
Crack!
A piercing shattering sound rang out, and fine, spiderweb-like cracks spread across the giant shield's surface. The Shi Brothers turned deathly pale and spat out blood at the same time, their bodies staggering and swaying. With the turtle shells formed by their Martial Souls damaged, both lost their ability to fight.
"Light of Healing."
Ye Lingling's voice rang out. The begonia petals in her hand slowly opened, and a white halo rose into the air.
"First Soul Skill, Hell Power."
Fang Lin abruptly accelerated, breaking through the Shi Mo Brothers' line of defense and heading straight for Ye Lingling, who was using her healing Soul Skill.
The Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul's healing ability was unmatched under heaven, but it still took several seconds from casting to completing the healing.
"Brother Lin, watch out for Sister Yan's poison!"
As Yu Feng called out his warning, a vast cloud of purple poisonous mist spread between Fang Lin and Ye Lingling.
At the source of the poisonous mist, Dugu Yan's snake tail swayed gently, and the third, purple Soul Ring beneath her glowed with a soft light.
While Fang Lin had been fighting the Shi Mo Brothers, Yu Feng had continually harassed Dugu Yan with ranged Soul Skills, keeping her occupied. But repeatedly using his second Soul Skill had depleted his Soul Power, and he could no longer keep her in check.
Seeing Fang Lin charge into the back line, Dugu Yan immediately abandoned Yu Feng and hurried back to help.
A trace of amusement lingered in Dugu Yan's eyes, as though she was certain Fang Lin would not dare use realgar to counter her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison again.
"Third Soul Skill, Invincible Golden Body!"
Fang Lin gave a shout and charged into the poisonous mist without a care. The green mist concealed him, and in the next moment he burst out in front of Ye Lingling, raised his arm, and tapped her on the head with two fingers.
"Out!"
Qin Ming had said to make the opponents lose their ability to fight, but Fang Lin could hardly take a saber to Ye Lingling.
Ye Lingling stared blankly after the tap on her head, seemingly still wondering how Fang Lin had broken through Dugu Yan's third Soul Skill. Once she came to her senses, she silently withdrew her Martial Soul and left the arena.
Without anyone to rescue her, a two-ring Auxiliary System Soul Master facing a Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder would be defeated in a single encounter. Ye Lingling understood that Fang Lin had just shown her mercy.
After sending Ye Lingling out, Fang Lin charged back out of the poisonous mist. Judging by his movements, he did not seem affected by Dugu Yan's poison at all.
Yu Feng's mouth fell open. "Invincible Golden Body? Is that Brother Lin's third Soul Skill? It can even withstand Sister Yan's poison."
Fang Lin had charged into the mist as he shouted, so no one had noticed the changes in his Soul Rings. Even Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan thought Fang Lin's third Soul Skill must be a rather powerful defensive Soul Skill.
The situation on the field became clear in an instant. Only Dugu Yan and the seriously injured Shi Brothers remained on her side, while Fang Lin's side still had Yu Feng, who had used up most of his Soul Power.
"I don't believe you can keep using your third Soul Skill forever."
Dugu Yan was unwilling to admit defeat outright. She cast two Soul Skills on herself in succession, then spat poisonous mist out in front of her, intending to stall until Fang Lin exhausted his Soul Power.
Fang Lin continued shouting out his third Soul Skill as he charged into Dugu Yan's poisonous mist, locking onto her swaying figure. As he caught up to her, the muscles in his right arm bulged, and he raised his saber for an upward slash, intending to knock her unconscious with its back.
As a Control System Beast Soul Elder, Dugu Yan was not without fighting ability. At the very least, Fang Lin could not easily tap her on the head.
Just as he was about to succeed, light burst from Dugu Yan's eyes, and a beam of eerie green light shone straight at Fang Lin's face.
In an instant, it was as though a slow-motion button had been pressed on Fang Lin's body. Dugu Yan seemed to leave an afterimage before him, and his upward slash, which should surely have hit, missed. At the same time, a sharp gust came from his side.
His right hand had already committed its strength to the saber stroke, and Fang Lin had no time to pull it back to block. Instinctively, he reached out with his left hand to catch the blow.
The blows collided, and his palm met a strange sensation. When Fang Lin's vision cleared, he discovered that what he had caught in his hand was a vivid green snake tail.
"Let go!" Dugu Yan snapped, her face unreadable as to whether she was angry or furious with embarrassment.
The snake tail was both Dugu Yan's weapon and the support that held her upright. With it gripped so tightly, she could barely keep her balance.
Dugu Yan had intended to counterattack when Fang Lin's saber missed, but she had not expected him to be so strong. He had caught her tail's lash barehanded and seized it in the same motion.
Fang Lin chuckled and lightly tapped Dugu Yan's shoulder with the back of his saber to show that she was out, then released his left hand.
When the poisonous mist dispersed, everyone saw only Dugu Yan, who had already withdrawn her Martial Soul.