Whoosh!
Two figures charged toward each other simultaneously, bursting forth in an instant—one a dark shadow, the other a graceful silhouette. Their speeds seemed to pierce through the air's resistance as they shot straight forward without any evasion. Within moments, they collided head-on at the center of the stage like two raging bulls, neither yielding an inch.
Boom!
The Clear Sky Hammer swung down fiercely, yet Meng Yiran didn't dodge. Instead, she met it head-on, her Serpent Staff thrusting forward like a spear to intercept the hammer.
At the moment of impact, a violent surge of Soul Power erupted, sending shockwaves rippling outward. The sturdy stone slabs of the arena were torn apart, fine cracks spiderwebbing across their surfaces.
Both figures recoiled upon contact, each step backward leaving half-inch-deep imprints in the ground.
Tang San retreated only three steps, while Meng Yiran, despite her Serpent Staff also being an Item Martial Soul, was weaker in raw strength. Combined with being two Soul Power levels below Tang San, she was forced back eight steps.
Both displayed remarkably formidable Soul Power.
"Interesting. I haven't even used my full strength yet, but your physique seems enhanced to withstand the Clear Sky Hammer's force," Tang San remarked, studying Meng Yiran with keen interest. Normally, the Clear Sky Hammer's power surpassed all other Item Martial Souls, and her Serpent Staff wasn't particularly renowned. Yet she'd managed to barely block its strike.
"Hmph, I haven't gone all out either. First Soul Skill—Tongue Blade!"
Meng Yiran's first Soul Ring glowed as multiple blade-like projectiles shot from the serpent head atop her staff. The blades gleamed with a sinister blue hue, clearly laced with potent venom.
Seeing the barrage of poisoned blades hurtling toward him, Tang San didn't hold back either. His second Soul Ring activated, the purple ring emitting a violet radiance. With a light stomp, the entire arena floor began to undulate.
Thud! A stone wall erupted, intercepting all the venomous Tongue Blades. But Tang San wasn't done. Under his control, pillars of rock burst from the ground beneath Meng Yiran, aiming to launch her off the stage.
Watching the sudden emergence of stone pillars, Meng Yiran smirked as her second Soul Ring lit up.
"Serpent Body!"
The moment the pillars struck, her body contorted as if boneless, becoming unnaturally pliant. Slippery as oil, she wriggled effortlessly through the forest of stone pillars, her Serpent Staff already swinging toward Tang San.
Her second Soul Skill granted her serpentine flexibility—not just boneless suppleness but also slick skin that allowed seamless movement through obstacles.
Tang San frowned. He hadn't expected this woman, two Soul Power levels his inferior, to be so troublesome. Reacting instantly, he activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step, narrowly evading her staff at the last moment.
Boom! The staff struck the stage, cratering the stone where he'd stood moments before.
"That wasn't a Soul Skill—just pure physical strength?" Tang San eyed the impact crater, impressed by the destructive force.
The attack missed, and Meng Yiran's eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, she activated her third Soul Ring.
"Third Soul Skill, Serpent Poison Ground Net!" Meng Yiran gripped her Serpent Staff Martial Soul with both hands and plunged one end into the ground.
Immediately, the serpent head on the staff seemed to come alive, its jaws opening wide as a cloud of purplish-black venom spewed forth, instantly enveloping the entire arena.
At this moment, an inconspicuous elderly couple in the audience silently observed Meng Yiran on the stage.
The old woman watched her lively granddaughter with satisfaction. "Good, Yiran's control over her third Soul Skill is becoming increasingly proficient. Once enveloped by that venom, even a level-40 Soul Ancestor would be defeated."
The old man narrowed his eyes, glancing at Tang San's unchanged expression on the stage, and shook his head. "No. If it were any other disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, perhaps they would lose. But this Tang San... likely still has tricks up his sleeve. However, Yiran isn't without her chances of victory."
Facing Meng Yiran's third Soul Skill, Tang San remained calm. His Clear Sky Hammer never ceased its movements, and soon, the hammer's peculiar swings generated a fierce whirlwind around him.
"Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique, Wind Hammer!" As the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique spun, Tang San abruptly flung the hammer, creating a tornado. The powerful suction of the tornado swept away all the surrounding venom.
"How is this possible? What kind of Soul Skill is this, to wield such power without even using a Martial Soul!" Meng Yiran was utterly shocked. This was the first time she'd seen a Soul Master create such a formidable tornado without employing a Soul Skill!
"Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique, Phoenix Dance!"
Boom! The Clear Sky Hammer transformed into a phoenix as Tang San hurled it using the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique.
The terrifying weight of the Clear Sky Hammer, combined with the centrifugal force and extreme speed of the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique, made this strike resemble a falling meteor. Faced with this attack, Meng Yiran tightly gripped her Serpent Staff with both hands.
Zzzzt! The rapidly spinning Clear Sky Hammer struck like a saw, relentlessly pushing Meng Yiran back with terrifying force, threatening to shove her out of the arena.
"Admit defeat. Your Soul Skill is formidable, but your mastery of poison is too shallow—hardly worth mentioning." Tang San was also a poison expert. Even without the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique, he had ways to counter her.
Just as Meng Yiran was about to be forced out of the arena by Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer, the corners of her lips curled into a smirk. "Tang San, your Clear Sky Hammer is indeed impressive. But if you think you've already won, you're sorely mistaken!"
Meng Yiran clasped her hands together, forming a peculiar hand seal under the astonished gazes of the crowd. In the next instant, an unusual surge of Soul Power erupted. The back of her upper garment tore open, and eight bulges rapidly formed along her spine. Then, eight eerie little venomous snakes burst forth from her back, extending with lightning speed.
"What is that?!"
Countless spectators in the arena leaped to their feet, staring in disbelief at the appendages now protruding from Meng Yiran's back. Those with keen eyes could even sense the astonishing Soul Power fluctuations emanating from them.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Eight sharp, spider-leg-like spears suddenly erupted from Meng Yiran's back, supporting her body with a resounding thump. Two of them even sent Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer flying back with a powerful strike.
Seeing those eight spider lances appear, Tang San was utterly stunned.
"My god, is that a Spirit Bone on Meng Yiran's back?"
"No, the six major Spirit Bones don't include a back bone. This is an External Soul Bone!!"
Not just Tang San, even Qian Renxue on the high platform was slightly startled, saying, "It's actually an External Soul Bone."
With the appearance of the External Soul Bone, Meng Yiran's Soul Power fluctuations underwent some peculiar changes. Her entire aura seemed to grow much more sinister, and the temperature around her body noticeably dropped.
"Tang San, you should feel honored to have forced me to use my Eight Spider Lances."
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