"Take the children and go!"
The moment Huyan Hai shouted this, it was clear the situation had spiraled beyond his control.
Truthfully, he regretted unleashing his Martial Soul True Body earlier—just to utterly dominate Bai He. Now, his soul power was dangerously depleted.
The two other Elephant Tusk Sect elders didn't hesitate for a second…
Meanwhile—
Yang Fan's attack arrived.
Dou Qi surged—he used the same technique as before: Flame Splitting Tsunami.
The Blue Emperor Soul Bone Pill he'd consumed granted him extraordinary Dou Qi recovery. Combined with his evolved Flame Mantra, he could now unleash Earth-Tier techniques repeatedly.
"Do you take me for a three-year-old?!" Huyan Hai roared.
He slammed both fists into the ground, using the rebound force to launch his massive body skyward. Simultaneously, two yellow rings and one purple ring flared around him.
After experiencing Flame Splitting Tsunami's power, Huyan Hai wouldn't foolishly clash with the Heavy Xuan Ruler again.
That was precisely why he was furious!
Yang Fan's repeated use of the same move felt like utter disrespect—as if he weren't even worth serious consideration.
Though bulky, Huyan Hai was far from clumsy.
At the peak of his ascent, he suddenly rocketed higher, vaulting over the ruler's arc to strike Yang Fan's face.
Yang Fan reacted instantly—his right wing snapped down, spinning his body midair. Using his waist to pivot, he transformed the horizontal sweep into an upward thrust.
THUD—!
Huyan Hai's fists slammed onto the Heavy Xuan Ruler again.
But this time, Huyan Hai struck with full force while Yang Fan barely braced himself.
The impact wrenched the ruler from Yang Fan's grip, embedding it horizontally into a tree trunk thick enough for several men to encircle.
Huyan Hai's eyes lit up—just as he prepared to pounce on the disarmed Yang Fan, a solid punch smashed into his chest.
In that instant—
Six layers of hidden force churned like wild horses through Huyan Hai's organs.
"Perfect strike!" Yao Lao's soul trembled with excitement.
Feint and strike!
This was the essence of combat.
Even more astonishing—Yang Fan had just mastered four layers of Octane Blast, yet now unleashed six! At this rate, he'd grasp its true essence soon after breaking through to Dou Shi.
"Master taught well!" Yang Fan grinned.
No flattery—Yao Lao had used similar tactics against Salas. Now he understood why his master occasionally let him witness expert battles. It truly honed a soul master's combat instincts.
Their mental exchange lasted a heartbeat—
Next second, Yang Fan moved!
Dou Qi propelled him like a hunting leopard. Mid-leap, he yanked the Heavy Xuan Ruler from the tree—it flew to his hand like a homing missile.
The moment it landed in his grip, Yang Fan swung downward.
A scrawny figure under 1.4 meters leaping to smash a 2.3-meter giant's skull? Absurdly comical.
Yet Huyan Hai dared not underestimate him.
Black light erupted—Huyan Hai activated his strongest skill besides Martial Soul True Body.
CLANG—!
A grating metallic shriek tore through the air, sparks spraying like fireworks.
On collision—Yang Fan was flung backward, stabilizing only after frantic wingbeats.
Huyan Hai below fared worse.
He had to fend off Yang Fan's relentless attacks while suppressing the six hidden forces rampaging inside him.
Yang Fan could've waited—harassed Huyan Hai from the air until the hidden forces crippled him, then delivered the killing blow.
But he didn't.
His target wasn't just Huyan Hai—he needed to eliminate those fleeing Elephant Tusk youths too.
Chasing Stars · Blazing Fire!
Pale-white Dou Qi erupted from the ruler. Yang Fan even taunted Huyan Hai mid-attack.
He cleaved downward from the sky.
Flames shot from the ruler like a crimson dragon, warping the air in their wake.
Huyan Hai's copper-bell eyes widened as the fireball swelled—reaching him in a blink.
Dodging was impossible!
Just then—his seventh soul ring blazed.
Martial Soul True Body!
All soul masters know Martial Soul True Body couldn't be used twice in quick succession.
But—not absolutely forbidden!
Martial Soul True Body was a skill to drastically boost power—and skills could be controlled. The "no repeat" rule existed because back-to-back use would cripple a soul master's foundation.
But Huyan Hai no longer cared.
Using it would damage his future potential—but not using it meant dying here.
ROOOAR—!
Huyan Hai vanished, replaced by a colossal Diamond Mammoth trumpeting at the heavens.
BOOM—!
The dragon-like flames struck the mammoth's hide—only forcing the behemoth back a single step.
Then—A cold glint pierced first… followed by a spear like a dragon!
Yang Fan's wings flapped as he drove the Soul Breaking Spear precisely into the mammoth's nostril, twisting viciously before yanking it out.
In went flame—out came blood and flesh.
ROOOAR—!
Having a spear jammed into a mammoth's nostril was far worse than shoving chopsticks up a human's nose.
The agony made Huyan Hai want to tear his own head off!
"You… who are you?!"
The Soul Breaking Spear confirmed Yang Fan's lineage—Breaking Clan. But how did such a powerhouse exist in that nearly-exterminated clan?
Two years ago, Yang Wudi had single-handedly held the sect together during its near-collapse.
And those two purple soul rings? Huyan Hai's mind reeled. Who was beneath that black cloak?
Rending Earth Strike!
Huyan Hai gave no chance for reply.
When enemies meet, their eyes burn red!
Many Breaking Clan members had died by Elephant Tusk hands. In turn, the sect had sacrificed countless to please the Spirit Hall.
The moment the Soul Breaking Spear appeared, this battle's meaning changed entirely.
------------------------------------------------------
30+ Chapters Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)