Yun Ming had a pretty good temper, but that didn't mean he would tolerate Tang San acting tough with him.
Who do you think you're talking to! Yun Ming could beat him into the ground.
Seeing Yun Ming erupt into another attack, Tang San hurriedly released Xiao Wu from his embrace and met him head-on.
The second round began.
This time, Yun Ming didn't use his spear, opting instead to throw a punch.
Based on their brief exchange earlier, Yun Ming felt that without the use of Hidden Weapons, Tang San was merely a Control System Soul Master with the melee capabilities of a Power Attack System Soul Master of the same rank. Using a spear against Tang San was too simple, and it wasn't as satisfying as punches landing on flesh.
Seeing Yun Ming put his spear away, Tang San felt a surge of anger, but his confidence grew. He turned his hands into jade once more, ready to fight again. New grudges and old hatreds welled up in his heart, adding three parts more force to his strikes.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The two traded blows, fists and palms moving in a blur of speed. A dozen moves passed in the blink of an eye.
Without the sharp edge of Atlas, Tang San could finally resist Yun Ming head-on. Coupled with the significant physical enhancement from his two Spirit Bones, even Yun Ming's well-tempered, robust physique wouldn't want to take a kick directly. For a short while, he managed to block Yun Ming's onslaught.
However, this situation didn't last long. Yun Ming threw a serious punch, breaking through his defense.
As Yun Ming struck with a fist glowing with golden Soul Power, Tang San used the Tang Sect grappling technique, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, intending to deflect the blow just as he had before.
But the moment they made contact, Tang San felt his vision go black, as if his head had been struck by a heavy hammer.
It was Absolute Dominance! A powerful mental attack technique Yun Ming hadn't used in a long time, specifically designed to deal with all sorts of flashy melee maneuvers.
Because Tang San was a transmigrator with a powerful soul, and had practiced the Purple Demon Eyes for years, Yun Ming's Absolute Dominance didn't knock him unconscious, only causing a momentary daze—but that was enough.
Taking advantage of Tang San's lapse in focus, his center wide open, Yun Ming hammered another punch into Tang San's abdomen.
"Bang!"
The force of the punch penetrated his body. Tang San felt a sharp pain in his face and spat out a mouthful of gastric fluid mixed with blood.
Before Tang San could recover, Yun Ming threw another punch, striking his jaw and sending him flying toward the Blue Tyrant Academy group.
Seeing this, Tai Long hurriedly stepped forward to catch Tang San, while the remaining Blue Tyrant combatants—Jing Ling, Huang Yuan, Jiang Zhu, and Dai Mubai—rushed over to check on his condition.
Because Yun Ming had shattered the original Shrek Seven Devils, the original four-man Blue Tyrant reserve team had successfully been promoted to the main roster. Dai Mubai, having nowhere else to go, had been arranged into Blue Tyrant Academy by Flender. And how could Grandmaster Yu, that natural sycophant, pass up such an opportunity?
After the strike, Yun Ming's eyes held a hint of disappointment. Even a legendary Soul Master who had ascended to become a god was still so weak before him. Forget about a Yun Ming who had regained his memories; even if he hadn't, Tang San wouldn't have been a match for him in a single exchange.
Living a second life was great in every way, except for the fact that he could no longer find a suitable opponent.
Invincibility really is a lonely and empty feeling. Harrosa, Chen Xinjie, Guan Yue—I actually miss you all a little.
Yun Ming turned and walked away. He had seen Tang San's strength; as of now, he was a bit stronger than Feng Xiaotian before his special training, but not by much.
In Yun Ming's view, Tang San didn't have any major flaws, but he also lacked any outstanding strengths.
Because Yun Ming hadn't used excessive force, and Tang San's physical body was quite strong, he didn't lose consciousness after taking a hit of Yun Ming's "Friendship Face-Breaking Fist."
He looked past the Blue Tyrant members at Yun Ming's disappointed, retreating back. As a transmigrator, a top-tier genius with Twin Martial Souls, and the sole heir of the contemporary Tang Sect, his fragile pride was wounded once again.
Tang San watched Yun Ming, who had stepped away from his own team to pursue him. Enduring the pain in his body, he rose to his feet, lunged toward Yun Ming, and called out to his teammates.
"Attack together! Take him down!"
The others from Blue Tyrant looked at each other in confusion. If they hadn't misheard earlier, Yun Ming and Tang San had agreed to a duel; it didn't seem right for them to jump in now.
Noticing this, Tang San shot them a look and said sternly.
"This is a team Soul Fighting match, a joint operation. What is inappropriate about that?"
My heart and my actions are as clear as a mirror; everything I think and do is for justice. This was likely Tang San's true inner thought; otherwise, he wouldn't have made such a decision so nonchalantly.
Seeing this, and considering his quasi-teacher's wife, Liu Erlong, the Blue Tyrant group had no choice but to obey and attack.
Yun Ming and the Empire Team naturally heard the commotion from Tang San and the Blue Tyrant group. Although the Empire members were grumbling, none of them moved, because it wasn't necessary.
Tang San attacked again, throwing his Blue Silver Grass at Yun Ming using a Hidden Weapon technique.
It had to be said, the angle, force, and speed of the Blue Silver Grass thrown by Tang San were indeed superior to when he simply controlled his Martial Soul.
Yun Ming shifted his feet, turned his body, and easily dodged Tang San's assault.
Although Tang San's attack failed to bind Yun Ming, he had achieved his goal: he had successfully blocked Yun Ming's retreat.
Seeing this, Tang San's eyes lit up, and he shouted.
"Now!"
Dai Mubai, Tai Long, Jing Ling, and Huang Yuan understood immediately and followed up.
Dai Mubai and Huang Yuan were the first to act.
Dai Mubai and Huang Yuan activated their Second Soul Rings, and two energy blasts erupted from their mouths.
White Tiger Light Wave.
Wolf Howl Bullet.
Watching the golden and blue energy shockwaves heading straight for him, Yun Ming raised his left palm, golden Soul Power coating his hand. As the Wolf Howl Bullet drew near, he swiped it aside, sending it flying behind him.
The Wolf Howl Bullet hit the Arena floor and exploded behind Yun Ming, kicking up a cloud of dust and a gust of wind. Aside from adding a dramatic backdrop to Yun Ming, it served no other purpose.
As for the White Tiger Light Wave, it was shot a bit wide and brushed past Yun Ming.
Yun Ming glanced at Dai Mubai and, noticing the involuntary trembling as he looked at him, understood the reason for his skewed shot. It seemed Dai Mubai had once suffered a strike from him imbued with Absolute Dominance, which had shattered his mental defenses on the spot; it appeared the aftereffects of Absolute Dominance had left him with a case of Cloud-Phobia.
Tang San, currently leading the frontal assault, had no time to dwell on Dai Mubai's blunder. Seeing that their attacks were already upon him, he pulled the Blue Silver Grass binding Tai Long and Jing Ling, using the two as Hidden Weapons to hurl them at Yun Ming from left and right. As they were thrown, both men activated their soul rings, preparing to strike.
Tai Long activated his second and third soul skills, Bursting Force and Demon Ape Golden Body, while Jing Ling activated his first, second, and third soul skills, White Bone Blade, Bone Demon Enhancement, and Berserk.
Just as Yun Ming parried Huang Yuan's attack, Tai Long and Jing Ling were pulled by Tang San directly in front of him.
Tai Long's muscles swelled to twice their size, golden light erupted from his body, and he threw a punch with the force of a thousand jun from left to right at Yun Ming. Jing Ling's hands transformed into bone blades, glowing with a grey-white light, and he slashed from right to left, intending to cut Yun Ming down.
Seeing their attacks, Yun Ming did not meet them head-on.
Yun Ming exerted force through his feet and leaped twenty feet into the air, instantly exiting the range of Tai Long and Jing Ling's attacks. Their targets suddenly became each other, and even though they tried to pull back their strength in time, they inevitably clashed, leaving both of them injured.
Seeing Yun Ming soar into the air with no place to leverage his strength, a sharp glint appeared in Tang San's eyes as his third soul ring lit up.
Blue Silver Grass third soul skill, Spider Web Restraint, activated.
Just like in the original timeline, Tang San's third soul skill remained Spider Web Restraint, but in this life, because his third soul ring originated from a Death Demon Spider, his Blue Silver spider web was now coated in potent venom, capable of both trapping and harming his opponents.
A blue-purple light sphere shot from Tang San's hand, flying rapidly toward Yun Ming, who was unable to dodge while in mid-air.
Yun Ming cast a sidelong glance at Tang San and saw him staring with excitement and agitation. He thought to himself, Compared to pulling his companions back to safety, he would rather seize the opportunity to inflict damage on me! What a decisive choice indeed!
One meter in front of Yun Ming, the blue-purple light sphere transformed into a large web three meters in diameter. As it was about to trap him, Yun Ming performed his counter-maneuver in front of all the spectators.
Yun Ming raised his right palm, using it as a spear, with golden Spear Light flickering at his fingertips. As the web closed in, he slashed with his right palm.
The Spear Light surged, slicing the entire Blue Silver spider web in two. The light swept across the ground, leaving a gash several feet long in the earth.
Seeing his coordinated attack with the entire Blue Tyrant Academy team brushed aside by Yun Ming so casually, Tang San felt a storm of shock in his heart. If he were in Yun Ming's position, could he have blocked the attack with such ease? He seemed to—
Before he could finish his thought, he heard Tai Long shout a warning to him.
"Third Young Master, watch out!"
Tang San snapped back to reality and saw a golden Spear Light piercing through the air, already upon him.
After landing from cutting the web, Yun Ming had immediately launched an attack on Tang San; he was not the type to take a beating without retaliating.
Yun Ming raised his left hand and threw a punch, a golden spear shadow tearing through the air and reaching Tang San.
Tang San blocked in a panic, activating his Mystic Jade Hand to strike, attempting to stop the Spear Light. However, the moment they made contact, Tang San felt an invincible, peerless Spear Intent. His Mystic Jade Hand was pierced by the light the instant it touched.
As the light entered his body, countless bloody gashes appeared across Tang San's entire right arm, his bones shattered in many places, and a large amount of blood mixed with bits of white bone fragments spilled out.
"Ah!"
Tang San let out a painful cry. His right arm's bones, blood, and flesh were all severely damaged; this injury could be considered quite grave. If Tang San did not possess the Blue Silver Emperor spirit bone, his right arm would have been permanently crippled, and even with the spirit bone, it would likely require a week or two of recovery.
In the academy viewing area, Yu Xiaogang saw Tang San severely injured and grew anxious. Whether out of genuine care for Tang San or because Yun Ming's brilliance overshadowed Tang San and threatened his goal of achieving fame, he decided to risk his reputation to play a major move.
Yu Xiaogang loudly accused Yun Ming to Xue Ye.
"Your Majesty, this boy Yun Ming is so vicious, committing such a cruel act in broad daylight."
"I, Yu Xiaogang, in my capacity as the team leader of Blue Tyrant Academy, request that Your Majesty and the Organizing Committee strip Yun Ming of his eligibility and expel him from this tournament to serve as a warning to others."
"Blue Tyrant Academy would be eternally grateful."
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's rhetoric, Xue Ye frowned deeply. Was he trying to use his status as the son of an Upper Three Sects leader—a status of questionable utility—to gamble on whether he would grant him a favor?
Blue Tyrant Academy was clearly related to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan by name, and this accuser, Yu Xiaogang, was, if he remembered correctly, that famous "dragon-born pig." But even if he was a pig, he was still the son of that Old Dragon from the Yu Family and the uncle of Yu Tianheng; he might be of great use in the future.
If Yu Xiaogang were asking to disqualify someone else, Xue Ye might have actually agreed. But regarding Yun Ming, judging by the combat power he had just displayed, he might truly be the one to help the Heaven Dou Empire win the championship this year, greatly boosting the royal family's prestige.
The two potential benefits left Xue Ye momentarily unable to decide!
Qian Renxue, Ning Fengzhi, and Salas also understood Yu Xiaogang's intent. Xue Ye asked for their opinions; Ning Fengzhi voted against it, while Salas voted in favor.
Initially, Salas did not want to offend Ya Li over such a trivial matter, but Yun Ming's combat power was truly extraordinary. To reduce obstacles for the Pope's spirit bone gifting plan and the Golden Generation's promotional campaign, he decided to vote against it.
Finally, Qian Renxue offered a suggestion to Xue Ye.
"Father, I believe this should not be done, because..."
After listening, Xue Ye asked Xue Qinghe.
"Crown Prince, is this true?"
Xue Qinghe replied.
"Absolutely true!"
Upon receiving confirmation, Xue Ye didn't even lift his eyes and immediately spoke.
"In the Soul Master Competition, injuries and casualties are common occurrences."
"Grandmaster Yu, I understand your concern for your beloved disciple, but you are being too extreme!"
Xue Ye politely refused. Before Yu Xiaogang could speak again, the audience, who had been watching what was supposed to be a 1v1 duel turn into a team ambush, and then seeing Tang San's teacher jump out to disqualify a talent of the empire after the ambush failed, saw some hot-headed fans and Yun Ming's admirers begin to curse.
"If you can't get hurt in a soul master battle, are you playing house?!!"
"If you can't afford to lose, don't play! Who the hell are you trying to disgust here!"
"You ambushed my idol and you still think you're in the right? It's a miracle he didn't kill you!"
"It's hard enough for our Heaven Dou to produce a top-tier genius who might lead our team to win the championship, and you old geezer want to disqualify him? Are you sent by Star Luo?!"
"."
Hearing the various jeers and curses filling the arena, Yu Xiaogang had expected this and bore it silently; the members of the Blue Tyrant Team were having a harder time, their faces flushed red; as for Tang San, his complexion shifted between green and red, but with the entire crowd hurling insults, he didn't even know who to target to make an example of. In the end, he reasonably shifted all this resentment onto the culprit, Yun Ming.
Seeing that the matter was settled, Yun Ming said indifferently to Tang San.
"You have to pay the price for breaking our agreement for a one-on-one duel. Consider this injury a lesson to help you remember!"
After speaking, Yun Ming swept his gaze over the remaining members of the Blue Tyrant Team, and upon discovering that no one else wanted to make a move against him, he turned and stepped off the stage, saying to the members of the Empire Team.
"Handle the rest yourselves! If you can't even win this, everyone's training volume will increase by thirty percent."
Yun Ming took one last look at the VIP seating area. He had understood Yu Xiaogang's accusations from earlier, and he was quite curious about how Xue Qinghe had ultimately managed to persuade Xue Ye!
ps: Seeking monthly tickets, seeking recommendations.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader