This time, it was no longer Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer that held the advantage in size. The massive figure Gu Yi had summoned wasn't real, but it stood tens of meters tall, and its open palm blotted out the sky, obscuring the sun and moon.
"Prepare to die."
The Clear Sky Hammer moved with the speed of lightning, and its force was immense. However, Gu Yi didn't dodge. Instead, he used the massive figure's hand to catch the hammer. The powerful impact forced the giant silver figure to take several steps back, its structure visibly distorted by the force. Yet, it managed to withstand the blow.
Inside the colossal martial spirit manifestation, Gu Yi's spirit core in his dantian spun rapidly, continuously channeling a massive amount of spirit power and elemental energy into the spirit form. For a moment, the silver light around the manifestation intensified, and the right hand holding the Clear Sky Hammer swelled even larger.
"Get out of here!" With a burst of energy, Gu Yi's spirit form overpowered the Clear Sky Hammer, flinging it away. As the hammer flew, Tang Hao, its wielder, was pulled along with it.
"Fall!" Gu Yi raised his left hand, and not far away, dark clouds gathered in the sky where Tang Hao had been thrown, crackling with blue-purple lightning.
Boom!
A bolt of lightning crashed down from the heavens, directly striking Tang Hao. The power of a martial spirit avatar created from a meridian martial spirit wasn't just in its size, which allowed it to hold more energy. Martial spirit avatars could fully unleash the traits of a martial spirit. For instance, when the Clear Sky Hammer's martial spirit avatar was activated, its force became superhuman and unstoppable.
Similarly, the meridian martial spirit, being a body martial spirit, was perfectly suited for human bodies. Furthermore, after several evolutions, Gu Yi's meridian martial spirit had transformed into a divine-level martial spirit. Even when compared to the Seraphim martial spirit, it was no less powerful, perhaps even superior.
Although the Clear Sky Hammer was the strongest tool martial spirit, it still fell short when compared to a divine-level spirit. In combat, the stronger side would only grows stronger, and the weaker side only weaker.
Now, Gu Yi's semi-completed martial spirit form had pushed his control over elemental forces to its current limit. Manipulating thunder with a simple gesture was just one of the many abilities at his disposal.
"Ah!" Even Tang Hao, known for his resilience, couldn't suppress a scream as lightning engulfed him. Just as his Clear Sky Hammer began to return to its original form, Tang Hao's eyes filled with bloodshot veins. He detonated his ninth spirit ring.
"Great Sumeru Hammer!"
As the final red ring exploded and merged into the Clear Sky Hammer, even Tang Hao felt its overwhelming weight. The approaching lightning was immediately dissipated by the sheer force of spirit energy.
The Great Sumeru Hammer, known as a divine technique, gained its reputation from its ring-exploding ability. It fused all spirit rings, techniques, and power into one, creating an unstoppable force.
It seemed Tang Hao was finally getting serious.
Gu Yi became more cautious. The power of detonating all nine rings was drastically different from detonating eight.
"Round two begins."
Tang Hao's body grew larger, wielding an even bigger Clear Sky Hammer. With a swing, he struck at Gu Yi. However, Gu Yi wasn't going to give him that chance. His right hand reached into space.
Instinctively, Tang Hao adjusted his hammer's trajectory, swinging it toward his left. The Clear Sky Hammer struck the silver-white hand that emerged from the spatial tear, shattering it with immense force.
"Space manipulation?!" Spatial abilities were incredibly rare. In the entire Douluo Continent, very few spirit masters possessed spatial power. Among the Titled Douluos, only Gu Rong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan came to Tang Hao's mind.
Spatial abilities were formidable.
"Heh, quick reflexes." Gu Yi nonchalantly retracted his hand, which soon regenerated. Tang Hao, however, wasn't impressed. To him, overwhelming force could break through any fancy tricks. No matter the ability, one hammer blow could end it.
"Let's see how you handle this one." By now, Gu Yi's focus had shifted away from the battle. With his spirit form newly activated, he had never felt so connected to the elements. It would be a waste not to test the various ideas running through his mind.
Five-Element Seal!
Countless stones and clumps of earth rose from the ground, gathering around Tang Hao.
"What's this new trick?" Tang Hao casually shattered the approaching stones. Did Gu Yi really think he could defeat him with mere rocks?
Tang Hao knew that the power of detonating all nine rings couldn't last long. If he didn't end the fight quickly, he might not be able to get out of this alive. He cleared a path in the air, turning the stones flying at him into dust.
"What's happening? Why is my body getting heavier?" Tang Hao felt his body growing heavier, as if burdened by a great weight. Turning around, he saw a massive stone sphere forming in the air, pulling him towards it.
"Go!" The two dragons, previously circling Gu Yi, flew out again. This time, they wouldn't fail.
Tang Hao didn't know what Gu Yi was planning, but he knew he had to act. Mustering his strength, he broke free from the stone sphere's pull, raising his Clear Sky Hammer.
Earlier, before he detonated his rings, he had easily repelled these dragons. Now, they stood no chance.
Foolish!
Suddenly, vines sprouted from the stone sphere, tightly binding Tang Hao and pulling him back toward the stone.
"Not good!" Realizing the danger, Tang Hao tried to break free, but before he could, the ice and fire dragons pinned him to the stone.
The stone sphere began to collapse, dragging Tang Hao deeper inside. Even the power of his detonated nine rings wasn't enough to free him quickly.
The principle of the five elements involves mutual restraint and support. This five-element seal was a deadly combination of the world's elements, crafted by Gu Yi. At this moment, the ice and fire dragons had fully merged into the stone.
"Golden Killing!"
Within a hundred meters, all metal elements were drawn toward the sphere, forming countless fine blades that pierced the stone from every angle. If anyone were trapped inside, they would suffer a fate far worse than death by a thousand cuts.
(End of Chapter)