Boom!
With a deafening crash, the Merging Gold Shield finally gave way under Nan Feihuang's Fang Tian Halberd, shattering into countless fragments.
Although Nan Feihuang hadn't yet fully unlocked the divine-level potential of his Fang Tian Halberd spirit, it was still far beyond what a mid-tier shield spirit could withstand.
With a sweeping motion of his halberd, a powerful gust of wind sent the opposing Spirit Elders hurtling to the edge of the arena. They barely managed to stabilize themselves, avoiding a complete fall by sheer force of will and spirit energy.
"If not for their deeper spirit power reserves, they'd be off the platform already," Nan Feihuang thought, smirking.
"This guy's power is completely abnormal for a Spirit Grandmaster," muttered Liu Erlong in the stands, her brow furrowed. As a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family, she had seen her fair share of powerful attacks.
Yet, Nan Feihuang's strength went far beyond the norm, even surpassing what her family's famed martial spirit could typically achieve at his level. She wondered if the legendary Sword Douluo Chenxin himself, in his early days, could have unleashed such devastating force.
"Why is he only using one hand with his halberd?" Liu Erlong mused, her gaze sharpening. "A halberd spirit like that should require both hands to wield properly. Using just one would significantly reduce precision and power."
Her confusion only deepened. Dual-handed strikes should amplify his strength and speed by at least 40%. If Nan Feihuang was holding back, it meant either he had no training in dual-handed techniques, or something was wrong with his other arm.
Of course, neither assumption was correct. Nan Feihuang's hands were perfectly fine, and as a master of the Single-Handed Eighteen Forms, he was more than capable of using dual-handed halberd techniques. However, he was preparing for a future where single-handed mastery would be essential. For now, he was willing to sacrifice some power to acclimate himself to that fighting style.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the chain spirit master sprang into action.
"Third Spirit Skill: Soul-Locking Chains!" A shimmering, snake-like chain darted toward Nan Feihuang, attempting to bind him.
The chain spirit master, a control-type, had observed Nan Feihuang's terrifying attack power earlier and concluded that only his third spirit skill—a thousand-year-level technique—could hold him.
But Nan Feihuang wasn't alone.
A serpentine tail lashed out from behind him, intercepting the chain mid-air and coiling tightly around it.
"Don't underestimate my Jade Phosphor Snake," Dugu Yan quipped, her voice laced with confidence. "I'm our team's control-type spirit master, and I don't always need poison to get the job done."
Her snake tail possessed similar entangling capabilities as the chain spirit, allowing her to counter such moves or rescue allies with precision.
"Nicely done, Yan'er. Feihuang, leave the rest to me!" Yu Tianheng roared, charging into the fray. His target was clear—the opposing team's support-type spirit master, Jiang Zhu, wielding the Healing Scepter.
In team battles, taking out the healer first was a universal strategy.
"First Spirit Skill: Thunder Dragon Claw!" Yu Tianheng's palm crackled with lightning as it slammed toward the opposing formation. With the three Spirit Elders occupied by Nan Feihuang and Dugu Yan, Jiang Zhu had no protection.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's power wasn't just in its inherent strength but also in the quality of its spirit rings. Only dragon or sub-dragon beasts could provide the necessary rings, a requirement that greatly increased the challenge of acquiring them but also ensured extraordinary results.
The synergy of a top-tier martial spirit with top-tier spirit rings made Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit masters unparalleled in attack strength at any given level.
Yu Tianheng's single strike forced three opponents—Tai Long, Jing Ling, and Huang Yuan—to combine their efforts to defend.
Even with their joint defense, Yu Tianheng's claw sent two of them flying. Only Tai Long, heir to the Strength Clan, barely withstood the attack, his innate physical prowess serving as his anchor.
"Hahaha! As expected of the Strength Clan heir," Yu Tianheng sneered. "Your strength is impressive—almost comparable to a Spirit Elder. But strength alone isn't enough!"
Tai Long gritted his teeth as Yu Tianheng's lightning surged through his body. His muscles spasmed uncontrollably, his nerves assaulted by the overwhelming electrical charge. It felt as though his very being was being ripped apart.
Onlookers were struck by the intensity of the battle. Despite it being a non-lethal match, neither side was holding back. Every strike was ferocious, as though their lives depended on it.
Amid the chaos, the arena seemed to split into two halves. On one side, Jiang Zhu's Healing Scepter emitted gentle green light that formed a healing matrix on the ground, restoring her teammates' injuries. On the other, a cascade of begonia petals from Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia rained down, healing Nan Feihuang and Yu Tianheng almost instantly.
The stark difference in healing effectiveness quickly became apparent.
"Jiang Zhu's Healing Scepter just can't compete with the Nine Heart Begonia," Liu Erlong murmured. "If I were in their shoes, I'd prioritize taking out the enemy support. The Strength Clan's specialty is holding the front line to buy time."
As if on cue, Tai Long suddenly lunged forward, wrapping his massive arms around Yu Tianheng in a bear hug. His intent was clear: immobilize Yu Tianheng and allow his teammates to target the support line.
However, this desperate strategy also left Tai Long fully exposed to Yu Tianheng's thunderous power.
"Heh, naïve," Yu Tianheng sneered. "You think such a reckless move will work?"
Blue lightning crackled around Yu Tianheng, and the roar of a dragon echoed through the arena. The sheer voltage coursing through Tai Long's body drew gasps from the crowd as the young man let out a guttural scream.
Everyone watching could see it—Tai Long's gamble wouldn't pay off. His hold on Yu Tianheng would never last, and his own body was rapidly approaching its limit under the relentless assault of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.