"Is that... the Clear Sky Hammer?" Wang Yan's eyes widened as he stared at the hammer in Wang Dong's hand from the viewing platform. He immediately recognized it, not as an ordinary weapon, but as a martial spirit—the legendary weapon spirit that once reigned supreme among all tool spirits.
The Clear Sky Sect's Clear Sky Hammer!
Wang Dong's eyes sharpened, his desire to defeat Xiao Yan intensifying. Swinging the massive black hammer a few times, he left deep dents in the ground around him.
"Xiao Yan, take this strike. It's called the Clear Sky Hammer!" Wang Dong shouted, his gaze fierce with battle intent. A grin crossed his face, showing off his teeth as he added, "Chaotic Wind Hammer Technique!"
With a sharp stomp, Wang Dong's body trembled before charging straight at Xiao Yan, an explosive sound following in his wake.
A thousand years ago, participants in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament were prohibited from using any weapons besides their martial spirits. But with the emergence of soul tools over the last millennium, the tournament had evolved to include soul engineers, allowing weapons, tools, hidden weapons, and armor. Despite this, few soul masters still chose to use physical weapons, likely due to the direct practicality of their martial spirits.
Unfazed by Wang Dong's oncoming assault with the Clear Sky Hammer, Xiao Yan calmly grasped the handle of his massive Heavy Xuan Ruler. With a swift pull, the ruler whipped through the air, stirring a gust of wind as it pointed downward, kicking up a swirl of dust. Faint yellow battle energy shimmered around his body.
As Wang Dong closed in, Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, his lips curving into a faint smirk. Clutching the Heavy Xuan Ruler, he swung it forward with fierce momentum, meeting Wang Dong's hammer head-on.
"Clang!"
The sound of metal clashing filled the air as sparks flew, and a faint ripple of energy spread outward from the collision point. The two were momentarily locked in place, evenly matched.
At that moment, however, Huang's Third Ghost, who had been lying unconscious, suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze turned blood-red, and his expression twisted in a sinister way. Dark, swirling energies began spiraling around him, creating an ominous aura.
Soon, the third purple soul ring on Huang's Third Ghost flared to life.
In an instant, several swirling black fogs emerged from his body, each carrying a faint glow. Ethereal figures with red eyes—souls that resembled fierce ghosts—flooded from within him, shrieking as they rushed toward Xiao Yan.
From the viewing platform, Wang Yan's face paled at the sight of the ghastly figures charging at Xiao Yan. "This... is an evil martial spirit?" he muttered, trembling.
"Xiao Yan, watch out behind you!" shouted Lan Luoluo and Lan Susu, who were both engaged with Xiao Xiao, their expressions mirroring the alarmed cries of the crowd.
Just as Wang Yan was about to summon his martial spirit, the Panlong Staff, and leap into action to save Xiao Yan, he stopped in surprise. A chillingly powerful and ancient aura had filled the air, holding him in place with its oppressive weight.
At that instant, Xiao Yan's body shivered slightly. His dark eyes suddenly shifted, turning an eerie shade of grey, filled with a terrifying deathly aura.
Simultaneously, Xiao Yan's mental space transformed. The once dormant grey orb in his mind vanished, replaced by an ancient, cold, and overwhelming presence. An aged voice echoed within his spirit.
"Oh? The scent of death… how familiar," the voice mused. Xiao Yan, surprised by his own loss of control, tried to ask what was happening. But before he could speak, Yao Lao's voice echoed, "Xiao Yan, it seems the old one residing in your spirit sea is stepping in. He appears to be helping you—just observe for now."
Xiao Yan felt his entire soul power surge as his now-grey Spirit Eyes glowed with a terrifying luster. An instant later, a faint grey light gleamed in his eyes, radiating the essence of death.
"Ahh!" Wang Dong let out a sharp cry, but his anguish was quickly followed by a soft glow on his forehead, forming a symbol resembling a golden trident. A golden light erupted from him, encasing his body in a protective aura that radiated outward for dozens of meters, illuminating the area.
Seconds later, Wang Dong's body fell back, unconscious from the overwhelming force.
Nearby, Xiao Xiao collapsed from exhaustion as her National Treasure Cauldron disappeared. Meanwhile, Huang's Third Ghost lay twitching on the ground, foaming at the mouth and rolling his eyes as if in the throes of a seizure.
As for the black, ghostly spirits rushing toward Xiao Yan, they were instantly purified and dispersed into nothingness.
At that moment, Xiao Yan and the Lan sisters were the only ones left standing. Letting out a long exhale, Xiao Yan turned to the referee's stand and called out, "Does this count as our victory?"
"Yes… yes! The match is over. The victory goes to Xiao Yan's team from Class Seven!"
As soon as the referee's words were heard, the entire arena erupted into deafening cheers. The thunderous roar of the crowd shook the plaza, and countless freshmen rose to their feet, gazing at the black-robed boy in awe and admiration.
Some, however, murmured with skepticism. How could a soul master with a ten-year ring be so strong? How did he manage to defeat Huang's Third Ghost and Wang Dong?
Bowing slightly, Xiao Yan took hold of the Heavy Xuan Ruler, which was embedded in the ground, and pulled it to his back with a flick of his wrist. He waved to Lan Luoluo and Lan Susu before leaping down from the arena.
As he left, Wang Yan, acting as the supervising teacher, rushed over to check on Wang Dong. He breathed a sigh of relief upon discovering that Wang Dong was merely unconscious, not seriously injured. Gathering Wang Dong and the others, he hurriedly escorted them to the academy's medical center.
"What just happened? How did Xiao Yan escape danger and overpower Wang Dong?" Wang Yan pondered, still stunned by what he had witnessed.
"It must have been his Spirit Eyes awakening a second time," Wang Yan mused as he carried Wang Dong. "Otherwise, why would his eyes have turned grey? And that technique he used at the start… it didn't resemble any soul
skill. I'll have to find a chance to question him about this."
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