The three Spirit Kings stood silently, like towering mountains that seemed impossible to climb.
None of them spoke, nor did they so much as glance properly at Yan, Xie Yue, or Hu Liena.
They merely gave a slight nod to Lin Zhendong — a small gesture that nonetheless carried a faint trace of disdain toward the three young Spirit Masters before them.
Lin Zhendong returned the gesture with equal formality, then turned to face his students, his eyes glinting with seriousness and expectation.
"Are you ready?"
"Ready!"
The three responded in unison, their voices steady and resolute.
"Then… who will go first?"
Lin Zhendong's sharp gaze swept over them.
Without hesitation, Xie Yue took a step forward.
"Teacher Lin, allow me to go first."
Lin Zhendong's expression softened slightly with approval.
"Very well. Show us your strength."
Then, turning to Yan and Hu Liena, he added with a faint, teasing smile:
"You two, watch carefully. Today you may observe your teammate lose. But starting tomorrow, all of you will take on your own battles."
There was a subtle edge in his tone — a quiet implication that their defeat was already a foregone conclusion.
Hu Liena frowned slightly, a spark of defiance rising in her chest.
She had never been one to accept defeat — not even against opponents far stronger than herself.
Yan, however, remained calm and composed.
He understood that even in failure, there were lessons to be learned — experience that would prepare him for his own upcoming challenge.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Xie Yue stepped forward with confidence.
His opponent, a towering Spirit Master nearly two meters tall and built like a fortress, also advanced, exuding quiet strength.
The tension in the air thickened instantly.
Xie Yue clasped his fists politely.
"Xie Yue, forty-first rank, Assault-type Battle Spirit Sect. Please instruct me."
The other man returned the gesture.
"Ye Hao, fifty-second level (OC), Defense-type Battle Spirit King. Please instruct me."
Hearing that his opponent was a Defense-type Spirit Master, Xie Yue's expression flickered slightly.
He had expected to face an attacker or control-type expert — not someone specialized in defense.
Defense and support types were generally less threatening in direct combat; their offensive power rarely compared to assault or control specialists.
Even so, Xie Yue did not let his guard down.
Defense-type Spirit Masters were notoriously difficult to deal with — their strength lay in their near-impenetrable endurance.
And Ye Hao was more than ten levels above him; this was no trivial gap.
Upon hearing her brother's opponent was a Defense-type Spirit Master, Hu Liena couldn't help but smile slightly.
She knew well the power of Xie Yue's self-created spirit skill — Full Moon — one of the strongest offensive techniques among Spirit Ancestors.
If anyone could pierce a Spirit King's defense, it might just be him.
This battle wasn't just a test — it was an opportunity for him to prove himself.
She silently cheered him on, hoping he could win this impossible challenge.
The match officially began.
A sharp light flashed in Xie Yue's eyes as he channeled his spirit power.
In an instant, his Moon Blades Martial Spirit appeared — twin crescent blades glimmering with cold light, floating behind him like a pair of radiant, deadly moons.
Two yellow and two purple spirit rings rose from beneath his feet — the ideal configuration, signifying a top-tier Spirit Ancestor.
Facing him, Ye Hao remained composed and confident.
With a deep breath, he too released his martial spirit and spirit rings.
Yan and Hu Liena focused intently on him, curious to see what kind of martial spirit would warrant such confidence.
Then, a colossal beast manifested behind Ye Hao.
Its massive body towered like a mountain, emanating an unyielding, immovable presence.
Around him floated five spirit rings — two yellow, two purple, and one black — the perfect arrangement for a Spirit King.
That black ten-thousand-year ring radiated with ominous energy, exuding an overwhelming, domineering aura.
Hu Liena's eyes widened in shock.
"A… Diamond Mammoth?!"
She could hardly believe it.
The Diamond Mammoth was renowned across the continent as one of the strongest defense-type martial spirits.
Its defining traits were unmatched physical strength and nearly indestructible defensive power.
It was a martial spirit exclusive to the Elephant Armored Sect, the continent's foremost defense-type sect — the very reason that sect was revered as having the greatest defense in all of Spirit Master history.
Ye Hao's ring configuration — two yellow, two purple, one black — was also the mark of a genius within his rank.
At that moment, Ye Hao stood like an unshakable mountain before Xie Yue, exuding absolute confidence in his defense.
Xie Yue's gaze grew serious.
He knew the opponent before him was no ordinary Defense-type Spirit Master — a fifty-second level Spirit King with the Diamond Mammoth was a fortress incarnate.
He decided to start by probing his enemy's limits.
With a flash of his first spirit ring, Xie Yue activated his first ability — Moonblade Whirl.
Several crescent-shaped energy waves shot forward at high speed, slicing through the air toward Ye Hao.
But when they struck, they vanished into nothingness — absorbed harmlessly by the Diamond Mammoth's dazzling, diamond-like hide.
There wasn't even a scratch.
"So tough…"
Xie Yue muttered, though his voice carried no frustration. He had anticipated as much.
The Diamond Mammoth's defense was legendary among Spirit Masters.
He furrowed his brows slightly, swiftly reassessing his approach.
"Time to boost my power."
His third spirit ring flared to life — Crescent Amplification.
This skill drastically increased his attack power by one and a half times, one of his most potent offensive buffs.
His spirit blades gleamed brighter as he unleashed another flurry of strikes, the air itself rippling under their force.
But when the dust cleared, only a faint mark remained on Ye Hao's shimmering diamond hide.
The massive spirit beast behind him didn't even flinch.
Hu Liena watched from the sidelines, heart pounding.
She had known the Diamond Mammoth's defenses were formidable — but seeing her brother's strongest attack barely graze it was still a shock.
Yan, meanwhile, remained composed, quietly observing every movement on the field — Ye Hao's stance, his reactions, his rhythm.
In his mind, he began to strategize: If it were me out there, how would I deal with that kind of impregnable defense?
Xie Yue, breathing heavily, could feel the difference in their strength firsthand.
His regular attacks posed no threat whatsoever.
To break through, he'd have to change tactics — rely on his speed and agility to find even the smallest opening.
He darted around, launching attacks from multiple angles, each strike sharper than the last.
But Ye Hao stood his ground, his defense seamless, his composure unshaken — an immovable wall that adapted to every assault.
Attack after attack landed — yet the result never changed.
It was the perfect clash of spear versus shield — a relentless offense against an unbreakable defense.
As Xie Yue's stamina waned and his breathing grew ragged, Ye Hao finally spoke in a low, cold tone:
"Tired already, kid? Don't think I only know how to defend… Get ready — it's my turn to strike."
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