After several minutes of frequent exchanges, Yun Ming had already understood the reason for the seamless coordination between Feng Xian and his two companions: it was Feng Xian's Second Soul Skill, which had been glowing from the beginning of the battle to the end. Yun Ming suspected that this Second Soul Skill was an information-transmission type; otherwise, there was no way to explain their overly tacit and perfect cooperation.
The facts were exactly as Yun Ming had guessed. Feng Xian's Second Soul Skill, Mind Link, had the effect of integrating the visual perceptions of everyone linked together into a single image, projecting it into the mind of each participant from a third-person perspective to achieve information sharing.
This soul skill was suitable for small-team combat operations, but if the number of linked individuals was too high, it would place immense information-processing pressure on Feng Xian.
Since the opponent's coordination was so tacit, Yun Ming no longer wanted to slowly search for gaps in their teamwork using only his spear techniques; he intended to tear through the opponent's defensive line head-on. Thus, Yun Ming directly activated his Third Soul Skill.
Looking at the pitch-black, profound third ring at Yun Ming's feet, Feng Xian and his two companions felt as if something had shattered! It seemed to be their worldview!
Feng Xian was dumbfounded, as if struck by lightning, unable to believe everything happening before his eyes. He let out a loud shout.
"How is this possible!!!"
"How can anyone attach a soul ring like this!!!"
Although the sword-and-axe duo under Feng Xian did not speak, their expressions of shock and bewilderment already revealed their shattered state of mind.
Yun Ming's method of attaching soul rings, which was countless years ahead of his era, was simply too unique! It was absolutely unprecedented; even for those who cheated via God Trials like Qian Daoliu or Bo Saixi, their soul ring ages had been elevated over time—they didn't start with such high-level rings from the very beginning!
To Feng Xian's question, Yun Ming responded 'thoughtfully'.
"I did."
Yun Ming's Third Soul Skill, Void Power, was activated.
This was an extremely rare body-amplification soul skill for a Tool Soul Master. The effect was simple and brutal: the Great Void Power amplified his own body, doubling his combat strength. It came from a ten-thousand-year Thorn Dragon, a space-element dragon species. If it hadn't been injured at the time, even Yang Wudi might not have been able to take it down, and Yun Ming had suffered greatly while absorbing this soul ring afterward.
As the soul skill was utilized, endless void energy from the void surrounding Yun Ming was purified by the Atlas Spear and surged into his body. Yun Ming's aura began to soar in a straight line. By the time his aura stabilized, his pupils had completely transformed into mysterious and pure silver, and an elegant, noble silver rune had appeared on his forehead.
Feeling Yun Ming's momentum growing stronger and stronger, Feng Xian and his two companions could no longer maintain their composure. They hadn't been able to suppress Yun Ming before, and now that his combat power was visibly skyrocketing, their lives were in imminent danger.
Without waiting for the three to prepare, soul power erupted beneath Yun Ming's feet. His figure moved like a silver dragon, kicking up dust across the ground, and in an instant, he reached the Axe-Wielding Strongman. This time, Yun Ming took the initiative, his Atlas Spear transforming into layers of spear shadows as he pressed forward with a series of direct, aggressive spear techniques.
'Covering Step Three Thrusting Spears'—the strongman couldn't react in time and had to use the flat of his axe as a shield to defend.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
'Heavenly God Carrying Mountain'—facing the downward hack of the giant axe, Yun Ming directly used the Atlas Spear to lift and resist it head-on.
"Bang!"
'Armor Removal Grinding Thrust', 'Blade Supporting Posture Draping Spear'.
"..."
The storm-like spear techniques left the Axe-Wielding Strongman struggling miserably. While Yun Ming's spear-thrusting force had increased significantly, it was still acceptable for someone who already specialized in strength, but the simultaneously increased speed and the absolute precision of his thrusts left the strongman with no room to launch a counterattack.
If he had used his Fourth Soul Skill to trade blows with Yun Ming earlier, he would have suffered only minor skin wounds at most, but if he tried that now, he would be finished off by Yun Ming in a few strikes.
Seeing his companion beaten so miserably, the Green-Clad Swordsman naturally could not stand by idly. He raised his bone sword and joined the fray, attempting to relieve the pressure.
However, unlike the Axe-Wielding Strongman, although he could keep up with the speed of Yun Ming's thrusts, as a sword-type Martial Soul user, he couldn't handle the sheer weight and power behind Yun Ming's strikes.
After blocking a dozen strikes, the Green-Clad Swordsman felt his hand go numb, and his own sword-swinging speed began to drop instead.
Yun Ming wove between the two, the Atlas Spear in his hand seemingly transforming into an ethereal giant dragon; its claws shattered sword light, and its tail-whip broke axe radiance, completely seizing the initiative on the battlefield.
The tactical formation that had previously been evenly matched completely collapsed in the face of the current Yun Ming. Now, the sword-and-axe duo were being completely suppressed by Yun Ming.
Seeing such a desperate situation, Feng Xian began to use his final trump card. His fourth thousand-year soul ring lit up, and two beams of mysterious light descended upon the strongman and the swordsman.
Feng Xian's Fourth Soul Skill, Mind Berserk, was a burst-type skill that allowed the recipients to unleash combat power beyond their limits for a short time, followed by a month of recovery.
Feeling the surging power within their bodies, the sword-and-axe duo understood Feng Xian's intent and agreed it was their only option; otherwise, at this rate, they wouldn't last much longer.
The two exchanged a glance and acted immediately. The Axe-Wielding Strongman abandoned defense, and his fifth and sixth ten-thousand-year soul rings lit up in succession. The giant axe in his hand transformed into two smaller axes held in his hands.
This was his Fifth Soul Skill, Spirit Splitting, a lower-tier substitute for Spirit Avatar, as this method of splitting slightly weakened the Martial Soul itself.
Once ready, the strongman roared.
"Sixth Soul Skill, Double Axe Destruction Slash!"
The deep yellow soul power on the axes in the strongman's hands transformed into a rain of soul-power axes as he swung them continuously, raining down upon Yun Ming from all directions.
Watching the hundreds of soul-power axes hacking toward him, each with a strength not inferior to a full-force attack from a Soul Ancestor, Yun Ming thought: It looks quite nice. It's unlikely to hurt me, but it's quite effective as a distraction.
Indeed, the strongman's barrage was meant to provide cover. Yun Ming had already noticed the Green-Clad Swordsman disappear from his line of sight, hiding in the dust kicked up by the battle, likely preparing to kill him with a single strike when he was off guard.
Watching the rain of axes fall, Yun Ming began to dance the Atlas Spear to deflect the attacks.
"Bang, bang, bang, bang."
Each soul-power axe dissipated into a rain of light as Yun Ming used the lift, block, or deflect techniques of his spear.
As he continued, Yun Ming suddenly realized something and began to practice his spear techniques within the axe rain. They were still the same basic techniques, but now, Yun Ming's movements to deflect the attacks felt more fluid, natural, and coordinated.
The Green-Clad Swordsman, who had been silently observing from the shadows, saw Yun Ming's 'distraction' and his eyes lit up. He knew his opportunity had arrived, and he activated his last three soul rings simultaneously.
'Hide', a breath-concealing soul skill; 'Merge', man and sword as one; 'Meteor', his strongest single-target killing move.
The Green-Clad Swordsman merged with his bone sword, transforming into a gray-white sword light with restrained killing intent as he shot toward Yun Ming.
The sword light arrived in an instant. Although the Green-Clad Swordsman had restrained his aura, he could not escape Yun Ming's dual perception of space and danger.
Yun Ming was jolted awake by the swordsman's attack. Sensing the sharp strike and recalling his recent epiphany, Yun Ming seemed to understand something. White light flared once more on the Atlas Spear, the Anti-air Power reappeared, and following the momentum of his spear, he thrust out violently, clashing head-on with the spear light against the sword radiance of 'Bone Sword: Meteor'.
"Clang!"
The collision between the Atlas Spear and the Extinction Sword Light produced a clear, ringing sound, followed by total silence, but Ya Li, Feng Xian, and the Axe-Wielding Strongman—who was on the verge of fainting—all knew this was merely a facade. The more silent things were now, the more explosive the aftermath would be.
Yun Ming and the Green-Clad Swordsman stood in direct opposition, yet their mindsets were completely different. The Green-Clad Swordsman was focused on pressing his advantage to overwhelm Yun Ming in one go, while Yun Ming was thinking that momentum cannot be sustained indefinitely, and that retreating was the best way to advance.
With this in mind, Yun Ming began to circulate his Soul Power, causing the Atlas Spear to vibrate slightly. As the gray sword light transformed by the Green-Clad Swordsman followed the subtle rhythm of the Atlas Spear, his momentum began to be eroded bit by bit, drawing him into the spear's rhythm until he was unable to break free.
The Green-Clad Swordsman soon realized something was wrong and tried to break through, but his momentum was spent, and he could not advance an inch. Seeing that the moment had arrived, Yun Ming gathered his remaining strength, launched a full-force strike, and let out a low roar.
"Break!"
As a brilliant white light erupted from the Atlas Spear, unleashing its full power, the exhausted gray-white sword light could no longer hold out and began to crack under the pressure of the Spear Light.
"Crack!"
"Bang!"
In the end, it shattered completely and exploded.
The area for several yards around became a battlefield of sword shadows and Spear Light. When everything finally calmed down and the dust settled, the ground was covered in various cracks and fissures, leaving only a middle-aged man in blood-stained clothes standing in the center, covered in wounds.
ps: Finally reaching the point where Yun Ming returns. I originally wanted to finish this arc within ten chapters, but the pacing didn't go quite right and it became a bit dragged out. This is my first time writing original plot, so please forgive me, and thank you to all the readers who have been following along and giving Guantou advice! Grateful!
Requesting monthly tickets and recommendations.
───────────────
Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader