Yun Ming was somewhat surprised to hear Feng Xiaotian and Yang Yi challenge him in such unison; he hadn't seen them exchange a single word just moments ago.
In reality, there hadn't been any; this was truly a coincidence, and both Feng Xiaotian and Yang Yi were now feeling a bit startled themselves.
The reason Feng Xiaotian challenged Yun Ming was that he wanted to accurately gauge the gap between them.
After witnessing Yun Ming in action, Feng Xiaotian felt that his Godwind Academy team definitely couldn't defeat Yun Ming in the Soul Master Competition, and not being able to win meant the championship was out of reach. Since that was the case, his presence at Godwind Academy wasn't as critical; even without him, someone else could step up, and their results wouldn't suffer. Therefore, if he withdrew from Godwind Academy to join Yun Ming, he could not only learn more suitable tactics but also potentially win the championship—why wouldn't he do it?
Yang Yi's challenge was much simpler: he had become arrogant after consuming an Immortal Herb.
The sky had cleared, the rain had stopped, and he felt he was back in the game.
Even though Yang Yi realized that if he had an Immortal Herb, Yun Ming surely had one too, meaning their Soul Power levels would likely remain similar, he wouldn't be satisfied without testing it out.
Yun Ming didn't fully grasp their inner thoughts, but he was willing to grant their request. He wouldn't even need to use his Soul Skills; he would treat it as loosening his muscles and giving his two new team members a bit more confidence. Yun Ming spoke up.
"Fine, you two can come at me together, but if you lose, there will be a penalty."
"Your training volume from now on will increase by thirty percent."
Feng Xiaotian and Yang Yi: "No problem."
The other members of the Empire Team were also filled with anticipation, especially Gong Ming and Ye Qingyin, who were particularly excited. After all, Yun Ming was a super genius touted by the royal family, and they wanted to see his true strength.
Niu Bi asked Oscar, who was standing beside him.
"Oscar, who do you think will win, Yun Ming or those two?"
When they went to pick him up earlier, Yun Ming had been with Oscar and Yang Yi, so they definitely knew each other, which prompted the question.
Oscar answered with absolute certainty.
"The Captain, of course."
Although Oscar hadn't seen Yun Ming fight much, he knew that Yun Ming had single-handedly wiped out a team of two Soul Emperors and one Soul King while he was still a Soul Elder. In front of Yun Ming, Feng Xiaotian and Yang Yi had no chance of winning.
Seeing Oscar so confident, Gong Ming and Ye Qingyin couldn't help but become even more curious about Yun Ming's strength.
Amidst the group's discussion, the battle between the three officially began.
Yang Yi raised his hand and summoned his Soul Breaking Spear martial soul. After consuming the Immortal Herb, his Soul Breaking Spear had undergone subtle changes. While it remained as black, thick, and long as before, it now possessed a crystalline quality and an even sharper edge.
Beside him, Feng Xiaotian, with his Gale Two-Headed Wolf martial soul manifested, felt the sharp aura of the spear in Yang Yi's hand. His martial soul sent a faint signal of danger, and Feng Xiaotian realized this was yet another top-tier martial soul.
As for why he was so certain, there was no other reason than familiarity. People like the Shi Family Brothers, Dugu Yan, and Yu Tianheng had all given him this same feeling.
Yun Ming also raised his hand to summon the transparent, crystal-like Atlas Divine Spear and said.
"Come on, you two attack first."
Yang Yi and Feng Xiaotian didn't stand on ceremony; they exchanged a glance and charged at Yun Ming together.
The first to reach Yun Ming was Feng Xiaotian, whose Gale Two-Headed Wolf martial soul granted him incredible speed.
Facing Yun Ming, Feng Xiaotian unleashed a Wolf Claw strike, aiming directly at Yun Ming's heart.
Yun Ming raised the Atlas Divine Spear to parry the strike, then exerted force with both hands, using raw strength to send Feng Xiaotian flying back.
Feng Xiaotian performed a backflip to absorb the momentum, stumbled back a few steps, and looked at Yun Ming with astonishment.
He was a peak Power Attack System Soul Elder with a quasi-top-tier beast martial soul, yet he had lost a contest of strength against a Tool Soul Master. It didn't make sense. But then, he remembered that the person in front of him was inherently unreasonable, so he stopped dwelling on it.
After repelling Feng Xiaotian, Yun Ming didn't pause. He spun his spear, thrusting it forward to clash head-on with the Soul Breaking Spear, which was slightly slower than Feng Xiaotian.
"Clang!"
The tips of the Atlas Divine Spear and the Soul Breaking Spear collided, producing a crisp, resonant sound.
With the thrust blocked, Yang Yi retracted his spear and thrust again. Six years had passed; he was no longer the naive kid whose Dao heart had been shattered back then. If Yun Ming wanted to break his Spear Art move by move again, it was impossible! It simply wouldn't happen!
As long as he retracted his moves fast enough, Yun Ming couldn't break them.
Seeing Yang Yi change his move the moment the first one failed, Yun Ming also retracted his spear to thrust again. This time, however, Yun Ming slightly adjusted the angle, shifting his body to avoid the path of the Soul Breaking Spear, and thrust the Atlas Divine Spear toward Yang Yi in a parallel trajectory.
Seeing Yun Ming's movement, Yang Yi knew his thrust had failed again. He hurriedly whipped the tail of his spear, and the Soul Breaking Spear moved like a nimble snake, its tip lashing out to strike the Atlas Divine Spear, hoping to disrupt its trajectory as well.
Seeing this, Yun Ming exerted force with his rear hand, spinning the Atlas Divine Spear until it moved like a silver dragon emerging from the water. The two spears danced like dragon and snake, swirling and colliding. As they circled each other, it became a battle of intricate force.
But when it came to details, Yang Yi was no match for Yun Ming. His Soul Breaking Spear was completely led by the nose by Yun Ming's Atlas Divine Spear, and under the influence of Yun Ming's sticky force, Yang Yi nearly lost his grip on his weapon.
Fortunately, this wasn't a one-on-one fight. Feng Xiaotian, seeing Yang Yi become a toy in Yun Ming's hands within a few exchanges, hurriedly stepped in to provide support.
Feng Xiaotian's first Soul Ring lit up.
'Wind Blade Array' activated.
Feng Xiaotian swung both claws simultaneously, launching a web of wind blades at Yun Ming that blocked all his retreat paths, attempting to force a rescue.
Yun Ming caught the incoming wind blades in his peripheral vision, withdrew the sticky force from the Atlas Divine Spear, and released the Soul Breaking Spear. Engaging his waist, he swept the Atlas Divine Spear in a circle, shattering all the wind blades instantly. Then, using the momentum of the sweep, he brought the spear down in a vertical strike toward Yang Yi, who had just regained his grip.
Yang Yi hurriedly raised his Soul Breaking Spear to parry, but the force of Yun Ming's strike was so immense that it not only buckled his knees but also numbed his hands.
Luckily, Feng Xiaotian's next attack had already arrived, forcing Yun Ming to retract his spear to defend; otherwise, Yang Yi might have been forced to his knees.
Taking this opportunity, Yang Yi retreated to disengage from the battlefield, needing to ease the numbness in his hands. But as Yang Yi took a breather, Feng Xiaotian became the one taking the beating.
Feng Xiaotian engaged in close-quarters combat, trying to restrict the use of Yun Ming's long spear and testing the fighting style he had slightly adjusted after Yun Ming's pointers.
However, after dozens of exchanges, whether it was Feng Xiaotian's close-range claw strikes or kicks, Yun Ming blocked them all with one hand on his spear, shaking it casually, or simply dodged by turning his head or pivoting his body. Occasionally, the Atlas Divine Spear would dart out like a snake's tongue, forcing Feng Xiaotian to retreat and defend, leaving him struggling to keep up.
It was only because Yun Ming wanted to see the results of Feng Xiaotian's transformation that he focused primarily on defense and rarely counterattacked; otherwise, after so many exchanges, Feng Xiaotian would have been knocked flat by Yun Ming long ago.
After Yang Yi recovered for a moment, the Third Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up.
Yang Yi's Third Soul Skill, 'Soul', was a Soul Power amplification skill.
Bolstered by the soul skill, black soul light surged over Yang Yi's body as he pounced directly toward Yun Ming.
With his Soul Power amplified, the strength and speed of Yang Yi's spear strikes increased across the board, and he joined forces with Feng Xiaotian to pincer Yun Ming.
Yet, it was still to no avail. As Yun Ming danced with his spear, the Atlas Divine Spear transformed into a swimming dragon, parrying their onslaught while launching occasional strikes that forced the two of them into a steady retreat.
The onlookers watching from the side saw that Yun Ming was only using his Martial Soul and spear techniques; they felt that he hadn't even used much Soul Power, yet he had Feng Xiaotian and the other man jumping about in a panic. They were all shocked by Yun Ming's combat prowess.
Ye Qingyin's eyes turned into stars as she watched, whispering to herself.
"The captain is just too strong, too handsome."
Niu Bi and Gong Ming were also left dumbfounded by the sight. Niu Bi shouted out.
"Is this guy Yun Ming a monster?!"
Oscar watched Yun Ming's effortless and graceful combat with a hint of envy. How could he, Oscar, not want to be a Battle Soul Master? It was a pity! Heaven had given him a handsome face and excellent talent, but it hadn't given him a Martial Soul capable of fighting.
Dugu Yan's eyes also gleamed with light as she watched, though it was a pity she was a devoted person, otherwise she might have truly fulfilled her grandfather's wish.
Ning Rongrong looked at Yun Ming, who was suppressing Feng Xiaotian and his partner with such ease and grace, and her expression grew complex. She recalled what her father had told her, but she was certain that Yun Ming had no interest in her whatsoever, and she didn't know what to do.
Setting aside the thoughts of these people, the battle continued.
Feng Xiaotian felt that things could not go on like this and said to Yang Yi.
"Buy me some time."
He then disengaged from the battlefield.
Although Yang Yi didn't know why, he decided to comply; after all, he had no other choice, so he continued to raise his spear and attack Yun Ming.
Yun Ming glanced at Feng Xiaotian and, thinking of a Spear Art he hadn't used since developing it, decided not to interfere and play along with Feng Xiaotian.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader