Chapter 68: First Victory Over Tang San

Just as the two were locked in an indecisive melee of fists and kicks, Tang San suddenly changed his stance, and countless Blue Silver Grasses shot up from the ground, swirling around Yang Xiong from all directions—exactly Tang San's First Soul Skill: Entanglement.

Clearly, after fighting for so long, Tang San realized he could no longer win by technique alone and began to attack with soul skills.

The onlookers, however, found it odd—why had Tang San fought Yang Xiong for so long without using soul skills? Was he holding back? Or had another plan?

Even though Yang Xiong's reaction was lightning‑fast, at that instant both of his feet seemed completely wrapped by Blue Silver Grass, which, like a poisonous snake, had become unusually resilient and possessed a very strong entangling force.

Moreover, the Blue Silver Grass appeared to sprout tentacle‑like protrusions that jabbed at Yang Xiong's skin, but his silver‑colored hide blocked them as if striking solid metal, unable to pierce.

Yang Xiong roared, and the silver aura around him erupted instantly, his whole body exploding like a bomb, unleashing boundless power that shattered the Blue Silver Grass entangling him.

Unexpectedly, when the Blue Silver Grass that had wrapped him was shattered, it seemed to release a toxin that gave a fleeting dizzy sensation.

Tang San rejoiced and lunged forward again, evidently believing that Yang Xiong had been poisoned this time.

But Tang San's joy was premature; the toxin in the Blue Silver Grass had no effect on Yang Xiong, who had undergone Ice Fire Tempering Body.

As Tang San closed in, Yang Xiong launched a surprise attack, delivering a heavy punch straight to Tang San's chest; Tang San was blasted more than ten meters away, leaving a roughly one‑meter crater in the ground.

A few seconds later, Tang San scrambled up from the ground, a thin line of fresh blood streaming from his mouth.

At that moment Tang San was puzzled: "Yang Xiong, my Blue Silver Grass is poisonous; I didn't expect you to be unaffected—how is that possible?"

Yang Xiong smiled: "Sorry, Tang San, I've been tempering my body since childhood and have endured countless toxins; the little poison in the Blue Silver Grass can't harm me."

Tang San suddenly chuckled: "Yang Xiong, your combat power exceeds my expectations, especially your physical constitution. I admit I'm inferior there, but you miscalculated as well."

Yang Xiong, still a bit puzzled, suddenly felt soul‑power ripples all around him as countless Blue Silver Grasses sprouted rapidly, instantly enveloping his entire body.

That was Tang San's Second Soul Skill: Parasite. His First Soul Skill wasn't meant to knock himself down; it was intended to release parasitic spores, and after such prolonged preparation he finally activated it, clearly aiming to crush Yang Xiong at once.

Countless Blue Silver Grasses instantly wrapped Yang Xiong, his whole body seeming to be submerged in a sea of them, each sprouting barbs as if to pierce his skin.

Especially as Tang San amplified his soul‑power input, the Blue Silver Grass became densely packed, forming a massive sphere.

Tang San laughed: "Yang Xiong, you're already enveloped by my Blue Silver Grass—just admit defeat."

But in that instant, Yang Xiong's form vanished from the Blue Silver Grass and reappeared before Tang San, delivering a full‑force punch at him.

Even though Tang San reacted swiftly and blocked with his Mysterious Jade Hand, Yang Xiong's punch was so powerful it sent Tang San flying again.

Yang Xiong shook his head at the blood‑streaked Tang San: "Tang San, you kept avoiding soul skills because you knew I could teleport, right? If you had kept fighting me with just body and technique, I wouldn't have been able to wound you so easily. Unfortunately, using two soul skills in succession drained too much soul power and stamina; your body can't keep up with my speed."

Tang San wiped the blood from his mouth: "Exactly, I didn't use soul skills because I knew you could teleport. I didn't expect you to escape even after I trapped you with spores. Looks like I miscalculated."

"What I didn't anticipate was how robust your skin and defense are. I intended to pierce your skin with Blue Silver Grass; even if your defense is strong, its toxin could still drain your soul power."

Yang Xiong smiled: "I recall telling you all that I can be a strong‑attack or agility‑attack Soul Grandmaster, and also serve as a Defense System Soul Grandmaster. For a Defense System Soul Grandmaster, this toxin can't affect me."

"Now that you've released two soul skills consecutively, you probably don't have much soul power left."

A determined look appeared on Tang San's face: "Even though my soul‑power consumption is far greater than yours, don't forget I still have a Third Soul Skill."

Tang San's Third Soul Ring flickered, and within a radius of dozens of meters countless Blue Silver Grasses erupted, covering roughly the entire Soul Fighting Arena arena; even he himself was inside the grass's attack range.

This is Tang San's Third Soul Skill: Blue Silver Hurricane Formation.

Tang San's intent was clear: he was exhausting all his soul power to decide the match in one move. If Yang Xiong teleported out of the range, it would mean leaving the arena, which would count as his own surrender.

Countless Blue Silver Grasses surged toward Yang Xiong, moving much faster than before; each blade‑like tip was extremely sharp, resembling the fore‑legs of a Hurricane Mantis, like a series of sickles.

Moreover, even more Blue Silver Grasses surrounded Tang San, all poised to attack.

A faint smile curled at Yang Xiong's mouth as his entire body instantly turned silver, skin and muscles alike, and he repeatedly punched at the incoming Blue Silver Grass.

Yang Xiong shattered countless Blue Silver Grasses, yet even more surged forward; evidently this move was stronger than he expected, and faint bloodstains appeared on his silver fists—Hurricane Mantis truly made the grass razor‑sharp.

The third soul skill of the Blue Silver Grass proved indeed formidable; even Dai Mubai had just employed both White Tiger Protective Shield and White Tiger Diamond Transformation, yet still couldn't block Tang San's attack.

But in that instant, Yang Xiong's form vanished and he reappeared before Tang San.

However, Tang San seemed prepared; all the Blue Silver Grasses around him surged forward at speed, even the air crackled with tearing sounds.

Yang Xiong showed no fear; this time he didn't use a brute punch, but instantly gathered countless soul powers in his hand, forming a blue sphere—the Spiral Sphere.

Compared with his usual Spiral Spheres, this one was considerably larger; whereas before it was a roughly fifteen‑centimeter ball, now it was about the size of a basketball.

The Spiral Sphere collided instantly with the Blue Silver Hurricane Formation, shattering countless Blue Silver Grasses; even Tang San's desperate block with his Mysterious Jade Hand was smashed, and the force of Yang Xiong's Spiral Sphere sent Tang San sprawling on the ground, spitting blood.

The surrounding Blue Silver Grasses gradually lost control and faded away, since Tang San, the soul‑skill user, was injured and nearly fainted.

Yu Xiaogang and Xiao Wu hurried to Tang San's side, Yu Xiaogang's face showing a hint of anger.

"Yang Xiong, why did you hit so hard in a spar between classmates?"

Yang Xiong glanced at Yu Xiaogang: "Master, I held back at the end; otherwise Tang San wouldn't have only these minor injuries."

Yu Xiaogang sounded a bit dissatisfied: "Did you forget Tang San still has an External Soul Bone unused? Otherwise you wouldn't have been able to wound him so easily nor defeat him so readily."

Yang Xiong replied: "Master, I advise you not to say that. Tang San's External Soul Bone hasn't fully merged yet; using it recklessly could attract others' covetous eyes, which would be truly dangerous. You should know the value of an External Soul Bone."

Before Yu Xiaogang could say more, Tang San gritted his teeth and stood up.

"Teacher, no need to say more; I lost this time, Yang Xiong. Though I was defeated by you, I won't lose so easily next time."

Yang Xiong said: "I'll be waiting to spar with you again. Honestly, given your strength, if you hadn't exhausted all your soul power, you could have blocked my final move just now."

Tang San seemed to recall something: "So you kept draining me, never using a Self‑Created Spirit Skill from start to finish, waiting until I used my Third Soul Skill to unleash this move, counting on my peak condition…"

Yang Xiong nodded: "In terms of combat technique, you're clearly stronger than me, especially with your various Self‑Created Spirit Skills. Blocking this move wouldn't be hard. If you hadn't rashly used soul skills, we'd just keep draining each other, making the outcome uncertain… but once you use a soul skill, even if you're a higher realm, your soul‑power consumption will be greater than mine."

Tang San finally gave a wry smile: "I get it now; you'd calculated from the start…"

Yang Xiong shook his head: "That's not it. In terms of attack methods, I'm still inferior to you. Fighting with my body is my combat ability, and aside from your Self‑Created Spirit Skills, you're probably even more familiar with battling using Blue Silver Grass."

"Moreover, the gap in soul power between us remains insurmountable, and the differences between soul skills are significant. No matter what method you use, you'll ultimately fall into my combat rhythm, especially since your Blue Silver Grass can't breach my defense."

Though Tang San's face showed some resentment, the battle was lost and he made no further objections.

After Yang Xiong returned to the team, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly asked Tang San: "Xiao San, how are your injuries? Any serious damage? Let me take you for treatment."

Tang San shook his head: "Teacher, I'm fine. Yang Xiong must have held back on his final move; otherwise I wouldn't have only injured my hands. It looks messy, but I'm not seriously hurt."

After a brief recovery, Tang San rejoined the team.

Everyone gave Yang Xiong a strange look despite his carefree demeanor.

After such a fierce fight—having been knocked down by Tang San several times—he showed no sign of injury or excessive soul‑power drain; it seemed the battle meant little to Yang Xiong.

Especially Yang Xiong's exaggerated combat power is almost terrifying; one should know that Tang San defeated Dai Mubai, and among the Soul Elders he is definitely among the strongest.

Dai Mubai's face was extremely solemn; he understood Tang San's combat power better than anyone else, yet Yang Xiong so easily defeated Tang San—doesn't that mean Yang Xiong's combat power is far above his own? He should remember that he is Level 37, a full ten levels higher than Yang Xiong.

Even more exaggerated, from beginning to end Yang Xiong never released a soul skill, so if he were to unleash a soul skill, what formidable power would that be?

(End of chapter)