Hearing the answer stunned Qian Renxue. Just what kind of third ring did Xu Yang possess that he dared not even reveal his soul ring, only relying on a soul bone to fight?
She racked her brain but couldn't figure it out. The thought of a ten-thousand-year ring had crossed her mind, but she dismissed it. Although Yu Xiaogang's theory of soul ring absorption ages wasn't entirely accurate, it remained the most reasonable guideline for safe soul ring absorption.
The emergence of whale rubber had made the possibility of a ten-thousand-year fourth ring more plausible—but only just. After all, the spiritual shock of a ten-thousand-year soul beast wasn't a secret among major clans and powerful forces. Unless one had at least an 80% certainty, they wouldn't attempt it.
This was also why she had absorbed her rings following the theoretical limit based on her innate soul power of Rank 20.
Thinking of her own soul ring configuration, Qian Renxue felt some regret. Why couldn't the effects of whale rubber have been discovered earlier? Then her first three rings wouldn't have been as ordinary as a typical soul master's. Thankfully, her fourth ring, with the help of several ten-thousand-year whale rubber pieces and the spiritual enhancement from the Illusory Cloud Skull, had successfully reached the ten-thousand-year level.
That at least offered some consolation.
The battle on stage continued. Xu Yang was still at a disadvantage. The Iron-Blood Soul Master, with two amplification skills activated, outmatched him in both strength and speed. If it weren't for the secret techniques he had developed from his own soul skills, he might've already lost by now.
Thankfully, as the Iron-Blood Soul Master pressed with technique, Xu Yang's years of hard training began to take effect—his blade techniques were steadily improving in the heat of battle.
Only now did he finally understand the meaning behind what Ning Haiyan had often said:
"If you want your blade techniques to truly improve, you not only need to survive deadly battles but also face all kinds of soul masters. Only then can your blade techniques adapt to any fight."
Soul masters had incredibly diverse attack methods—not just fists and weapons, but elemental skills, locking skills, amplification skills, spiritual skills, and countless more. Relying solely on blade skills in combat was simply foolish. That's why famous swordsmen and blade masters were rare in the Douluo Continent.
"Looks like I need to make time to return and acquire Grandpa Jian's Seven Kill Sword Technique!"
As he fought, Xu Yang was already thinking about Sword Douluo's Seven Kill Sword Technique.
As the inheritor of the Seven Kill lineage, Sword Douluo had let go of his pursuit of swordsmanship in recent years, but he remained the number one swordsman in all of Douluo Continent.
The Seven Kill Sword was born with sword intent and came with its own sword technique. After generations of refinement, it had reached its pinnacle.
This sword technique didn't follow fixed forms—it was more like a swordsmanship system from martial arts novels in his previous life. It had seven levels, from First Kill to Seventh Kill. Every breakthrough infused a soul ring into the sword. By the time one reached Seventh Kill, all seven soul rings would have fused with the martial soul, making soul rings and martial soul one. Not only could all seven soul skills be used at will, but just a wave of the sword could unleash sword energy carrying the character for "Kill"—sharp and unstoppable.
Though Xu Yang didn't have the Seven Kill Sword martial soul, he could learn the philosophy of its swordsmanship and turn it into his own blade path. Most importantly, he needed to condense his own "blade intent."
Sword intent, blade intent, and martial realms were viable paths in Douluo Continent. Aside from the innately sword-intent-bearing Seven Kill Sword, the original work also repeatedly referenced the "oneness of man and nature" realm, and even mentioned Ji Juechen ten thousand years later—a genius who comprehended sword intent and even domain power on his own.
Based on that growth path, Xu Yang suspected that domains might be a realm beyond sword intent.
Of course, such realms were still far off for him. What mattered now was forging his own intent.
Clang!
Xu Yang snapped out of his thoughts, blocking a spear thrust from the Iron-Blood Soul Master. With the technique of split focus control, he could analyze and fight simultaneously without getting distracted.
By now, both combatants were at their limit. After using two amplification skills back to back and such prolonged fighting, the Iron-Blood Soul Master's soul power was nearly depleted. Xu Yang wasn't far behind either. Despite having 1.4 times the soul power of a typical soul master, he had exhausted it through the alternating use of secret techniques. Only one final strike remained in him.
Both were panting, weapons pointed at each other, eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
Seeing the Iron-Blood Soul Master's weakening aura, Xu Yang grinned. "Your amplification skill duration has ended. This match is mine!"
As he spoke, Xu Yang slashed his Tang Blade. A golden blade arc shot forth, directly targeting the Iron-Blood Soul Master.
Clang! Clang!…
The Iron-Blood Soul Master raised his Iron-Blood Flag to block. The clashing of metal echoed again, but it didn't last long. Lacking soul power, he dropped to one knee. Seizing the moment, Xu Yang dashed forward, Tang Blade pointed at his opponent as he smiled and said, "You've lost."
"…Yeah, I lost."
The Iron-Blood Soul Master smiled bitterly before collapsing. Exhausted in body, soul power, and spirit, he instantly blacked out the moment he relaxed.
In truth, Xu Yang wasn't much better. His soul power was drained, and both stamina and mental strength were nearly gone—reaching his limit.
Only his years of body training and mental cultivation allowed him to hold on. Anyone else would've ended up like his opponent.
Xu Yang sheathed the Sun-Scorching Blade and began to walk off the stage slowly. Dugu Yan rushed up to him, letting him rest his arm around her shoulders and helping him down.
After a few steps, Xu Yang turned his head and glanced at the other auxiliary Iron-Blood Soul Master carrying his brother toward the opposite rest area. A hint of regret flashed in his eyes.
"What a shame. I don't even know their names."
"Oh come on! Look at the state you're in, and you're still worried about them?" Dugu Yan rolled her eyes at him, both annoyed and concerned.
"Yes, yes," Xu Yang replied helplessly.
At the rest area, Qin Ming was already waiting at the door. His expression was grim.
To him, Xu Yang's battle had been reckless. He could've easily teamed up with Dugu Yan in a 2v1 to end it quickly, yet he insisted on the most exhausting path—draining his soul power, stamina, and spirit.
And next up, they still had the team battle.
Most members of their team were only around Rank 23 or 24. They already had a disadvantage competing in the Soul Ancestor-level team matches. Now, with their strongest Soul Ancestor completely depleted, how were they supposed to fight?
Seeing Xu Yang and Dugu Yan, Qin Ming rushed over in a few strides. Looking at Xu Yang's worn-out face, he sighed in frustration.
"Why on earth would you do something like that?"