"What just happened? Why does it feel like Xu Yang's mindset has undergone a major shift all of a sudden?!" Qin Ming sat in the spectator stand, puzzled as he observed the now visibly more relaxed Xu Yang.
The host saw that both teams were ready. Soul power surged under his feet, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared at the center of the Spirit Arena. He looked around at the audience and shouted with a booming laugh:
"Third match in Area 20 of the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena. The competing teams—Wolfpack Battle Team and Thunder Serpent Battle Team!"
"The Wolfpack Battle Team must be very familiar to everyone. As a frequent contender in the Spirit Elder division of the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena, they have an impressive record, even once achieving a five-match win streak. I believe they will deliver another thrilling performance today..."
A five-win streak in the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena—this was equivalent to more than ten wins in the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena. It was already an incredible feat.
"Crush them, Wolfpack!"
"Wolfpack is invincible!"
Similar chants echoed throughout the stands, igniting the entire arena with passionate energy.
As expected, the host, skilled at rousing the crowd, turned to introduce the Thunder Serpent Battle Team:
"And facing them today is the Thunder Serpent Battle Team. Although they're a newly formed team, their captain Tai Yi has shown outstanding performance in solo and duo Spirit Elder matches—even without using his martial soul... Yes, you heard right, he fought without using his martial soul. According to the information I have, Tai Yi's martial soul is the Sun—not the Tang Blade in his hand. Now that he's unleashing his martial soul, I'm sure we're in for a surprise!"
The host knew the other Thunder Serpent members lacked high cultivation, so he focused on Xu Yang to build hype. The goal was to stoke excitement, encourage bets, and generate large profits for the Spirit Arena through commission on Soul Coins.
"Since everyone's so eager... Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Begin the match!"
With the countdown complete, both teams unleashed their martial souls without needing instruction from their captains. Beast-type soul masters underwent physical transformations, bodies expanding, while Tool-type soul masters summoned their martial souls.
Xu Yang didn't do anything unusual. Along with his teammates, he summoned his martial soul: the Sun.
As his martial soul appeared, the entire Great Spirit Arena fell silent. All eyes locked onto the small figure beneath the blazing sun floating behind his head—especially the black spirit ring hovering below him.
Shock filled the air.
Even the Wolfpack Battle Team across the field wore expressions of disbelief.
"A... a ten-thousand-year third ring!"
Someone suddenly exclaimed. Though soft, everyone heard it clearly. Instantly, the entire audience burst into an uproar. Countless discussions erupted over this mysterious third-ringed soul master—how did he achieve this?
"So it really is a ten-thousand-year third ring... No wonder he kept it so tightly hidden. And now he's showing it again, this must mean..."
Qian Renxue's gaze swept across the stands. In the left corner, she spotted a familiar figure and revealed a knowing expression.
"Just as I thought—teacher is here!"
"Didn't he say he'd keep it hidden for a month?! Why reveal it now?!"
Qin Ming was filled with confusion.
The arena remained noisy. Many spectators couldn't believe the third ring was truly a ten-thousand-year soul ring—some assumed it was just a soul tool effect.
But all eyes stayed on Xu Yang, eager to witness what miracles his ten-thousand-year third ring could perform.
"So what if it's a ten-thousand-year third ring?! I don't believe two Spirit Elders can beat five Spirit Grandmasters and still take on us seven Spirit Elders!"
Even Tian Kun himself didn't realize that his voice was trembling. His eyes showed fear, and he raised his voice instinctively to mask his unease.
"Oh really?"
Xu Yang sneered, taking a step forward. He no longer restrained the ferocious fire and light of his Sun Martial Soul. Golden flames exploded around it, quickly enveloping his entire body, especially his arms.
Shi Mo and Shi Mo (the two brothers) felt a wave of heat surge from behind them, instinctively activating their martial souls to block it—it was simply too hot.
Just as Xu Yang moved, the control-type soul master Yuan Hui launched his attack.
"First Soul Skill: Serpent Bind!"
"Third Soul Skill: Constriction!"
Yuan Hui raised his right hand, and the Soft Serpent Tendon in it split into seven strands, slithering through the air toward Xu Yang and his teammates, aiming to immobilize the Thunder Serpent Battle Team and open them up for an assault by Tian Kun's group.
The Soft Serpent Tendon moved with incredible speed, arriving at the front of the Thunder Serpent Team in an instant.
"Shi Mo, Shi Mo—move aside!"
Upon hearing Xu Yang's voice, the brothers instinctively rolled to either side, clearing a path in the middle.
Xu Yang's soul power erupted beneath his feet. In the next second, he stood before the Soft Serpent Tendon. His purple soul ring lit up, and the sun behind his head split into seven miniature suns.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!..."
The sound of air tearing echoed as the little suns shot out, incinerating the seven serpent strands into ash in a blink.
"Impossible?!"
Yuan Hui couldn't believe it. His Soft Serpent Tendon had a yin-cold attribute, reinforced by three snake-type soul rings. It had some fire resistance. He had faced fire-type soul masters before, but none could instantly burn his tendon to dust like Tai Yi just had.
At that moment, the opposing team's captain, Tian Kun, also launched his attack. He let out a wolfish howl toward the sky, his second soul ring lighting up as he transformed into a purple streak of light and charged at Xu Yang.
Meanwhile, the two Ironhorn Bull soul masters in the front row also activated their soul skills and followed him in a charge.
"As planned—attack!"
"First Soul Skill: Jade-Scaled Red Toxin!"
"Second Soul Skill: Jade-Scaled Blue Toxin!"
Taking advantage of the chaos, Dugu Yan's expression turned frosty. Her voice was cold as her first and second soul rings lit up. Opening her mouth, she released red and blue toxic mists.
Under her control, the red and blue mists didn't disperse. Instead, they condensed into two poison walls, cutting the enemy formation into three isolated battle zones, preventing coordination.
Her upgraded Excitation Toxin and Paralysis Toxin were so potent that they could no longer be used for ally support. But in exchange, their battlefield control power had greatly increased. Any enemy soul master who touched even a trace would suffer mental overstimulation and loss of clarity, while their body would be paralyzed and immobilized.
Too much exposure could even lead to death within seconds due to the combination of overexcitation and full-body paralysis.
The enemy team was thus split into three zones:
Captain Tian Kun and the two Ironhorn Bull soul masters.
Control-type soul master Yuan Hui and auxiliary-type soul master Shi Le.
And finally, the two agility-type soul masters.