"Captain!"
Zheng and the Ironhorn Bull Spirit Master from Yu Tianheng's team shouted in alarm upon seeing their captain fall into a disadvantage. Their soul power erupted as if it were free, forming a thick layer of ox-hide armor over their burly bodies. Ignoring Yu Tianheng's attacks, they charged straight toward Xu Yang's position like a raging beast.
Meanwhile, the other Ironhorn Bull Spirit Master, who was trapped by the four Sun-Scorching Blades, wanted to assist but was unable to. The golden flames on the sword blades were simply too hot — even his tough ox-hide could barely withstand it. He had tried to break free multiple times, but each attempt only left him with fresh wounds.
"Brother, I'll leave the captain to you!" he could only shout in his heart.
"Don't even think about it!"
Yu Tianheng's expression turned icy. Bursting with soul power, he transformed into a streak of lightning and caught up with the charging Ironhorn Bull Spirit Master. Wielding his massive Thunder Dragon Claw, he launched a relentless assault. However, the ten-level gap in soul power, combined with his opponent being a defense-type Spirit Master, meant that his attacks only made the Ironhorn Bull stagger slightly before it continued its charge.
"Damn it! If I just let you attack Xu Yang like this, then I don't deserve to be called a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
"Second Soul Skill: Thunderburst—Modified!"
Already brimming with frustration before entering the stage, Yu Tianheng exploded with fury. His yellow soul ring shone brighter than ever, and arcs of blue-violet lightning surged wildly around him. But unlike before, where the lightning lashed out in all directions, this time it condensed under his control into his right dragon claw.
"Thunder Ray!"
With a fierce punch, a thunderous beam as thick as a bowl shot forward, striking the Ironhorn Bull Spirit Master squarely and blasting him off the ground. The violent surge of thunderous energy rampaged through his body, ravaging his meridians and skin, which quickly became etched with lightning-like blood-colored patterns.
The Ironhorn Bull Spirit Master lost consciousness on the spot.
But Yu Tianheng didn't come out unscathed either. He staggered back, unable to stay standing, his right arm—used for the attack—hung limply by his side. It was clearly badly damaged from backlash. Without immediate treatment, this arm might be permanently crippled.
"This guy doesn't care about his life! Using an unfinished skill in real combat?!"
Xu Yang, who was currently fighting Tian Kun, frowned. With a swift motion of his dual blades, he deflected the wolf claws attacking him and leapt back to widen the distance. He then quickly moved beside Yu Tianheng and scolded:
"Are you an idiot?! You knew that skill wasn't complete! Are you trying to cripple your arm?!"
"None of your business!"
Yu Tianheng glared coldly, visibly frustrated.
This was because that very technique had been inspired by Xu Yang. But due to his insufficient soul power control, he'd never managed to complete it. Yet in this moment of desperation, it had unexpectedly come to fruition.
However, the backlash was brutal. He could feel the meridians in his right arm torn apart, bones shattered in several places. If left untreated, he'd lose the use of that arm for good.
"This guy's a tsundere?! Why didn't the original story mention that?!"
Xu Yang's mouth twitched, cursing inwardly. But his hands moved quickly. He gestured at Yu Tianheng, and a beam of golden light shot from the Sun Martial Spirit behind his head, entering Yu Tianheng's body.
"First Soul Skill: Morning Light!"
For years, Xu Yang's Morning Light had been used to draw in the Eastern Purple Qi to assist his cultivation. During this process, the soul skill gradually evolved, gaining the traits of Eastern Purple Qi — not only healing surface wounds but also deeply mending internal injuries.
As the golden light entered him, Yu Tianheng felt a gentle and pure wave of soul power surge through his body, repairing the damage caused by the forceful use of his skill. In just two breaths' time, his injuries were fully healed.
"What a powerful healing skill! It's no weaker than Lingling's!"
Yu Tianheng was astonished. He had experienced Ye Lingling's healing before, but Xu Yang's recovery effect was no worse — perhaps even stronger. And Ye Lingling was the heir to the Nine-Hearted Begonia, no less!
"The surrounding temperature is still rising. You've exhausted your soul power. You won't last much longer — you'd better step off the stage," Xu Yang said.
That earlier attack hadn't only caused backlash; it had also drained all of Yu Tianheng's soul power, leaving him incapable of resisting the ever-increasing heat.
The temperature in the area had now reached a staggering 40+ degrees Celsius. Around Xu Yang, it was even higher — exceeding 50 degrees. Under such conditions, a normal person's metabolism would accelerate, sweat would pour rapidly, and symptoms like flushed skin, weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, thirst, headaches, and tinnitus would appear within minutes.
Low-level Spirit Masters might hold out slightly longer, but Yu Tianheng had already depleted his energy.
Just as he was about to argue back, a wave of dizziness hit him. Knowing Xu Yang was right, he snorted coldly and walked off the stage.
In the audience, many spectators were frantically chugging water. Quite a few had already suffered from heatstroke and dehydration due to the scorching heat and were being carried away.
"He really is becoming more and more like the sun in the sky… It's just too mesmerizing."
Inside a VIP box, Qian Renxue stared at Xu Yang with infatuation. Behind her, the Six-Winged Angel Martial Spirit had faintly appeared.
If it weren't for She Long and Ci Tun helping suppress her soul power fluctuations, she would have been exposed by now.
"Is this the Sun Martial Spirit after its transformation? It's already begun affecting the weather and altering the environment."
In a corner, Ning Fengzhi circulated his soul power around his body to resist the heat, his face filled with shock.
In truth, Xu Yang's Martial Spirit wasn't yet powerful enough to directly manipulate weather. But because it embodied the ultimate fire and light, fully unleashing it caused the surrounding temperature to rise drastically, thus indirectly affecting the atmosphere.
He couldn't change the weather directly — yet.
But he had the potential to. In the future, when Xu Yang reached the level of Spirit Sage, Spirit Douluo, or even Title Douluo, perhaps he really could change the weather — summon blazing sun or heat waves in an instant.
Xu Yang no longer paid attention to Yu Tianheng. His gaze now focused on the other side, where Tian Kun was blowing on his scorched hands, using his soul power to relieve the burns. The sweat was pouring off him like rain. Beads the size of pearls fell only to evaporate before hitting the ground.
The air around them shimmered from the heat, distorting Tian Kun's vision.
And that wasn't all — the air had gained a strange sweet metallic scent. Tian Kun hadn't noticed. His eyes were locked on Xu Yang, filled with excitement and defiance. His entire body was flushed red, covered in sticky fluid, as he continued channeling his soul power into his hands to alleviate the pain. His posture shifted forward, ready to strike.
"You haven't realized it yet…"