Buzzzz—!
Huyan Li's mind felt like it would shatter midair. Spiritual shock left him disoriented—world spinning, vision blurring.
In that split-second opening, Tai Long seized his chance!
"ROAR—!"
Raw power erupted through his body, breaking free from Huyan Li's Third Soul Skill—Death Crush. A single punch sent the descending Huyan Li stumbling back.
"Hwaaah—!"
Huyan Li crashed to the ground, vomiting blood.
Superficially, Tai Long's strike seemed to have injured him.
But in reality?
Huyan Li's legendary defense rendered Tai Long's "little fists" harmless.
This was pure spiritual trauma!
The Diamond Mammoth martial soul excelled at physical reinforcement—but offered zero spiritual defense.
And spiritual power? An attribute most Douluo soul masters tragically overlooked.
"Ah Li!"
"Ah Li, are you alright?!"
The Elephant Armor Sect youths paled. Their mission: harass the Four Attributes Sects.
Not get their heir bloodied.
Worse—if Huyan Li suffered hidden injuries…
Rage clouded their judgment. They nearly swarmed Tai Long.
Then—
Yang Fan stepped forward.
"If you lose a duel covenant, does the sixth-ranked Elephant Armor Sect intend to break soul master honor?"
Duel covenants were sacred.
Once sworn, results were binding. Violators earned eternal scorn across the soul master world.
Yang Fan's words struck like ice water.
The youths froze.
"We leave."
The eldest youth, weighing consequences, chose retreat. Tend to Huyan Li first.
He remained baffled:
How could weakling Tai Long injure Huyan Li?
This only deepened their dread.
"Hah—!"
Tai Long clenched his fist, heart hammering.
Unbelievable! He'd bloodied a Soul Elder!
Grandfather was right—I CAN wrestle Soul Elders!
"Amazing!" Bai Chenxiang's innocent praise sent Tai Long floating.
He boomed with laughter: "Next time those bastards bother you, I'll crush them!"
"Yang Fan! Your words saved us!"
"Mm." Yang Fan barely acknowledged him.
His mind raced:
First spiritual strike… successful!
But… too weak.
He'd shattered Shi Nian's illusion with spiritual power. If years of cultivation only made a Soul Elder spit blood…
A bold theory surfaced:
Soul bone!
The original story mentioned Huyan Li wore a head bone during the tournament. If it shielded his soul just now…
Yang Fan's pulse quickened.
…
No one mentioned the street clash upon returning.
But that afternoon—
The Elephant Armor Sect surrounded the Breaking Clan gates.
Huyan Zhen led the charge—a mountain of muscle blocking half the entrance. A faint glow shimmered across his obsidian hide.
"Today marks the Four Attributes Sects' reunion," Yang Wudi stated coldly. "State your business, Sect Master Hu."
It was only because the Breaking Clan was currently weak; otherwise, today they would settle new and old grievances with the Elephant Armored Sect.
"I have business!" Huyan Zhen's bull-like eyes locked onto Tai Long.
The Strength Clan's defining trait? Fiercely protective.
Tai Tan instantly shielded his grandson. "Old thing! Speak plainly—or leave! Don't pollute our reunion!"
All four sect heads radiated hostility.
"That whelp used underhanded tactics to injure my grandson Ah Li!" Huyan Zhen boomed. "I'm here to reclaim honor!"
Tai Tan blinked. His grandson injured Huyan Li?
After swift clarification, understanding dawned.
Tai Tan and Niu Gao shot Tai Long approving glances.
Yang Wudi and Bai He's eyes found Yang Fan in the shadows.
Good boy. Well done.
"Hmph!" Yang Wudi's voice dripped ice. "Blaming your grandson's weakness on us? Huyan Zhen—you've lived for several decades. Do you dare break a duel covenant?"
Tai Tan's mockery cut deep:
How long has it been since the Strength Clan bested the Elephant Armor Sect?
"Hahahaha—!"
Huyan Zhen laughed—not angered, but amused.
"As if I'd disrespect covenants! I'm here to forge a new one."
"If I win, that whelp kneels and apologizes to Ah Li."
He didn't state his loss condition.
Why?
The Spirit Hall's backing aside—
Tai Tan was no match for him.
Diamond Mammoth excelled not just in defense, but raw power.
Defense. Strength. Rank. Huyan Zhen dominated on all fronts.
"Scared?" Huyan Zhen sneered. "Send another! Niu Gao—your Armor Plated Giant Rhinoceros claims it's the 'strongest defense'? Let's test it! Lose, and the Defense Sect joins Elephant Armor!"
Niu Gao's face turned ashen.
This wasn't the first time they'd tried this.
The Elephant Armor Sect used every dirty trick to corner them.
"Four Attributes Sect elders lack the blood of a child?" Huyan Zhen's soul-amplified voice echoed across the courtyard.
The insults burned—but confronting Spirit Hall's lapdogs meant annihilation.
"I accept."
Everyone turned in shock.
Yang Wudi stepped forward.
A man of honor and face.
He'd never allow intruders to defile his home.
"Old Goat, don't!" the other three elders urged.
At most it would be more humiliation and insults. They've long become accustomed to the mockery.
"Trust me," Yang Wudi said calmly.
Youthful recklessness had long faded. His confidence came from the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum—now he was a Level 84 Soul Douluo.
Huyan Zhen? Level 88.
There was a gap—but it wasn't big.
Huyan Zhen's eyes narrowed.
Yang Wudi—the only one he feared.
That spear's killing intent could pierce even Title Douluo-level defense.
"Switching opponents?" Huyan Zhen's blood heated. "Fine! I accept!"
A Level 88 Soul Douluo wouldn't fear a newly promoted rival.
"But on my terms," Yang Wudi declared. "If I win—the Elephant Armor Sect ceases harassing the Four Attributes Sects. If I lose… I'll reveal the Breaking Clan's alchemy method."
It was a calculated risk.
Selling Yao Lao's gift pained him—but Yang Fan's firm nod convinced him.
Win or lose, he'd apologize to his master later.
"Deal!" Huyan Zhen agreed instantly.
The Breaking Clan's alchemy formula?
They were once Hao Tian Sect's economic lifeline. Yang Wudi had refused to surrender it—straining relations.
Now he offered it freely?
"Old Goat—!" The other elders' brows knotted in panic.
If they lose this formula, the Elephant Armor Sect's market monopoly would strangle the Breaking Clan.
The clansmen held their breath. The sect's fate hung on Yang Wudi's word.
"The covenant is sealed. No more debate."
Yang Wudi's calm hid his ace:
No one in Douluo understood alchemy like him—except Yang Fan's master.
He'd spent two months deciphering that formula. As for Huyan Zhen? He'd fail for sure.
Only guilt remained: using his grandson's master's gift as wager felt like betrayal.
…
Spear versus Shield.
The duel site: Yunluo City's rear mountain—the very spot where Yang Fan forged his innate full soul power.
No taunts. No delays.
Yang Wudi's aura erupted. The twelve-foot Soul Breaking Spear materialized—jet-black, gleaming with lethal chill.
Eight-foot shaft. Four-foot spearhead. At Soul Douluo rank, its girth rivaled his arm.
Nine soul rings blazed—radiant, awe-inspiring.
For the first time, Yang Fan witnessed his grandfather's full might.
Even a hundred meters away, the spear's killing intent pricked his skin.
Across from him—
Huyan Zhen's Diamond Mammoth manifestation unleashed a thunderous roar.
Already 2.5 meters tall, his body swelled to nearly three meters—a living mountain.
Spear in hand!
Yang Wudi struck instantly.
Yan Fan's mind drifted to his Grandfather's words:
"A Soul Breaking Spear soul master's essence? Never be on the defensive."
"HAH—!"
He roared. Spear thrust forward.
Man and weapon fused.
A terrifying aura froze the air within a hundred meters. Razor-sharp intent pierced straight for Huyan Zhen's chest.
Body followed spear!
No wasted motion—a straight-line lunge.
Huyan Zhen's counter was equally precise—
His first two soul rings flared!
First Soul Skill—Copper Wall, Iron Shield!
Second Soul Skill—Mammoth Strength!
(As a long-established inherited martial soul, all Diamond Mammoth practitioners shared identical first three rings.)
Ding—!
A grating screech rippled outward. Young spectators swayed, dizzy from the shockwave.
Just one strike!
The duel's trajectory was already clear.
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