Douluo Continent: Martial Soul - Dragon Abyss Sword, Peerless Prodigy

Chapter 58 The Power of a Single Sword!

Cheng Yaojin stood on the arena, gripping his giant axe in both hands, his palms sweating profusely.

He wasn't unfamiliar with battles or strong opponents. But facing Lin Han, he felt an indescribable sense of oppression, like being stared at by a sleeping dragon. The other party hadn't even done anything, yet his legs were already weak.

"Cheng Yaojin, come on! Show your spirit!"

"General Cheng, don't be a coward! Let's go and fight!"

A few cheers came from the Star Luo Empire's seats, but even the people shouting them seemed to lack confidence.

Cheng Yaojin took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, slung his giant axe over his shoulder, and grinned in a way that was more like a grimace: "Lin Han, I, Old Cheng, know you're powerful, but I won't admit defeat! Even if I lose, I'll lose with dignity!"

Lin Han looked at him and nodded slightly: "Okay."

"start!"

No sooner had the referee finished speaking than Cheng Yaojin launched his attack.

Instead of rushing forward recklessly as before, he activated his defensive soul skill first. The second yellow soul ring lit up, and a layer of dark golden soul power barrier covered his entire body. This was his second soul skill, "Iron Bone Armor," which could greatly enhance his defense.

Immediately afterwards, the third purple soul ring lit up, and a thick layer of earthy yellow light emanated from the giant axe.

"Third Soul Skill - Earth-Splitting Slash!"

He gripped the axe with both hands, leaped high into the air, and slammed down on Lin Han like a mountain crashing down. The axe strike was powerful and heavy, carrying JH1...

With the force of water splitting mountains and earth splitting, even before the axe blade arrived, the strong wind had already blown the dust on the arena into a whirlwind.

Lin Han stood still, motionless.

He moved when the giant axe was only three feet above his head.

With his right hand on the sword, the Dragon Abyss Sword was drawn!

"Whoa!"

A golden sword light slashed through the sky, so fast that its trajectory was completely invisible.

The sword light swept past the giant axe, grazed Cheng Yaojin's shoulder, and shot towards the sky behind him.

Cheng Yaojin felt a sudden lightness in his hand, as if the weight of the giant axe had vanished. He looked down and his pupils contracted sharply. The point where the axe blade met the handle had been cleanly severed by a flash of sword light, the cut as smooth as a mirror.

A wisp of fabric slowly drifted down from his shoulder, the cut of which was also neat.

"This—this—"

Cheng Yaojin stood frozen in place, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

If Lin Han had wanted to kill him with that sword strike, he wouldn't have severed the axe handle and the fabric of his clothes, but rather his neck.

"Shall we continue?" Lin Han sheathed his sword, his tone calm.

Cheng Yaojin opened his mouth, as if to say something, but in the end he only sighed, threw the giant axe broken in two on the ground, cupped his hands and said, "Lord Lin Han's swordsmanship is divine, I, old Cheng, am convinced. I admit defeat."

"Lin Han wins!"

The referee's voice rang out, tinged with respect.

The audience erupted in applause, but even more so in amazement.

"Another sword strike! Since the start of the tournament, Lin Han has only used one sword strike in every match!"

"This is terrifying! Is this the power of a peerless genius?"

Cheng Yaojin walked back to his seat in the Star Luo Empire, took the water pouch handed to him by his companion, took a big gulp, and wiped the sweat from his face: "Damn it, I'm never fighting with swordsmen again, they scared me to death."

The companions looked at each other, wanting to laugh but not daring to.

"Round 2, Match 2: Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect versus Li Hanyi of the Heaven Dou Empire!"

Tang Hao carried the Clear Sky Hammer onto the arena, his face expressionless.

Li Hanyi took a deep breath, gripped the Frost Moon Bow tightly, and stepped onto the stage. Her complexion wasn't much better than Cheng Yaojin's, but her eyes still held a hint of stubbornness.

"start!"

Li Hanyi struck first. She knew that against an opponent like Tang Hao, once he got close, she wouldn't even have a chance to make a move.

The first yellow spirit ring lights up!

"The first soul skill: Frost Moon Continuous Shot!"

Swish swish—

Three ice-blue arrows shot towards Tang Hao in a triangular formation, aiming for his face, chest, and abdomen respectively. The arrows were extremely fast, and the sound of them cutting through the air was sharp and piercing.

Tang Hao didn't even lift his eyelids, and casually swung the Clear Sky Hammer.

"Clang clang clang!"

The three arrows were swept away by a single blow, exploding into ice shards in mid-air.

Li Hanyi gritted her teeth, and the third purple soul ring lit up!

"Third Soul Skill: Ice Phoenix Chasing the Moon!"

With a whoosh, a giant ice phoenix arrow condensed on the bowstring, its tip tipped with a phoenix head, its shaft covered with fine ice crystal patterns, radiating a chilling aura.

This is her strongest attack, and also her last trump card.

"go!"

The arrow left the bowstring and shot towards Tang Hao like a shooting star, leaving a thick layer of white frost on the arena floor in its wake.

A hint of approval flashed in Tang Hao's eyes.

This arrow was indeed much stronger than the attacks in the previous round.

But that's about it.

He gripped the hammer in his right hand, and the third purple spirit ring instantly lit up!

"Third Soul Skill: Thunder Hammer!"

Lightning crackled on the Haotian Hammer, its domineering thunderous power merging with the hammer's intent. With a single strike, it struck the tip of the Ice Phoenix Arrow.

boom!!!

The ice phoenix arrow shattered instantly, turning into countless ice shards that fluttered and swirled in the air.

The aftershocks of the Thunder Hammer continued unabated, carrying a violent force as they swept towards Li Hanyi.

Li Hanyi's expression changed drastically. She tried to dodge, but found that her legs were frozen by frost and she couldn't take a step.

"It's over—" She closed her eyes, her heart filled with despair.

Just as the aftershocks of the thunder were about to hit her, a large hand reached out from the side, grabbed her by the back of her collar, and lifted her up.

Tang Hao lifted Li Hanyi by the back of her collar with one hand and placed her in a safe area at the edge of the ring, saying calmly, "You lost."

Li Hanyi opened her eyes and found herself standing below the arena, while Tang Hao had already turned and walked towards the Haotian Sect's seats.

She stared blankly at Tang Hao's retreating figure, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

"What kind of ingenious move is this—fighting someone and saving someone at the same time?"

"Although Tang Hao is domineering, his character is truly impeccable."

"That's the true mark of a master!"

"Tang Hao wins!"

The referee announced the result, and the entire stadium erupted in enthusiastic applause once again.

"Round 2, Match 3: Bibi Dong of the Spirit Hall versus the rogue cultivator Feng Wuhen!"

Bibi Dong stepped onto the arena, her purple-black outfit fluttering in the wind, her three soul rings pulsating slowly, and the aura of her twin martial souls surging within her body.

Feng Wuhen stood opposite him, holding the Gale Sword, his expression calm. He was about sixteen years old, slender, with exceptionally bright eyes that seemed to hold two beams of sword light.

"Please." Bibi Dong bowed slightly.

"Please." Feng Wuhen returned the greeting.

"start!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Feng Wuhen made his move first.

His sword is really fast.

The moment the first yellow spirit ring lit up, his figure vanished from the spot, leaving only a faint afterimage. The Gale Sword transformed into a silver streak, stabbing towards Bibi Dong's ribs from the side.

This sword strike was cunningly angled and extremely fast; an ordinary Soul Master wouldn't have had time to react.

But Bibi Dong is no ordinary Soul Master.

She turned her foot and shifted her body to the side, dodging the sword. At the same time, she waved her right hand, and the second purple soul ring lit up. A purplish-black spider silk shot out from her palm, heading straight for Feng Wuhen's face.

Feng Wuhen tilted his head to avoid the spider webs, his feet moving rapidly across the arena, his Gale Sword thrusting left and slashing right, each strike faster than the last.