At a certain fighting stage in the Soul Elder group of the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena.
After the Xiongba Combo both activated their Spirit Soul attachments, Lin Ye simultaneously summoned the Hidden Wind Sword and used the artifact Wanxiang to simulate three spirit rings around himself: yellow, yellow, and purple.
"Nether Spirit Cat, attach!"
At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing also activated her Spirit Soul attachment.
As a deep purple cat Spirit Soul emerged from her body and then merged back into her, Zhu Zhuqing's entire form began to change.
First, a pair of cat ears peeked out from her hair, followed by her eyes transforming into vertical pupils with blue and green hues like a cat's. Then, sharp claws extended from her hands.
Finally, three spirit rings—yellow, purple, and purple—slowly rose from beneath Zhu Zhuqing's feet.
"Oh my! Everyone, look! Contestants Sword One and Spirit Cat both have the optimal spirit ring configuration. It seems this battle is going to be a fierce clash!"
Below the stage, the host couldn't help but exclaim in surprise upon seeing that both Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing had the optimal yellow-yellow-purple spirit ring configuration.
"Optimal spirit ring configuration? Interesting! But since one of them is an agility attack-type Spirit Master, we're guaranteed to win. Agility attack-type Spirit Masters are completely countered by us!"
Xiong Wang was also somewhat surprised by Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing's spirit rings, but as if recalling something, he soon smirked smugly.
If their opponents were both power attack-type Spirit Masters, they would have to worry about the possibility of their defenses being broken if the opponents' Spirit Souls were particularly strong, given their optimal spirit ring configuration—after all, they weren't pure defense-type Spirit Masters.
But since one of them was an agility attack-type Spirit Master, a single power attack-type Spirit Master alone, unless their Spirit Soul was top-tier, would never be able to break through the defenses of two defense-type Spirit Masters like them!
"You're out of luck, kid!"
"First Spirit Skill: Savage Force!"
"Second Spirit Skill: Ironhide Attachment!"
Glaring at Lin Ye, who had drawn the Hidden Wind Sword, Xiong Wang roared and instantly activated his first and second spirit skills.
As the white and yellow spirit rings around him lit up, Xiong Wang's aura grew even more intimidating. The thick black fur covering his body began to gleam with a metallic sheen!
These were the effects of his two spirit skills.
Savage Force was a ten-year spirit skill, boosting strength, speed, and attack power by 30% each.
Ironhide Attachment was a hundred-year spirit skill, enhancing defense by 50%!
"Ba Wang, let's go together!"
After activating his first and second spirit rings, Xiong Wang's eyes turned bloodshot, as if he had become completely enraged. With a furious roar, he charged at Lin Ye.
Seeing that Lin Ye was a power attack-type tool Spirit Master while Zhu Zhuqing was merely an agility attack-type beast Spirit Master, Xiong Wang immediately devised a plan for this fight: focus all their attacks on Lin Ye and ignore Zhu Zhuqing!
With Zhu Zhuqing being an agility attack-type Spirit Master, her attacks would never break through the defenses of two defense-type Spirit Masters like them.
But Lin Ye, a tool Spirit Master with the optimal spirit ring configuration, could potentially breach their defenses.
So, to be safe, they had to take Lin Ye out first!
"Take this!"
After charging wildly at Lin Ye, Xiong Wang roared and swung a massive bear paw down at him.
Facing Xiong Wang's attack, Lin Ye naturally dodged and then slashed at him with his sword.
Unfortunately, while the Hidden Wind Sword could be considered a divine weapon after being refined, that was only true for ordinary people.
Compared to some truly high-grade sword-type tool Spirit Souls, the Hidden Wind Sword still fell short, as its material was merely ordinary iron.
Thus, even though Lin Ye used the Solitary Nine Swords to evade the bear paw's strike and stabbed Xiong Wang, he still couldn't pierce Xiong Wang's defense.
"First Spirit Skill: Nether Stab!"
As Lin Ye dodged Xiong Wang's swipe and counterattacked, Zhu Zhuqing swiftly leaped behind Xiong Wang in a few bounds. She then jumped high and drove her claws into Xiong Wang's back, activating her first spirit skill, Nether Stab!
However, Zhu Zhuqing was only an agility attack-type Spirit Master. Although the Nether Spirit Cat Spirit Soul was of higher quality than the Ironhide Violent Bear, Xiong Wang's cultivation was higher than Zhu Zhuqing's, who had just broken through.
So, even after using Nether Stab, Zhu Zhuqing's claws only managed to pierce Xiong Wang's thick, tough fur before being unable to go any further.
"First Spirit Skill: Frost Armor!"
"Second Spirit Skill: Frostheart!"
After Xiong Wang charged ahead and engaged Lin Ye, Ba Wang followed suit, activating his first and second spirit skills as he rushed forward.
As the white and yellow spirit rings around him lit up, a chilling aura spread from them, rapidly forming a thick layer of ice armor over the turtle shell on his chest.
The ice armor first covered the shell before spreading to the rest of his body. As it did, the ice also condensed into short, thick spikes along the edges of the icy-blue turtle shell.
Then, as a second wave of cold energy gathered, the spikes suddenly elongated, growing from just an inch long to nearly two inches.
These were Ba Wang's first and second spirit skills.
The first, Frost Armor, increased defense by 30%.
The second, Frostheart, boosted the power of all ice-attribute spirit skills by 50%, whether offensive or defensive!
After activating his skills, Ba Wang bellowed and charged at Lin Ye, using the spikes on his shell as weapons.
As a defense-type Spirit Master with a turtle Spirit Soul, Ba Wang's speed was, unsurprisingly, painfully slow.
By the time he reached Lin Ye, Lin Ye had already slashed Xiong Wang several times. Naturally, Lin Ye nimbly dodged Ba Wang's charge.
However, pure evasion wasn't Lin Ye's style.
Though the Hidden Wind Sword couldn't pierce Xiong Wang's defense, and thus likely couldn't break Ba Wang's either—given that turtle Spirit Souls were among the top-tier defense types—Lin Ye could still cut off the ice spikes!
Otherwise, fighting this defense-type Spirit Master while worrying about the spikes on his shell would be too troublesome!
After dodging another furious swipe from Xiong Wang, Lin Ye leaped up and thrust his sword at Xiong Wang's face.
Even as a defense-type Spirit Master, Xiong Wang's face was still a vulnerable spot. Thus, he hastily crossed his thick arms in front of his face to block Lin Ye's strike.
But Lin Ye's thrust was a feint. The moment his sword struck Xiong Wang's arms, Lin Ye kicked him in the chest.
Though the kick only carried about two thousand jin of force, it still sent Xiong Wang stumbling back.
After knocking Xiong Wang back, Lin Ye turned and lunged at Ba Wang, slashing with his sword.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing, who had been waiting for an opportunity, extended her claws and pounced at Ba Wang as well.
For a moment, Lin Ye's Hidden Wind Sword and Zhu Zhuqing's claws struck Ba Wang simultaneously.
Yet, instead of looking tense or fearful at being attacked by both, Ba Wang's face twisted into a sly grin, as if his scheme had succeeded.
Hehe, you've fallen right into my trap…
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