As the two finally managed to evade all of Ma Hongjun's attacks, his fourth spirit ability entered its second stage of charging. The ground suddenly cracked open.
Scorching magma seemed to erupt from the deepest parts of the earth, scorching the ground black. This time, the two had nowhere to stand or hide!
"Get lost!"
Yan swung his fists, his entire body like a diamond drill, generating a fierce gust of wind as he charged. With a deafening roar, Dai Mubai was sent flying more than ten meters. Just as he was about to fall out of the combat ring, Zhu Zhuqing used her fourth spirit ability, Netherworld Shadow Clone, to catch him.
Yan, who had forced back Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai single-handedly, stood before his two cornered teammates, pushing them back several meters. With his incredibly sturdy granite armor, he blocked the sneak attacks of the fox-faced and ape-faced opponents who sought every opportunity. To Tang Sui's regret, the two masks were flung away.
The two pushed away by Yan were caught by another agile spirit master teammate who seized the opportunity, landing in a safe area.
"Hah!"
Yan's body also ignited with scorching flames. He squatted down, striking the ground with both palms. More magma surged from the cracks, completely covering the previous lava.
"Fourth Spirit Ability, Lava Tumult!"
Ma Hongjun's fourth spirit ability, Lava Earth Split, was stifled in its cradle. More terrifying flames and control replaced his mastery of fire. The pillars of fire rising from the ground became Yan's martial soul, a mere backdrop to the Flame Lord's burgeoning power, leaving no trace of injury on Yan.
"How is this possible?!"
Ma Hongjun's eyes widened in disbelief that his fourth spirit ability had been completely nullified by his opponent.
The Masters and others watching, though worried about Tang San within the red mist, did not neglect their attention on this battle.
Upon witnessing this scene, the Master's brow furrowed as he pondered information related to the Flame Lord martial soul. Yet, even he could only deduce on the surface that Yan's martial soul had superior control over fire compared to Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix.
Otherwise, it would not have such an arrogant and confident name as Flame Lord.
Even though Tang Sui had eliminated their support spirit master, leaving only four outside, Yan now forcefully demonstrated the tenacity of the Spirit Hall Academy.
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, even working together, could not injure Yan. His spirit skill armor provided too much protection; even their combined focused attack could barely shake it.
Ma Hongjun's attacks were suppressed by Yan, forcing him to switch targets. He, along with Tang Sui, pursued the escaping pair and the incredibly fast agile spirit master.
The battle outside had reached a stalemate, and the situation within the red mist was no better.
If at the beginning everything was within Spirit Hall Academy's plan, then now, the battle had slipped out of their control.
Their initial targets were only the siblings Tang San and Tang Sui, and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, completely overlooking Oscar, the food system spirit master. Thus, the seemingly favorable situation was broken and began to veer in an unknown direction.
Although Xie Yue and Hu Liena's martial soul fusion skill was powerful, it also consumed a significant amount of their spirit power after its use.
This was also why, when the Master and the others made their combat deployment the previous night, they did not have Tang Sui remain in the red mist with Tang San to use their martial soul fusion skill from the start of the battle.
Because the consumption was equally high, it was better to let the opponents deplete their spirit power first, and then they would act, seeing whose martial soul fusion skill was more potent, much like how Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing would fall into a state of exhaustion after each use of the Netherworld White Tiger.
There was one more thing about the Enchantment. Unlike Tang Sui's martial soul fusion skill, during its execution, they could not use any other spirit skills.
The opponents' aerial ability made Xie Yue and Hu Liena fully realize that their martial soul fusion skill's advantage was gone. However, they were now in a difficult position and could not deactivate the skill, or the spirit power consumed to activate it would be wasted, putting them at a disadvantage.
Their only remaining choice was to first eliminate Tang San, who was facing them alone. This would not be a waste of their spirit power, and perhaps... they could even accomplish the mission assigned by the Pope!
With this realization, Xie Yue no longer hesitated and charged.
The Tang San opposite him would not simply wait to be attacked.
While the weakening effect of the red mist was indeed fatal, for Tang San, who could see within the fog, it was also a double-edged sword.
Others outside could not see what was happening inside the mist, and facing Xie Yue, whose spirit power had now reached the Spirit Saint level, Tang San no longer needed to hide his trump cards.
Thus, Xie Yue saw the air currents behind Tang San, standing not far away, begin to distort. Eight thick and ferocious spider legs extended, each four meters long. The purplish-black sheen of their bodies proclaimed their potent toxicity.
To his eyes, he could even see the subtle barbs on each spider leg, sharp as spears and carrying potent venom.
"Spirit Bone?!"
Hu Liena and Xie Yue, both from Spirit Hall, instantly recognized the origin of Tang San's eight spider legs.
Although they had studied Tang San's spirit abilities before the competition and were thoroughly familiar with his methods of use, now...
Beneath the iron mask covering his entire face, a chilling killing intent flickered in his amber eyes!
The battle within the red mist was imminent. Those outside, unable to peer within, could only hear the clanging sounds of metal weapons colliding within the red mist.
Tang Sui and Ma Hongjun coordinated their attacks, trading blows with the opposing spirit masters without a clear winner.
As time ticked by, Tang Sui's spirit skill cooldowns repeatedly refreshed, and she began to feel a growing anxiety.
Brother...
"Mubai, be careful!"