The Piercing Bone Needles were something Tang San had painstakingly crafted during the holiday, all for this day. He planned to use them if he couldn't break through Ao Tian's defenses.
The Piercing Bone Needles could penetrate both external physical training and internal energy defenses. They were one of the most commonly used defensive breaking hidden weapons, requiring no mechanism to launch, only the Tang Sect's hidden weapon techniques.
There was another hand-launched defense-breaking hidden weapon, even more terrifying, called the Dragon Whisker Needle. However, the materials required for that were too rare for Tang San to create at the moment.
Master snapped out of the shock Ao Tian had given him the moment Tang San produced the four steel needles. His expression changed, but before he could even speak to stop him, Tang San flicked his wrist, and the four needles were already launched.
Although this battle concerned his reputation and whether he could accept Ao Tian as a disciple, it was still just a fight between two seven-year-olds. What if Tang San's weapons caused injuries?
He could only pray that Tang San's weapons wouldn't hit Ao Tian.
These four steel needles were also launched using the technique of "Swallows Parting," but the attack points had changed. They weren't aimed at Ao Tian's acupoints, but at his limbs.
Tang San's thinking was simple: as long as Ao Tian's hands and feet were injured, his combat strength would inevitably be impaired. Even if they engaged in close combat later, Tang San was fully confident that he could defeat Ao Tian.
At the start of the battle, Tang San had been quite confident. But after seeing Ao Tian easily shatter his Blue Silver Grass, he realized something was wrong.
The scene was similar to their last battle. Since even the pebbles couldn't faze Ao Tian, Tang San had no choice but to use his trump card: the Piercing Bone Needle.
He had poured all his strength into this attack, mobilizing his entire body's power and soul force. The Piercing Bone Needles should be able to break through Ao Tian's defenses. Ideally, they would pierce his limbs, emerging from the other side.
This would significantly reduce Ao Tian's combat effectiveness.
Although the pain from the Piercing Bone Needles would be intense, such injuries were easily treatable for a healing Soul Master. That was why Tang San was confident in using them.
Tang San was as shocked as Master. Why was Ao Tian's defense so strong, even though he hadn't cultivated at all?
Just as Tang San's hopes were high, the four Piercing Bone Needles finally struck Ao Tian.
Ao Tian still didn't dodge. Two needles pierced his thighs, and the other two pierced his arms.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Four metallic clangs echoed. Four Piercing Bone Needles fell to the ground, their fine tips bent.
How is this possible? Tang San roared inwardly. He couldn't believe it; even the Piercing Bone Needles couldn't break through Ao Tian's defense.
Just how strong was Ao Tian's defense? Tang San was a little bewildered.
This was already his strongest move. After all, he was best at using hidden weapons, not close-quarters combat.
Generally, those with strong physical defenses also possessed terrifying strength. Tang San didn't dare to imagine what level Ao Tian's strength had reached. If Ao Tian got close, the outcome would undoubtedly be the same as last time, Tang San thought with a sense of despair.
But he was quickly jolted back to reality because he realized Ao Tian was already charging forward at an incredibly fast speed.
"Tang San, if you have no other tricks, then today's battle should end," Ao Tian said.
Tang San's expression shifted slightly. Blue Silver Grass surged out once more, tangling around Ao Tian's legs to impede his progress.
Tang San, with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track activated under his feet, quickly put distance between himself and Ao Tian.
"These little grasses are useless against me." Ao Tian laughed loudly. The Blue Silver Grass that had wrapped around his feet was easily torn apart, and the subsequent waves of Blue Silver Grass failed to snare his body.
"How is this possible? How is this possible?" Master murmured, his mind reeling from Ao Tian's display.
The defense, the strength, the speed – all were so powerful. He had quickly calculated in his mind; to so easily shatter and break Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, one would need at least the power of an advanced Great Soul Master.
Yet Ao Tian was only seven years old! How could he possibly be a Great Soul Master nearing the thirtieth rank?
Furthermore, Ao Tian had never cultivated before, which left Master utterly baffled, the more he thought about it, the more confused he became.
Tang San, with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track underfoot, had also activated his Purple Demon Eye. Under the observation of Purple Demon Eye, Ao Tian's speed was slowed down somewhat, and every movement was clearly captured by Tang San. Tang San did his best to evade, avoiding close combat with Ao Tian; he was truly terrified of Ao Tian's fearsome close-combat abilities.
Recalling their previous battle, once Ao Tian got close, he could only endure the beating.
He still didn't want to believe that Ao Tian's cultivation had surpassed his own. He wanted to wear Ao Tian down with his own level sixteen soul power.
As long as Ao Tian's stamina began to decline, that would be Tang San's chance to counterattack.
But he had still underestimated Ao Tian's speed. Although his cultivation had reached level sixteen, and his speed was faster than before with the enhancement of his soul power, he was still no match for Ao Tian.
Ao Tian only used a tiny bit of his power, but the impact was already fierce and his speed was fast. No matter how refined Tang San's footwork was, it seemed crude to Ao Tian. In just a few breaths, he had already closed in on Tang San.
Melee combat finally began. Tang San used some of the fighting techniques he had learned, including his most proficient Crane Control, Dragon Catch, but his Crane Control, Dragon Catch was completely useless against Ao Tian.
This Crane Control, Dragon Catch was just a technique for grabbing objects from a distance; how could it truly control a real dragon?
Grunts constantly rang out; those were the sounds of Tang San being beaten. His face burned, and he felt extreme humiliation in his heart.
Being beaten so badly by Ao Tian in front of Master, so many classmates, and that girl, was something he found hard to accept.
Even though Tang San's soul was that of an adult, he was going crazy, having been beaten like this repeatedly by a seven-year-old.
Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track was the best movement technique for close combat, but it was completely useless now. No matter how exquisite Tang San's footwork was, he couldn't dodge Ao Tian's fists, which seemed to have eyes.
After a few minutes, Ao Tian stopped.
"Tang San, there's a price to pay for fighting me. You should be more cautious if you want to challenge me again in the future," Ao Tian said.
Tang San sat on the ground, panting heavily, his face covered in bruises, and his soul power depleted.
His face was flushed, and he looked extremely aggrieved.
Being defeated by a child repeatedly, how could he not be aggrieved? Anyone would find it hard to bear.
"Sigh, Xiao Gang, we misjudged," the Headmaster said.
Master rushed over to Tang San, helped him up, and asked with concern, "Xiao San, are you alright?"
Tang San shook his head, saying, "Just some minor injuries. Ao Tian held back."
Even though he said that, he was feeling quite uncomfortable. As the saying goes, don't hit a person's face, and Ao Tian had practically aimed for his face the entire time.
Master was worried that Tang San would become disheartened because of this battle, so he quickly comforted him, "Failing once isn't anything. You still have a lot of room for improvement, and… other trump cards. As long as you keep working hard, surpassing Ao Tian in the future isn't impossible."
Tang San nodded. The negative emotions in his heart were quickly suppressed. He wouldn't be easily defeated by such a small setback.
He still had the even more terrifying Tang Sect hidden weapons: the Blossom Rain Pear Flower Needle, the King of Hell Note, the Peacock Plume, the Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus...
He believed that as long as he could craft these hidden weapons, it wouldn't be difficult to defeat Ao Tian.
And he also had another Martial Soul, one that even his teacher said was very powerful.
Ao Tian looked at Master with a smile and said, "Master, the victor is decided. You must concede defeat."
(End of this chapter)