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**
Although using the trunk to attack is an innate instinct for elephant-type soul beasts, controlling it is far from easy, even for newly born calves.
Many young elephant-type soul beasts struggle so much with trunk control that they give up using it to drink water, instead bending their front legs and lying flat to drink, a hilarious posture that makes their parents itch to kick their big, round rumps.
A soul master, after all, is fundamentally human. Even if possessing a Beast Martial Soul grants them the corresponding soul beast's power, mastering non-human attack methods is no simple feat.
For instance, the trunk attack Huyan Li executed via his Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul was definitely not as natural as punching or kicking, which was exactly why he had not used it previously.
In truth, Huyan Li himself did not like this method of attack, much like how he disliked a defense-oriented combat style.
However, as a direct descendant of the Huyan Clan of the Elephant Armored Sect, the teachings of his elders forced him to learn trunk control while possessed by his Martial Soul.
After all, this was one of the foundational applications of the Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul, and the Mammoth Whip Strike was a foundational soul skill passed down through the Elephant Armored Sect.
Given his personality, he rarely used it after learning it.
Yet in this battle, at that very moment, he had found himself with no time to throw a punch.
In that moment of crisis, following his gut instinct, he subconsciously executed the relatively faster trunk attack. Seeing its effectiveness firsthand made him realize he had previously underestimated it.
He had not yet fully unleashed the true power and unique traits of the Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul. Hearing Ling Xiao's words, Huyan Li could not help but let out a smile. Now that the single trunk strike had proven its might, he made his move once more.
As Huyan Li circulated his soul power to stimulate his Martial Soul, the brown light of his soul power flared brilliantly around him.
A resonant elephant trumpet rang out, accompanied by a soul-shaking roar of a giant elephant, as the trunk on his Martial Soul form extended once again, lashing out toward Ling Xiao like a long whip.
Though Huyan Li's elephant-headed, human-bodied Martial Soul form was already towering, the trunk extending several meters long still looked exceptionally exaggerated. Even its thinnest section was thicker than an adult's arm.
As the trunk cleaved downward, the wind howled, creating a sharp air-piercing screech.
It smashed down like an iron rod, packed with immense strength and remarkable speed, making it far more difficult to evade compared to Huyan Li's usual punches. Instantly, a series of violent tremors erupted across the plaza once more as continuous crashing sounds echoed relentlessly.
Faced with Huyan Li's assault, Ling Xiao did not dodge at all. He swung his axe directly to parry, utilizing the Profound Sky Axe to slash against Huyan Li's trunk, repelling it time and again.
This time, however, Huyan Li did not seem to fall into a disadvantage.
Deviating from his usual style, he utilized his trunk to execute the foundational soul skill, Mammoth Whip Strike, further showcasing the power and traits of the Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul.
Compared to before, this combat style granted him a superior attack range, making it difficult for Ling Xiao to land a direct hit on him for the time being.
Furthermore, the trunk could bend or straighten at will and was extremely flexible, allowing its attack directions to vary unpredictably under Huyan Li's precise control.
It either lashed out directly like a long whip, or coiled like a giant python in an attempt to entangle and bind Ling Xiao before pulling him in.
During their clashes, the mammoth trunk actually displayed the characteristics of a soft weapon, deflecting the solid blows with fluid movements and neutralizing a portion of the Profound Sky Axe's force.
With a blend of hardness and flexibility, his style grew highly versatile, no longer relying solely on reckless, brute force, which earned him newfound respect from many onlookers.
"This young man truly deserves to be called the most outstanding young disciple of the Elephant Armored Sect. Faced with a powerful foe, he shows no fear."
"What is even more commendable is that he has grasped something new mid-battle. After this fight, with some focused, targeted cultivation, his strength will surely leap forward."
Around the plaza, a Spirit Hall Soul Saint who was watching the battle remarked, his words earning nods of agreement from many around him.
If the people from Spirit Hall felt this way, it was even more so for the members of the Elephant Armored Sect who were intimately familiar with Huyan Li.
Seeing Huyan Li suppressed and beaten by Ling Xiao earlier had left many Elephant Armored Sect disciples feeling suppressed, resentful, and utterly suffocated.
Now, seeing Huyan Li fight so brilliantly and showcase the true power and characteristics of the Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul, their excitement ignited, sweeping away their previous frustration as they instinctively cheered for him.
"Big Brother is truly reaping massive rewards from this battle. Even if he loses, it was still well worth it."
By the side of the plaza's high platform, where a large number of Elephant Armored Sect disciples were gathered, a tall young man spoke up.
His features and build looked like they came from the exact same mold as Huyan Li. He seemed to be another disciple of the Huyan Clan, likewise possessing the Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul.
This was none other than Huyan Xi.
"Old Fourth is right. Big Brother has gained a lot from this fight. Once it ends, he will definitely have a new direction for cultivating the Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul to further perfect himself."
"Moreover, I bet Big Brother won't ignore the True Power of Diamonds anymore like he used to; he will never neglect the Path of Defense again. Given time, he will become even more powerful."
Just as Huyan Xi finished speaking, someone beside him chimed in, his tone far more certain.
This speaker was tall and heavily built with a square face, his physical blood vitality intensely potent, though still a notch below Huyan Li's. However, this person possessed a unique trait of his own.
Despite his towering and powerful build, he seemed highly rational, giving off no impression of being a meathead with more muscle than brains. Furthermore, despite his roaring blood vitality, its innate heat was not that obvious.
This did not mean his blood vitality was weak, but rather that it was deeply restrained. Influenced by something unseen, a faint trace of icy chill actually emanated from him, which was quite peculiar.
This person was named Huyan Ba.
Like Huyan Xi, he was a core disciple of the Elephant Armored Sect and one of the most outstanding youths of the Huyan Clan.
His importance was not much lower than Huyan Li's, possessing an extraordinary Martial Soul talent that the Elephant Armored Sect poured massive resources into nurturing.
Among the seven most exceptional young disciples of the Huyan Clan—whose names formed the phrase 'Strength to Pluck Mountains, Might to Cover the World'—he ranked second.
Bang!
With a loud explosion out on the plaza, Ling Xiao stomped the ground and spun his body through the air. Driving his Martial Soul while leveraging the rotational force of his waist, he delivered a sweeping slash.
The powerful strike, carrying a razor-sharp edge, once again chopped back Huyan Li's trunk.
This time, the mammoth trunk sustained a heavy blow from the whip strike; as if unable to withstand the countershock force, it coiled backward for a considerable distance, making it impossible to launch an immediate follow-up attack.
Seizing this opening, a smile curved on Ling Xiao's lips.
A brilliant glint flashed in his eyes as though he was finally getting dead serious.
With a flick of his wrist, the giant axe flashed.
In the next instant, an intense light of soul power erupted from the Profound Sky Axe. Ling Xiao cleaved forward, tearing through the air and triggering a violent boom that sounded like a solid object being split wide open.
A massive, crescent-shaped axe radiant shot through the air, chasing right after Huyan Li's mammoth trunk as if looking to slice it clean in half. At this moment, the battle suddenly grew far more intense.
Ling Xiao and Huyan Li were no longer simply clashing with the basic forms of their Martial Souls as they had before. As Huyan Li pushed his Martial Soul usage a step further, Ling Xiao also began to display the true might of the Profound Sky Axe.
This battle was finally nearing its final, deciding moment.
**
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