Fortunately, because of Xu Yuan's warning, Tang Wulin had maintained a sense of caution when facing Long Yue.
In fact, without Xu Yuan's reminder, he would have been overconfident.
This was a flaw that had developed from his long-term battles against dragon-type martial soul users.
Even though he couldn't defeat Xu Yuan, couldn't surpass Wu Siduo, or match up to familiar faces like Yuanen Yehui, these setbacks didn't affect him much.
After all, none of them possessed dragon bloodlines.
As for other peers or non-peers within two levels of soul power, his Golden Dragon King bloodline could suppress them, and the suppression effect was extremely pronounced.
Long Yue also possessed a dragon bloodline, and Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon King bloodline was suppressing it.
This was something Tang Wulin was certain of.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have expected Long Yue to unleash life-threatening willpower under such overwhelming suppression.
But thanks to Xu Yuan's warning, as soon as the battle began, Tang Wulin realized that although Long Yue's bloodline was being suppressed, the suppression wasn't as strong as he had anticipated.
Resistance was still possible.
It was similar to how a Soul Elder could still unleash their full strength despite being oppressed by a Soul Ancestor's soul power.
Realizing this, Tang Wulin remained cautious throughout the fight. He didn't let his guard down just because his bloodline was noble and superior.
Thus, he had dodged that earlier attack.
Now, looking at the figure exuding a heavy aura, as solemn and immovable as a mountain, Tang Wulin felt a flicker of fear.
If he hadn't dodged, even if the stacked force of his massive hammers could barely withstand the initial collision, the backlash and subsequent terrifying pressure would have severely injured him, possibly shattering his internal organs.
Similarly, without the exoskeleton mech, Tang Wulin was certain that even if he had tried to dodge immediately, it would have been too late.
Once again, feeling the exoskeleton mech integrated with his body, Tang Wulin deeply appreciated how practical it was.
Without the cumbersome complexity of traditional mechs, it could assist soul masters in executing various techniques and transferring force. The design of this force transmission system was a significant advancement in mech technology.
"Brother Xu managed to come up with such a technology—wonder what other advancements he's made in mech development," Tang Wulin thought, growing increasingly awed by Xu Yuan's capabilities.
Pursuing mastery in four sub-professions simultaneously, cultivating essence, energy, and spirit together, while also advancing in both mechs and battle armor—though he lagged slightly in battle armor due to his high ambitions, in mech technology, he was making breakthroughs.
It seemed that Xu Yuan's decision to cultivate both mechs and battle armor wasn't about one dragging the other down. The mech wasn't merely supplementary to his battle armor; instead, he genuinely intended to advance both technologies side by side.
He was perfecting mech technology!
Tang Wulin was certain that Xu Yuan would further refine this exoskeleton mech technology and eventually integrate it into true mechs.
The metal components of this exoskeleton mech were forged by Tang Wulin himself, based on designs provided by Xu Yuan. The manufacturing process was expedited using resources from the Tang Sect.
For this, Tang Wulin held deep admiration for Xu Yuan.
Such advanced technology—and Xu Yuan willingly allowed him to take the blueprints to the Tang Sect for production.
"Perhaps Brother Xu is attempting to push the development of mech technology?"
Not just personal progress.
But the collective advancement of a group, the rise of an entire field.
Thinking about this, Tang Wulin felt even more respect for Xu Yuan.
Pushing aside these fleeting thoughts, Tang Wulin focused as the sound of rushing wind approached—a fist as massive as a boulder was already before him. Without any preparatory movements or stance adjustments, Tang Wulin abruptly executed Ghost Shadow Perplexing Steps.
No starting motions or preparations!
This was the power of the exoskeleton mech.
---
Like a compressed spring, when squeezed, it stores energy. Once the valve is released, the stored energy is unleashed.
The joints of the exoskeleton mech functioned similarly to springs, storing energy. When multiple "springs" worked together, they could transfer, preserve, and convert energy effectively.
Moreover, under normal conditions, the "springs" within the exoskeleton mech were always partially compressed. This ensured that the operator could instantly "release the valve" and access this initial burst of energy whenever needed.
To sprint, there was no need for an initial strong push-off from the ground—the mech's spring-loaded launch mechanism eliminated that requirement.
Of course, soul power still flowed through the legs to ensure they could withstand the force and adapt to the sudden change in speed, completing the entire launch process.
For Tang Wulin, this process had already become second nature.
Ghost Shadow Perplexing Steps no longer required any preparatory movements!
At this moment, Tang Wulin once again began stacking the Chaotic Windsplitting Hammer technique.
He quickly retreated, continuously increasing the distance between himself and Long Yue, avoiding direct confrontation.
For a full five minutes, Long Yue wreaked havoc across the arena, leaving the stage riddled with craters. Meanwhile, Tang Wulin finally stacked the Chaotic Windsplitting Hammer technique to twenty layers.
The reason he only reached twenty layers was that some of Long Yue's attacks forced him to use the stacked force to convert speed for evasion, causing some of the force to dissipate. For example, sixteen layers might drop to fourteen, and he'd have to start stacking again from there.
Reaching twenty layers in five minutes was already an incredible feat.
After reaching twenty layers, Tang Wulin didn't continue stacking further.
Beyond this point, he wouldn't be able to freely control the force.
This wasn't the limit of the exoskeleton mech—it was the limit of human soul masters.
Ultimately, human soul masters' base strength was only "one." Even with the exoskeleton mech amplifying this force, it was still "twenty." True freedom of movement wasn't possible.
Redirecting a thousand kilograms with four pounds still required effort to redirect.
Especially since the primary advantage of the exoskeleton mech lay in its instant activation. If it were used to redirect a thousand kilos, additional conversion time and preparatory movements would be required.
Twenty layers was Tang Wulin's physical limit.
With twenty layers of force, Tang Wulin's speed was unmatched, and Long Yue couldn't keep up.
And Long Yue inevitably had moments of vulnerability.
At this moment, wielding the force of twenty layers, Tang Wulin swung his massive hammer down.
No direct clash.
Because the recoil force was something Tang Wulin wanted to avoid.
He fought guerrilla-style, striking when Long Yue couldn't exert his full strength and evading during Long Yue's attacks.
In the audience stands, the spectators booed.
This grasshopper's fighting style was truly frustrating to watch.
However, one couldn't deny that Tang Wulin was employing tactics, leveraging his strengths.
At this moment, many genuine soul masters, especially the competing participants, focused on the root of Tang Wulin's tactics.
Anyone with clear eyes could see that Tang Wulin's ability to execute this strategy relied entirely on his exoskeleton mech.
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