The two men on the stage looked almost identical at first glance — as if carved from the same mold. They appeared to be around thirty years old.
Standing side by side upon the arena, the brothers exuded an overwhelming presence, like two immovable mountains radiating an unshakable might.
As they ascended the platform, the atmosphere in the arena instantly ignited, the crowd erupting in cheers.
Before the eyes of countless spectators, Yan and Huo Wu walked steadily onto the stage together.
The moment they appeared, murmurs spread through the stands.
"Look, isn't that the little beauty who fought on the stage a few days ago?"
"Yeah, I remember her! The fire-type spirit master who controlled those flames!"
"Didn't she team up with another male spirit master last time and compete in the Soul Elder division? Why's she got a new partner now — is she actually challenging up a division? This should be interesting!"
Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang had once appeared together on this very stage, competing in a Soul Elder–level match — which they won with ease.
But tonight, Huo Wu and Yan were facing two opponents far stronger than before — both were true Soul Sects.
When the Iron Hammer Brothers saw that their opponents were two young spirit masters who barely looked like adults, disdain immediately filled their faces.
One of the burly men turned to the host and questioned skeptically,
"Just these two brats? Are you sure their spirit power is really above level forty? You seriously want us to fight them?"
The host replied solemnly,
"Appearances can be deceiving. Though young, both are exceptionally gifted. One has reached level thirty-six, and the other level forty-four. According to the Great Spirit Arena's rules, they fully qualify to compete in the Soul Sect division."
Even after hearing that, the man merely snorted derisively and swept his eyes over Huo Wu and Yan with a mocking smile.
"Level thirty-six and level forty-four? That's it? How weak."
"Exactly! We brothers are both level forty-six Soul Sects. You two aren't even in our league. We'd hate for people to say we were bullying kids — why don't you save yourselves the embarrassment and surrender now?"
the other brother added, smirking.
Yan ignored their taunts completely. His expression remained calm and cold, eyes filled with silent contempt.
That wordless scorn only enraged the Iron Hammer Brothers further.
"Who are you glaring at, boy? Just wait — we'll teach you a lesson you won't forget!"
Huo Wu, who had been pampered and admired since childhood, had never once been treated with such disdain. Her fiery temper ignited instantly.
"Enough talk! I'll show you soon enough — I'll roast you both like pigs on a spit!"
Her words made the brothers burst into laughter.
"Oh? A fire-attribute spirit master, huh? You sure have a temper for someone with so little strength. I'm curious to see just what kind of heat you can bring, little girl."
Even before the match began, the air between them was already charged with tension.
The host quickly intervened and announced loudly,
"This two-on-two match will be between Team Blazing Flame and the Iron Hammer Brothers! Team Blazing Flame is a brand-new duo — tonight marks their debut as a pair — while the Iron Hammer Brothers are on a three-match winning streak.
Who will emerge victorious tonight? Let's find out! Both teams, release your martial spirits and spirit rings — the battle begins in one minute!"
As the host's voice faded, cruel smiles spread across the brothers' faces. Their eyes locked on Yan and Huo Wu, glinting with predatory excitement.
They were eager — impatient even — to crush these arrogant young challengers.
Before the gaze of the crowd, the brothers roared in unison. Their bodies trembled violently, and in the next instant, two surges of powerful spirit energy burst forth from within them.
In a flash, enormous black iron hammers appeared in their hands.
The heads of those hammers gleamed with a cold, ominous light — the kind that looked capable of shattering anything in its path.
Immediately afterward, spirit rings began to rise around them.
Both brothers had identical configurations — two yellow, two purple — the optimal four-ring combination.
The four spirit rings slowly ascended their bodies, the yellow century rings and purple millennium rings alternating in a dazzling glow.
The sudden display of their martial spirits and rings sent ripples of exclamation and speculation through the audience.
"Wait, are those black hammers… the Clear Sky Hammers?"
"No way! The Clear Sky Hammer is the number-one weapon-type martial spirit in the world — there's no chance it'd show up in a place like this."
"Exactly! The direct disciples of the Clear Sky Sect went into hiding long ago to avoid the Spirit Hall's pursuit. There's no way they'd appear so openly. Those are just ordinary hammers that happen to look similar."
"Even if they're ordinary, their aura's still terrifying!"
"Yeah — those fire-attribute spirit masters don't stand a chance."
The brothers' momentum had reached its peak. They stood tall like twin mountains, their combined pressure bearing down on the entire arena.
Yan and Huo Wu could clearly feel the oppressive force, but neither of them took a step back.
Huo Wu's eyes blazed with determination, while Yan's face remained as calm and unreadable as ever.
Then, the two of them unleashed their martial spirits.
A wave of scorching spirit power erupted from Huo Wu's body. Behind her, a fiery silhouette — an ethereal double of herself — gradually took form, radiating boundless flame energy.
Three spirit rings rose around her — two yellow, one purple — rotating slowly, glowing with intense, burning light.
At the same time, a towering figure of living flame emerged behind Yan. Unlike Huo Wu's fiery avatar, his was solid and imposing — a massive Fire Lord crowned with six horns, its body engulfed in raging flames, emanating an aura of sheer dominance.
As his martial spirit appeared, four spirit rings encircled him — two yellow, two purple — flickering with brilliant radiance and immense power.
The two fire-attribute spirit masters' martial spirits were somewhat similar — both humanoid in form.
Huo Wu's Fire Shadow carried a sense of mystery and fierce beauty, as though it could erupt with endless fire at any moment. Yan's Flame Lord, by contrast, exuded raw tyranny — the kind of fire that could burn the heavens themselves.
Seeing the pair's spirits and spirit rings, the Iron Hammer Brothers' sneers slowly faded.
The arena was thick with tension — a palpable stillness before the storm.
The audience collectively held their breath, eyes wide with anticipation.
This would be a fierce contest — a clash of strength and flame.
The Iron Hammer Brothers exchanged a quick glance, deciding to strike first.
Suddenly, they moved.
Both lunged to opposite sides, their massive black hammers raised high.
As their third spirit rings flared with light, the twin hammers swung down in unison — unleashing a surge of terrifying power that swept across the arena.