Too Much Greed, Not Enough Virtue

Xie Yue slid across the ground, face down.

By a stroke of misfortune, he happened to slide to a stop just four meters in front of Tuoba Yan.

Tuoba Yan smiled. "Xie Yue, what are you doing? Even if you want to surrender to me, you wouldn't need to perform such a grand gesture, would you?"

Xie Yue's mind went blank.

A sound of humiliation came from Tuoba Yan's mouth. He quickly scrambled to his feet.

His eyes narrowed, and a sinister light flickered.

Tuoba Yan was within arm's reach, and Xie Yue was confident he could injure him at such close range.

As Xie Yue took a step forward, Tuoba Yan, who was watching him intently, raised his hand, and a golden light once again enveloped Xie Yue.

Xie Yue leaped into the air again. But before he could regain his senses, Suspended Flight disappeared, and he crashed heavily to the ground.

"Bang, bang, bang," Xie Yue fell from the air to the ground three more times.

It all happened within a mere five seconds.

It was quite comical to onlookers, as Xie Yue would stand up and charge towards Tuoba Yan, only to be sent back into the air by an invisible force just as he took a step, and then fall heavily to the ground.

The four-meter distance seemed like miles to Xie Yue.

Xie Yue scrambled to his feet again, and instead of immediately attacking Tuoba Yan, he said smugly, "Suspended Flight? Hahaha, I've figured out your Soul Skill. You, beg for your own doom!"

Once again, Xie Yue charged towards Tuoba Yan, who was within arm's reach.

As the golden light enveloped Xie Yue, his body surged with red Soul Power.

Under the influence of his own Soul Power, this time, Suspended Flight had little effect on Xie Yue. It merely caused him to float in the air, his feet leaving the ground, as if he were lightly gliding, moving without touching the surface.

Xie Yue truly was a genius. In such a short time in actual combat, he had already figured out a way to break through Tuoba Yan's Chicken Charm Suspended Flight.

Hu Li Na's lips curved into a faint, smug smile. She could already see the scene of Tuoba Yan being defeated and subdued by her brother.

As Xie Yue's Moon Blade drew closer to Tuoba Yan, Tuoba Yan didn't dodge. He raised his hand, and a sudden burst of golden light erupted, countless golden Mental Force chains weaving into a spherical cage in the air, traversing space, trapping Xie Yue within the Mental Force Cage.

Xie Yue was unable to move again.

Hu Li Na's expression changed dramatically, and she blurted out, "Impossible! How could a thousand-year Soul Ring have two Soul Skills?"

Ridiculous!

Absurd!

Only a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring possessed two or more Soul Skills.

A thousand-year Soul Ring, regardless of its specific age, would only have one Soul Skill.

At this moment, Tuoba Yan's second Soul Ring was still pulsing, emitting a purple glow.

This indicated that the Soul Skill Tuoba Yan was currently using still belonged to his second Soul Ring.

This was clearly contrary to common sense and unreasonable.

Xie Yue said in a solemn tone, "It's a Self-Created Soul Skill!"

Self-Created Soul Skills were rare, and difficult to comprehend unless one had exceptional talent.

Each Self-Created Soul Skill embodied the lifetime wisdom and crystallization of a Soul Master, and often had the power to turn the tide of battle when used.

There were two categories of Self-Created Soul Skills.

One was the kind that could be passed down through generations, such as the Tuoba Clan's Dragon Step, the Chen Family's Slaying Seal, the Clear Sky Sect's Haotian Nine Slashes, and the Great Sumeru Hammer.

The other was the kind that couldn't be passed down, a new combat technique developed by a Soul Master through long study and refinement, based on their original Soul Skill. It was also called a Self-Created Soul Skill.

For example, the White Tiger Fierce Light Wave that Dai Mubai launched, which, after being launched, was reversed and converged to create an unexpected secondary attack effect.

"Big breasts, no brain!"

Tuoba Yan's eyes slanted, his peripheral vision catching Hu Li Na watching the battle, and he said dismissively, "Your brain is just a decoration. You're no better than your brother."

After obtaining his second Soul Ring, Tuoba Yan spent a few days on his way back. During this time, he pondered his Chicken Charm.

He discovered that the Chicken Charm could make other objects levitate, and if the levitation ability was applied to Mental Force, he could also condense a Mental Force Cage through Soul Power.

The purple thousand-year Soul Ring would not possess two different Soul Skills. His second Soul Skill still fell within the realm of levitation.

The fusion of Soul Power and Mental Force, and then, based on the Chicken Charm Suspended Flight, he developed this Mental Force Cage that could make objects within a certain area levitate and produce a control effect.

Xie Yue waved the Moon Blade in his hand, cutting at the cage that held him.

Tuoba Yan's eyes narrowed. He noticed the flaw in his newly created Soul Skill. Trapping someone in a cage gave them ample room to maneuver, giving them the opportunity to slash at the cage.

The blade cut through the cage, creating dazzling sparks.

Wherever the Moon Blade passed, there were distinct cutting marks on the cage.

Looking at Tuoba Yan, who was within arm's reach, Xie Yue's third Soul Ring lit up with a purple glow.

The two blood-red Moon Blades in his hand crossed in an X shape. As the third Soul Ring pulsed upwards, the Moon Blades shone with a mesmerizing crimson light.

"Third Soul Skill·Moonlight Shatter!"

The intersection of Xie Yue's Moon Blade erupted in a crimson beam of light.

The beam possessed a piercing effect. When it struck the Mental Force Cage, the cage collapsed.

Then, upon hitting the cage, the beam produced an energy shockwave.

Instantly, the Mental Force Cage, torn open, shattered completely.

The beam, its momentum undiminished, struck Tuoba Yan, who was caught off guard and standing just a few feet away, sending him crashing into the dormitory wall.

"Boom!" A sound echoed as Tuoba Yan was buried beneath broken bricks and rubble.

"Hmph!"

Xie Yue lightly descended to the ground, mocking the ruins: "You're not even that impressive!"

Though his words were nonchalant, Xie Yue's mind was in turmoil.

Since Xie Yue awakened his Martial Soul, he had never encountered an opponent so troublesome.

Observing the battle just now, it was clear that Tuoba Yan had only recently acquired his second Soul Ring, and the Mental Force Cage was still in its initial stages.

If Tuoba Yan was given some time, his control would be even stronger.

Furthermore, Tuoba Yan was unfamiliar with Xie Yue's Soul Skills. If he were to cut again next time, Xie Yue had a strong feeling that it would be even harder for him to win.

Moonlight Shatter: Xie Yue's third Soul Skill. It concentrates Soul Power within the Moon Blade, releasing a crimson, piercing beam of light. It deals 200% damage to a single target and reduces their defense by 20%. The more Soul Power used, the longer the duration.

Upon impact, the beam also generates an energy shockwave, dealing 50% splash damage to enemies within a 2-meter radius.

Just as Xie Yue was feeling pleased with himself, a sudden change occurred.

Hu Li Na cried out urgently, "Brother, be careful!"