Huo Yuxi controlled the directions of eight Gui Yan Blades, surrounding Ma Xiaotao. Not knowing the effects of this soul skill, Ma Xiaotao chose not to confront it head-on and performed a backflip out of the encirclement.
But before she could steady herself, the blades that had missed immediately changed direction and spun back. Having experienced countless battles, she narrowed her eyes and reacted instantly.
"First soul skill, Phoenix Fire Line."
The flames and pressure unique to the Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul rushed toward Huo Yuxi. Her cheeks burned red, and the eight light blades slowed before being struck by the Phoenix Fire Line shooting toward them in a straight spread, instantly dissipating.
Huo Yuxi was knocked back two steps. Given Ma Xiaotao's abilities, she could have rushed over during that opening and ended the battle, but she wanted to see Huo Yuxi's second soul skill, so she gave her time to recover.
Huo Yuxi understood her intentions and mobilized the Soul Power within her. "Second soul skill, Wrath of the Stranglehold."
The air around the Soul Devouring Spider vibrated, surging like ocean waves toward Ma Xiaotao.
Ma Xiaotao had long since activated her second soul skill, Bathing Fire Phoenix. Her entire body was concealed within the flames, with only those sharp eyes faintly visible.
Her second soul skill enhanced and increased every attribute of her phoenix fire power.
Unexpectedly, once Huo Yuxi unleashed her second soul skill, Ma Xiaotao could clearly feel her Soul Power rapidly draining away, accompanied by a faint dizziness.
Soul skills like this generally had either a range limit or a time limit. She turned and began running backward. Five meters, ten meters, twenty meters, fifty meters—the feeling of restriction disappeared. It seemed the range of Huo Yuxi's soul skill was within fifty meters, while its duration was thirty seconds!
Having figured that out, she turned and charged back. Halfway there, she suddenly stopped. There was no other reason—Huo Yuxi had actually broken through during the battle.
Were kids these days all this amazing? She could break through even in battle. Anyone who didn't know better would think breakthroughs were easier than eating! Still, Ma Xiaotao did not give Huo Yuxi any time. After all, in a battle, enemies would not let you call for a timeout halfway through.
After leveling up, Huo Yuxi felt her senses become much sharper. Just as Ma Xiaotao was about to touch her, she hurriedly raised a defense.
However, she was ultimately not skilled in close combat. In less than two minutes, the battle was declared over.
"Your soul skills are all powerful, but your close-combat ability and physical condition are far too poor. We'll make up for those later. For now, I'll take you to obtain your third soul ring."
"Huh?" Huo Yuxi's heartbeat quickened. "Are we going by ourselves?"
"What, looking down on me?" Ma Xiaotao put one hand on her hip and shot her a sidelong glance.
"No, no, it's just my soul ring, my soul ring..." Cold sweat broke out on Huo Yuxi's forehead. Then an idea flashed through her mind. "If I'm going far away, I need to tell my brother first. How about we go in a few days?"
Huo Yuxi had no idea how to explain that she did not need to hunt soul beasts to obtain soul rings. She would stall for now. Once Ma Xiaotao saw that she already had a third soul ring, she surely would not ask her to go anymore, right?
"Fine, then." Ma Xiaotao gave up on the matter and took her to train.
After an entire afternoon passed, Huo Yuxi lay sprawled on the grass, feeling that she would rather have gone on a weighted run with Teacher Zhou.
Senior Xiaotao had not accidentally beaten her to death, but she was probably not far from torturing her to death.
"How could you be this weak?" Ma Xiaotao looked at her lying on the ground as though life held no meaning, frustrated that she had failed to live up to her potential. Such great talent, yet such a poor body.
Huo Yuxi was helpless too. Her body had started improving after awakening her martial soul. It had been several years since her last episode, but her physical condition still refused to improve.
"Forget it, we'll stop here for today. I'll take you back to rest. From now on, wait for me at today's spot every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon. I'll come get you."
"Okay."
When Huo Yuxi returned to the dormitory, Xiao Xiao and the others had not gotten out of class yet. Sitting on her bed, she circulated her Soul Power as her two soul rings spun fiercely.
Then, a purple shadow slowly emerged beyond them—the silhouette of another thousand-year soul ring. Her second soul ring was roughly two thousand years old, while her third soul ring had reached five thousand years.
Time passed especially quickly while cultivating. When Huo Yuxi opened her eyes, the sky outside had already begun to darken. Xiao Xiao returned from training, her body soaked through with sweat.
"Xixi, you're already back?"
"Mm, yes. Sister Xiao Xiao, did you just finish?" Seeing how exhausted she looked, Huo Yuxi felt a cold sweat run down her back. Had she been overthinking it, or was Senior Xiaotao actually gentler?
"Yeah. You have no idea how ruthless Teacher Zhou is." Xiao Xiao sat on a stool, took a drink of water, and said, "Today, during the weighted run, she demanded that we couldn't stop even once. Who could keep that up? Only your brother could. I really don't know where he gets that kind of determination."
Huo Yuxi said nothing. Of course she knew why Huo Yuhao worked so desperately hard. Was she any different? Looking at the Soul Devouring Spider beside her, sleeping sprawled on all eight legs, she broke into a smile. Her third soul ring was already secured. Things would only get better and better.
Xiao Xiao continued, "But afterward, Teacher Zhou brought in a Soul Sage-level expert to treat us. Now I feel like I have endless energy, and I even faintly feel like I'm about to break through."
"I won't talk to you anymore. I feel awful all over, so I'm going to wash up first." She turned and headed to the bathroom outside.
Meanwhile, Huo Yuxi continued thinking about how to explain her third soul ring to Ma Xiaotao the day after tomorrow. She had hunted it herself? That was obviously impossible. Shrek Academy used closed management, and leaving campus required registration and approval.
What should she do, then?
Before she could come up with a perfect explanation, Xiao Xiao had already finished tidying up and returned to the dormitory.
"Xixi, your brother said he's going to sell grilled fish today. He asked me to call you downstairs. He's waiting for you below."
"Oh, okay." Where there was a road, there was a way. For now, Huo Yuhao's grilled fish was far more tempting to her.
"By the way, Sister Xiao Xiao, aren't you coming?"
"I have something to do later. You go ahead. I'll go next time."
Huo Yuxi went downstairs by herself. Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao were chatting not far away. Tang Ya, who was facing the dormitory entrance, spotted her first and waved as she shouted, "Xixi, you're here? Come over quickly."
The three of them arrived at the night market outside the academy gates. Bei Bei was already sitting on a chair beside the stall, waiting for them.
"Everything is ready. You two start grilling here. I'll go buy some other food for you."
"Okay, thank you, Senior Brother."
Huo Yuhao stepped forward and began grilling the fish. His Spirit Eyes allowed him to control the heat perfectly. Before long, the grilled fish gave off an enticing aroma, and Huo Yuxi began salivating wildly.
"Little Yuhao, your cooking is as good as ever. Just smelling this has me drooling." Tang Ya walked over as well, and after saying that, she even swallowed audibly.
"It'll be ready soon." Smiling, Huo Yuhao took three grilled fish, sprinkled them with salt, cumin, and other seasonings, then handed one to Huo Yuxi first before placing the others on a plate and giving it to Tang Ya.
It had to be said, Huo Yuhao's cooking was truly excellent. Passersby stared fixedly at the golden-brown grass carp grilling on the stall. Combined with Huo Yuxi eating gracefully yet appetizingly beside it, it made their cravings flare up, but no one stepped forward to ask.
There were too many scammers these days. Anything without a posted price could be a trap, even if it was just a street stall.
Noticing this, Huo Yuxi finished eating in a few bites, casually pulled over a board from nearby, and used a piece of charcoal to write: Grilled fish, 5 copper coins each. Then she hung it in front of the stall.
The fish had cost one copper soul coin each, and selling them for five copper soul coins was just right. The price was also about the same as the nearby stalls.
As soon as she hung it up, people immediately stepped forward to buy some. Once there was one customer, there was naturally a second, and soon a long line began to form.
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