A Dog's Mouth Cannot Spit Out Ivory

The water pillar contained a powerful pressure. Surrounded, Huo Yuxi felt the air around her grow thin, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.

Luo Ling had been constantly monitoring Huo Yuxi's movements. Although it seemed like she had the upper hand now, she remembered that Huo Yuxi hadn't used her Third Soul Skill yet.

"Second Soul Skill, Wrath of the Stranglehold."

As she thought this, Huo Yuxi's voice reached her. Immediately, the feeling of air vibration returned, even stronger than before. Luo Ling felt her head swimming and couldn't help but shake it.

This scene did not escape Huo Yuxi's notice. "A good opportunity."

On the back of her hand was a sleeve dart, a gift from Tang Ya placed in a Storage Soul Guidance Ring when she joined the Tang Sect.

Huo Yuxi closed her eyes, aimed, and gently pressed her finger. Three small arrows shot out silently.

Lu Wanwan watched this unfold, her heart stopping for a moment. Fortunately, Huo Yuxi knew what she was doing, and all three arrows grazed Luo Ling's body as they flew past.

Luo Ling froze in place, swallowing hard. If those had been aimed at her, she probably would have died.

The battle ended. The Soul Devouring Spider reverted to its doll form and nestled in Huo Yuxi's arms.

"I concede."

"No, you're very strong." Luo Ling's expression was unreadable, and her compliment sounded cold.

"Yeah," Lu Wanwan stepped forward, a hint of confusion in her voice. "Huo Yuxi, how did you know I would dodge in that direction? Those two knives really threw me off."

"Your posture at the time meant there were only two possible directions to dodge the attack. Most people would instinctively choose to go right, but your eyes told me you'd go left."

Under the effect of her Second Soul Skill, Huo Yuxi could perceive every subtle movement of everyone in the arena, so she had naturally received the information from Lu Wanwan immediately.

"Then why did you attack me first? Luo Ling's soul power is higher than mine. If you had attacked by surprise, you would have had a better chance of winning."

"Because I observed that your First Soul Skill seemed to have an auxiliary effect, and I guessed you were likely a support Soul Master."

"Although it seemed simpler to attack Luo Ling at the time, in reality, support Soul Masters usually only have one or two attack skills. You have two soul rings, so it's impossible for both skills to be attack skills. That's why I decided to eliminate you first."

"I don't know Luo Ling's other skill, so I'm not in a hurry to use mine."

Luo Ling's eyes flickered. She admired Huo Yuxi's observational skills. Lu Wanwan's first soul ring was obtained from a Hundred-Year Brahma Water Lily. Her First Soul Skill inherited its explosive attack ability, but because her Martial Soul was inherently supportive, it also came with a speed-reducing auxiliary effect.

"You're amazing," Lu Wanwan said with admiration. "My Second Soul Skill can provide continuous soul power recovery for ten seconds. Within these ten seconds, output is ignored."

This meant that when she used her Second Soul Skill, even if her teammate was using soul power, they wouldn't consume it but would instead recover it.

"Your skills are also very impressive," Huo Yuxi said. This was her first time encountering a support Soul Master.

She had always heard that support Soul Masters lacked self-preservation abilities, and Teacher Zhou had always emphasized in class that in battle, one must protect their own support Soul Masters, and if the opponent had one, they must be eliminated quickly.

This had led to her having a stereotypical impression that support Soul Masters were weak. She didn't expect her first encounter to change her mind.

"Oh, Huo Yuxi, what is your Third Soul Skill? I thought you were going to use it just now," Luo Ling interrupted their 'mutual praise.'

"My Third Soul Skill is an area-of-effect attack skill. I'm not very proficient with it yet, and I'm afraid I might injure you if I can't control it properly."

Huo Yuxi remembered Teacher Zhou's instructions and quickly added, "That's right, Teacher Zhou said that other classes will also form elite teams with particularly outstanding students, also aiming for the championship. She told us to hide our strength as much as possible and save it for later assessments against other champion teams."

Luo Ling and Lu Wanwan nodded in understanding. Setting aside their own strength, with Huo Yuxi's three-ring cultivation of one yellow and two purple soul rings, it would be strange if Teacher Zhou didn't place her hopes on her.

"By the way, what you used just now was a Tang Sect hidden weapon, right? Do you have any connection to the Tang Sect?" Lu Wanwan asked casually.

"Yes, I joined the Tang Sect at the beginning of the semester. I'm one of them now."

Lu Wanwan nodded, discussed some matters for tomorrow, and then left with Luo Ling.

Huo Yuxi didn't go to the food stalls. Instead, she returned to the dormitory to cultivate.

However, Huo Yuhao hadn't forgotten about her. He had specifically grilled two fish and had Xiao Xiao bring them back. Before she even entered the room, Huo Yuxi smelled the familiar aroma and quickly jumped out of bed to open the door.

"Your nose is really sharp," Xiao Xiao said with a smile, handing her the grilled fish. "Your brother specifically saved these for you. He planned to grill them when he got back, and they're still warm. Eat up."

Although she didn't feel hungry, Huo Yuxi couldn't help but salivate at the sight of the grilled fish. She exclaimed happily, "Thanks, Sister Xiao Xiao! One for you, one for me, it's perfect."

She took one and started eating it. She planned to save the other one for Xiao Xiao.

"I already ate, and too much of this will make you feel greasy. You eat it yourself. I'm going to take a bath." Saying this, she stuffed the fish into Huo Yuxi's hands and turned to get her things for washing up.

"Okay then!"

Huo Yuxi sat down in her spot. The Soul Devouring Spider crawled to her hand. "Spider-Spider, are you really okay after eating so much?"

It had absorbed quite a lot of soul power while she was cultivating. Now it was eating snacks too; wouldn't it get too full?

The Soul Devouring Spider proudly turned its head away.

"Alright, alright."

One person and one spider, they each finished half a grilled fish in no time. Just then, Xiao Xiao returned from washing up.

"Sister Xiao Xiao," Huo Yuxi said, her eyes curving into crescents, "Does your team have any combat plans?"

"No, registration is tomorrow morning, and the competition starts in the afternoon. We'll discuss it tomorrow at noon." Xiao Xiao sat on the edge of the bed and dried her hair. "Why do you ask all of a sudden? Didn't Teacher Zhou say we wouldn't be matched against people from our own class in the preliminary rounds?"

"Just for reference. I've never fought as part of a team before, so I don't really know how to coordinate."

"We're pretty much the same. We've all learned in class but haven't practiced yet. We'll take it slow; you can't get fat in one bite."

"Mhm."

The registration list was submitted by Zhou Yi herself, so the students had the rare luxury of not having to wake up early today. Huo Yuxi slept until ten o'clock.

I got a meal at the cafeteria and found an empty seat. Before I could even start eating, I felt someone standing next to me.

Looking up, I saw a burly guy accompanied by two girls. All three of them had sharp, mean expressions and looked like trouble.

"Are you Huo Yuxi?"

"Yes," Huo Yuxi confirmed. She didn't recognize them, but her upbringing wouldn't allow her to ignore someone speaking to her. "What do you want?"

Before the guy could answer, the two girls behind him couldn't hold back. They sneered, "Heh, you look about nine or ten. Are you really that strong? I think the teacher is just too nervous."

"Exactly. I bet you can't even take one move from us."

Huo Yuxi frowned. She didn't like conflict, but faced with such blatant provocation, she couldn't help but say, "Dogs can't help but bark nonsense."

"You!" The guy's expression turned fierce, but then he seemed to remember something and said dismissively, "Hmph, what's the use of being tough-mouthed? You'd better pray you don't run into us in the preliminary rounds, or I'll make sure you don't even get past them."

With that, he turned and left. Huo Yuxi was speechless. This was the first time she'd encountered such an idiot, someone she had no words for.