A Dog's Mouth Can't Spit Out Ivory

The pillar of water carried an oppressive force. Surrounded by it, Huo Yuxi felt the air around her gradually thinning, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.

Luo Ling had been closely watching Huo Yuxi's every movement. Though she appeared to have the upper hand, she still remembered that Huo Yuxi had yet to use her third soul skill.

"Second soul skill, Wrath of the Stranglehold."

Just as Luo Ling was thinking that, Huo Yuxi's voice rang out. The sensation of air vibrations returned, even stronger than before. Luo Ling's head swam, and she could not help shaking it.

Seeing this, Huo Yuxi thought, Perfect opportunity.

A sleeve arrow had appeared on the back of her hand. Tang Ya had placed it inside the Storage Soul Guidance Ring when Huo Yuxi joined the Tang Sect.

Huo Yuxi closed one eye, aimed, and lightly pressed down with her finger. Three tiny arrows shot out soundlessly.

Watching from the side, Lu Wanwan's heart nearly stopped. Fortunately, Huo Yuxi knew what she was doing, and all three arrows skimmed past Luo Ling's body.

Luo Ling stood frozen in place and swallowed. If they had been enemies, she would probably have lost her life.

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

"Thanks for going easy on me."

"No, you were very good." Luo Ling seemed almost expressionless, so even her praise sounded icy.

"Yeah." Lu Wanwan stepped forward and asked in confusion, "Huo Yuxi, how did you know I would dodge that way? Those two blades completely threw me off."

"From your posture, there were only two directions you could dodge when facing the attack. Most people would subconsciously choose the right, but the look in your eyes told me you would go left."

Under her second soul skill, no subtle movement from anyone in the arena could escape Huo Yuxi's eyes. Naturally, she had immediately picked up the information Lu Wanwan had revealed.

"Then why did you attack me first? Luo Ling's Soul Power is clearly higher than mine. If you had caught her off guard, you would have had a better chance of winning."

"Because I noticed that your first soul skill seemed to have a supportive effect. I guessed you were an auxiliary-type Soul Master."

"Although attacking Luo Ling seemed easier at the time, auxiliary-type Soul Masters generally only have one or two offensive skills. You have two rings, so it was impossible for both your skills to be attack-type. That was why I decided to eliminate you first."

"I didn't know what Luo Ling's other skill was, so there was no need to rush into attacking."

A flicker passed through Luo Ling's eyes. She admired Huo Yuxi's powers of observation. Lu Wanwan's First Soul Ring had come from a Hundred-Year Brahma Water Lily. Her first soul skill had inherited its explosive attack ability, but because her martial soul itself was support-type, it also carried a slowing effect. "You're amazing." Lu Wanwan looked at her with admiration. "My second soul skill can continuously restore Soul Power for ten seconds. During those ten seconds, it ignores consumption."

In other words, while she used her second soul skill, even if her teammates were using Soul Power, they would not only avoid consuming it but would recover it instead.

"Your skill is amazing too." This was Huo Yuxi's first encounter with an auxiliary-type Soul Master.

She had always heard that auxiliary-type Soul Masters lacked the ability to protect themselves. Zhou Yi had repeatedly emphasized in class that on the battlefield, they had to protect their own auxiliary-type Soul Masters and eliminate the enemy's as quickly as possible.

This had left her with the fixed impression that auxiliary-type Soul Masters were weak. She had not expected her first encounter with one to change her mind.

"By the way, Huo Yuxi, what is your third soul skill? I thought you were going to use it just now." Luo Ling interrupted their mutual flattery.

"My third soul skill is an area attack. I'm not very proficient with it yet, so I was afraid I wouldn't control it properly and might hurt you."

Remembering Zhou Yi's instructions, Huo Yuxi quickly added, "Oh, right. Teacher Zhou said that the other classes will also select some especially outstanding students to form elite teams, and their goal is the championship too. She told us to hide our strength as much as possible and save it for the later assessments against the other championship teams."

Luo Ling and Lu Wanwan nodded in understanding. Forget their own strength—Huo Yuxi alone had three rings, one yellow and two purple. Teacher Zhou would have to be crazy not to place her hopes on Huo Yuxi.

"By the way, that thing you used just now was a hidden weapon from the Tang Sect, right? What is your relationship with the Tang Sect?" Lu Wanwan asked casually.

"Mm-hm. I joined the Tang Sect when school started, so I'm a member now."

Lu Wanwan nodded, mentioned a few matters concerning tomorrow, and then left with Luo Ling.

Huo Yuxi did not go to the stalls. Instead, she returned to the dormitory and began cultivating.

But Huo Yuhao had not forgotten about her. He had specially grilled two fish and asked Xiao Xiao to bring them back. Before Huo Yuxi even reached the door, she smelled the familiar aroma and quickly jumped off the bed to open it.

"Your nose is really sharp." Xiao Xiao smiled as she took out the grilled fish and handed it to her. "Your brother specially saved this for you. He waited until you came back to grill them, so they're still hot. Hurry and eat."

Although she did not feel hungry, Huo Yuxi could not help salivating at the sight of the grilled fish. She said happily, "Thank you, Sister Xiao Xiao. One for you and one for me—just right."

She took one and started eating, intending to save the other for Xiao Xiao.

"I already ate my fill. Too much of this gets greasy, so you can eat it yourself. I'm going to take a bath." As she spoke, she stuffed the fish into Huo Yuxi's hands, then turned around to gather her things and wash up.

"Alright, then!"

Huo Yuxi sat down at her spot, and the Soul Devouring Spider crawled over to her hand. "Spider, are you really alright after eating so much?"

It had absorbed quite a bit of Soul Power while cultivating earlier, and now it was snacking too. Wouldn't it get too full?

The Soul Devouring Spider haughtily turned its head away.

"Alright, alright."

One girl and one spider split the two grilled fish evenly and finished them in no time. Just then, Xiao Xiao returned from washing up.

"Sister Xiao Xiao." Huo Yuxi smiled so brightly that her eyes curved into crescents. "Does your group have any battle plans?"

"No. Registration is in the morning tomorrow, and it won't start until the afternoon. We'll discuss it tomorrow at noon." Xiao Xiao sat by the bed and dried her hair. "Why are you suddenly asking? Didn't Teacher Zhou say we won't face anyone from our own class during the round-robin?"

"I just want to use it as a reference. I've never fought alongside a team before, so I don't really know how to coordinate with others."

"We're about the same. We've only learned from class and haven't put it into practice yet. Take it slow. You can't get fat in one bite."

"Mm."

Zhou Yi had personally submitted the registration list, so the students did not have to get up early today. Huo Yuxi slept until ten o'clock.

After arriving at the cafeteria, she got herself a meal and casually found an empty seat. Before she even began eating, she sensed someone standing beside her.

Looking up, she saw a burly boy with two girls standing beside him. All three had sharp, mean-looking faces and did not seem like people to mess with.

"You're Huo Yuxi?"

"Mm." Huo Yuxi was certain she did not know them, but her upbringing would not allow her to ignore someone speaking to her. "What do you need?"

Before the boy could answer, the two girls behind him could no longer hold back and sneered.

"Hah, she looks nine or ten at most. Is she really that impressive? I think the teacher is just being overly nervous."

"Exactly. She probably couldn't even withstand one move from us."

Huo Yuxi frowned. She did not like clashing with others, but faced with such blatant provocation, she could not help saying, "A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory."

"You!" The boy's expression turned vicious, but after thinking of something, he sneered disdainfully. "Hmph, what good is a sharp tongue? You'd better pray you don't run into us in the round-robin. Otherwise, I'll make sure you don't even make it through the round-robin."

With that, he turned and left. Huo Yuxi was left speechless. It was the first time she had encountered such an idiot; there was simply nothing to say.