I Can't Breathe

The Indoor Training Field was huge. The students of Freshman Class One stood in twos and threes along the edge of the field, silently adjusting their condition.

Because aside from Ding Zhenzhu, who stood beside Ye Yingluo, every one of them had to take part in this practical combat class. From this, the overall excellence of Freshman Class One's students could also be seen.

Wei Xiaofeng was uncharacteristically silent, looking almost as if he were imitating Wang Jinxi. Only, the corner of his eye kept drifting unconsciously toward Yu Nanyuan.

Hearing Yu Nanyuan say it was one thing, but there were some things he had to see with his own eyes before he could fully accept the truth.

Zhang Yangzi, on the other hand, was much calmer. By now, almost no fluctuation in his emotions could be seen.

"Nanyuan."

Hearing Zhang Yangzi call his name, Yu Nanyuan turned his eyes over. Wang Jinxi and Wei Xiaofeng did the same, the expressions on their faces somewhat subtle.

They had cultivated and grown up with Zhang Yangzi since childhood, and they understood his personality all too well.

Although Zhang Yangzi usually looked steady, there had always been a pride in his heart. This was the first time they had seen Zhang Yangzi look so serious and solemn.

"What is it, Yangzi?" Yu Nanyuan asked with a smile.

Zhang Yangzi met Yu Nanyuan's gaze. Deep in his eyes, it was as if raging flames were burning, and even his entire aura changed somewhat.

"When I face you later, I hope you won't hold anything back. I want to know just how big the gap between you and me really is."

Wang Jinxi and Wei Xiaofeng were not surprised by Zhang Yangzi's words, while the smile on Yu Nanyuan's face slowly faded. He nodded solemnly.

"All right."

As the two spoke, Ye Yingluo had already listed the matchups for the first round on the document.

"The purpose of this class is to display your strength. In the practical combat that follows, there's no need to hold back. Just give it your all. I'll handle the limits. Let me see your true strength. First group, Yu Nanyuan versus Lei Ge. Come up and get ready."

The students of Freshman Class One had long been filled with curiosity toward Yu Nanyuan. Hearing that Yu Nanyuan would appear in the first group, they immediately perked up, and much of their earlier tension eased.

But Lei Ge, who was facing Yu Nanyuan directly on the training field, felt his pressure multiply. It was not only because of Yu Nanyuan's terrifying Soul Power Cultivation; more importantly, from Yu Nanyuan's unique surname and Martial Soul, he had vaguely guessed a few things.

His family also had a certain amount of influence. Although they could not enter the top circle on Eastsea City's side, they still knew something about Yu Zhen, the Dean of Eastsea Academy.

Once both sides had taken their positions, Ye Yingluo directly announced the start.

"Martial Soul, Possession!" Lei Ge roared, instantly releasing his Martial Soul. He knew that he was most likely no match for Yu Nanyuan. What he could do now was display his abilities as much as possible.

Lei Ge's build counted as quite sturdy among his peers. Under the effects of Martial Soul Possession, the dark muscles on his arms bulged, and some parts of the skin across his body were swiftly covered in a fine layer of white scales.

Black skin and white scales created an extremely striking contrast.

As a bright Yellow Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet, a small white horse appeared beside him out of thin air. The little white horse's height only just reached his waist, but its aura was not weak. It was a genuine Hundred-Year Soul Spirit.

The fluffy, rainbow-colored ponytail behind the little white horse swayed left and right, then transformed into a beam of white light and merged into Lei Ge's body.

Lei Ge's sturdy body swelled a few more degrees, and the white scales on his surface continued spreading outward. Using a Soul Spirit to amplify the abilities of one's Martial Soul was quite common in battles between Soul Masters in the Modern Era. Although it could not compare to Soul Spirit Integration, it could still allow a Soul Master to unleash stronger Combat Power.

"First Soul Skill, Holy Radiance." Lei Ge made an exaggerated gesture, stretching both arms out and raising his head as though supporting the sky, and the name he had given his soul skill was especially absurd. Holy Radiance was an ability exclusive to the Sacred Angel Martial Soul, capable of purifying all evil in the world.

The Yellow Soul Ring circling and pulsing around Lei Ge's body lit up in an instant. Intense white light immediately shone from the white scales on his body. A dazzling mass of white light bloomed, enveloping more than half the training field.

Even the students of Freshman Class One at the edge of the field were caught off guard by the strong light and affected by it, subconsciously narrowing their eyes.

"What Holy Radiance? Isn't this just a flashbang? He really knows how to flatter himself." Suddenly stimulated by the strong light, Wei Xiaofeng felt a stinging pain in his eyes and grumbled in annoyance.

Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi both possessed Martial Souls with the Darkness Attribute, and their Martial Soul Quality was also above Lei Ge's White Scale Horse Martial Soul, so they were barely affected by Lei Ge's First Soul Skill. They stared fixedly at the center of the training field, their gazes never shifting in the slightest from beginning to end.

A Soul Master's soul skills were indeed strange and varied. Although Lei Ge's First Soul Skill had no offensive effect, if used in a particular situation, it might truly produce a miraculous result.

Unfortunately, his opponent was Yu Nanyuan.

After spending a long time fighting Soul Beasts in the Spirit Ascension Platform, his rich practical combat experience almost made Yu Nanyuan's body react on instinct. Even if his vision was taken away, he could still perceive his surroundings by releasing Spiritual Power outward.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang—" A series of clear, rapid footsteps rang through the spacious Indoor Training Field, but in the next instant, they stopped abruptly. What replaced them was the crackling sound of twisting bones and pained groans.

The white light enveloping the center of the training field gradually dispersed, and everyone present finally saw the situation on the field clearly.

Yu Nanyuan was half-crouched, using the knee of his right leg to pin down Lei Ge's neck. He had also crossed and twisted Lei Ge's arms, pressing them tightly against his back with force.

Lei Ge's Martial Soul Possession had long since been released. His face was flushed as he gasped heavily, his voice hoarse and broken. "I... I can't... breathe."

After spending a long time fighting Soul Beasts in the Spirit Ascension Platform, Yu Nanyuan had grown used to that style of combat where a single strike killed. It was an instinctive action branded deep into his bones. However, he had still deliberately held back. If not, Lei Ge's cervical vertebrae would probably already have been crushed by his knee.

Yu Nanyuan quickly got up and released Lei Ge, apologizing. "I'm sorry. I went a little too hard."

"It's... it's fine. I lost."

Lei Ge took a few breaths, still shaken. Just now, he had truly sensed the threat of death.

The others present did not know what had happened just now. They only felt that the victor had been decided far too quickly between Yu Nanyuan and Lei Ge. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi, however, both wore grave expressions.