The Curtain Falls

If Ling Feng's pounce was nimble, then Xiao Chenyu's pounce was explosively domineering.

After obtaining a Soul Ring, his strength was simply beyond comparison to the likes of Wang Sheng. Even though Qian Bing's physical qualities had improved due to his Soul Ring's advancement, he was still slightly inferior to Xiao Chenyu.

Facing Xiao Chenyu's charge, Qian Bing could no longer remain as relaxed as he had been against Ling Feng. Having a Soul Ring and not having one were absolutely two different concepts.

The moment Xiao Chenyu lunged forward, the Soul Power radiating from his body had already enveloped an area of three square meters around Qian Bing. This was a charge of absolute strength, with no technique whatsoever—it was all about a head-on clash.

A head-on clash? Then bring it on.

Although close-quarters physical combat was not Qian Bing's forte, he now wanted to see what effect he could achieve by fully using the Soul-endowed Skill Quick Attack with his physical constitution.

Qian Bing silently activated the method for Quick Attack. The Soul Power within his body instantly split into more than a dozen streams and spread in every direction.

The two largest streams flowed down into his feet, while the other dozen or so spread across his face, limbs, torso, and even the tiny joints of his fingers, covering his entire body with a thin protective membrane of Soul Power.

That was right—when used in reality, Quick Attack could not only greatly increase Qian Bing's speed, but also provide him with a layer of protection based on the intensity of his Soul Power. It had unexpectedly become a powerful skill that combined offense and defense.

Both sides had finished gathering their strength. Xiao Chenyu's Wolf Claw came directly at Qian Bing as he resolved to capture the leader first.

He knew he had no way of contending with the Pidgeotto in the sky, but if he could quickly take down Qian Bing, there might still be a sliver of hope for victory.

Anticipation also appeared on the faces of Xiao Chenyu's underlings.

So what if he had a Hundred-Year Soul Ring? If Boss Xiao gave that brat a Black Tiger Steals Heart before that huge bird in the sky swooped down, heh, then his fate would be...

One had to know that after using Spirit Avatar, Boss Xiao could easily crush rocks with the strength of his claws.

Xiao Chenyu was hesitating over whether to use his claw strength to injure Qian Bing.

With an ordinary Soul Master's body, even a strike to the arm or thigh would be hard to bear, let alone a claw to the vital area of the chest. It could practically make the injured person lose their combat ability immediately.

But if he did that, would the people behind this brat...

However, before Xiao Chenyu could make up his mind, Qian Bing on the other side transformed into a black shadow and slammed toward him.

Xiao Chenyu's pounce was fast, but Qian Bing's Quick Attack was more than ten times faster.

In the blink of an eye, Qian Bing first twisted aside to avoid Xiao Chenyu's Wolf Claw. The next instant, their bodies crashed heavily into each other.

With a muffled bang, followed by heavy, staggering footsteps.

Xiao Chenyu rapidly stumbled backward. Only after crashing into the crowd of senior students behind him and being steadied by someone supporting his back did he regain his footing.

After all, he was already a Soul Master who had obtained a Soul Ring. Though he looked quite disheveled, he was in far better condition than Liu Long and the others had been.

Seeing their boss beaten into such a state in a single exchange, Xiao Chenyu's underlings looked at Qian Bing with completely changed expressions.

Xiao Chenyu himself was even more terrified.

He had originally thought that since Qian Bing's Spirit could summon such a powerful Soul Beast to fight for him, it could not offer much enhancement in other areas.

Furthermore, a Tool Spirit's enhancement to physical qualities was far weaker than that of a Beast Spirit. That was why he had confidently taken Qian Bing's blow.

Yet after that single collision, Xiao Chenyu felt pain and numbness across half his body. He immediately realized that Qian Bing's physical constitution was not weak at all.

Th-this brat was still human?

A special Spirit, a Hundred-Year Soul Ring, powerful soul skills, and impressive physical qualities—Xiao Chenyu would never believe, even if beaten to death, that such a genius first-year student was not the descendant of a great clan.

Qian Bing slightly furrowed his brow as well. He howled in pain inwardly, gritting his teeth to keep from crying out and barely maintaining his detached image.

Fortunately, Xiao Chenyu did not seize the chance to press his attack. Qian Bing secretly took a few breaths, and after a while, he finally recovered.

Damn it, my elbows, my kneecaps, my lumbar discs—they all hurt like hell! Quick Attack really is damaging the enemy for a thousand while hurting myself for eight hundred. In the future, I'd better let it focus on the grand cause of running away.

After muttering a few imaginary complaints to himself and feeling the pain lessen, Qian Bing raised his hand. With an unpleasant expression, he said coldly, "Pidgeotto, Gust. Take care of them."

Above the field, blue-white currents of air instantly rose. Before Gust had fully formed, the omen of its gathering already carried a deterrent force beyond a Soul Master's level.

The howling gale bent some of the small trees on the mountain and blew so fiercely that Xiao Chenyu's group could barely keep their eyes open.

Beneath Pidgeotto's wings, two streams of air converged into a massive X-shaped wind blade. Xiao Chenyu was terrified beyond measure and shouted, "Stop! Stop! I surrender!"

But by the time Xiao Chenyu spoke, Gust in the sky had already taken shape. He could only watch as the wind blade grew larger and larger in his pupils, until it nearly filled his entire vision.

"No! Awooo~"

A long wolf howl suddenly burst from Xiao Chenyu's mouth, and the green light around his body flared to its peak. He stepped forward and heavily struck out two streaks of green light at the descending wind blade.

"Ah!"

"Boss!"

Amid the chaotic cries of alarm, Gust finally came roaring down. At the sight of the terrifying wind blade before him, all color drained from Xiao Chenyu's face.

He knew he could not possibly block it. He could even imagine the tragedy about to unfold, with himself and his classmates behind him cut in half at the waist.

Why had an ordinary spar developed into this?

He had only bullied a Work-Study Student. Could people from great clans really treat human lives so carelessly over something like that?

No! I refuse to accept this!

As Xiao Chenyu raged in despair, the two streaks of green light he had struck out finally collided with the wind blade. They held against each other for barely a second or two before the green light was ground away by Pidgeotto's Violent Gale.

The wind blade had only been dissipated by about a tenth, and its remaining force continued slashing toward Xiao Chenyu.

Amid the cries of alarm and overwhelming fear of the airflow blade above them, most of the upperclassmen instinctively shut their eyes.

Whoosh! Whooosh~

They felt a violent gale sweep over their heads, tugging at their hair so fiercely it nearly tore it from their scalps.

Boom! Boom boom!

Several loud crashes suddenly rang out behind them. Xiao Chenyu opened his eyes in surprise and discovered that the wind blade had not struck him.

Could it have landed on...

He hurriedly turned around. Whew, good thing—his companions behind him were unharmed too.

At that moment, he heard a rustling sound accompanied by the tearing of branches. Following the noise farther behind him, he discovered that the crowns of four or five large trees in the woods had been cleanly sliced off at a slant, as though cut by an enormous blade.

Those thunderous crashes had been the severed treetops striking the ground. At that moment, the last large tree was slowly toppling forward from above its midpoint!

That Gust... was simply terrifying!

Xiao Chenyu suddenly felt immensely fortunate that he was still standing here unharmed.