The following day, early in the morning.
Lan Xi and Dugu Yan arrived at the training ground early. After their initial success yesterday, both their eyes shone with eager excitement.
In each of their palms rested a fairly stable Soul Power energy ball. Lan Xi's was a vibrant blue-gold, while Dugu Yan's was a deep, dangerous emerald green.
"Simply condensing the light isn't enough. You must learn how to use it and control its power."
Jiang Zhen's voice rang out. He had arrived at the edge of the training ground at some point and was pointing toward a tall, luxuriantly leafy tree at its edge.
"Use it as a target. Remember, don't rely on brute force alone."
At his words, the two girls turned their gazes toward the innocent tree. A trace of sympathy flashed through their eyes, but anticipation of practicing their new skills far outweighed it.
Dugu Yan struck first. With a sharp cry, she flicked her wrist, and the emerald energy ball in her palm shot out like a venomous snake leaving its lair. With a hiss, it struck the ancient tree's trunk with pinpoint accuracy!
"Pfft!"
There was no earth-shaking explosion. The instant the energy ball touched the trunk, it seeped inside like a droplet of water sinking into a sponge.
Then, a hair-raising scene unfolded. Centered on the point of impact, emerald-green poisonous ripples rapidly spread outward. The trunk's originally rough brown bark turned gray, withered, and cracked at a speed visible to the naked eye. The dense leaves instantly wilted, yellowed, and fell!
"Th-this poison is so strong!" Dugu Yan herself was startled. She had not expected the energy ball she had condensed to possess such concentrated and terrifying power.
Just then, Lan Xi also made her move.
The blue-gold energy ball in her