Battle Again

"How did he make his move?"

"I don't know. I didn't even see the attack."

"But he did release his martial soul."

The students in the stands discussed it animatedly, most of them shocked. None had expected this freshman from Class A to win in a one-against-three fight.

Gu Tian Yuan smiled in satisfaction. As he watched Xue Xiao Ran make his way back into the stands step by step, the more he looked at him, the more pleasing he found him.

He had indeed won beautifully and decisively.

Xue Xiao Ran returned to Class A and respectfully nodded to Gu Tian Yuan, signaling that he had completed his task.

Then he glanced at Xiao Hong Chen, clearly meaning that it was his turn next.

Xiao Hong Chen's face darkened beyond measure, and he glared right back at Xue Xiao Ran without backing down.

Beside him, Meng Hong Chen's eyes sparkled with little hearts, and her gaze made Xue Xiao Ran's skin crawl.

He then returned to his original seat, closed his eyes, and began regulating his breathing.

With the Agility System soul skill's support, he had reacted in time just now. He could originally have deflected the attacker's strike, then kicked the Agility System Soul Master in the chest, making her foam at the mouth and lose her ability to fight.

But the problem was that there had been two opponents.

Without wanting to expose too many of his trump cards, Xue Xiao Ran could only stall for time and wait until his poison entered the enemy's bodies before detonating it again.

The Tang Sect's hidden weapons could not be used, nor could Extreme Ice. Other than that, the skills Xue Xiao Ran could use were limited.

The knowledge he had learned in the God Realm was collectively called miscellaneous studies, yet he had graduated perfectly in every subject.

However, his next opponents probably would not be as easy to handle as those three. Xue Xiao Ran looked at the members of the neighboring class whispering among themselves and nodded inwardly. It seemed time to take some medicine and use a Stimulant.

"Class A's Xue Xiao Ran versus Class B's Starlight Team!"

Xue Xiao Ran opened his eyes and yawned, then slowly walked down from the stands step by step under everyone's watchful eyes.

This was his second battle of the day, and also his last. The matches could not possibly be finished in a single day; the rest would have to wait until tomorrow.

However, after one round of elimination, the number of contestants had indeed dropped considerably. Everyone from Class A had survived. Aside from good luck, it was also because of their formidable strength and powerful Soul Tools.

"He's got character. I like him." Gu Tian Yuan chuckled, seemingly lost in thought.

When the three members of Class B's Starlight Team saw Xue Xiao Ran stroll into the arena at such an unhurried pace, they began to grow impatient.

Xue Xiao Ran fixed his gaze on the last Support System Soul Master. The girl held a Soul Tool in her hand.

With his sharp eyesight, Xue Xiao Ran instantly recognized it as a Second-rank Offensive Soul Tool. Its function was to fire Soul Rays forward as attacks, much like a long-range soul skill.

The burly youth at the head of the group frowned when he saw Xue Xiao Ran's carefree pose with both hands in his pockets. Would this guy die if he didn't act so smug?

"My name is Zhang Sheng. Remember the name of the one who defeats you."

The youth named Zhang Sheng crossed his arms and snorted.

"Sorry, I generally don't remember the names of small fry like you," Xue Xiao Ran said with complete sincerity.

He truly meant it. In the entire academy, there did not seem to be more than ten people whose names he could recall.

Zhang Sheng's face turned from green to black, fury blazing in his eyes. From the looks of it, he was preparing to glare Xue Xiao Ran to death.

The youth beside him sighed helplessly, patted Zhang Sheng, and signaled for him to calm down.

"Are you ready?" the referee teacher beside them asked.

"Ready." Xue Xiao Ran nodded, and one yellow and one purple soul ring appeared at either side of his body.

"So are we," the three led by Zhang Sheng replied.

They released their martial souls at the same time. As expected of Class B students, all three possessed two yellow century-old soul rings.

"Begin!" the referee teacher roared as he retreated, leaving the arena to the four of them.

"Shadow Tiger!" Zhang Sheng shouted. Tiger claws extended from his palms, glinting with a cold light.

At the same time, vines emerged from the ground. This was clearly not a forest, so their numbers were noticeably limited, but they were still enough to serve as an interference.

It seemed they still did not know what martial soul Xue Xiao Ran possessed. After all, almost none of the freshmen who had watched Xue Xiao Ran's battle that day and heard about his martial soul remained. In their eyes, perhaps Nana Senior Sister had simply gone easy on him.

Thus, aside from the teachers, no one yet knew what martial soul Xue Xiao Ran possessed.

There was no light or shadow, no special effects. It was neither a soul beast nor a plant. It was like an invisible wind passing by, yet people had already collapsed unconscious.

Seeing that they intended to drag things out and entangle him in battle, Xue Xiao Ran could not help yawning. No matter how long it took, the outcome would be the same.

A trace of purple flashed through his Jade Eyes. He evaded the Soul Ray and the vines' binding attacks, then shifted slightly to dodge another Soul Ray.

The rays from a Rank 2 Soul Tool were still too slow.

Seeing Zhang Sheng charge at him with an ugly expression, he suddenly felt like having some fun.

"Whoosh!" Xue Xiao Ran ducked, avoiding the enraged blow that could have knocked him unconscious, while extending both hands and rapidly driving a punch into Zhang Sheng's chest.

"Pfft."

Zhang Sheng staggered back a step, his face grim. His opponent was obviously not an Assault System Soul Master. If he were, that blow just now would definitely have sent him tumbling backward.

Yet despite not being an Assault System Soul Master, he had still struck Zhang Sheng and made his chest tighten. That showed just how terrifying the force behind that punch had been.

Xue Xiao Ran flashed aside, circled to Zhang Sheng's flank, and kicked at his lower body.

He had originally aimed for Zhang Sheng's crotch. Uncle Osler had called that move the Widowmaker Kick when teaching him, but Xue Xiao Ran thought it was too vicious, so he kicked at the lower body instead.

Zhang Sheng's body swayed, his expression turning ugly. He felt as if he had been humiliated. Blood gradually welled up in his tiger eyes, and the yellow soul ring behind him flashed faintly.

Berserk Transformation could increase his attack and defense by ten percent for a short time.

Xue Xiao Ran dodged the Soul Ray from behind him, stomped a vine into the ground, and crushed it beneath his foot. A carefree smile appeared on his face.

Zhang Sheng's huge fist had already flown before his eyes, accompanied by a heavy sense of pressure.

Xue Xiao Ran's body twisted strangely. He kicked off the ground and sprang high into the air. At the same time, a First-rank Soul Tool appeared in his hand—the First-rank Offensive Soul Tool he had personally crafted.

Bang!

"Roar!" Zhang Sheng roared in pain, feeling as though a thick steel needle had pierced straight into his back. The pain was unbearable, and sweat poured down his body.

"You stupid tiger, you can lie down now." Xue Xiao Ran flipped backward and landed on Zhang Sheng's back, while the Paralysis Poison lurking within Zhang Sheng's body erupted with full force.

Zhang Sheng stared in disbelief before crashing to the ground with a bang under the gazes of his two teammates.

"You actually wanted to fight me at close range. You've got guts."

Xue Xiao Ran sighed as if he found it somewhat boring. He pointed the First-rank Soul Tool at the remaining two. "Do you still want to continue?"

"We... surrender..." The two looked ashen. They exchanged a glance and gave bitter smiles. Even Zhang Sheng, who had the highest Soul Power in the arena, was no match for Xue Xiao Ran. The two of them had no need to throw themselves away.

He had successfully drawn their attention.

Xue Xiao Ran respectfully nodded to the referee beside him, sensing several scorching gazes cast down from the Teacher's Podium.

Next, they would definitely go crazy trying to recruit me.

If they succeeded, then at the very least, he would not lack cultivation resources or Soul Tool materials for some time.