Swift Sword

The Flame Demon King, controlled by the two girls, could in fact only unleash a single attack.

But that one attack could destroy the entire arena where Xue Xiao Ran stood.

Xue Xiao Ran watched the two girls as they gathered their breath and exerted themselves, his expression unchanged.

His ring flashed, and a sword appeared in his hand.

Although Xue Xiao Ran had not inherited his father Xue Lei Han's Blue Rose Sword, that did not mean he had not learned his father's swordsmanship.

In fact, the first thing he learned after he was born was swordsmanship.

The sword gleamed like a pool of autumn water. The materials used to forge it were clearly priceless. It was merely one of the many swords in Xue Xiao Ran's ring.

When he went to the Carefree Sword Sect, he had placed several swords in his ring. If he encountered a situation his Extreme Poison could not handle, he could still use a sword.

But a sword was not a Martial Soul. It was ultimately a consumable.

So Xue Xiao Ran's current actions could be described as burning money.

"You actually want to clash with the Flame Demon King's giant blade? You've got guts."

Yan Yuyan gave a delicate shout as she and the long-haired girl swung both hands downward with force.

The blazing Flame Demon King drew out its giant blade, then, guided by the two girls' Soul Power, viciously slashed forward.

Xue Xiao Ran remained where he was, his eyes slightly narrowed as he watched the giant blade descend.

"Junior Brother!" Nana Senior Sister could not help crying out.

Just as everyone thought Xue Xiao Ran was about to close his eyes and await death, he moved.

Only his hand moved.

The two soul rings behind him instantly shone brilliantly. He had clearly used all his Soul Power, channeling it into his hand.

Xue Xiao Ran saw clearly that this giant blade could cleave the entire arena into fragments. If the teachers did not stop it, even the two girls themselves would be sent flying by the shockwave.

Though he might not necessarily lose, winning like that would be far too embarrassing.

Xue Xiao Ran held the sword in his right hand, which instantly turned into an afterimage.

No one present, including the teachers, could catch the movement of his right hand.

They all wondered whether Xue Xiao Ran's right hand had vanished.

But the flickering white sword light told everyone that Xue Xiao Ran was rapidly thrusting out attacks at a speed too fast for the naked eye to see.

Swift Sword.

As the name implied, it was a sword technique that relied on speed for its advantage, hence the name Swift Sword.

It had originally been something his father, Xue Lei Han, comprehended on his own when bored. But Xue Xiao Ran had watched him and learned that absentminded action himself.

The Swift Sword Xue Xiao Ran now unleashed converged at a single point and crashed fiercely into the giant blade.

He suddenly felt as if he had been plunged into magma, the heat wave swallowing him in an instant.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion rang out. Chunks of stone shot into the air, completely obscuring everyone's vision.

Yan Yuyan and the long-haired girl sighed in relief. The two collapsed onto the ground, while Yan Yuyan was drenched in fragrant sweat. After using a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, their Soul Power would be nearly depleted.

In their eyes, Xue Xiao Ran had most likely been knocked off the arena by the heat wave.

They shifted their gazes toward the referee teacher nearby. The teacher had not declared the match over, instead staring into the billowing smoke with a strange look in his eyes.

"I really do hate fire."

Xue Xiao Ran's current appearance was miserable. His school uniform had nearly been burned away, exposing his lean, powerful body. His ice-blue hair was a mess, and blood continuously dripped from his hands, the blood scalding hot.

Even so, his voice remained calm and devoid of any emotion as his eyes stared straight at the two girls collapsed on the ground.

"This kid actually cut apart the Martial Soul Fusion Skill?" Jing Hong Chen pushed up his glasses, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes. Every one of Xue Xiao Ran's sword strikes had fallen within his sight. Xue Xiao Ran had clearly drawn his sword at high speed, concentrating his moves at a single point and striking the Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

To put it another way, that Martial Soul Fusion Skill had been like an egg, while Xue Xiao Ran had poked a hole in it, causing the egg white and yolk to spill out.

He adjusted his glasses and nodded. As expected of the Carefree Sword Sect. The sharpness of this swordsmanship is truly eye-opening.

Xue Xiao Ran shook his hands and tossed the hilt aside. The blade had been completely ruined by the flames of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill and his rapid sword strikes.

"Do you still want to continue?"

Xue Xiao Ran looked unsteady on his feet, his body battered and ragged, but the pride displayed in those Jade Eyes at that moment was one of lofty condescension.

Even an idiot could understand what he meant.

Their Martial Soul Fusion Skill was too weak.

"Impossible..."

Yan Yuyan was clearly stunned. How could he have broken her Martial Soul Fusion Skill?

"This is reality."

Xue Xiao Ran wanted to put his hands into his pockets, only to discover that his school uniform had been burned beyond recognition. After a slight pause, he smiled blandly.

A yellow and a purple soul ring floated behind him, while his Jade Eyes stared at the two girls collapsed on the ground like those of a venomous snake.

"We... admit defeat."

Yan Yuyan let out a long breath and looked deeply at Xue Xiao Ran, as though she wanted to carve his features into her heart. Then she lay on the ground and fell unconscious.

"X-Xue Xiao Ran wins!" the referee teacher shouted, sweeping his large hand downward.

Applause completely drowned out Xue Xiao Ran.

Xue Xiao Ran smiled and clasped his hands toward the Teacher's Podium as if nothing had happened. His meaning was obvious.

I have not failed your expectations.

Gu Tian Yuan's entire face blossomed like a chrysanthemum, traces of brilliance flashing in his narrowed eyes.

He had not expected this kid to break even a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. What a monstrous genius.

Jing Hong Chen nodded and took a deep breath, deciding on how he would treat Xue Xiao Ran from now on: cooperate whenever possible, and do not offend him.

Though the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy had the Sun Moon Empire behind it, they still could not afford to offend the Carefree Sword Sect.

There were no fewer than five Titled Douluo belonging to the Carefree Sword Sect alone. Furthermore, many Sword Martial Soul masters who came seeking its fame lived in Sword City year-round. Even the Sun Moon Empire could not chew through such a hard bone.

"You all did very well. The closing ceremony of the competition will be held tomorrow. The prizes and the list of key candidates for cultivation will also be announced tomorrow. Dismissed!"

After speaking briefly, Jing Hong Chen revealed a faint smile and left his seat.

Several teachers seated beside him also departed, followed by Gu Tian Yuan, who left with a smile on his face.

Xue Xiao Ran's body swayed. Knowing it was the result of exhausted Soul Power, he respectfully nodded to the referee teacher before dragging himself toward the Infirmary.

At that moment, someone lifted one of his arms and draped it around their neck.

Xue Xiao Ran turned his head and saw a head of silver hair.

Xiao Hong Chen's expression was still somewhat awkward, but he said nothing as he took part of Xue Xiao Ran's weight onto himself.

Meng Hong Chen giggled and took Xue Xiao Ran's other arm. The tenderness in her expression made Xiao Hong Chen feel another wave of displeasure toward Xue Xiao Ran.

"Thank you." Xue Xiao Ran was like this—when he should express gratitude, he did so directly.

"Hehe, no need to thank me." Light rippled in Meng Hong Chen's eyes, and the fragrance of the young girl's body made Xue Xiao Ran silently mutter, What a sin.

Father-in-law, she was the one who came close to me. It wasn't something I wanted! Listen to my explanation!