Embrace of Myriad Spirits

As for the matches at the Great Soul Arena, Lin Li did not register, and even Ling Xuan, who had proposed the idea, did not go.

Lin Li simply did not want to expose herself at such a young age. Although Tang Hao appeared to be hiding away in Sacred Soul Village, he still had a firm grasp on the situation across the continent.

She did not believe he had done no investigation at all. Even the Spirit Hall token, she had chosen to update only three months later rather than immediately.

As for Ling Xuan, after he discussed the matter with Ye Lian and experienced the ultimate pampering of an Aunt, he decisively chose not to go.

It was not until the end of the month that the first practical combat session of the semester officially began.

Ye Lian did not seek out any more Soul Masters from the Battle Arena for Lin Li, because in every previous practical battle, Lin Li's Second Spirit Ability had been an almost unsolvable ability.

The feathers of Phoenix Feather Repentance of the Sacred ignored any defense below three major stages above it, meaning Ye Lian was nearly invincible against opponents of the same level, and could even fight those a rank higher.

But when she thought of Ling Xuan's newly acquired Spirit Ability, Ye Lian curled her lips into a light smile. Ling Xuan's Second Spirit Ability happened to be that ability, so a battle between the two would naturally be far more interesting.

Ye Lian swept her gaze across the group below the arena and said calmly, "You have gone to the Battle Arena three times this month, and even written reflections three times. I believe your practical combat skills have improved as well. This time, we will properly test your abilities."

Everyone below was brimming with fighting spirit and eager to give it a try. Even anticipation appeared in the eyes of the usually aloof Lin Li.

There was no other reason. After watching those three visits to the Battle Arena, seeing all kinds of fighting styles and witnessing many techniques and tactics, she had made several adjustments to her own tactics. This was the perfect chance to refine and correct them further.

Ye Lian slowly walked down from the arena, her voice carrying a hint of laziness and ease. "First group, Rou'er and Zhou Yurou. Let me see what you have learned recently."

The moment Zhou Yurou heard her own name, her face fell. She liked watching the excitement, but she did not want to fight herself!

Still, against an Agile Attack Battle Spirit Master, she had nothing to fear!

After gesturing to Lin Li as if to say, Watch my performance, she slowly walked toward the arena.

A figure was already standing on the arena. At that moment, Lin Li noticed that Rou'er's appearance had become somewhat colder and sharper, perhaps influenced by her Swift Shadow Cat King martial soul. Even so, her temperament remained gentle.

Standing on the arena, Zhou Yurou spread her hands, and a blooming lotus flower slowly appeared. A breeze stirred, carrying a faint fragrance that touched the heart.

A Spirit Ring slowly rose around her.

Meanwhile, Rou'er had already released her martial soul. The instant Zhou Yurou stepped onto the arena, Rou'er had already assumed an attacking stance.

First Spirit Ability, Cat Shadow Void Shatter Strike!

The First Spirit Ring flashed instantly. Rou'er's figure blurred abruptly before she charged straight at Zhou Yurou.

Zhou Yurou narrowed her eyes and said lightly, "Not fast enough."

First Spirit Ability, Gentle Breeze Brushing the Face!

The lotus instantly began to move without wind. Powerful Wind Element surged around her, and the gentle breeze swept past, carrying the flower's fragrance straight toward Rou'er as she charged in.

In an instant, the fragrance entered Rou'er's nose and mouth. Just before her claws could touch the corner of Zhou Yurou's clothes, she fell under the lotus's control.

Lin Li was not surprised by this. Zhou Yurou was close to her, so naturally, she would return the favor.

Every day, Lin Li used medicinal herbs to prepare Zhou Yurou's drinking water, nourishing her Soul Power and Spiritual Power. Although Spiritual Power improved extremely slowly through external means, like dripping water wearing away stone—

Was that not still a form of tempering? At the same time, the two often sparred in private and pointed out each other's flaws.

Thus, Zhou Yurou's mastery over her First Spirit Ability had long surpassed what it had been when she first acquired it.

At this moment, the power of her Gentle Breeze Brushing the Face was equal to the illusion created back then when it resonated with her Clear Ripples Lotus.

As Rou'er was controlled, Zhou Yurou narrowed her eyes and, without a moment's hesitation, directly threw her off the arena.

Rou'er, now beneath the arena, suddenly regained her senses, only to realize that she had already lost. She let out a quiet sigh.

Ye Lian gave an approving look and said, "A very good match. The Agile Attack Battle Spirit Master understood the need to strike quickly, while the Control System Spirit Master remained composed and reacted decisively. Clearly, you have gained a great deal from these past few days at the Battle Arena."

But what she truly wanted to see was the duel between the person she had been looking forward to watching and Ling Xuan.

The moment Zhou Yurou came down, she hugged Lin Li's arm with an expression that plainly begged for praise.

Lin Li gave her an approving nod, then heard Ye Lian say slowly, "Second match, Lin Li versus Ling Xuan."

Upon hearing his name, Ling Xuan immediately walked onto the arena, and his martial soul appeared at once.

Unlike the small, delicate tree that had once rested in his palm, the Demon Soul Spirit Tree now slowly grew behind him, standing only an inch shorter than he was.

Yet the densely packed eyes along its branches and leaves, along with the soul-hooking voices that echoed from it, all displayed the strength of this demonic tree.

Two yellow Spirit Rings slowly descended from the air. With each ring that fell, the Demon Soul Spirit Tree's presence grew more imposing.

Lin Li stared deeply at the Demon Soul Spirit Tree's Second Spirit Ring. From the aura she sensed, this Spirit Ring was undoubtedly from a top-tier plant-type spirit beast.

She wondered which was more troublesome, this Spirit Ring or the First Spirit Ring.

Lin Li directly released her martial soul. A pair of wings as black as ink slowly unfurled, and conflicting waves of scorching heat and chilling cold instantly spread across the arena.

Overbearing, violent!

The same two yellow Spirit Rings descended, but unlike the Demon Soul Spirit Tree's oppressive presence, Lin Li's rings brought the Blood Fiend Demonic Phoenix a sense of serenity and comfort.

Rather than standing on the arena, Lin Li rose into the air five meters above it.

If a flying-type Soul Master did not seize advantageous terrain and instead set foot on the ground, that was simply foolish! It was a lesson she had learned at the Great Soul Arena.

The moment Ling Xuan saw Lin Li move, the Demon Soul Spirit Tree behind him began to stir.

Roots embedded in the earth stabbed viciously toward Lin Li, their momentum like a soaring dragon.

A trace of surprise flashed through Lin Li's eyes. Her fingertips shifted slightly, and the Blood Fiend Demonic Phoenix gave a cry.

In an instant, pitch-black flames swept wildly over the roots. Within moments, they turned to ash.

Second Spirit Ability, Embrace of Myriad Spirits!

First Spirit Ability, Myriad Demon Entrapment!

The Demon Soul Spirit Tree's two Spirit Rings instantly erupted with brilliant, powerful light. The tree, which had just been shorter than Ling Xuan, suddenly grew to the height of a person.

Several demonic eyes on the tree abruptly opened and swept toward Lin Li, as though determined to drag her into endless darkness.

Lin Li roughly understood his Second Spirit Ability. It was a strengthening ability, but its enhancement was truly ruthless. The few eyes he had originally been able to control had now become dozens.

It was difficult to imagine how many eyes Ling Xuan would be able to use to unleash his First Spirit Ability once he reached the Titled rank.

The instant he used his Spirit Abilities, Lin Li had already activated her First and Second Spirit Abilities!