Soul Tool's First Battle

Early that morning, the Second Year's exam area continued with the round of twenty-five advancing to thirteen.

Everyone was looking forward to Liu Xinghan's match today.

With his weakness exposed, would he go from a war god who defeated opponents in a single blow to a weakling at the mercy of his enemies?

Just as everyone waited in anticipation, the drawing results were announced.

Twenty-five people were divided into twelve groups of two, making twenty-four people. The remaining person would receive a bye and advance directly to the next round.

To everyone's astonishment, the person who drew the bye was Liu Xinghan...

In an instant, the Battle Arena fell deathly silent.

Seeing the result, Liu Xinghan rubbed his nose, equally surprised. He had not expected to advance while lying down like this. His luck was simply too good.

This outcome made quite a few people who had been waiting to see Liu Xinghan embarrass himself grit their teeth in frustration.

The goddess of fortune could never favor only one person forever.

In the round of thirteen advancing to seven, Liu Xinghan drew number three. His opponent was named Yuan Gang. According to Zhou Yong, this person was a student from the Second Year's Elite Class. His Martial Soul was the Lightning Leopard, and his strength was exceptionally formidable. He had once fought a Three-Ring Spirit Elder to a draw.

Although that Three-Ring Spirit Elder's Martial Soul had not been particularly powerful and did not possess the optimal two-yellow, one-purple Spirit Ring configuration, being able to fight above his level was enough to demonstrate Yuan Gang's strength.

When it was time for number three, the two stepped onto the Battle Stage.

Yuan Gang was a rugged youth with thick eyebrows. There was a hint of disdain in his gaze as he looked at Liu Xinghan. "Kid, meeting me means you're out of luck!"

"Is that so?" Liu Xinghan smiled indifferently.

Seeing this, Yuan Gang glared and said, "Arrogant brat. I'll let you see my strength in a moment."

He was the youth from the Elite Class who had declared that he would beat Liu Xinghan flat on the ground.

After learning of Liu Xinghan's Martial Soul weakness, he had become even more confident, believing that dealing with him would be a trivial matter.

"Martial Soul Possession!"

Yuan Gang shouted, and his Lightning Leopard Martial Soul instantly possessed him.

He grew a foot taller, sharp blades sprang from his fingertips, and two yellow Spirit Rings rose beneath his feet.

Yet Liu Xinghan did not move. He was in no hurry to summon his Martial Soul.

The Lightning Leopard Martial Soul was a first-rate Assault Type Beast Martial Soul. Although its attack power was not among the best of Assault Type Martial Souls, it possessed agile speed that ordinary Assault Type Martial Souls lacked. It was equivalent to a combination of the Assault Type and Agility Attack Type, relatively balanced in both strength and speed.

Knowing his own weakness, Yuan Gang certainly would not foolishly rush over to clash with him head-on.

There was no need to summon his Martial Soul right away. Doing so would only waste Soul Power.

"Why haven't you summoned your Martial Soul yet?" Yuan Gang loudly demanded when Liu Xinghan remained motionless.

Liu Xinghan crooked a finger at him and smiled. "Come over. I'll summon it once you come over."

"Hmph!"

Yuan Gang moved, closing in on Liu Xinghan.

The latter immediately raised his right hand, pretending that he was about to summon his Martial Soul. Yuan Gang instantly retreated. Only when the Martial Soul failed to appear did he realize Liu Xinghan had tricked him. His face flushed red with anger.

"Fine. Since you won't summon your Martial Soul, I'll help you summon it."

Enraged, Yuan Gang's First Spirit Ring lit up.

First Spirit Skill, Lightning Claw.

Lightning coiled around the sharp blades on his fingertips. As he slashed with his claw, dense bolts of lightning spread out like a vast net, blanketing Liu Xinghan.

Here it comes!

Liu Xinghan's gaze sharpened, and his expression turned serious.

He still had no intention of summoning his Martial Soul. He was preparing to use a Soul Tool!

As someone about to become the Pope's Disciple, he no longer needed to have so many reservations.

A flash of light appeared, and a Rank 2 Soul Tool stored within his Storage Ring appeared in his hand.

It was a Giant Sword, 1.3 meters long. Its blade was one meter long, its hilt thirty centimeters long, and the blade was as wide as an adult's palm and a finger thick. It was entirely silver, with flame-like patterns engraved along its body.

Rank 2 Soul Tool, the Sword of Blazing Fire!

This Soul Tool was a Rank 2 Soul Tool Liu Xinghan had created seven days ago using all the Soul Tool knowledge he had mastered. It was considered a top-tier work among Rank 2 Soul Tools.

The examination rules did not forbid the use of weapons, so Liu Xinghan took it out directly.

"Trivial Skill, taste my sword!"

Soul Power flowed from his palm into the hilt. The Rune Array covering the sword's body was activated by Soul Power, instantly erupting with intense fire-attribute energy.

This was the Sword of Blazing Fire.

Once driven by Soul Power, the Giant Sword itself would possess powerful fire-attribute attacks.

With one downward slash, the dense lightning was instantly split apart. Its momentum weakened, and the surrounding lightning was consumed by the flames on the Giant Sword.

Yuan Gang was dumbfounded.

It was not just him. Many people present were stunned by this unexpected scene.

Countless gazes fell upon the Sword of Blazing Fire that had suddenly appeared in Liu Xinghan's hand.

Flames blazed fiercely across the Sword of Blazing Fire, radiating intense Soul Power fluctuations.

"A Martial Soul?"

Someone's voice rang out, seemingly reminding the crowd and triggering an uproar.

On Douluo Continent, only Tool Martial Souls emitted Soul Power fluctuations. Weapons made of ordinary metal could not conduct Soul Power.

Didn't that mean Liu Xinghan had two Martial Souls? Twin Martial Souls?

Innate Full Soul Power was rare, but people had seen it before. Twin Martial Souls, however, were something no one had ever seen, something that truly existed only in legend.

Although Spirit Hall's Pope, Bibi Dong, possessed Twin Martial Souls, how many people knew that?

"No!"

Upon hearing the crowd cry out about Twin Martial Souls, several academy higher-ups who had remained hidden and observed from the shadows fixed their eyes on the Sword of Blazing Fire and noticed something wrong.

Their knowledge was not comparable to that of these Two-Ring Great Spirit Master students.

Having conducted extensive research into Martial Souls, they knew that while the Sword of Blazing Fire possessed the Soul Power fluctuations unique to Martial Souls, careful sensing would reveal that it lacked something!

Martial Soul fluctuations!

The Sword of Blazing Fire had not the slightest Martial Soul fluctuation!

That was enough to prove that it was not a Martial Soul.

Then what was it?

As they pondered this, Liu Xinghan took the initiative to attack on the Battle Stage.

Holding the Sword of Blazing Fire, he charged at Yuan Gang.

With one stomp against the ground, Liu Xinghan burst forth at a speed that shocked many people.

Whoosh!

Liu Xinghan swung his sword. Soul Power flowed into the hilt, activating the Rune Array within it. A Flame Slash immediately flew through the air toward Yuan Gang.

Yuan Gang's expression changed, and he hurriedly leaped aside.

The slash was extremely fast. When it struck the ground beside him, it exploded violently. The instantly unleashed power even sent Yuan Gang flying.

After rolling across the ground, Yuan Gang scrambled to his feet in a sorry state. Before he could catch his breath, a sword shadow rapidly enlarged before his eyes.

"Not good!"

Yuan Gang's expression changed drastically, and his Second Spirit Ring immediately lit up.

Second Spirit Skill, Thunder Bodyguard.

Flickering lightning gathered before Yuan Gang. The next second, Liu Xinghan swung the Sword of Blazing Fire and viciously chopped into the lightning gathered before him.

Bang!

With an explosive crash, the lightning instantly scattered. Liu Xinghan immediately withdrew his sword; otherwise, that strike could have cleaved Yuan Gang to death. He then kicked Yuan Gang in the chest, sending him flying and smashing heavily beneath the Battle Stage!