Pushing Xiao Xiao to Her Limits

"Buzz—"

Black ripples splashed across the bodies of the three cauldrons, seemingly about to converge above Chen Junting's head!

On the other side, Wu Yan had already charged into the sky!

With the advantage of his Wind Chime Bird Martial Soul and his Second Soul Skill, he seized control of the airspace and dove toward Gao Ming in the rear at top speed! Clearly, he intended to eliminate the Auxiliary Soul Master.

However...

"First Soul Skill, Light of Speed blooms."

"Second Soul Skill, Light of Attack blooms."

The Ruyi Plate spun before Gao Ming.

Under the gleam of two yellow Soul Rings, two streaks of light instantly plunged into a black shadow! Qin Lan's speed surged in an instant. With the effect of his First Soul Skill, his entire body transformed into an afterimage and shot toward Wu Yan, leaping high into the air!

Ethereal Hundred Rends activated, and a hundred claw strikes tore through the air.

When Qin Lan moved, Wu Yan, already on guard, immediately tensed his nerves to the limit. As his wings beat, he tried to escape the range of Ethereal Hundred Rends' attack. At the same time, he swiftly turned and launched an attack, slashing toward Qin Lan's back!

But the fierce wind blades struck nothing.

They passed straight through Qin Lan's body, missing completely.

"Not good!"

By the time Wu Yan realized what was happening, he was already too late to react.

A black shadow appeared directly beneath him, and the distance of its leap was enough to reach Wu Yan.

Claws sprang out, and a dense barrage of attacks landed on Wu Yan's back in an instant, leaving a mass of wounds across his body.

On the other side, Xiao Xiao and Xu Yue were having no easier time.

Chen Junting thrust out his sword, striking directly against the Great Cauldron held by Xu Yue. Seeing the opening at his side, he suddenly thrust out his left hand. Under Xiao Xiao's horrified gaze, he broke through the black radiance surrounding the Soul Suppressing Cauldron, seized one of the Great Cauldrons, and viciously smashed it toward the last one!

"Boom—"

Amid the tremendous roar, the two Great Cauldrons flew away!

But this time, the dizziness caused by the resulting tremor only made him slightly furrow his brows. It had no controlling effect whatsoever.

The movement of his hand did not stop either.

His wrist sank, and the Great Cauldron touched by his sword tip was instantly knocked flying! Xu Yue was sent flying with it.

"What immense strength!"

Before Xu Yue could finish his exclamation, Chen Junting had already vanished from his original position. Long Sword Unsheathed activated, and the Seven Kills Sword traced an arc through the air, cleaving straight toward Xu Yue!

"Xu Yue!"

Xiao Xiao cried out in alarm and immediately made her choice!

She raised both hands before her, and her temperament suddenly changed as well. A trace of gentleness appeared on her face. Then, the two yellow Soul Rings around her suddenly became one.

Although the three Soul Suppressing Cauldrons that had been knocked away still pursued Chen Junting, another jade flute of emerald green appeared in her hands. Nine lifelike phoenix carvings adorned it.

Her former steady bearing was instantly replaced by the beauty of an otherworldly fairy.

"Twin Martial Souls!"

Almost everyone watching the match exclaimed at the same time, including the personnel officiating the competition.

But Chen Junting's reason for sparing a sliver of his attention was different from everyone else's. She can actually use Twin Martial Souls simultaneously?

He was shocked inside, but his hands did not slow in the slightest.

However, when Xiao Xiao's Soul Ring lit up, a faint melody rang out as well. A layer of viscous emerald-green radiance spread outward from Xiao Xiao as its center.

The Sword Qi from moments ago, along with Chen Junting himself,

slowed down at once.

Xu Yue naturally would not let such an excellent opportunity pass! His First Soul Skill activated, and his fist, covered in heavy armor, slammed viciously toward Chen Junting's face!

However...

Although Chen Junting's speed had been reduced, it was only relative. His Long Sword swept out in a graceful, fluid motion, seemingly casual, yet Xu Yue felt immense pressure.

He wanted to withdraw his hand, but it was already too late.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound rang out. The seemingly indestructible heavy armor was instantly split open, while Xu Yue felt a vicious force surge from his fist, damaging his meridians.

Before he could react further...

"Xu Yue, be careful!"

Chen Junting took one step forward. Xiao Xiao's Soul Skill seemed to have become useless, allowing him to appear directly before Xu Yue. The Seven Kills Sword in his hand seemed to multiply into countless blades, enveloping Xu Yue!

Layer after layer of heavy armor was peeled away inch by inch like fruit skin.

His entire face instantly went deathly pale.

Seeing the Sword Radiance continue to descend...

"Xu Yue, eliminated."

The Referee Teacher quickly intervened and rescued Xu Yue.

This did not disrupt the progress of the match.

Feeling the violent wind striking from behind his head, Chen Junting did not even turn around. He reached out with one hand and caught an incoming Soul Suppressing Cauldron.

Then the Seven Kills Sword thrust out, and his wrist shook! The Seven Kills Sword instantly grew heavy, causing the remaining two Soul Suppressing Cauldrons to veer off course beneath its Sword Edge.

Feeling her Soul Power plunge, Xiao Xiao's heart sank.

And now... when the corner of her eye caught sight of Wu Yan, covered in wounds and powerless to fight, her emotions sank even lower.

Looking at Chen Junting, this Soul Elder, she felt like crying.

Even now, she still had not forced him to use his thousand-year Soul Skill.

Was the gap truly this enormous?!

However, when Zhou Yi's face surfaced in her mind...

No!

She had to stake everything on one last attempt!

At this moment, the melody of the Nine Phoenixes Auspicious Flute became especially impassioned, and rings of emerald radiance rapidly spread from the jade flute.

Suddenly, the three Soul Suppressing Cauldrons that Chen Junting had knocked away were rapidly controlled by Xiao Xiao and flew back to her side. At the same time, black radiance burst forth, and they instantly collided toward the center. The two Soul Rings attached to the Three Lives Soul Suppressing Cauldron lit up as well.

"Big Brother Chen."

Just as Qin Lan was about to attack and interrupt Xiao Xiao, Chen Junting, who had not moved at all, stopped him. "Don't rush. The victory in this Freshman Assessment has long been in our hands. Besides, the main purpose of this assessment is to display our talents and thereby gain greater access to resources. Since that's the case, why should we play the villain?"

Qin Lan pondered over his words.

But in truth, although what he had just said made some sense, it was not Chen Junting's genuine intention.

As a student who had failed after stopping at the Top Sixty-Four, even if she truly possessed Twin Martial Souls, Shrek Academy would temporarily refrain from granting her Core Disciple treatment out of consideration for its reputation.

In other words, she would not receive much in the way of resources.

That was precisely where their Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect could take advantage of the situation.

As for the so-called display of talent, that was merely Chen Junting wanting to see just how far Xiao Xiao's revealed strength could reach. After all, she might not get such a good opportunity again later.

"Let me see all your strength."

Chen Junting looked at Xiao Xiao and could not help murmuring. The Seven Kills Sword in his hand also rang out with waves of sword cries, proclaiming its sharpness.

At that very moment...

National Heavy Artifact, Cauldron Tremor.

The three cauldrons merged into one and released a violent roar!

A giant cauldron twice the size of any of the previous Great Cauldrons appeared across the sky.

Faintly, strange runes surfaced across the giant cauldron.

An indescribable majesty erupted with that thunderous boom!