Battle Soul Saint

"Mm! Not bad. Your Soul Power is abundant yet calm, like stagnant water. If you hadn't activated it, I might have overlooked you. Not bad, not bad."

The old man praised her several times in succession, acknowledging Fu Hua's strength, but it drew puzzled looks from Dai Mubai.

I feel like I've seen her somewhere before.

That meticulous posture, that steady and reserved aura, that ash-gray long hair—everything seemed to point to one person, someone who had left a deep impression on Dai Mubai.

When last night's soul battle ended, Dai Mubai had yet to react. It was only when the pain in his body and face continued to torment him that he slowly came to understand.

He had lost—lost utterly and completely. He had not even forced his opponent to use his Soul Power, and the soul battle had ended in just one minute.

A complete defeat.

But when he looked up to search for that figure, he could no longer see his back. It was as if he had never been there, like wind and clouds.

Dai Mubai knew that victory or defeat meant nothing to him. He had merely been honing his own strength, and now, Dai Mubai had become one of his stepping stones.

Though unwilling to accept it, he could not deny that the guy called Crimson Kite was truly strong.

"Mubai, what are you spacing out for? Hurry up and take your little junior brother inside!" The old man's face was full of smiles as he spoke happily to Dai Mubai.

However, his words left Fu Hua stunned. Little junior brother?

"Teacher?"

"Mm? What is it? It's fine. With your strength, you'll definitely get into Shrek Academy. Calling you little junior brother isn't inappropriate."

It seemed the teacher had misunderstood.

Fu Hua pressed her lips together and slowly said, "I'm a girl."

Crack.

Crack, crack.

Crack, crack, crack.

All three of them froze at once.

The black-clad girl standing before Dai Mubai and Fu Hua had not yet left. Hearing those words, she blanked out as well.

A girl?

Their gazes could not help but sweep toward her chest. Even a plain wasn't this flat, okay? And you were telling them you were a girl!

"Though this may disappoint you, I am indeed a woman."

The scene fell silent once more. Dai Mubai and the black-clad girl did not know how to react, but the old man was not surprised. He was old and well-traveled; who said women had to be well-endowed?

Flat was fine too, aside from being a little awkward.

"Mubai, what are you still standing around for? Hurry up and take the two little junior... sisters inside."

All right. Though he claimed not to be surprised, he was still having a little trouble processing it.

That appearance... was way too much like a male protagonist.

The question of whether Fu Hua was male or female was merely a small interlude. Dai Mubai continued carrying out his duty, leading the two girls toward the second round of assessments.

Along the way, Fu Hua finally got a proper look at the girl Dai Mubai could not take his eyes off.

Her cold face was still youthful, and she seemed to be about the same age as Fu Hua. Yet her figure would make any woman jealous; calling her a baby-faced beauty with a voluptuous figure would not be an exaggeration.

Her long black hair fell straight to her waist. Paired with that frosty temperament, she looked like an abstinent young girl, though her limbs were exceptionally slender as they hung naturally at her sides.

Fu Hua carried an aura that transcended all things, born from the accumulation of five thousand years of history and naturally revealed without intent. Yet the aura around this girl was even colder and more lifeless, like a stagnant pool incapable of stirring the slightest ripple. Still, it also seemed forced. The occasional tenderness she revealed only made it impossible for men to look away.

A frosty girl with a story. That was Fu Hua's assessment of her.

While Fu Hua was observing the girl, Dai Mubai turned back to look at Fu Hua once more, the scrutiny in his mismatched eyes deepening.

After Fu Hua had restrained her Soul Power, she felt even more like Crimson Kite to him.

Her stance, the way she walked, and the flawless defense she maintained even now—despite the fact that she was merely walking normally.

After entering the village, wooden buildings gradually became more numerous. Simple and frugal—those were Fu Hua's first thoughts upon seeing them.

Before long, Dai Mubai brought the two girls together with the boy and girl he had led inside earlier. There was a small joke during the process, but it was nothing serious.

The second assessment tested the students' Soul Power Level. Anyone who had reached Level 25 or above could skip this round.

Fu Hua, as well as the boy and girl Dai Mubai had brought in earlier, all met that requirement. Two other girls unexpectedly met it as well.

One was the black-clad girl who had entered alongside Fu Hua—Zhu Zhuqing.

The other was the girl who had made the assessment teacher at the entrance exclaim in surprise. She also appeared to be around twelve or thirteen, though she did not have Zhu Zhuqing's impressive figure. Instead, she possessed a unique, mischievous charm.

Her pink hair was cut to her ears, and her eyes seemed to speak. No matter how one looked at her, adorable was the only word to describe her. Yet beneath those cunning eyes lay a deeply hidden trace of arrogance.

It was the gaze nobles used when looking at commoners. Fu Hua was already familiar with it.

An arrogant young lady sheltered in her chambers. That was Fu Hua's evaluation.

After passing the second and third assessments, everyone arrived at the fourth. The third assessment tested each person's control over their own Soul Power, so it had been easy to pass. As for this fourth round...

"Teacher Zhao, I've brought the examinees."

Dai Mubai shouted toward the front, and a burly man emerged from a wooden house.

He did not seem to be taller than the boy among them, yet his build was incredibly sturdy, like a tank. Even while walking, he gave off a heavy, solid sense of pressure.

The sunlight at noon reflected off his smooth head, while his half-narrowed eyes gleamed with a scorching light.

"Oh! Not bad! So many students have actually made it to the fourth round."

His voice was deep and booming, as if no one had seen him open his mouth.

"Not only that, all of them skipped the second and third rounds!"

"Ho! Not bad! Since that's the case, the fourth round will be actual combat. As long as you can last one incense stick's time under me, you'll pass."

"What... Teacher Zhao, you..."

Teacher Zhao waved a hand, cutting off whatever Dai Mubai wanted to say before speaking again.

"I won't make things difficult for you. Come at me together. As long as you last one incense stick's time, you'll all pass. Little Bai, explain my abilities and characteristics to them properly!"

With that, he pinched a stick of incense between his index finger and thumb, seemingly producing it from nowhere, and lit it. His fingers exerted force.

Whoosh.

The burning incense stick planted itself firmly into the ground. Crossing his arms, he waited calmly for them to discuss their plan.

Only Dai Mubai approached with a grave expression. Looking at the group gathered together, he said in a low voice,

"I won't say much, but I still have to remind you of one thing: be careful in everything."

"What? Could it be that so many of us can't beat a Soul Emperor?" the girl among the boy-and-girl pair said brightly.

Just like her appearance, she was radiant and full of energy. Unlike the pink-haired girl, her liveliness came from within, without the slightest impurity.

She was as pure as a newborn baby, and moreover... the aura around her was somewhat unusual.

"If he were a Soul Emperor, the five of you would naturally have no problem. But Teacher Zhao is not a Soul Emperor."

"Then what is he? Is he lower than a Soul Emperor?"

"More or less, but you have it backward. He is a Level 76 Spirit Saint, a beast Spirit Battle Soul Saint. He is our academy's vice principal, second only to the principal in strength."

A Spirit Saint?

Every rank of Soul Master had its own title. For example:

Levels 1 to 10 were Soul Master Initiates.

Levels 11 to 20 were Soul Masters.

Levels 21 to 30 were Soul Grand Masters.

And so on: Soul Elders, Soul Ancestors, Soul Kings, Soul Emperors, followed by Spirit Saints from Level 71 to 80. Above them were Soul Douluos and Titled Douluos.

Under normal circumstances, one could tell an opponent's rank by the number of Soul Rings they possessed. Just like Soul Master titles, Soul Rings also had distinctions.

White, ten years.

Yellow, one hundred years.

Purple, one thousand years.

Black, ten thousand years.

Red, one hundred thousand years.

The gap between thousand-year and ten-thousand-year Soul Rings was a dividing line. Even if you were both Soul Ancestors, one with a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring and one with a thousand-year Soul Ring were completely different. It was a difference in essence.

Whether it was the increase in Soul Power granted by the Soul Ring or the enhancement of strength, a thousand-year ring simply could not compare.

Thus, every additional Soul Ring was like an insurmountable chasm.

That was only under ordinary circumstances. As for extraordinary circumstances, no one knew. Such a thing had never happened on this continent.

"Level 76? He's that high? He doesn't even look older than the teacher at the entrance!"

Dai Mubai shook his head. "A Soul Master's rank cannot be judged by age. There isn't much time, so I'll briefly explain Teacher Zhao's strengths. Then you must immediately decide on tactics to deal with him. Otherwise, forget one incense stick's time—you'll be lucky if you can withstand his first wave of attacks."

The gap between ranks truly was not easy to overcome. There was no second Fu Hua in this world, much less another Crimson Kite.

Only then did everyone realize just how serious the situation was. Asking them, all below Level 30 except Fu Hua, to challenge a Level 76 Spirit Saint was not a challenge across ranks—it was practically asking them to die.

Dai Mubai smiled bitterly. Originally, the fourth assessment was supposed to be a battle against him; anyone who lasted one incense stick's time against him would pass. Yet Teacher Zhao had suddenly taken an interest today, causing things to develop into this.

"Teacher Zhao's Spirit is the Great Vajra Bear, a powerful beast Spirit. His entire body has no weaknesses, and his defense is extremely terrifying. Even Soul Masters of the same rank would find it difficult to break through his defenses and harm him.

"Although speed is not Teacher Zhao's specialty, the gap in Soul Power between you and him is simply too great. You cannot possibly be faster than him in that regard either. Teacher Zhao's greatest strengths are his attack and defense. Within the academy, he is known as the Immovable Ming King.

"Forget the five of you—even if you added me, we might not be able to withstand one incense stick's time of his attacks. Right now, I can only hope Teacher Zhao won't be too serious when attacking you."

The Great Vajra Bear specialized most in defense. Leaving aside how strong Teacher Zhao's attacks were, that defense alone would be difficult for them to break. Teacher Zhao had likely thought of this, which was why he was so confident.

It was not only suppression by rank, but suppression by defense as well.

They could attack Teacher Zhao, yet they could not break his defenses.

But if they were struck even once, it would be completely over.

His most notable achievement had been ten years ago.

Back then, Zhao Wuji, the Immovable Ming King, had developed a grudge with Spirit Hall. Spirit Hall had wanted to punish him, but he had forcibly charged out from the encirclement of sixteen Bishops.

Later, the matter had simply been dropped. Spirit Hall's Bishops were all at least Level 60 Soul Emperor-class powerhouses, while Zhao Wuji should only have been in his sixties at the time.

Thinking of it that way, just how formidable was he now? Having laid low for ten years, it was impossible for him not to have improved at all.

Dai Mubai spoke again. "No matter what, pray for your own luck! Of Teacher Zhao's seven Soul Rings, the first two are hundred-year Soul Rings, the third and fourth are thousand-year Soul Rings, and the final three are all ten-thousand-year Soul Rings. Moreover, all seven Soul Rings grant attack and defense abilities.

"You should be able to imagine how terrifying he is now, right? First, introduce yourselves to one another. State your names and abilities, then see how you can cooperate to best withstand Teacher Zhao's assessment."

The first to speak was the boy on Dai Mubai's right.

"My name is Tang San. Tool Spirit, Blue Silver Grass. Level 29 Control System Battle Soul Master."

Next was the girl to Tang San's right.

"My name is Xiao Wu. Beast Spirit, Rabbit. Level 20 Assault System Battle Soul Master."

The pink-haired girl hesitated slightly before saying, "Ning Rongrong. Tool Spirit, Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. Level 26 Support System Tool Soul Master."

"Zhu Zhuqing. Beast Spirit, Netherworld Cat. Level 27 Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master."

Finally, it was Fu Hua's turn.

"Fu Hua. Tool Spirit, Xuanyuan Sword. Level 30 Battle Soul Master."

For Fu Hua, there was no exact classification. She could be as swift as an Agility Attack System Soul Master, as domineering as an Assault System Soul Master, and could also make opponents suffer like a Support System Soul Master.

Unless the opposing team had a support-type member who could remove all negative effects, they could only wait to be knocked out by the end of the battle!

So Fu Hua was actually an all-purpose type!

After all five had finished their introductions, Fu Hua's sky-blue eyes turned toward Ning Rongrong, while everyone else looked toward Fu Hua.

The moment Dai Mubai heard Level 30, his heart trembled. The first thing that came to mind was the soul battle at the Great Soul Arena.

Even after a full day and night, it remained deeply etched in Dai Mubai's mind.

Meanwhile, Fu Hua was considering Ning Rongrong's identity.

Only disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect possessed the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, and they were all direct-line descendants. Its support-type Tool Spirit was among the finest on the entire continent.

Each level could increase only one attribute, but every attribute was enhanced by thirty percent. As the user's level continued to rise, more attributes could be enhanced, and the effect would last longer.

The more one thought about it, the more terrifying it became. Because of this, many Soul Masters on the continent were willing to form teams with disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Fu Hua had not expected to encounter one here today.

"You're Level 30?" Dai Mubai finally could not hold himself back. Ignoring the fact that they were in the middle of an assessment, he blurted out excitedly.

Fu Hua frowned. His reaction seemed a little excessive, but she still nodded.

It was only a matter of time before her identity was discovered. Before that happened, finding a shelter would not be bad either. At the very least, it would put Grandpa Sol much more at ease.

Ever since he learned that Fu Hua had participated in soul battles, Curator Sol had been constantly worried, deeply afraid that she might be injured in one if he was not careful. Because of that, she took part in very few soul battles each month. On one hand, it was to reassure Curator Sol; on the other, it was simply for leisure and entertainment.

Reading was good, but one also had to know how to balance work and rest.