Battle Soul Saint (2)

Level thirty was not a particularly eye-catching level, but if an age was added before that level, it would be enough to astonish anyone.

Everyone looked at Fu Hua strangely. Judging by her figure and face, she looked no more than eleven or twelve, making her the youngest among them. Yet she was also the first among them to reach level thirty as a Soul Master.

Across the entire continent, how many people had reached the rank of Soul Elder at the age of twelve? Very few—so few that they were as rare as Twin Martial Souls.

It was no wonder they were shocked. It was simply too astonishing.

"You're level thirty?" Dai Mubai bluntly voiced his surprise.

His somewhat battered face was filled with a probing look.

When Fu Hua truly nodded, the faint suspicion in his heart became reality. A level-thirty Soul Grandmaster, rare ash-gray hair, and those calm, steady eyes—everything became clear.

She was Crimson Kite from the Great Soul Arena, the youth who had utterly defeated him... No, she should be called a girl now.

"You're... Crimson Kite?"

"If there isn't a second one, then that would be me."

At first, she had hidden her identity only so she would not implicate Grandpa Sol. But Shrek Academy was different. No academy would turn away a talented student.

Fu Hua was certain they would never drive her away over this.

"Tell me, why did you do that back then?"

Fu Hua naturally understood what Dai Mubai meant. Why had she held back at the Great Soul Arena?

After thinking briefly, she spoke solemnly.

"A sparring match is won by understanding one's own shortcomings."

Just as expected.

Dai Mubai understood. Just as he had thought, that soul fight had merely been training for her. There had been no need for her to use her full strength.

But he was so unwilling to accept it. After more than ten years of hard work, he was still inferior to a gifted girl. Dai Mubai could not accept that.

Perhaps seeing his unwillingness, Fu Hua let out a soft sigh.

"You and I are different."

She truly was a millennium-old monster, while Dai Mubai was still a genuine young boy. Fundamentally, they were different. Unfortunately, Dai Mubai did not know that.

To Dai Mubai, it sounded as though someone extraordinarily gifted was flaunting it in front of him.

All the glory and pride he had accumulated over the years had been battered beyond recognition. How could a boy with such male pride possibly feel good about that?

Gloom filled his mismatched eyes. His fists clenched tightly, the bruises on his battered face deepened, and a trace of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

Fu Hua rubbed her forehead. It seemed her explanation had pushed this boy into a dead end.

"Mubai, what's wrong? Why is your aura so chaotic?" Zhao Wuji, who had been idling nearby, suddenly spoke up.

The strange atmosphere between Dai Mubai and Fu Hua was broken.

Dai Mubai lowered his head and said dully, "Nothing."

Raising his brows, Zhao Wuji continued, "All right, little brats, are you ready? If you are, then let's begin!"

Tang San looked around and said, "Please wait a moment, Teacher Zhao."

"Haha, if you think dragging things out like this will buy you time, then you're terribly mistaken."

Even so, Zhao Wuji still gave Fu Hua and the others a few minutes.

At this point, three-quarters of the incense had already burned away.

Looking around and setting aside the strange atmosphere caused by Dai Mubai, Tang San summarized, "Ning Rongrong will provide support. Xiao Wu and Fu Hua, you two will be the main attackers. I'll control Teacher Zhao's attacks, while Zhu Zhuqing will attack and harass him from the side."

Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu nodded. Zhu Zhuqing also knew that her strength alone could not break through his defenses, but Fu Hua fell into thought.

"Fu Hua, what's wrong?"

"Do you disagree with Little San's suggestion?"

Setting aside whether she agreed with the plan or not, what was with "Little San"? It inexplicably made Fu Hua's thoughts wander in the wrong direction.

She shook her head and said calmly, "If it's breaking through his defenses, I think I have a way."

"What?" Tang San and the others were stunned.

That was a level-seventy-six Spirit Saint! Focused on attack and defense, and she wanted to break his defenses with only level-thirty Soul Power? Forgive them, but they truly did not believe it.

"My First Soul Skill has a passive effect that can break defenses one hundred percent, but only for the first strike."

Tang San pondered.

"Can you choose the target location freely?"

"Yes. As long as it is struck by my first attack, its defense will absolutely be broken one hundred percent."

"How long can it last?"

"I haven't tested it. The cooldown is half a shichen."

One shichen was two hours.

"Is that so?" Tang San pondered once more, then raised his head and looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "Then we'll create an opportunity for Fu Hua. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, distract Teacher Zhao. Fu Hua, watch for the right moment."

"Little brats, are you ready?" Zhao Wuji's deep, heavy voice rang out.

The words Fu Hua had wanted to say were swallowed again.

Compared to fighting as a group, Fu Hua seemed to prefer fighting alone. No matter when it was, the only figure seen on the battlefield had always been Fu Hua standing by herself.

It should... be fine, right?

A fiery red figure surfaced in her mind, approaching her shadow with a mocking smile.

"Fu Hua!"

"Understood."

Clenching her right fist, she thought, It won't happen again. That kind of thing won't happen again, because... I'm here!

A flash of crimson passed through her sky-blue eyes. New gauntlets appeared on both hands, matching her dark-blue combat outfit so well that no one noticed the suddenly appearing equipment.

Golden light flashed, and two deep yellow Soul Rings emerged, rising and falling around Fu Hua. Tang San and the others were mostly the same, which made Zhao Wuji raise his brows.

"Not bad. All standard Soul Ring configurations. Little monsters, begin! As long as you hold out for one stick of incense, you can enter Shrek Academy."

He lit another stick of incense and used the same method to plant it in the ground.

Without increasing the difficulty at all, Zhao Wuji could not be bothered to fuss with a few juniors. He still stood with his arms crossed, keeping his displayed Soul Power around level thirty, right at their limit.

Ning Rongrong was the first to act. Her gentle voice sounded. "Seven Treasures turn, and glazed tile emerges."

Seven-colored light surrounded her body, making her seem like a celestial maiden. It made her playful face appear even more sacred.

"Seven Treasures' Name, first: Strength."

Her first Soul Ring lit up, and four beams of colored light enveloped Fu Hua and the others.

A force that flowed through every limb and bone surged from within. It felt as though they possessed limitless power. If a higher-level Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Master enhanced Fu Hua, then by conservative estimates, she seemed capable of challenging a Soul Douluo alone.

Zhao Wuji said in surprise, "Well, well. One of this year's applicants is actually from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. If Flender finds out, he'll probably be overjoyed."

"Seven Treasures' Name, second: Speed."

Her second Soul Ring lit up, and four more beams of colored light flashed. This time, the boost was to speed. Combined with Fu Hua's Flash Step, it could directly achieve the effect of Teleport.

It was impossible to guard against.

However, Fu Hua still shook her head. Since the opponent already knew they had the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda as support, they would surely eliminate it first. And since he knew how terrifying its support was, unless they caught him off guard, such enhancements would not have much meaning.

For example, if Fu Hua suddenly received a strength boost when she charged before the opponent, the effect would certainly be far better than this.

Of course, this was their first time working together, so it was normal for them to overlook certain things. Fu Hua was simply taking things too seriously.

Only after Ning Rongrong finished all this did Zhao Wuji make a move. He clenched both hands into fists and slammed them straight into the ground. Violent tremors surged from the earth, his first attack covering the entire area.

Tang San instantly activated his Blue Silver Grass. Dark-blue Blue Silver Grass spread out and formed a long whip that coiled around Ning Rongrong's waist. When he leaped up, he brought Ning Rongrong into the air with him.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing reacted quickly as well. The moment Zhao Wuji made that motion, they both jumped away from where they stood. Fu Hua merely shifted one step and planted herself firmly on the ground.

From the position of her feet, it seemed she had not moved from her original spot.

In truth, the moment Zhao Wuji transmitted his strength into the ground, Fu Hua rapidly stepped through it, seeking flaws in the incoming force and weaving through the gaps at extreme speed.

However, finding flaws before a level-seventy-six Spirit Saint focused on strength and defense was an immense test of eyesight and reaction speed. One wrong step, and she would lose everything.

"My skills have regressed. It seems my training still isn't enough."

The eyes hidden behind her glasses were helpless. She had experienced too little real combat; she had not expected her combat ability to become this poor.

Even though she had fought more than a dozen soul battles in the arena, those opponents had been too weak to provide any real training. Only now did Fu Hua discover her own shortcomings.

One corner of her previously neat black short jacket had been sliced clean off by the powerful force. According to Fu Hua's calculations, she should have dodged it completely, but now...

"I... still have a long way to go."

She tightly gripped the Xuanyuan Sword in her hand, her sky-blue eyes fixed on the changes in the field.

After everyone had evaded Zhao Wuji's attack, Tang San and Xiao Wu's seamless cooperation immediately launched the counterattack.

Rather than defend passively, it was better to take the initiative, seize the first move, and catch the opponent off guard.

Fu Hua nodded. This was not bad. Even in a complete disadvantage, they could still act like this. Their resolve was certainly not weak.

Xiao Wu's rabbit martial soul focused on flexibility and leg strength. Using the flexibility of her body, she unleashed Soft Skill to catch opponents off guard, while the tremendous power in her legs could instantly seize the initiative.

Combined with Tang San's control, even Soul Masters ten levels above them would suffer at their hands.

However, Zhao Wuji was level seventy-six. Even with Ning Rongrong's strength enhancement, they still could not shake him.

Just as the two were at a loss, Zhu Zhuqing attacked from behind him.

First Soul Skill, Hell Stab.

Zhu Zhuqing's martial soul was the Netherworld Cat. Cats themselves were synonymous with agility, and as a martial soul, it allowed her to attack without anyone noticing. When she launched an attack, it was swift and fierce like a ghost, without the slightest ripple of Soul Power around her.

It was the best choice for sneak attacks, but at the same time, it sacrificed the threat of raw power.

A sneak attack could catch someone unprepared, but against powerful defenses, it could only be helpless.

Every Hell Stab Zhu Zhuqing unleashed targeted Zhao Wuji's vital points, forcing him to release Soul Power for defense.

Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink.

Seven crisp sounds rang out, and all of Zhu Zhuqing's sneak attacks failed.

Seven terrifying Soul Rings also appeared around Zhao Wuji—two yellow, two purple, and three black, the seven Soul Rings of a Spirit Saint.

Zhao Wuji's body swelled by a full circle, his height increasing by a meter in an instant. Like a bear, his entire body became covered in bristles, while his brown eyes shone with the ferocity of a beast.

Now!

Flash Step, activate!

Fu Hua gripped the Xuanyuan Sword, leaving an afterimage where she stood while her body had already appeared before Zhao Wuji.

Her first Soul Ring lit up.

First Soul Skill activated.

Sharp Edge Sword Qi: Increases the Xuanyuan Sword's attack power by 25% and grants 10% sharpness. Passive skill: 100% defense break. Cooldown: one hour.

"So fast. When did she—? But good, she came right to me."

Watching the figure that had suddenly appeared before him, Zhao Wuji's brown eyes carried faint disdain and excitement. He thrust out his chest, and a powerful force burst from it.

If an ordinary level-thirty Soul Master had confronted him head-on, the outcome would have been decided the instant they made contact. But Fu Hua was different.

Sharp Edge Sword Qi still aimed straight for his chest.

Whoosh! Clang!

The sword tip collided with Zhao Wuji's chest, producing a piercing screech like metal being scraped, followed by a strange crisp crack.

Zhao Wuji's expression changed immediately. Without any hesitation, Soul Power surged throughout his body as he instantly erupted with the Soul Power of a level-seventy-six Spirit Saint.

The immense impact pressed down on Fu Hua. She withdrew her sword and assumed a defensive stance.

Her waist suddenly tightened. Under the combined pull from her waist and the tremendous force, she rapidly retreated. The Xuanyuan Sword, struck by Zhao Wuji's level-seventy-six Soul Power, immediately revealed its might as though unwilling to be outdone.

Passive skill, Xuanyuan Guard, activate!

Two energy-forged Golden Swords floated at Fu Hua's sides.

"What?"

Zhao Wuji was startled. He had not expected a follow-up attack. His arms quickly folded back to shield his aching chest. Waves of burning pain came from there, and the more his Soul Power circulated, the more intense the pain in his chest became.

"Go."

She calmly uttered a single word, and the two Golden Swords floating beside her shot forward.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Terrifying piercing sounds tore through the air.

They were incredibly fast, reaching Zhao Wuji in the blink of an eye.

At that moment, Zhao Wuji crossed his arms before his chest. Based on the strength of the energy he sensed, the two Golden Swords should not have been able to pierce his arm defenses.

But what was the truth?

Just when everyone had little faith in this strike, the Golden Swords suddenly passed through Zhao Wuji's arms without warning, pierced his chest, and brought even more intense burning pain. They even knocked him back several steps before stopping.

At that moment, Zhao Wuji was stunned, and Tang San and the others were equally shocked.

PS: Once I manage to pull every version of Fu Hua, I'll end this book. But it may be extremely difficult. With my crystal income not even reaching ten pulls a week, plus my terrible luck, the road ahead is long and arduous!

PS1: Also, I unfortunately caught a cold. I truly admire those great authors who can still write while their heads are muddled from being sick. They're amazing. So during this time, it would not be surprising if I do something shocking or dig myself into some huge plot hole. As for whether I'll fill it in, that depends on whether I still remember it later!

PS2: Mm! That is probably all. As for two updates a day or more, that depends on my mood. When I'm in a good mood, I write faster. If I build up more chapters, I'll want to release more. I'll just go with the flow!

PS3: I said that was all, but another thing came up. One more reminder: this is a lighthearted story. It is either single-romance or harem. Even if there are massive plot holes, I'll slowly fill them in, so don't worry that I'll abandon it. An occasional break is still acceptable!