Xiao Xuan's First Battle! Showing Off Takes Only an Instant!

"No, we need to go back and inform the elders first."

"When a Soul Master obtains their second soul ring, the ideal age is around eight hundred years."

"With your talent, and how easily you absorbed that soul ring just now, you're definitely no ordinary person."

"There's a good chance you can absorb one close to a thousand years old."

"Soul beasts of that level are already beyond my abilities. To be safe, we should notify those above us first."

Hearing Xiao Xuan's words, Hu Liena seriously shook her head.

This was too important for her to decide on her own.

That left Xiao Xuan somewhat depressed. It seemed he could only find another opportunity later to complete his other two soul rings.

If it came down to it, who didn't know how to bluff?

He could just tell Chrysanthemum Douluo, or even Bibi Dong, that his martial soul was extremely special.

He had to obtain soul rings simultaneously to maintain balance and avoid accidents.

After all, the Three Lives Martial Soul was one of a kind.

There was no precedent to refer to, so couldn't he say whatever he wanted?

But for now, before getting approval from the higher-ups,

with Hu Liena's meticulous personality, she definitely wouldn't allow Xiao Xuan to act recklessly on his own.

He could only follow her back toward the camp at a brisk pace.

Before long, they met up with their teammates again.

Of course, the attitude was still far from friendly.

"Back so soon? Did something happen?"

"Nana, what exactly is going on with this kid?"

Before leaving, Hu Liena had taken Xiao Xuan's hand.

It hadn't meant anything in particular, but in Xie Yue and Yan's eyes, it was simply unbearable.

Now, their tone carried even more hostility.

They scrutinized Xiao Xuan as if they wanted to eat him alive.

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

"We ran into a Mandala Snake that was around four hundred years old."

"It happened to suit Xiao Xuan's martial soul, so we came back after dealing with it."

"Pack up. We're returning to Spirit Hall."

Clearly hearing the hostility in their words, Hu Liena once again went into protective mode.

However, some people just didn't know when to quit.

Seeing his goddess protect him again, Yan the bootlicker nearly lost his temper, fueled by the violent nature of the Flame Lord.

He took a deep breath and discreetly glanced to the side.

Then, an ordinary-looking fellow in the same battle team uniform, the sort who looked like a complete nobody, stepped forward and started shouting.

"Xiao Xuan, congratulations on obtaining your first soul ring."

"You're now an official Soul Master."

"But our Spirit Hall Battle Team has always had its own rules."

"Release your martial soul and let this senior brother give you a few pointers."

"Oh, right. My name is Li Kai."

"My martial soul is the Black Horn Mountain Boar. I'm an assault-type Soul Master, currently level 28!"

As Li Kai introduced himself, Xiao Xuan looked him over from head to toe.

Honestly, he had absolutely no impression of this guy's face.

But upon hearing his name and martial soul, he vaguely remembered him.

When the Spirit Hall Battle Team later competed in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, there had indeed been someone like this on the team.

But a nobody was still a nobody.

Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan had completely overshadowed him. From beginning to end, he was just a background extra.

"So it's Senior Brother Li Kai."

"Then come on. Please enlighten me!"

Xiao Xuan nodded and agreed without hesitation.

Noticing Hu Liena about to stop him again, he refused her kindness this time.

Since he had chosen Spirit Hall as his faction, he naturally needed sufficient strength to stand on his own.

The Three Lives Martial Soul and Innate Full Spirit Power

were merely the foundation, granting him the qualifications to enter the core group of promising talents from the start.

But true status had to be earned with his own hands.

He couldn't righteously hide behind Hu Liena every day.

Before, it was because he hadn't obtained a soul ring yet.

That damn system didn't have any beginner protection period, so he had no choice but to shamelessly live off her.

But now, times had changed!

"Fine, but be careful."

"If you take the initiative to cause trouble, you naturally have to bear the consequences."

Seeing the determination in Xiao Xuan's eyes, Hu Liena finally realized something.

The little boy before her was not a "newcomer" who had merely become a Soul Master.

Although he had only just obtained his first soul ring, he had already risen straight to level twenty.

Moreover, the soul skill he had gained was terrifyingly powerful.

Even her second soul skill was far weaker than it.

So that warning had not been directed at Xiao Xuan at all.

It was aimed at Li Kai, who was completely in the dark.

Unfortunately, this guy clearly wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

Otherwise, Xie Yue and Yan wouldn't have used him as a thug to teach Xiao Xuan a lesson.

Sure enough, he was just like his martial soul—a pigheaded fool!

"Hmph, don't worry."

"As your senior brother, I'll go easy on you."

"We'll stop at the right point. I'm only teaching you a lesson to help you remember."

For some reason, when Li Kai heard Xiao Xuan agree,

he should have been delighted to have the chance to teach a newcomer a lesson.

He could even do Yan a favor while he was at it.

Yet Xiao Xuan's tone made him feel that something was off, though he couldn't put his finger on it.

Hu Liena's attitude at the side was especially strange as well.

But with the arrow already on the string, there was no way to retreat.

Li Kai shook his head and cast aside those distracting thoughts.

With a roar, the phantom of a boar-like martial soul appeared behind him.

Two soul rings also circled around him, one dark and one light, both yellow.

"My first soul skill is called Boar Charge, a close-range assault skill."

"My second soul skill is Bristle Defense."

"It's an enhancement-type soul skill that greatly boosts my defense, while sharp boar bristles protrude from my body."

"Junior Brother, be careful!"

Although he found Xiao Xuan extremely irritating, Li Kai still took the initiative to explain.

He was afraid that he might accidentally use too much force

and ram the Three Lives Martial Soul, whom the Pope valued so highly, straight to death.

"My first soul skill is called Thunder Summon."

"It's a lightning-attributed long-range attack that comes with a paralysis effect."

"Also, don't hold back."

Xiao Xuan didn't care. Seeing that the other party had already released his martial soul,

he instantly gathered his own Soul Power.

Scarlet currents of energy surged forth as the figure of the Sky Dragon appeared above Xiao Xuan's head.

Aside from Hu Liena, this was the first time everyone present had seen Xiao Xuan's martial soul.

Its terrifying, chilling pressure made them unable to breathe.

Across from him, cold sweat trickled down Li Kai's temple.

A trace of fear rose in his heart. He immediately abandoned his contemptuous thoughts and roared to bolster his courage.

Then he bent slightly and charged at Xiao Xuan headfirst!

The boar martial soul's horns overlapped with his cheeks, creating a powerful charging force.

It did look rather wild.

"A soul skill that attacks with his face?"

"If he gets close, that really does seem a little risky."

"Then... I'll just take him out in one shot!"

Watching the boar senior brother charge faster and faster from not far away,

Xiao Xuan curled his lips into a cold smile.

Since you wanted to teach me a lesson, I'd educate you first.

He raised his palm and casually took aim, rapidly gathering Soul Power.

His first soul ring flashed as Thunder Summon condensed into form.

Rumble!

It shot explosively toward his opponent.

It struck Li Kai directly in the face, where his Soul Power had gathered.

In an instant, it shattered his martial soul barrier into fragments before slamming viciously into his face.

His entire face twisted grotesquely as saliva and teeth flew everywhere.

His whole body came to an abrupt halt.

Not only did he fail to advance, he was hurled backward at high speed by the Thunder Summon!

He crashed into a huge boulder behind him and was embedded in it whole.

Wisps of black smoke still rose from around his body.

That was lightly charred "pork," medium-rare...

(End of Chapter)