Alluring Charm

A murky yellow light flashed. Xie Yue held his twin Moon Blades horizontally, blocking the sword qi.

"First Soul Skill: Slash."

Xie Yue's martial soul was defined by its simplicity and ferocity; even his soul skills had names to match.

"Xie Yue. We haven't seriously fought before. Let's use this chance to have a proper match."

Su Chen paused, then vanished from before Xie Yue in an instant.

"Too fast!"

A sense of danger surged up from the depths of his heart. Realizing something was wrong, Xie Yue jolted awake and retreated at top speed.

Sure enough, Su Chen appeared behind him the very next moment.

"Sometimes, you don't necessarily need soul skills granted by spirit rings."

He kicked out, his leg cutting through the air with a piercing howl.

It was likewise a Self-Created Soul Skill gained through training, called Overclock.

By making his own Soul Power as violent and tyrannical as Heterogeneous Soul Power, he could greatly increase his strength for a short period.

Of course, this move could not be sustained for long.

Otherwise, his body would be injured from being unable to bear the strain.

"First Soul Skill: Slash!"

Knowing things had gone badly, Xie Yue turned and slashed out on instinct.

The powerful kick collided with the sharp Moon Blade, erupting with a fierce wave of Soul Power.

"As expected of you, Su Chen."

Xie Yue staggered back, still breathing heavily in lingering fear.

"Nana, let's try that move again."

"Mm."

Because of Su Chen's unusual spiritual power, Hu Liena knew her charm skill would have no effect on him.

If that was the case, wouldn't her strength be greatly diminished?

If she wanted to defeat Su Chen, these methods alone would not be enough.

"Spirit Fusion: Alluring Charm!"

With a loud cry, a cloud of blood mist erupted around Hu Liena.

"So they'd already completed it this early?"

Watching Hu Liena don armor, Su Chen calmly rubbed his chin.

"In this state, I possess all the abilities granted by Xie Yue's martial soul."

As she spoke, Hu Liena's figure vanished instantly.

When she reappeared, she was already in front of Xue Wu, who was still dancing.

"Get off the stage!"

She slapped at the defenseless Xue Wu, freely venting the jealousy burning in her heart.

"You should step down. Leave the rest of the fight to me."

Blocking Hu Liena's attack, Su Chen turned back and spoke to Xue Wu.

With the enhancement of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Hu Liena's strength had already far surpassed that of an ordinary Soul Elder.

Even Su Chen would find it difficult to defeat her while keeping Xue Wu safe.

In order to fight without restraint, Su Chen had no choice but to send Xue Wu off the arena first.

"Sorry for causing you trouble."

Xue Wu understood that if she stayed on the stage now, she would be of no help at all. She would only become Su Chen's burden.

Her pale face flushed shyly before she jumped down from the arena.

"You're quite the gentleman."

Perhaps due to the influence of Xie Yue's Moon Blade martial soul, Hu Liena had gained an extra hint of brutality in her fused state.

"I'm going to use a soul skill next. Nana, be careful."

Though he had practiced his second soul skill before, Su Chen had never truly used it in actual combat.

He was not entirely confident in it either, so he could only warn her beforehand.

"Could these siblings be descendants of experts from some reclusive sect?"

It was clear that Xie Yue and Hu Liena were far stronger than ordinary unaffiliated soul masters.

Shui Qingxuan secretly speculated, then began searching through the soul masters she knew for people who might be the two's parents.

"Wushuang, what do you think of these two?"

Looking at his son, who had mostly recovered, Huo Yuan's expression was grave.

He had originally believed his son would be the absolute genius of this generation.

But today's events had made Huo Yuan realize a fatal problem: he seemed to have been far too confident before.

Whether it was Su Chen, who was clearly much stronger than Huo Wushuang, or this pair of mysterious siblings before them—

If his son Huo Wushuang wanted to stand on equal footing with them, he still had a long way to go.

Not to mention that the other academies each had their own geniuses. Huo Yuan could not help worrying about Chihuo Academy's future.

"Don't worry, Father. You still have me."

Huo Wu sensibly patted her father on the shoulder. With innate rank-nine Soul Power, she carried the dreams of the entire academy.

At only nine years old, Huo Wu had already begun her foundational training. Once she found a suitable spirit ring, she would formally absorb it and embark upon the proper path of cultivation.

"Mm. Our Huo Wu will definitely become the finest soul master."

Looking at his adorable daughter, Huo Yuan smiled in relief.

"First Soul Skill: Fox Fire!"

Hu Liena's already somewhat husky voice became even deeper in her Spirit Fusion state.

Three clusters of eerie dark-red flames appeared at her side.

Soul-Reaping Ghoul, Life-Claiming Impermanence!

Since Alluring Charm was a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Su Chen tried to forcefully dispel the state using his first spirit ring.

"I won't fall for it again!"

Facing Little Black and Little White as they vanished once more, Hu Liena had long been prepared.

This was the result of Yan's painstaking thoughts over the past half year.

When Little Black and Little White used their soul skill, they had not truly disappeared.

Rather, they attacked in the form of pure Soul Power.

As long as one covered their body completely with Soul Power beforehand, severing contact with Little Black and Little White, they would not be so easily struck.

"Oh! Contestant Su Chen's invincible first soul skill has failed! What method did contestant Hu Liena use?!"

The host instantly grew excited.

Su Chen's soul skill had shone brilliantly in his earlier match against Huo Wushuang.

It had made nearly everyone present wonder how a ten-year spirit ring could produce such an absurd effect.

Yet they had never expected it to be countered by this mysterious duo in this match.

"With his first soul skill broken, what method will contestant Su Chen use? Will it be his second soul skill? Or his prized Self-Created Soul Skill, Shang Yang Sword Qi?"

The host continued shouting excitedly, stirring up the atmosphere of the entire venue.

"Grandma, is that big brother named Su Chen from our academy?"

A little head suddenly poked out beside Shui Qingxuan.

Only six years old, she had yet to awaken her own martial soul.

However, judging from her half-sister Shui Yue'er's dolphin martial soul, she had likely inherited some kind of marine creature martial soul as well.

"Mm, he's the best student of our current class."

Shui Qingxuan nodded.

"Then why hasn't Bing'er seen him before?"

The little girl looked up and asked curiously.

"Because he's a student in the academy district, and Bing'er is still too young. Once you awaken your martial soul and turn ten, you can attend school in the academy district."

Shui Qingxuan looked at the girl beside her, her eyes filled with affection.

Although her son was disappointing, her two granddaughters were still very lovable.