The Battle Between Huo and Qiu

"Challenge him?" Huo Yuhao looked toward the source of the voice, his gaze freezing.

Wang Dong was just as stunned.

Behind them stood a girl who looked about eleven or twelve, quietly watching them.

The girl's eyes and hair were the same pinkish blue as Wang Dong's.

Their faces were remarkably similar. The only apparent difference was that the girl standing before them was taller than Wang Dong.

She wore a white dress, and her long, wavy pinkish-blue hair fell loose down her back. Her eyes were fixed intently on Huo Yuhao.

"Ah... uh... what?" Wang Dong stared at the girl before him. She didn't just look nine-tenths like him—she looked as if she'd been carved from the same mold. He was at a loss for words.

Th-this... Wang Dong couldn't believe his eyes. How could there be someone in the world who looked so much like him?

If his fathers hadn't told him that he was his father's only child,

Wang Dong would have suspected that the girl before him was his long-lost sister.

Huo Yuhao was just as astonished. This girl, with her long, wavy pinkish-blue hair and appearance so similar to Wang Dong's... no, she looked like Wang Dong'er's twin.

If his guess was right, she was the Three-Eyed Golden Lion!

Huo Yuhao composed himself and began making his final confirmation.

"Excuse me, miss, were you calling me?"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion—Wang Qiu'er—looked eager to test herself.

She had come here for Huo Yuhao, the man whose fate had once intersected with hers.

Wang Qiu'er had worked for a long time to get here. At last, she had convinced Di Tian!

As soon as she arrived at the school, Wang Qiu'er was lucky enough to spot Huo Yuhao. Watching him fight Wang Dong had made her hands itch to join in.

Wang Qiu'er wanted to see how much the man she missed so dearly had grown.

"That's right. I was calling you. I watched your fight, and I really want to fight you!" Her eyes brimmed with battle intent.

"Then may I ask your name, and why you want to fight me?" Huo Yuhao asked.

"I'm Wang Qiu'er. I saw you fight and want to test your strength!" Wang Qiu'er replied bluntly.

"What if I refuse?" Huo Yuhao asked.

Wang Qiu'er didn't beat around the bush. "Then you refuse. That's all!"

"The senior student who showed me around said there'll be a freshman assessment. We'll get our chance to fight sooner or later!"

Huo Yuhao thought for a moment. "Actually... I wouldn't mind fighting you."

"But don't you think just fighting is a little dull?"

Wang Qiu'er's carefree little mind stalled for a moment. "What do you mean?"

Huo Yuhao smiled. "How about we make it more interesting and place a bet?"

"Why would I want to bet with you?" Wang Qiu'er asked.

"Betting is a bad habit. Didn't your mother teach you that?"

Huo Yuhao explained, "A small bet is just for fun. I don't mean the kind where the loser sells themselves into slavery."

Wang Qiu'er shook her head. "Then I won't bet. It's boring."

Huo Yuhao stared at her, dumbfounded. "Didn't you just say gambling was bad?"

Wang Qiu'er blinked her big eyes, as if the answer were obvious. "I didn't say no!"

Huo Yuhao looked bewildered. "But didn't you ask why you should bet with me?"

Wang Qiu'er put on an innocent expression. "I just wanted to hear you say a few more nice things. If you flatter me some more, I might agree."

So she was playing hard to get. Huo Yuhao immediately saw through Wang Qiu'er's trick.

"Then, Miss Wang Qiu'er, whose beauty could make fish sink and geese fall, the moon hide and flowers blush, and whose kindness matches her beauty, would you care to make a bet with me before our duel?"

Wang Qiu'er's face lit up with delight, her big eyes curving into crescents.

"Since you're so sincere, I'll make an exception and bet with you!"

"Go on, what do you want to bet?"

Huo Yuhao smiled politely. "The loser of the duel has to grant the winner one request, no questions asked. Of course, the request can't be too outrageous."

"What do you think?"

"I have no objections!" Wang Qiu'er agreed with a beaming smile.

Wang Dong watched Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu'er in astonishment. What was with these two?

They'd only just met. Why were they acting like old friends?

And Huo Yuhao had actually flattered Wang Qiu'er just because she asked him to!

And Wang Qiu'er—how could she agree to Huo Yuhao's terms so easily?

What would she do if Huo Yuhao asked for something outrageous?

Wang Dong's feelings were complicated. He was very unhappy with Huo Yuhao's behavior.

Wang Qiu'er asked, so he flattered her. She wanted to fight, so he agreed to fight. She'd even played him, Huo Yuhao!

And he still gave her whatever she wanted!

Wang Dong puffed out his cheeks. Why wouldn't Huo Yuhao agree to his requests?

He was unhappy!

A stirring dragon's roar rang out from Wang Qiu'er. Her pinkish-blue eyes and hair turned completely golden.

Gemlike, diamond-shaped golden scales sprouted rapidly along her right arm, covering it in moments.

Wang Qiu'er's figure grew more voluptuous, and her bearing became more mature.

Three dazzling Soul Rings—yellow, purple, and black—rose at her feet.

"Wang Dong, step back. Qiu'er and I are about to start. Be careful not to get caught in the crossfire."

Seeing Wang Dong still standing there in a daze, Huo Yuhao quickly motioned for him to move away before their fight caught him in the crossfire.

Wang Dong gave Huo Yuhao a complicated look. "Be careful."

Once Wang Dong had stepped back, Huo Yuhao summoned his Ice Snow Empress Martial Soul again.

As soon as Huo Yuhao's Martial Soul appeared, a strange glint flashed in Wang Qiu'er's eyes.

What a powerful Soul Beast aura. Wang Qiu'er couldn't understand why a human's Martial Soul would carry such a strong Soul Beast aura.

Wang Qiu'er shook her head. The fight was more important for now.

"Here I come!"

Wang Qiu'er cried out as her first and second Soul Rings lit up.

First Soul Skill, Golden Dragon Body: greatly strengthened her physical attributes.

Second Soul Skill, Dragon's Strength: greatly increased Wang Qiu'er's strength.

Wang Qiu'er's delicate white boots left a deep footprint in the ground as her body turned into a streak of golden lightning.

She reached Huo Yuhao before even his eyes, strengthened by his Spirit Eyes Martial Soul, could track her.

Huo Yuhao struggled to follow Wang Qiu'er's movements, but at the last moment, he dodged her charge.

Wang Qiu'er's reflexes were incredibly sharp. She touched down on the tips of her toes and steadied herself.

Her slender waist, barely wider than a handful, twisted with astonishing flexibility. A snow-white fist rapidly grew larger in Huo Yuhao's vision.

First Soul Skill, Ice Emperor's Protection!

A white shield of ice crystals successfully blocked Wang Qiu'er's punch.

Seeing her attack stopped, Wang Qiu'er adjusted her stance.

She took a deep breath, and her fists fell like golden raindrops.

So tough? Wang Qiu'er was surprised by the defensive strength of that thin layer of ice.

In that case... her third Soul Ring, a pale black one, glowed.