Xu Sanshi's fighting spirit soared. He and Bei Bei were known as the Outer Courtyard Twin Stars. They were rivals as well as the closest of brothers, and Xu Sanshi was easily among the top five in the Outer Court.
Today, a new student had dared to provoke him. Xu Sanshi hadn't taken him seriously at first, intending to go through the motions and end the fight quickly. But his underestimation of the boy had left his right arm numb even now.
The gray light in Huo Yuhao's eyes flared. A gray streak shot from his gaze and locked the enormous Tortoise Shell Shield Phantom in place. Xu Sanshi was frozen in the air along with it.
Xu Sanshi was horrified. Soul Power surged wildly through his body, but he still couldn't move.
Huo Yuhao seized the opportunity. He pushed off the ground, then tapped the phantom Tortoise Shell Shield with his toe and sprang into the air. As the brief four-second window began, a white Soul Ring glimmered beneath his feet.
A gigantic clock face appeared in midair and crashed down on Xu Sanshi like Mount Tai pressing down.
"First Soul Skill, Years Erasure."
At the critical moment, tremendous power burst from Xu Sanshi's body, forcibly breaking the hold of time.
"First Soul Skill, Mysterious Nether Tremor."
Xu Sanshi's first Soul Ring flashed. A terrifying black aura spread from his Mysterious Nether Tortoise Shell Shield, blasting Huo Yuhao back more than ten meters. It was a wide-area knockback skill, and if Huo Yuhao's Soul Power hadn't been so robust, it might even have left him dizzy.
"Now that's more like it." Huo Yuhao smiled faintly. Seeing Xu Sanshi launch another attack, he let his Sea of Spirit ripple. One of the four Soul Skills from his First Soul Ring activated: Future Prediction.
An image appeared in Huo Yuhao's mind. Xu Sanshi unleashed his Third Soul Skill, and dense Water Element enveloped him. Then his Second Soul Skill followed close behind. One Turtle Shell Shield after another descended from the sky, protecting him from every direction.
The image flashed through Huo Yuhao's mind. In just an instant, he had worked out a countermeasure.
The gray light in Huo Yuhao's eyes gradually faded, and his pupils split into two. At that very moment, Xu Sanshi was about to use his Third Soul Skill, Black Tortoise Power, when he saw Huo Yuhao become two, then three. A moment later, countless Huo Yuhaos were smiling at him.
Every Huo Yuhao charged toward him, each raising a hand. Having learned his lesson the first time, Xu Sanshi didn't dare let his guard down. He quickly used his Second Soul Skill, Mysterious Nether Shield Formation, surrounding himself with layer upon layer of Turtle Shell Shields.
But the expected attack never came. Instead, the Huo Yuhao before him vanished. A chill ran down Xu Sanshi's back. He turned around and stared in shock at Huo Yuhao, who had appeared out of nowhere inside the Mysterious Nether Shield Formation.
Huo Yuhao grinned at him and placed his right hand against Xu Sanshi's chest. All it would take was a little force, and Xu Sanshi would lose.
"I give up." Xu Sanshi conceded at once.
"Thank you for going easy on me, Senior." Huo Yuhao withdrew his hand. Using Future Prediction had taken a heavy toll on his Mental Power, leaving him pale.
"What Soul Skill did you just use? And when did you get behind me?" Xu Sanshi fired off question after question, staring at Huo Yuhao in confusion.
"Because my Martial Soul is a Body Martial Soul. My eyes are my Martial Soul. You lost because you underestimated me and let your guard down, Senior. I hope I'll get another chance to spar with you." Huo Yuhao cupped his hands, then left the Soul Dueling Arena.
Without revealing his Second or Third Soul Skills, Huo Yuhao had beaten Xu Sanshi by using all four skills of his First Soul Skill in succession. And Xu Sanshi had been careless and underestimated him, too.
Huo Yuhao walked alone down the passageway out. As he looked at the deep night outside, his stomach began rumbling again before he knew it.
"After a fight, of course I should have a huge meal!" Huo Yuhao dashed toward Shrek City's East Gate again.
Meanwhile, Xu Sanshi stepped down from the platform, still puzzled. He was lost in the memory of the fight, unable to understand how he had lost.
"Looks like someone took a tumble today!" a familiar voice called from beside him.
Xu Sanshi turned. When he saw Bei Bei, he gave a self-deprecating smile. "I was careless and underestimated him. If I run into that Huo Yuhao again, I'll make sure he regrets it."
"Is that so? Because I could've sworn I saw you using Mysterious Nether Shield Formation on thin air just now." Tang Ya giggled, not caring in the least about Xu Sanshi's pride.
Xu Sanshi glared at Tang Ya, then looked at the refined and easygoing Bei Bei beside him. He snorted. "I personally tested Huo Yuhao's strength. Knowing what your little Xiao Ya is like, I bet you've already tried to recruit him, haven't you?"
Tang Ya was about to blow up, but Bei Bei gently patted her shoulder. He stepped forward, put an arm around Xu Sanshi, and headed toward the Soul Dueling Arena. "It's been ages since we've spent some quality time together, brother. Come on, let's go spend some quality time together."
Xu Sanshi immediately balked. "Bei Bei! Are you even human? Didn't you see how hard that fight was? Huo Yuhao's Body Martial Soul can control time, and I've got less than half my Soul Power left!"
Bei Bei acted as if he hadn't heard him and dragged Xu Sanshi inside.
There was no question that Huo Yuhao had tremendous potential. Tang Ya had also been overwhelmed these past few days by the problem of reviving the Tang Sect. Xu Sanshi had touched a sore spot for her, so Bei Bei, as her boyfriend, naturally had to spend some quality time with Xu Sanshi.
On the road to the Inner Courtyard, Wu Ming, the Golden Crow Leftover Woman, looked at Qian Renxue and couldn't help asking, "Xiao Xue, when you get the chance, could you introduce your little brother to me?"
Wu Ming's words left Qian Renxue stunned. She shot Wu Ming an exasperated glance. "You're nearly thirty, and my little brother's only eleven. Stop trying to prey on him. I'm afraid his little body couldn't handle even one round with you."
"Then why were you just enthusiastically trying to sell your brother to Xiaotao? You can't play favorites!"
At Wu Ming's words, Ma Xiaotao blushed and hurried her steps.
"Xiaotao's twenty, and my little brother's eleven. An older woman dating a younger man is perfectly fine. Besides, he'll be treating Xiaotao and helping suppress the Evil Fire in her body, so they'll have to spend more time together in the future. Isn't that right, Xiaotao?"
When Qian Renxue looked at Ma Xiaotao, the latter immediately blushed, spread a pair of fiery red Phoenix Wings behind her, and returned to Sea God Island.
"Young girls really are so bashful!" Han Ruoruo chuckled.
"Eldest Senior Sister, don't call off my spar with Dai Yueheng tomorrow." Qian Renxue made sure to remind her.
"Fine, fine! We all know you're a Brother-Pampering Maniac. But Dai Yueheng has a Soul Power level of sixty-one, and we've all seen how powerful the White Tiger Martial Soul is. Be careful in your fight tomorrow," Zhang Lexuan warned.
"Don't worry! Tomorrow, I'll show the Dai Family Brothers that my brother and I aren't so easy to bully!" Qian Renxue wasn't just seeking revenge for Huo Yuhao's childhood. After their trip to the Ice Fire Yin Yang Eye and the Extreme North, she had long since come to think of Huo Yuhao as her own little brother.
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