Revealing His Strength, First Soul Rings in Two Forms

Compared to vague promises, Wang Qi preferred benefits he could see and touch.

Huo Wushuang arranged for Wang Qi to receive a pass granting him one month of cultivation in an Intermediate Soul Master Academy training room. Naturally, Wang Qi had to treat him to a meal.

As for conflict? What conflict was there? Perhaps when Wang Qi inspected Mountain Fire Intermediate Soul Master Academy, he would find it inferior to Blazing Fire Academy and return to Blazing Fire Academy afterward.

If he soured the relationship now, he would definitely be the one at a disadvantage.

"Brother Wang Qi, although we had a small disagreement before, I think it might actually bring us closer."

"Tch, I really don't know what is so great about some little brat. His Soul Power is only rank fourteen. When the time comes—"

Huo Wushuang hurriedly stopped Huo Wu from saying what she had been about to say and looked at Wang Qi apologetically.

Huo Wushuang had watched Wang Qi's matches that morning very carefully. Wang Qi had defeated two Soul Masters with Soul Power above rank eighteen without releasing Soul Rings, showing that his true strength was far more than his Soul Power Level suggested.

If Wang Qi joined Blazing Fire Academy, the improvement to the academy would be immense. At the very least, in the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, once Wang Qi broke through to Soul Elder, he could hold back most of the Soul Elders from the other academies.

Watching the siblings bicker, Wang Qi rubbed his brow.

"Huo Wushuang, I understand what you mean, and I can roughly guess your purpose. There are still three months before the Intermediate Soul Master Academies begin classes. I plan to spend those three months traveling around and investigating which academy suits my cultivation best."

"Neither of you is particularly calculating, so I won't hide it from you. I only have two destinations for this journey: Blazing Fire Academy and—"

"Mountain Fire Intermediate Soul Master Academy, right?" Huo Wushuang picked up the thread and said directly.

"That's right, Mountain Fire Intermediate Soul Master Academy. I imagine the reason Blazing Fire Academy cannot gather a full team for the next tournament is precisely because of Mountain Fire Intermediate Soul Master Academy."

"I won't consider places that are too far away. What Mountain Fire Intermediate Soul Master Academy becomes in the future has nothing to do with me. Right now, I only want to find a place suitable for my cultivation. So, Huo Wushuang, do you understand what I mean?"

Seeing Huo Wushuang preparing to argue, Wang Qi immediately cut him off and stated his thoughts.

Wang Qi especially liked a saying from a crosstalk performer in his previous life: serving animals was much easier than serving people.

So, even though the three of them had indeed started off on rather unpleasant terms, it did not affect Wang Qi's favorable impression of the siblings.

Fire attribute, straightforward temperaments. Being around people like that was comfortable.

Huo Wushuang looked at Wang Qi in silence, then finally nodded helplessly.

"Wushuang understands your thoughts, Brother Wang Qi. Since things have been said this clearly, it seems I have no reason to keep inviting you. Come, let's eat."

With the subject of recruitment gone, the atmosphere among the three became much more harmonious. From Huo Wushuang's attitude, Wang Qi also roughly judged that Mountain Fire Intermediate Soul Master Academy's educational resources truly surpassed those of Blazing Fire Academy's intermediate division.

The three traveled together to the central plaza. Looking at the crowd that had gathered again, some analyzed the odds, some discussed who was stronger, and some directly guessed who would ultimately win the Soul Master division and the Soul Grandmaster division.

The scene was extremely lively. At least from the perspective of the betting pool, the Great Soul Arena's move into Blazing Fire City had been quite successful.

Back at the matches, after the Soul Power pressure screening that morning and the eliminations from the ranking matches, aside from Wang Qi, an outsider from Blazing Fire City, only three Guard soldiers remained in the Soul Master division.

On Douluo Continent, especially in the early stages when Soul Skills were scarce, combat experience was often the decisive factor in determining victory or defeat.

When everyone was at the same realm, had the same Soul Power Level, and possessed the same number of Soul Skills, the side with more combat experience and more methods of attack naturally had a greater chance of winning.

That was why, in the end, only Wang Qi and three Guard soldiers remained.

Standing below the arena and watching a battle between Guard soldiers, Wang Qi found it thrilling.

He suddenly recalled another saying from his previous life: disciples taught by the same master could not break each other's moves.

The techniques of the two Guard soldiers came from the same source. Their battle was incredibly fierce, yet no matter how fiercely they fought, neither could unleash a decisive strike to determine the victor.

Outsiders watched with great interest, but to those who understood, it was indeed a little boring.

"Let us congratulate contestant Guard Number Three for winning this match and successfully advancing to the finals! Healing-type Soul Masters, please come over and treat Guard Number Three's injuries."

"Good, now let us welcome Third Generation Vermilion Bird, the contestant who has fought above his level for two consecutive matches and emerged victorious, earning the title of this Soul Battle's dark horse! Will Third Generation Vermilion Bird be able to maintain the dark horse's momentum in this match, continue fighting above his level, and win again?"

"Next, please welcome Third Generation Vermilion Bird's opponent, Guard Number Five! Guard Number Five has—"

The soldier codenamed Guard Number Five directly summoned his Martial Soul. He gripped a long spear whose tip burned with flames, while the yellow Soul Ring beneath his feet glimmered faintly. He looked as though he was gathering strength and could launch an attack at any moment.

"You are strong. I can sense your strength. As a warrior, I must give this everything I have. If you are injured because of me in the coming match, I apologize in advance."

That speech from Guard Number Five nearly made Wang Qi think he was the protagonist. He shook his head, tossing those unrealistic thoughts from his mind.

The instant he assumed a combat stance, Martial Soul Possession was complete. Guard Number Five, who had watched Wang Qi's movements from beginning to end, grew even more solemn.

"Martial Soul, Flame Spear. Take this! First Soul Skill, Flame Assault!"

Guard Number Five's Soul Ring flashed beneath his feet as he burst forward at full speed. A long bridge formed entirely from condensed flames shot toward Wang Qi.

"So fast."

Guard Number Five's move exceeded Wang Qi's expectations, forcing him to use his First Soul Skill.

Blazing Binding. His yellow Soul Ring flashed, and a pair of entirely black armguards covered in magma-like patterns instantly appeared around his arms.

He crossed his arms and blocked the flaming spear that was about to pierce his chest. Just as Wang Qi was about to shatter the flaming spear, a spearhead burning with flames stabbed toward his head.

"Troublesome. Truly troublesome."

"Blazing Binding, Entangling!"

As he pushed his Soul Skill with all his strength, the armguards became even harder. Wang Qi swung his arm fiercely, instantly shattering the flaming spear.

At the same time, while dodging, Lin Yi grabbed the Flame Spear Martial Soul with one hand and aimed his other hand at Guard Number Five.

Almost the instant the Flame Spear Martial Soul in Wang Qi's hand vanished, the wristguards that had originally wrapped around Wang Qi's arms transformed into long bandages, directly binding Guard Number Five. The flaming bandages continually rose in temperature as they wrapped around Guard Number Five's body, crackling loudly.

"Referee, he has passed out. The result of this m-match—"