Huo Wu and Wang Qi

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, Wang Qi sat cross-legged beneath the shade of a tree in the small courtyard when he suddenly opened his eyes. His Soul Power surged violently—clearly a sign that he was about to break through.

Over the past six months, Wang Qi had never neglected his cultivation. With the resources Lin Yan had traded for from the Great Soul Arena, he cultivated at full intensity, finally reaching Soul Power Level 27 after the new year.

In half a year, his Soul Power had risen by two and a half levels. Even Wang Qi was becoming addicted to this cultivation speed.

"Whew, this is the cultivation speed of a genius. It really isn't on the same level as before. No wonder all the records say that only those with Innate Soul Power of Level Seven have even a sliver of a chance to become a Titled Douluo."

"Tsk, tsk. It's hard to imagine just how much time Tang San and Xiao Wu wasted to only reach Level 29 Soul Power at the age of twelve."

"But then again, it's about time I returned to Nuoding City. If my Soul Power Level surpasses Grandmaster's, the Golden Sacred Dragon bloodline in his body might not be as useful to me as it was before."

Getting up from his meditation cushion, Wang Qi prepared to return to his room and pack for a trip back to Nuoding City. Just then, a crisp female voice rang out from beyond the courtyard.

"Wang Qi, get out here! I've broken through to Level 29. This time, I'll definitely beat you!"

He did not need to look. Just from the voice alone, Wang Qi knew who it was.

Five months ago, Lin Yan had successfully returned to Blazing Fire City with the goods from this round of trade with the Great Soul Arena, bringing Wang Qi a small amount of cultivation resources and a large quantity of Gold Soul Coins.

There was no helping it. To maintain his cultivation speed, Wang Qi had no choice but to get in touch with Huo Wushuang and his sister again to purchase the necessary cultivation resources.

Thus, after learning that Wang Qi had broken through to the Soul Grandmaster realm, Huo Wu—who had already been unmatched among Soul Grand Masters—naturally set her sights on him.

The result, of course, was a one-sided beating. But Huo Wu was stubborn. Even when Wang Qi pinned her to the ground until tears streamed from the pain, she still insisted, "I haven't used my full strength yet," and "I haven't lost." Only after Wang Qi revealed his second thousand-year Soul Ring did she reluctantly admit defeat.

The days that followed were hard on Wang Qi. After taking Whale Rubber, Huo Wu felt that her physical qualities had greatly improved and challenged Wang Qi to a spar. Defeat!

Huo Wu's Soul Power rose by a level, and feeling that she was capable again, she sought out Wang Qi once more. The result was naturally defeat!

Huo Wu developed Ring Fusion and came knocking again after strengthening the power of her soul skills. The result was defeat once more.

Every time Huo Wu made even the slightest breakthrough in strength, she would challenge Wang Qi. Every time, she would arrive with her chest puffed out, convinced that she could win, and leave with her head hanging in defeat.

"Come in already. Don't wreck my gate," Wang Qi called helplessly toward the door.

A fist wreathed in flames answered him, shooting straight for his head.

Having fought Huo Wu so many times, how could Wang Qi not understand her tricks? Golden flames covered both his hands as he collided with Huo Wu's fist. Then, he saw a pretty face wearing a mischievous grin.

"Hehe, Wang Qi, I won this time!"

A sly smile appeared on Huo Wu's face as the two yellow Soul Rings beneath her feet merged. A flash of yellow light followed, and Huo Wu's body instantly split into two as both figures pounced at Wang Qi.

The Huo Wu rushing toward him was instantly engulfed in flames. Seeing the flaming figure draw closer and closer, Wang Qi was about to retaliate when Huo Wu changed her fist into a palm.

As she grabbed Wang Qi's fist, her two long legs immediately wrapped around his other arm, and she climbed onto him.

"Are you crazy? Are you really going this far just to win?"

Feeling the energy contained within the flaming figure charging toward him, Wang Qi glared irritably at Huo Wu, who still wore that mischievous smile.

"Hehe, who cares whether I get hurt? Just tell me, did I really win this time?" Before Huo Wu could finish, Wang Qi's right foot became wrapped in golden flames and kicked toward the flaming figure that was about to explode.

At the same time, the yellow Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up. A fiery bandage, magma-red throughout and streaked with thin golden patterns, directly wrapped around Fire Shadow. Wang Qi strode forward and kicked the flaming figure in the head with his other foot.

Boom! The flaming figure scattered. Wang Qi gave his arm a slight shake and broke free from the clamp of Huo Wu's legs, then flicked her little forehead.

"You're getting bolder and bolder. You nearly destroyed my little courtyard."

"Alright, get down."

"Look at how wronged you feel. That move of yours is very effective. An ordinary Soul Elder who doesn't know your soul skills might not necessarily be your match. But think about it—how many times have we fought? You only have two soul skills. Even if you develop them to perfection, it won't make much difference to me."

At those words, Huo Wu looked even more aggrieved. Over the past six months of sparring, she had almost never forced Wang Qi to use his second soul skill. It would have been strange if she did not feel wronged.

"After saying all that, I still haven't forced out your second soul skill, have I?"

Seeing Huo Wu's pitiful expression, Wang Qi laughed. "If you wanted to see my second soul skill, you could've just said so. Why did you have to wreck my courtyard?"

"Watch closely. This is my second one." With that, Wang Qi prepared to release his second soul skill. The purple Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up, and golden flames flowed over his body like ripples. Wherever they passed, a small section of Soul Power armor formed. Though Wang Qi was only eleven, he still looked imposing.

"Golden Flame Armor. My second soul skill. It boosts strength, speed, and defense. Alright, stop messing around. I still need to pack."

"You're leaving? Where are you going? To graduate from Mountain Fire Academy and then join Blazing Fire Academy? Do you want me to go with you?"

Huo Wu's words caught Wang Qi off guard. He truly had not thought that far ahead. He only had one purpose in leaving this time: going to Nuoding City to find Yu Xiaogang and talk him into promoting his ideas on Martial Soul Evolution, then using the stimulation of the Blood Dragon Ginseng Soul Ring to extract the Golden Dragon Blood from Yu Xiaogang's body.

As for Mountain Fire Academy? Wang Qi had not considered it at all.

And joining Blazing Fire Academy? That would make obtaining Dugu Bo's Immortal Herbs much more difficult. Wang Qi was reluctant to give up the Immortal Herbs, and besides, he still needed to study them in order to increase his Soul Ring Age.

"What's wrong? Did my suggestion put you in a difficult position?"

Seeing Wang Qi fall silent, a hint of disappointment flashed through Huo Wu's eyes, though she still voiced the question in her heart.

After half a year together, added to the half year they had spent together a year ago—especially after Wang Qi defeated Huo Wu—their relationship had become somewhat complicated.

Wang Qi looked into Huo Wu's eyes and sighed.

"Huo Wu, if nothing unexpected happens, I'll be going to Heaven Dou Royal Academy next."

"I can't tell you the exact reason right now. I can only say that Heaven Dou Royal Academy holds an opportunity that will be extremely helpful to me."