First in Team Battle and Exchange Rewards

"Second Soul Skill: Sky Crystal Matrix." As soon as he spoke, the Glazed Sky Crystal floating before Bai Heng instantly shattered into over a hundred palm-sized hexagonal crystal pieces.

The crystal pieces rapidly arranged themselves along an enigmatic trajectory, instantly weaving a Glazed Sky Crystal Matrix one meter in front of the two of them. The transparent crystal surfaces, which had originally flowed with seven-colored light, abruptly turned a solid purple-gold.

Under normal circumstances, Bai Heng's Glazed Sky Crystal martial soul appeared as a transparent crystal with flowing multicolored light, possessing an extremely strong ability to conduct Soul Power and Mental Power.

However, under Bai Heng's Second Soul Skill, the Glazed Sky Crystal became a solid purple-gold, and its properties changed, allowing it to reflect all Soul Power and Mental Power that came into contact with it to a certain extent.

The next second, golden threads filling the sky slammed fiercely into the Sky Crystal Matrix. Every incoming thread of Holy Light was forcibly reflected by the countless crystal surfaces and gathered at the center of the matrix. Not a single golden thread could break through Bai Heng's matrix.

From the audience stands, it looked as though the entire battlefield had been split cleanly in two.

Bai Heng gritted his teeth as the Mental Power and Soul Power within him drained at a terrifying rate. Although Hua Lian was supporting him from the side, it was barely enough to make a difference.

He focused on controlling the Sky Crystal Matrix. The golden threads continuously reflected and darted through it before converging at its center.

Bai Heng tried his best to aim the center of the matrix at Qi. He wanted to reflect all those golden threads back at him.

The next moment, Bai Heng controlled the matrix into the shape of a cannon barrel, compressing all the golden threads into a single beam of light and reflecting it toward Qi.

"What?" Qi's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly cut off the Holy Light Silk secret technique and simultaneously activated his First Spirit Skill, raising a Holy Light Shield.

However, the shield was like paper before the reflected golden beam. The beam pierced straight through it, grazing his wings, severing several Angel Feathers, and leaving several bloody wounds on his shoulder.

At that moment, Qin Ming, freed from his restraints, flashed forward and charged directly toward their Support Type Soul Master, Luo Xi. A Wolf Claw rested against her neck.

"Qin Ming's team wins this month's team battle finals!" The referee declared the result of the Soul Fighting match. Qin Ming had practically put a blade to the other side's neck, so the outcome was beyond doubt.

In the VIP seats, Ling Yuan looked at Bai Heng with slight surprise. This student had only enrolled a few months ago, though she had paid special attention to him. The Glazed Sky Crystal was a mutated gemstone-type martial soul.

Its combat manifestation was division. Usually, it split into dozens or even hundreds of pieces. To control that many external objects with Mental Power would normally require Mental Power at least at the level of a Soul King.

However, the Glazed Sky Crystal was Bai Heng's martial soul and was practically part of his own body. With the addition of his Soul Skill, he naturally did not need such enormous Mental Power to control it, but it was still not something a Soul Grandmaster could maintain for long.

Thus, this martial soul possessed an inherent weakness in its early stages. It consumed both Soul Power and Mental Power, and it would only improve once his Soul Power Level rose in the later stages and his Mental Power grew stronger.

That was why Ling Yuan had initially assessed Bai Heng as someone with great potential, but now it seemed that there were many more aspects of his martial soul that could be developed.

Upon hearing the referee's announcement, Bai Heng's vision went dark and his consciousness sank. He had reached his limit. Fortunately, Hua Lian reacted quickly and caught him. The Spirit Flower martial soul in her hand continuously scattered pink petals that drifted down onto Bai Heng.

"Is Bai Heng all right?" Qin Ming stepped forward and asked.

"He's fine. He has merely overdrawn his Mental Power. My Spirit Flower martial soul has a passive skill that can continuously restore other people's Mental Power and Soul Power."

"Thank you."

"It's nothing. Besides, Bai Heng played the most crucial role at the end of this Soul Fighting match."

Qin Ming agreed completely. Bai Heng's final move had truly been inspired. Qi likely never would have imagined that his own secret technique would be what defeated him.

Amid the cheers of the crowd, Qin Ming and Hua Lian supported Bai Heng as they left the Soul Fighting Arena.

The next day, a new month began, and the Genius Ranking had been settled. Qin Ming noticed changes in his basic information on the Mirror Soul Tool.

Name: Qin Ming

Points: 50

This Month's Rank: 1

Last Month's Rank: 1

Soul Fighting Matches: 82

Consecutive Wins: 82

Exchange Points: Fifteen points (Exchange)

At the end of his basic information, an Exchange Points display had been added, followed by an exchange option.

Qin Ming tapped the button, and the next moment, a dazzling array of exchange options appeared before him.

Soul Boosting Pill: Greatly increases a Soul Grandmaster's Soul Power (One Exchange Point)

Pulse Healing Pill: Repairs internal injuries and Vessels damage (One Exchange Point)

Pulse Condensing Pill: Condenses Soul Power, used to break through bottlenecks (Three Exchange Points)

Storage Ring: Storage Soul Tool, five square meters of storage space (Five Exchange Points)

Nether Soft Armor: Inner armor defense, made from Ten Thousand Year Nether Demon Spider silk, capable of blocking Mental Power effects (Fifty Exchange Points)

Qin Ming looked through the list. The items at the front were all pills, Soul Tools, defensive gear, and the like, none of which were particularly useful to him at present.

He then scrolled directly to the Mental Power Cultivation Method section and went straight to the point.

After some selection, Qin Ming chose a Mental Power Cultivation Method called Heart of the Angel, mainly because it was relatively well-balanced, taking into account both stabilizing the Sea of Consciousness and Spiritual Attack.

However, the Exchange Points required for the cultivation method were shockingly high. The first half alone required one hundred and fifty Exchange Points.

Based on Qin Ming's current monthly reward for ranking first on the Genius Ranking, plus the additional Exchange Points brought by consecutive championships, he would still need six months.

Still, it was acceptable. Qin Ming decided not to spend these Exchange Points for now and save them up.

"Qin Ming, Teacher Ling Yuan wants you in her office."

In the classroom, a tall, thin boy spoke to Qin Ming. He was the class's study representative for theory lessons.

"All right." Qin Ming nodded, though he had no idea why Ling Yuan wanted to see him.

Qin Ming arrived at Ling Yuan's office, where she was elegantly sipping tea.

"Qin Ming, the Genius Ranking was settled today. You've looked through the Exchange Shop, right?" Ling Yuan set down her teacup and spoke leisurely to Qin Ming.

"I have."

"Did you find anything you liked?"

Qin Ming nodded. "I found a Mental Power Cultivation Method called Heart of the Angel. It costs one hundred and fifty Exchange Points."

"So I plan to save my Exchange Points."

"Qin Ming, release your martial soul fire and let me see it," Ling Yuan suddenly said.

Qin Ming did not know what Ling Yuan meant by this, but he did as she asked. A wisp of crimson-gold Gray Wolf Fire rose from his palm.

Ling Yuan stared at the flame in Qin Ming's palm as though admiring a work of art, nodding repeatedly from time to time.

"Teacher Ling Yuan, is there something wrong with my martial soul fire?" Qin Ming asked with a frown.

"No, not at all. It's extremely perfect, almost infinitely close to Ultimate Fire."

"I'm truly envious, Qin Ming."

"Teacher Ling Yuan, you didn't call me here just to admire it and praise me a little, did you?" Qin Ming said somewhat speechlessly.

"Of course not. I merely have a suggestion for you."

Ling Yuan held up five fingers. "I suggest that you spend five Exchange Points each month to obtain a one-month cultivation slot in Blazing Sun Valley."

"Blazing Sun Valley?" Qin Ming looked puzzled. This was a new term to him.

"It is a top-tier Fire Attribute Mimicry Cultivation Environment. Normally, only Fire Attribute Soul Masters at Soul Emperor level or above from Spirit Hall may cultivate there."

"That is because the Fire Elemental Power there is far too abundant. Generally speaking, only Fire Attribute Soul Masters at Soul Emperor level can endure it."

"But you're different. The quality of your martial soul fire is exceptionally high. That place should be a treasure land for you."