Practical Combat

"Come on, Sister Xue, you're serious?"

"I'm fighting a Soul King? Seriously?"

Seeing Su Yu's astonishment, Qian Renxue's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "How could mere Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors be worthy of sparring with someone invincible among those of the same rank?"

"Everyone in the Crown Prince's Residence, from the steward and guards to the maids and servants, belongs to Spirit Hall. You don't need to worry about exposing anything."

"Go all out and let me see what this so-called invincibility among peers looks like."

Su Yu forced out a smile uglier than crying. "Soul Kings can already obtain their first Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. Compared to Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors, they're in a completely different league. Aren't you overestimating me?"

Qian Renxue patted Su Yu on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Wasn't it you who said that one couldn't just bury oneself in cultivation? You still needed some practical combat training to build up battle experience."

At that moment, Su Yu seemed to see a boomerang rapidly growing larger as it flew straight toward his head.

Su Yu sighed. "Fine, fine. I really do need some practical combat training..."

"Just remember to prepare a healing-type Soul Master for me in advance!"

Qian Renxue snorted softly. "Don't worry. It's only a sparring match. You should also remember to control the strength of your Punishment."

"Got it..."

Soon after, Su Yu, wearing a faint expression of resignation, was led by Qian Renxue to a spacious courtyard.

Several figures stood in the courtyard, and Su Yu spotted quite a few familiar faces among them.

"Li Suo, you go first."

As Qian Renxue's words fell, a middle-aged man stepped forward and arrived at the center of the courtyard.

He bowed to Qian Renxue and Su Yu respectively before introducing himself. "I am Li Suo, a level fifty-five control-type Soul King. My Martial Soul is the Chain Martial Soul."

As he spoke, a chain appeared in his palm.

At the same time, two yellow, two purple, and one black Soul Rings rose beneath his feet—the optimal five-ring configuration.

Qian Renxue glanced sideways at Su Yu. "For fairness' sake, I didn't tell you his Soul Skills beforehand. You don't mind, do you?"

Su Yu stroked his chin thoughtfully. "If I remember correctly, when we were hunting my First Soul Ring, he was the one who tied up that Golden Lion King and brought it back..."

Li Suo smiled faintly. "Young Master Su has a good memory. It was indeed me."

Su Yu curled his lips and opened his right hand. Light flashed in his palm, and a thin book made of brass quietly appeared.

At the same time, one yellow and one purple Soul Ring rose beneath his feet, making many of the guards' eyes light up.

Thanks to their professional discipline, none of the guards cried out in surprise.

However, the turmoil in their hearts was unknown to anyone.

Su Yu flipped the Brass Book in his right hand to a blank page and slowly walked to a spot twenty meters opposite Li Suo.

Once Su Yu was in position, Qian Renxue took out a Gold Soul Coin. "The battle begins when the coin lands. Any objections?"

"None."

"None."

Qian Renxue nodded, then lightly flicked her thumb, sending the Gold Soul Coin into the air.

Clang!

The Gold Soul Coin struck the ground with a crisp ring.

At the same moment, the Brass Book in Su Yu's hand shone brilliantly, and several rules took shape almost instantly.

[Those who violate the following rules shall receive Severe Punishment!]

[1. Bullying the Weak shall be punished by Exile]

[2. Attempting to imprison or restrain others]

[3. Imprisoning or restraining others]

Li Suo, twenty meters away, naturally could not see the words in the Brass Book. He immediately activated his First Soul Skill, attempting to restrain Su Yu.

Under Li Suo's control, the chain transformed like a nimble snake and shot straight toward Su Yu.

Yet after flying only ten meters, both Li Suo and his Martial Soul blurred simultaneously before vanishing from where they stood.

Li Suo's figure quietly emerged beside the courtyard wall.

Just as he furrowed his brow and tried to figure out what had happened, the sound of blades piercing flesh rang out.

The next instant, the scent of blood spread through the air, and only then did Li Suo realize that he had been injured!

"Hiss—"

Li Suo sucked in a sharp breath.

He clearly had not expected that Su Yu, a mere Soul Grandmaster, could leave a Soul King like him in such a miserable state!

Meanwhile, although Su Yu had widened the distance between them, he did not dare relax in the slightest. He continued establishing even stricter rules.

[4. Attempting to injure others]

[5. Injuring others]

[6. Twisting another's will and thereby violating the above rules shall receive Severe Punishment]

The three new rules took shape, and Li Suo began his next move.

His second and third Soul Rings lit up in succession. The chain split into three, with one winding around Li Suo's body to form a tight defense.

Su Yu was briefly stunned before understanding dawned on him.

After all, not every control-type Soul Master possessed movement techniques as slippery as Tang San's.

Therefore, they could only dedicate one or two Soul Ring slots specifically to compensating for their own weaknesses.

Since Li Suo was merely defending himself and had not violated any of Su Yu's rules, he received no Punishment this time.

After taking a deep breath, Li Suo attacked again. Two chains shot toward Su Yu from the left and right.

Su Yu smiled and paid them no mind.

This time, before the two chains had even flown ten meters, they blurred once more.

He never learned!

Increase the Punishment!

This time, Li Suo's figure vanished completely, and no one knew where he had gone.

Seeing this, every guard present aside from Qian Renxue and Su Yu stared with their jaws hanging open.

"Where was Li Suo exiled to?"

Su Yu carefully sensed his location before replying, "He's still inside the Crown Prince's Residence... Your residence is really huge..."

Qian Renxue merely smiled and said nothing.

After a while, Li Suo hurried back.

This time, he had two additional wounds on his body.

Under Qian Renxue's puzzled gaze, Li Suo's expression became somewhat ashamed. "There were too many attacks, and they were too well concealed. I couldn't block them all..."

Qian Renxue's mouth twitched, and she did not know what to say.

Su Yu comforted him, "Brother Li's Martial Soul and Soul Skills are simply too common."

"Even without specific intelligence, I can guess most of them. It's easy to prepare countermeasures in advance."

Qian Renxue nodded thoughtfully, then smiled. "His first four Soul Skills are indeed quite common."

"However, his fifth Soul Skill is rather interesting. Do you want to give it a try?"

Su Yu sighed softly and beckoned at Li Suo, signaling him to make his move.

After receiving Qian Renxue's approval, the sole black Soul Ring beneath Li Suo's feet lit up, and his fifth Soul Skill was quietly activated.

The difference was that his Martial Soul did not make any move this time.

Even so, Li Suo's action was still judged as [Bullying the Weak], and he was immediately subjected to Exile.

However, Li Suo succeeded this time.

A brass chain emanating black energy tightly coiled around Su Yu, leaving him unable to move.