Four-on-Four (Part Two)

"Senior, then I'll give you what you want."

"Second Soul Skill, Phantom Dragon Demon Body!" Its true name was Chaofeng Dragon Body. Whatever it was called, its effect remained the same: it doubled all attributes, an absurdly powerful boost.

Now, Chen Zifeng could no longer casually block the Chaofeng Dragon Claw.

But Power Attack System Soul Masters almost always had enhancement skills, and Chen Zifeng was no exception.

After activating his Soul Skill, he realized he still couldn't suppress Mu Xuanheng. He was even starting to get pushed back.

"So strong!" That was his first thought.

A Four-Ring Soul Ancestor suppressing a Five-Ring Soul King was beyond everyone's expectations.

After all, this wasn't an ordinary Soul King. Chen Zifeng was one of the Shrek Seven Devils, and he had his teammates' enhancements and the opposing side's debuffs.

"Chen Zifeng, what's going on?"

Ma Xiaotao was still holding her own in the air, and even had a slight advantage.

The support from behind her was a tremendous help. Without Gongyang Mo and Yao Haoxuan, she absolutely wouldn't have been able to hold out against Ling Luochеn and Dai Yueheng.

She was already the team's biggest advantage.

But Xixi still hadn't made a move. As an Agility Attack System Soul King, once she struck, she could easily kill with a single blow—and turn the tide of the battle.

Chen Zifeng was in a bind. Mu Xuanheng's combat strength was far greater than he'd expected.

He was supposed to be their biggest advantage. The plan was to take down Mu Xuanheng first, then eliminate Xixi, and finally team up with Ma Xiaotao to win.

But they were already stuck at the first step. A Five-Ring Soul King couldn't beat a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor.

"Junior, sorry, but I have to get past you." Chen Zifeng activated his Soul Skill, though it wasn't clear what it did.

Xixi had already found an opening and reached Yao Haoxuan.

Chen Zifeng could only swing his sword at Xixi.

Losing Yao Haoxuan had too great an impact.

Ma Xiaotao said, "We can't drag this out any longer, Gongyang Mo!"

With support abilities close to those of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Gongyang Mo's boost to Ma Xiaotao shouldn't have been so small.

Two purple Soul Rings lit up, creating yellow and green halos above Ma Xiaotao and Chen Zifeng.

The Rainbow Dragon's abilities also took the form of halos.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike."

Dai Yueheng said, "How many times do I have to tell you? That move won't work on me!" He was confident he could block the attack.

After all, Gongyang Mo wasn't giving them his full support.

But Gongyang Mo wasn't the only one providing support. Yao Haoxuan used his Soul Skill too. His ability didn't just strengthen—it also weakened.

Debuffs were a real nuisance. They could effectively amplify the benefits of a boost.

That made Ma Xiaotao's Soul Skill even stronger.

Fortunately, Dai Yueheng wasn't the only one who had to face it.

Ling Luochеn said, "Second Soul Skill, Ice Armor Protection. Fifth Soul Skill, Ice Radiance Ring."

Her Ice Radiance Ring could greatly weaken the Soul Skills of fire-attribute Soul Masters.

But Ma Xiaotao, with both boosts, was still stronger than the two of them.

"Fifth Soul Skill, Phoenix Cloud Piercing Strike." The powerful single-target attack struck Dai Yueheng, leaving him struggling to endure it.

The battle still looked as if it were proceeding as expected: Xixi was held off by Chen Zifeng, while Ma Xiaotao fought Ling Luochеn and Dai Yueheng.

But Mu Xuanheng was still there. "Senior Chen Zifeng, did you forget that I'm your opponent?"

Chen Zifeng held the Soulchasing Sword. "Gongyang Mo's support halo is fully active, and Yao Haoxuan is weakening you too. You're only half as strong as usual. Don't tell me you think you can break through my defenses?"

A Four-Ring Soul Master being unable to break through a Five-Ring Soul Master's defenses was only natural. Everyone thought that was how it should be.

"But I haven't used my Fourth Soul Skill yet."

Mu Xuanheng's simple remark immediately made Chen Zifeng sense something was wrong.

"Even if it's a powerful Soul Skill, Yao Haoxuan's debuff means you can't break through my defenses."

Mu Xuanheng said, "That's because this isn't an offensive Soul Skill. It has a special effect! Disaster-Fortune Reversal!"

His Fourth Soul Ring lit up, and Yao Haoxuan's debuff instantly turned into a boost. The situation reversed in an instant.

"What happened? Wasn't he weakened by Yao Haoxuan?" Chen Zifeng cried out in alarm. He hadn't been able to deal with Mu Xuanheng when he was weakened. Now, he was afraid he'd be the one taken out.

A long-range claw strike shot out, and, just as expected, Chen Zifeng split it apart with his sword. A huge number of ice crystals followed in its wake.

Ling Luochеn reacted even faster than Chen Zifeng. "Ultimate Ice? How is that possible?"

Compared to everyone else, Ma Xiaotao was much calmer. She'd already witnessed Mu Xuanheng's Ultimate Ice long ago.

Taking advantage of Ling Luochеn's distraction, she immediately launched an attack. "Sixth Soul Skill, Phoenix Meteor Shower!"

At the same time, Gongyang Mo had already noticed that the situation was turning against them and used his Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill to boost his two teammates.

When the situation changed, giving it everything you had was the best course of action.

Chen Zifeng was overwhelmed by the ice crystals. A close-range claw followed right behind, and just two strikes were enough to knock him out.

At the same time, Ma Xiaotao unleashed her full power, using her Fifth and Sixth Soul Skills together. She took a White Tiger Intense Light Wave head-on and still managed to send Ling Luochеn flying.

"Thank goodness, there's still a chance. A few more meteor showers ought to do it." Ma Xiaotiao tried to reassure herself, but forgot that Xixi was still there.

The Lightning Leopard appeared beside the two support Soul Masters like a ghost. Crackling flashes of lightning announced their elimination.

Without the extra boosts, Ma Xiaotao was firmly suppressed by Mu Xuanheng's Ultimate Ice. Dai Yueheng seized the opportunity to launch his final attack. "White Tiger Destruction Kill!"

Surrounded by all three of them, Ma Xiaotao was eliminated.

It had been a small four-on-four match, but they'd fought with everything they had. In a match, you had to be extremely cautious, or you might be taken out the moment an opening appeared, just like Ling Luochеn.

Chen Zifeng smiled bitterly. "Junior, you're too strong. You're only a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, yet you're much stronger than me, a Five-Ring Soul King. I guess only the captain and Dai Yueheng could fight you."

Ma Xiaotao said, "He has Ultimate Ice, which counters me badly. Dai Yueheng might have an easier time against him."

Unlike the two of them, who were busy reflecting on the battle, Ling Luochеn decided to be brave for once. "Junior, would you let me experience Ultimate Ice?"

"Are you sure, senior?"

"I'm sure."

Ling Luochеn held out her hand, hoping to use Mu Xuanheng's power to briefly transform the ice within her into Ultimate Ice.

The others watched too, wanting to see how strong a Soul King with Ultimate Ice would be.

"Great Cold No Snow!" Mu Xuanheng struck Ling Luochеn with his palm, shattering the ice armor on her body.

The frigid chill immediately left Ling Luochеn frostbitten.

The whole arena fell silent. Everyone stared at Mu Xuanheng as if he were a monster. Ling Luochеn's expression was especially grim.

"Junior, your Ultimate Ice really is formidable," Ling Luochеn said through gritted teeth.

"Wasn't that what you wanted to experience, senior? I deliberately used a Soul Skill."

Everyone around them was holding back laughter.

Mu Xuanheng, however, looked completely calm.

That was because Snow Empress was scolding him, forcibly correcting the way he used Great Cold No Snow.

Gongyang Mo said, "Junior hasn't even turned thirteen yet, right? That means he can compete in two Soul Fighting Tournaments."

Only then did everyone realize what was unusual.

"What an unparalleled genius." They all looked at him with envy.

Yan Shaozhe cut off the conversation and began lecturing the seven of them on their fighting styles.

Mu Xuanheng stayed off to the side. His performance had been practically flawless, so Yan Shaozhe wouldn't lecture him.

Still, some of what Yan Shaozhe said was very useful to him.

When training ended, Yan Shaozhe took him back.

"I've arranged for you to skip the freshman assessment for advancing from first year to second year. You and Gu Yuena don't need to take part. You can spend this time on your own affairs."