Xue Yuheng raised an eyebrow and grumbled inwardly.
Zhao Yan was a crafty old fox, all right. He'd picked a newly promoted Soul Elder who was only twelve, and who had one of the top Beast Martial Souls: an Angel Martial Soul.
She was probably one of the top three among all the first-year students in the Advanced Division.
Xue Yuheng glanced at Xiao Xiao and Xue Qingwu, who were itching to fight beside him, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
If he let either of them go up, Yu Mengdi probably wouldn't last ten seconds.
Xiao Xiao was a human-shaped beast, even more aggressive than anyone in the Power Attack System.
As for Xue Qingwu, she'd never known how to hold back. She'd already taught plenty of girls in their class a lesson for provoking her.
Only a Soul Ancestor could match the two of them.
"Director Zhao, I'll go."
Xue Yuheng stepped forward and volunteered to take the challenge.
He'd been wanting to test how much his combat ability had improved after his body merged with the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion's essence.
Besides, a clean, decisive victory would put an end to the doubts circulating around the academy.
Seeing him accept without hesitation, Zhao Yan looked even more impressed. "Good! You've got guts. Come with me. I'll take you to the No. 1 Mimicry Arena."
The group made their way down a long corridor to the arena complex on the west side of the academy.
The No. 1 Mimicry Arena was the most basic of the facilities, and also the one used most often.
As they entered, the metallic walls slowly closed around them, and soft sunlight filled the simulated sky overhead.
Yu Mengdi walked to the center of the arena and turned to face Xue Yuheng. Her golden ponytail swayed slightly in the sunlight, and she carried herself with a striking, valiant air.
Her voice rang out, clear and pleasant. "...Junior Yuheng, you can choose any battle environment you're comfortable with. I'm fine with anything."
Xue Yuheng shook his head, his tone even. "No need. A standard environment will do."
He'd never stoop to taking that kind of advantage.
Ultimate Ice could reach its full potential in any environment. Besides, the environment had never been his real trump card.
Yu Mengdi nodded and said no more.
Prince Gan really is confident.
"Both sides, get ready!" Zhao Yan called from the edge of the arena. "Let the match begin!"
The moment his voice fell, two completely different lights flared to life.
Three Soul Rings rose slowly from Yu Mengdi's feet: yellow, yellow, and purple—the standard optimal configuration.
Golden light surged from within her and gathered behind her into a pair of pure-white angel wings. A sacred aura instantly filled the arena.
Xue Yuheng, meanwhile, had only one pale-yellow Soul Ring slowly revolving around him.
It looked like nothing more than an ordinary Hundred-Year Soul Ring.
Zhao Yan and the two teachers at the edge of the arena furrowed their brows.
They knew Xue Yuheng had extraordinary talent, but how could he possibly defeat a Soul Elder with three Soul Rings when he had only one?
Only Xue Qingwu and Xiao Xiao remained calm. They knew better than anyone what terrifying power lay beneath that ordinary-looking Hundred-Year Soul Ring, its color altered by the Power of Creation.
It contained the essence of the four-hundred-thousand-year-old Ice Jade Empress Scorpion—the Ultimate Ice capable of freezing heaven and earth.
"Watch out, Junior!"
Yu Mengdi gave a low shout, and her First Soul Ring lit up.
First Soul Skill: Sacred Twin Swords!
Two long swords formed from pure holy light appeared in her hands. Golden radiance flowed along their blades, carrying an aura that could purify all evil.
She pushed off the ground with her toes and shot toward Xue Yuheng like an arrow, moving at astonishing speed.
Xue Yuheng stood motionless.
Only when the Sacred Twin Swords were about to pierce him did the Hundred-Year Soul Ring around him finally light up.
Ice Emperor's Bodyguard.
Pale-blue ice crystals instantly spread over his body, forming a translucent suit of ice armor.
Lifelike Ice Jade Empress Scorpion patterns were carved into the armor, which radiated a bone-chilling cold.
Clang!
The Sacred Twin Swords slammed into the armor with a sound like metal striking metal. Golden holy light and pale-blue Ultimate Ice clashed violently, sending dazzling sparks flying.
Yu Mengdi felt a piercing chill travel up the swords, numbing her fingers.
Startled, she quickly leaped back and stared at the ice armor on Xue Yuheng in disbelief.
Her Sacred Twin Swords hadn't even managed to pierce his defense!
"My turn."
Xue Yuheng's voice remained calm as he slowly raised his right hand.
Domain of Eternal Freeze.
In an instant, a ring of pale-blue icy mist spread out from Xue Yuheng.
The temperature throughout the arena plummeted. A thick layer of frost rapidly formed on the ground, while the moisture in the air turned into tiny ice particles that swirled around them.
As the domain of Ultimate Ice unfolded, Yu Mengdi felt her movements slow. Even the flow of Soul Power within her body was slightly impeded.
What incredible ice power!
Yu Mengdi's expression tightened. She no longer dared to be careless. Her Second Soul Ring suddenly lit up, and the two Sacred Twin Swords in her hands merged into a massive cross-shaped light sword.
"Second Soul Skill: Holy Radiance Cross Slash!"
The golden cross-shaped light sword tore through the air, sweeping toward Xue Yuheng with unstoppable force. In its path, even the icy mist of the Domain of Eternal Freeze was temporarily cleaved apart.
Xue Yuheng's gaze sharpened. The power of the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion's essence quietly stirred within him.
"Wrath of the Ice Emperor."
He threw a punch. Countless ice-blue spikes erupted from the ground like a forest of ice, surging toward the Holy Radiance Cross Slash.
"Boom!"
A violent explosion rang out in the center of the arena. Golden holy light and pale-blue ice spikes annihilated each other in a furious clash. The shock wave swept outward, making the entire arena tremble.
When the smoke cleared, Yu Mengdi staggered back several steps, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Her Second Soul Skill had been forcibly blocked, and she'd even suffered a light injury.
She looked up at Xue Yuheng, standing in the center of the icy mist. He hadn't moved an inch, and his ice armor didn't have so much as a crack.
"I lost."
Yu Mengdi bit her lip and spoke reluctantly. She'd already used her first two Soul Skills, yet hadn't even touched the hem of his clothes.
Xue Yuheng shook his head and said calmly, "You haven't used your Third Soul Skill. Use it. Otherwise, this match is meaningless."
He could tell that Yu Mengdi's Third Soul Skill was her real trump card.
A Third Soul Skill from an Angel Martial Soul was usually a powerful enhancement skill.
Yu Mengdi abruptly raised her head, surprise flashing in her eyes.
She hadn't expected Xue Yuheng to ask her to use her Third Soul Skill. It showed absolute confidence in his own strength—and respect for her.
"Fine!"
Yu Mengdi took a deep breath, fighting spirit blazing in her eyes. At last, her Third Soul Ring—the purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring—lit up.
"Third Soul Skill: Angel's Blessing!"
Dazzling golden light burst from within her, enveloping her entire body. The angel wings behind her grew more solid, and her aura surged in an instant.
The sacred light scattered the icy mist around her, and even the temperature within the Domain of Eternal Freeze seemed to rise.
Under the enhancement of Angel's Blessing, Yu Mengdi's strength, speed, and defense all doubled.
She gripped the Sacred Twin Swords again. This time, she was going all out.
At last, Xue Yuheng's expression turned serious.
He raised his right hand, and the pale-blue Ice Jade Empress Scorpion tattoo on his wrist suddenly lit up.
A flash of icy-blue light passed, and a long, ice-blue sword appeared in his hand.
The blade was crystal clear, as if carved from ten-thousand-year-old ice. An imperial aura shimmered along its edge.
It was the form taken by his Emperor Scorpion Tail Spirit Bone.
The moment the ice sword appeared, the sky and earth within the entire simulated space suddenly changed.
The previously clear sky instantly darkened.
The wind began to blow.
At first, it was only a gentle breeze, brushing over the frost on the ground.
But soon, the wind grew stronger.
Howling gusts swept up the ice particles on the ground, forming blade-like streaks of white wind in the air. The wind roared louder and louder, like a stampede of countless beasts.
This wasn't wind generated by the simulated arena.
It was the fundamental law of wind Xue Yuheng had comprehended through the Wind Dragon King's inheritance.
Looking at the ice sword in his hand, he recalled Xiao Xiao using her Soul Skills: the suppression of the Zhentian Cauldron, the sound waves of the Nine Phoenixes Flute, and the all-encompassing control...
Countless insights converged in his heart, finally merging into one.
Self-Created Soul Skill: Sword of Wind.
Xue Yuheng spoke softly as he slowly raised the ice sword in his hand.
In an instant, every gust of wind between heaven and earth converged on the sword.
Countless blades of wind fused with the Ultimate Ice, becoming streaks of ice-blue sword energy.
The terrifying sword energy enveloped the entire arena, and the air itself seemed frozen.
Yu Mengdi's face turned deathly pale. She felt a sense of danger unlike anything she'd ever experienced.
Before that sword energy, she felt like a tiny boat caught in a raging storm, liable to be swallowed at any moment.
She poured all her Soul Power into the Sacred Twin Swords with every ounce of strength she had, forming a thick golden shield in front of herself.
"Slash."
Xue Yuheng brought the ice sword down with a gentle swing.
A massive streak of ice-blue sword energy roared forth, stretching across the entire arena. In its path, even space seemed to tear apart.
The golden shield shattered instantly before the sword energy, as if it were made of paper.
The sword energy surged on and slammed into Yu Mengdi.
Yu Mengdi spat out a large mouthful of blood. Her body flew backward like a broken kite before crashing heavily to the ground and passing out.
Xue Yuheng put away the ice sword. His Soul Ring and ice armor vanished with it.
He hurried to Yu Mengdi's side and checked her breathing. Only after confirming that she'd merely lost consciousness from internal injuries did he breathe a sigh of relief.
He'd held back sixty percent of his power. Otherwise, that strike would have done far more than knock Yu Mengdi unconscious.
"Quick! Get the medical staff!"
Zhao Yan rushed over. He looked from the unconscious Yu Mengdi to the completely unharmed Xue Yuheng, his expression utterly conflicted.
Seven years old, one Soul Ring, defeating a twelve-year-old Soul Elder.
Calling him a genius wasn't enough. He was a monster.
After an unknown amount of time, Yu Mengdi slowly opened her eyes.
A white ceiling came into view, and the faint scent of medicine lingered in the air.
She moved her fingers and felt an ache throughout her body.
Was she in... the academy's infirmary?
Yu Mengdi turned her head and saw someone slumped beside the bed.
Xue Yuheng was lying against the edge of her bed, fast asleep.
Sunlight streamed through the window and fell across his face, his long eyelashes casting faint shadows.
His brow was slightly furrowed, as if he were having a bad dream.
On the cabinet beside the bed sat a cup of warm water, still steaming, along with several pills for treating internal injuries.
As Yu Mengdi watched his sleeping profile, a complicated feeling suddenly welled up inside her.
She remembered the world-shattering sword energy in the arena.
Prince Gan could have defeated her with ease, yet he'd held back at the last moment.
A smile as radiant as an angel's slowly curved Yu Mengdi's lips.
Before you continue