That Beating Wasn't for Nothing!

"Sister Huo Wu, you're looking down on us! What's there to be afraid of?"

Huo Wu's words immediately ignited Chihuo Academy's fighting spirit, instantly sweeping away their previous dejection.

"Heh, my sister has grown up."

Huo Wushuang was deeply gratified. Nothing could have been better than Huo Wu reacting this way.

"Feng Xiaotian, you really have surprised me."

Night fell, but Huo Wu found herself unable to sleep. She stood alone by the window, gazing into the distance with a sigh.

The next day, the long-delayed Academy Exchange Tournament officially began. This time, however, all the students of Godwind Academy were shouting the same name.

"That guy Feng Xiaotian has really gotten enough attention this time."

"This time, I'll go first."

Huo Wu's sudden declaration left everyone else from Chihuo Academy dumbfounded.

"Sister, you mean..."

"That's right. I want to spar with Feng Xiaotian!"

When the people from Godwind Academy saw that Huo Wu was the first to step up, they were momentarily confused. This was a little different from what had been agreed upon, wasn't it?

From below the stage, Feng Xiaotian understood Huo Wu's intentions the moment he saw her step up first.

"Step down. I'll do it."

After arriving onstage, Feng Xiaotian patted the Godwind Academy member on the shoulder, signaling for him to leave first.

"Sister Huo Wu, shall we?"

As Feng Xiaotian faced Huo Wu once more, all the Godwind Academy teachers turned their attention toward them.

They wanted to see whether Feng Xiaotian would truly do as he had said and stop holding back against Chihuo Academy!

"Hmph, Feng Xiaotian, I admit it—you really gave me a huge surprise!"

For some reason, Feng Xiaotian's attitude was the same as before, but when Huo Wu saw that his expression had not changed in the slightest, her fists unconsciously clenched and a sense of frustration welled up inside her.

"Ah, it was just luck. Mister Danheng taught me well."

"No more words! Show me your true strength! Even if I lose today, I'll still fight you!"

"Uh, but..."

Seeing Feng Xiaotian hesitate, Huo Wu grew anxious.

"But what?"

"Sister Huo Wu, you're a control-type Soul Master. Duelling a strong attack-type Soul Master like me puts you at a disadvantage."

The teachers below the stage immediately covered their faces. This kid really couldn't change his nature. A wolf couldn't stop eating meat!

All that bold talk about not holding back, only for his lovesick brain to win out in the end, huh?

"...I don't need your gentlemanly manners. Use your full strength!"

Feng Xiaotian's words made Huo Wu feel looked down upon. She immediately activated Martial Soul Possession, her long legs carrying her in a direct charge toward Feng Xiaotian.

"Sigh, then forgive me, Sister Huo Wu."

Feng Xiaotian sighed. Before moving, he glanced toward where Mister Danheng was.

"Mm, it seems the guidance worked."

Danheng watched the match. Facing Huo Wu's attacks, Feng Xiaotian dealt with every one of them using only simple bodily movements, just as he had when Danheng had guided him before.

"When did this guy become so strong?!"

Huo Wu's repeated attacks failed to touch Feng Xiaotian even once, leaving her inevitably astonished.

Had this guy been hiding his strength all along?

"Sister Huo Wu, that was a huge opening."

Feng Xiaotian's words pulled Huo Wu out of her shock. With a glance downward, she discovered that three tears had appeared in her clothes at some unknown point.

"You..."

Huo Wu said nothing. She merely approached Feng Xiaotian once more, and her third Soul Ring suddenly lit up the instant she drew near.

"This move?"

Feng Xiaotian knew Huo Wu's Soul Skills very well. Her third Soul Skill, Resistant Fire Ring, could ignore defenses and directly push people away. It was an excellent field-control ability in team battles.

Using her third Soul Skill after approaching him so closely, she was clearly trying to forcibly restrict his movements and drive him elsewhere.

However, this move wasn't very effective against someone in the air.

A pair of azure wings instantly formed behind Feng Xiaotian, carrying him straight into the sky and allowing him to evade Huo Wu's move.

"Sorry, Sister Huo Wu. Your move is indeed difficult for me to deal with, so this is the only way."

After the Resistant Fire Ring failed, Feng Xiaotian quickly landed as well. Otherwise, if he kept flying in the air, there would be no way to continue this match.

"Next... I'm making my move. Be careful."

Feng Xiaotian did not use a Soul Skill. Relying solely on the speed granted by Martial Soul Possession, he crossed half the arena in an instant and arrived before Huo Wu.

"So fast!"

Huo Wu was startled. With no time to think, her third Soul Ring lit up, forcing Feng Xiaotian back into the air once more.

For a control-type Soul Master to be instantly approached by an assault-type Soul Master—wasn't that basically letting the other party do whatever they wanted?

But she really seemed unable to keep up with Feng Xiaotian's speed!

After all, Feng Xiaotian was already this fast with Martial Soul Possession alone. Did that mean he was still going easy on her?

"Training with Danheng... Danheng?"

All at once, Huo Wu thought of the Danheng whom Feng Xiaotian constantly mentioned.

Was this guy really that incredible? In just a few days, he had trained Feng Xiaotian into this?

"No, if this keeps up..."

When Feng Xiaotian's assault came again, Huo Wu immediately felt a sense of helplessness.

Using her third Soul Skill twice in a row meant she had to carefully consider how to use the Soul Power she had left.

She had also tried using her first and second Soul Skills, but Feng Xiaotian was simply too fast. Or rather, his combat awareness was worlds apart from before.

Feng Xiaotian could accurately predict every one of her attacks, then dodge however he pleased.

How the hell was she supposed to fight this?

"Hehe, those beatings from Mister Danheng weren't for nothing."

Seeing Huo Wu gritting her teeth in frustration yet unable to do anything to him, Feng Xiaotian himself almost laughed.

During those days of training with Danheng, he had really taken a beating. If he failed to dodge, he would be left unable to get back up for quite a while.

In fact, it was not just Feng Xiaotian who was tired—Danheng was tired too.

From beginning to end, Danheng had to control his strength carefully to avoid accidentally killing Feng Xiaotian in one blow!

"I-I'm done fighting!"

After narrowly avoiding Feng Xiaotian's attack once again, Huo Wu stomped her foot and angrily conceded defeat.

This guy was clearly toying with her!

"Huh? You're not fighting anymore?"

Feng Xiaotian froze for a moment, then withdrew his Martial Soul. For a time, the arena fell completely silent.

"You..."

Huo Wu could not understand it. What was Feng Xiaotian looking at? By all rights, now that he had won, shouldn't he have come over and said something irritating?

What did he mean by clasping his fists toward that side?

"Hm? Little Sister Huo Wu, aren't you getting off the stage? The match still has to continue."

"You... no, you..."

Huo Wu looked utterly bewildered. Who had changed Feng Xiaotian into this? Was he not even going to spout any cocky nonsense now?

"This child..."

The Dean and teachers of Godwind Academy were equally dumbfounded by Feng Xiaotian's behavior. Had the kid changed his nature?

Was Mister Danheng's training... teaching ability really this strong?

"...Don't look at me. He's the one with talent."

Danheng, who was still focused on watching the match, shrank back slightly. Why did the looks from everyone around him feel so strange?