Dai Mubai had plenty of "evidence" to support his judgment. At twenty-seven levels of Soul Power, he was a Battle Soul Master whose cultivation was unquestionably the highest among the students at Shrek Academy.
Although he didn't know Xiao Qing's exact level, he had learned from Ma Hongjun's usual muttering that Oscar was a food-system Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power. Even so, Oscar had only recently broken through to level twenty and obtained his Second Soul Ring.
Dai Mubai absolutely refused to believe that Xiao Qing also had Innate Full Soul Power. In his understanding, Innate Full Soul Power was a talent seen once in a century. In the past hundred years, there were only thirty or forty documented cases. How could he possibly run into two people with it in this remote academy?
It was far more likely that Xiao Qing's Innate Soul Power had been between levels five and seven—excellent, but nowhere near top-tier. And since Xiao Qing looked about the same age as him, perhaps even a little younger, reaching level twenty would already be impressive. He was most likely still below it.
With the offensive nature of his White Tiger Martial Soul, a Soul Power advantage of at least seven levels, and no shortage of combat experience, Dai Mubai believed there was no suspense about the outcome of this fight.
The next day, the basic combat practice class arrived as scheduled. On the training ground, Zhao Wuji stood with his arms crossed, watching the four students lined up before him.
Since Oscar was a food-system Soul Master with no direct means of attack, anyone paired with him could only engage in "hand-to-hand combat" without adding Soul Power.
Suddenly, Dai Mubai stepped forward and looked straight at Zhao Wuji. He deliberately raised his voice to make sure everyone present could hear him. "Teacher Zhao, I'd like to spar with Xiao Qing one-on-one first. Students sparring with each other should be in the spirit of the class."
The training ground fell silent for a moment.
Zhao Wuji raised a thick brow. His gaze swept from the barely concealed provocation on Dai Mubai's face to the calm, unreadable expression on Xiao Qing's.
He had naturally noticed the unusual atmosphere between the two and could more or less guess what Dai Mubai was thinking. Still, in his view, friction between young people—especially when it stemmed from opposing ideals and ways of life—wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes a fight could settle it, as long as nothing got out of hand.
He looked at Xiao Qing. "What do you think?"
Xiao Qing met Dai Mubai's gaze. Dai Mubai's eyes held undisguised fighting spirit and a certainty born of superiority.
Xiao Qing wasn't surprised by the challenge. He had noticed Dai Mubai's unhidden hostility and growing irritation for some time.
It wasn't hard to guess what Dai Mubai was thinking. His longstanding sense of superiority and habitual indulgent lifestyle had been challenged, and he was blaming his dissatisfaction on Xiao Qing, this "odd one out."
Dai Mubai was trying to reestablish the "rules" by displaying his strength in the most direct way. He even naively believed that beating Xiao Qing would make everything "go back to normal."
As it happened, Xiao Qing also wanted to use this opportunity to test his current combat ability.
Ever since Xiao Feng and A'Man advanced into thousand-year Soul Beasts, the feedback through their contracts had steadily improved his physical strength and mental power.
He could now use Wind Shadow and Rock Armor five times each in a short period, but after using them all, he had to wait until the next day for his uses to fully recharge.
The change had both advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, it greatly increased his tactical flexibility, letting him unleash them repeatedly at a critical moment. On the downside, his uses were limited. Once they ran out, all he could do was wait for them to recharge.
A level-twenty-seven Power Attack System Battle Soul Master like Dai Mubai was a perfect test subject.
"Sure."
Xiao Qing's answer was brief and clear.
Seeing this, Ma Hongjun immediately and tactfully pulled Oscar away, even though Oscar still looked like he wanted to say something, and hurried over to the other side of the training ground.
Zhao Wuji grunted, tacitly accepting Dai Mubai's request. He stepped back several paces to clear the center of the field and said gruffly, "Stop once there's a clear winner. Begin."
Almost the instant Zhao Wuji finished speaking, Dai Mubai let out a low growl and completed his Martial Soul Possession.
"Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Intense Light Wave!"
A destructive, milky-white orb shot from his mouth, hurtling straight toward Xiao Qing, who was still standing motionless.
In Dai Mubai's eyes, there was no need to waste time against an opponent who was "at most level twenty." Crushing him with his strongest long-range Soul Skill would establish victory in an instant and deliver the greatest intimidation.
He could already picture Xiao Qing dodging in a panic or getting hurt, then Dai Mubai "graciously" saying he had only lost control during a friendly spar—and going on to suggest they head out that evening to "unwind."
The White Tiger Intense Light Wave was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, it was already in front of Xiao Qing.
And Xiao Qing, from beginning to end, hadn't made the slightest move to dodge or defend. He merely watched the orb come at him, his expression unchanged.
"Got him!"
Dai Mubai felt a surge of glee, along with a hint of disappointment he could barely detect. So he was just a show-off after all. His reflexes in a real fight were this sluggish? His usual hard training must have been nothing but an act. After beating him, Dai Mubai would have to "teach" him what kind of life a Soul Master ought to lead.
The instant the orb touched Xiao Qing, there was no explosion, nor was his body sent flying as expected. At the moment of impact, "Xiao Qing" blurred, then transformed into wisps of air that quietly dissipated.
A Phantom Shadow?!
Dai Mubai's delight abruptly vanished, and his pupils contracted. A chill shot up his spine and into the back of his head. Almost by reflex, he released his First Soul Skill.
"First Soul Skill, White Tiger Protective Barrier!"
White light enveloped his body, strengthening his defense. At the same time, he began to turn his head to search for Xiao Qing.
But Dai Mubai was still too slow.
A calm voice sounded right behind his head, so close it seemed to brush against him, and rang clearly in his ears.
"Looking for me?"
At the very same instant, a precisely aimed force slammed into Dai Mubai's lower back.
Dai Mubai felt half the strength in his body vanish in an instant. He completely lost control of himself and stumbled forward seven or eight steps before finally pitching face-first onto the training ground's hard dirt.
He struggled to push himself up with his hands, but the pain in his lower back made it hard to move.
His vision blurred from the pain and dizziness. All he could see was a pair of ordinary cloth shoes, flecked with a little dust, stopped on the ground not far in front of him.
Then Zhao Wuji announced the result in an emotionless voice. "Xiao Qing wins."
Quick and clean.
From start to finish, it had taken no more than a few breaths. Dai Mubai hadn't even seen how Xiao Qing had moved, nor had he seen him use a Soul Ring. He had simply ended up on the ground for no apparent reason.
The Soul Power Level he had been so proud of, his White Tiger Martial Soul, his powerful Soul Skills—in front of Xiao Qing, they were a joke.
On the other side of the field, Ma Hongjun and Oscar had been pretending to practice while sneaking glances over the whole time. Now they stood frozen.
Ma Hongjun's mouth hung open. He knew Xiao Qing was strong, but he hadn't expected him to be this strong. Boss Dai was level twenty-seven! Oscar let out a sigh of relief, and his admiration for Xiao Qing grew even greater.
Zhao Wuji walked over and first checked Dai Mubai's condition. He confirmed that he'd only been knocked flying and was winded, with some bruising, but nothing serious.
He glanced at Xiao Qing, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes. The combat awareness Xiao Qing had just shown was far from ordinary. Zhao Wuji hadn't seen the boy use it during their usual practice sessions.
This kid had been hiding his abilities well.
"Take him back to rest."
Zhao Wuji said to Oscar and Ma Hongjun, who had hurried over. Then he glanced at Dai Mubai, who had gotten back to his feet but was pale. "You're impatient and full of openings. Go back and think it over."
Oscar and Ma Hongjun hurried to support Dai Mubai, one on each side. Dai Mubai didn't resist. He let them help him toward the dorms, looking utterly lost, and didn't even glance at Xiao Qing.
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