For three days, cultivation and practicing Soul Skills with Xu Sanshi became part of his daily routine.
The day he had agreed to fight Dai Huabin arrived before long.
Ji Siyuan woke up in bed.
Ever since he discovered that he could cultivate through dual cultivation with Huo Yuhao, he had never slept alone.
Every day, he and Huo Yuhao shared a bed and meditated as they cultivated.
His speed had improved quite a bit compared to before.
It was just a little strange.
"I'm at level 18," Ji Siyuan said calmly.
Huo Yuhao had come to accept Ji Siyuan's speed. "I'm not even level 16 yet."
"Didn't you take the Mystic Water Pill?"
"I did. I haven't rushed to break through. You told me to build a solid foundation. I should be at the peak of level 15 now."
Even with the boost from their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Huo Yuhao's innate cultivation speed was simply no match for Ji Siyuan's.
The two of them carried on with their usual routines, living and cultivating as they always did.
But today, a lot of people were milling around them—or, to be precise, around Ji Siyuan.
A One-Ring Soul Master fighting a three-ring Soul Elder. Most people looked at him with pity and admiration.
After class, they found a time to go to the Soul Fighting Arena.
A crowd had gathered there early, waiting for Ji Siyuan and Dai Huabin.
People had seen battles across cultivation ranks before, but never a freshman fighting someone so far above his level.
What normal freshman would do something like that?
For one thing, there were hardly any three-ring freshmen.
A One-Ring Soul Master challenging a three-ring Soul Elder—was he out of his mind? A three-ring Soul Elder challenging a One-Ring Soul Master—wasn't that shameless?
By chance, they had one of each this year.
Bei Bei and Tang Ya were a little worried, but Xu Sanshi, who had trained with Ji Siyuan, wasn't concerned at all. "Ji Siyuan, teach that Dai Huabin a brutal lesson. How can he be even more shameless than me?"
"Yeah, yeah."
The two stepped onto the arena.
Dai Huabin sneered contemptuously. "I can't believe you actually dared to come up here and fight me."
"Is something wrong with your head?"
"What did you say?"
Ji Siyuan said, "You came to the Soul Fight Arena. Why wouldn't I accept your challenge? I don't know what you were thinking, asking such a brain-dead question."
"What did you say!"
"Is that the only thing you know how to say?"
"Just wait. You're dead."
After the referee announced the start of the match, he backed away to avoid interfering.
They both summoned their Martial Souls.
Dai Huabin's two yellow Soul Rings and one purple Soul Ring shone brightly. He was a three-ring Soul Elder, with cultivation that put him among the top three in the first year.
Ji Siyuan had only one Soul Ring, but it was purple.
An extraordinary Soul Ring Configuration against a Soul Elder.
"I'll make you pay for what you just did. First Soul Skill, White Tiger Protection Barrier!"
The White Tiger Martial Soul was powerful; there was no point in overlooking that just because Dai Huabin was stupid.
With Tang San as an example, Ji Siyuan knew how strong the White Tiger Martial Soul was in close combat.
He wasn't foolish enough to rush in and fight at point-blank range.
Flames gathered in his hand as he swept out a Fire Line.
Relying on his White Tiger Protection Barrier, Dai Huabin charged straight through the flames and attacked.
A vortex of dim flames formed and swept toward Dai Huabin. Ji Siyuan had changed how he released his first Soul Skill.
He split apart his Ultimate flames.
Dai Huabin didn't bother thinking at all. He believed his White Tiger Protection Barrier would keep him safe as he broke through Ji Siyuan's Flame Vortex.
Xu Sanshi said, "Dai Huabin really is an idiot. I had to use a Soul Skill to block that the other day. Who does he think he is?"
Xu Sanshi was close to becoming a Soul Ancestor, and even he, a Soul Master who specialized in defense, had needed to use his second Soul Skill.
Even though Ji Siyuan's Yin Fire Vortex wasn't as powerful as the Fire Demon Vortex, which combined both kinds of flames, it was still more than enough to stop Dai Huabin, who was relying on nothing but his White Tiger Protection Barrier.
The White Tiger's claws tore into the vortex, and the flames clung to Dai Huabin.
"These flames aren't much. As I thought, you were all faking it that day."
Ji Siyuan said, "You've got a good imagination, but your powers of observation could use some work. You can't even tell the flames apart by their color."
It was hard for the person in the thick of things to see clearly, but the onlookers had a better view. Huo Yuhao watched the fight using Mental Detection alone, without sharing his vision.
"His flames aren't as scorching as they were that day, but once they cling to someone, they keep burning. Brother Sky Dream, is this another kind of Ultimate attribute?"
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said, "I don't know. I'm only familiar with Ultimate Ice. But as for this kid's methods, I can only say you'd better believe what you're seeing."
Quite a few people saw that something was off. The flames weren't as powerful as they had been that day.
But Dai Huabin, caught up in the battle, couldn't afford to worry about that. "Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Intense Light Wave!"
A wave of light shot toward Ji Siyuan.
Suddenly, even more violent flames appeared, blocking the light wave.
Ji Siyuan walked toward Dai Huabin using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
He walked. He didn't charge.
Dai Huabin looked delighted, thinking Ji Siyuan was trying to surrender with dignity. He completely ignored the flames, which had just changed dramatically.
At the moment Dai Huabin rushed up to Ji Siyuan, a scorching vortex formed beneath Ji Siyuan's feet. In just a few seconds, it grew several times hotter than the flames clinging to Dai Huabin.
The violent flames injured Dai Huabin.
The flames clinging to him flared up again.
In an instant, they swallowed Dai Huabin whole.
Huo Yuhao watched from below, overjoyed.
Burn, burn! Burn him to death! Burn him to death!
At first, the dark flames hadn't seemed all that frightening, but now everyone could see how powerful the Yin Fire was.
"Third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"
Dai Huabin used his only thousand-year Soul Skill. The fur on his body hardened, greatly increasing his attributes. That was what gave him confidence.
"You've successfully angered me."
Ji Siyuan said, "You talk too much."
The Yin and Yang flames switched places, and the slow-burning Yin Fire instantly became a violent blaze.
Even in his White Tiger Vajra Transformation, Dai Huabin could barely endure the flames.
"Trying to run? First Soul Skill, Fire Demon Vortex!"
His true first Soul Skill finally appeared.
It wasn't either kind of flame on its own, but a combination of the two.
Xu Sanshi said, "That's more like it. That's the Fire Demon Vortex I could barely hold back."
A Fire Demon Vortex powerful enough to force Xu Sanshi to use his second and third Soul Skills together couldn't possibly be weak.
Dai Huabin roared in pain and fury.
"It's not enough! It's still not enough! One attack won't beat me!"
"I told you you were an idiot, and you're doing a fine job living up to the name. The Fire Demon Vortex isn't a buffing skill. You can't keep it active all the time."
A second Fire Demon Vortex struck.
Ji Siyuan remarked, "A thousand-year Soul Skill really does take a lot out of you. Too bad you won't last until my Soul Power runs out."
The referee stepped in, dispersing the flames with his powerful Soul Power.
That marked Ji Siyuan's victory.
A One-Ring Soul Master had defeated a three-ring opponent.
The other two three-ring freshmen were there as well, and both of them realized that they now had to watch out for another target during the Freshman Assessment.
Ji Siyuan wasn't only powerful on his own; he also had a roommate who could perform a powerful Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
Compared to Xie Huanyue, Ning Tian had a lot more to consider.
But Ji Siyuan would never agree with her considerations.
For now, Ji Siyuan wanted to celebrate with his friends. Huo Yuhao in particular had, with Ji Siyuan's help, finally gotten a chance to take revenge.
The group set off together, planning to rent a place and have a barbecue.
By chance, they ran into Dai Huabin as he was being carried away.
"Just wait! I was careless this time. I'll win it back at the Freshman Assessment."
"Get real. You don't stand a chance in this lifetime."