Shrek Academy covered a vast area, with broad open spaces between its buildings and lush vegetation.
Lin Yan and Wang Dong soon stood facing each other on a broad grassy patch outside the dormitory.
There was plenty of room here for a fight.
At the dormitory entrance, Mu En, who was lying on an old recliner, lifted his head slightly. A flicker of interest passed through his cloudy, yellowed eyes.
He seemed quite interested in this clash between new students. He even straightened his half-reclined posture a little, his gaze settling on Lin Yan and Wang Dong. Naturally, he also noticed Huo Yuhao standing not far away beneath the shadow of a large tree.
Huo Yuhao had chosen a spot where he could see the entire fight without being drawn into it or attracting too much attention. He stood quietly, his calm gaze fixed on the scene ahead.
On the grass, Wang Dong had clearly been angered by Lin Yan's earlier gaze and his current stance. She wasted no more words and cried, "Let's begin!"
Before her voice had even faded, Soul Power surged from her body! A dazzling blue light burst from her back!
A pair of enormous butterfly wings, so beautiful they took one's breath away, instantly unfurled behind her!
The wings were a deep azure blue, but the color at the tips of the forewings shifted continuously, fading from deep blue to azure and then to pale blue, as though she wore a condensed starry sky.
The entire surface shimmered with flowing light, and a string of bright halos adorned the edges, forming a graceful V.
As the wings gently beat, specks of blue light drifted down, as if bringing light and hope to the world.
The Light Goddess Butterfly!
One of the most beautiful Martial Souls on the continent, and a representative of top-tier Beast Martial Souls!
At the same time, two Soul Rings rose from beneath her feet—one yellow, one purple!
A second Soul Ring that surpassed the optimal configuration! A Thousand-Year Soul Ring!
The moment her astonishing Martial Soul and Soul Ring Configuration appeared, they drew gasps and a crowd of onlookers from the students passing nearby.
"Oh?" Mu En's withered face showed clear surprise, and his interest deepened. "This year's new students are quite something."
Faced with Wang Dong's aggressive Martial Soul Possession, Lin Yan showed little surprise. If anything, the fighting spirit in his eyes burned brighter.
He gave a low shout and clenched his right hand as purple-black lightning suddenly erupted!
An ancient-looking iron hammer appeared in his hand, its presence heavy and fierce.
The hammerhead was rectangular, its entire surface a dull purple-black covered in intricate, mysterious silver lightning patterns. It crackled loudly, tiny purple-black arcs dancing across it.
The handle was thick, a stark contrast to his slender hand that made the weapon seem all the more powerful.
The Black Iron Thunder Pattern Hammer! A mutated intermediate weapon-type Martial Soul!
Two Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet as well—one yellow, one purple!
"Another one with a configuration beyond the optimal ratio?" The interest in Mu En's eyes turned to delight. "It seems this old man can still see some good things while keeping watch here. These two youngsters are both extraordinary."
The crowd erupted in even louder astonishment.
Both new students actually had Thousand-Year Soul Rings as their second Soul Ring!
What kind of monstrous talent did it take to reach such a level?
Wang Dong felt the Soul Power radiating from Lin Yan. It was faintly stronger than her own, and wariness deepened in her eyes.
She knew this would be a tough fight.
"I can't let him get close!"
Wang Dong had an exceptional instinct for battle and made her decision in an instant.
The wings of the Light Goddess Butterfly behind her beat hard, and her lithe body rose into the air, hovering about three meters above the ground as she looked down at him.
"Second Soul Skill—Butterfly Goddess Light!" Wang Dong's clear voice rang out as the purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring beneath her feet blazed brightly!
The beautiful butterfly wings behind her suddenly glowed with brilliant golden-blue light!
As the light flowed, countless golden-blue orbs, each about the size of a fist and brimming with an aura of light, shot from her wings like a dense meteor shower, blanketing Lin Yan below!
The air gave off a faint sizzling sound wherever the orbs passed.
Faced with this area attack, Lin Yan did not panic. The corner of his mouth even curled into a confident smile.
"First Soul Skill—Thunder Pattern Armor!" The yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring beneath his feet flashed.
"Crackle!"
Amid a dense burst of thunder, a layer of pale-purple energy armor instantly covered his body, fine silver lightning patterns dancing across its surface.
The armor was not ornate, but it radiated a sense of both solidity and ferocity, with defensive patterns that faintly resembled a tortoiseshell.
At the same time, he gripped the Black Iron Thunder Pattern Hammer with both hands. A glint flashed in his eyes, and instead of dodging, he swung the heavy hammer and charged straight into the incoming golden-blue orbs!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The hammer blurred through the air! Lin Yan moved with speed, precision, and force. Every swing struck an orb dead on.
The instant the purple lightning clinging to the hammerhead met an orb, a powerful clash of energy erupted!
The golden-blue power of light and the purple lightning annihilated each other, producing muffled explosions.
Relying on the defense of his Thunder Pattern Armor and the weight and lightning power of the Black Iron Thunder Pattern Hammer, Lin Yan carved a path straight through the barrage of Butterfly Goddess Light!
He advanced with steady steps, swinging his hammer to shatter the orbs as he rapidly closed in beneath Wang Dong, trying to shorten the distance between them.
Wang Dong's heart tightened. Her opponent had strong defenses and powerful attacks, and he seemed to have plenty of combat experience.
She could not let Lin Yan get close. The butterfly wings behind her beat again, and she shot sharply upward, widening the distance.
"Trying to run? Not so easily!"
A fierce glint flashed in Lin Yan's eyes. The instant Wang Dong rose into the air, the First Soul Ring beneath his feet shone again, and the Thunder Pattern Armor grew brighter.
At the same time, he gave a low growl and drove off the ground. His foot left a shallow crater as he shot diagonally upward like a cannonball, the iron hammer in his hand roaring with wind and thunder as he smashed it toward Wang Dong!
Wang Dong was in midair with nowhere to push off from, but her battle instincts prompted an instant response.
"First Soul Skill—Wing Guillotine!"
The yellow Soul Ring beneath her feet lit up!
The edges of the enormous Light Goddess Butterfly wings behind her suddenly blazed with dazzling golden light. The wings, once soft and graceful, became as sharp as golden guillotines in an instant!
She spun deftly in midair, using the force of her descent and rotation. Her butterfly wings, transformed into golden blades, shrieked as they tore through the air and slashed viciously at Lin Yan as he lunged toward her!
This attack drew on her advantage in the air and the unique traits of her Martial Soul. Its power was astonishing!
If he took the full force of that strike, even with the protection of his Thunder Pattern Armor, he would likely be badly hurt!
"Good!"
There was no trace of fear in Lin Yan's eyes. Instead, his fighting spirit blazed.
He was in midair and could not change direction, but he seemed to have been ready for this.
"Second Soul Skill—Collapse Thunder Strike!"
The purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring beneath his feet suddenly erupted with blinding light!
The purple lightning dancing over the Black Iron Thunder Pattern Hammer in his hand swelled and condensed in an instant!
Countless raging bolts coiled around the hammer like serpents, while a dazzling purple-black sphere of lightning gathered at its head! A destructive aura spread through the air!
Lin Yan poured all his Soul Power into it. The muscles in his arms bulged as he drove the hammer—charged with the force of raging thunder—straight into the slashing golden Wing Guillotine, without a single flourish!
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