"Teaching" Tang Wutong

Tang Wutong clenched her silver teeth. That bastard really had figured out her true gender. Burning with shame and annoyance, she could only glower at Xiao Yi like a put-upon little wife. Somehow, it came off more like a coquettish pout.

Xiao Yi's expression didn't change. Oh, you're glaring at me? Just wait. I'll give you something to feel bad about.

"All right, it's getting late. Let's get started." The atmosphere was still a little awkward and strange, so Xiao Yi smiled and broke the silence. He gestured that he'd be their sparring partner, then shot Tang Ya a look.

Tang Ya caught on instantly. One quick turn of thought, and she knew exactly what Xiao Yi had in mind.

"Then, Xiao Yi, Nannan and I will head back and cultivate in meditation." Tang Ya promptly took Jiang Nannan, who still looked a little confused, and left.

Xiao Yi smiled and shook his head. Tang Ya always seemed to be on his wavelength, and it really did feel nice.

Then he turned to face the three girls. Tang Wutong had probably come back to her senses by now. Last night, she'd spent the whole night chatting in a girl's voice while Xiao Yi listened without exposing her. He'd just been teasing her.

Huo Yutong and Xiao Xiao nodded slowly, their expressions serious. Even though this was only a sparring session, they still hoped Xiao Yi would show some of his actual strength.

Tang Wutong, meanwhile, was still glaring at Xiao Yi through clenched teeth. She shot him a furious look, then stomped onto the platform.

"Yutong, could Wulin really like Big Brother Xiao Yi?" Xiao Xiao couldn't help asking. He'd looked so... well...

"Pfft—hahaha! Yutong, just tell Xiao Xiao directly. You've already performed a Martial Soul Fusion with him, after all. I'm sure you know that by now." Xiao Yi finally cracked. What was with Xiao Xiao? The kid was so adorably clueless.

Huo Yutong scratched her head, embarrassed. She'd thought it was just some kind of kinky game between Xiao Yi and Tang Wulin. She gave Xiao Xiao an awkward smile.

"Wulin's actually a girl. She's disguised herself as a boy."

"Huh?" Xiao Xiao's face fell with visible disappointment.

What exactly was he disappointed about...?

Xiao Yi didn't summon his Martial Soul. Instead, he condensed Soul Power into a long spear in his hand and stood his ground.

Tang Wutong, Huo Yutong, and Xiao Xiao took up a triangular formation. Tang Wutong stood at the front, with Xiao Xiao and Huo Yutong behind her.

A yellow and a purple Soul Ring rose beneath Tang Wutong's feet. A pair of dazzling blue-and-gold butterfly wings appeared behind her, breathtakingly beautiful. A phantom of vertical pupils appeared behind Huo Yutong, golden markings surfaced on her forehead, and a white Soul Ring rose beneath her feet. A gigantic golden cauldron, utterly disproportionate to Xiao Xiao's size, floated above her hands.

Tang Wutong snorted. Her butterfly wings spread, and she used her aerial advantage to unleash a furious barrage of attacks against Xiao Yi. She shouted as she attacked.

"Xiao Xiao, Yutong, support me while I fight him. Don't attack yet." Huo Yutong and Xiao Xiao exchanged a glance. A wave of mental energy spread over the three of them as Spiritual Detection Sharing activated.

Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul-Shaking Cauldron split into three, circling the two combatants at the center.

With Spiritual Detection Sharing to assist her, Tang Wutong attacked with merciless ferocity. It didn't look like a sparring match at all; she was venting her anger. Her sharp butterfly wings flashed through the air, every strike heavy and powerful, and her attacks came from extremely tricky angles, constantly aiming at Xiao Yi's lower body.

Xiao Yi's expression darkened as he endured the girl's attacks. Just what had he done to deserve this?

A sly smile spread across Tang Wutong's face. Of course she was doing it on purpose. The bastard knew her gender and had still deliberately made a joke of her. Then her butterfly wings flared behind her, and the Second Soul Ring beneath her feet gleamed. Golden blades of light gathered into a golden orb and hurtled toward Xiao Yi.

Xiao Xiao seized the chance, too. The Three Lives Soul-Shaking Cauldron burst into dazzling light, sending a wave of Soul Power imbued with a force of vibration toward Xiao Yi.

Facing the pincer attack, Xiao Yi remained unruffled. His figure flickered like a ghost, faint arcs of electricity dancing over him. He vanished in a flash, and even Huo Yutong's Spiritual Detection failed to catch his whereabouts.

"What?"

"What incredible speed!" Everyone was startled by the speed Xiao Yi displayed. And this was without Zi Ling possessing him; if she did, he'd be even faster.

His footwork also incorporated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Xiao Yi had been taught the entire technique long ago, when he agreed to become the Tang Sect's sect master. He hadn't practiced the Mysterious Heaven Skill, but he'd already begun learning both the Purple Demon Eye and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.

"Wulin! Watch your back!"

"What!?" Only when Huo Yutong called out from behind did Xiao Yi's figure appear in their Spiritual Detection Sharing.

Normally, pure speed couldn't evade Spiritual Detection. But Xiao Yi's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils also came with a Mental Attribute.

Tang Wutong hurriedly tried to turn and defend herself, but it was already too late. She could only curl up and use her butterfly wings to shield most of her body.

But Xiao Yi didn't attack her with the Soul Power spear. He twisted his wrist, made the spear disappear, and turned his fist into an open palm, striking the part of Tang Wutong that her butterfly wings didn't cover. A mischievous grin crossed his face.

Tang Wutong felt a tingling sensation spread through her body. Her face flushed bright red. She stumbled in midair to dodge Xiao Yi's second attack, then landed beside Huo Yutong and Xiao Xiao, trembling all over. One hand covered her backside, and she hunched over like a boiled prawn, pointing at Xiao Yi with a shaking finger.

Xiao Yi landed lightly and looked at her with a beaming smile.

"Xiao Yi, you bastard! Yutong, use the Martial Soul Fusion Skill!" Huo Yutong and Xiao Xiao were still reeling from what had happened when Tang Wutong let out an angry, embarrassed shout.

That bastard had actually smacked her butt. And the pain there came with a tingling sensation that coursed through her entire body.

Huo Yutong and Xiao Xiao snapped out of their shock. The Three Lives Soul-Shaking Cauldron slammed toward Xiao Yi, but he only laughed softly. A Soul Power spear formed in his hand again, and he swept it across with tremendous force, sending the cauldron flying.

"What?"

Tang Wutong and Huo Yutong clasped hands, their Soul Power interweaving and merging. A butterfly phantom and a Spirit Eye drifted toward each other. Just as the fusion was about to succeed, Xiao Yi vanished in a flash of lightning.

He'd have to be an idiot to let himself get hit by a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with such a long windup. Douluo Continent's Soul Masters seemed to love taking skills to the head.

Special mention to one Titled Douluo who took a divine weapon to the head.

"Where is he?" Tang Wutong looked up and realized Xiao Yi had disappeared. She was about to search for him when a chill ran down her back. The familiar sensation came from behind, followed by a heavy blow. Yet all she felt was that same tingling sensation. The Martial Soul Fusion Skill was interrupted, and Tang Wutong's legs gave out. She crumpled to the ground like a caterpillar with its rear in the air.

Those two consecutive strikes seemed to flip some strange switch, leaving her mind completely blank.

Xiao Xiao had just been about to counterattack, while Huo Yutong stood there dazed. They both felt a flick on the forehead and cried out, clutching their heads.

Huo Yutong looked at Xiao Yi with wounded eyes, while Xiao Xiao wore a reproachful expression.

"All right, that's the end." Xiao Yi patted his slightly reddened hand, then went over and ruffled Huo Yutong's hair. Her pretty eyes narrowed, and she nuzzled into his palm of her own accord, like a little blue cat.

Xiao Xiao looked even more aggrieved, so Xiao Yi had to give the green-haired little girl a couple of affectionate ruffles, too.

He glanced at Tang Wutong, still lying on the ground with a shattered expression. Xiao Yi found it strange. That girl had driven him to it, constantly aiming for his lower body. He'd had to teach her a lesson.

But those two hits hadn't even been that hard, had they? Xiao Yi wondered to himself.