Deflection?

Early the next morning, Qian Daoliu took Lin Huai to the Spirit Beast Forest.

They selected a Slime over seven thousand years old.

By noon that same day, they had returned to Martial Soul Hall.

In the training grounds that afternoon, Tian Yue was quite curious about Lin Huai's second spirit skill.

Lin Huai, however, wore a strange expression; even he had not expected his second spirit skill to be this.

"Let's just spar directly, and you can feel it for yourself."

Tian Yue instantly stepped back, her face full of suspicion.

"Are you trying to beat me up?"

"How could that be? I will only use my second spirit skill and no other abilities."

Hearing this, Tian Yue became eager to try.

She immediately activated Martial Soul Possession and charged forward using a spirit skill.

Lin Huai stood motionless after activating his Martial Soul Possession.

Just as Tian Yue's fist was about to strike, his second spirit ring flashed instantly.

The Prosthetic Blade on Lin Huai's right hand traced a strange arc.

Clang!

Tian Yue only felt herself being gently pushed aside, and she was momentarily stunned.

Lin Huai had already placed his blade against her neck.

After Lin Huai pulled back, Tian Yue looked bewildered.

"What just happened?"

"My second spirit skill is called—Highest Good is Like Water. It can deflect all physical attacks."

Tian Yue had indeed felt her fist being pushed away.

But it felt like more than just being pushed.

"No, it wasn't just deflected."

Qian Daoliu took over the conversation at this point.

"Yue'er is right. After deflecting a non-projectile physical attack, Xiao Huai's second spirit skill generates a trace of momentum against the attacker."

"Even I would be momentarily distracted by this momentum."

"Therefore, this spirit skill can be considered not only a defensive skill but also a powerful crowd-control skill."

Tian Yue looked at Qian Daoliu and muttered:

"If even Grandfather Qian can be controlled, doesn't that make him invincible?"

Qian Daoliu patted Tian Yue's head.

"Not quite. As long as the opponent's reaction is faster than Xiao Huai's, it's equivalent to not being controlled at all."

"Moreover, you can use projectile attacks or melee attacks infused with elements."

"As long as Xiao Huai cannot withstand the elemental splash damage, he won't choose to use his second spirit skill."

Qiangu Yichen pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Although that is the theory, achieving it is very difficult."

"The best countermeasure for those of the same rank is still elemental ranged attacks."

Kuang Zhan said helplessly:

"But if there is no strong crowd control at the same rank, it is normally impossible to hit Xiao Huai!"

Qian Renxue, who had been observing them from the side, also showed interest.

"So, in battles against those of the same rank or even higher, Xiao Huai is invincible?"

"Xiao Huai, shall we two have a go?"

Lin Huai was also somewhat surprised that his second spirit skill had granted him such a "parry" divine skill.

Only after communicating with Malenia did he realize that his second spirit skill was originally meant to be "Waterfowl Dance."

However, she discovered that Lin Huai had a different understanding of the Flowing Water Sword Technique than she did, so she did not impart the sword style containing her own insights.

"Alright, but I must use my Martial Soul!"

Qian Daoliu also wanted to see his granddaughter's combat ability and looked at Lin Huai.

"That is fine, but only your Martial Soul may enter the field; you should just watch from the sidelines."

Lin Huai summoned Malenia, while he himself stood next to Tian Yue.

Malenia pointed her blade toward the lower right, assuming her stance.

Qian Renxue immediately activated her Martial Soul Possession, her fourth and first soul rings lighting up in succession.

"Holy Light Amplification!"

"Angel Assault!"

After using her fourth soul skill to bolster herself, a golden shield manifested over her right fist.

Leveraging the acceleration granted by Angel Assault, she charged directly toward Malenia.

Qian Daoliu felt the urge to cover his eyes; he had forgotten to warn Xiao Xue that this martial soul possessed terrifying combat instincts.

Just as the golden shield on Qian Renxue's right hand was about to strike Malenia.

Clang!

The scene played out exactly as it had before.

The only difference was that Tian Yue had been replaced by Qian Renxue, And Lin Huai had been replaced by Malenia.

Qian Renxue arched a brow, hesitating as she spoke:

"Isn't this Xiao Huai's soul skill? Even if she can use it, Xiao Huai didn't even release his soul rings, did he?"

Lin Huai brought a fist to his lips.

"Ahem—"

"Let me explain. My soul skills originate from Malenia."

"Therefore, she can perform everything I can, and even things I can't; it only requires the consumption of my soul power."

Qian Renxue looked at the tall, blade-wielding beauty, then back at her own mutated Eight-Winged Blazing Light Holy Angel hovering behind her.

For a moment, she couldn't even tell which one was the god-tier martial soul.

She whispered to herself.

"This martial soul is just too absurd!"

Lin Huai smiled faintly, wanting to have Qian Renxue test out the Waterfowl Dance.

"Sister Xiao Xue, do you want to try again?"

Qian Renxue snapped out of her daze and glared fiercely at Lin Huai.

"Come on, I'm prepared this time."

Qian Renxue's second, fourth, and fifth soul skills all flared to life.

At this moment, a projection of the Angel Holy Sword appeared in her hand, and a brilliant golden barrier enveloped her body.

Malenia leaped on one foot like a waterbird, flashing instantly before Qian Renxue.

She then unleashed four consecutive, high-speed slashes.

Qian Renxue's barrier shattered after the first strike, and she only managed to parry one of the subsequent three blades with her fifth soul skill, the Angel Holy Sword; the remaining two landed on her body.

Of course, per Lin Huai's instructions, they only left shallow cuts.

Taking advantage of the gap after the four strikes, Qian Renxue hurriedly used Angel Assault to dash out of Malenia's attack range.

But Malenia lunged forward again, closing the distance to Qian Renxue and delivering two more slashes.

They struck her directly in the back.

Qian Renxue didn't even have time to wonder why Malenia could suddenly dash to her side when she was clearly still in the middle of a follow-up sequence.

The third phase of the Waterfowl Dance was unleashed once more.

Qian Daoliu shook his head; it seemed he would have to send Xiao Xue to the Sun Moon Continent to train her combat reflexes.

He activated a black soul ring, and a shield of holy light manifested behind Qian Renxue.

The three strikes of the third phase and a blade aura all slammed into the shield.

Lin Huai could barely suppress the smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Yes! That's it.

A Waterfowl Dance without a frantic, desperate dodge has no soul!

Qian Daoliu looked at Lin Huai, signaling him to bring out the potion Yue Guan had provided.

Lin Huai hurriedly recalled Malenia and pulled out a glass bottle.

He trotted over to Qian Renxue's side.

He poured the milky-white liquid onto her wounds.

Looking at Qian Renxue's tattered clothes and the sight revealed where he was applying the milky-white liquid, Lin Huai found himself momentarily stunned.

It was so similar—too similar!

However, as expected of a potion specially concocted by Yue Guan, the liquid turned transparent within moments, and Qian Renxue's wounds were reduced to mere tiny nicks.

"Rest assured, Sister Xiao Xue, there won't be a single trace left by tomorrow."

Qian Renxue did not respond, remaining frozen in place.

Qian Daoliu spoke to Lin Huai and the others:

"Spend your remaining time wandering about; consider it a half-day of rest. We shall continue your cultivation tomorrow."

With that, he swept Qian Renxue up and departed.

Lin Huai's mind was still occupied by the dazed expression on Qian Renxue's face.

It seemed Qian Daoliu would need to provide some psychological counseling for her.

"Let's go. I haven't properly explored Martial Soul City yet."

The group left the training grounds.

Tian Yue asked:

"Xiao Huai, what was that skill Malenia just used?"

"Waterfowl Dance!"