Blazing Fire Academy! Damn it! You've completely angered me! Another hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins bet!

"If I don't dodge, are you expecting me to just stand here and admit defeat?"

"Save the useless chatter for after you've actually beaten me!"

Qian Renxue let out a cold snort, already feeling a sense of disgust toward this long-winded, cynical youth.

"Damn you, you're courting death!"

The Goat-Horned Youth's temples throbbed with veins at her words, and with a roar, he charged at her once more.

This time, he held a pair of brass knuckles in his hands, the cold light flickering on the knuckles as they sliced through the air with a sharp, whistling sound.

Although Qian Renxue could not use her Martial Soul or soul skills, which of the past High Priests of the Six-Winged Angel family was not a master of the sword?

Having been nurtured by Qian Daoliu since childhood, her attainments in swordsmanship were naturally far from poor.

The Goat-Horned Youth launched several fierce attacks, but all were blocked by her in the nick of time.

Amidst this intense and nerve-wracking battle, Qian Renxue gradually understood Ling Xiao's good intentions.

Her previously rusty swordsmanship became increasingly proficient, and in moments of crisis, her body's potential was ignited by the brush with death, allowing her to react far faster and more accurately than usual.

However, the two were of the same cultivation realm, and her opponent had the amplification of soul skills.

No matter how well she defended, a gash over ten centimeters long was still carved into her arm.

Fresh blood dripped down from her snow-white sleeve, drop by drop.

"Damn it! You've completely enraged me!"

Unable to secure a victory after a long assault while the audience jeered, the Goat-Horned Youth's eyes turned completely bloodshot.

"Second Soul Skill—Sky Treading!"

His second soul ring suddenly flared.

The Goat-Horned Youth sprinted forward several steps, stomped his feet heavily against the ground, and launched himself into the air.

Flipping half a turn in mid-air, he utilized the gravitational potential energy of his descent to drive his fists, wrapped in the force of Thousand Jun, straight down toward the crown of Qian Renxue's head.

Qian Renxue tried to dodge, only to see the opponent's third soul ring quietly light up.

His eyes glowed with an eerie black light!

A mental-type soul skill!

Qian Renxue's mind went into a momentary trance.

Yet, even though she hadn't manifested her Martial Soul, the passive purification effect inherent to the Angel Martial Soul was always active, granting her a natural immunity to illusions.

She quickly regained her senses and moved to evade.

But she was still half a step too slow!

The massive fist descended, carrying a gale of wind, leaving her no choice but to hold her sword horizontally to block.

Clang!

The immense force traveled through the blade, sending Qian Renxue flying four or five meters away, her left arm nearly dislocated.

However, at the very instant she was sent flying, she endured the excruciating pain, gritted her teeth, and whipped her right hand forward!

The greatsword left her grip, transforming into a streak of white light that whistled through the air, shooting straight at Demon Sheep!

Demon Sheep had just unleashed two soul skills in succession; his soul power and mental energy were both bottomed out, leaving him in his most vulnerable state.

As the cold light descended from the sky, he widened his eyes, desperate to dodge, but his body refused to obey.

Puchi!

The greatsword pierced through his thigh, pinning him firmly to the arena floor.

"Ah—!!"

The Goat-Horned Youth let out a heart-wrenching scream, the intense pain causing his vision to black out, nearly knocking him unconscious on the spot.

By the time he managed to pull himself together, a cold face was already looming right before his eyes.

Qian Renxue's left arm hung limply at her side, but her right hand was already gripping the hilt of her sword!

A wagered duel was not like a standard exhibition match; there was no such thing as "no taking of lives."

As long as no surrender was declared, the referee would not intervene.

Looking at Qian Renxue's icy gaze, and recalling his own provocations and insults before the match began, fear finally crushed his pathetic shred of self-esteem.

He collapsed onto the ground in an instant, wailing and screaming:

"Don't kill me, don't kill me!"

"I surrender!"

"I surrender--!!!"

Seeing this, Qian Renxue said nothing more and drew her sword.

Blood gushed out like a fountain, and the Goat-Horned Youth nearly fainted from the agony.

"The winner of this wagered duel is-- Fei Xue!"

The host roared with excitement.

"Congratulations to Fei Xue! You have won a total of one hundred thousand and one hundred Gold Soul Coins from this duel!"

"Let us give a round of enthusiastic applause for both contestants--"

"It is they who have brought us such an incomparable and spectacular battle!"

The scene off-stage, however, was a different story, a chaotic mess.

Some marveled that Qian Renxue had made history.

To defeat an opponent of the same rank without even using her Martial Soul or a single Soul Skill!

This was enough to be recorded in the annals of the Soul Fighting Arena!

Others claimed Qian Renxue was merely playing the pig to eat the tiger, and that the Heaven-Treading Demon Goat was simply too incompetent.

There were even those who argued that by not using her Martial Soul or Soul Skills, she was insulting all soul masters, clamoring for her to apologize.

Qian Renxue didn't hear a single word.

She sheathed her sword, turned around with an expressionless face, and walked toward the backstage area, step by step.

"How do you feel after that fight?"

Ling Xiao appeared beside her, swaying slightly, and handed her a medicinal pill.

"Very tired, extremely tired..."

Qian Renxue took the pill and swallowed it.

Instantly, she felt her previous exhaustion melt away like snow under the sun, and the wound on her arm began to itch as it healed visibly to the naked eye.

"But my mind is unexpectedly exhilarated!"

"I feel like I've improved significantly. My swordsmanship has become more refined, and my body feels lighter."

"That is because your control over your body has become stronger."

"Every movement, every step, is now more precise, which naturally makes it more efficient and effortless."

"That is why only danger and crisis can truly unlock one's potential."

Qian Renxue nodded in deep agreement.

"Since that is the case--"

Ling Xiao shifted his tone, his voice returning to that non-negotiable cadence, "Then let us continue!"

"Are you certain you want to continue?"

The staff member at the registration desk looked at Qian Renxue in shock.

Anyone with eyes could see

that Qian Renxue had sustained significant injuries in the previous battle.

He never expected her to participate in another wagered duel, and with a stake of one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins at that, with no conditions set for the wager--

Either she had too much money to spend, or she was a complete and utter battle maniac.

But looking at her delicate and refined appearance... that didn't seem right either!

The news flew into the candidate hall as if it had grown wings, and the previously noisy hall fell silent for a heartbeat before erupting into an uproar.

"What is the meaning of this Fei Xue?"

"She just finished a match, and without even leaving time to recover, she appears at the registration desk again?"

"And with a wager of one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, no less—"

"Is she looking down on us?"

A burly man with a back like a tiger and a waist like a bear slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

Although that Demon Sheep from just a moment ago had mediocre strength and lackluster combat techniques, the fact remained that she had defeated him without even using her Martial Soul or Soul Skills.

They admitted that the opponent certainly had some tricks up her sleeve.

But was that any reason for her to slap everyone in the face in public?

"Since the challenge has been issued, whoever wants to be a coward can be one, but I certainly won't be."

"Those with guts, follow me!"

A one-eyed man let out a cold snort, walking toward the registration desk, preparing to cancel the previous betting match and change it to a wagered duel!

"Hmph, count me in!"

"Count me in as well!"

A group of Soul Masters who frequented the arena walked indignantly toward the registration desk.

"Eh? What one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins? What wagered duel? What are they trying to do?"

A group of young men and women dressed in crimson outfits, with the words "Blazing Fire" embroidered on their chests, happened to brush past this group of aggressive Soul Masters.

Huo Wushuang, who was leading them, could not help but turn his head to look back in curiosity.