[Illustration] Qian Renxue Gets It! Huo Wu's Furious! I Want to See Blood Flowing Like a River! Something's Off About This Guy!

When Qian Renxue stepped onto the arena again, the audience erupted.

"Is he refusing to quit until he gives away those hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins?"

"That brat's infuriating! Is he going to use the same trick again and slap every Soul Master contestant in the face?"

"Hehehe! Fight, fight!"

"I don't give a damn about Soul Master glory. I want to see blood flowing like a river!"

The spectators roared and jeered, but the two on the arena stood perfectly still.

The referee's hand had barely dropped

when Huo Wu opened with an area-control Soul Skill.

She didn't waste a word on an introduction. She went all out at once!

Countless fireballs rained down,

cutting off Qian Renxue's room to maneuver.

The fireballs exploded when they hit the ground, too, dealing area damage.

Qian Renxue couldn't use her Martial Soul or activate her Soul Skills. All she could do was fend off the attacks with the greatsword in her hands.

Even a strand of hair at the back of her head had been singed into a curl, giving off a faint burnt smell.

Driven into a sorry state, she leaped and darted across the arena, each movement looking more labored than the last.

"You arrogant fool!"

"I told you you'd pay in blood. Did you think I was joking?"

Watching Qian Renxue refuse to release her Martial Soul or use her Soul Skills even in such dire straits, Huo Wu felt her nameless fury flare hotter and hotter.

"Second Soul Skill—Fire Python!"

The flames surging around her instantly formed a python as thick as a tree trunk.

It opened its jaws wide and charged straight at Qian Renxue.

It swallowed the nearby flames that hadn't yet gone out, growing larger with every gulp. Its imposing presence was terrifying.

Qian Renxue leaped high, dodging the Fire Python's sweeping tail.

But then its gaping maw lunged for her.

With no other choice, she swung her sword and sent out a wave of pure Soul Power, forcing the Fire Python back half a step.

But without a Soul Skill to bolster it,

releasing Soul Power on its own took a tremendous toll. It had drained more than half her Soul Power in just two strikes!

A few more, and she'd run dry and lose for sure!

Qian Renxue started to grow anxious.

She had to admit that, though they were both three-ring Soul Masters, Huo Wu—who had received guidance from renowned masters since childhood and possessed the best Soul Ring configuration—was on an entirely different level from the Goat-Horned Youth.

Every attack hit her weak points, leaving no room to fight back or catch her breath.

"What? Have you forgotten the Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills I taught you? Forgotten my explanations of how they work?"

Seeing Qian Renxue in such a sorry state, Ling Xiao couldn't help offering a few pointers. His tone carried a hint of exasperated disappointment.

"I sent you to Soul Fighting to hone your combat skills and deepen your understanding of the Battle Qi System, not to stand there and serve as a punching bag!"

"This disciple understands... Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

Qian Renxue came to her senses in an instant, her heart filled with regret.

How could she have been so foolish?

Her master had forbidden her from using her Martial Soul, Soul Skills, and Dou Techniques, but he hadn't told her not to learn from what she saw!

Why had she been so stubborn, relying only on brute force and instinct to hold out?

Qian Renxue raced through everything Ling Xiao had explained to her:

The essence of a Dou Technique was to circulate Dou Qi along specific meridians, then combine different pathways and acupoints to unleash different effects.

Soul Skills worked on the same principle.

Absorbing a Soul Ring opened up specific meridians,

and the way they worked was engraved into the body like a brand, flowing on its own like an instinct whenever the skill was used.

Ling Xiao had carefully taken her through most of the body's meridians and acupoints,

giving her such clear guidance, yet she hadn't understood his painstaking intentions from beginning to end.

Thinking of that, Qian Renxue wanted to slap herself.

But there was no time for regrets now.

The Fire Python charged again.

Qian Renxue steadied herself and circulated her Soul Power along a specific meridian pathway, directing it through several key acupoints and into her arm.

Then,

she swung her sword!

Its gleam cut through the air, and the strike was three times more powerful than before!

She forced the Fire Python back!

Qian Renxue was overjoyed, her spirits soaring.

The Fire Python spat flames and charged again.

This time, she routed her Soul Power along a different pathway into her legs. Her footwork instantly became far lighter than before,

and she slipped past the Fire Python like a fish in water.

Again and again—

She was still in a sorry state, but she held her ground against the Fire Python's assault!

Huo Wu knitted her brows, growing more and more suspicious as they fought.

The guy across from her had been on the verge of collapsing. So how had he suddenly perked up again, with his footwork and swordplay both improving out of nowhere?

The audience had thought the outcome was already decided. When they saw the attacks suddenly being blocked again, they jumped up and cursed:

"Holy crap! Is this match rigged?"

"He's cheating, isn't he?"

Some who had been cheering Huo Wu on because of the Blazing Fire Academy's reputation now began turning against her and accusing her of cheating.

Huo Wushuang and the other Blazing Fire Academy students stared wide-eyed, too.

"This guy... Was he holding back the whole time?"

"Is he using a Soul Skill? But there's no Soul Ring fluctuation..."

"No."

Feng Xiaotian shook his head, his expression grave.

"Something's off about this guy—"

"He seems to be... trying to create a Self-Created Soul Skill!"

He had a Self-Created Soul Skill of his own, so he knew the feeling well.

It was still a little short of a true Self-Created Soul Skill, but it was already heading in that direction.

"A Self-Created Soul Skill?"

Huo Wushuang froze for a moment, then sucked in a sharp breath.

It wasn't something an ordinary person could pull off. The genius beside him, Feng Xiaotian, was living proof.

Innate Full Soul Power and extraordinary talent—and still he'd plunged headfirst into the pit of Self-Created Soul Skills,

wasting who knew how much time on cultivation and getting chewed out by the Godwind Academy dean who knew how many times!

Could the guy on the arena

have refused to use his Martial Soul or Soul Skills from the start just so he could create a Self-Created Soul Skill?

Was he a lunatic like Feng Xiaotian?

On the arena,

after testing the waters for several exchanges, Huo Wu had begun to see what was going on.

And seeing it only fanned her anger higher.

Her opponent was using her as a whetstone.

She, the dignified Flame Queen, was nothing more than a stepping-stone for him to hone his Soul Skill?

Was she so beneath his notice?

Outrageous!

If it had happened to someone else, she might have applauded and even cheered them on.

But when it happened to her... it was unforgivable!

"You think you can create a Self-Created Soul Skill overnight? You're using the Soul Fighting Arena as a training ground and me as your whetstone!"

"How dare you!"

Huo Wu's words grated out between clenched teeth, each one spitting sparks.

"Don't you want to create a Self-Created Soul Skill?"

"Fine!"

"Then I'll show you with your own eyes what a real Self-Created Soul Skill looks like!"

She was furious.

Truly furious.

She'd make him pay for his arrogance—and make him lose to the very Self-Created Soul Skill he dreamed of creating!

"Third Soul Skill—Repulsive Fire Ring!"

Her third Soul Ring lit up.

A colossal pillar of fire surged skyward from beneath Huo Wu's feet. A violent shock wave swept outward in every direction, centered on her.

Before Qian Renxue could steady herself, the irresistible force hurled her through the air.

She skidded back six or seven meters before managing to stop herself with her sword!

But Huo Wu didn't pursue her.

Using the opening cleared by the Repulsive Fire Ring, she traded space for time, creating a window to unleash her Self-Created Soul Skill.

"Ring Fusion!"

Huo Wu gave a low cry. All three Soul Rings around her flashed at once, drawing closer and intertwining until they fused into one!

An aura far beyond that of a Soul Elder suddenly burst from her!