"Truly, truly beautiful..." Standing among the disciples of Thunder Academy, Huyan Li gazed at the peerless figure above the arena, practically drooling.
His eyes were utterly captivated.
"Third Soul Skill, Repelling Ice Ring!"
On the arena, Shui Bing'er spread the wings of her Ice Phoenix Martial Soul, a pale blue halo enveloping her slender figure.
Her cool, clear features radiated proud sharpness. Ultimate Ice Soul Power coursed around her, making her beauty both fierce and otherworldly.
Unable to resist, Huyan Li turned and walked up to Huyan Zhen, saying excitedly, "Grandpa, once we take over Skywater Academy, you have to arrange for me to marry Shui Bing'er!"
Huyan Zhen paused, then patted Huyan Li on the shoulder and teased, "Hahaha, A-Li, you little brat. Do you lose your way every time you see a pretty girl?"
"I don't care, Grandpa. You have to promise me! She's so beautiful. I like her!" Huyan Li said urgently, afraid Huyan Zhen would take it as a joke and refuse.
At his words, however, a trace of greed and malice flashed through Huyan Zhen's cloudy eyes. He patted Huyan Li's shoulder and laughed in a gruff voice. "Good grandson, don't worry! Once we've taken over Skywater Academy, forget just one Shui Bing'er—all the beauties in this place, with their icy skin and jade-like bones, will be yours to choose from!"
"No, give the other beauties to the other clan brothers. Grandpa, I only want Shui Bing'er. I want her!"
Seeing how infatuated his grandson was, Huyan Zhen didn't seem the least bit disappointed in him. "All right, all right, her it is! With the foundation of our Elephant Armor Sect, taking over Skywater Academy will be as easy as lifting a hand. Then, forget making her marry you—even if you want her to bow and scrape, she'll have to obey!"
Yu Luomian, standing nearby, cast a dismissive sidelong glance at that useless little gorilla.
Huyan Li was two years older than Shui Bing'er. He had a natural Soul Power level of eight and was now fourteen, yet he was only a level-thirty-five Soul Elder.
His talent was decent, but among the top geniuses on the whole continent, he was nothing special.
Besides, it was difficult for defensive Soul Masters to reach the pinnacle, and his potential was promising.
Compared with Shui Bing'er, this brat was a toad lusting after a swan.
Still, his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan wasn't all that covetous of Shui Bing'er.
The Ice Phoenix Martial Soul's traits posed no threat to the title of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul as Number One Beast Martial Soul.
It was Li Jiuxuan's Dragon King bloodline that could truly threaten them!
They might as well let the Elephant Armor Sect have Shui Bing'er and Skywater Academy.
"Ah!"
A scream rang out.
On the arena, a Frost Phoenix Pattern Sword pierced through her opponent and exploded, sending that Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan genius flying out of bounds.
Yu Luomian glanced down at Yu Shengxiong. His chest was frozen over, his right arm covered in bloody wounds, and he had fainted on the spot.
"First match, Skywater Academy, Shui Bing'er wins!" the referee announced from the arena.
"Go on, Yu Longxiang. Win the second match." Yu Luomian waved his hand, summoning the second clan disciple to the arena.
"Skywater Academy, Shui Yue'er, eleven years old, level-thirty Agility Attack Soul Master!"
Lively and nimble as a skylark, Shui Yue'er stepped through the air and bounded up onto the arena in a few quick strides.
She was a stunning beauty, too, with a soft curve to her lovely face. Even now, though she was angry and furrowing her brows, she looked adorable.
Everyone stared at her in surprise.
But it wasn't because she was too beautiful, nor because she was too curvaceous.
It was because she was only a two-ring Battle Soul Elder...
"What's the matter? So what if I only have two rings? Your Thunder Academy was being unreasonable, and you left me no time to hunt for a Soul Ring!" Shui Yue'er said angrily, pointing at everyone from Thunder Academy below.
"Thunder Academy, Yu Qinghong, level-thirty-one Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder!" After the Thunder Academy disciple stepped onto the arena, he couldn't help laughing. His eyes grew even more disdainful as he reminded her, "Hey, Shui Yue'er, are you sure you want to fight? We're both Soul Elders, but you're missing a ring. That's a world of difference!"
"Enough nonsense. Even if I let you use your third Soul Skill, you still won't be able to make much of a splash!" Shui Yue'er said, her little face set in determination. "After you lose, Thunder Academy will get out of our Skywater Academy at once. And don't you dare bother Xiao Jiuxuan again!"
"Fine. If you're looking to die, I won't stop you." Yu Qinghong smiled. He had a natural Soul Power level of eight and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, the Number One Beast Martial Soul in the world. His talent was surpassed only by the two strongest direct-line geniuses in the Yu family and Yu Shengxiong.
Shui Yue'er wasn't Shui Bing'er. Her talent couldn't begin to compare with Shui Bing'er's!
"Rumble!"
The battle erupted in an instant!
Blue light surged around Yu Qinghong as the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul burst into view. His arm transformed into a burly dragon claw, wrapped in purple lightning. Two yellow Soul Rings and one purple Soul Ring revolved in perfect rhythm, their pressure sweeping across the arena.
"First Soul Skill, Lightning Dragon Claw!"
Showing no mercy, he tore through the air with his dragon claw and lunged at Shui Yue'er, attacking with vicious speed in an attempt to crush her with his level advantage.
Though Shui Yue'er had only two rings, she wasn't afraid in the least. Her Jade Dolphin Martial Soul appeared, and her graceful figure flowed like water as she nimbly dodged each deadly strike.
"First Soul Skill, Agile Ice Cone!"
Countless sharp ice cones formed and shot through the air. Most were shattered by the lightning, but they managed to halt Yu Qinghong's attack.
They even cut his skin!
Soon, drops of bright red blood could be seen falling from his wounds!
"Shui Yue'er may not have particularly outstanding talent, but the combat strength she's showing is on par with some top geniuses!"
Everyone was shocked. In the first exchange, Yu Qinghong had actually been at a disadvantage!
All along, many people had judged a Soul Master's strength solely by their talent.
But they'd forgotten that talent was only talent. It couldn't directly become real combat strength.
The battlefield was full of twists and turns, and there were countless things one could rely on.
True power was always forged through repeated cultivation and battle, tempered again and again!
"She actually managed to hurt me!"
Yu Qinghong touched his cheek, unable to believe it.
He was the fourth-ranked genius in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, while Shui Yue'er's talent was nowhere near his!
Yet he had actually come off worse in that exchange!
"Come on, let's see how long you can last!"
Veins bulged across Yu Qinghong's forehead. He had never suffered such humiliation. He unleashed his full Soul Power and entered his strongest state!
"Enough with the nonsense!"
Shui Yue'er did the same. To protect Li Jiuxuan, she brought her power to its limit!
The result still shocked everyone.
Even with both of them fighting at full strength, Shui Yue'er didn't gradually fall behind as they had expected.
Instead, she kept trading blows with Yu Qinghong on even terms.
Half a quarter of an hour passed. Both were covered in various wounds, and neither held a decisive advantage.
"Boom!"
But in the end, Shui Yue'er was still a move behind.
Though she had held her own in their clash, her Soul Power ran out first. Yu Qinghong seized the opening and landed his third Soul Skill.
When the victor was decided, Shui Yue'er fell from the arena, and Yu Qinghong's Soul Power had just run completely dry.
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