Blazing Wolf · Qin Ming

On the training ground, Qin Ming had already entered the combat stance of a battle soul master, compressing the soul power within his body.

Although he had suppressed his soul power to level 30, the aura of a Soul King remained undiminished, shrouding the entire training ground like an iron net, causing the watching students to feel a tightness in their chests.

Unlike the external thunderous pressure of Yu Tianheng, this was the aura of a "predator" honed through life-and-death struggles, as if he would pounce on his prey the very next second.

"Confirming the rules once more."

Qin Ming raised his eyes, his yellow beast-like pupils locking onto Xing Tian, his tone devoid of ripples: "If you can force me to use my fourth Soul Ring, you pass!"

Xing Tian spread his feet slightly and lowered his center of gravity; the starting stance of the Nine Deaths Footwork made him resemble a mantis crouching in the grass, his very breathing synchronized with the vibrations of the ground and the flow of the air.

"Understood, Teacher Qin Ming."

Before the words had even faded, Qin Ming's figure suddenly vanished.

The next moment, he appeared to Xing Tian's left, crimson flames igniting on his right wolf claw. He activated his first Soul Ring, Feverish Rending Claws, the flames condensing into three-inch-long fire blades at his fingertips, stabbing straight toward Xing Tian's waist.

This was Qin Ming's habitual tactic: a blind-spot ambush, specifically targeting the body's weakest defenses.

"How devious!"

Xing Tian's pupils constricted. A faint layer of black mist suddenly permeated his body. He initiated the Nine Deaths Footwork, his body shifting rapidly to the right while his left arm swept across in an attempt to block.

However, Qin Ming's left wolf claw was already waiting on his evasion path, the fire blade grazing past Xing Tian's black mist.

The crimson flames, which should have scorched skin, were silently swallowed by the black mist for the most part, leaving only faint sparks to land on his clothing, where they extinguished instantly!

When the fingertips brushed against Xing Tian's arm, they were also blocked by the black mist, failing to cause the expected bloody lacerations and leaving only a shallow mark.

"Hmm?"

Qin Ming frowned, a flash of surprise crossing his mind.

My flames normally contain sixty percent Hellfire; even with my soul power suppressed to level 30, it is not something an ordinary Soul Elder can easily resist, yet Xing Tian's black mist can directly devour it.

And his physical body is also unimaginably strong; there isn't even any blood.

The fire blade shifted momentum, closing in on Xing Tian's throat.

Xing Tian was forced to jump back, but Qin Ming's wolf tail suddenly straightened, whipping toward his knee like a lash. The flames, carried by the force of the wind, forced him to bend his knees to evade.

"You must fully utilize the physical changes brought about by Martial Soul Possession!"

Qin Ming had placed his duel with Xing Tian first specifically to instruct the other students. He certainly wouldn't miss this teaching opportunity, so he shouted loudly enough for everyone to hear.

Immediately following this, Qin Ming's right leg suddenly bent, kneeing toward his abdomen with a speed that made the trajectory impossible to track. Simultaneously, his right wolf claw condensed flames once more, attempting to use the explosive power of the fire to impact the black mist.

Xing Tian hurriedly blocked with his right fist. The black mist surged, swallowing the flames on the wolf claw once again, leaving only the sensation of a pure physical impact.

With a muffled "thud," Xing Tian felt a dull ache in his arm, but absolutely no burning sensation.

Qin Ming's mind cleared instantly: Attacking directly with flames is not only ineffective but also drains my soul power; it seems I must use pure physical strikes.

Qin Ming formulated his tactics in an instant. Using the momentum from the collision, his wolf claw hooked onto Xing Tian's wrist.

This time, he didn't trigger his flames. Instead, he exerted force using his Soul King-level physical constitution, spinning his body violently to throw him to the ground.

"This is a close-quarters leverage throw, relying on finesse rather than brute force."

Xing Tian reacted with extreme speed, pressing his other hand toward the ground as his Dark Evil Spirit Mantis martial soul drove its forelimbs into the earth.

Xing Tian then quickly swept his leg toward Qin Ming.

Qin Ming immediately released Xing Tian and retreated, his wolf claw swiping at Xing Tian's back.

But Xing Tian suddenly released the forelimbs he had driven into the ground, dodged the strike, spun violently, and transformed his hand into a blade to strike at Qin Ming.

Qin Ming's pupils shrank; in his haste, he could only coil his wolf tail around his body to defend.

With a "bang," the black mist collided with the wolf tail. There was no explosion of fire, only a solid, physical impact that sent both of them reeling backward.

Qin Ming took three steps back, while Xing Tian took six.

The other students watching were all eyes, cheering incessantly; only Dugu Yan and the other three were so nervous they had clenched their fists.

Qin Ming was no Yu Tianheng. Even if his martial soul was slightly inferior to Yu Tianheng's, his combat experience was something ten Yu Tianhengs tied together couldn't match.

Xing Tian thought to himself: He is indeed difficult to deal with. Teacher Qin Ming's combat experience far exceeds Yu Tianheng's, and he seems to have discovered that the black mist can devour flames, so he has started using only physical attacks. I can no longer handle him the way I crushed Yu Tianheng; I cannot use the Mantis Fist that I haven't mastered yet.

Furthermore, although Teacher Qin Ming's soul power is suppressed to level 30, his physical constitution is still at the Soul King level, which is above mine. I must think of another way.

Qin Ming's second Soul Ring suddenly lit up, emitting a high-pitched wolf howl. A massive phantom of a Blazing Wolf shrouded him, howling in synchronization.

His body expanded by a third, and orange-red wolf-like markings appeared on his face.

Qin Ming launched another ambush. Xing Tian tried to create distance, but Qin Ming could always predict his movements.

No matter if Xing Tian went left or right, Qin Ming could rapidly block his path, his claw blades always remaining less than three inches from his throat.

Xing Tian felt a rare sense of alarm: Although Teacher Qin Ming's physical constitution is superior to mine, in terms of pure combat experience, he definitely cannot compare to me. Even though I haven't fully mastered the Nine Deaths Footwork due to my cultivation level, I shouldn't be completely predicted. Could it be Teacher Qin Ming's second Soul Ring?

Xing Tian's guess was spot on; it was indeed Qin Ming's second Soul Ring, Gray Wolf Ambition, at work.

Beyond enhancing Qin Ming's strength and speed, its most important effect was the boost to his mental power, granting Qin Ming a beast's powerful intuition, thereby allowing him to predict his opponent's actions.

While Xing Tian was alarmed, Qin Ming was the same: What is going on with this footwork of Xing Tian's? I've even used my second Soul Ring to predict him, yet he still manages to escape time and again.

Qin Ming suddenly stopped his prowling and clenched his fists.

"It ends here! Third Soul Skill, Fire Wolf Explosive Flame Strike!"

Suddenly, Qin Ming's third Soul Ring lit up, and he slammed both fists into the ground with peerless force.

The flames did not erupt immediately; instead, they seeped into the ground along with the force of his punches before bursting forth violently!

The compressed fire shattered the ground instantly, and the flames followed the fissures to form a ring of fire, completely sealing off Xing Tian's path and forcing him into his attack range.

Originally a close-quarters soul skill, Qin Ming had developed it to achieve this current extended effect.

Xing Tian looked at the wall of fire surrounding him, feeling slightly helpless: It seems Teacher Qin Ming has realized that while the black mist on my body can devour his flames, it is not without a cost. Charging through a wall of fire of this magnitude would be unwise.