"Blazing Dance Illuminating the Sun? That sounds so powerful! Hurry up and show it to us, Senior Huo Wu!"
Huo Ling'er bounced around excitedly. She was practically the class clown.
Just then, Murong Ci let out an extremely piercing, high-pitched cry.
"To the practice field!"
Everyone: "..."
Huo Wu gave a light cough, turned, and headed for the training grounds. As she passed Murong Ci, she smacked him hard on the head.
"What are you doing? Ow!"
Everyone made their way to the training grounds, where the students lined up to show their respect.
One particularly "courteous" student even went out of his way to buy a bottle of juice and hand it to Murong Ci.
On the arena stood Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, Huo Ling'er, and the Yun Hai brothers.
Huo Wu was taking on all four of them.
"Brother Murong, you'd better sit this one out. Otherwise, we won't be able to have any fun."
"Even if I sit out, you won't be able to have any fun. Hee-hee."
When the referee announced the start of the match, everyone released their Martial Souls.
By then, Teacher Yan Yan and the dean, Huo Lie, had arrived. When Huo Lie saw Huo Wu's Ten Thousand Year Fourth Soul Ring on the arena, pride welled up in him.
That was his daughter!
On the arena, Huo Wu gave a sharp cry. Flame Surround and Resisting Fire Ring protected her, forming a powerful defense.
Even Huo Wushuang was appalled by that defensive barrier. Even his Single-Horned Fire Tyrant Dragon would struggle to withstand it.
The superior suppression of Ultimate Fire!
Any ordinary flame that entered the range of Ultimate Fire would grow weak and listless.
Huo Wu knew that feeling all too well...
Huo Wushuang didn't dare let his guard down. He glanced back at the Yun Hai brothers and gave them a nod. They immediately understood what their big brother meant.
Ever since that one time they'd randomly picked people for a match, the four of them had formed a little group. They trained together all the time and had developed a tacit understanding without needing to say a word.
But the most deeply hidden one was Huo Ling'er. On the surface, she seemed carefree, always eating, drinking, and having fun, but in actual combat, she was the trickiest of them all.
Because...
"By Ling's name, command the might of fire! First Soul Skill: Fire Attack!"
Huo Yun and Huo Wushuang's fire-attribute attack power immediately increased.
Huo Yun had already darted in from the side, spear in hand, to attack Huo Wu, while Huo Hai raised a Blazing Fire Shield, guarding Huo Ling'er at all times.
Huo Wushuang roared as his second and third Soul Rings lit up.
He unleashed his second Soul Skill, Blazing Dragon Body, and his third Soul Skill, Tyrant Dragon's Fury, at the same time.
His defense and attack power surged.
"First Soul Skill: Fire Dragon Claw!"
Huo Wushuang roared as he launched his enhanced first Soul Skill at Huo Wu.
In the past, Huo Wushuang would never have struck with such deadly force. But now, he had no idea what level Huo Wu had reached or how strong she was.
He could only go all out, because he knew Murong Si would protect her.
Besides, another voice rang in his ears, filling him with enthusiasm.
"By Ling's name, erect the fire's defense! Second Soul Skill: Fire Defense!"
Huo Ling'er's second Soul Skill increased fire-attribute Soul Masters' resistance and defense against fire-element Soul Skills!
The advantage is mine! Huo Wushuang thought.
But what happened next made his pupils contract sharply.
Huo Wu remained unruffled. She slowly raised her hand, curling her fingers into a dragon's claw.
It was Flame Dragon Claw!
Its quality was who knew how many grades higher than Huo Wushuang's Fire Dragon Claw!
With one swipe, Huo Yun and Huo Wushuang's attacks were instantly shattered. Both men flew backward, their faces pale.
One strike—just one strike! Their attack was completely interrupted, even with Huo Ling'er boosting their fire defense.
How humiliating! How utterly humiliating!
Still, thinking of how outstanding his little sister was, Huo Wushuang felt a little better.
Below the arena, Murong Ci leisurely sipped his juice with one leg crossed over the other, wearing a look of disdain.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"This is a little too tame."
"I meant the juice."
But Murong Ci noticed a young man in the crowd, handsome and staring intently at Huo Wu's fight.
On the arena, Huo Wushuang and the others were drenched in sweat, while Huo Wu's clothes were barely smudged.
Even Huo Hai had joined the fight instead of guarding Huo Ling'er.
Because Huo Wu couldn't even be bothered to move...
She hadn't moved from her spot the entire time...
"This is no fun, big brother. I'm done playing~"
Huo Wu called out playfully, and brilliant light flared in her hand.
Her inky-black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring blazed with light!
A fiery red ball slowly took shape. She raised it high above her head.
Flames from every direction were drawn toward the fireball at its center. At last, a gigantic, white-hot sun-flame sphere formed.
Its core glowed bright white, edged with golden flames that made anyone who saw it green with envy.
More frightening still, as the fireball solidified, her remaining three Soul Rings also flared with light and floated around the Fourth Soul Ring.
Centered on that black Soul Ring, they drew Soul Power from the other three.
Ring Fusion!
Before, Huo Wu had lacked a powerful attack Soul Skill to bring out Ring Fusion's true might.
But now, she had one! A Soul Skill had appeared!
Ring Fusion's true power could finally be unleashed!
But Huo Wu's face had gone a little pale. It was obvious that Ring Fusion consumed too much Soul Power. As this was her first time using it, she hadn't fully mastered it yet.
This was bad!
She couldn't control it!
Huo Wu had no choice but to let go, hurling Blazing Dance Illuminating the Sun—powerful enough to blow up the training grounds—into the center of the arena.
That strike...
Teacher Yan Yan swallowed.
"I'm afraid... I couldn't take that..."
Huo Lie laughed heartily and immediately released his Martial Soul, a Single-Horned Fire Tyrant Dragon just like Huo Wushuang's.
Only its pressure was stronger, its presence far more imposing.
Huo Lie struck at the out-of-control Blazing Dance Illuminating the Sun. Flecks of light flickered before it scattered.
The referee was already trembling uncontrollably. He hurriedly declared the match over and wiped away a cold sweat.
Was this the power unique to a seventy-two-level Soul Saint?!
Terrifying!
"System, what are my odds if I fight him?"
[Five levels of success. His Martial Soul Avatar is particularly troublesome.]
Murong Ci frowned slightly.
Only five levels? That seemed a little low.
Still, he wasn't discouraged. He believed that within a year, he could definitely capture Huo Lie with one hand!
Bah, bah, bah!
What was he thinking?! Huo Lie was his future father-in-law!
The five people on the arena came down unsteadily.
Huo Wu walked over to Murong Ci on wobbly legs and leaned against him.
"I'm exhausted. I still haven't mastered it."
"Practice a little more."
"Mm. Let me have a sip of your juice."
Huo Wu grabbed the juice and downed it in one go. She was clearly exhausted.
"Hey, I hadn't even finished half of that. You're not leaving me a single drop?"
"So what if I don't? Are you going to hit me? Could you bring yourself to?"
Huo Wu grinned cheekily.
"I really can't do anything with you..."
As the two leaned against each other, Huo Lie stepped onto the practice platform. An imposing aura radiated from the dean of Blazing Fire Academy, even though he hadn't raised his voice.
"Everyone, our Five Elements exchange tournament is just around the corner. It's an annual grand event for the Five Elements Academies."
"Next, I'll announce the team representing Blazing Fire Academy: Murong Ci as captain, Huo Wu as vice-captain, and Huo Wushuang, Huo Ling'er, Huo Yun, Huo Hai, and Yan Zheng as team members!"
"Yan Zheng?"
Huo Wu looked a little surprised.
"He's in the same year as me, Teacher Yan Yan's own son and prized pupil. His Martial Soul is a Flame Scale Rock Lizard, and he also has the rare earth attribute."
Yan Zheng...
Another new face...
Looks like I'd better give him a good training...
Murong Ci glanced at the young man who'd been watching Huo Wu's fight.
So that was Yan Zheng.
As Murong Ci pondered, Huo Lie announced one last thing.
"This year's exchange tournament will be held at Skywater Academy!"
"That dean has been making quite a splash these past three months. I hear Skywater Academy recruited a genius ice-attribute student who calls herself Bing Bi'er. She beat their former genius, Shui Bing'er, so badly that Shui Bing'er was left in the dust. Our Blazing Fire Academy can't let her outshine us!"
"Yeah!"
Everyone cheered.
As for that Bing Bi'er...
Interesting.