"You brat, I have to admit, you're indeed very strong."
"But it's better to keep a low profile. Don't be so arrogant."
Bai Jiaming lounged lazily with a blade of grass between his lips, his hands clasped behind his head as he watched Ye Ruilin.
Ye Ruilin's gaze then fell on the white-robed youth with the messy hair.
"May I ask your name, brother? How about we exchange a few moves?"
After just one glance, a smile appeared on Ye Ruilin's face.
This white-robed youth was no simple person.
Fighting him should be quite interesting.
"You've lost your mind! Senior Brother Bai is the strongest among all these people."
"His Soul Power has already reached level 23."
"And Senior Brother Bai's Martial Soul is the incredibly powerful weapon-type Martial Soul, the Streamer Sword."
Ye Xiaoxian hurriedly spoke up, afraid that Ye Ruilin would overestimate himself and challenge Senior Brother Bai.
Ye Ruilin glanced at the agitated girl before turning his gaze back to the white-robed youth.
"Ye Ruilin, Martial Soul: Qilin. Level 12 assault-type Battle Soul Master. Please enlighten me."
At those words, a playful smile immediately appeared on the white-robed youth's face.
"You know full well that I've reached level 23, yet you still want to fight me."
"Kid, you're arrogant beyond all reason."
Bai Jiaming spat out the grass in his mouth, then rolled his neck as he walked toward the center.
It had been a long time since he had seen such an arrogant brat.
He had not stretched his muscles in quite some time. Today was a good chance to loosen up.
"Bai Jiaming, Martial Soul: Streamer Sword. Level 23 assault-type Battle Soul Master."
As both sides announced themselves, the atmosphere in the arena immediately turned tense.
The white-robed youth rotated his hands and flexed his wrists, producing a string of sharp cracking sounds from his bones.
The crisp sounds instantly added several degrees of pressure to the arena.
The onlookers unconsciously swallowed.
They knew Senior Brother Bai's strength well. When he attacked, his opponents were either dead or crippled.
Two yellow soul rings appeared beneath Bai Jiaming's feet. With a flick of his wrist, a beautiful longsword appeared in his hand.
He raised his wrist slightly, forming an elegant flourish with the blade.
"Watch out."
The moment his words fell!
Boom!
In that instant, a massive surge of Soul Power rushed straight at Ye Ruilin's face.
Ye Ruilin's expression did not change, but blazing flames erupted behind him.
The flames surged upward, then surrounded both of them.
The rising fire faintly took the shape of a dragon behind Ye Ruilin, like a living Fire Dragon.
The Fire Qilin stepped out from the flames, its body seemingly even larger than before.
A layer of scorching red scales covered the surface of its skin.
The Fire Qilin raised its beastly head and breathed out a ball of flame.
Its target was Bai Jiaming.
A layer of Soul Power instantly appeared before Bai Jiaming, shielding him within it.
Then, with a thunderous shout, he charged straight at Ye Ruilin.
The longsword in his hand glinted with cold light in the air.
Ye Ruilin was not flustered in the slightest.
With a light tap of his foot, his entire body swiftly vanished from before Bai Jiaming.
The Five Elements and Bagua—once the flames had formed, Bai Jiaming was already trapped within his Flame Bagua Formation.
As long as Ye Ruilin wished it, Bai Jiaming would be unable to break through this fiery formation.
The Fire Qilin roared, and enormous energy instantly surged forth. The heat waves made Bai Jiaming's expression turn ugly.
"First Soul Skill, Twin Swords Fusion."
In an instant, two phantom longswords appeared behind Bai Jiaming, then rapidly fused together.
An enormous Streamer Sword hung above the two of them, radiating an immense oppressive force.
Its tip pointed directly at the Fire Qilin within the flames.
As Bai Jiaming lowered his finger, the giant sword began to plummet at high speed, unstoppable as it tore through all the surrounding flames.
Such a thunderous strike made everyone nearby tense.
Yet Ye Ruilin showed no sign of panic. Under his control, the Fire Qilin unleashed Dragon Scale Breath once more.
This Dragon Scale Breath seemed even more powerful than before. The phantom Fire Dragon roared as it charged toward Bai Jiaming's sword.
The dragon's cry rang through the skies.
The two powerful forces collided in an instant, erupting with a violent wave of energy.
Those among the onlookers who lacked sufficient strength were directly blasted away by the shockwave.
The elder standing nearby acted at once, containing the situation within a limited area.
A look of amazement appeared on his face.
Young geniuses—this was merely a clash between Soul Grandmasters, yet it possessed such terrifying power.
In the distance.
Ever since Ning Rongrong had learned that her father intended to choose a study companion for her, she had been pouting, clearly unhappy.
Cultivation was terribly dull, and she did not want to cultivate every day.
If she had a study companion, someone would have to watch over her. That was extremely bothersome to her.
When she learned that the strongest person in today's clan competition would be selected as her study companion—
The little girl hurriedly dragged Ning Fengzhi to the pavilion to watch.
She intended to find some fault with them and ruin the whole arrangement!
However...
Everything Ye Ruilin did fell squarely before the little girl's eyes.
When she saw that this boy possessed only level 12 Soul Power yet wielded such formidable strength—
Her little mouth hung open in shock.
She had completely forgotten why she had come.
Now, she had a new idea.
"Dad, he's amazing."
"I want him to be my study companion!"
The outcome of this match was no longer important. Ning Rongrong had already chosen the study companion she wanted.
Ning Fengzhi had a headache.
He had wanted to select a child from his own clan to be his daughter's study companion.
That child could even become his daughter's personal bodyguard.
But this boy was not from their clan!
His father had even come to visit not long ago.
If the Kirin Ye Clan learned that their young master had become his daughter's study companion—
Wouldn't that be a disaster?!
"Rongrong, I think Bai Jiaming is quite good. He's older than you, he can take care of you, and he's very strong too."
Ning Fengzhi tried to shift Ning Rongrong's attention.
But Ning Rongrong crossed her arms and looked at Ning Fengzhi with dissatisfaction.
"Dad, you said the strongest person would become my study companion."
"Look, that boy is only level 12, yet he can already fight Bai Jiaming evenly."
"If he reached Bai Jiaming's level, he would definitely be even stronger than Bai Jiaming."
"I want him to be my study companion. Please? Dad, I'm begging you."
As she spoke, Ning Rongrong hugged Ning Fengzhi's arm and began to act cute.
The adorable innocence of a little girl was on full display.
Ning Fengzhi, who already doted on his daughter, instantly found himself unable to withstand it.
He held out for less than two or three minutes before surrendering.
"Alright, alright, alright."
"Whatever you want, we'll do as you say."
"But let's make this clear first. I agree to let this boy become your study companion, but whether he is willing to be your study companion will depend on him."
"If he refuses, there's nothing I can do."
Ning Fengzhi said helplessly.
But inwardly, he was certain that this boy would not agree to become his daughter's study companion.
Ning Rongrong sprang up and rushed to the front of the pavilion, looking down once again.
She wore a confident smile as she raised her chin high, like a little white swan!
"This boy will definitely be willing to become my study companion!"
Ning Fengzhi helplessly exchanged a glance with Sword Douluo. The two of them shook their heads with bitter smiles.
There was nothing they could do. The girl liked him, after all.
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