The Sound of a Thousand Birds Chirping

"How is it him? Why is he clashing with Xu Sanshi?" Han Ruoruo muttered to herself.

"Ruoruo, you know that boy in black?" Zhang Lexuan asked curiously.

Han Ruoruo nodded. "I've seen him a few times. Word is he's the Young Sect Master of the Black Tortoise Sect, and his Martial Soul is the top-tier water-attribute Black Tortoise Turtle. Whenever Xiao Tao's evil fire flares up and becomes uncontrollable, she goes to the outer courtyard to ask him for help."

Her expression shifted, and she said urgently, "Oh no, Sister Lexuan, Xu Sanshi is a senior student in the outer courtyard and possesses a top-tier Martial Soul. How could that brat possibly be his match? Let's go stop them."

A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Lexuan's beautiful eyes. She held Han Ruoruo back and said softly, "Don't worry, Ruoruo. With me here, he won't come to any harm. Let's observe the situation first; if he's truly about to suffer, it won't be too late for us to intervene."

"Looking at his calm and composed demeanor, he doesn't seem like someone who would lose out. But he only has 15 levels of Spirit Power—to be this confident, he might have some hidden cards. Let's watch from the sidelines for now."

In the center of the crowd, fury blazed in Xu Sanshi's tiger-like eyes. "Brat, I'm going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget. I'll show you the basic humility you should have when facing a powerhouse."

His body shuddered violently, and three Spirit Rings instantly rose from beneath his feet: two yellow and one purple. His already sturdy and thick frame expanded by another circle, and his skin took on a strange, greenish-black hue.

In his right hand, a black turtle shield about 1.5 meters tall appeared.

A top-tier Martial Soul, the Black Tortoise Turtle!

Xu Sanshi's Martial Soul manifestation drew a wave of commotion from the onlookers.

A perfect Spirit Ring ratio combined with such top-tier aptitude made him quite outstanding, even in a place like Shrek, where geniuses were as common as clouds.

Jiang Nannan shouted from the side, "Xu Sanshi, have you lost your mind? Fighting outside the academy—do you want to be expelled?"

Although she loathed Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan had to admit that, regardless of his character, his strength in the outer courtyard was truly formidable. Among his peers, very few could reliably defeat him.

Those with weaker Spirit Power struggled to break his defense, while those with stronger power were often left feeling disgusted by his tactics.

In contrast, the grilled fish vendor before them looked far too young. Compared to the transformed Xu Sanshi, Huo Yuhao appeared incredibly frail.

She stepped in front of Huo Yuhao, arms spread wide, and whispered, "I'm sorry, little brother. This unprovoked disaster is my fault. You should leave; I'll block him for you."

Seeing this, Xu Sanshi's eyes turned bloodshot with jealous rage.

The woman he loved was standing against him for the sake of another man, even shielding him.

In Xu Sanshi's heart, he had long considered Jiang Nannan his own woman. Consumed by possessiveness, he was on the verge of losing his sanity.

"Brat, if you have any guts, stop hiding behind others. Be a man and fight me fair and square."

Xu Sanshi no longer cared about school rules; he only wanted to beat Huo Yuhao into the ground.

Huo Yuhao slowly stepped out from behind Jiang Nannan and said calmly, "Sorry, I don't have the habit of leaving debts unpaid. He hasn't compensated me for the damage to my stall yet, so I'm not going anywhere. I appreciate the gesture, but please, don't stand in my way."

"You!" Seeing Huo Yuhao reject her kindness and remain so stubborn, Jiang Nannan stomped her foot in frustration and stepped aside.

"Heh, you really live up to the name 'Turtle Man.' Your Martial Soul and your personality are a perfect match," Huo Yuhao chuckled.

Huo Yuhao closed his eyes and opened them again; his black pupils had transformed into blood-red, with two black tomoe slowly rotating within them.

Beautiful and eerie.

At the same time, a white Spirit Ring rose slowly from beneath Huo Yuhao's feet, pulsing rhythmically around him.

Body Martial Soul! A ten-year Spirit Ring!

Zhang Lexuan and Han Ruoruo exchanged surprised glances. Clearly, they hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to possess a rare Body Martial Soul, and judging by its appearance, it seemed to be some kind of rare mutation—extremely unique.

On the other hand, the fact that Huo Yuhao's first Spirit Ring was merely a ten-year ring completely defied their expectations.

"You dare to be this arrogant with a ten-year Spirit Ring? Brat, you are truly courting death." Xu Sanshi laughed, though it was a laugh born of pure irritation.

Since when did a Spirit Master with a ten-year ring dare to spout such nonsense in front of a genuine Spirit Grandmaster?

He felt insulted.

"Get lost!" The next second, Xu Sanshi charged forward, shield raised.

His yellow, hundred-year first Spirit Ring flared. A thick layer of black light coated his turtle shield, and a black halo expanded, covering a radius of over ten meters. It emitted a powerful aura, like a black energy dome slamming toward Huo Yuhao, accompanied by a low, rumbling roar.

Black Tortoise Shock! Xu Sanshi's first Spirit Skill.

Huo Yuhao activated his first Spirit Skill: Spirit Detection.

In an instant, everything within a fifty-meter radius appeared before him like a holographic projection.

From the patterns on the turtle shield charging toward him, down to an ant on the side of the road—everything was under his control. With a slight focus of his mind, he could see every detail within fifty meters.

Combined with the effects of the Sharingan, his perspective was like watching a movie slowed down four or five times; Xu Sanshi's movements appeared agonizingly slow.

This million-year Spirit Skill was truly useful.

Huo Yuhao mused to himself, then quietly formed a hand seal.

To the onlookers, it looked as if Xu Sanshi had slammed into Huo Yuhao, who stood there motionless, as if stunned.

"Oh no, Senior Sister! Something's going to happen!" Han Ruoruo exclaimed, ready to intervene.

But she was held back by Zhang Lexuan again.

"It's fine, Ruoruo. Look closely." There was a hint of astonishment in Zhang Lexuan's tone.

Han Ruoruo squinted and gasped, "An afterimage?"

In the blink of an eye, Xu Sanshi had reached Huo Yuhao, and his black-glowing shield slammed fiercely into him, drawing a gasp of shock from the crowd.

However, the scene everyone imagined did not occur.

"Puff." With a soft sound, Huo Yuhao dissolved into a stream of air and vanished.

"Hm? A decoy?" Xu Sanshi was startled, a sudden chill creeping up the back of his neck.

"Clang!" With a crisp ring, Huo Yuhao's White Tiger Dagger struck the back of Xu Sanshi's neck, yet it failed to pierce even an inch.

Xu Sanshi spun around and swung his shield, but Huo Yuhao flipped backward with nimble grace, dodging the heavy, powerful blow.

Xu Sanshi touched the back of his neck, cold sweat beading on his forehead; had his Turtle Martial Soul not been a top-tier defensive type, he might have already met the King of Hell.

His rage subsided by more than half, replaced by a heart-pounding dread as he asked, "Kid, is this your first Spirit Skill?"

Huo Yuhao clicked his tongue while holding the White Tiger Dagger.

The Turtle Martial Soul really was something; he had used his full strength just now, yet he hadn't even managed to break the defense.

Was the gap in Spirit Power too great? He felt a touch of dissatisfaction.

"Is it?" Huo Yuhao replied ambiguously, putting the White Tiger Dagger away.

"Hmph! You certainly have a few tricks up your sleeve, but that's as far as it goes!" Xu Sanshi steadied his lingering fear.

The opponent was merely a Spirit Master with a ten-year Spirit Ring who happened to have some unusual moves; he couldn't break his defense at all, so what was there to fear?

He readjusted his stance and raised his shield again, though this time, he was far more vigilant, an aura as steady as a mountain emanating from his body.

He slowly approached Huo Yuhao.

He intended to unleash his second and third Spirit Skills directly to crush this kid.

But just as he closed to within ten meters of Huo Yuhao, and just as his second and third Spirit Rings were about to light up—

Huo Yuhao suddenly looked up, his eerie eyes staring straight at Xu Sanshi.

Xu Sanshi froze; it was as if nothing remained in the world but those eyes.

His brain felt as though it had been pricked by a needle, plunging him into agonizing pain as his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Even more terrifying was the realization that he seemed to have arrived in another space.

In this space, a figure was walking slowly toward him, holding a sharp long blade in hand.

Yet he could not move a muscle, forced to watch helplessly as the person slowly raised the blade.

The fear of impending death filled his heart.

He trembled incessantly.

He gradually made out the person's appearance—it was that grilled fish stall owner!

No, that wasn't right!

It was an illusion!

Xu Sanshi snapped his eyes open.

But it was already too late; where was anyone in front of him?

Yet, a tremendous sound suddenly erupted from behind him.

The noise was like a thousand birds chirping in unison, a sharp, piercing shriek!

His heart screamed a warning!

He would die from this strike!