The Sound of Chidori

"It's him! How did he end up facing Xu Sanshi?" Han Ruoruo murmured to herself.

"Ruoruo, do you know the guy in black?" Zhang Ruoxuan asked curiously.

Han Ruoruo nodded. "I've seen him a few times. I heard he's the young sect master of some Black Tortoise Sect, and his Martial Soul is also a top-tier water-type Martial Soul, the Black Tortoise Turtle. Whenever Xiaotao's Evil Fire flared up before and she couldn't suppress it, she'd go to the Outer Court and ask him for help."

Her expression suddenly changed, and she said urgently, "This is bad, Sister Lexuan. Xu Sanshi is a senior student from the Outer Court, and his Martial Soul is top-tier too. How could that brat possibly be a match for him? We have to stop them!"

A flash of light gleamed in Zhang Lexuan's beautiful eyes as she stopped Han Ruoruo and said gently, "Don't worry, Ruoruo. I'm here. He'll be fine. Let's watch for now. If he really starts losing, we can step in then."

"Judging by how calm he looks, he doesn't seem like someone who'll lose. But his Soul Power is only level fifteen. To be so confident, he must have some kind of trump card. Let's just watch from the sidelines for now."

In the middle of the crowd, fury blazed in Xu Sanshi's tiger-like eyes. "Kid, I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget. You'll learn to show a basic level of humility when facing someone stronger than you."

His body shuddered violently. Three Spirit Rings rose from beneath his feet in an instant, two yellow and one purple. His already sturdy, broad frame swelled another size, and his skin turned a strange shade of blue-black.

A black turtle shield, about five feet long, appeared in his right hand.

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

Xu Sanshi's Martial Soul Possession drew a wave of astonished murmurs from the crowd.

With a perfect Spirit Ring configuration and such outstanding talent, he was considered quite exceptional even at Shrek, where geniuses were as numerous as clouds.

Jiang Nannan shouted angrily, "Xu Sanshi, have you gone mad? You attacked someone outside the academy. Do you want to get expelled?"

Though she loathed Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan had to admit that the bastard was undeniably strong among the Outer Court students. In his year, there were only a handful who could beat him with any certainty.

Those with less Soul Power than him would struggle to break through his defenses, while those with more would still find him a real nuisance.

By contrast, the grilled-fish stall owner before her was far too young. Standing next to Xu Sanshi, who was now in Martial Soul Possession, Huo Yuhao looked frail and thin.

She stepped in front of Huo Yuhao, arms spread, and said softly to him, "Sorry, kid. You got dragged into this because of me. You should leave. I'll hold him off."

Seeing this, Xu Sanshi's eyes reddened with jealousy and fury.

The woman he loved was standing against him for another man—and protecting him, too.

In Xu Sanshi's heart, he had long since claimed Jiang Nannan as his own. Now that his possessiveness had taken over, he was on the verge of losing his mind.

"Kid, if you've got the guts, don't hide behind someone else. Be a man and fight me fair and square."

Xu Sanshi no longer cared about the academy rules. All he wanted was to teach Huo Yuhao a lesson.

Huo Yuhao slowly stepped out from behind Jiang Nannan and said calmly, "Sorry, but I don't let people off the hook for unpaid debts. You still haven't paid for the damage you did to my grilled-fish stall, so I'm not leaving. I appreciate the offer, but please don't stand in my way."

"You!" Jiang Nannan was furious when Huo Yuhao refused her help and stubbornly insisted on staying. She stamped her foot and moved aside.

"Heh. No wonder you're such a turtle. Your Martial Soul really suits your personality." Huo Yuhao chuckled.

Then Huo Yuhao closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his black pupils had turned blood-red, and two black tomoe were slowly spinning within them.

Beautiful, yet sinister.

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

A Body Martial Soul! A Ten-Year Soul Ring!

Zhang Lexuan and Han Ruoruo exchanged a surprised glance. They clearly hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to possess a rare Body Martial Soul. Judging by its appearance, it seemed more like some kind of rare Mutated Martial Soul—an especially unusual one.

But on the other hand, Huo Yuhao's First Soul Ring was only a mere Ten-Year Soul Ring. That was entirely beyond what either of them had expected.

"A Ten-Year Soul Ring, and you still dare act so cocky? Kid, you're really asking to die." Xu Sanshi laughed, his anger making him laugh.

Since when had a Soul Master with a Ten-Year Soul Ring dared to run his mouth in front of a true Soul Elder like him?

He felt insulted.

"Get lost!" In the next instant, Xu Sanshi charged forward with his turtle shield raised.

The yellow, hundred-year First Soul Ring on his body lit up. A dense black glow immediately spread over his shield, and a wave of black light expanded outward, covering a distance of more than ten meters. It radiated a powerful aura, like a black dome surging toward Huo Yuhao, accompanied by a rumbling roar.

Black Tortoise Shock! Xu Sanshi's First Soul Skill.

Huo Yuhao activated his First Soul Skill as well: Spirit Detection.

In an instant, everything within fifty meters appeared before him like a holographic projection.

He could see everything under his control, from the patterns on Xu Sanshi's shield as he charged toward him to an ant by the roadside. With the slightest focus, he could make out everything within fifty meters.

Combined with the Sharingan's effects, it was like watching a movie slowed down to a quarter or a fifth of its normal speed. Xu Sanshi's movements seemed impossibly slow.

This million-year Soul Skill really was useful.

Huo Yuhao marveled inwardly, then quietly formed a Seal with his hands.

From the onlookers' perspective, Xu Sanshi charged straight at Huo Yuhao, while Huo Yuhao stood motionless, as if frozen.

"Not good, Big Sister! This is going to end badly!" Han Ruoruo cried out in alarm and moved to intervene.

But Zhang Lexuan stopped her again.

"It's fine, Ruoruo. Look closely." A trace of surprise colored Zhang Lexuan's voice.

Han Ruoruo focused her gaze and exclaimed, "An afterimage?"

In the blink of an eye, Xu Sanshi was right in front of Huo Yuhao. His black-glowing turtle shield smashed into Huo Yuhao, drawing a chorus of gasps from the crowd.

But what everyone expected to happen never did.

"Pfft." Huo Yuhao dissolved into a stream of air and vanished.

"Hm? A fake body?" Xu Sanshi was startled. A sudden chill ran down the back of his neck.

"Clang!" Huo Yuhao's White Tiger Dagger struck the back of Xu Sanshi's neck, but didn't penetrate at all.

Xu Sanshi turned and swung his shield. Huo Yuhao made a light backward flip, dodging the powerful blow.

Xu Sanshi touched the back of his neck, a few beads of cold sweat appearing on his forehead. If his Martial Soul hadn't been a top-tier defensive type, that strike might have sent him to meet the King of Hell.

Most of his anger drained away, replaced by a cold jolt of fear. "Kid, is that your First Soul Skill?"

Huo Yuhao clicked his tongue as he held the White Tiger Dagger.

The Turtle Martial Soul really did have something to it. He'd put all his strength into that strike, yet still hadn't managed to break through Xu Sanshi's defenses.

Was the gap in Soul Power too great? He was a little dissatisfied.

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't." Huo Yuhao gave an ambiguous reply and put away the White Tiger Dagger.

"Hmph! You've got a couple of tricks, but that's all!" Xu Sanshi composed himself after his brush with fear.

His opponent was just a Soul Master with a Ten-Year Soul Ring. He might have some strange tricks, but he couldn't break through Xu Sanshi's defenses. What was there to fear?

He steadied his stance and raised his shield again. This time, though, he was more alert, and his bearing grew as steady as a mountain.

He slowly approached Huo Yuhao.

He would unleash his Second and Third Soul Skills at once and crush the kid.

But just as he came within about ten meters of Huo Yuhao, with his Second and Third Soul Rings about to light up—

Huo Yuhao suddenly raised his head and stared straight at Xu Sanshi with his sinister eyes.

Xu Sanshi froze. It seemed as if those eyes were all that remained in the world.

His brain felt as if a needle had stabbed into it, and unbearable pain overwhelmed him. His body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Even more terrifyingly, he found himself in another space.

A figure was slowly walking toward him. The person held a long, sharp blade.

Xu Sanshi couldn't move. All he could do was watch as the figure slowly raised the blade.

The fear of imminent death filled his heart.

He trembled harder and harder.

Gradually, he made out the figure's face. It was the 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. There was no one in front of him.

Behind him, however, a tremendous sound suddenly rang out.

It sounded like a thousand birds crying out at once, their calls sharp and piercing!

A sudden warning screamed in his heart.

This strike would kill him!