Training and the Battle with Li Ling

"All right, that's enough joking around."

Li Yan patted his head and instructed him earnestly, "Xiao Ban, my son is good in every way. He's just too shy, so you'll have to look after him from now on."

"Don't worry, Uncle Li. I'll take good care of Brother Ling." Ban Shu thumped his chest in promise.

"Then I'll be counting on you."

Li Yan patted Ban Shu on the shoulder, turned to give Li Ling a few instructions, then left.

After Li Yan had gone, Ban Shu stepped over to Li Ling. "Brother Ling, aren't we supposed to have practical training today? Let's get started."

"Sure."

Li Ling nodded, turned, and took his place nearby. Ban Shu quickly went to stand opposite him, facing him.

They first bowed to show that this was only a spar, then officially began.

Li Ling was the first to summon his Martial Soul. "Ice-Flame Spear!"

As the words left his mouth, a long spear appeared in his hand. Li Ling gripped it, assumed a stance, and signaled for Ban Shu to begin.

"Oh?"

Ban Shu was taken aback when he saw Li Ling's Martial Soul. Half of it looked like fire, the other half like ice. It seemed to be a very high-grade Martial Soul.

"Brother Ling, yours is..."

"Oh, you mean my Martial Soul?"

Li Ling relaxed his stance and scratched his head with a smile. "My Martial Soul was inherited from Dad, but it underwent some mutations and gained some of Mom's Martial Soul power."

"My mom's Martial Soul is called the Ice Sword. It's a slender, ice-attribute sword known for its speed and control. I inherited that trait from her, and with Dad's flames added in, this is what my Martial Soul became."

"I see."

Ban Shu smiled and nodded. "Looks like Brother Ling is a genius, too."

Li Ling hurriedly waved his hands, trying to be modest. "I'm not that great. I still have a lot to learn and need to work hard to catch up with my father."

"Uncle Li will be proud of you."

Ban Shu then asked curiously, "Brother Ling, how much Innate Soul Power did you have?"

"Well, my Innate Soul Power was level nine."

"That's amazing! You were just one level away from Innate Full Soul Power!"

Ban Shu was astonished. He hadn't expected Li Ling to have such high talent. Then again, anyone who could survive being caught between ice and fire had to have something going for them.

"All right, let's get training."

Seeing that Ban Shu looked ready to dig for every last detail, Li Ling hurriedly cut him off.

"Okay."

Ban Shu nodded and summoned the Painted Halberd. "As it happens, my Martial Soul also has both thunder and fire attributes."

"Ban Shu, Painted Halberd Martial Soul, level twenty-five Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. Please instruct me."

"Li Ling, Fire-Ling Spear Martial Soul, level forty Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor. Please instruct me."

"Level forty?"

Hearing Li Ling say this, Ban Shu was surprised. Well, with Innate Soul Power at level nine, reaching Soul Ancestor by the age of twenty wasn't unusual.

Ban Shu wasn't the only one stunned. Across from him, Li Ling was also utterly astonished when he heard Ban Shu's astonishing Soul Power cultivation.

After all, Ban Shu was only six and a half years old, yet his Soul Power cultivation was already so terrifying. It seemed another fearsome monster was destined to emerge in the future.

Facing Li Ling, Ban Shu showed no fear and didn't care about the enormous gap between them. His heart held nothing but sudden excitement. This was his first time fighting someone. It was so much fun!

"Let's begin!"

Ban Shu gripped the Painted Halberd, his eyes blazing with battle spirit. Here he came!

"First Soul Skill: Demonic Thunder!"

Ban Shu roared. The power of thunder surged around him as he swung the Painted Halberd and charged at Li Ling, bringing down a mighty blow.

With thunder circling around him, Ban Shu looked like a general clad in armor. Or maybe not.

"A thousand-year Second Soul Ring? How is that possible!"

Li Ling stared at the two astonishing Soul Rings around Ban Shu and froze. But this was a battle, and that moment of distraction was enough for Ban Shu to close in.

Li Ling recovered almost immediately, but it was already too late. He could only activate his Soul Skill and defend in haste.

"First Soul Skill: Ling-Flame Body Protection!"

A spherical shield appeared around Li Ling, stopping Ban Shu's attack.

"Boom!"

Their powers clashed, and Ban Shu was clearly at a disadvantage. The gap in Soul Power was simply too great.

But Li Ling hadn't stopped the blow easily, either. He hadn't expected Ban Shu to be so strong. That one strike had nearly shattered his protective shield.

"Brother Ling, are you all right?"

Ban Shu's excited voice came from across from him. "I think I've got the hang of it. Let's fight again!"

Li Ling was fired up now, too. He called to Ban Shu, "Bring it on! Your big brother will take you on!"

"Great! Here I come!"

Ban Shu swung the Painted Halberd again, each strike heavy and forceful. Li Ling could even hear the weapon cutting through the air.

Ban Shu attacked once more, but Li Ling was ready this time. He stomped hard, easily dodging the attack, then turned into a blur and darted around Ban Shu.

Ban Shu stood his ground, ready to meet whatever came with the same unchanging response. But Li Ling was too fast; at Ban Shu's current level, he couldn't keep track of him.

"Then, in that case..."

"Second Soul Skill: Demon God Body!"

The thunder around Ban Shu grew more intense. A tremendous force surged through his limbs and body, rushing wildly through him.

"Second Soul Skill: Spear Soul Break!"

Li Ling's attack had already arrived: a fiery-red spear formed from Soul Power, flying straight toward Ban Shu at tremendous speed.

With his God-Demon Body activated, Ban Shu couldn't help letting out a long roar. He gripped the Painted Halberd tightly and charged straight at the spear's shadow.

Boom!

The two energies collided. A violent shock wave kicked up sand and dust, sending it billowing in every direction.

A tremendous force traveled up the Painted Halberd in Ban Shu's hands, nearly sending him flying.

"It's not over yet!"

Gritting his teeth, he gathered all his Soul Power and thrust upward. The spear's shadow was knocked into the air, where it exploded.

"Haa..."

When the blow was over, Ban Shu panted softly. His blood and energy were surging, and his wrists hurt badly.

He'd just used every bit of strength he had to knock the attack aside. Otherwise, he would definitely have been injured.

"Ban Shu, are you okay?"

Li Ling had stopped and come over to Ban Shu, looking at him with concern.

Li Ling hadn't used his full strength just now, but that attack had still carried the power of a Soul Master above level twenty. If Ban Shu had been hurt, Li Ling would have blamed himself.

"I'm fine, Brother Ling."

Ban Shu shook his head and slowly straightened up. He had barely managed to take that last hit, but he hadn't been injured.

"Let's go again!"

Ban Shu wasn't one to get discouraged easily. After taking a moment to steady himself, he began fighting Li Ling again.