Soul Skill backlash!
Realizing this, Xiao Wu was overcome with shock.
Her Second Soul Skill was Charm, a rather rare Mental Attribute control skill that could bewitch opponents and delay their actions.
Because she had reincarnated as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, her mental strength should normally have been far greater than that of a Soul Master at the same level.
As Xiao Wu understood it, using Charm against a Soul Master of the same level should still have a noticeable effect, even if it couldn't unleash its full power.
But the intense pain in her head made Xiao Wu realize an unforeseen truth.
Lin Mo's mental strength was far greater than hers.
Otherwise, even if Charm couldn't work at full strength, it shouldn't have caused backlash against her.
Xiao Wu clutched her head with both hands, her body trembling from the intense pain.
Just as Xiao Wu released her hands, even her legs wrapped around Lin Mo's waist beginning to loosen as she started to fall, Lin Mo instinctively reached forward and caught her, holding her securely in his arms like a princess.
Xiao Wu was very light, and Lin Mo had barely needed to exert any effort to catch her.
Xiao Wu's breathing was a little ragged, and her face looked somewhat pale.
Even so, she instinctively wrapped her arms around Lin Mo's neck, settling into a more comfortable position in his embrace.
As Xiao Wu rested with her eyes closed in Lin Mo's arms, she couldn't help murmuring to herself:
"Lin Mo, what kind of freak are you?
Your physical strength is already incredible, but how are your soul and mental strength so tough, too?
Under normal circumstances, with my mental strength, even using Charm on a three-ring Soul Elder shouldn't cause such severe backlash."
She simply couldn't understand why Lin Mo was so powerful in every way.
Lin Mo looked down at Xiao Wu in his arms. "Don't talk for now. Get some rest."
The spar ended in the blink of an eye. Almost the moment Xiao Wu prepared to attack Lin Mo, the backlash from her Soul Skill had already hit.
Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, watching this unfold, froze in place and looked at each other, momentarily at a loss.
Yu Xiaogang came over and carefully checked Xiao Wu's condition. Only after confirming that she had suffered nothing but Soul Skill backlash did he breathe a sigh of relief.
He had a powerful body and such strong mental strength, too.
Having realized these traits of Lin Mo's Martial Soul, Yu Xiaogang began overturning several of his theories about it.
Under normal circumstances, Martial Souls were indeed as Xiao Wu had said: each had its strengths and weaknesses.
The most extreme example in the world of Martial Souls was the Four Single-Attribute Clans, once affiliated with the Clear Sky Sect.
Yu Xiaogang had assumed Lin Mo's Martial Soul would be similar. But a Martial Soul with no obvious weaknesses left him even more perplexed.
Thinking of this, Yu Xiaogang raised his eyes to Lin Mo and couldn't help grumbling inwardly:
Could this kid really have no weaknesses?
According to his theoretical research, every Martial Soul should have strengths and weaknesses.
Martial Souls with strong attacks were often weak in defense; those with great speed generally lacked strength; and Soul Masters skilled in mental attacks were usually physically frail.
This rule held true for the vast majority of Soul Masters.
But Lin Mo's existence had completely overturned Yu Xiaogang's understanding.
"Grandmaster, Tang San, I'll take Xiao Wu to rest now. I won't come by to say goodbye tomorrow."
Lin Mo lowered his eyes to Tang San and Yu Xiaogang and said, "Once Xiao Wu's had a good rest tomorrow, I'll take her straight to register at Shrek Academy."
"Go on, then."
Yu Xiaogang said, "Xiao Wu only suffered Soul Skill backlash, and it isn't serious. There's nothing wrong with her physically.
"One night's rest should help her recover.
"But remember, Xiao Wu: next time you spar, you mustn't try to control Lin Mo with Charm again." Yu Xiaogang cautioned her.
His tone was stern. He truly worried Xiao Wu might make the same mistake again.
Soul Skill backlash could be serious or mild. The fact that this time it was only slight was already a stroke of luck.
Leaning against Lin Mo, Xiao Wu said weakly, "I understand, Grandmaster. I won't use Charm on Lin Mo again."
Lin Mo nodded, then, with Xiao Wu's help, shifted her from his arms onto his back.
He slipped one arm beneath her thighs and carried her securely.
Xiao Wu wrapped her arms around Lin Mo's neck and rested her head on his shoulder, her full weight settling against his back.
Feeling the firm pressure of her thighs against his forearms, Lin Mo set off toward the entrance of Notting Academy.
The two left the back hill, crossed the academy's field, and headed toward the gate.
Lying on Lin Mo's back, Xiao Wu asked softly, "Mo-ge, do you think we'll meet any Soul Masters stronger than you at Shrek Academy?"
"Probably," Lin Mo replied.
"Can we beat them?" Xiao Wu asked again.
"Don't worry. Even if I can't beat them now, one day they'll all become my defeated opponents!" Lin Mo answered.
"I'll protect you! I won't let anyone hurt you!"
Xiao Wu's lips lifted into a slight smile. She buried her head against Lin Mo's shoulder and said nothing more.
Unseen by Xiao Wu, a faint, hard-to-detect smile appeared on Lin Mo's face.
Sparring with Xiao Wu had confirmed one of his earlier suspicions!
His Inversion of Three talent must have come with a hidden talent as well.
Cultivating both body and soul!
His soul would grow in step with his body. Improving his physical condition would strengthen his mental power, and vice versa!
Watching Lin Mo and Xiao Wu walk away, Tang San stood dazed for a moment.
Only after the two had vanished from sight did he slowly draw his gaze back.
Tang San lowered his head and looked at his hands, murmuring, "Teacher, with my talent, can I really catch up to a freak like Lin Mo someday?"
His voice was filled with deep uncertainty.
All this time, he had been cultivating desperately, trying to keep pace with Lin Mo.
Yet each time he felt he had made some progress, Lin Mo had already gone even farther.
The feeling that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't catch up made Tang San doubt his talent all over again.
"You can." Yu Xiaogang reached out and rubbed Tang San's head.
He looked at his most prized disciple, his gaze softening.
"Don't show favoritism. Your talent is no worse than Lin Mo's. You just need a little time to build up your strength before it bursts forth!" Yu Xiaogang said.
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's comforting words, Tang San fell silent once more.