Showing Off Before an Expert

Xu Xiaoyan happened to run into someone.

Icy rain fell from the sky, blanketing the tree where Xu Xiaoyan stood. The ice spikes were dense as a woven net, each one sharp as a blade and carrying bone-piercing cold.

Xu Xiaoyan reacted quickly, pushing off the ground and dodging aside as she unleashed her first soul skill, Ice Wheel. An icy-blue ring spread out before her, sweeping aside every incoming ice spike. Shards of ice scattered in all directions, reflecting flecks of light beneath the sun.

"Who would've thought I'd run into someone after just taking a few steps?"

A crisp voice rang out. A young girl stepped from the bushes, three purple thousand-year soul rings beneath her feet. Her martial soul was an icy-blue longbow, its body covered in delicate frost patterns. She looked somewhat surprised, but excitement soon appeared on her face.

In a place like the Martial Arts Arena, nearly everyone intended to find the companions they had arranged to meet first. But since she had encountered an enemy, there was no harm in testing her out.

This girl was clearly very confident in her long-range attacks. Her ice bow was fully drawn, and a second ice arrow was taking shape.

But in the next moment, Xu Xiaoyan revealed a strange smile. "Yeah, I didn't expect it either."

The ice arrow in the girl's hand paused. She looked at Xu Xiaoyan in confusion. The other girl was clearly just a control-type Soul Master, with no advantage at all in a close-range encounter. Why did she still dare remain where she was—and even smile?

She had no time to figure it out.

A crushing blow descended from above.

Golden light, carrying devastating force, slammed into the girl. The ground exploded with a thunderous boom, dirt churned up, and