Hearing that he was a new student, the teacher looked Han Xing over a few times, his expression thoughtful.
"I see. You're a specially admitted student."
"Do you have any requirements for your matches? Soul Fighting at Spirit Academy can get pretty intense."
"Since this is your first time here, would you like me to lower the difficulty a little so you can get used to it?"
The teacher teased, "It's a new student's privilege, you know. It only lasts during the first week after enrollment."
"No need. Just match me according to the normal standards." Han Xing shook his head.
At that, the teacher nodded and entered Han Xing's information into the register.
In truth, he had only been joking.
This was a student younger than those usually enrolled in an advanced Spirit Academy, admitted through special selection.
How could his strength possibly be lacking?
"All registered. Your number is fifteen. Go wait in the stands."
"When there's a suitable opponent, a teacher will call you."
Han Xing took a token and headed toward the stands.
There were ten Soul Fighting platforms at Spirit Academy. Three were for students in different grades to compete in solo Soul Fighting.
Three were for seven-person team matches between students in different grades, while the remaining four were for pairs.
Compared to solo Soul Fighting, paired Soul Fighting included Support Type Soul Masters, so more people took part in it.
Sitting in the stands and watching the other students fight on the platforms, Han Xing couldn't help shaking his head.
It seemed that although he could go all out at Spirit Academy without having to hold back, the students here, at the same level, were still far weaker than Tang San.
Though Tang San's Blue Silver Grass posed no threat to Han Xing, he had, after all, practiced the Tang Sect's secret techniques since childhood.
Perhaps I won't find a worthy opponent until I reach Soul Elder. Han Xing felt a little disappointed.
Before long, a voice rang out from the Soul Fighting platform, calling for contestant number fifteen.
Han Xing stepped onto the platform. His opponent was a young man who looked about fourteen or fifteen.
When the other boy saw Han Xing, a puzzled expression came over his face.
"He looks like he's only just started at a junior Soul Master academy. Teacher, are you sure he's an advanced Soul Grandmaster?"
The young man frowned at the teacher acting as referee.
"Since he's on the platform, he naturally meets the requirements," the referee explained calmly.
"Release your Martial Souls."
At that, the young man said no more and immediately activated Martial Soul Possession.
"Liu Quan, twenty-ninth level Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master, Martial Soul: Green Scale Eagle. Please guide me!"
Han Xing's expression sharpened. As his Golden Crow Martial Soul possessed him, golden flames gathered around him and wings took shape, sending waves of scorching heat sweeping in every direction.
"Han Xing, twenty-ninth level Power Attack System Battle Soul Master, Martial Soul: Three-Legged Golden Crow. Please guide me!"
Hearing "Three-Legged Golden Crow," many people present let out cries of surprise.
"To reach the twenty-ninth level at this age, and with a Three-Legged Golden Crow Martial Soul, too." Liu Quan's pupils contracted.
"Where did this genius come from? Why have I never heard of him before?"
"Begin!"
The referee paid no mind to what the crowd thought. Seeing that both contestants had activated their Martial Souls, he immediately announced the start of the match.
"First Soul Skill: Clear Wind Wing!"
"First Soul Skill: Dawn Light Fire Feather!"
The two released their Soul Skills at the same time, forming a pair of wings behind themselves.
But once their wings had formed, their approaches were completely different.
Liu Quan used his wings to increase his speed and darted forward, planning to win through sheer speed.
Han Xing, meanwhile, shot five fire feathers at him the instant the match began.
Now that Han Xing had reached the twenty-ninth level, the number of feathers he could unleash in an instant had risen to twenty-nine.
His total Soul Power had also increased, so he no longer needed to worry about running short during a fight as he once had.
"What incredible speed! He's practically predicted my attack route."
Watching the fiery feathers shoot toward him, Liu Quan was shocked. He tried to dodge, but two feathers still struck him.
That was only natural.
At Notting Academy, Han Xing had been unable to fight at full strength, but his opponent back then had been Tang San.
As a Tang Sect disciple, Tang San had the Purple Demon Eye, which made him exceptionally perceptive to long-range attacks.
On top of that, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track gave him a powerful boost in agility, allowing him to easily evade Han Xing's attacks.
After fighting such an elusive opponent for so long, Han Xing had improved considerably.
Though he had never specifically studied Hidden Weapon techniques, the accuracy of his Flame Feathers had visibly improved.
At first, he had predicted the movements of Tang San's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Later, he had begun sealing off the routes Tang San could use to dodge.
Against Liu Quan,
he relied only on instinctive predictions and had never even studied his opponent's combat habits.
Yet his sharp eyes and muscle memory were enough to seal off every path Liu Quan could use to evade.
Fortunately, Liu Quan was a student at Spirit Academy, and years of Soul Fighting had given him extremely rich combat experience.
Though he was shocked, he reacted at once.
"Second Soul Skill: Wind Blade!"
As Liu Quan's wings beat behind him, several Wind Blades shot straight toward Han Xing.
But this kind of attack was clearly no threat to Han Xing.
After all, back in Nuoding City, Han Xing had improved, but Tang San had improved as well.
Setting aside Tang San's character, there was no denying his skill with Hidden Weapons.
Even without using Hidden Weapons, he could use nothing more than a few stones to disrupt Han Xing's movements from a distance.
Over time, Han Xing had honed his own keen powers of observation.
The instant he saw the Wind Blades coming, Han Xing simply leaped into the air and dodged every one of them.
Dawn Light Fire Feather didn't grant him the ability to fly, but as a bird-type Martial Soul, the Three-Legged Golden Crow could remain airborne for a brief moment.
While his opponent's attack left an opening, the second Soul Ring on Han Xing's body lit up.
"Second Soul Skill: Blazing Sun Flare!"
The Sun True Fire on Han Xing's body rapidly gathered in his hand. In the space of a breath, it had been compressed into a fireball no larger than a fist.
Feeling the temperature of the battlefield rise sharply, even the teacher acting as referee couldn't help narrowing his eyes.
Liu Quan sensed the change in temperature as well.
Realizing that his opponent's attack was likely to be incredibly powerful, he immediately raced around the battlefield, trying to evade it.
At the same time, his second Soul Skill lit up again, and several Wind Blades shot straight toward Han Xing, who was charging up his attack.
But just then, a single word rang out—
"Explode!"
Suspended in midair, Han Xing's gaze was cold. The blazing sphere of light in his palm suddenly burst apart.
Blazing Sun Flare unfurled at full power, and a fan-shaped wave of searing fire spread across fifty meters in an instant.
The intensely concentrated Sun True Fire swept forth with a thunderous roar, its scorching currents warping the air around it.
The dazzling golden light sealed off every avenue of escape around Liu Quan, leaving him nowhere to run.
At the sight of it, Liu Quan's face changed dramatically. He hurriedly gathered Soul Power around himself, trying to withstand the attack head-on.
But Sun True Fire was overwhelmingly fierce, and it had been charged, compressed, and then detonated.
How could a mere Agility Attack System Soul Master hope to withstand its power by relying on his own Soul Power for protection?