[Was the first battle between Soul Masters finally beginning?]
[So Xiao Wu's Martial Soul was a rabbit, right? It should be a Beast Spirit. I just wonder how it'll compare to Tang San's Blue Silver Grass when she uses it.]
[She'll probably look something like Su Yuntao, though she'll be a lot better-looking.]
As Han Xing slowly climbed onto the ring, the audience began voicing their thoughts.
But no one weighed in on who would win.
After all, Xiao Wu had beaten Tang San.
Even if he hadn't used his Hidden Weapons and hadn't fought at full strength.
The protagonist Tang San had been defeated, so how could some nobody possibly be a match for Xiao Wu?
Yet what happened next was somewhat different from what the audience had imagined.
After stepping onto the ring, Han Xing didn't rush to fight Xiao Wu. Instead, he politely introduced himself.
"Han Xing, a Thirteen-Level, One-Ring Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. Please, instruct me."
After speaking, Han Xing immediately released his Martial Soul. A scorching heat rolled off him, and a yellow Soul Ring appeared around his body.
"You're a One-Ring Soul Master?"
Xiao Wu's pupils contracted slightly. For a moment, she didn't know what to do.
It wasn't that she truly couldn't beat a One-Ring Soul Master. It was just that some of her abilities weren't suitable for her to use right now.
"Is there a problem?" Han Xing asked in return.
"You're acting so cocky. Don't tell me you haven't even broken through to level ten?"
"Who says I haven't reached level ten? I just haven't gone to get a Soul Ring yet," Xiao Wu retorted.
"Then how about you don't use any Soul Skills, and we fight?"
"Not use my Soul Skills?" Han Xing scoffed.
"What an absurd idea. Why should I hold back my Soul Skills?"
Hearing Han Xing's words, Tang San wanted to say something, but Han Xing changed tack.
"Forget it, though. I don't want you accusing me of throwing my weight around."
"Since you asked me not to use my Soul Skills, I won't."
Han Xing withdrew the Soul Ring around his body, keeping only his Martial Soul Possession.
"Xiao Wu, a level-ten Soul Scholar. My Martial Soul is the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit. Please, instruct me."
Seeing this, Xiao Wu quickly finished introducing herself and immediately launched an attack.
Han Xing naturally wasn't going to let Xiao Wu get close and drag him into a brawl.
During his time at Spirit Hall, he had learned how to fight.
But compared to Xiao Wu, that old monster who had lived for who knew how many years, Han Xing's combat experience was obviously far too green.
Once she got close, Xiao Wu could use her supple techniques to leave Han Xing completely disoriented.
Seeing Xiao Wu rush toward him, Han Xing quickly put some distance between them.
Once he was sure he was in a safe position, he waved a hand and fired a stream of flame.
This wasn't a Soul Skill, but an ability that came with his Martial Soul.
The Three-Legged Golden Crow was the incarnation of the sun. Once his Martial Soul possessed him, Sun True Fire automatically clung to his body.
Even without using a Soul Skill, Han Xing could rely on the Sun True Fire covering his body to attack his enemies.
The Sun True Fire burned at an extremely high temperature. Even without a Soul Skill, it could still inflict considerable damage.
Xiao Wu hadn't expected Han Xing to launch a ranged attack even without using a Soul Skill.
The sudden burst of flame caught her off guard, and she couldn't dodge it.
But as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, Xiao Wu had a formidable tolerance for pain.
Even when she sensed how tenaciously the flames clung to her body, Xiao Wu didn't stop. She kept charging at Han Xing.
Faced with Xiao Wu's relentless attacks, Han Xing had a simple strategy.
He could attack from a distance, and his attacks could set his opponents ablaze. Against an experienced enemy, keeping his distance and wearing her down was the best choice.
With Soul Power three levels higher than Xiao Wu's and the boost from a Soul Ring, it wasn't difficult for Han Xing to keep her at bay.
When she saw that her attacks still weren't working, and realized that quite a few parts of her body had already been burned by the flames, with some of her clothes scorched, Xiao Wu immediately demanded angrily, "You coward, is all you know how to do run away?"
"And you call yourself a man? You don't even have the guts to face me head-on."
Hearing this, Han Xing kept up his hit-and-run tactics.
Taking advantage of a brief lull, he shook his head. "That feeble provocation won't work on me."
"Your Martial Soul probably needs close-quarters combat to bring out its strengths, doesn't it?"
"When you know your enemy's strengths, it's stupid to use your weaknesses against them."
He wasn't explaining it to Xiao Wu, but to the audience.
"You're just a coward, dressing it up with grand words," Xiao Wu sneered.
"Idiot." Han Xing shook his head.
Just as Xiao Wu opened her mouth to curse him, Han Xing sent another fireball flying, making her yelp.
[Why do I suddenly feel like Xiao Wu's kind of dumb? What's going on?]
[This Han Xing is obviously supposed to be a ranged mage or marksman. Why demand that he fight her up close?]
[She's just a kid. How could she know all that? That's what makes her adorable.]
[If anything, Han Xing's the one who seems kind of underhanded. He's level thirteen fighting a level-ten, and he's using hit-and-run tactics.]
[Hey, I don't like what you're saying. What do you mean, underhanded?]
[If I play a mage and I'm a higher level than the enemy assassin or warrior, am I supposed to get into a close-quarters fight with them?]
[He's just a side character, and he's not going to beat Tang San anyway. What's there to argue about? Kids are just like that, scrapping and bickering, aren't they?]
[It makes sense for Han Xing to beat Xiao Wu in this part of the story. After all, Tang San needs a chance to step in.]
[Otherwise, if Xiao Wu beats Han Xing outright, how's Tang San supposed to play the hero and save the beauty?]
As Han Xing and Xiao Wu fought, the comments split into two opposing camps.
Even so, most people were still rooting for Xiao Wu.
There was no helping it. That was how anime worked.
People were always more forgiving toward the Protagonist Group.
Han Xing had already worked hard to build up his own image.
But how could he possibly be as popular as Xiao Wu, who was obviously the heroine?
Fortunately, Han Xing didn't mind. As far as he was concerned, earning a few influence points would be good enough.
Of course, if he could win over some viewers and build up his popularity, that would be even better.
"It's over!"
Looking at Xiao Wu's body, where large patches of skin had been burned, Han Xing murmured.
This time, when Xiao Wu attacked, he didn't try to dodge.
"Weren't you asking to fight me up close? Fine. Have it your way!"
When Xiao Wu was less than a meter away, the flames around Han Xing's body suddenly surged, engulfing him completely.
Xiao Wu had been happy to see Han Xing stand his ground and prepare to meet her attack head-on.
But when she saw his whole body suddenly covered in flames, she immediately realized something was wrong.
By then, however, both her legs were already raised in midair, ready to lock him in place. She couldn't change her move.
Scorched by the flames, Xiao Wu was struck by Han Xing's whip kick.
She was sent flying several meters and fell motionless.