"What's going on?"
Feeling the Soul Power within her suddenly stall for a moment, Xiao Wu's heart leaped.
She hurriedly circulated her Soul Power, wanting to use Waist Bow again.
But how could Han Xing give her another chance?
The instant Xiao Wu's attack was interrupted, Han Xing's right hand surged with force, turning from a claw into a fist.
"Bang!"
Sparks flew as Xiao Wu, still upside down, was sent flying by the punch and slammed hard into the stone tiles.
"Dawn Light Fire Feather!"
Taking advantage of his momentum, Han Xing flapped his wings and sent all fourteen Flame Feathers shooting toward Xiao Wu.
Because Flame Feathers could attack in rapid succession, a single one might not match other offensive Soul Skills.
But with all fourteen feathers fired at once, their power was no weaker than an ordinary offensive Soul Skill—in fact, it was considerably stronger.
Under the unrelenting barrage, Xiao Wu immediately lost the ability to fight back, her body left with one charred scar after another.
"Sister Xiao Wu!"
Wang Sheng, the oldest of the work-study students, hurried over to check Xiao Wu's injuries.
"Relax. She won't die. She'll just need a few days to recover," Han Xing said coldly.
At that, Wang Sheng was about to say something when a familiar voice came from nearby.
"What happened?"
It was Tang San. He seemed to have just returned to the academy.
"Tang San, Xiao Wu..." Wang Sheng hurriedly told him everything that had happened.
Hearing this, Tang San's expression turned stern, and he demanded, "Han Xing, wasn't that a bit too harsh?"
"It was only a spar between classmates, yet you beat Xiao Wu up like this."
Han Xing spread his hands. Just as everyone thought he was about to explain himself—
"Tang San, this was between Xiao Wu and me. What the hell does it have to do with you? You're a dog chasing mice—meddling where you don't belong."
"You!"
Tang San was furious and had just opened his mouth when Han Xing cut him off.
"You should know that Xiao Wu was the one who asked for this fight."
"She's been buzzing in my ear every day. Was I supposed to keep holding back?"
"Han Xing, you don't have to be so rude," someone said in a low voice.
"Who?" Han Xing's gaze turned cold as he looked toward the voice.
It was the group of work-study students, but he couldn't tell who had spoken.
When Han Xing looked their way, they all shrank like ostriches, afraid to meet his eyes.
"You don't even dare own the words that came out of your own mouth?" Han Xing sneered.
"If you want to stand up for Xiao Wu, I'm ready."
"But let me make this clear: this is the last time. Next time, I won't have the time to deal with you."
Then Han Xing looked toward Tang San. "That goes for you, too."
"If you want to avenge her, then hurry up and fight. I still have to get back to training."
A murderous glint flashed in Tang San's eyes.
This man was so arrogant. If he'd only looked down on the work-study students, Tang San wouldn't have cared much.
But he dared look down on Tang San himself. He was asking to die.
After locking eyes with Han Xing for a few seconds, Tang San suddenly leaped onto the platform.
"Tang San, thirteen levels of Soul Power, a first-ring Control-Type Battle Spirit Master. My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass."
Tang San finished coldly, then immediately launched his attack without waiting for Han Xing to respond.
Having grown up in an assassin organization, he knew well the importance of seizing the initiative.
"Trying to catch me off guard? I'm not that easy to hit."
"First Soul Skill, Dawn Light Fire Feather!"
The wings appeared behind Han Xing again, and he abruptly retreated.
Seeing Han Xing try to widen the distance, Tang San knew his opponent had ranged attacks, so he immediately used his own Soul Skill.
"First Soul Skill, Blue Silver Entanglement."
As the Soul Skill activated, a clump of Blue Silver Grass rose from the ground like a vine and curled toward Han Xing's legs.
But before the Blue Silver Grass could reach him, the Sun True Fire swirling around Han Xing had already burned it to ash.
"Looks like your first Soul Skill isn't much. It can't threaten me at all."
Han Xing chuckled, a playful look on his face.
But although he looked relaxed, he was actually considering how to deal with Tang San.
If they were only competing with their Martial Souls, he would certainly win.
If the contest also involved cultivation techniques and secret manuals, Han Xing was confident he could take Tang San on and eventually defeat him.
The problem was, Tang Hao—the towering presence—was still there in the background.
He needed to find a way to defeat Tang San without giving Tang Hao a reason to come after him.
Tang Hao might not care about a squabble between two brats.
But Han Xing belonged to Spirit Hall.
Unless Tang Hao thought he could recruit Tang San someday.
I still need to keep us evenly matched. After thinking it over, Han Xing had a plan.
Beating Tang San wasn't realistic.
That might make Tang Hao consider eliminating a Spirit Hall genius before he had the chance to grow.
But Han Xing couldn't accept being beaten by Tang San, either.
After all, losing to the protagonist would deal a huge blow to his popularity.
So an even match was the best solution.
A close fight would let Tang Hao see that Tang San might have a chance to recruit him.
And drawing with the protagonist wouldn't tarnish Han Xing's image.
It wouldn't make the audience think he was just a minor character for the early story, only to become roadkill later.
"Daring to get distracted while fighting me?"
A cold glint flashed in Tang San's eyes as he used the Tang Sect Secret Art, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
After a brief moment of thought, Han Xing chose not to use the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique.
Dawn Fire Capture Claw and Heaven-Burning Fist Force could both be explained as flames granted by the Three-Legged Golden Crow Martial Soul.
But the speed boost from the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique would be hard to explain. After all, Han Xing currently had only one Soul Skill.
That might be all right against an ordinary Soul Master, but against someone like Tang Hao, a Titled Douluo, the problem would be noticed immediately.
Besides, if he was going to draw, the fight had to look convincing.
With Tang San not using Hidden Weapons, if Han Xing used the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique, his opponent would have little chance of winning.
How could they draw if the fight was completely one-sided?
With his footwork giving him a boost, Tang San quickly closed the distance.
Tang San slipped his Mysterious Jade Hand through the flames around Han Xing and used Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to seize him.
But Han Xing clearly wasn't going to let him succeed so easily.
The moment Tang San reached for him, Han Xing used Dawn Fire Capture Claw to block the attack.
At the same time, taking advantage of the opening, Han Xing turned his fist into a palm and secretly activated Heaven-Burning Fist Force.
Tang San blocked with his Mysterious Jade Hand, but to his surprise, after taking the blow, his palm went numb and burned with searing heat.
"As expected of a Martial Soul formed from the Ancient Divine Beast, the Three-Legged Golden Crow. It's truly domineering," Tang San exclaimed in surprise.
The flames around his opponent could easily burn his Blue Silver Grass to nothing.
And the Sun True Fire on his opponent's fist was even more powerful, so much so that even his Mysterious Jade Hand could barely withstand it.
Unless he could use Hidden Weapons, defeating the enemy before him would be difficult.