Level Thirty

The Nine-Tails Black Flame Demon Fox ignored the expression on Zhang Nanfeng's face. With a single leap, it arrived right in front of him, opening its maw to unleash another torrent of black flames.

Zhang Nanfeng's gaze instantly snapped away from Duan Fan and locked back onto the Nine-Tails Black Flame Demon Fox.

Seeing the creature's aggressive stance, the look of terror on his face deepened. His body trembled involuntarily, and he shouted in a panic, "Stop! I surrender! Duan Fan, hurry and make this Black Flame Demon Fox stop attacking! My body can't take any more!"

Zhang Nanfeng's voice trembled, and he spoke with such frantic speed that he feared he would be swallowed by the fox's flames before he could finish his sentence.

Duan Fan, naturally, had no intention of taking Zhang Nanfeng's life; otherwise, the battle would have ended long ago.

He immediately commanded the Nine-Tails Black Flame Demon Fox to return to his side. With a single thought, the fox and all the spiders dissolved into wisps of black aura and vanished.

If not for the intense heat still radiating from the Soul Fighting Platform, it would have been as if nothing had happened at all.

As Zhang Nanfeng walked toward Duan Fan, he offered a bitter smile. "Duan Fan, your strength truly exceeded my expectations. You are far more formidable than I imagined."

"I had occasionally heard Teacher Li mention you before, and I was very interested in your Spirit and Soul Skills. Seeing them in person today, they are truly extraordinary. You have left a deep impression on me!"

"I lost. I lost completely."

"I am also very grateful that you didn't use your full strength from the start and spared me some dignity. Otherwise, I would have lost even faster and more thoroughly."

"I am simply no match for you!"

With that, Zhang Nanfeng cupped his hands and bowed slightly to Duan Fan.

Duan Fan, not expecting such candor from Zhang Nanfeng, immediately cupped his hands in return. "Teacher Zhang, you are too kind. I am nowhere near as impressive as you say."

"It is I who should thank you for holding back, Teacher Zhang. If you had used your Third Soul Skill from the beginning, given the speed and impact of your Ghost Vine, I wouldn't have had time to release my Second Soul Skill."

The bitter smile on Zhang Nanfeng's face deepened. "Don't be humble, Duan Fan. I am not the type of person who cannot handle a defeat."

"Even if I had used my Third Soul Skill from the start and increased the speed of the Ghost Vine, it still wouldn't have been able to immediately break through the protection of the Dream-Weaving Spiders you summoned."

"Furthermore, if you had commanded all the Dream-Weaving Spiders to attack from the beginning, with their speed and agility, I would have been the one struggling to defend."

"Alright, alright, enough said. The battle is over."

"I thoroughly enjoyed this sparring session and gained quite a bit from it."

"I don't think I need to go to the Soul Skill Practice Area to deepen my understanding of my Spirit through practice anymore. I plan to go back and cultivate now. Perhaps I can use the momentum from today's battle to break through the shackles of level thirty-nine and step into the ranks of the fortieth level!"

After speaking, Zhang Nanfeng cupped his hands to Duan Fan once more, then looked toward Fang Qingshan outside the platform and smiled. "Teacher Fang, I shall take my leave. I apologize for taking up your time today. I will treat you all to a meal another day!"

Fang Qingshan nodded with a smile.

Zhang Nanfeng stepped off the Soul Fighting Platform, bowed to Fang Qingshan, and headed straight for the exit. He walked quickly, though his gait was slightly stiff, clearly showing that his bout with Duan Fan had left him with more than a few injuries.

Duan Fan stepped off the platform as well, his expression calm as he said to Fang Qingshan, "Uncle, let's go."

Fang Qingshan looked Duan Fan up and down, his face filled with pride and relief. "Xiaofan, you are too incredible! Even a level thirty-nine Soul Exalt had to concede defeat before you, especially considering you had already demonstrated your Soul Skills and consumed quite a bit of your Soul Power..."

Zhang Nanfeng, who had already reached the entrance of the arena, paused slightly.

Although Fang Qingshan's voice was not loud, the arena was quiet and sparsely populated, so he had heard him clearly.

"He had already consumed quite a bit of Soul Power? Duan Fan didn't even defeat me at his peak?"

"Sigh, I, a level thirty-nine Soul Exalt, am truly laughable for seeking out such a blow to my pride."

"It seems Spirit Hall Academy has welcomed another genius Soul Master. Compared to those three, he is even more formidable!"

Zhang Nanfeng shook his head with a bitter smile and hurried out of the arena.

Two days passed since the sparring match between Duan Fan and Zhang Nanfeng.

During these two days, Duan Fan attended his theory classes as usual, though he did not return to the practical combat sessions.

Noticing Duan Fan's absence, Zhang Nanfeng did not ask any further questions.

Later, Li Ruolan returned to resume her duties in charge of Junior Class Ten.

On the very day Li Ruolan returned, Spirit Hall Academy began its monthly holiday.

Spirit City, East District.

In a relatively secluded area, there were many courtyards, all of which were occupied.

In one small courtyard, Fang Qingshan's family lived in harmony.

Duan Fan was there today, blending into this small family without the slightest sense of estrangement; they were, after all, a family of four.

His aunt, Ding Yutang, had prepared many delicious dishes and had even gone out to the streets to buy some of Spirit City's finest delicacies, filling the entire table until the gluttonous Fang Qian was nearly moved to tears.

Once all the dishes were served and the rice was dished out, the four of them began to eat.

Fang Qian stuffed her mouth, speaking indistinctly, "If only Brother could come back every day, then I could eat such delicious food every day."

Ding Yutang glared at Fang Qian. "Listen to what you're saying, girl. I feed you well every day; the way you talk, it's as if I never give you anything to eat."

"Duan Fan, eat more. You're at the age where you're still growing."

When Ding Yutang's gaze fell on Duan Fan, it softened, and she placed a chicken leg into his bowl.

Duan Fan accepted it with a smile. "Thank you, Aunt!"

Looking at his family beside him, a warmth spread through Duan Fan's heart.

It felt truly wonderful to have family.

Six months later.

Spirit Hall Academy.

Mimicry Cultivation Area.

After finishing his cultivation, Duan Fan stepped out and walked toward the academy cafeteria with Fang Qingshan, who was waiting outside.

"Little Fan, how is your cultivation going?" Fang Qingshan asked with concern.

Duan Fan replied, "I am steadily advancing toward level thirty."

Fang Qingshan smiled. "That's good. Level thirty is a major threshold for a Soul Master; many spend their entire lives unable to cross it. Uncle believes you will surely make the breakthrough before long!"

After six months of hard work, Duan Fan's soul power had risen to level twenty-nine, and he was getting closer and closer to level thirty.

Duan Fan nodded and affirmed, "Mm, I will be able to break through in ten days at most."

Five days later.

Duan Fan's soul power level reached thirty.

And he was not even seven years old yet.

A Soul Exalt under the age of seven was enough to shake the entire Spirit Hall Academy.