Xiao Xiao: My Turn to Make a Move, Phoenix Cry Piercing Clouds!

In an instant, a surge of Soul Power filled with strange resonance shot skyward from where the two embraced.

Azure-gold and luminous white light intertwined, forming a massive energy vortex that enveloped both of them.

Standing in the distance, Ning Tian's expression changed drastically as she felt an energy pressure far beyond the Soul Grandmaster level.

As the young mistress of a great sect, her knowledge far surpassed that of ordinary people. She immediately recognized what this energy resonance meant.

"Could it be... a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?!" Ning Tian cried out in alarm, hastily shouting at the two ahead. "Xiao Xiao! Wu Feng! Stop them!"

Ning Tian's urgent cries echoed above the arena, but Xiao Xiao and Wu Feng had already been forced dozens of meters back by the dense Butterfly Goddess Light. The physical distance left them no time to rush over and interrupt them.

The moment the two embraced, the energy field at the center of the arena twisted violently.

Behind Wang Dong, a vast and magnificent phantom burst forth.

It was the complete phantom of a Light Goddess Butterfly. Its outspread wings blotted out the sky, and its azure-gold radiance carried a noble, sacred pressure that lit up more than half the arena.

Behind Huo Yuhao, a huge vertical eye phantom emerged as well.

The entire eye was pale gold, yet deep within its pupil flowed a soul-stirring violet glow.

Two utterly different yet wonderfully compatible auras began to merge. Azure-gold and pale-gold light swirled around the pair, on the verge of fully becoming one and unleashing the Martial Soul Fusion Skill that could overturn the battle.

At that critical moment, a clear and melodious flute note abruptly cut into the battlefield.

Everyone below immediately followed the sound with their eyes.

In the distance, Xiao Xiao had somehow put away the heavy, enormous Soul Suppressing Cauldron. Held in both hands was an emerald-green flute carved with nine lively azure phoenixes—her primary martial soul, the Nine Phoenix Flute.

As the jade flute touched her lips, Xiao Xiao released her Soul Power without holding anything back.

Yellow, purple, purple!

Three Spirit Rings rose one after another beneath her feet, pulsing around her petite body.

Before anyone could marvel, Xiao Xiao's First Soul Ring and third soul ring flashed in succession.

First Soul Skill, Phoenix Cry Piercing Clouds!

On the jade flute, the carving of the first azure phoenix lit up with dazzling green radiance, as though it had come alive.

This soul skill had no tangible destructive power. It had only one function—ultimate penetration.

The flute's note became shrill and piercing. The soundwave transformed into an invisible sharp needle, effortlessly piercing through the violent energy storm created by the martial soul fusion. Ignoring every outer Soul Power barrier, it struck directly at Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's ears.

Immediately afterward, the outermost deep-purple thousand-year Spirit Ring blazed brilliantly.

Third Soul Skill, Nine Phoenix Soul Shock!

The nine phoenix patterns on the Nine Phoenix Flute hummed in unison.

Through the penetration channel opened by the First Soul Skill, this thousand-year soul skill carrying high-frequency spiritual vibrations descended with a thunderous roar.

The soundwave carried a shriek that tore at the soul. Its core effect was to forcibly interrupt all soul skills being channeled or released, severing the caster's control over their Soul Power from a spiritual level.

"Bzz—!"

Visible ripples of green soundwaves violently spread at the boundary between the Light Goddess Butterfly and the pale-gold vertical eye.

Time seemed to freeze at that instant.

The two giant phantoms, on the verge of perfect fusion, stiffened in midair. Disorder appeared in the intertwined azure-gold and pale-gold light.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's bodies shook violently at the same time. They felt an impassioned phoenix cry ring out in their minds as the spiritual bridge linking them tightly together was forcibly torn apart by the sudden spiritual shock.

The opportunity for martial soul fusion was severed, and the energy field instantly lost control.

The enormous phantoms in midair let out unwilling wails. Then, amid violent distortion, they abruptly collapsed, turning into scattered rain of light that vanished into nothingness.

"Bang! Bang!"

The terrifying backlash from the failed fusion surged directly into their meridians and Sea of Consciousness.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong did not even have time to groan before they crumpled to the ground and passed out on the spot.

The entire District Eight arena fell silent.

The referee was the first to react. He strode forward and, after confirming that the fallen pair had merely fainted from the backlash and were not in mortal danger, immediately raised his flag high. His booming voice spread across the arena.

"New Student Class One's team has lost its fighting capability! The victors of this match are Ning Tian's team from New Student Class Nine!"

That declaration instantly ignited the enthusiasm of every spectator below.

Thunderous cheers and cries of amazement soared into the sky. This battle was undoubtedly the most spectacular and thrilling match of the Freshman Assessment so far.

Though no one had witnessed the full power of that rare Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Xiao Xiao had used an unbelievable method to forcibly interrupt the fusion at the crucial moment. That extreme maneuver, like dancing on a blade's edge, sent everyone's blood boiling even more.

"That was incredible! That girl with the flute actually interrupted a Martial Soul Fusion Skill!"

"Did you see her Spirit Rings? She's not only a Soul Elder, but her second ring is a thousand-year ring! What kind of monster camp is Class Nine?!"

Faced with the overwhelming enthusiasm and praise from below, Xiao Xiao, Wu Feng, and Ning Tian did not show much pride.

They had already experienced far too many desperate comebacks at the edge of life and death in the Dream Arena. A scene like this was not enough to make them lose their composure.

Maintaining the bearing of experts, the three descended the arena steps with calm expressions. They passed through the crowd, which had voluntarily opened a path for them, and went straight to Xiao Yan.

The moment she stopped beside him, Xiao Xiao's composed, aloof battle demeanor instantly fell apart.

She skipped over to Xiao Yan in a few steps, clasped her hands behind her back, and tilted up her delicate, adorably soft little face. Her big emerald eyes blinked at him, her entire expression screaming, "Praise me!" She looked exactly like a kitten waiting for its owner to reward it for doing something good.

Seeing her like this, Xiao Yan's eyes filled with amusement.

He raised a finger and lightly tapped Xiao Xiao's small, delicate nose.

"You stayed calm in a crisis, and your timing was excellent." Xiao Yan praised her without reservation. "My Xiao Xiao is amazing."

Upon hearing that praise, Xiao Xiao immediately beamed.

Without any hesitation, she wrapped both arms tightly around Xiao Yan's right arm and rested her head against his shoulder, smiling so brightly that her eyes curved into crescents.

Watching the siblings interact so openly, Ning Tian and Wu Feng exchanged helpless looks.

Ning Tian then turned her head away to look at the clouds in the distance, wearing an expression that said she could not bear to watch. Yet between her brows lingered a trace of envy that even she had not noticed.