It was only when he heard the name of the Soul Skill that Mo Li realized the purple-haired girl in front of him was Dugu Yan.
Mo Li had been worrying about how to get close to Dugu Bo. It seemed fate had just handed him the perfect opportunity.
Looking at Dugu Yan as she charged at him, even her rather fierce expression seemed adorable to Mo Li now.
It would be easy enough to explain the misunderstanding. After all, plenty of people nearby had seen what happened.
But Dugu Yan had not given him the chance to explain.
Going by his estimate, Dugu Yan was about the same age as Ye Lingling and Jiang Zhu. Her Soul Power should be higher than Jiang Zhu's, possibly already above level twenty-five.
He, on the other hand, had yet to obtain his second Soul Ring, though his Soul Power had reached the threshold of a Soul Grandmaster.
Mo Li was also eager to find out what level his combat strength had reached. As he looked at Dugu Yan, who was facing him with such a threatening air, a spark of excitement flashed in his eyes.
"Sister Jiang Zhu, step back a little farther."
After handing the Whale Rubber and Dugu Yan's bundle to Jiang Zhu, a bright yellow Soul Ring rose beneath Mo Li's feet.
"First Soul Skill, Nether Flame."
As the First Soul Ring on Mo Li's body lit up, black flames erupted around him. The thick, dark fire billowed upward like smoke, drawing a chorus of gasps from the onlookers.
"What bizarre black flames! And he's a Soul Master?"
Dugu Yan's expression flickered as she watched the strange black flames surge around Mo Li.
But when she saw the faint smile on his face, she instantly grew furious. Taking it as a provocation, she felt her temper flare.
Their gazes met in midair, as if sparks were flying between them.
Mo Li had guessed correctly: Dugu Yan's Soul Power was indeed at level twenty-eight.
With her Second Soul Skill boosting her and an overwhelming advantage in Soul Power, Dugu Yan took the initiative and closed in. Soul Power surged in her palm as she struck toward Mo Li's chest.
Mo Li did not underestimate her. He raised a hand wreathed in black flames and met her palm with a heavy blow.
Their palms collided, and Dugu Yan immediately felt a scorching heat travel through her hand.
"How can he be so hard to deal with?"
Shock appeared on her pretty face.
But Dugu Yan's surprise lasted only an instant. Then an odd smile appeared on her alluring, almost bewitching face.
It looked like the boy in front of her really was a fool. Didn't he know that the Jade Phosphor Snake Spirit was famed for its poison?
Still, she only wanted to teach a petty thief like Mo Li a lesson. She had no intention of using a potent poison—just enough to leave him weak and limp for a while.
A cloud of poison hidden within her Soul Power slowly spread.
Dugu Yan watched Mo Li with a teasing look. Once her poison took hold, this boy, who was only a Soul Master, would soon be too weak to stand and would collapse to the ground.
She was only teaching the little thief a lesson. It was hardly unreasonable.
The sudden appearance of the poison did not panic Mo Li. His expression remained calm. He had already been on guard as soon as he recognized Dugu Yan.
He was relying on his Nine Nether Fire. Dugu Yan's Soul Power might be stronger at this stage, but his Nine Nether Fire was the natural enemy of her poison. Without poison as a weapon, Dugu Yan's strength was nothing to fear.
Black flames completely engulfed Mo Li's arm as he channeled his Soul Power into it. The flames surged, instantly burning away the poison Dugu Yan had released until not a trace remained, as if it had never appeared.
"What?!"
Dugu Yan's eyes flew wide, and she cried out in disbelief. Her vaunted poison had been effortlessly burned away by a mere Soul Master?
While Dugu Yan was distracted, Mo Li stayed focused on the fight. Seizing the moment she faltered, he put force into his palm and drove her back several steps.
Dugu Yan hurriedly steadied herself, but Mo Li had already stamped his foot and charged. In just a few quick strides, he was in front of her. His hand, wrapped in black flames, swept mercilessly toward her face.
He gave Dugu Yan no chance to catch her breath. The onlookers erupted in an uproar.
No one had expected the winner to be decided after such a brief exchange.
And it was plain to see who had won.
Mo Li's hand, wreathed in black flames, stopped right in front of Dugu Yan. She could feel the scorching heat from the fire in his palm, but he did not press his attack.
Dugu Yan's pretty face had gone pale, and her body was stiff. She did not dare move an inch. She was a far cry from the aggressive girl she had been moments ago.
"Little Brother Mo Li!"
"Show mercy!"
Two voices rang out almost at once, one from behind Mo Li and the other from behind Dugu Yan. One was unmistakably Jiang Zhu's. The other also sounded familiar.
Mo Li slowly withdrew his hand. Dugu Yan staggered back as if her strength had left her, her face flushing by turns pale and red.
Behind Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, dressed in a black skirt, hurried out from the crowd.
Mo Li looked toward her. Ye Lingling still wore a black veil over her face, but she had grown much taller over the past two years. Her pale blue eyes held a mixture of surprise and delight as she looked at him.
"Sister Lingling?"
As soon as she saw Mo Li stop, Jiang Zhu, who had been on tenterhooks, rushed over. The moment Dugu Yan had revealed her two Soul Rings, Jiang Zhu had wanted to run over, but Mo Li had gestured for her to stay back.
She still couldn't help worrying. The purple-haired girl was a Soul Grandmaster with two Soul Rings, while little Brother Mo Li, though exceptionally talented, had yet to obtain his second Soul Ring.
But their fight had ended quickly, and little Brother Mo Li really was amazing!
Jiang Zhu scrutinized Mo Li from head to toe, chattering away like a little bird as she questioned him.
"Little Brother Mo Li, are you hurt?"
"Does anything feel wrong?"
"Are you dizzy?"
Mo Li smiled and shook his head as he looked at Jiang Zhu, who had summoned her Martial Soul. Still, he let her channel her Soul Power into him to heal him.
Meanwhile, Ye Lingling was healing Dugu Yan. Dugu Yan, however, wore a thoroughly unconvinced expression, making the situation rather awkward.
In the end, Mo Li spoke first. He smiled at Ye Lingling and said:
"Sister Lingling, it's been a long time."
A glimmer appeared in Ye Lingling's pale blue eyes as she looked back at Mo Li. Beneath her veil, her face curved into a faint smile, and she replied softly:
"It's been a long time."
Her voice was still so cool and ethereal, but Mo Li thought he could hear some warmth in it. Perhaps he was imagining it.
"Leng Leng, you two know each other?"
Dugu Yan stared at Ye Lingling, eyes wide.
"Mm."
"This is Dugu Yan, a friend of mine. Was there some misunderstanding between you two?"
Ye Lingling answered Dugu Yan before turning to Mo Li.
Dugu Yan pursed her lips and lowered her head slightly, seeming to still be thinking about their fight.
Mo Li shrugged helplessly. Seeing the embarrassment on Dugu Yan's face, he smiled and said:
"I think this senior student misunderstood me and attacked without warning, so I had no choice but to fight back."
As Dugu Yan's face grew redder and she tried to duck behind Ye Lingling, Mo Li smiled but said nothing more.
He changed the subject and briefly explained what had happened. After a few bystanders backed up his story, the misunderstanding was naturally cleared up.
As for defeating Dugu Yan, Mo Li had no intention of making an issue of it. He simply changed the subject.
When Dugu Yan heard that Mo Li had not taken the opportunity to keep needling her, she glanced at him from beside Ye Lingling. There was a peculiar look on her face as she watched him chat and laugh with Ye Lingling.
The young man was handsome, with a warm smile and an easy, measured way of speaking. He was difficult to dislike. He even looked younger than her and Lingling.
And despite being only a Soul Master, he had defeated her so cleanly in their earlier fight.
The thought made Dugu Yan's face burn with embarrassment.
No matter how you looked at it, she was a level-twenty-eight Soul Grandmaster. To lose so quickly was simply unacceptable. She had made a complete fool of herself!
Mo Li noticed Dugu Yan's gaze and gave her a friendly smile. After all, he would probably need Dugu Yan's help to get in touch with Dugu Bo.
But Dugu Yan deliberately gave him only a sidelong glance, leaving him with nothing but the sight of her faintly flushed profile.