Battle with Huo Wushuang!

Huo Wushuang froze for a moment, then his expression darkened.

"You arrogant brat, you'll have plenty of time to cry later!"

"The match begins!"

The referee gave the order.

Huo Wushuang immediately unleashed his martial soul, becoming one with the One-Horned Fire Explosive Dragon!

Flame-like patterns appeared across his body, his eyes turned crimson, and two yellow soul rings rose beneath his feet.

A scorching aura spread outward from him, and the temperature on the arena abruptly soared.

"First Soul Skill: Single-Horn Fire Dragon Assault!"

Huo Wushuang shouted softly as his first soul ring lit up.

His figure vanished from where he stood in an instant, leaving only an afterimage behind.

So fast!

Zhao Tian's pupils contracted slightly as he unleashed his martial soul without hesitation.

The Radiant Phoenix possessed him, and a golden phoenix phantom appeared behind him as two yellow soul rings rose beneath his feet.

The powerful aura of light collided with Huo Wushuang's fiery aura, producing sharp hissing sounds.

Zhao Tian did not take the attack head-on, instead twisting aside to evade.

However, Huo Wushuang was too fast. Zhao Tian barely avoided the frontal impact, but the One-Horned Fire Explosive Dragon's claws still grazed his shoulder.

Rip!

The clothing over Zhao Tian's left shoulder was torn apart, exposing the skin beneath and leaving behind three shallow bloody marks.

The spectators cried out in alarm.

"Zhao Tian is hurt!"

"Huo Wushuang is too fast! There's no way to dodge him!"

Ning Rongrong clenched the corner of her clothes nervously in the stands, her little face pale.

"Zhao Tian..."

On the arena, Zhao Tian retreated several steps and glanced at the wound on his shoulder, his expression still calm.

Huo Wushuang stopped some distance away, licking his lips as a trace of smugness flashed through his eyes.

"Well? Brat, do you feel it now? This is the gap in strength."

Zhao Tian did not answer. Instead, he took a deep breath and circulated the Radiant Divine Canon.

The Soul Power within him began to circulate faster, and his spiritual power became highly focused. In his eyes, Huo Wushuang's speed slowed by a fraction.

This was the effect of the Radiant Divine Canon's Four Cultivation Systems.

His spiritual power far surpassed that of Soul Masters at the same level, allowing him to catch faster movements.

"Again."

Zhao Tian spoke calmly.

Huo Wushuang's face darkened. "You're courting death!"

"Single-Horn Fire Dragon Assault!"

He launched another attack, as fast as lightning.

But this time, Zhao Tian predicted his trajectory in advance.

He turned aside, dodged, and gathered the power of light in his right hand at the same time.

"Phoenix Holy Light Blast!"

A dazzling pillar of light erupted from Zhao Tian's palm and blasted toward Huo Wushuang's landing point.

Huo Wushuang's expression changed drastically. He forcibly altered direction and barely avoided the pillar's direct hit.

However, the pillar still grazed his left arm, and the burning sensation made him suck in a breath of cold air.

The two widened the distance between them and faced off once more.

This time, neither of them gained the advantage.

The spectators were fired up, and cheers rose one after another.

"Good! This is a real battle!"

"Both of them are so strong!"

"Zhao Tian can actually keep up with Huo Wushuang's speed now!"

In the stands, Chen Xin nodded slightly.

Tian'er adapted quickly. After only a few exchanges, he has already figured out Huo Wushuang's attack pattern.

Next comes the counterattack.

On the arena, Huo Wushuang's expression became grave.

"Brat, you really do have some skill."

"However, I won't hold back any longer."

"Second Soul Skill: Blazing Claw!"

Huo Wushuang's second soul ring lit up. Blazing flames ignited around his hands, while his sharp claws glinted coldly within the firelight.

He charged at Zhao Tian, swinging both claws and leaving trails of flame in his wake.

Zhao Tian did not retreat. Instead, he met the attack head-on.

"Second Soul Skill: Phoenix Flame Slash!"

A crimson-gold flaming blade shot from Zhao Tian's palm and collided with Huo Wushuang's Blazing Claw.

Boom!

Flames scattered everywhere as scorching shockwaves spread in all directions.

Both men retreated at the same time, but Zhao Tian only took three steps back while Huo Wushuang took five.

Zhao Tian had gained the upper hand in that exchange.

"How is this possible?! My Blazing Claw was actually suppressed!"

Huo Wushuang's eyes were filled with disbelief.

Zhao Tian gave him no chance to catch his breath as his first soul ring lit up again.

"Phoenix Holy Light Blast!"

The pillar of light blasted forth. Huo Wushuang hurriedly defended himself, only to be driven back again and again.

"Phoenix Flame Slash!"

The crimson-gold flaming blade followed immediately after. Huo Wushuang had nowhere to evade and could only take it head-on.

Boom!

Huo Wushuang was blasted away and crashed heavily onto the arena, the flames around his body dimming.

He struggled to rise, but the intense pain in his body made him unable to stand.

"I... I concede..."

Huo Wushuang gritted his teeth and forced out those words.

The referee announced, "Zhao Tian wins!"

Deafening cheers erupted throughout the entire venue.

Zhao Tian withdrew his martial soul, walked over to Huo Wushuang, and extended a hand.

Huo Wushuang stared at his hand in a daze for a moment before grasping it and allowing Zhao Tian to pull him up.

"You're strong."

Huo Wushuang spoke quietly.

"You're not weak either."

Zhao Tian replied calmly.

The two walked off the arena as the cheers from the stands continued for a long time.

Ning Rongrong rushed down from the stands and threw herself into Zhao Tian's arms.

"Zhao Tian! You won! You really won!"

Zhao Tian held her, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

This was only the beginning.

Ning Rongrong pulled away from Zhao Tian's embrace and carefully inspected his injuries from top to bottom.

The three bloody marks on his shoulder were not deep, but they were painfully glaring in her eyes.

"You're hurt..."

Ning Rongrong pressed her lips together, her eyes faintly reddening.

"Just a flesh wound. It's nothing."

Zhao Tian moved his shoulder to show that he was fine.

"How can it be nothing? You're bleeding!"

Ning Rongrong grew anxious. She pulled out a handkerchief from her clothes and carefully pressed it against Zhao Tian's wound.

Zhao Tian lowered his head and saw that it was the very handkerchief he had lent Ning Rongrong to wipe away sweat before. He had not expected the girl to keep it all this time.

"Rongrong, this is..."

"What are you looking at? Rongrong is only worried your wound might get infected!"

Ning Rongrong's face reddened as she glared at him, though her movements became even gentler.

Zhao Tian did not expose her and simply let her bandage him.

"All done!"

Ning Rongrong clapped her hands and looked proudly at her handiwork.

Zhao Tian's left shoulder was wrapped tightly with the handkerchief. It was not particularly pretty, but it was clearly heartfelt.

"Thank you, Rongrong."

Zhao Tian smiled.

"You're welcome! You're Rongrong's exclusive partner, so of course Rongrong has to take care of you when you're hurt!"

Ning Rongrong raised her little face and spoke as though it were only natural, then took Zhao Tian's hand.

"Come on, Father and the others are still waiting for us."

In the stands, Ning Fengzhi could not suppress the smile on his face when he saw the two children return hand in hand.

"Tian'er, you fought well."

Chen Xin was the first to speak.

"Huo Wushuang's speed is his advantage. You adapted within only a few exchanges and found his weakness, which shows that both your observation and reaction abilities are exceptional."

"Thank you for the praise, Teacher."

Zhao Tian bowed slightly.

"However, your opponents will only grow stronger from here on."

Gu Rong rarely spoke.

"Yu Tianheng, Shui Bing'er, Tuoba Xin, Feng Xiaotian... none of them will be easy to deal with."

Zhao Tian nodded. "This disciple understands. I will give it my all."

"Alright, go back and rest for today. There are still matches tomorrow."

Ning Fengzhi stood and patted Zhao Tian on the shoulder.

"Tian'er, your performance today has already exceeded my expectations. No matter whether you win or lose from here on, you are the pride of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."