Challenging Teacher Zhou, a Level Forty-Seven Soul Ancestor Was Still Too Powerful

Zhou Huan was briefly stunned before immediately realizing what was happening.

"Of course you can!"

Zhou Huan said, his expression complicated.

No wonder Qi Dao had directly challenged him from the start.

He really did have that kind of strength!

Leaving aside his thousand-year second ring, just that tricky sword strike from earlier—

Whether it was the timing or the angle of his attack, how could it have been something a level-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster was capable of?

And if Zhou Huan had not seen wrongly, what Qi Dao had unleashed earlier had been sword qi, right?

If it had been a high-level Sword Martial Soul master releasing sword qi, he might not have found it strange.

But Qi Dao was merely a level-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster. How had he done it?

Qi Dao continued, "Teacher, please release your Martial Soul!"

"Fine!"

Zhou Huan did not refuse. He directly released his Martial Soul, an Eyebrow-Level Copper Staff.

At the same time, two yellow and two purple Soul Rings rose beneath his feet.

"The newcomer is really going to fight Teacher Zhou!"

"A level-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster challenging a level-forty-seven Soul Ancestor—he'd still earn glory even in defeat."

"I wonder how many moves he can last against Teacher Zhou."

"Teacher Zhou will definitely hold back. Otherwise, this newcomer probably won't even last one move."

"That's true!"

At the front of the crowd, Qi Dao and Zhou Huan faced each other.

Zhou Huan smiled faintly. "Qi Dao, make your move. Let your teacher see the full extent of your strength!"

"Teacher, please instruct me!"

Qi Dao smiled calmly, then suddenly shot forward from where he stood.

Zhou Huan narrowed his eyes at Qi Dao's sudden burst of speed.

What incredible speed. This doesn't look like the speed of a power-attack Soul Master—it's more like that of an agility-attack Soul Master.

No, it's even faster than agility-attack Soul Masters at the same level.

Where did this freak come from?

Still, Zhou Huan was a level-forty-seven Soul Ancestor. Qi Dao's displayed speed was fast, but it was still only at the level of a two-ring Soul Master.

Before him, that speed was far from enough.

But the next second, Qi Dao flicked his hand as several streams of sword qi tore through the air from his blade.

Zhou Huan narrowed his eyes.

So this is how he defeated Osler earlier?

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Without moving his feet, Zhou Huan gripped the copper staff in both hands and swung it several times, blocking every stream of sword qi.

The sword qi was not particularly powerful.

It seemed Osler had suffered because he had been caught off guard.

After blocking several streams of sword qi in succession, Zhou Huan silently assessed him.

But in the next instant, Qi Dao had already closed in. A dark-golden sword glow covered the Peerless Sword as he brought it down in a slash.

Clang!

Zhou Huan raised his staff to block.

Feeling the force transmitted through the blade, Zhou Huan reassessed him once more.

His strength also surpassed that of ordinary Beast Martial Soul Soul Grandmasters.

After Qi Dao's first strike failed, he swept his sword horizontally. At such close range, he actually unleashed another stream of sword qi.

Zhou Huan's pupils contracted slightly. With a tap of his foot, he leaped backward and swung his staff to disperse the sword qi.

But as Zhou Huan leaped back, Qi Dao stepped forward in pursuit. His sword techniques were fierce, every strike as tricky as a venomous snake, and his attacks came so quickly that the others could barely follow them.

"Th-this newcomer is so strong. Is he really only a level-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster? Why does it feel like he's forcing Teacher Zhou back again and again?"

"No, Teacher Zhou hasn't used his full strength at all."

"The newcomer's attacks are fierce, but Teacher Zhou hasn't counterattacked from beginning to end."

But the next second!

More cries of alarm rose from the crowd.

"Teacher Zhou is counterattacking!"

Zhou Huan suddenly exerted force, knocking Qi Dao away with one strike. He spun the copper staff in both hands faster and faster, until it looked like an impenetrable shield.

At the same time, his steps moved with his body, his body moved with his staff, and he pressed forward step by step.

Qi Dao narrowed his eyes, searching for openings in Zhou Huan's defense. He retreated while slashing out several streams of sword qi.

Yet they were instantly deflected by the impenetrable shadows of the staff.

Just as Qi Dao frowned, Zhou Huan suddenly leaped into the air and smashed his copper staff down from above, the wind howling around it.

Qi Dao's pupils shook as he dodged to the side.

The copper staff struck the ground, sending dust flying. A spiderweb of cracks spread across the floor as broken stones scattered everywhere.

The instant his strike missed, Zhou Huan twisted and swept his staff horizontally.

A sharp whistling sound tore through the air. Qi Dao raised the Peerless Sword before him and forcibly took the blow.

Even after using a technique to deflect part of the force, his body was still sent tumbling to the side by the strike.

"See? Once Teacher Zhou gets serious, the newcomer is completely outmatched."

"Wait, the newcomer is about to use a Soul Skill!"

"It's his second Soul Skill!"

After Qi Dao got to his feet, the purple Soul Ring around him lit up, and he formed a sword gesture with the fingers of his left hand.

In an instant, eighteen flying swords condensed behind him.

"Go!"

With a thought from Qi Dao, all eighteen flying swords shot toward Zhou Huan at once.

Zhou Huan's pupils shook as he swung the copper staff again.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal striking metal rang without end as sparks flew in all directions.

From afar, it looked as though flying swords were striking Zhou Huan's shield from every direction, creating a spectacular sight.

Feeling the Soul Power in his body rapidly draining away, Qi Dao lifted his sword fingers. All eighteen flying swords rose into the air, their tips pointed downward as they fell like a rain of swords.

Zhou Huan could no longer remain indifferent. His first Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet.

First Soul Skill, Iron Wall!

Holding the copper staff in one hand, he slammed it fiercely into the ground.

A barrier immediately appeared before him.

All eighteen flying swords landed on the barrier, leaving only a few cracks upon its surface.

Qi Dao's second Soul Skill was enough to threaten a three-ring Soul Elder, but before a level-forty-seven Soul Ancestor, it was still not enough.

However, at that very moment, his aura suddenly surged.

Heart Sword State!

After entering the Heart Sword State, Qi Dao shot forward like an arrow released from the bow. He then leaped into the air and slashed down with his sword.

"The momentum is impressive, but before my Iron Wall, it isn't enough."

Zhou Huan shook his head, unmoved.

But he failed to notice that Qi Dao's blade carried not only sword glow, but also a thread-thin wisp of Sword Intent.

Heaven Guard Sword Intent!

Crack!

Qi Dao's sword struck the crack in the barrier.

Boom!

The barrier shattered in response!

Zhou Huan's words abruptly stopped, his face filled with shock.

Still, the instant the barrier shattered, he raised his copper staff to block.

Bang!

In an instant, Zhou Huan's legs bent slightly, and the ground beneath his feet shook. Spiderweb-like cracks spread outward from where he stood.

Seeing this, Qi Dao gripped the sword hilt with both hands and pressed down again.

Boom—

Zhou Huan's expression changed slightly. He staggered back seven or eight steps before steadying himself, though both his hands had gone slightly numb from the impact.

Across from him, Qi Dao no longer had the strength to continue fighting after delivering that strike.

He looked at the steady Zhou Huan, disappointment flashing through his eyes.

Even with the Heart Sword State and Heaven Guard Sword Intent, I could only cause Teacher Zhou a little trouble?

A level-forty-seven Soul Ancestor really was far too powerful!