Ao Silo's Challenge, and How He Nearly Got Roasted

Dinner was finished quickly.

After Jiang Nanchen had eaten his fill, he asked for another iced drink and slowly sipped it as he returned to his room.

Qian Renxue rubbed her forehead. "That kid can really eat. If I weren't so wealthy, I truly wouldn't be able to afford to keep him."

Porcupinefish Douluo smiled. "Young Mistress, Nanchen's talent is excellent, and having a big appetite isn't a bad thing. If we don't keep him, other factions will snatch him up. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, for one, would definitely pay a steep price to retain Jiang Nanchen."

Qian Renxue naturally agreed with Porcupinefish Douluo, but she still said, "Of course. Ning Fengzhi, that old fox, is extremely shrewd and would never let any opportunity slip by. If Jiang Nanchen were forced into relations with one of their female disciples, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would rise sooner or later."

Fortunately, they had discovered him early.

If the innocent Jiang Nanchen had been fooled away by Ning Fengzhi, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

"Let's leave it at that for now. I'm returning to the study." Qian Renxue waved her hand.

Porcupinefish Douluo nodded and immediately ordered someone to clear away the dishes.

The night passed quickly. After Qian Renxue sent Jiang Nanchen to the academy, she left.

When he arrived at the academy, he ran into Dugu Yan and the withdrawn Ye Lingling again.

"Little Nanchen, what a coincidence." Dugu Yan greeted him with a smile. "Today isn't a theory class. We'll be having class outdoors instead, so come with us!"

Although it was a lesson for the seven members of their team, it did not matter if Jiang Nanchen joined them.

"Sure. I don't like listening to theory classes anyway." Jiang Nanchen headed toward the outdoor training field with Dugu Yan.

Zhi Lin was still teaching this lesson, but there was another person present as well: Bai Baoshan.

One tall and one short, one fat and one thin—their pairing would have been the perfect combination anywhere else.

Zhi Lin naturally noticed Jiang Nanchen's arrival and smiled faintly. "Nanchen, come over."

Jiang Nanchen walked over. "Teacher Zhi Lin, what is it?"

"It's nothing. Today is a practical combat class, so we'll be having a spar. Since you've just entered the academy, would you like to try fighting an opponent stronger than yourself? I'll have them suppress their strength."

Zhi Lin spoke with a smile.

Fine flowers could not be cultivated in a greenhouse.

Jiang Nanchen lacked practical combat training.

If he trained well, becoming the team captain in the future would be well within reach.

Yu Tianheng was now a Great Soul Master as well.

If Jiang Nanchen encountered some fortunate opportunity by the age of twelve, he might even surpass Yu Tianheng.

Jiang Nanchen's starting point was far higher than Yu Tianheng's.

"Sure."

Jiang Nanchen rolled his wrists. "Who am I challenging?"

Seeing Jiang Nanchen eager to give it a try, Zhi Lin smiled. "Since you're so confident, I'll pick an easier opponent for you first."

"No problem." Jiang Nanchen nodded.

Then Zhi Lin cleared his throat twice.

"For today's spar, who wants to challenge Jiang Nanchen?"

As soon as he spoke,

a tall, straight-backed youth stepped forward.

"Teacher Zhi Lin, I'll do it!"

Zhi Lin looked at Ao Silo and nodded slightly. "Since Ao Silo wants to challenge him, you'll do. Remember to suppress your soul power to the Soul Master level."

"Understood," Ao Silo replied.

He had long wanted to fight Jiang Nanchen, who possessed the Angel martial soul.

Everyone stepped aside, leaving an open space.

Jiang Nanchen and Ao Silo stood facing each other.

Ao Silo's martial soul was the Ghost Leopard.

Jiang Nanchen released his martial soul, and the Sacred Angel martial soul emerged.

"Come on. Let me see what you can do."

Ao Silo smiled. "First Soul Skill, Ghost Leopard Possession!"

Black panther fur covered Ao Silo's body, while his claws lengthened sharply. His speed, explosive force, and close-range claw attacks were all greatly enhanced, allowing him to use high-speed movement to ambush his opponent.

Jiang Nanchen entered martial soul possession and faced off against Ao Silo.

The next moment, both of them attacked at once.

Jiang Nanchen's Sacred Angel martial soul was naturally extremely fast. Even without using a soul skill, he was evenly matched with Ao Silo.

Combined with the searing heat of the Angel Sacred Sword, Ao Silo found it difficult to withstand him and was beginning to struggle.

With every clash, Ao Silo felt as if his entire body were about to rise to thirty-nine degrees.

"No, no, something's wrong with you."

Ao Silo was astonished, unable to believe it.

"If this is all you've got, then use your second soul skill. Let me see the strength of a Great Soul Master!"

Jiang Nanchen allowed Ao Silo to use his second soul skill.

Zhi Lin had just wanted to stop them, feeling that Jiang Nanchen was being too reckless.

"Don't worry. Jiang Nanchen's martial soul is the Sacred Angel, while Ao Silo's is the Ghost Leopard. Their quality is simply different."

Bai Baoshan advised.

Zhi Lin nodded. "All right, then. Let's see it."

"Fine, fine. Since you said so, I won't hold back." Ao Silo snorted coldly, feeling that Jiang Nanchen was overestimating himself.

He pulled back from Jiang Nanchen, blowing on his reddened arms as he immediately used his second soul skill, Shadow Escape.

This soul skill allowed him to merge into the shadows, briefly enhancing his explosive speed and confusing his opponent's vision. It could be used to maneuver around and circle behind them.

It happened to be overcast today, with no sunlight shining down.

Ao Silo's figure vanished.

Jiang Nanchen did not panic. Instead, he flew into the air and scanned the surroundings from above.

Suddenly, the sound of wind came from behind him. Ao Silo appeared at his back.

Jiang Nanchen spun around swiftly and swung his sword, knocking Ao Silo back to the ground below.

The blow was heavy enough to numb Ao Silo's arms, and he merged into the shadows once more.

"Little Nanchen is in trouble now, unless he has an area-of-effect skill."

Dugu Yan spoke.

For example, poison like hers.

Watching their match, Yu Tianheng felt that Ao Silo would win and could also dampen Jiang Nanchen's arrogance a little.

"How will he deal with this?"

Both Zhi Lin and Bai Baoshan eagerly awaited Jiang Nanchen's response.

Jiang Nanchen had already thought of a solution. Since he could not find an opening, he would create one himself.

"First Soul Skill, Flamewing Tiger Soul Strike."

Jiang Nanchen's wings began to burn, golden flames raising the surrounding temperature.

His wings began wrapping around his body.

As everyone watched in anticipation, Jiang Nanchen's wings spread open again. This time, the Angel Sacred Sword and his entire body were engulfed in raging flames. He was like a massive fireball, and Ao Silo could not get close at all.

"Could it be..." Zhi Lin muttered.

The next moment, Jiang Nanchen fired a flaming projectile at the ground. It exploded violently, catching Ao Silo in the blast, though he was not injured.

Then Jiang Nanchen dove toward the field at top speed, moving incredibly fast as he gripped the Angel Sacred Sword and drove it directly into the center.

Boom!

An immense wave of heat exploded outward. The scorching blast rushed toward everyone's faces, making them feel unbearably hot.

The heat wave that swept across the entire field sent the concealed Ao Silo flying. When he crashed into the nearby wall, more than half of his clothes had been burned away.

"It's burning me to death!"

"Jiang Nanchen, put out your flames! It's too hot!"

Ao Silo cried out miserably, speaking in unbearable pain.

If the burning continued, it felt as if his internal organs were about to burst.

The flames had clearly not been this scorching during their fight just now, so why had they become so hot after his wings wrapped around him?

"I surrender," Ao Silo said again.

Zhi Lin and Bai Baoshan, standing nearby, stared in utter shock.