First Spirit Battle

"Kid, the Spirit Arena isn't a playground. Don't let big brother beat you until you cry later."

Han Ya's hoarse voice came through his mask, carrying undisguised mockery toward Lin Wan.

Lin Wan ignored the provocation and simply stood there calmly, coolly observing his opponent.

Han Ya, Level 13 Ice Wolf Martial Spirit, the same level as him.

The Ice Wolf Martial Spirit usually possessed decent close-combat ability, ice-element attacks, and considerable speed.

"Spirit battle, begin!" the referee declared!

"Ice Wolf, Martial Soul Possession."

Han Ya let out a low roar and instantly entered Martial Soul Possession. His body swelled slightly, his muscles became more defined, a thin layer of ice crystals covered his exposed skin, and his fingernails sharpened into wolf claws that radiated a chilling cold.

"Martial Soul Possession."

Lin Wan's voice remained calm and unruffled as he likewise entered Martial Soul Possession.

His appearance did not change much. He merely gained a fluffy fox tail behind him.

Han Ya clearly did not take Lin Wan seriously and attacked him directly.

In his eyes, they were of the same level. A wolf had to be stronger than a fox.

He kicked off the ground fiercely, shooting toward Lin Wan like an arrow loosed from a bow. His ice-covered wolf claws tore through the air, carrying bone-piercing cold and a sharp howl of wind as they clawed straight at Lin Wan's face.

His speed was extremely fast!

Several gasps rose from the stands, as though the spectators had already foreseen the miserable sight of Lin Wan being sent flying by a single swipe.

Lin Wan's gaze sharpened, his sea-blue pupils reflecting the rapidly approaching wolf claws.

He did not take the attack head-on, instead twisting aside to evade it.

The Ice Wolf claws swept past the hem of Lin Wan's clothes with a piercing shriek, tearing away only a few scraps of cloth lifted by the icy wind.

"What?!"

Han Ya's attack missed, and a trace of astonishment flashed through his eyes. His opponent was so fast.

Although Lin Wan had Camouflaged his Martial Soul, the physical abilities strengthened by his 675-year Soul Ring and the supreme agility granted by the Nine-Heavens Beauty Fox had not been weakened in the slightest.

After missing his attack, Han Ya prepared to continue his assault.

But Lin Wan clearly would not give him that chance.

He quickly closed in, moving as fast as lightning.

His right hand formed into a blade, stabbing toward the opening beneath Han Ya's ribs that had been exposed by his attack, carrying a fierce gust of wind.

"Hmph!"

Han Ya had fought many matches in the Spirit Arena, and his combat experience far surpassed that of academy rookies.

He forcibly twisted his body and raised his ice-crystal-covered left arm across his ribs.

Bang!

Lin Wan's hand blade struck Han Ya's ice-crystal arm hard, producing a dull thud.

Han Ya only felt a force far beyond his expectations surge through him. Several ice crystals on his arm cracked apart, and he staggered two steps backward from the impact, his arm numb and aching.

What incredible strength! Han Ya was horrified. The contempt in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by gravity and disbelief.

This White Fox brat's strength and speed both far exceeded his estimates.

How was this possible? How could an ordinary fox Martial Soul be stronger than his Ice Wolf?

On the Douluo Continent, the stronger the Martial Soul, the greater the enhancement it provided to the Soul Master.

Among Soul Masters of the same level, beast Martial Souls generally enhanced their wielders more than tool Martial Souls.

And among beast Martial Souls, the more powerful the Martial Soul, the greater its enhancement to the Soul Master.

Beyond the enhancement from the Martial Soul itself, Soul Rings likewise enhanced the Soul Master. The stronger the Soul Ring, the greater the enhancement it provided.

Han Ya was deeply shocked, but upon further thought, he felt that he had guessed the answer.

This White Fox's first Soul Ring must have been related to strength.

A wave of surprised murmurs also rose from the stands.

This guy codenamed White Fox seemed to have some skill?

"Kid, I underestimated you!"

Han Ya's gaze turned vicious. "But this ends here. Taste my soul skill, Icebound Path!"

The yellow Soul Ring around Han Ya lit up. He suddenly bent down and slammed both palms against the Spirit Arena platform.

Crack! Crack!

A bone-chilling cold instantly erupted. Centered around Han Ya's palms, a thick layer of ice radiating frigid air spread rapidly like a living creature, instantly covering nearly half the Spirit Arena platform and continuing toward Lin Wan's feet without slowing.

Wherever the ice passed, tiny crystals condensed even in the air.

This was an area-control skill. Once someone was covered by the Icebound Path, their movement would be greatly restricted, and they might even be frozen.

This first soul skill was Han Ya's greatest source of pride. No one would have expected a close-range Assault System Soul Master like him to possess an area-control skill.

It was precisely this wide-range soul skill that had allowed him to win several consecutive matches in the Spirit Arena.

Lin Wan's eyes narrowed. Han Ya's move truly was troublesome.

He pushed off the ground, rapidly retreating backward! Yet the ice spread too quickly and was about to catch up to his feet.

Now.

Seeing Han Ya's focused expression, a sharp gleam flashed through Lin Wan's eyes.

This was the chance he had been waiting for. Releasing an area soul skill required his opponent's concentration and left him in a relatively fixed position.

Lin Wan stopped evading the spreading ice. Instead, he stomped down hard and shot forward along the Icebound Path like a phantom.

Limited by his Soul Power, Han Ya's icy path could not completely cover the entire ground.

Lin Wan stepped on patches of open ground with the tips of his toes and leaped toward Han Ya.

At the same time, the fingers of his right hand spread slightly. An extremely faint silver glint seemed to flash across his fingertips as he aimed directly at Han Ya, whose movements had slowed slightly from using his soul skill.

When Han Ya saw Lin Wan actually charge toward the Icebound Path, a cruel smile had just appeared on his face when, the next second, he saw Lin Wan pounce straight at him from midair.

"What?!"

Han Ya hurriedly raised his arms to block, but Lin Wan's hand had already touched his arm.

At that moment, the yellow Soul Ring around Lin Wan lit up.

Buzzz—!

An indescribable mental wave filled with extreme allure and forced surrender crashed brutally into Han Ya's mind like an invisible hammer.

The cruel smile on Han Ya's face instantly froze, and his pupils immediately became unfocused.

He stood rigidly in place like a puppet whose soul had been pulled away, his eyes vacant and expression dull. Even the Icebound Path beneath his feet, which he had been maintaining, stopped spreading the instant his Soul Power was cut off.

Forced Bewitchment took effect.

One second. In a battle between Soul Masters, one second was enough to determine life and death.

The soul skill's effect was outstanding.

Lin Wan did not use the accompanying Heart-Eating Essence Theft, nor did he even truly manifest his Fox Claws.

He lowered his body slightly, and his left fist, charged with power for a long time, smashed into Han Ya's undefended lower abdomen with a piercing blast of air and no unnecessary flourish.

BANG!!!

A muffled boom rang out.

Han Ya's body flew as if he had been struck by a charging bull. He curled into a shrimp, spat out a mouthful of sour fluid, and was sent uncontrollably flying backward. He crashed hard into the protective barrier at the edge of the Spirit Arena platform with a pained groan, then slid limply to the ground, curling up and unable to get back up anytime soon.

Forced Bewitchment ended at that exact moment, and Han Ya regained consciousness. He only felt agonizing pain erupt from his lower abdomen, leaving him completely unable to continue fighting. He could only groan in pain.