Come in yourself, or don't make me get rough.

One sentence, paired with that insulting gesture.

It was even more infuriating to Yan than adding fuel to a fire.

He forced a few words through his tightly clenched teeth. "You're courting death!"

It was the first time he had ever been looked down on like this.

He wanted nothing more than to immediately tear apart Luo Xuan's calm, expressionless face.

And that was exactly what he did.

"First Soul Skill!" Yan raised his arm, clenched his fist, and smashed it heavily onto the arena floor. "Hell Magma Rush!"

At his command, several pillars of molten fire erupted from the arena, completely surrounding Luo Xuan.

Even the ground beneath Luo Xuan's feet began to stir.

Yan had expected to see terror on Luo Xuan's face.

Instead, Luo Xuan remained as calm and expressionless as ever.

"Bastard, I refuse to believe you can stay this calm any longer!"

After Yan's furious words fell.

Luo Xuan slowly raised a hand and formed a hand seal.

He coldly uttered a single word. "Lin!"

Golden light flashed across his entire body, unnoticed by everyone else.

Because the ground beneath Luo Xuan had already turned scorching hot. Magma that reflected Yan's fury burst forth, and pillars of fire engulfed Luo Xuan's body.

At the sight of this.

Yan believed victory was assured. Luo Xuan was ten levels below him in Soul Power and had taken the full force of his first Soul Skill.

His opponent had not even summoned his Martial Soul or used a Soul Skill. Yan could not imagine how Luo Xuan could possibly withstand it.

"Kid, beg me for mercy, and I'll spare your life!"

With his arms folded, he struck a victorious pose and looked toward Hu Liena below the stage.

He hoped to see admiration on her face.

Unfortunately.

Yan did not get his wish. Hu Liena showed no admiration, though the other girls were looking at Yan with worshipful eyes.

"Senior Yan is amazing! I told you that kid, whatever his name was, was courting death."

"That's right, that's right. He didn't even last one move."

"He didn't move at all just now. He must've been scared stupid."

"We've seen plenty of fools who don't know their place."

"..."

Hu Liena furrowed her delicate brows. She did not believe Luo Xuan would go down so easily.

Her eyes remained fixed on the figure within the pillars of fire.

Seeing this, Yan's hatred for Luo Xuan deepened even further.

"Hmph! Once everyone sees how miserable you are, Nana will definitely despise you."

He was no fool. He had not struck to kill, or his teacher would have appeared long ago to stop him.

As the pillars of fire slowly faded, Luo Xuan's figure gradually emerged.

But it was completely different from what everyone had imagined.

"That's impossible!" Yan's eyes widened. "How are you completely unharmed?!"

Luo Xuan emerged from the fire pillars without the miserable appearance Yan had expected.

It was as if Yan's attack had never struck him. He was still as composed as before.

Luo Xuan shook his head, a hint of acknowledgment in his tone. "No. At least the corner of my clothes got a little dusty."

After Luo Xuan spoke, the entire venue fell silent.

Anyone could hear the special meaning behind those words.

Perhaps Luo Xuan had not meant it that way, but it would undoubtedly make Yan even angrier.

The veins on Yan's forehead bulged as he clenched both fists.

"You're mocking me, aren't you? You actually dare mock me!"

"Granite Rock!" The light of his second Soul Ring flashed. Yan leaped into the air as chunks of molten rock wrapped around his arm, forming a massive stone arm that crashed toward Luo Xuan.

Its imposing force rekindled the hopes of many students who favored Yan.

"Senior Yan's move will definitely defeat Luo Xuan."

"That's right. Luo Xuan must have used a tremendous amount of Soul Power to come out unscathed just now. His Martial Soul might be defensive."

"Luo Xuan still looks so unconcerned."

"He's definitely just putting on a brave face."

"..."

After what had happened, more people began favoring Luo Xuan, though not everyone had changed their minds.

Luo Xuan looked at the enormous fist coming down at him and muttered, "A fist? Come to think of it, my Martial Soul is a fist too."

His pale arms clenched into fists, preparing to meet the attack head-on.

After all, not much time had passed, and his complexion was still as pale as that of an invalid.

"It's over. What can those two slender arms possibly compare to Yan's arm? Luo Xuan is finished."

"His bones will probably break. He must have lost his mind to actually try to meet that head-on."

"..."

Everyone shook their heads. If Luo Xuan had not moved, they might still have had some faith in him.

Now, there was no need.

The moment their fists collided, Yan's expression changed. He felt an arm even harder than his own.

Not long after, a sharp pain shot through his arm.

"Ah—"

The collision kicked up a great deal of smoke, and the onlookers mistakenly assumed Luo Xuan was the one screaming.

They sighed one after another. "Being stubborn has consequences. Luo Xuan's arm is probably broken."

"Yeah, that scream was truly miserable."

"Still, being able to fight Yan across ten levels of Soul Power means Luo Xuan lost with honor."

When the smoke dispersed, one person remained standing while the other knelt on one knee.

But something seemed wrong with that arrangement.

"Yan! It's actually Yan! He's injured—the scream just now was his!"

Everyone turned their gazes toward Yan in unison.

Sure enough, Yan clutched one arm, his features twisted in pain as cold sweat streamed down his face.

Luo Xuan, on the other hand, still looked utterly calm.

As if the fight had not even satisfied him.

"Defeated opponent, don't bother me again in the future. I don't want anything to do with you people."

With that, he turned and left.

The people around him instinctively moved aside, opening a path for Luo Xuan.

This battle also allowed Luo Xuan to learn about his current strength and confirm his suspicions.

"The Nine-Character True Words really are powerful. The effect of the Lin Character Technique is far stronger than I expected."

After using the Lin Character Technique, Luo Xuan gained the Indestructible Vajra buff and became immune to control.

He had initially thought it was a defensive move, something like a Golden Bell Shield or Iron Shirt technique.

Now, he knew he had been wrong.

The Indestructible Vajra buff could not only be used for defense; it could also buff attacks.

His battle with Yan just now was proof.

When two fists collided, if one possessed the Indestructible Vajra buff, then the other was the only one that could break.

Of course, the difference in realm could not be too great—within twenty levels was about the limit.

If the gap was too large, even Indestructible Vajra could not withstand it.

"The wonders of the Nine-Character True Words still need to be explored!"

Thinking of Yan, who had come to trouble him, Luo Xuan silently thanked him.

He really was a good person.

While fighting Yan, Luo Xuan had felt that his realm had begun to loosen.

With one more push, he would reach level twenty.

Wasn't that the mark of a good person? Yan had let him test his strength and helped him level up.

There simply was no one better than him.

However, Luo Xuan knew he could not rely on the Nine-Character True Words at all times.

After all, the more useful a skill was, the greater its consumption.

That brief exchange alone had consumed more than half of his Soul Power.

"My normal combat strength is still too weak offensively without activating the Nine-Character True Words."

Yan's attack speed had seemed incredibly slow to him. If Luo Xuan used his first Soul Skill, he could instantly appear beside Yan and kill him.

Unfortunately, his killing power was insufficient.

Unless he used his External Soul Bone.

Luo Xuan had considered this from the beginning. If he chose an offensive first Soul Skill, then once he obtained high-level Soul Rings, it would become useless.

Things were different now. Though he was a little "weaker" in the early stages, his first Soul Skill would always remain useful.

"The Bing Character Technique will be unlocked soon. Even if my next Soul Skill still isn't offensive, it'll greatly increase my lethality."

He was eagerly anticipating the effects of the Bing Character Technique.

When he returned home, he suddenly discovered an exceptionally beautiful woman sitting in his room.

Their eyes met, and Luo Xuan's heart trembled. He did not want to enter, but he could not exactly turn around and run away.

As he stood frozen in the doorway, a voice reached his ears.

"Kid, come in yourself, or don't make me get rough."