Feng Xiaolin knew the way well. He soon led everyone to a secluded clearing on the back mountain, then stopped and turned. His eyes blazed with fighting spirit as he looked at Lin Yue!
Lin Yue stepped forward to face him, looking a little puzzled. "There's something I've wanted to ask since last time. Why are you at this academy?"
"What? My home's near Nuoding City. Is it strange for me to attend Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy?"
Feng Xiaolin had not expected Lin Yue to ask him that after acquiring a Spirit Ring. He paused mid-summon.
"I heard your brother's a genius with Innate Full Soul Power. Isn't he at Godwind Academy? Why didn't you go with him?"
Blood energy churned around Lin Yue's left hand. He summoned his Martial Soul and stood with sword in hand, regarding Feng Xiaolin with a curious glint in his eyes.
"Me? Hmph..." At the mention of Godwind Academy, deep disgust crossed Feng Xiaolin's face.
His elder brother, Feng Xiaotian, had gained Innate Full Soul Power through a Martial Soul Mutation. Godwind Academy had taken an interest in him and invited him to enroll on the very day of his Martial Soul Awakening, offering exceptionally generous terms.
"When they noticed my brother's Innate Full Soul Power, he wanted to take me along. But the people at Godwind Academy refused."
The phantom of a Gale Demon Wolf formed behind Feng Xiaolin. His gaze sharpened, memories flickering in his wolfish eyes as he clenched his teeth.
"I overheard those Godwind Academy people talking among themselves. Behind my brother's back, they mocked him at every turn, saying he'd only gained his abilities through a Martial Soul Mutation. That's why they didn't take me to Godwind Academy right away, either. They looked down on talent from commoner families like ours. They thought that without a favorable mutation, I'd amount to nothing."
"So I swore I'd prove them wrong. I'd grow strong and build a family of my own, so no one would ever look down on my children!"
Feng Xiaolin spread his legs and lowered his stance, the edge in his eyes growing sharper!
So that was why they'd rejected him.
Lin Yue raised his sword slightly, his gaze darkening.
It made sense. On the Douluo Continent, where status came from bloodlines and strength passed down through them, most of a person's talent was decided at birth.
As a commoner Soul Master through and through, Feng Xiaotian had only drawn extra attention because of his Martial Soul Mutation. Godwind Academy's leaders had not believed the same favorable mutation could occur twice in one pair of brothers, so they had set Feng Xiaolin aside instead of taking him in immediately.
What lofty arrogance.
Still, however slim the chance, they could not have given up on Feng Xiaolin entirely. They must have offered him decent terms and sent someone to wait for the day of his awakening...
Since Feng Xiaolin had yet to join Godwind Academy, there was only one explanation.
His Martial Soul Awakening and Soul Power test must not have gone well...
Lin Yue glanced at the Gale Demon Wolf phantom gleaming behind the boy and lowered his blade. "So your Innate Soul Power Level wasn't very high, was it?"
A tangle of emotions crossed Feng Xiaolin's face. He clenched his fists and spoke through gritted teeth.
"...That's right. My Innate Soul Power was only level four."
Level-four Innate Soul Power. Forget catching up to his brother—he had not even reached the level-five mark.
The disdain on those Godwind Academy people's faces, and the invitation they had offered out of regard for his brother—respectful on the surface, but charity underneath—had cut deep into Feng Xiaolin's heart.
On the Douluo Continent, a Soul Master's Innate Soul Power Level all but fixed the heights they could reach in a lifetime.
For Soul Masters in particular, level ten was an enormous hurdle.
Countless Soul Masters had such low Innate Soul Power that reaching level ten took too long. They wasted their prime cultivation years, and their lifetime achievements amounted to little.
Before obtaining a First Spirit Ring—or rather, before reaching level ten—a Soul Scholar progressed very slowly. At that difficult stage, gaining one level a year already counted as diligent cultivation.
By the standards of the Douluo Continent, reaching level fifteen by age twelve was excellent. Reaching level eighteen made one a minor genius. Reaching level twenty... that met Shrek Academy's admission requirements and earned the title of Little Monster.
But with less than level-five Innate Soul Power, reaching level ten would take at least five years. No matter how hard one worked, reaching the "excellent" standard before twelve was impossible.
Then the prime years for cultivation would pass. One slow step led to another, until one's potential was set and a lifetime's achievements came to little...
That would have been Feng Xiaolin's future.
"But I'm different!"
The boy stood tall, the fine fur on his body stirring in the wind, his gaze growing fiercer.
Driven by his hatred for those who had judged and dismissed him, he had forced his level higher and broken free of the limits others had placed on him!
He had needed only three years to become a Soul Master and obtain a Spirit Ring. Over the next three years, he had grown by nearly three levels each year!
He knew he could not compare with his brother, but he had devoted everything to cultivation. That was why the students at the entire Junior Soul Master Academy held him in awe.
"My brother has spent years urging me to go to Godwind Academy. But I'll never bow my head to those people who thought their status made them superior and humiliated me for it. I'll prove myself and forge my own path!"
"So come on, let's duel! If I win, Xiao San is mine!"
Green light flared in Feng Xiaolin's eyes. He flung off his jacket, and his aura surged to its peak!
"Even if you win, that depends on whether Ah Yin agrees... But there's no need to argue. I doubt you can beat me..."
Lin Yue released his Martial Soul as well. His eyes burned with anticipation, and he smiled with absolute confidence. "And what if you lose?"
Feng Xiaolin snorted and slapped the small pouch at his waist. "If I lose, I'll give you my most valuable possession, a Spatial Storage Soul Tool. If you lose, you leave Xiao San and stay out of my pursuit of her. Deal?"
A Spatial Soul Tool worth thousands of Gold Soul Coins, just like that... Feng Xiaotian probably gave him that pouch. Tsk, the cub doesn't mind selling off his father's fields...
Lin Yue grinned. "Sure. I never thought someone would hand me a Spatial Soul Tool for free."
"Enough talk!" Feng Xiaolin stepped forward and declared, "Feng Xiaolin, level-eighteen Agility Attack Type Battle Soul Master. Martial Soul: Gale Demon Wolf. Show me what you've got!"
Fourteen levels in six years? For someone with level-four Innate Soul Power, that really was astonishing progress.
"But... it's still nowhere near enough."
Lin Yue held his Blood Sword across his body and lowered his stance. "Lin Yue, level-fourteen Strength Attack Type Battle Soul Master. Martial Soul: Ghost Sword."
Level fourteen!!
Feng Xiaolin's pupils contracted. An indescribable sorrow and melancholy welled up in his heart.
So this was Innate Full Soul Power?
Six years of hard work, and this genius had closed most of the gap in less than a month.
In that instant, Feng Xiaolin finally understood why his brother had never told him his exact Soul Power Level.
He must have been afraid it would crush my confidence...
"So the gap between my brother and me is this vast..."
Feng Xiaolin pushed down the brief wave of melancholy and fixed his gaze on Lin Yue. Regaining his resolve, he shouted, "Even so, my Soul Power is still four levels above yours. I have the advantage. Watch out!"
This time, Feng Xiaolin did not hesitate. His Yellow Soul Ring flashed.
"First Spirit Skill: Wind Blade!"
The air gathered into a razor-sharp edge that slashed through the sky toward Lin Yue!
The moment he unleashed his Soul Power, Feng Xiaolin darted forward. He vanished from where he stood, charging hard on the heels of the gale!
Now this was interesting...
Attacking alongside his Soul Skill, Feng Xiaolin was finally giving Lin Yue a few surprises now that he was going all out.
Rather than retreat, Lin Yue advanced. The deep-yellow Spirit Ring behind him suddenly blazed!
First Spirit Skill: Berserk.
Blood energy erupted from his left hand. Like little scarlet snakes, it burrowed into every part of his body.
The next moment, he sprang forward with sword in hand. His speed soared, outstripping even Feng Xiaolin as he darted and weaved!
Continuous Thrust!
Lin Yue drove his Blood Sword forward. Its keen edge struck the Wind Blade and shattered the Soul Skill in an instant!
But Feng Xiaolin had charged in at the same time. He had already slipped behind Lin Yue.
"Slash!"
Without a trace of technique, the boy brought his claws down with all his strength!
With the Gale Demon Wolf inhabiting his body, Feng Xiaolin struck in fury, aiming straight for Lin Yue's back.
But he had forgotten: at that moment, Lin Yue was at least as fast as he was!
While Feng Xiaolin was still raising his claws, Lin Yue stepped forward, twisted, and swept his sword around.
A silver-moon arc burst from the Blood Sword and met the descending wolf claws!
At the instant their raw strength collided, Feng Xiaolin's expression changed. The blow drove him back several steps. Threads of blood dripped from his claws, and his entire right hand trembled.
Such strength! His First Spirit Skill can boost him this much!
No, I can't clash head-on with a Strength Attack Type Soul Master!
Though that blow had nearly put his right hand out of action, Feng Xiaolin gritted his teeth, darted away, and released his First Spirit Skill again.
A Wind Blade shot upward, aimed straight at Lin Yue's head. At the same moment, Feng Xiaolin changed his angle of attack and rapidly closed the distance!
The same trick a second time?
Lin Yue raised an eyebrow, but then saw the Spirit Ring behind Feng Xiaolin light up again.
"Wind Blade!"
Two Wind Blades hurtled toward Lin Yue from either side, closing in on him!
In the next instant, Feng Xiaolin dropped to all fours and leaped high. Using the force of his descent, he lunged at Lin Yue's head with both claws, cutting off every path of escape!
"Let's see you withstand this!"
Three attacks struck together from different directions. Feng Xiaolin roared, driving his speed to its absolute limit!