Fifth Soul Skill: Mental Control, Fire Spring

Golden light flowed through Huo Lei's eyes, emitting a faint glow as he began surveying his surroundings.

As he activated Fiery Golden Eyes, Huo Lei felt the environment around him become incredibly clear, as if he were wearing X-ray glasses. He excitedly swept his gaze over everything before him, then suddenly spotted someone hiding in the crown of a distant tree, lying motionless across a thick branch. It was Lin Yin.

A faint smile appeared on Huo Lei's face as he walked toward the tree. Reaching its base, he patted the trunk and called out, "Lin Yin, are there many mosquitoes up in that canopy? Come down!"

Seeing that he had been exposed, Lin Yin helplessly dropped his disguise and leaped down from the tree, landing beside Huo Lei.

Lin Yin said in surprise, "Young Master Lei, your progress is so fast. It has only been one night, yet you can already see through my disguise. That's terrifying."

"Ha ha ha! 'That's terrifying'—what a great phrase! I like it."

Huo Lei laughed heartily, greatly approving of Lin Yin's words. He said proudly, "This is my new ability: Fiery Golden Eyes."

"Fiery Golden Eyes is a good name. Young Master Lei, isn't your fifth Soul Skill also meant to see through things? Isn't that somewhat redundant?" Lin Yin praised him, then raised a question Huo Lei could not immediately explain.

An awkward expression crossed Huo Lei's face as he explained, "Well... for now, they do seem redundant, but the differences are obvious. Fiery Golden Eyes doesn't require me to activate my Martial Soul, and it consumes very little Soul Power. Compared to the Soul Power consumed by my fifth Soul Skill, the difference is enormous. After taking those herbs, my fifth Soul Skill must have changed as well. I just haven't had the chance to test it yet."

"Young Master Lei, we can test it right now. I'll cooperate with you." Lin Yin looked expectant.

Huo Lei said excitedly, "Good! Let's try it."

Lin Yin quickly put some distance between them, stopping after running ten paces away.

Without saying anything, Huo Lei directly activated his Flame Martial Soul. A red flame rose from his right palm, while a black Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet. His golden eyes turned golden-red, radiating a brilliant golden-red glow.

Lin Yin had kept his attention fixed on Huo Lei. The moment he saw those golden-red eyes, his originally clear gaze instantly became dull. Only after one breath did clarity return to his eyes.

Huo Lei withdrew his Martial Soul and walked over to Lin Yin. Seeing his bewildered expression, he curiously asked, "What did it feel like?"

Lin Yin came back to his senses and looked at Huo Lei in surprise. "Young Master Lei, I saw your eyes turn golden-red, and then my thoughts suddenly stalled for a moment. I hurriedly circulated my Soul Power to resist it before my mind became clear again."

Hearing Lin Yin's feedback, Huo Lei was somewhat shocked. At the same time, he analyzed Lin Yin's description. "Golden-red eyes? It seems my fifth Soul Skill really has changed. Based on what you said, my fifth Soul Skill has likely evolved from seeing through things to controlling the mind."

"Lin Yin, let's test it again and make sure," Huo Lei suggested.

The two repeated everything they had just done, and the conclusion remained unchanged.

"Young Master Lei, your fifth Soul Skill can control my mind for around two seconds," Lin Yin reported.

"Two seconds! Not bad! Lin Yin is ten levels above me, and he even has a ten-thousand-year spiritual skull bone. By that calculation, my fifth Soul Skill can control a Soul Master an entire major realm above me for two seconds. Against someone of the same realm, it should last even longer. Three seconds shouldn't be a problem."

Huo Lei silently estimated the power of his Soul Skill.

"Young Master Lei? What are you thinking about?" Seeing Huo Lei spacing out, Lin Yin walked over to ask.

Huo Lei returned to his senses and smiled. "Oh! I was thinking of a name for my fifth Soul Skill. Since its effect is to control the opponent's mind, let's call it Mental Control!"

"That's a good name. Simple and easy to understand," Lin Yin praised.

"Lin Yin, come on. Let's have breakfast together."

Smiling, Huo Lei draped an arm over Lin Yin's shoulder, and the two walked out of the small woods together.

Blazing Fire Academy had no classes in the afternoon, so the students were free to do as they pleased. After lunch, Huo Lei headed alone toward the plaza behind the academy.

Blazing Fire Academy stood at the foot of an extinct volcano south of Red Rock City. Built against the mountainside, the academy had a natural circular shallow pit at the volcano's base, ten meters in diameter. The pit was empty, with no firewood inside, yet flames burned there all year round without ever going out. It was extremely unusual, and the academy had named it Fire Spring.

After being renovated by the academy, Fire Spring had been named Fire Spring Plaza. It was also the academy's most popular cultivation ground. Every afternoon, many students and teachers came here to cultivate.

Huo Lei arrived relatively early, and only a scattered few people were cultivating in Fire Spring Plaza. They had all chosen prime spots close to Fire Spring.

The spots beside Fire Spring were the best, being closest to the flames. Anyone who arrived late could not get a spot and could only sit farther out to cultivate.

The academy's rules were quite flexible. The spots at Fire Spring were first come, first served—whoever occupied one got to use it, with no consideration given to status or strength. However, there were two strict rules. First, no loud noise that would disturb others' cultivation. Second, no private fighting over spots at Fire Spring. Anyone who violated these rules would receive a warning and disciplinary action from the academy.

Huo Lei chose a spot near Fire Spring, sat down, and began meditating.

Half an hour later.

The area around Fire Spring was already filled with students cultivating.

"Second Uncle, is this the famous Fire Spring of our Blazing Fire Academy?"

The speaker was a young man who looked two or three years older than Huo Lei. He had short red hair, an average build and appearance, and wore the standard uniform of Blazing Fire Academy. He walked respectfully beside a middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man also had short red hair, all of it standing upright atop his head, making him look rather spirited. However, his appearance was ordinary, and he was somewhat thin, standing slightly taller than the young man beside him. He wore a crimson robe embroidered with golden trim, giving him an extravagant appearance. This man was Huo Zheng, younger brother of the Flame Leopard Sect's sect master.

"Huo Lie, have you gotten used to studying here? Your father is busy every day with sect affairs, while I'm busy cultivating every day. Now that I've broken through into a new realm, I finally had some time, so I came specifically to see you and take a look at your academy's Fire Spring. I've never been to this Fire Spring Plaza behind your academy before."

Huo Zheng smiled as he showed concern for his nephew.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Second Uncle! I'm used to it here, but it's a little boring. Every day is nothing but studying and cultivating." Huo Lie wore a gloomy expression.

"Boring? You could find yourself a female companion and develop some feelings together! I think the daughter of Blazing Fire Academy's dean is quite good. She's beautiful, talented, and most importantly, her father is the dean. If you win her over, the status of our Flame Leopard Sect will rise another level." Huo Zheng raised his brows, revealing a meaningful smile.

"Second Uncle, I want to! But that woman Huo Wu is too fiery. Your nephew simply can't handle her."

Huo Lie looked utterly helpless.

"Wouldn't fiery be even more interesting? That's what makes conquering her satisfying. You brat, you're useless. If the straightforward approach doesn't work, can't you try something underhanded? Once she becomes yours, what can she do even if she is fiery? As long as she enters our Flame Leopard Sect, there will be plenty of time to tame her." Huo Zheng gave his nephew a round of improper instruction, a lecherous smile on his face.

"Second Uncle, let's not talk about that for now. Didn't you come to see our academy's Fire Spring? Every afternoon, many teachers and students come here to cultivate. The closer one cultivates to Fire Spring, the greater the benefits for us fire-attribute Soul Masters."

As Huo Lie led Huo Zheng toward Fire Spring, he introduced the place to him.

"Since you make it sound so good, then I'll find a place and sit down to try cultivating myself."

As soon as Huo Zheng finished speaking, he strode quickly toward Huo Lei's spot.

"Hey, brat, move aside. I've taken a liking to this spot." Huo Zheng grabbed Huo Lei by the shoulder with his right hand and lifted him up.