Blazing Fire Academy Finals Selection Concludes

"Lu Lisha truly had admirable courage! She actually dared to challenge Huo Yun." Huo Wu looked impressed and let out a sigh.

Huo Wu's voice caught Huo Lei's attention, and he fixed his gaze on the girl named Lu Lisha.

Lu Lisha had short fiery-red hair, delicate features, and a baby face with large, adorable eyes. Her looks were somewhat inferior to Huo Wu's, but her sweet voice and petite, lovable figure made people instinctively want to protect her.

"You may begin."

Xie Chong reminded them from the podium.

Huo Yun rolled his neck, crossed his hands, and cracked his knuckles. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly as he said, "Lu Lisha, it's not too late to admit defeat. Otherwise, if I hurt you later, don't start crying."

Lu Lisha snorted coldly, ignoring Huo Yun. She immediately took her stance and unleashed her Martial Soul. Three Soul Rings, two yellow and one purple, emerged as the phantom of a completely fiery-red Flame Eagle appeared overhead, letting out a piercing cry.

"Level 34 Flame Eagle Battle Soul Elder, Lu Lisha, agility attack type."

Huo Yun did not dare to be careless and unleashed his Martial Soul as well. The phantom of a great crane blazing like fire appeared above his head, also releasing a clear, resonant cry.

"Level 38 Fire Crane Battle Soul Elder, Huo Yun, agility attack type. Please!"

"Martial Soul Possession!" Lu Lisha shouted. A pair of fiery-red wings emerged from her back, while her fair hands turned crimson and two-inch claws grew from her fingertips, like red-hot iron hooks.

"Martial Soul Possession? Then I'll play along." Huo Yun gave a wicked smile. A pair of fiery-red wings likewise grew from his back, and claws emerged from his hands as well.

Lu Lisha flapped her eagle wings and flew straight at Huo Yun.

Huo Yun was not about to be outdone. He spread his crane wings and charged to meet her.

The two began an intense aerial battle.

"Who would've thought? Such a cute girl was actually this fierce." Huo Lei sighed.

"You can't judge strength by appearances alone, or you'll suffer a huge loss."

Huo Wu chimed in.

Lu Lisha and Huo Yun's claws clashed, and their wings collided as they fought fiercely. However, everyone watching could tell that Lu Lisha was clearly at a disadvantage.

A yellow Soul Ring appeared around Lu Lisha as she shouted, "First Soul Skill, Flame Feather Blade!"

Fiery-red feathers transformed into blades and shot toward Huo Yun.

"Hmph! Boring! Let's end this! Third Soul Skill, Fire Crane Clones!" A purple Soul Ring appeared around Huo Yun. Two crane cries rang out, and two enormous flaming crane phantoms shot toward Lu Lisha. Before she could use her second or third Soul Skill, she was already knocked out of the air.

Huo Yun controlled his fiery-red crane wings and hovered in midair, a trace of concern in his voice. "Lu Lisha, I told you to admit defeat from the beginning, but you just wouldn't listen. Sorry for getting your school uniform dirty."

To Lu Lisha, Huo Yun's words sounded like mockery. She climbed to her feet and said indignantly, "Huo Yun, don't get smug. You're four levels higher than me. Losing to you isn't embarrassing. Hmph!"

Lu Lisha dusted off her clothes a few times, then turned and walked toward the crowd.

"This round goes to Huo Yun. He advances," Xie Chong announced.

Huo Yun withdrew his crane wings, lightly landed on the ground, bowed toward the podium, and only then left the arena.

"That brat got to show off again." Huo Wushuang watched Huo Yun's mannerisms and complained again.

As time passed, match after match came to an end. Of the twenty-three people registered, thirteen duels were held in total. No one challenged the first three contestants, so they advanced automatically. The remaining twenty held ten matches, and by noon, the selection trials finally came to an end.

Huo Feng rose from his seat and said with a smile, "Today's selection trials were a great success. Thirteen students have advanced. The final competition will be held tomorrow morning, when the final spots will be determined. Whether you can represent the academy in the Soul Master Elite Tournament will depend on your performance tomorrow. I now announce that the selection trials have concluded successfully. Dismissed!"

At nine o'clock the next morning, the Blazing Fire Academy finals began on schedule. The first three contestants were still Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu, and Huo Lei. The same thing happened as yesterday: no one challenged them, and the three passed smoothly.

The brothers Huo Yun and Huo Yu possessed equal strength, both having reached Level 38. Relying on their higher levels and faster speed, they easily defeated their opponents in the finals and passed successfully.

Four of the finalists were support-type Soul Masters. The brothers Huo Chui and Huo Jun defeated their opponents through their seamless coordination and level advantage, passing successfully.

At this point, only two people remained in the finals: Huo Lie and Liu Jie.

"Contestants Huo Lie and Liu Jie, please take the field."

Xie Chong called out loudly as he looked at the list.

Huo Lie wore a smile as he strode confidently into the arena.

A man also stepped out from the crowd. He had the same fiery-red short hair and wore the academy uniform. Both his face and build were utterly ordinary, without any distinctive traits that would leave an impression. He was Huo Lie's opponent, Liu Jie.

The two stood side by side and bowed toward the academy head and teachers on the podium. Then they pulled roughly ten meters apart and faced one another, waiting for the teacher on the podium to announce the start of the match.

Seeing that both were ready, Xie Chong immediately declared, "The match begins!"

Liu Jie took his stance and unleashed his Martial Soul. Behind him appeared the phantom of a mastiff with fiery-red fur, while three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—lit up around him.

"Level 35 Crimson Demon Mastiff Battle Soul Elder, Liu Jie, assault type."

At the same time, Huo Lie released his Flame Leopard Martial Soul. His Soul Ring configuration and number of Soul Rings were identical to Liu Jie's.

As before, the two began with Martial Soul Possession, competing in strength, speed, and evasion. Yet even with identical attributes and configurations, Liu Jie was still no match for Huo Lie. He was the first to use Soul Power.

"Second Soul Skill, Blazing Flame Claw!"

Both of Liu Jie's hands moved at once, swinging out ten flaming claw blades that crossed as they attacked Huo Lie.

Seeing his opponent use a Soul Skill, Huo Lie stopped holding back and directly activated his own second Soul Skill, Seven-Star Flowing Fire, to block it.

Liu Jie's ten crossed claw blades collided in midair with the seven fireballs released by Huo Lie, producing a thunderous explosion as sparks scattered everywhere. The watching crowd erupted in cries of surprise.

"Liu Jie, we have the same configuration and the same attribute, but my Soul Power Level is two levels higher than yours. It's nearly impossible for you to defeat me. I advise you to admit defeat now and spare yourself some pain." Huo Lie's eyes gleamed as he smiled and advised his opponent.

"Since we've already begun, what kind of person would I be if I gave up halfway? It's better to see things through from beginning to end." Liu Jie answered firmly. At the same time, a purple Soul Ring emerged around him. "Third Soul Skill, Flame Rage Wave."

Liu Jie pushed forth his Soul Skill, forming a wave of fire that crashed toward Huo Lie.

"Hmph! That's all? Third Soul Skill, Explosive Seven-Star Flame Bullets!"

A purple Soul Ring circled Huo Lie as he released seven solid spheres of flame from both hands, sending them rapidly toward the incoming fire wave.

After unleashing his Soul Skill, Huo Lie quickly dodged to the side.

When Huo Lie's seven fire bullets came into contact with Liu Jie's fire wave, they actually pierced straight through it and flew toward Liu Jie. Caught off guard, Liu Jie had no choice but to activate his Soul Skill to block them. However, Huo Lie's seven fire bullets were simply too fierce, and using flames to block flames was ineffective. In the end, three struck him, blasting him several meters away and sending him crashing to the ground.

Liu Jie climbed to his feet and let out a long sigh. "You win."

Huo Lie jumped up excitedly. "Yes! I won!"

"This match goes to Huo Lie. He passes successfully." Xie Chong's voice came from the podium.

"Headmaster, eight students have passed, but only seven can take the field in the Soul Master Tournament. As for the extra one, what do you think?" Xie Chong looked at Huo Feng beside him with some difficulty and handed over the list of those who had passed.