Everyone Levels Up, Leaving Yu Xiaogang Stunned; Lin Xuan Opens with Ice, Fire, and Wind Talismans

"Arrogant!"

Yu Xiaogang snorted and clasped his hands behind his back.

"Let's see how much you've improved in this past month!"

He turned and signaled to Dai Mubai and the others beside him.

Dai Mubai strode forward. The muscles in his arms swelled, golden fur sprouted from his skin, and three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—rose beneath his feet.

"Dai Mubai, level thirty-seven Battle Soul Elder!"

Ma Hongjun puffed out his belly. Dark red flames rose around him as two yellow Soul Rings pulsed up and down.

"Ma Hongjun, level twenty-six Battle Soul Master!"

Oscar stood in the back row, rubbing the stubble on his chin as two yellow Soul Rings rose beneath his feet.

"Oscar, level thirty support-type Tool Soul Master!"

Tang San stepped forward last.

He opened his palm. Blue-black Blue Silver Grass vines spread across the ground, and three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—rose beneath his feet.

"Tang San, level thirty-two control-type Battle Soul Elder."

After announcing his level, Tang San sighed softly.

He glanced at Yu Xiaogang beside him, feeling helpless.

Over the past month, his Soul Power had risen from level thirty-one to level thirty-two entirely because of the Clear Mind Talismans Lin Xuan gave him every day.

Tang San knew better than anyone how much those talismans helped him concentrate.

Even I gained a level using Clear Mind Talismans. Lin Xuan and the others use them every day—how could they not have improved?

But his teacher simply would not listen.

Across the training ground, Lin Xuan looked at the four arrayed against him, his expression calm.

"A month of training, and that's all you've got?"

Lin Xuan tilted his head toward the three girls beside him.

"Xiao Wu, Rongrong, Zhuqing, show Grandmaster your Martial Souls. Give him something to look at."

Xiao Wu giggled and hopped forward first.

Two fluffy rabbit ears rose from her hair. Her long legs tensed slightly as three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—circled upward.

"Xiao Wu, level thirty-four Assault-type Battle Soul Elder!"

Ning Rongrong stepped forward next. A pagoda shimmering with seven-colored light appeared above her right palm, with two yellow Soul Rings circling it.

"Ning Rongrong, level twenty-seven support-type Tool Soul Master!"

Zhu Zhuqing let her hands hang at her sides. Sharp claws extended from her fingers, a pair of cat ears appeared atop her head, and two yellow Soul Rings hovered around her.

"Zhu Zhuqing, level twenty-eight agility-type Battle Soul Master."

Finally, Lin Xuan raised his right hand. A blank, pale yellow sheet of Talisman Paper appeared between his fingers.

Three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—rose around him.

"Lin Xuan, level thirty-six support-type Battle Soul Elder."

The training ground fell silent.

Every one of them had gained a level!

The breath Ma Hongjun had just drawn caught in his throat, turning his face bright red.

"What the hell? How did they train?"

The muscles in Dai Mubai's face twitched violently.

He had counted on his level thirty-seven advantage to dominate the field, only for Lin Xuan to quietly reach level thirty-six!

Behind his back, Yu Xiaogang dug his fingers into his palms, his face tightening.

Four people had each gained a level in one month!

Even if some had been on the verge of a breakthrough, all four advancing together lay completely outside the bounds of his theories.

Zhu Zhuqing stood slightly behind the others, watching Lin Xuan's back in silence.

For the past month, she had seen him train in Zhao Wuji's Gravity Field until he could barely move. Once he returned to Back Hill, he would start drawing talismans again without even stopping for a drink.

Just watching that relentless strain on his body and Spiritual Power exhausted her.

But Lin Xuan had endured it.

Zhu Zhuqing made up her mind.

If I want to escape my family's fate and truly grow stronger, following Lin Xuan is my only way forward.

As for whether pushing himself so hard might damage his foundations, Lin Xuan had given it no thought.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was there in Sunset Forest. Sooner or later, he would claim its Immortal Herbs and medicinal plants.

Pushing himself to the limit now was merely laying the groundwork for the transformation to come.

Yu Xiaogang forced down his shock and spoke coldly.

"A one-level advantage means nothing. Soul Master battles come down to how Martial Souls counter one another and how well a team coordinates!"

"Let's settle this in a fight!"

On the raised platform, Flender pushed up his crystal glasses and announced loudly,

"Both sides, ready! Begin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xuan's first and second Soul Rings flashed.

"Gale Wind. Fire Suppression."

Lin Xuan pressed the two sets of talismans onto Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and himself.

Cyan gusts and crimson rings of fire flickered over their bodies, then sank into their skin.

Zhu Zhuqing felt her legs grow light. The resistance of the air around her dropped by more than half.

Lin Xuan then formed two Blazing Fire Talismans and two Frost Lock Talismans, pressing them into Xiao Wu's and Zhu Zhuqing's palms.

In the next instant, fire and ice surged through both girls. Fire blazed in their left hands, ice gathered in their right, and wind flowed around them, strengthening them in every way.

Then Lin Xuan placed an ice-blue Frost Lock Talisman in Ning Rongrong's hand.

"Rongrong, hold on to this Frost Lock Talisman."

"If anyone breaks through to attack you, channel your Soul Power into it!"

Ning Rongrong took the Talisman Paper, her face bright with excitement.

"Don't worry, Lin Xuan! I can handle myself!"

Ning Rongrong gave a soft shout and held up the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda with both hands. Her first and second Soul Rings lit up together.

"Seven Treasures, first: strength!"

"Seven Treasures, second: speed!"

Six beams of colored light shot from the pagoda's tip, striking Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Lin Xuan with perfect accuracy.

With the help of Clear Mind Talismans, she had mastered the three-focus stage of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Heart Separation Control technique over the past month.

The boosts to strength and speed, combined with Lin Xuan's Talisman Control, sent Xiao Wu's and Zhu Zhuqing's auras soaring.

Across the field, Tang San reacted at once, rapidly adjusting his tactics.

"Mubai, hold the front! Don't let Xiao Wu and Zhuqing break our formation!"

"Fatty, circle around the flank! Use Phoenix Fireline to suppress Ning Rongrong and disrupt her support!"

"Little Ao, make sausages. Be ready to resupply us!"

Tang San stepped forward and spread his arms. Blue Silver Grass poured from his palms in thick, fast-growing swathes.

"Leave Lin Xuan to me. I'll use Blue Silver Grass to control the field and help wherever I'm needed!"

"Got it!"

Dai Mubai answered and activated his first soul skill, White Tiger Body-Protecting Barrier. Wrapped in white light, he lunged forward.

Ma Hongjun drew a deep breath. His second Soul Ring flashed, and he opened his mouth to breathe flames toward Ning Rongrong.

Behind them, Oscar fumbled through an incantation.

"I have a Big Sausage!"

Seeing this, Lin Xuan quickly assigned targets.

"Xiao Wu, take Little San."

"Zhuqing, move fast. Take out Ma Hongjun, then kick Oscar off the field. Rongrong, watch our backs and stay safe."