Huo Linfei vs. Tang San

Noding Academy's Combat Training Ground.

The Soul Hunting Forest was too dangerous. Once they started fighting, the fluctuations of their Soul Power could easily attract Soul Beasts, so Director Su had brought them back to Noding Academy for the match.

Besides Director Su, Yu Xiaogang, Xiao Wu, and the two teachers who had accompanied Yu Xiaogang on the Soul Hunt stood at the edge of the field.

"Tang San. Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Level thirteen Control-Type Battle Spirit Master."

After Huo Linfei accepted the challenge, Tang San announced his details.

"Blue Silver Grass as his Martial Soul, and level thirteen..."

Director Su narrowed his eyes at Tang San, a little surprised.

But compared with the shock of Huo Linfei's Thousand-Year Soul Ring, this was a little witch meeting a great witch.

Seeing the faint surprise on Director Su's face, Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back and put on an air of unfathomable wisdom. Clearly, he was pleased with his disciple.

"Huo Linfei. Martial Soul: Phantom Qilin Beast. Level sixteen Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."

Huo Linfei followed suit and announced his own details. He knew this was customary when Soul Masters fought.

"Level sixteen?!"

Everyone was stunned again. Could a Thousand-Year Soul Ring raise his level that much?

Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, and Xiao Wu instantly lost their composure, their expressions changing.

"Wait... wasn't his Martial Soul a Guard Dog? What on earth is a Phantom Qilin Beast?"

Amid their shock, Director Su and Yu Xiaogang noticed something else.

"Looks like Spirit Hall really did get his Martial Soul wrong..."

Director Su murmured as he watched Huo Linfei.

A Guard Dog is a Guard Dog. Making up a name to bluff people...

Yu Xiaogang scoffed inwardly.

Naturally, they had no idea Huo Linfei had built up his strength before breaking through. He had reached level ten a month ago, and with his continued cultivation and the Soul Power returned to him by the Thousand-Year Soul Ring, reaching level sixteen was only natural.

Even before arriving at Noding Academy, he had felt his Soul Power threatening to overflow. He simply could not break past the level cap without absorbing a Soul Ring.

Tang San's situation was much the same, except he had absorbed a Hundred-Year Soul Ring, so the increase was naturally smaller.

"Three levels apart... Can Brother San still win?"

Xiao Wu looked at Tang San, her palms sweating for him. For the first time, she doubted him.

She could not help it. Huo Linfei had shocked her too deeply.

The Thousand-Year Soul Ring, his level sixteen Soul Power, and the beating he had handed out yesterday remained vivid in her mind.

After hearing Huo Linfei's details, Tang San's face darkened. The pressure on him multiplied, and his earlier confidence vanished.

He looked at Huo Linfei standing calmly across from him. Before he knew it, a faint, well-hidden urge to avoid this fight and flee had crept into his heart.

"What's wrong? Weren't you going to fight me? What are you standing there for?"

Huo Linfei held out a hand and beckoned to Tang San.

"Hmph. As you wish! I'll show you the power of my First Soul Skill!"

"First Soul Skill: Blue Silver Entanglement!"

Tang San snorted. His Soul Ring lit up, and he launched his attack at Huo Linfei!

As his words fell, several thick Blue Silver vines burst from the ground. Like strange, nimble hands, they shot toward Huo Linfei at tremendous speed, trying to bind him!

"Such speed, and such strange Blue Silver Grass. Is that really Blue Silver Grass?"

Director Su and the other two teachers were secretly startled by Tang San's Soul Skill.

"Go, Brother San!"

"Little San, teach that brat a lesson for your master. But remember, stop before you go too far."

Xiao Wu's and Yu Xiaogang's voices carried in from the sidelines.

Yu Xiaogang actually wanted Tang San to teach Huo Linfei a brutal lesson. With Director Su present, though, he had changed his wording. A shadow lurked in his eyes as he watched Huo Linfei.

Hearing them, Huo Linfei could not help letting out a derisive laugh. He had no idea where their baffling confidence came from.

The Blue Silver vines flew at him. Huo Linfei shifted and dodged them, then charged Tang San, reaching him in the blink of an eye!

"Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!"

"Blue Silver Entanglement!"

Tang San reacted at once, retreating like a phantom. As he used a Tang Sect Secret Art, he activated his Soul Skill again.

Countless Blue Silver vines sprang up from every direction and surged toward Huo Linfei!

But the vines could not match Huo Linfei's speed. Once again, they caught nothing.

Damn it. How is this guy so fast?

Tang San's brows drew tight.

He had thought absorbing his First Soul Ring would make him faster than Huo Linfei. Now he saw how wildly unrealistic that had been.

If his speed could not keep up at all, how was he supposed to fight?

In that instant, Tang San's head throbbed, and the pressure on him grew severalfold.

He was already beginning to regret his impulsive challenge. Could he not have waited until he had grown stronger to settle the score?

Now he would make a fool of himself not only in front of Xiao Wu, but also before his esteemed master and all the teachers. The humiliation would be enormous.

But it was too late for regrets.

"Huo Linfei, is dodging all you can do? Do you dare take one of my attacks head-on?"

Tang San called out.

"Sure. No problem."

Huo Linfei stopped. With a teasing smile, he readily agreed, still utterly at ease.

He was not afraid of tricks. In the face of absolute strength, no trick would work.

The sight of Huo Linfei's calm composure left a bitter taste in Tang San's mouth, but there was nothing he could do.

His Soul Skill was too slow to hit Huo Linfei, and he did not seem to be a match for him in close combat either. His Soul Skill was his only option.

Wait... no.

Only then did Tang San suddenly realize the gulf between them. It seemed he had never had any chance of winning this fight from the start.

His one possible chance was to make Huo Linfei stand still and attack him with his Soul Skill.

Getting his opponent to take an attack without dodging was a little shameless, but it was the only way he could think of that gave him any chance of victory.

Tang San looked at Huo Linfei, who had truly remained motionless after agreeing to his request. His expression grew complicated.

He hesitated for only a moment before attacking Huo Linfei again.

"First Soul Ring: Blue Silver Entanglement!"

The Yellow Soul Ring beneath his feet blazed. Tang San poured all his remaining Soul Power into this attack.

Huo Linfei noticed, but his expression did not change. It was as though he had expected it.

Countless Blue Silver vines, several times thicker than before, appeared from every direction and shot straight at Huo Linfei!

The next second, Huo Linfei moved. He leaned forward slightly and drew back his fist.

"First Soul Skill: Fire Fist!"

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