As she watched the battle on the platform, a hint of eagerness gradually appeared in Ye Guyi's eyes.
Xu Tiance naturally caught her eagerness to try and immediately asked softly, "Guyi, do you want to go up and give it a try too?"
At his words, Ye Guyi nodded lightly.
"If you want to try, then go ahead. As it happens... your brother probably doesn't have a suitable opponent yet, does he?"
Meng Hongchen opened her mouth, wanting to explain that all the matches on the soul tool platform had been arranged beforehand. But she simply could not resist her curiosity, so she nodded lightly.
Ye Guyi took a deep breath and slowly walked onto the platform.
The Level 3 Soul Engineer who was supposed to face Xiao Hongchen froze briefly at the sight. But after seeing Meng Hongchen's gesture, he understood and decided not to step onto the platform.
On the platform, Xiao Hongchen's heart tightened slightly.
Although Ye Guyi always followed silently behind Xu Tiance, he had heard from his grandfather that she, too, had received instruction from the legendary Elder Kong.
So... he could not afford to let his guard down.
Moreover, Xiao Hongchen had vaguely guessed Xu Tiance's intentions-his grandfather hoped he could build a good relationship with the current Crown Prince, Xu Tiance, and ideally become his friend. This Crown Prince, in turn, probably intended to test him.
If that was the case, he had all the more reason to give it his absolute best.
"Xiao Hongchen, Level 3 Soul Engineer. Please enlighten me."
"Ye Guyi, Practical-Control Soul Engineer. Please enlighten me."
Ye Guyi likewise gave a slight bow, but in the next instant, her gaze abruptly sharpened, and her aura changed.
An intensely holy aura suddenly rose from her body. A pair of pure white wings spread from her back, making her look like an angel descending.
Holy Angel Martial Soul, possess!
Beneath Ye Guyi's feet, two soul rings slowly rose into view-one yellow, one purple.
At the sight of Ye Guyi's soul ring configuration, Xiao Hongchen's pupils abruptly contracted. Below the platform, Meng Hongchen, who stood beside Xu Tiance, also gaped in astonishment.
Her second soul ring was actually a thousand-year one!
Had there ever been a precedent for a thousand-year second soul ring in the Sun Moon Empire?
Meng Hongchen's eyes were filled with shock, and she could not help sighing inwardly. No wonder Ye Guyi could always stay by Xu Tiance's side... she actually possessed talent like this!
Ye Guyi's success in obtaining a thousand-year second soul ring was naturally thanks to Xu Tiance.
Over the past two years, Ye Guyi had consumed whale rubber twice, greatly improving her physical constitution. In addition, whenever Xu Tiance underwent Du Busi's body-tempering training, he would bring Ye Guyi along.
Under those circumstances, it was naturally not difficult for Ye Guyi to absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as her second soul ring.
Standing opposite Ye Guyi, Xiao Hongchen also released his martial soul, and two yellow soul rings rose beneath his feet. Judging by the fluctuations of his soul power, however, his level seemed to be about one higher than hers.
Ye Guyi's soul power was currently at level twenty-four, which meant Xiao Hongchen should be at level twenty-five.
Unlike other ultimate martial souls, the Holy Angel Martial Soul possessed a holy attribute comparable to an ultimate attribute, yet did not suffer from the slow cultivation speed of an ultimate martial soul. Since Ye Guyi could also achieve Soul Power Fusion with him, her soul power level should, in theory, have been a little higher.
But... the blazing gel she had consumed earlier had added the ultimate fire attribute to her Holy Angel Martial Soul, considerably slowing her cultivation.
As for Xiao Hongchen, he probably had not yet become the medicine jar he was in the original story. But the Three-Legged Golden Toad martial soul could inherently absorb energy from rare metals to assist cultivation, and Xiao Hongchen was a genius with innate full soul power. Having level twenty-five soul power now was perfectly normal.
Xiao Hongchen's guess was indeed correct. Xu Tiance had sent Ye Guyi onto the platform to fight him precisely because he wanted to test Xiao Hongchen's current strength, while also taking some of the wind out of his sails.
As for the possibility of Ye Guyi losing... Xu Tiance had never even considered it.
Even if Ye Guyi were merely a Soul Master rather than a Practical-Control Soul Engineer, he did not think Xiao Hongchen had any chance of defeating her. That was all the more true when she was a Practical-Control Soul Engineer wielding a Level 5 Soul Tool specially crafted by Kong Deming.
A burst of startled cries suddenly rose from below the platform. Looking toward the sound, Xu Tiance saw Ye Guyi draw a Soul Tool Longsword roughly three feet long, and a holy white light abruptly flared.
This sword was none other than the Radiant Sword, the Level 5 Soul Tool specially crafted by Kong Deming. It contained an exceptionally rich light attribute, perfectly suited to Ye Guyi's Holy Angel Martial Soul.
Although it was a Level 5 Soul Tool, it had no restrictions on its use. Simply channeling soul power into it would unleash considerable power.
And this sword was just right for Ye Guyi at her current stage.
Unlike the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, the Holy Angel Martial Soul did not come with an Angel Holy Sword. In the original story, Ye Guyi had also relied on a soul skill to use the Angel Holy Sword. Until she mastered the Holy Sword Soul Skill, this Level 5 Soul Tool, the Radiant Sword, would be her primary means of attack.
Under Xu Tiance's gaze, Ye Guyi turned her wrist. Her sword slid along the Soul Tool Short Blade in Xiao Hongchen's hand, and its tip lightly touched his shoulder. A surge of white light instantly enveloped his body.
Then the white light slowly dissipated, revealing Ye Guyi's sword tip poised three inches in front of Xiao Hongchen's throat.
Xiao Hongchen's pupils contracted slightly, and his expression immediately grew complicated. "I lost."
"Thank you for the match."
Ye Guyi put away the Radiant Sword, unmistakable joy appearing on her face. She quickly jumped down from the soul tool platform and returned to Xu Tiance's side.
Having watched the entire battle, Meng Hongchen looked at Ye Guyi, a complicated expression appearing in her eyes as well.
Despite losing the match, Xiao Hongchen did not seem discouraged. He simply strode up to Xu Tiance, an unyielding gleam in his eyes. "Your Highness, next time... I absolutely won't lose!"
At his words, Meng Hongchen curled her lips and could not help muttering, "Brother, you were suppressed throughout the entire fight. You couldn't fight back at all! That really doesn't sound convincing!"
Hearing his sister undermine him without the slightest mercy, Xiao Hongchen's face instantly flushed red, and he could not help feeling embarrassed.
But Meng Hongchen gave him no chance to defend himself. She merely looked curiously at Ye Guyi. "Your Highness, her soul ring configuration actually includes a thousand-year second soul ring! That's simply unbelievable!"
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