"One move?"
Xiao Chenyu looked as though he had heard the biggest joke in the world. The muscles in his face twitched before he burst into even more exaggerated laughter.
The followers behind him doubled over laughing too, as though they had heard the funniest joke of the year.
"Hahaha! One move? Have you been scared stupid, brat?" Xiao Chenyu laughed so hard he nearly cried, pointing at Ling Feng. "Do you know who I am? A level 12 Battle Soul Master! A Wolf Martial Soul! You're just a work-study student. What are you going to fight me with? Your Hoe Martial Soul?"
The work-study students' faces darkened further. Wang Sheng clenched his fists nervously. Only Xiao Wu watched with anticipation sparkling in her big, jet-black eyes. She even quietly shifted half a step back to give the two more room.
Ling Feng turned a deaf ear to the laughter around him.
He calmly watched the arrogant Xiao Chenyu as though looking at a clown capering on a stage.
"Finished?" he asked mildly. His voice was quiet, yet strangely cut through all the noise.
Xiao Chenyu's laughter stopped abruptly.
Ling Feng's calm, unruffled gaze unnerved him. There was no fear in those eyes, no anger, not even contempt, only a kind of... indifference, as though he were looking at something dead.
The feeling made him deeply uncomfortable and even kindled an inexplicable anger.
"Putting on an act!" Xiao Chenyu spat, cold light flashing on his wolf claws. "Since you're looking for death, I'll grant your wish! I'll show you what a real Soul Master is!"
Before he finished speaking, he let out a low growl. The white Soul Ring beneath his feet glimmered, and he lunged forward with a rank gust, his wolf claws plunging straight toward Ling Feng's chest!
He was fast, and his strength far exceeded that of an ordinary boy.
Wang Sheng and the others cried out, instinctively closing their eyes, unable to watch the gruesome scene to come.
Xiao Wu held her breath slightly too. Although she thought Ling Feng was strong, Xiao Chenyu had, after all, unleashed a genuine Soul Skill.
Facing that vicious strike, Ling Feng finally moved.
He neither released his Martial Soul nor revealed a Soul Ring.
The instant Xiao Chenyu's wolf claws were about to touch his clothes, he turned his body slightly, evading them by a hair.
The wolf claws swept past his chest with a fierce rush of wind.
At the same time, Ling Feng's right hand moved.
As fast as lightning!
With all five fingers pressed together, he delivered a knife-hand strike precisely to Xiao Chenyu's wrist joint!
The movement was simple and sharp, without the slightest wasted motion!
Crack!
A crisp, teeth-grating sound rang out clearly!
"Aaargh!"
Xiao Chenyu's forward momentum stopped dead as he let out a piercing scream. His entire right arm drooped at a bizarre angle, heart-piercing pain shooting from his wrist. His Wolf Martial Soul instantly dissipated.
The arrogance and viciousness on his face were instantly replaced by pain and disbelief.
What happened?
He had not even seen how his opponent struck!
In a single exchange, his wrist felt as though it had been smashed by an iron hammer!
Having landed his strike, Ling Feng did not pause.
His knife-hand pressed downward, following its momentum, and his elbow slammed into Xiao Chenyu's abdomen like a heavy hammer!
"Urgh!"
Xiao Chenyu's eyes bulged. His scream cut off as his body curled like a cooked shrimp, his stomach churning like an overturned sea. That elbow seemed to have driven all the air from his body.
The agonizing pain instantly robbed him of all ability to resist.
Ling Feng watched his pain-twisted face indifferently, then lifted a foot and kicked the side of his knee.
Unable to support himself any longer, Xiao Chenyu dropped to his knees with a thud, clutching his arm and stomach. His whole body convulsed. He could not even scream, only rasp in pain.
The entire sequence happened in a flash of lightning.
From Xiao Chenyu launching his attack to his crushing defeat on his knees, less than three seconds had passed.
It really had taken only one move.
It could not even be called a move, merely three simple actions: chop the wrist, strike the abdomen, kick the knee.
Clean and decisive, ruthless and precise.
There was no radiance from Soul Skills, no clash of Martial Souls, only the purest, most effective overwhelming violence.
The entire rear playground fell deathly silent.
Even the wind blowing through the treetops sounded especially clear.
The smiles froze completely on the faces of Xiao Chenyu's followers. As though immobilized by a spell, they stared dumbstruck at their boss kneeling on the ground and groaning in pain, then at the still-calm black-haired boy. A chill shot from the soles of their feet to the crowns of their heads.
Wang Sheng and the work-study students slowly opened their eyes. The sight before them left them utterly dumbfounded too.
He won?
Just like that... he won?
One move? Without even using his Martial Soul?
The way they looked at Ling Feng had changed from their earlier awe to outright fear and worship.
Xiao Wu's big eyes were round, her little mouth slightly open. Clearly, she too was stunned by how thoroughly and decisively he had ended things.
She had expected a clash of Soul Skills between Soul Masters. She had never imagined it would end so... plainly, yet so profoundly shockingly.
Without so much as glancing at Xiao Chenyu kneeling on the ground, Ling Feng turned his gaze toward the frozen followers. "Anyone else want to try?"
His voice remained calm, but to those boys, it sounded like the whisper of the god of death.
They all backed away in fright, shaking their heads like pellet drums, their faces deathly pale. They barely dared breathe.
"Take him and get lost," Ling Feng said mildly.
As though granted a pardon, the followers hurriedly helped up the nearly unconscious Xiao Chenyu and fled the rear playground in utter disarray, not daring to look back.
Only when their figures disappeared did the work-study students seem to awaken from a dream.
"We won! We won!"
"Boss Ling Feng is amazing!"
"That bastard Xiao Chenyu finally got taught a lesson!"
Cheers erupted. The children gathered around Ling Feng, their faces brimming with excitement and exhilaration, their gazes filled with fervor.
Wang Sheng's face flushed crimson with excitement. Looking at Ling Feng, he seemed to see hope for Dorm Seven's future.
Xiao Wu bounced over too and gave Ling Feng's shoulder a hearty pat (unfortunately, she could only reach his arm). "Not bad, Boss Ling Feng! You're really something! Those moves packed a punch!"
Ling Feng turned slightly aside, avoiding her second pat. His tone remained flat. "It was nothing."
His gaze swept over the excited work-study students around him, but inwardly, he was recalling the fight.
With level 21 Soul Power, coupled with the combat instincts and power-delivery techniques honed in his previous life, dealing with Xiao Chenyu, who was only level 12, inexperienced in combat, and entirely reliant on his Martial Soul's instincts, truly was a crushing victory.
He had not even needed to enhance himself with Soul Power. Physical strength and his grasp of timing alone had been enough.
It seemed that in the early stages of being a Soul Master, practical combat techniques were no less important than Soul Power Level and Soul Skills.
"Boss Ling Feng," Wang Sheng approached and said quietly, somewhat worried, "Xiao Chenyu's father is the city lord... Will there be trouble because we injured him?"
Ling Feng glanced at him. "He attacked first and wasn't skilled enough. The academy has rules. Injuries are inevitable when students spar."
The unquestionable certainty in his tone put Wang Sheng somewhat at ease.
"Let's go back." Not wanting any more trouble, Ling Feng turned and headed toward Dorm Seven.
The work-study students immediately crowded around him like stars surrounding the moon.
Xiao Wu skipped alongside him too, chattering nonstop. "Boss Ling Feng, what moves did you use just now? They were amazing! Teach me, would you?"
Her chatter gave Ling Feng a slight headache, and he quickened his pace.
Back in Dorm Seven, the work-study students were still excited, surrounding Ling Feng and talking over one another.
After giving a few brief responses, Ling Feng went to his bed, intending to straighten up his things and enjoy a moment of quiet.
Xiao Wu, however, clearly had no intention of letting him off.
She followed him like a little tail, crouching beside his bed and tilting her little face upward, her big eyes blinking. "Boss Ling Feng, don't be so cold! Let's fight again! You weren't using your full strength just now. I could tell!"
Ling Feng could not be bothered with her and continued spreading his bedsheet.
"Come on, just one fight!" Xiao Wu persisted, even reaching out to tug his sleeve. "I promise I won't tell anyone how strong you are! We'll fight in secret!"
Her tug interrupted Ling Feng's movements, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
This girl really has too much energy.
He shook off her hand and said coldly, "No time."
Xiao Wu pursed her lips, her eyes darting before she suddenly said, "If you won't fight me, I'll... I'll tell everyone you peeked at me bathing!"
Ling Feng's hands abruptly froze over the bed.
The work-study students nearby instantly fell silent, staring over in shock, their expressions becoming exceedingly strange.
The cup in Wang Sheng's hand fell to the floor with a clatter.
Ling Feng slowly turned his head to look at Xiao Wu's sly smile, the corner of his eye twitching.
What on earth was this?
A hundred-thousand-year rogue rabbit?
Seeing that Ling Feng had finally reacted, Xiao Wu raised her chin smugly. "Well? Will you fight or not?"
Ling Feng took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to throw her out.
He could see it now. Unless he beat this girl into submission today, he could forget about having any peace afterward.
He stood and looked at Xiao Wu. "How do you want to fight?"
Xiao Wu's eyes instantly lit up, and she sprang to her feet. "Simple! Right here! No Martial Souls, no Soul Power, just hand-to-hand combat! Whoever gets knocked down first loses!"
She was extremely confident in her Soft Skill, especially without Soul Power involved. She believed she had lost to Ling Feng earlier because he had used a trick. In a contest of pure technique, she would never lose.
Ling Feng nodded. "Fine."
The work-study students in Dorm Seven immediately scattered, clearing a large space in the middle for them. Every pair of eyes shone with anticipation.
A showdown between their number one and number two! And a contest of pure technique without Soul Power!
This was far more interesting than watching Soul Skills bombard each other!
Xiao Wu took her stance, her expression turning serious. "Watch out!"
Before she finished speaking, her figure flickered, and she was already close to Ling Feng. Her hands darted like spirit snakes leaving their holes, reaching straight for his arm joints. It was a grappling technique from her Soft Skill.
She was extremely fast, her angles tricky.
Ling Feng kept his feet still, merely sinking his shoulders and lowering his elbows slightly. His arms shook and sprang outward, releasing deft force that instantly knocked Xiao Wu's hands away.
When her first attack missed, Xiao Wu spun like the wind, a chain of kicks sweeping toward Ling Feng's lower body.
Ling Feng still did not move from his spot. He merely raised his knees, parrying and blocking, neutralizing every one of Xiao Wu's fierce kicks with muffled thuds.
Both moved with astonishing speed, like a hare springing up and a falcon swooping down, dazzling the onlookers.
The work-study students watched with rapt attention, scarcely daring to breathe.
The longer Xiao Wu fought, the more alarmed she became.
Every attack she made, no matter how intricate or how strange its angle, was effortlessly neutralized in the simplest, most effective way.
It was as though he had already seen through every one of her moves.
The feeling was like desperately devising questions while the other person already knew every answer, responding with effortless ease.
How was this possible?
Her Soft Skill was...
Ling Feng was somewhat surprised as well.
Xiao Wu's Soft Skill was indeed exquisite, far beyond what someone her age should possess. Her power-delivery techniques, flexibility, and continuity of attack were all top-tier.
Had his Soul Power Level not far surpassed hers, his physique not been strengthened by the system and his newly increased Soul Power, and had he lacked the combat experience accumulated in his previous life and his slight knowledge of her moves from the original story, she truly might have been difficult to handle.
But that was all.
He had tested her enough.
The instant Xiao Wu pressed in with another fierce close-range attack, attempting to lock his arm with a joint technique, Ling Feng moved.
This time, he neither blocked nor dodged.
As though boneless, his arm abruptly extended along the direction of Xiao Wu's force. At the same time, he leaned slightly forward, his other hand darting out like lightning. With his index and middle fingers together, he struck precisely at a spot beneath Xiao Wu's ribs.
The change was extremely abrupt, completely beyond Xiao Wu's expectations.
She felt only a deft force guiding her strength into empty space. Her body instantly lost its balance, followed by numbness beneath her ribs. Half the strength in her body seemed to drain away. With a startled cry, she staggered backward.
Ling Feng's hand shot out like lightning. Before she fell completely, he caught her wrist and gave a gentle tug, helping her regain her balance.
Once steady, Xiao Wu instinctively touched the still-tingling spot beneath her ribs and looked up at Ling Feng, her big eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
"Y-you... How did you do that?" No one had ever broken that grappling move of hers like this before!
Ling Feng released her hand and said mildly, "You overcommitted your strength and couldn't change moves in time. Too big an opening."
Xiao Wu stood rooted in place, mulling over his words. For the first time, a thoughtful expression appeared on her little face.
The work-study students around them burst into enthusiastic cheers and applause.
"Boss is mighty!"
"That was amazing!"
Xiao Wu emerged from her thoughts. Looking at Ling Feng's calm face, her unwillingness to admit defeat surged again.
She shook her still-tingling arm and pouted. "That didn't count! I was careless! Again! This time, I'll use my real skills!"
She took a deep breath, her gaze sharpening. Lowering her body slightly, she assumed an even stranger opening stance brimming with explosive power. A faint, fierce presence began to gather.
Clearly, she was about to use an even more formidable Soft Skill.
Ling Feng frowned slightly. Was this girl never going to stop?
Just as Xiao Wu poised herself to strike and Ling Feng prepared to get a little more serious and end this farce quickly-
A deep, slightly stern voice suddenly came from Dorm Seven's doorway.
"What are you doing?"
The voice was quiet, yet carried an inexplicable authority, instantly shattering the lively atmosphere in Dorm Seven.
Everyone froze and turned toward the doorway in unison.
A middle-aged man in a long gray robe, with a stiff face but unusually deep eyes, had appeared there at some point and was quietly watching them.
His gaze swept across the disordered center of the dormitory before finally settling on Ling Feng and Xiao Wu, who stood facing each other.
Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang.