This is bad! Tang San was startled. He had never expected this Charmander to possess an ability that could obstruct his vision.
He hurriedly tried to retreat by relying on his ability to locate things by sound and the slight boost to his eyesight from Purple Demon Eye, but under the effects of Smokescreen, even his sense of direction was severely impaired.
And at the very instant his vision was blocked and his movements briefly faltered-
Within the Smokescreen, a speck of orange-red flame suddenly lit up in Tang San's field of vision and rapidly grew larger!
Relying on its control over fire and its own perception, Charmander was completely unaffected by the Smokescreen.
It seized the precious opening when Tang San had been robbed of his sight and his movements had stalled, launching another attack!
"Ember!"
A flame even hotter than before pierced the Smokescreen and shot straight toward Tang San's face!
With his vision obstructed, Tang San had no time to dodge effectively. He could only instinctively cross his arms in front of himself and rapidly circulate the internal power of Mysterious Heaven Skill, trying to withstand the scorching heat rushing toward him head-on.
The power contained within the flames made his heart tremble! Tang San knew very well that if he took this attack head-on, he would definitely suffer serious injuries!
At this hair's-breadth moment-a figure appeared before Tang San like a phantom.
It was Dean Wang Zongchang!
With a casual wave of his hand, Wang Zongzhong dispelled the Ember Charmander had unleashed. The surrounding smoke slowly dispersed as well, revealing the situation on the field.
Charmander still held its attacking stance, its eyes vigilant.
Lin Mo remained where he stood, his expression calm.
Tang San, meanwhile, stood there looking somewhat disheveled, his arms still held in a blocking posture.
His face bore a lingering look of fright, and beads of sweat the size of beans had even begun seeping from his forehead.
In front of him stood Dean Wang Zongchang, his hands behind his back.
The outcome had been decided!
Had the dean not intervened in time, he would definitely have taken that Ember squarely.
Given the power of that Ember, even with Mysterious Heaven Skill protecting his body, Tang San would certainly not have come out unscathed.
Dean Wang Zongchang glanced at the still-shaken Tang San, then at the perfectly composed Lin Mo and the spirited Charmander in front of him. The appreciation in his eyes deepened.
He announced in a ringing voice, "The spar is over! Lin Mo wins!"
At the dean's announcement, Tang San's body jolted, and disbelief appeared on his face.
I lost? I actually lost?
I'm a One-Ring Soul Master with a hundred-year Soul Ring! I actually lost to a level-ten Soul Scholar who doesn't even have a Soul Ring?
How is that possible?!
An immense sense of disparity and defeat instantly flooded his heart, leaving Tang San somewhat dazed. He stood blankly in place, seemingly unable to accept this fact.
Yu Xiaogang's expression also turned extremely ugly, the muscles of his stiff face twitching slightly.
This outcome had likewise far exceeded his expectations.
His theories seemed somewhat pale and powerless before Lin Mo's Charmander Martial Soul.
As Lin Mo watched the somewhat dispirited Tang San, a trace of barely perceptible surprise flashed through his eyes.
He already can't take it? It looks like Tang San isn't as mentally resilient as I imagined.
Moreover, after this simple spar, Lin Mo had gained a rough understanding of the current strength of Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.
Had the dean not intervened in time to save Tang San, that last attack would definitely have given him a bitter cup to swallow.
After all, not everyone was a freak like Ash, with the super Pallet Town physique that let him tank Thunderbolt and Flamethrower without anything happening to him.
Thinking of Ash's absurd resistance in the Pokémon anime he had watched in his previous life, Lin Mo could not help inwardly snarking.
Dean Wang Zongchang paid no attention to Tang San, who was still processing his defeat, or the grim-faced Yu Xiaogang. He walked up to Lin Mo with a chuckle, his gaze fixed firmly on him and the Charmander by his feet.
"Good! Very good!" Wang Zongchang was unstinting in his praise. "Lin Mo, your Charmander Martial Soul truly is extraordinary!
"Not only is it a rare external beast Martial Soul, but the power of its flames and its grasp of openings in battle are truly outstanding even among the outstanding!"
He paused, then continued, "It seems the reward I promised you earlier can be brought forward."
At the dean's words, Lin Mo's heart stirred, and he raised his head to look at him.
Wang Zongchang patted Lin Mo's shoulder and said with certainty, "Once I've finished dealing with a few miscellaneous matters on hand.
"In one week, I'll personally take you to the Soul Hunting Forest and help you obtain a hundred-year Soul Ring best suited to your Charmander Martial Soul!"
His voice was full and strong as he spoke. Clearly, this was no longer a simple investment; he clearly thought extremely highly of the talent Lin Mo had displayed.
In Dean Wang Zongchang's eyes now, the actual combat ability and Martial Soul potential displayed by Lin Mo, a Soul Master with innate level-six Soul Power.
Had already surpassed those of Tang San, the genius with innate full Soul Power beside him who was still questioning his life!
For such a powerful external beast Martial Soul to hatch from an egg believed to be a trash Martial Soul was itself an unheard-of miracle.
And this spar had displayed Charmander's excellence to the fullest.
Being able to defeat Tang San, who already possessed his first Soul Ring, so cleanly and decisively was enough to prove everything!
Although there was a clear elemental counter between the two, the difference in Soul Power Level and whether they possessed a Soul Ring was also an objectively existing gulf.
Not to mention that Lin Mo had yet to obtain his own first Soul Ring!
Without the enhancement of a Soul Ring, he could accomplish this much through the abilities of his Martial Soul alone. This talent, this potential, was worth placing a heavy investment on!
In Wang Zongchang's view, trading the promise of a hundred-year Soul Ring for the goodwill of a student who might become a powerhouse in the future was an excellent bargain.
Hearing the dean's firm promise, Lin Mo was delighted as well.
He worked to suppress the rising corners of his lips and bowed respectfully to Dean Wang Zongchang. "Thank you, Dean!"
Having the dean take him personally, one-on-one, to obtain the Soul Ring best suited to him had clearly far exceeded Lin Mo's expectations.
Going Soul Hunting alone with the dean would clearly give him a much greater chance of finding a suitable Soul Ring than going with a large group.
Because Charmander could learn Soul Skills as its Soul Power Level rose, Lin Mo himself did not have high requirements for a Soul Ring, but obtaining a high-quality Soul Ring would naturally be ideal.
After all, Soul Rings not only granted Soul Masters Soul Skills, but also provided substantial attribute bonuses.
And the difference between the attribute bonuses provided by a ten-year Soul Ring and a hundred-year Soul Ring was naturally very clear.
For Lin Mo, who urgently desired to improve his strength to protect himself and attain longevity, this was undoubtedly the most important step at present.
Wang Zongchang nodded in satisfaction, then glanced at Tang San, who had yet to recover, and Yu Xiaogang, whose expression was complicated, and thought to himself:
It looks like Nuoding Academy really has welcomed an incredible little monster this year.
Tang San's talent is certainly astonishing, but Lin Mo seems even harder to fathom, and even more worthy of investment.