Lin Xi and Huo Yutong lowered the iron swords in their hands and slowly let out a breath together.
Considering that their enemies this time would definitely be stronger than the last, Lin Xi had asked the orphanage director for two iron swords to defend themselves.
To the current director, Lin Xi, who possessed Innate Full Soul Power, was no different from a money tree. He was counting on Lin Xi giving him something in return once he made something of himself, letting him live the good life. He could hardly do enough to pamper the boy, so how could he refuse his request?
As expected, these two swords had been a tremendous help to them both. After all, no matter how great your kung fu, you still feared a kitchen knife. In Lin Xi's mind, these two swords deserved third place for their contribution to this battle.
Second place naturally went to the swordsmanship Artoria had taught them. As for first place...
Lin Xi took a deep breath and slowly relaxed his body.
"Reinforcement, release."
That went to the Reinforcement Magecraft Artoria had taught him.
Although Artoria herself was not skilled in magecraft, she was, after all, a disciple of the Grand Caster Merlin and did have some grounding in it. She had even helped Madam construct a magic circle in Zero.
So, when it came to Reinforcement Magecraft, the most basic of basics, she not only knew it but was actually quite proficient.
Lin Xi had even learned from her that her Mana Burst was an advanced application produced by specially modifying Reinforcement Magecraft.
Naturally, Lin Xi had been overjoyed to hear this, and he had spent half of the past fortnight learning Reinforcement Magecraft.
Now, as long as Lin Xi used magecraft to reinforce himself with all his strength, his physical capabilities could even rival a Soul Elder's for a short time! This was also the fundamental reason he dared to let Artoria leave his side.
A Soul Elder's physical capabilities, combat instincts developed through half a month of hellish training, and an advantage in equipment... With their preparations catching the enemy unawares, he and Huo Yutong had defeated two Soul Grandmaster-level opponents without much effort.
"..." Mr. Li fell silent at the miserable sight.
He drove Artoria back with a punch and looked darkly at Lin Xi.
"Boy, just who are you?"
Innate Full Soul Power, a yellow First Soul Ring, an absurdly powerful summon, close-combat skills that let him easily defeat a Soul Grandmaster with a Soul Master's strength without relying on Soul Skills... Mr. Li was no fool. He did not believe an ordinary orphan could possess such strength.
What's more, the little girl beside this brat was the White Tiger Duke's illegitimate child, carrying a certain political significance herself. The elements were simply stacked to the brim.
Lin Xi shrugged. "Who knows? Think whatever you like."
He knew his performance was far too abnormal, but he could not be bothered to explain. After all, the other party might not believe him even if he did.
Mr. Li suddenly smiled. "Can we settle this?"
Lin Xi smiled too. "At this point? You must be joking."
The man had already ridden roughshod over him, yet he still wanted him to back down. Did he really think he was a child who could be placated with a few words?
Besides, Lin Xi had already made Mr. Li suffer such a huge loss that he would never believe anything coming out of his mouth.
Who knew whether this fellow would look for a chance to stab him in the back after they settled things?
"Fine, negotiations have broken down. How regrettable." Mr. Li sighed, and the purple Soul Ring beside him slowly shone with purple light. "In that case, I'll just have to find a way to make you die here without anyone knowing."
What a pity. He had wanted to enjoy this little blonde and the duke's illegitimate daughter.
But things had already reached this point. It was better not to hold back.
"-!"
Lin Xi hurriedly pulled Huo Yutong back.
Even with Reinforcement Magecraft, his body was only as strong as an ordinary Soul Elder's, but Mr. Li was a Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor! Even Artoria could hardly be assured of victory against him, let alone now that he was using a thousand-year Soul Skill. If Lin Xi dared to engage him, he probably would not last even a second.
As a tiger's roar rang out, black tiger stripes gradually appeared on Mr. Li's body. His physique grew another size larger, and a vicious expression appeared on his face.
"This is my fourth Soul Skill. For a six-year-old child, forcing me to use it is already remarkable. Now, die."
A gale swept in. Mr. Li instantly passed Artoria and charged right up to Lin Xi. His claws grew larger and larger in Lin Xi's eyes, and his pupils abruptly contracted-
Clang!
At the critical moment, Artoria's sword blocked Mr. Li's tiger claws.
"Master, well done!"
Artoria let out a great sigh of relief.
In that split second, Lin Xi had canceled his Soul Skill's effect and then summoned Artoria again, successfully pulling her from over five meters away to right in front of him in an instant, blocking the fatal blow.
However, a single blow was clearly far from enough. Mr. Li merely gave a light snort, and his deadly tiger claws struck again.
Artoria had no choice but to raise her sword to meet him, but clearly, she was beginning to struggle to keep up.
"..."
Lin Xi gritted his teeth in frustration.
He was still too weak. As his Servant, Artoria's own total mana was little different from that of an ordinary Soul Master. Although she could fight above her level with swordsmanship and skills, she clearly could not handle a genuine Soul Ancestor using a thousand-year Soul Skill.
At this rate, Artoria would be defeated in less than two minutes.
"...Artoria, come back."
Lin Xi soon made up his mind. He took a deep breath and recalled Artoria.
Artoria panted heavily, rapidly restoring the battle armor on her body as she glared fiercely at her opponent.
Seeing this, Mr. Li also stopped attacking for the moment and looked at Lin Xi with interest.
"What, are you ready to consider what I said?"
As he spoke, he slowly poured power into his fist. No matter what Lin Xi's answer was, he was going to take his life.
This boy's talent was too terrifying. Even if he truly had no backing, he absolutely could not be allowed to live!
"No." Lin Xi shook his head. "I just want to ask you something."
"What?"
"What were you originally planning to do after defeating us?"
"Huh?" Mr. Li stared blankly, then tilted his head with a sneer. "Why are you asking that? Isn't it obvious? Rape your summon to death!"
"I see. I understand."
Lin Xi smiled.
In that case, his last psychological burden was gone.
He raised his right hand.
"By my Command Spells, I order you-"
"...!"
Mr. Li lunged forward at once.
He did not know what Lin Xi was about to do, but his instincts told him he absolutely could not let Lin Xi finish that sentence, or everything would be over!
However, Artoria, who had realized what Lin Xi intended, released Invisible Air in the nick of time.
In an instant, the immensely powerful hurricane lost its restraints and burst forth. The wind impeded Mr. Li's movements, slowing him for a split second.
That split second was all Lin Xi needed to finish his command.
"By my Command Spells, I order you-Artoria, unleash your Noble Phantasm at full power!"
The three Command Spells immediately transformed into vast amounts of mana that flowed into Artoria's body, and she gave a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Master. I will not fail you."
The next second, the holy sword, revealing its form in this world for the first time, erupted with dazzling golden light!
Over the past fortnight, Lin Xi had discovered something through constant research.
Aside from the mana Artoria herself possessed, her total mana equaled the total energy contained in the Soul Ring she resided in.
In other words, the resources available to activate Artoria's holy sword now included three Command Spells, all of Lin Xi's Soul Power, all the mana she herself had generated through her Dragon Core, and all the energy contained within a Hundred-Year Soul Ring.
Pouring all of this into releasing her Noble Phantasm resulted in-
"Excalibur!"
Terrifying light exploded, mercilessly engulfing Mr. Li like divine judgment.
Before he could even scream, he turned to dust within the dazzling golden light.
Not only that, but the pillar of light extended forward. Even the other thugs lying on the ground were not spared, all melting away within the holy sword's radiance.
Only after a long while did the light slowly fade. All that remained before Lin Xi and Huo Yutong was a huge crater, with no sign of their enemies.
Having exhausted all his Soul Power, Lin Xi's legs gave way, and he plopped down onto the ground, laughing in relief.
"Haha, hahaha!"
To be honest, after seeing how hard Artoria had struggled in battle, he had worried that even releasing her Noble Phantasm might not be enough to defeat their opponent.
After all, even at Huo Yuhao's most spectacular in the original story, he had only instantly killed an eight-ring Evil Soul Master at level sixty. Instantly killing someone more than thirty levels above him was simply too fanciful.
But now it seemed that Excalibur still came out on top. That golden light just now was simply the most beautiful light he had ever seen.
He looked smugly at the dumbstruck Huo Yutong and winked. "Well? Cool, right?"
Just as expected of the Heroic Spirit companion he had chosen. She really was amazing!
Huo Yutong slowly turned her gaze toward Lin Xi.
A gentle breeze blew past, slightly lifting the boy's bangs. Although his face was covered in dirt and he looked utterly bedraggled, his confident, sunny smile beneath the sunlight was so dazzling that the girl could not help narrowing her eyes.
She nodded frankly and said:
"Yes, cool. So cool!"
She knew she would never forget this scene for the rest of her life.
"Haha, of course!"
Having received a satisfactory answer, Lin Xi's smile grew even more smug and unrestrained.
To him, Artoria was his friend, his companion, and his favorite knight from his previous life. Huo Yutong praising Artoria made him just as happy as if she had praised him.
Unfortunately, he had gotten one thing wrong.
To him, Artoria was the King of Knights, a Heroic Spirit, and a person who deserved respect just as he did.
But to a Douluo native like Huo Yutong, no matter how powerful Artoria was, she was still only a summon. Being able to summon her was a testament to her master Lin Xi's abilities.
In other words, Lin Xi had misunderstood whom Huo Yutong was praising. The person she was talking about was him.
And he would only learn this much, much later, when, after a bout of vigorous exercise, he asked Huo Yutong on a whim when she had first started developing feelings for him.