Sea God Lake Shore

She slowly walked up to the white fence, her slender fingers gently brushing over its exquisite railing. The breeze was like the softest paintbrush, lightly caressing her azure hair as strands of it danced in the wind.

A faint blush colored her fair cheeks, and her blue-green eyes were as deep as the ocean. She seemed to have stepped gracefully out of an ancient painting, elegant yet carrying a trace of youthful innocence that made one forget the mundane world at the sight of her.

Amid this tranquil atmosphere, footsteps approached from afar, breaking the silence. Lin Qianyi turned around and saw Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao walking over one after the other.

"What a coincidence, Qianyi. You're here too," Wang Dong said first, her tone carrying a hint of surprise.

Lin Qianyi smiled slightly and said softly, "Yes, it really is a coincidence. You two came too."

Wang Dong glanced at Huo Yuhao and said teasingly, "It's all because of this guy. Whenever he has free time, all he knows is cultivation. His brain is practically turning to wood."

Huo Yuhao defended himself somewhat helplessly. "It's not as exaggerated as she says."

Lin Qianyi quietly looked at Huo Yuhao, her tone gentle yet carrying a trace of concern. "Yuhao, diligent cultivation can indeed increase your strength, but you cannot rush it. You need to put yourself first. Your body is your foundation; cultivation comes second."

Lin Qianyi usually did not speak much, but whenever she did, she always got to the point. Just as now, her few words were filled with concern and a reminder for Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao felt warmth in his heart after hearing her words and nodded earnestly. "All right, I understand. Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Wang Dong gazed intently toward the Sea God Lake Shore. At that moment, Sea God Lake resembled a young maiden's delicate face, light and translucent, seeming to drip with life. "It's so beautiful!" Wang Dong could not help but sigh. Huo Yuhao was likewise immersed in the scenery. "It really is beautiful."

Suddenly, a fiery red figure in the distance slowly approached. Lin Qianyi's Soul Power cultivation was far above that of Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, and her keen senses greatly surpassed theirs as well.

She abruptly activated the Vast Expanse Magic Eye, her gaze locking tightly onto the distant figure. "Huo Yuhao, what's wrong?" Seeing Lin Qianyi's reaction, Huo Yuhao hurriedly asked. Lin Qianyi's expression turned solemn. "Look ahead." Hearing this, Huo Yuhao quickly activated the Vast Expanse Magic Eye as well. Only then did he see the figure. "What is that shadow up ahead?" Wang Dong was still confused. "What?"

Yet in the time they spent speaking, the figure had already drawn much closer. "Maybe it's an upperclassman from the Inner Court!" Wang Dong guessed.

But Lin Qianyi clearly sensed that something was wrong. "Something's off. Back away!" Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were momentarily bewildered, but seeing Lin Qianyi's grave expression and the red figure rapidly closing in, they let her pull them back quickly.

The approaching red figure was a woman. She wore red clothing that wrapped tightly around her graceful body like blazing flames, but a mask concealed her face from view. All they could see was her long red hair cascading down her back like a waterfall.

Blackish-red flames surrounded her body, leaping as though they contained power on the verge of eruption, inspiring fear in all who saw them.

At the sight, the Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul instantly appeared behind Wang Dong. She instinctively grabbed Huo Yuhao's arm, intending to flee, while Lin Qianyi also showed signs of wanting to leave.

Ma Xiaotao's eyes narrowed at that moment, and she shot Wang Dong a sharp look. In an instant, Wang Dong groaned and collapsed unconscious to the ground. Six Soul Rings appeared beneath Ma Xiaotao's feet—two yellow, two purple, and two black—as the powerful aura of a six-ringed Soul Emperor spread outward.

As that pressure was released, the temperature around them suddenly soared, as if it would burn everything to ashes. Even the surrounding plants began to corrode and wither. Under the overwhelming pressure, Huo Yuhao found it extremely difficult to breathe and could only struggle desperately for air. Lin Qianyi likewise felt unable to catch her breath, deeply sensing the terrifying strength of the person before her.

She swiftly gathered Soul Power in her hand and summoned her Azure Luan Martial Soul. The Azure Luan appeared, spread its wings, and let out a long cry toward the sky. That cry seemed to possess some special magic, causing the woman in red to pause slightly. A thought immediately flashed through Lin Qianyi's mind: the woman before her might have lost control, which was why she was displaying such horrifying behavior.

At that moment, a pair of wings burning with dark red flames slowly emerged behind the woman. They were the symbol of her Phoenix Martial Soul.

This sudden oppressive force spread in all directions as though it were tangible. Under its pressure, a pained expression flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes. In the end, he could not withstand it and gradually lost consciousness.

Seeing this, Lin Qianyi shouted coldly, "First Soul Skill: Cyan Luan Thousand Feathers!" In an instant, the surrounding space seemed to fill with countless azure feathers. Every feather was like an incomparably sharp blade, sweeping toward the woman with piercing whistles.

However, to Lin Qianyi's shock, the woman before her remained motionless like an eternal deity. She merely raised a hand lightly, and the sharp azure feathers vanished like clay oxen entering the sea, effortlessly dispersed by an invisible force. She continued advancing step by step, every footfall seeming to land upon Lin Qianyi's heart.

Lin Qianyi was forced back several steps, stumbling unsteadily. Determination flashed in her eyes. Knowing that she could no longer hold anything back, she took a deep breath and prepared to summon her second Martial Soul.

The surrounding temperature suddenly plummeted, as if they had stepped into an ice cellar. An icy blue butterfly slowly appeared behind Lin Qianyi. When it spread its wings, it seemed to draw away all warmth from the surroundings, creating violent shifts between cold and heat. Yet it remained steadily behind Lin Qianyi like a loyal guardian.

The woman's steps paused slightly. In the next moment, a Thousand-Year Purple Soul Ring appeared beneath Lin Qianyi's feet. "First Soul Skill: Butterfly Wing Heavy Strike!" Lin Qianyi cried out softly. The Ice Crystal Butterfly's wings seemed to be infused with endless power as they attacked the woman at tremendous speed. The woman was clearly caught off guard and hurriedly retreated several steps.

Lin Qianyi withdrew the Ice Crystal Butterfly Martial Soul. In an instant, the Azure Luan Martial Soul appeared again, and the Second Soul Ring beneath her feet lit up. "Second Soul Skill: Luan Wind Void Rend Slash!" As her voice fell, the Azure Luan behind her violently flapped its wings. One sharp Wind Blade after another howled toward the woman. Unable to dodge in time, the woman was pushed into the nearby lake by the powerful force. Immediately afterward, Lin Qianyi used her Soul Power to freeze the entire lake solid.

After doing all this, Lin Qianyi felt her Soul Power had been greatly depleted. She could not help crouching halfway down, instinctively clutching her chest. Her lips gradually turned pale, and her breathing became rapid, each breath seeming to require all her strength.

Not far from Sea God Lake, several figures quietly approached. One of them cried out, "Not good, a student has been injured!" Lin Qianyi turned toward the voice and saw an elderly man in white hurrying over, with another companion close behind him.

The old man in white also noticed Lin Qianyi, and a trace of shock flashed through his eyes. He had clearly sensed two fluctuations of Soul Power earlier. If they had not come from two different people, then the girl before him was very likely the possessor of Twin Martial Souls.

But even with Twin Martial Souls, how could she face an attack from a Soul Emperor and merely suffer excessive Soul Power depletion rather than severe injuries? Lin Qianyi gently tucked the loose strands of hair before her chest behind her ear and bowed slightly in greeting.

The person beside the old man in white spoke. "Dean, Xiaotao has been found." The old man in white nodded slightly, then turned his gaze back to Lin Qianyi. "Young lady, did you knock her unconscious by yourself?" Lin Qianyi hesitated for a moment. She had wanted to make up an excuse, but she knew these people before her were not easily fooled, so she answered frankly, "Yes."

As soon as she said this, everyone around them revealed shocked expressions. Lin Qianyi then recounted the events in detail. After listening, the old man in white nodded. "Young lady, your courage is truly admirable." Then he looked at another old man. "Elder Zhuang, treat them."

After Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong gradually regained consciousness, the old man in white took out three jade bottles and handed them to the group. "These are for you. But as for what happened today, pretend it never occurred. Go back to class." As soon as he finished speaking, they turned and left, leaving the three of them staring at one another.