The Fierce Battle

Qian Duoduo listened, then smiled and cut in, "Oh, Old Yan, looks like we're thinking alike." Yan Shaozhe teased, "Old Qian, don't tell me you've taken a fancy to another student from our Martial Soul Department?"

Qian Duoduo hurriedly explained, "No, Old Yan. Before their third year, they're only temporarily under your Martial Soul Department's supervision. The final choice is still theirs. Are you planning to hog them forever?"

Yan Shaozhe burst into laughter. "Old Qian, if you put it that way, I'll have to mention it to Lin'er." At this, Qian Duoduo snorted softly, a trace of helplessness appearing on her face.

Below the stage, Lin Qianyi's team and Dai Huabin's team had quietly entered the arena. Though Dai Huabin was usually arrogant and unrestrained, he had reined in his edge at this moment and appeared exceptionally calm.

Lin Qianyi's strength, intelligence, and composure went without saying. Wang Dong at her side was also incredibly formidable, while Xiao Xiao drew attention with the unique nature of her Twin Martial Souls. Although Huo Yuhao had only one soul ring, a mysterious aura lingered around him like fog, making him impossible to read.

He cautiously surveyed his surroundings, and especially when his gaze fell upon Dai Huabin, an uncontrollable emotion surged within him.

It was a hatred buried deep in his heart, with faint killing intent churning beneath it. This hatred stemmed from his family—Dai Huabin had once killed his mother, while his father had forgotten her. Such a double blow had rooted that hatred deeply in his heart.

Wang Dong understood Huo Yuhao's thoughts well and sensed the turmoil within him. Lin Qianyi likewise felt the unusual aura emanating from him, and Xiao Xiao noticed it as well.

"Yuhao, calm down," Lin Qianyi said softly, her voice soothing. "Are you all right, Yuhao?" Wang Dong asked with concern. Huo Yuhao gently shook his head, as though trying to cast away the distracting thoughts in his mind.

The referee's voice rang out from the center of the arena, clear and commanding. "Attention, competitors on both sides. The rules of the match are as follows—" As he spoke in a measured cadence, the rules were reiterated one by one. When his final word fell, a tense haze seemed to congeal in the air.

"State your names!" the referee commanded.

Lin Qianyi stepped forward first, her voice crisp and pleasant. "My name is Lin Qianyi!"

Huo Yuhao followed closely behind, his gaze firm. "I'm Huo Yuhao."

Wang Dong smiled and cupped her hands in salute. "Wang Dong."

Xiao Xiao answered softly, "Xiao Xiao."

The three across from them stepped forward as well. Dai Huabin said loudly, "Dai Huabin."

The black-haired girl, Zhu Lu, spoke coldly. "Zhu Lu."

The pink-haired girl, Cui Yajie, carried a hint of pride in her voice. "I'm Cui Yajie."

The referee nodded in satisfaction. "Both sides, retreat ten meters." The members of both teams withdrew as instructed. The distance between them widened, but the invisible sense of confrontation did not weaken in the slightest.

With the referee's cry of "Begin!", the atmosphere in the arena instantly heated up. Almost simultaneously, both sides were ready, their martial souls poised to strike as a fierce battle was about to unfold.

Dai Huabin summoned his martial soul, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger inherited by the White Tiger Duke's family of the Star Luo Empire.

This martial soul not only contained tremendous power, but also carried an awe-inspiring majesty. With a movement of his body, he took the lead in charging at Lin Qianyi and Wang Dong.

Lin Qianyi hurriedly summoned her own martial soul as well. She mobilized her Soul Power and barely blocked the fierce strike, but she still staggered several steps backward.

At the same time, Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie refused to be outdone and summoned their respective martial souls.

Zhu Lu's Hell Spirit Cat was an agility attack-type martial soul. Like a phantom in the night, it moved at a breathtaking speed. Cui Yajie's martial soul was a fox, with two fox tails roughly a meter long swaying gently behind her and giving off a mysterious aura. The two attacked almost at the same time.

Xiao Xiao gave a low cry. "Three Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron, First Soul Skill—Cauldron's Tremor!" As she shouted, a force radiated from the cauldron and successfully blocked Zhu Lu's attack. Huo Yuhao used Mental Interference, causing Zhu Lu to hesitate for an instant. Wang Dong seized the opportunity and attacked swiftly, while Cui Yajie immediately moved to meet her and engaged her in battle.

On Lin Qianyi's side, her fight with Dai Huabin was evenly matched.

Their strengths were nearly identical, though Lin Qianyi's Soul Ring Configuration was indeed superior. However, Dai Huabin's astonishing strength and combat ability made up for that gap, preventing Lin Qianyi from gaining the upper hand easily. The two exchanged blow after blow, locked in a fierce deadlock.

"Not much strength, huh?" Dai Huabin taunted as he attacked. Lin Qianyi flipped backward, channeling part of her Soul Power into her legs before fiercely kicking at him.

Dai Huabin crossed his arms and barely caught the kick, but he was still forced back several steps. Borrowing the recoil, Lin Qianyi flipped backward to one side and said coldly, "Cut the crap!"

The battle entered its most intense stage. Zhu Lu let out a sharp cry. "First Soul Skill: Hell Stab!" Her figure flashed like lightning as she sped toward Huo Yuhao.

Seeing this, Wang Dong was frantic and tried to break free from Cui Yajie's attacks to help him. However, Cui Yajie's moves were relentless and difficult to deal with, leaving her unable to extricate herself for the moment.

Faced with Zhu Lu's fierce attack, Huo Yuhao remained calm. He shouted softly, "Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!" His figure instantly became illusory, and at the critical moment, he deftly evaded the strike.

Quick-eyed and quick-handed, Xiao Xiao summoned the Three Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron. A brilliant flash of light appeared, forcibly blocking Zhu Lu's next attack.

When her first strike missed, Zhu Lu quickly retreated a step to adjust her stance before launching another fierce assault at Huo Yuhao. At this moment, Lin Qianyi, who was fiercely battling Dai Huabin, also noticed the danger on this side. Her attention split for just an instant, but that brief distraction gave Dai Huabin an opening.

Seizing the moment, he threw a heavy punch toward Lin Qianyi's abdomen. Though Lin Qianyi activated her defensive shield in time, the immense force still struck her like a hammer. She stumbled backward several steps, clutching her abdomen as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

Seeing this, Dai Huabin intended to press his advantage. Xiao Xiao, Wang Dong, and Huo Yuhao all tensed, their faces full of worry.

However, Lin Qianyi was not someone who would surrender easily. Enduring the pain, she rose to her feet and used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to evade Dai Huabin's follow-up attack. Immediately afterward, she used Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, and an invisible force tugged Dai Huabin into a stagger.

Seeing her teammate falter, Zhu Lu hurried forward to provide support. Wang Dong shouted, "First Soul Skill: Wing Blade!" Cui Yajie nimbly twisted aside to evade it. When her attack missed, Wang Dong followed up with a punch to Cui Yajie's shoulder, forcing her back several steps. She then hurried to support Lin Qianyi against Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.

Cui Yajie retreated several steps, a vicious glint flashing through her eyes before she once again launched a fierce attack at Huo Yuhao and the others. Zhu Lu and Wang Dong were locked in a hard-fought battle, while Dai Huabin's fight with Lin Qianyi had also reached its peak, leaving Lin Qianyi unable to break away for the moment.

Just as Cui Yajie was about to attack Huo Yuhao, Xiao Xiao reacted swiftly. The Three Lives Soul-Calming Cauldron appeared at the perfect moment and blocked Cui Yajie's attack.

Immediately after, Xiao Xiao summoned her second martial soul, the Nine Phoenix Auspicious Flute. Its clear, melodious notes seemed to carry a strange power, slowing Cui Yajie down.

Huo Yuhao seized the opportunity. Using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, he instantly closed in on Cui Yajie. A purple beam suddenly shot from his eyes—Soul Impact!

A sharp pain exploded in Cui Yajie's mind. She groaned, her martial soul dissipated, and she collapsed unconscious.

The scene unfolded too suddenly. Zhu Lu and Dai Huabin both revealed looks of shock, clearly unable to understand what had happened.

But Lin Qianyi seized this fleeting opportunity. Seeing Dai Huabin distracted for an instant, she immediately unleashed her First Soul Skill: Azure Luan's Flying Feathers!

In an instant, countless azure-green feathers surged around her. In midair, they transformed into sharp feather blades and shot toward Dai Huabin. "First Soul Skill: White Tiger Bodyguard Shield!" Dai Huabin roared. A pale yellow barrier appeared out of nowhere, blocking the attack before him.

Yet the Soul Power fluctuations were simply too powerful, and he was still shaken back several steps. He rapidly gathered his Soul Power and broke through Lin Qianyi's attack, while Lin Qianyi used the chance to evade the ensuing impact. Zhu Lu hurried back to Dai Huabin's side and said anxiously, "Huabin, let's use the Netherworld White Tiger!" Dai Huabin nodded in agreement.