Ma Xiaotao Faints from Anger

Lu Jingming remained calm and composed. Even when he saw Zhang Lexuan take Ma Xiaotao's Phoenix Howling Sky Strike head-on, there was not the slightest hint of worry on his face.

After all, he knew everything about Zhang Lexuan and understood the power of her fourth soul skill, Moon Phase Rotation, better than anyone.

This soul skill could not only rapidly restore her injuries and Soul Power, but also form an incomparably sturdy Soul Power shield at critical moments, effectively blocking all manner of powerful attacks. It combined recovery and defense in one, making it one of Zhang Lexuan's greatest trump cards in battle.

"Your speed is quite good, but what about this?" Zhang Lexuan's expression remained calm, as though the ferocious attack from before had not affected her at all.

Ignoring the scorching flames still burning around her, the purple light of her third soul ring suddenly flared.

"Third soul skill, Moonfall Sword Domain!" With Zhang Lexuan's sharp cry, countless streams of sword qi condensed from moonlight erupted in every direction.

The sword qi crisscrossed through the air, shooting outward like a dense downpour and forming a large-scale area of indiscriminate attack.

For a moment, the entire beach was shrouded in silver sword qi, as though it had entered a dreamlike silver world. Yet beneath that beautiful facade lurked deadly danger.

Having been suppressed by Zhang Lexuan the entire time, Ma Xiaotao had continuously unleashed several soul skills and had even used her strongest fourth soul skill at this stage. Her Soul Power had been greatly depleted, and her body was utterly exhausted.

Faced with this all-encompassing barrage of sword qi, with nowhere to hide, she had the will but not the strength. She simply had no time to make an effective evasive move.

Left with no choice, she swiftly folded her wings together and tightly wrapped herself within them. Her entire body transformed into a massive fireball as she attempted to withstand the storm-like barrage of sword qi.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft—" A series of dull sounds rang out—the sound of sword qi piercing through the fiery shield.

Each sound seemed to strike Ma Xiaotao's heart, making it sink lower and lower.

As all the moonlight sword qi gradually faded, the flames Ma Xiaotao had used to protect herself were completely worn away. Unable to hold on any longer, her body fell heavily onto the beach like a kite with its string cut.

"It's over." Seeing this, Lu Jingming and Keqing realized almost at the same time that the outcome of this spectacular soul battle had been decided.

Zhang Lexuan stood where she was, her robes fluttering and spotless. She still possessed that elegant, composed bearing, as cold and ethereal as a celestial maiden descended from the heavens, as though she had never taken part in such an intense battle.

Ma Xiaotao, on the other hand, lay sprawled miserably on the beach. Her clothes were tattered, covered in cuts left by the sword qi.

She panted heavily as beads of sweat rolled down her forehead. She was so weak that she could not even move a finger.

Her once-neat clothes were now in complete disarray, exposing large patches of skin beneath.

"Tut, tut, tut. How tragic!" Lu Jingming walked over with a mischievous grin. Seeing Ma Xiaotao in such a sorry state, he deliberately put on an exaggerated look of amazement.

Ma Xiaotao glared furiously at Lu Jingming, her teeth grinding together as shame and anger churned within her.

She was not only frustrated by her crushing defeat in the battle, but also humiliated that Lu Jingming had seen her in such a disheveled state.

If only Zhang Lexuan and Keqing had been present, both being girls, she would not have cared too much.

But Lu Jingming was different. He was a boy, and one who had once angered her so badly that she nearly exploded.

The thought of Lu Jingming seeing her in such a miserable state made her feel dizzy, as though she might faint from overwhelming shame and anger at any moment.

"Xiaoming, don't bully girls!" Zhang Lexuan shot Lu Jingming a reproachful look, then reached out and gently covered his eyes.

Keqing sighed helplessly. She quickly stepped forward, helped the limp Ma Xiaotao up, then took a clean garment from her storage Soul Tool and gently draped it over Ma Xiaotao to cover her exposed skin.

However, the torn black stockings on Ma Xiaotao's legs were still conspicuous, and the glimpses of skin beneath them inadvertently created an intense allure that invited wandering thoughts.

"(ˉ▽￣~) Tch~~ She's just a little girl. What's there to look at?" Though Zhang Lexuan had covered his eyes, Lu Jingming still did not forget to run his mouth.

He took the opportunity to lean his head against Zhang Lexuan's soft body and spoke with feigned disdain.

Though he said that, he knew full well that Ma Xiaotao was only thirteen and had not yet fully matured. Naturally, her overall charm could not compare to Zhang Lexuan, who was in the bloom of youth.

According to his memories, the Ma Xiaotao of the future was famous for her fiery figure. Surpassing Zhang Lexuan as she was now was only a matter of time.

But that did not stop him from provoking Ma Xiaotao. After all, watching her grow both embarrassed and anxious, wanting nothing more than to devour him alive yet being powerless to do anything about it, was rather amusing.

Hearing Lu Jingming's teasing remark, Ma Xiaotao instantly felt a blaze of anger surge into her heart. The fury came so violently that her vision suddenly went black. Her head spun, her eyes slowly closed beyond her control, and her body went limp as she collapsed into Keqing's arms, fainting on the spot.

Zhang Lexuan helplessly lowered the hand covering Lu Jingming's eyes, then reached out and gently pinched his cheek. Her motion was gentle but carried a trace of reproach as she said softly, "She's older than you, yet you still call her a little girl."

With his vision restored, Lu Jingming immediately saw Ma Xiaotao unconscious in Keqing's arms.

He tilted his head slightly, a half-smile on his face as he remarked, "Young people really are healthy. She fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow."

A sharp glint flashed through Keqing's violet eyes as she shot Lu Jingming a fierce glare. "Say less, will you? Look how angry you made the poor girl."

Seeing that Keqing was genuinely a little angry, Lu Jingming hurriedly raised both hands in surrender. With a smile plastered across his face, he said ingratiatingly, "Alright, alright, I'll listen to Miss Keqing in everything. I was wrong, okay?"

Zhang Lexuan shook her head helplessly. She truly had no way of dealing with Lu Jingming's occasional tendency to stir up trouble.

Then, she turned her gaze back to the unconscious Ma Xiaotao, her expression becoming serious as she said in a low voice, "Let's take her somewhere to rest first. No matter what, she is our guest. Although I held back during that battle, she used up a tremendous amount of Soul Power. Her body definitely can't take much more."