"Boss Han, you're finally here!"
At the sight of Han Qiu, Xiao Chenyu looked as though he had found a savior, his face lighting up with joy. Though they had known each other for only a day, he had accepted this boss of unfathomable strength from the bottom of his heart.
But the next second, when he saw how familiar Han Qiu was with Tang San and Xiao Wu, Xiao Chenyu's heart sank. This is bad!
Han Qiu walked slowly over to them and raised a hand to rap Xiao Chenyu lightly on the forehead. His voice held a trace of exasperation as he scolded him. "You! These two are my friends, and you brought people to cause them trouble?"
"I-I really didn't know!" Xiao Chenyu looked aggrieved and deeply regretful.
Had he known Tang San and Xiao Wu were Boss Han's friends, he wouldn't have dared provoke them even if he'd had ten times the courage.
Han Qiu gave him an exasperated glare, then said gently to Tang San and Xiao Wu, "Little San, Xiao Wu, it was just a misunderstanding. Let's leave it at that."
With that, he turned to Xiao Chenyu and instructed him solemnly, "Xiao Chenyu, from now on, acknowledge Xiao Wu as your boss."
Xiao Chenyu offered no resistance and obediently nodded his agreement.
This seemingly petite work-study student was a level-twelve Battle Soul Master, even stronger than Tang San. She was more than qualified to make him submit.
But just then, Xiao Wu tilted up her little face, her eyes lively yet stubborn. "No!" she said in a sweet voice. "Han Qiu, since you're their boss, I have to beat you before I can take over! Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair at all, and they wouldn't truly submit to me in their hearts!"
As her words fell, she quietly gave Tang San a look.
Han Qiu chuckled inwardly. As expected of a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, she had a naturally competitive streak in her bones and was especially keen on testing her skills in combat.
Seeing this, Tang San pondered briefly.
He thought to himself that although Han Qiu had most likely acquired a Soul Ring as well, it might not be the one best suited to him.
His own four-hundred-year Mandala Snake Soul Ring, on the other hand, was a perfect match for his cultivation method. The boost to his strength was terrifying, and he might well have a chance in a fight!
His mind made up, Tang San looked up at Han Qiu and earnestly agreed. "Han Qiu, Xiao Wu is right. Why don't we have another sparring match too?"
At some point, without even realizing it, Tang San had stopped calling him "Han Qiu." This was already an acknowledgment of Han Qiu's strength and status.
Han Qiu quietly watched the two before him. Xiao Wu's eyes were full of fighting spirit, and she was eager to try her hand. She clearly wanted to fight him and see who was stronger.
"Let me go first!"
Tang San was the first to speak. He had lost the last time he fought Han Qiu, and it had stayed on his mind. He was eager to see which of them was stronger now that he had acquired a Soul Ring.
He was now a Soul Master with a four-hundred-year Soul Ring, worlds apart from his former self.
The students present all moved aside, leaving Han Qiu and Tang San room to fight.
Without another word, Tang San shot forward, his footwork nimble and elusive. It was the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track from the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record!
His figure flickered unpredictably, illusion and reality impossible to distinguish as he closed the distance by several meters in an instant.
A blue-green light swirled around his right hand as he drove his Mysterious Jade Hand to its limit and struck straight at Han Qiu's shoulder. The move was steady and fierce, a product of the combat skills he had honed over two lifetimes.
In the breadth of his combat experience, his skill at breaking down techniques, and the speed of his reactions in battle, Tang San was already a match for an ordinary adult Soul Master.
Yet faced with Tang San's all-out attack, Han Qiu remained composed from beginning to end.
With his Heavenly Eye open, all of Tang San's movements seemed to be broken down and slowed without limit.
The elusive path of his footwork, the flow of Soul Power through his palm, the subtle shift of his shoulder as he gathered strength, the openings and blind spots in his offense and defense...
Not a single detail could hide; all of them appeared before Han Qiu's eyes.
The Heavenly Eye perceived his opponent's moves in advance, while his body's memory replicated the methods of attack!
In a mere instant, Han Qiu had replicated most of the essence of the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and Mysterious Jade Hand, the techniques Tang San relied on to win!
Just as the Mysterious Jade Hand was about to touch Han Qiu's chest, Han Qiu shifted slightly and stepped out along a graceful, mysterious path that was remarkably similar to the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!
Han Qiu deftly turned aside to evade the attack and struck out with his palm. His posture, force, and even the angle were nearly exact replicas.
"How is that possible?!" Tang San cried out in shock.
Still lunging forward, Tang San's pupils abruptly contracted, his heart shaken.
The exact same footwork, the very same palm technique!
His opponent had not only seen through his moves but had even replicated and used them on the spot!
Caught off guard, Tang San had no time to think. He could only rein in his attack and raise his palm to block.
Bang!
Their palms collided, and the crisp crack of clashing force rang out across the whole area!
A steady, heavy force rushed at Tang San, making his arm tingle and forcing him to take half a step back.
He stared at Han Qiu in disbelief.
His unique footwork and palm technique, which he had painstakingly practiced for years-his opponent could imitate and replicate them after a single glance?
What kind of unbelievable talent was this? Or perhaps it wasn't talent at all, but a special ability of his Martial Soul.
The spectators had already erupted in astonishment, their eyes wide and their faces full of shock.
"How... how does he know Tang San's moves?"
"They're exactly the same! Even the way he applies force is almost identical!"
"That's ridiculous! I can't make sense of it at all!"
Han Qiu stood where he was, his expression calm, a faint light flickering in his eyes. "Your moves are ingenious. What a pity-they're mine now."
Before he had finished speaking, Han Qiu stepped forward and unleashed the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track he had copied. His figure shifted between illusion and reality, and he was even a little faster than Tang San had been!
His palm swept out again. Though it followed the pattern of the Mysterious Jade Hand, it wasn't quite the same. His attack was swifter and fiercer, sealing off nearly every path Tang San could use to evade or retreat.
Once again, Tang San was on the back foot.
Tang San's expression tightened. Not daring to underestimate his opponent in the slightest, he pushed his footwork to its limit and, with a thought, acted!
A pale blue light burst forth, and thick, resilient Blue Silver Grass broke through the ground. Like countless long snakes, it surged and coiled, sealing off the entire space as it wound straight toward Han Qiu's limbs. It was his first Soul Skill, Blue Silver Entanglement!
Empowered by his Hundred-Year Soul Ring, the Blue Silver Grass had become much tougher. With its faint paralyzing toxin as well, it sealed off the entire area in an instant.
But with the help of his Heavenly Eye Martial Soul, Han Qiu seemed to have anticipated Tang San's follow-up.
His figure suddenly shifted, and with changing steps, he slipped clear of the Blue Silver Grass's reach. At the same time, he struck out sharply with his palm, precisely hitting the weak points where the blades of grass joined their roots!
Slap, slap, slap!
Several strands of Blue Silver Grass shuddered and veered aside under his strikes. He had forcibly broken the attack through technique alone!
Tang San's pupils contracted, and he was utterly shaken.
Even with the power of a Hundred-Year Soul Ring and attacking with all his might, he had once again been firmly suppressed by Han Qiu, who had neither used his Martial Soul nor unleashed a Soul Skill!
That eye of his opponent's, with its strange ability, was far too powerful.
With nothing but the insight of his eyes, Han Qiu had perfectly countered every one of his attacks and still had strength to spare. Tang San was now being crushed at every turn!