Seeing Qi Ling launch an attack at him, Zhao Wuji smiled disdainfully.
Although Qi Ling was much faster now than before, no matter how fast he became, without enough attack power to break through Zhao Wuji's defenses, his efforts would all be in vain.
Moreover, he must have sacrificed his attack power to gain such speed, making it even less likely that he could pose any threat.
Zhao Wuji immediately assumed a defensive stance, thinking, So what if I just stand here and let you hit me? With my defenses, you'll wear yourself to death.
And that was exactly what happened. After striking Zhao Wuji twice in rapid succession, Qi Ling immediately retreated. Those two attacks were little more than scratches to an itch for Zhao Wuji, leaving not even a mark.
Yet those two utterly unremarkable attacks made Zhao Wuji's expression change, and there was even a trace of bewilderment in his voice.
"You! You brat, what did you do to me?"
This time, none of the onlookers, including Tang San, understood what had happened. To their eyes, Qi Ling had merely attacked Zhao Wuji twice in a perfectly ordinary manner, which should not have surprised him.
Only Qi Ling knew what he had done. He smiled at Zhao Wuji and said, "Sorry, Teacher Zhao. Just as you said, I really don't have much Soul Power left."
"So I had no choice but to borrow some from you!"
The Blood Devil Emperor Martial Soul's innate passive skill: Emperor Plundering Technique!
Whenever any of the host's attacks struck an enemy, it could plunder a portion of the opponent's Soul Power based on the attack's effect and turn it to the host's own use!
This passive skill was an inherent ability of the Blood Devil Emperor. Any attack made by the Blood Devil Emperor could trigger it!
And just now, when Qi Ling attacked Zhao Wuji, he had plundered a portion of his Soul Power.
Although the amount was tiny, so small it was almost negligible, Zhao Wuji was a Soul Saint with extraordinary control over his own Soul Power. He immediately sensed that something was wrong.
"Damn it, that Martial Soul of yours really is uncanny!" Zhao Wuji said cautiously. "Looks like fighting a prolonged battle against you would be unwise. I'd better finish you off quickly!"
His own Soul Power would be drained away while Qi Ling's slowly recovered. Only a fool would fight a prolonged battle against him! Having made up his mind, Zhao Wuji immediately charged at Qi Ling.
But Qi Ling seemed determined not to give Zhao Wuji a chance to settle the fight with one blow. Using his elusive footwork, he darted around him, refusing to clash head-on.
"Hmph, brat, you think this is enough to stump me? How naive. Have you forgotten what happened just now?" Zhao Wuji sneered. "Soul Skills: Gravity Enhancement, Position Tracking!"
At once, the two purple Soul Rings around Zhao Wuji lit up as he activated his third and fourth Soul Skills in succession.
Gravity Enhancement could increase the gravity acting on Qi Ling, slowing him down.
Once Qi Ling slowed, Zhao Wuji could use Position Tracking to easily force him into a head-on confrontation.
This combination of Soul Skills was a strong counter to agility attack-type Soul Masters. Zhao Wuji was confident that Qi Ling could not escape his grasp either.
But faced with Zhao Wuji's pursuit, Qi Ling merely smiled faintly, and his second Soul Ring lit up.
"Second Soul Skill: Night Devil's Frenzied Cry!"
Qi Ling's figure suddenly shifted between a blur and a mass of shadow, as though constantly switching between shadow and solid form!
At the same time, his speed abruptly nearly doubled, becoming so fast that the naked eye could barely follow him. All anyone could see was a mass of shadow roaming through the room.
What shocked Zhao Wuji was that his Gravity Enhancement seemed to have no effect on Qi Ling at all! His Position Tracking could not pinpoint Qi Ling's location either!
"Damn it, you little brat, what trick are you pulling?" With both of his powerful moves failing, Zhao Wuji could not help demanding in exasperation.
The onlookers were also intensely curious. They had all just experienced how terrifying those two Soul Skills were and had suffered considerably from them. How could they not be astonished that they now had no effect on Qi Ling?
"This should be the effect of Qi Ling's Soul Skill," Ning Rongrong immediately analyzed. Having come from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, her breadth of experience was beyond that of the others.
"It looks like his second Soul Skill not only increases his speed, but also grants him some extraordinary effects!"
"Clever, you got it right!" Qi Ling said, revealing himself. "While I'm using my second Soul Skill, my speed increases by 100%, and all slowing and lock-on skills targeting me become ineffective!"
"Teacher Zhao, unfortunately, neither of your Soul Skills works on me!"
Zhao Wuji's expression grew uglier still. Unable to lock on, unable to take effect? Wasn't this clearly targeting him? Had this brat come specifically to pick a fight with him?
"Hmph! So what if you've got plenty of tricks up your sleeve?" Zhao Wuji said, refusing to concede.
"Your attacks can't break through my defenses at all. And if you intend to use those attacks to drain my Soul Power until I'm exhausted, I'd advise you to save your breath!"
"True, Teacher Zhao. Although you only have four Soul Rings left, your Soul Power is still far greater than mine," Qi Ling said.
"If I tried to defeat you with attacks like those, I'm afraid I wouldn't absorb Soul Power as quickly as you recover it."
Hearing this, Zhao Wuji could not help smiling smugly. But before he could enjoy even two seconds of satisfaction, Qi Ling continued, "Then what I need to do is much simpler!"
"I just need to absorb it faster-so fast that you can't recover in time. Wouldn't that do it?"
"First Soul Skill: Blood Devil Hundred Rending Claws!"
In an instant, Qi Ling's First Soul Ring lit up, and his entire body seemed to turn into a mass of shadow as he swept toward Zhao Wuji!
Qi Ling's hands emerged from the shadow, instantly becoming hundreds of claw shadows that blanketed the space above Zhao Wuji, cutting off every avenue of escape.
Zhao Wuji had never excelled in speed, so naturally he could not evade such a dense, swift barrage. He could only activate his Immovable Bright King Body and rely on his powerful defenses to endure it.
And that was exactly what Qi Ling wanted!
Because of the Blood Devil Emperor's passive ability, every one of Qi Ling's attacks took a sliver of Zhao Wuji's Soul Power.
A single strike might amount to little, but when hundreds of attacks accumulated, they added up to a terrifying amount!
The claw shadows filling the air inflicted almost no damage on Zhao Wuji, leaving not even a small scratch.
But by the time Qi Ling finished attacking, Zhao Wuji was panting and drenched in sweat, as though he had expended an enormous amount of stamina.
"You, you, you damned little brat!" Zhao Wuji panted. "Damn it, what kind of sinister Martial Soul is that?"
"Sorry, Teacher Zhao. Please be careful. I'm going to keep attacking!" As Qi Ling spoke, his figure rushed toward Zhao Wuji like a phantom.
Against Qi Ling's attacks, Zhao Wuji could neither dodge nor defend. He was completely in Qi Ling's grasp.
In desperation, he roared, and the Soul Power throughout his body erupted as he unleashed fierce, indiscriminate attacks all around himself.
Since he could neither dodge nor defend, he would attack!