Defeat

Black light surged forth, swallowing the white sphere of light whole. In that instant, everyone felt as though the sky would go dark, as though blackness were everything in the world.

When the black light faded, everyone stared in disbelief at the black spear in Wang Feng's hand, a trace of fear rising unbidden in their hearts.

Dai Mubai frowned deeply, his body trembling slightly.

Just now, he had sensed a terrifying presence. Even his Martial Soul, the Evil Eye White Tiger, had nearly dissipated on its own. And that presence had come from Wang Feng's Black Feather Ink Dragon Spear.

But the presence had vanished as quickly as it had appeared. When he looked at the Black Feather Ink Dragon Spear in Wang Feng's hand again, it seemed like an ordinary Tool Martial Soul, nothing special about it.

"Again!"

Dai Mubai gave a low shout and sprang forward.

Wang Feng smiled faintly and thrust his spear straight at him.

Dai Mubai clenched his fist. His two Yellow Soul Rings shone as he gathered Soul Power around it.

Bang!

Dai Mubai's fist struck the Black Feather Ink Dragon Spear, sending sparks flying as he met the spear head-on with his bare fist.

The spectators all sucked in a breath of cold air. After all, Wang Feng had just shattered his White Tiger Fierce Light Wave with a single thrust.

"I don't know whether to call you foolish or brave!"

Wang Feng chuckled and shook his head. If he hadn't reined in the Black Feather Ink Dragon Spear's sharp edge, Dai Mubai would have been courting death with that punch.

"Wang Feng, show me just how strong you really are!"

Dai Mubai roared and charged again, white light gathering ceaselessly around his fists.

Wang Feng raised his spear to block. Dai Mubai's fists hammered against the shaft, punch after punch, forcing Wang Feng steadily backward.

"Is Young Master Dai going to win? If this keeps up, Wang Feng will be knocked off the platform."

"Young Master Dai has to win! We can't let that brat Wang Feng win!"

"Of course he will. Young Master Dai is Young Master Dai, after all. How could those guys from before compare to him? Young Master Dai will definitely win."

More than half the watching students were discussing the match, some even praying that Dai Mubai would win.

But winning was easier said than done. After all, Wang Feng hadn't even used a Soul Skill; he had only summoned his Martial Soul.

Sure enough, when Wang Feng reached the edge of the platform and was about to fall off, he didn't retreat from Dai Mubai's fierce assault this time. Instead, he showed a strange smile. As Dai Mubai's fist came down, he drew the Black Feather Ink Dragon Spear behind him and raised his own fist to strike.

Their fists collided with a muffled bang. Their Soul Power devoured each other, erupting in a piercing crackle.

The next moment, Dai Mubai was forced back several steps, while Wang Feng didn't budge an inch.

As soon as Dai Mubai steadied himself, Wang Feng suddenly swept his spear at him. Relying on his White Tiger Protective Barrier, Dai Mubai took the blow head-on, but the sweep sent him staggering backward again. Wang Feng immediately thrust his spear, trying to force Dai Mubai off the platform.

Dai Mubai's expression grew grave, but at the critical moment, he unleashed his Second Soul Skill again. His timing was impeccable, forcing Wang Feng to pull back his spear and defend.

Their battle descended into a stalemate once more, and for the moment it was hard to tell who held the greater advantage.

In the center of the second-floor stands, Yu Xiaogang, Ma Hongjun, and the others had their eyes fixed on platform one.

"Dean, do you think Boss Dai can beat Wang Feng?"

Oscar glanced at Yu Xiaogang and asked, a little worried.

The others were also worried. As one, they turned to Yu Xiaogang and waited for his answer.

"Difficult."

After a moment's silence, Yu Xiaogang uttered just one word, but that single word had all but announced the final result.

"Is Wang Feng really that strong?"

The four were reluctant to accept it, but they knew in their hearts that Wang Feng had yet to use a Soul Skill. He was already holding his own, so how could he lose?

Unless Wang Feng lost deliberately, there was no way he could be defeated.

"I hope he reveals a little more!" Yu Xiaogang frowned deeply. Even now, Wang Feng still hadn't used a Soul Skill, relying solely on his Martial Soul. That made it difficult for him to find a way to defeat Wang Feng.

Without knowing what his opponent's Soul Skills were, there would be no way to guard against them once they fought.

On the platform, Wang Feng and Dai Mubai separated once again, each standing at an edge of the platform.

Dai Mubai stared gravely at Wang Feng. By now, he had to admit how formidable Wang Feng was.

"You're strong. Of all the opponents I've ever faced, you're the strongest, without exception." Dai Mubai suddenly spoke, giving Wang Feng the highest praise.

Wang Feng smiled faintly and was equally generous with his own assessment.

"You're not bad either. Your timing is excellent; there's hardly anything to fault. But there's one thing: your Soul Rings limit the strongest attack you can unleash."

"What do you mean?" Dai Mubai frowned.

"Both your Soul Rings are a hundred years old, but given your Martial Soul, your Second Soul Ring, at least, is trash. Its Soul Skill has a good effect, but it isn't strong enough. If it were a thousand years old, I don't think I could have taken your attacks so easily."

Wang Feng smiled as he pointed out Dai Mubai's shortcoming. He wasn't saying it casually; it was the truth.

Dai Mubai's heart gave a violent thump, because someone had indeed told him the same thing before.

Hearing it again now, he no longer dismissed it as nonsense as he had last time. He knew that the man before him had a ten-thousand-year First Soul Ring.

"All right, time to end this."

Wang Feng smiled faintly. The Black Feather Ink Dragon Spear in his hand once again unleashed the sharp edge it had shown earlier. The Soul Power around them was normally invisible, but now it all surged toward the spear in his hand at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Dai Mubai's expression was grave. His two Yellow Soul Rings also lit up, absorbing Soul Power.

Just then, Wang Feng raised his spear and slashed diagonally to the left and right. Two rays of absolute black light burst from the spearpoint and swept toward Dai Mubai.

Though the light was black, it was unusually dazzling, giving one the illusion that it could not be looked at directly.

"First Soul Skill, White Tiger Protective Barrier!"

"Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"

Dai Mubai unleashed his two Soul Skills in succession, but the black light swallowed the White Tiger Fierce Light Wave without being affected in the slightest. The next instant, it crashed into him and engulfed him completely.

At that moment, everyone stared wide-eyed at the edge of the platform. Not one of them dared speak.

Bang!

A figure shot out of the black light and landed below the platform, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

"D-defeated! Young Master Dai lost!"

"How is that possible? Wang Feng beat Young Master Dai using only his Martial Soul?"

"Heavens! Just how strong is Wang Feng? How could Young Master Dai be no match for him when he didn't even use a Soul Skill?"

The crowd erupted. Although many had expected this, now that Dai Mubai had actually lost, they still found it hard to accept.

After all, over the past year, Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others had become almost legendary figures in the inner academy. No one had imagined that they could be outmatched, much less by Wang Feng, a regular-class student who had taken a year's leave.

Dai Mubai stared fixedly at Wang Feng. He knew he had lost, and completely at that.

"Platform one, Wang Feng wins."

The referee's voice rang out only after a long while, finally bringing Dai Mubai back to his senses. He turned and left.

Wang Feng didn't stay long either. Tang San's match had ended long ago, and now all that remained was to wait for their battle that afternoon.