On the Soul Battle stage, Qin Ming stood alone on one side. Six soul rings—two yellow, three purple, and one black—suspended themselves around his body, pulsating with power. Crimson flames erupted from his skin as fiery wolf fur sprouted, radiating an overwhelming pressure.
Opposite him, Yu Tianheng and Gu Xuan took the lead. About three meters behind them, the two Shi brothers stood to the left and right. Osler occupied the far flank, while Yu Feng had already taken to the skies, looking down upon Qin Ming.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling remained at the very rear, with Dugu Yan shielding Ye Lingling's figure behind her.
All eight students had their standard two yellow and one purple soul rings active. Though their forms varied wildly under Martial Soul Possession, every one of them burned with an intense battle intent.
"Teacher Qin, it begins," Gu Xuan said slowly.
Qin Ming nodded, his expression calm. "Show me your strength. If you can defeat me, I'll grant you a week of vacation."
In truth, Qin Ming was mentally prepared for the possibility of a loss. Although he was a Soul Emperor, there was no telling what kind of hidden trump cards these youngsters might hold.
Take Gu Xuan's external soul bone, the Darkgold Terrorclaw, for example. When he first learned of it, he was struck with disbelief; even he felt a trace of dread toward the power of those claws.
However, Qin Ming had no intention of taking it easy on them. Even if he had prepared for the worst, defeating him would not be as simple as they imagined.
"Fine," Gu Xuan responded plainly.
Immediately, the first two yellow soul rings on Gu Xuan's body ignited in sequence. His silver-white bone claws transformed into dark gold, shimmering with a lethally sharp glint.
"First Soul Skill, Bone Dragon War Body!"
The skill boosted all attributes by twenty percent.
"Second Soul Skill, Darkgold Terrorclaw!"
Attack and strength surged by one hundred percent.
Not just Gu Xuan—Yu Tianheng, the Shi Brothers, Dugu Yan, Yu Feng, and Osler all unleashed their soul skills simultaneously.
As Dugu Yan exhaled the red and blue mists, the attack and speed of every member of the Emperor Team increased by thirty percent, their defense rose by fifty percent, and their sensation of pain was nullified.
These were the beneficial effects of the Red Jaded Scale Poison and Blue Jaded Scale Poison when applied to allies.
Before the battle started, the team had consumed an antidote pill refined from Dugu Yan's blood and medicinal herbs. Only with this protection could they turn the toxic mists into a supportive aid.
"Attack!"
Gu Xuan let out a low shout. Beside him, Yu Tianheng activated his first and third soul skills, and the two of them charged directly at Qin Ming.
Accompanying their charge were two dark-green flying shields—the combined use of Shi Mo and Shi Mo's first and second soul skills.
The two flying shields bypassed Gu Xuan and Yu Tianheng, flanking Qin Ming. The rapidly spinning shields let out a shrill whistle as they arrived in an instant.
The first yellow soul ring on Qin Ming's body ignited. His arms transformed into blazing wolf limbs; with a sweep of his left and right hands, he actually batted away the Shi brothers' strike.
However, by then, Gu Xuan and Yu Tianheng had already closed in. Bolstered by their own skills and the dual toxins of Dugu Yan, the two launched a pincer attack aimed at Qin Ming's chest, waist, and face.
The corners of Qin Ming's mouth curled upward. From the moment they moved, he could see their plan: an all-out, high-intensity assault meant to take him down in a single wave.
It was a good plan, but unfortunately, he was a Soul Emperor, not a Soul Elder.
Against the full-throttle pincer attack of Gu Xuan and Yu Tianheng, even a Soul Ancestor might not have been able to withstand it, but Qin Ming was far beyond that rank.
"Second Soul Skill, Flame Hundred-Claws!"
The second yellow soul ring on Qin Ming's body lit up. His blazing wolf arms lunged toward the two boys, and countless fiery claw strikes swatted aside Gu Xuan's bone claws and Yu Tianheng's dragon arm.
Simultaneously, Gu Xuan and Yu Tianheng felt a numbing shock run through their limbs.
This was the full-force strike of a Soul Emperor. Though it was only a second soul skill, the fact that the two could stand their ground proved their extraordinary talent.
Most importantly, Dugu Yan's second soul skill had nullified their pain. What should have been bone-deep agony was reduced to mere numbness, allowing the two to maintain their maximum output.
At that moment, Osler—transformed into a blur of shadow—appeared behind Qin Ming. His second soul ring flared as a one-meter-long slash whistled toward Qin Ming's back.
"Second Soul Skill, Black Leopard Slash!"
High in the air, Yu Feng arrived directly above Qin Ming. His second soul ring ignited, and countless feathers transformed into blades, raining down like a localized storm.
"Second Soul Skill, Winged Flight Blades!"
Faced with the combined full-strength strikes of the four, even a Soul Emperor like Qin Ming would surely be injured if he took them head-on. Naturally, he had no intention of doing so.
"Third Soul Skill, Wolf's Fury!"
"Second Soul Skill, Flame Hundred-Claws!"
Qin Ming's first and third skills were both enhancement types. Under the influence of these dual buffs, his second soul skill became more frequent and violent, actually slicing through and neutralizing the full-force attacks of both Osler and Yu Feng.
Yet, the very next second, the two flying shields returned for another pass, giving Qin Ming no time to breathe.
As the shields converged, a forest of bone swords erupted from the ground behind him, and an endless barrage of lightning roared toward his position.
It was also then that the purple toxic mist blanketed the entire field. Fortunately, Qin Ming was prepared and held his breath the moment the mist entered the fray.
The rapidly spinning shields exploded a meter away from Qin Ming. Dozens of fragments, accompanied by a powerful detonation, swirled toward him with overwhelming force.
In an instant, Qin Ming was swallowed by an endless tide of attacks. Even for a Soul Emperor, being hit by so many powerful strikes would be enough to cause significant trouble.
However, he was Qin Ming—a man hailed as a genius.
Just as every attack was about to connect, the fifth purple soul ring on his body ignited.
A terrifying pressure vented outward, and a heaven-shaking wolf howl echoed throughout the training hall.
"Awoo—!"
Intense flames condensed and exploded, sending a massive heat wave surging in all directions. Every incoming attack was directly blown back by the sheer force of the flames and soul power.
The bone swords of Gu Xuan's third soul skill were pulverized one by one; Yu Tianheng's lightning was swallowed by the fire; the Shi brothers' shield fragments were shaken away by the soul power; and Dugu Yan's toxic mist was instantly incinerated by the violent heat.
As the flames subsided, a blazing grey wolf—three meters long and two meters high—stood in the center of the stage, its eyes burning like torches as it stared at the team.
"Fifth Soul Skill, Wolf Advent!"
This was Qin Ming's fifth soul skill, a powerful ability similar to a Martial Soul True Body. Although the ring came from a 9,500-year soul beast, the skill's power was no weaker than a ten-thousand-year soul skill.
With Wolf Advent active, Qin Ming's attack, strength, and defense increased by one hundred and fifty percent. His massive size and the flames shrouding his body maximized every action; he was now in his peak state.
In essence, this fifth skill was a pseudo-Martial Soul True Body.
Dugu Yan's toxic mist had been burned away, leaving a cloyingly sweet scent in the air. In this state, even if Qin Ming inhaled the remnants of the burned toxins, he wouldn't be affected. They were being countered perfectly.
Yet, even facing such a version of Qin Ming, not a single member of the team retreated.
"Third Soul Skill, Cloud-Rising Gale!"
In the sky, the third soul ring on Yu Feng's body lit up. His winged arms flapped violently, and a tornado rose beneath Qin Ming's feet. Though it only lifted him about a meter high, it was enough to restrict his movements for a split second.
Osler followed immediately. His purple third soul ring flared as he split into three, lunging at Qin Ming from three separate directions.
Yu Tianheng's right arm transformed into a true dragon limb with hideous claws, lightning surging from his palm. His second soul ring ignited again as an endless torrent of thunder poured toward the blazing wolf.
The Shi brothers manipulated dozens of shield fragments to envelop Qin Ming, pouring out soul power as if it cost them nothing. Just as Qin Ming stabilized himself upon landing, he was pinned for a heartbeat.
In that very heartbeat, the attacks of Osler and Yu Tianheng slammed into the blazing wolf's body.
Simultaneously, a forest of bone swords erupted once more, thrusting directly at Qin Ming.
Gu Xuan bounded across the bone swords, his right bone claw shifting into the Darkgold Terrorclaw. With a sweep of his arm, five dark gold energy blades flew out, locking onto the head of the blazing wolf.
It was another all-out eruption. Their soul power was nearly drained, but an endless tide of attacks now submerged the blazing wolf that was Qin Ming.
"Burst after burst... such perfect soul skill coordination. Truly worthy of the title of geniuses," Qin Ming's voice rang out from the blazing wolf's mouth, sounding quite satisfied.
The next moment, a black soul ring rose from the wolf's body. The black ring shimmered, casting a dark soul power light over everyone as endless flames erupted from the wolf's form.
The blazing wolf opened its massive maw, and a terrifying torrent of flame, carrying an endless, ferocious might, blasted toward the incoming attacks.
"Sixth Soul Skill, Heaven-Burning Inferno!"
BOOM!
The Soul Battle stage was instantly transformed into a domain of fire. Osler, Yu Tianheng, and Gu Xuan were all sent flying back, their clothes and hair scorched, their skin glowing red like overcooked lobsters.
"Lingling, heal them!"
The command belonged to Qin Ming.
(End of Chapter)
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