Relying on wind blades alone was useless against Ma Bao, and Feng Xiaotian found himself unable to gain the slightest advantage in close-quarters combat. Finally, Feng Xiaotian reached his breaking point.
Cyan wind elements surged across his body as his fourth purple soul ring lit up.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Demon Wolf Storm!"
A massive wolf head, ten meters in diameter, suddenly condensed. Its sharp fangs glinted with a cold light as it lunged forward to tear into Ma Bao.
Ma Bao didn't panic. Terrifying flames erupted from his body as his third purple ring flared. With the release of his third skill, the temperature of the flames on his surface spiked, and his soul power received a massive boost.
"Third Soul Skill: Fury Fire!"
Sky-reaching flames erupted as Ma Bao's fire power increased by 100% and his soul power by 50%. He transformed into a galloping Blazing War Horse of fire, crashing head-on into Feng Xiaotian's fourth soul skill.
The moment fire and wind met, they unleashed a terrifying force. The gale didn't extinguish the fire; instead, it fanned the flames, making them even more violent. Consequently, the power of Ma Bao's third skill surged further. The collision of their skills resulted in a complete stalemate. Not stopping there, Ma Bao turned himself into a streak of flaming light and charged toward Feng Xiaotian.
Feng Xiaotian's eyes narrowed. His hands, still in the form of dual wolf heads with protruding fangs, engaged Ma Bao in a desperate melee once more.
With the boost from his third soul skill, Ma Bao's soul power was temporarily on par with Feng Xiaotian's. Furthermore, Feng Xiaotian was already heavily injured from his battle with Zhan Yu. He actually found himself being suppressed by Ma Bao.
This realization left Feng Xiaotian with complicated feelings. He had originally planned to save his soul power by finishing Ma Bao quickly so he could drain the next Seven Treasure member, but now it seemed he would struggle even to take Ma Bao down. If he could still fly, things would be much easier, but he was trapped on the ground, pinned by Ma Bao's relentless offensive.
Feng Xiaotian decided to stop worrying about his remaining energy. Even if he couldn't win, he refused to be taken down by Ma Bao. As a genius of his generation, he had his own pride.
"I admit you are all strong, but if you think you can defeat me with a war of attrition, you're still a bit short," Feng Xiaotian said while locked in a struggle with Ma Bao.
Ma Bao smiled. "It doesn't matter. Not being your match today doesn't mean I won't be in the future. We have plenty of time. You may have handled the two of us today, but it won't be this easy next time."
Ma Bao possessed confidence, but it wasn't blind. After witnessing Gu Xuan's talent and strength, he understood that there was always someone better. He could accept not being Feng Xiaotian's match today because he knew he would eventually surpass him.
Flames erupted from Ma Bao's body. After knocking Feng Xiaotian back with a punch, he unleashed an even more terrifying crimson fire. He held nothing back as his fourth purple soul ring lit up.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Pegasus Meteor Punch!"
His fourth soul ring was an over-limit absorption at 9,500 years. While not quite a ten-thousand-year soul ring, it wasn't something an ordinary soul master could block. The reason he could clash with Feng Xiaotian's fourth soul skill earlier was due to this over-limit soul ring. This was the talent of the Seven Treasure team; they might not be Gu Xuan, but they were certainly among the elite.
Endless crimson fire condensed into a sky full of flaming fist shadows, covering a diameter of nearly thirty meters.
Feng Xiaotian looked grave. With the boosts from the first and third soul skills, the power of Ma Bao's fourth soul skill was no weaker than a standard ten-thousand-year old soul skill. He sighed inwardly; this truly was an era of emerging geniuses. But that's what made it interesting—only by fighting through such currents could he reach the highest peak!
"Fifth Soul Skill: Tornado Blades!"
Feng Xiaotian unleashed his fifth soul skill—the only other ten-thousand-year old soul ring revealed in the tournament besides Tang San's. A massive, terrifying tornado formed instantly, its interior a meat-grinder of endless wind blades.
The flaming fists fell as the tornado erupted. The contact between the two created a scorching storm that swept across the entire arena! The Soul Saint referee had to release his fifth soul skill to block the spreading shockwave and keep the destruction contained.
Neither gave an inch. For a full minute, their powers locked in a fierce struggle until both were completely drained of soul power. The match ended in a draw.
Feng Xiaotian wasn't satisfied with the result, but Ma Bao laughed. A draw today meant victory next time. While it was a war of attrition following Zhan Yu's efforts, a Soul Ancestor drawing with a Soul King was still an incredible feat. After all, Feng Xiaotian was a genuine genius, not just some random soul master.
With the draw, Feng Xiaotian had taken out two Seven Treasure members, but the situation for Godwind Academy turned into a landslide. They still had two Soul Ancestors at ranks 42 and 43.
Since both could fly, Zuo Yan took the stage. Thanks to Ye Lingling's Nine-Hearted Begonia, he was fully recovered. Zuo Yan systematically defeated both Godwind Soul Ancestors before handing the stage to Li Li. She easily handled the remaining four Godwind members, ending the match.
The Seven Treasure members were simply too monstrous. Aside from Tang San and Feng Xiaotian, everyone else faced a "dimensionality reduction strike" when fighting them.
When Li Li finished off the last opponent, the Promotion Competition officially ended.
Over fourteen rounds, the Seven Treasure Team achieved a perfect 14-0 record, taking first place in the Heaven Dou division. Although the academy was newly established, it proved its strength. No one questioned their title as the strongest academy team in the Empire anymore.
This brilliant result was the fruit of the team's collective effort. Well, except for Dugu Yan—she didn't play a single match in the Qualifiers or the Promotion rounds. Instead, it was Ye Lingling who worked herself to the bone as their tireless, unrewarded support...
Actually, there was a reward. Gu Xuan spent every day accompanying her, and she was more than happy with that arrangement. After being bored for two months, having people to practice her healing on was a welcome distraction.
Even with Seven Treasures' stellar performance, two people stood out and stole the spotlight: Feng Xiaotian and Tang San.
Feng Xiaotian was the only Soul King in the division, possessing terrifying strength. Tang San, who started as an obscure soul master with a "trash" Blue Silver Grass, shocked everyone with his second Martial Soul—the Clear Sky Hammer—and a logic-defying soul ring configuration of three purple and one black.
They were the stars of the show. Tang San finally understood the meaning of the confidence Gu Xuan had spoken of, making him more determined than ever on his path as a soul master.
(End of Chapter)
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