Caelus never refused Dai Huabin's challenges, after all, a Soul Master grows through battle, and a Soul Master without combat experience is merely a silver-plated spearhead, unable to withstand a single blow.
Dai Huabin was also a decent whetstone.
However, looking at Xu Yun excitedly planning how to manage the troublemakers beside him, along with her diligent little follower, Caelus still couldn't help but sigh softly in his heart.
'This freeloading... seems to be getting more and more déjà vu, and it comes with a bunch of minor troubles.'
On an outdoor training ground dedicated to sparring within the academy, Caelus was listening to Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo enthusiastically recounting their experiences in the Imperial City market over the weekend, while Xu Yun seriously supplemented and commented, and her little follower busily nodded in agreement.
Just then, a tall figure radiating a sharp Aura blocked their path.
It was Dai Huabin.
His golden short hair shone brightly under the sun, the arrogance in his eyes was fiercer than ever, and the Soul Power fluctuation emanating from him had clearly reached level twenty-one.
Evidently, he had successfully achieved a Breakthrough past the level twenty Bottleneck and obtained his second spirit ring.
Caelus calmly swept his gaze over him, understanding.
It seemed this unyielding White Tiger Young Master had returned with new strength, reigniting his desire for a challenge.
"Caelus."
Dai Huabin's voice was loud, carrying Battle Intent.
"I have already achieved a Breakthrough to Spirit Grandmaster, do you dare fight me again? This time, I will definitely defeat you."
He was full of confidence; both having two rings, he refused to believe the gap between himself and Caelus was still as vast as before.
The unwillingness from repeated defeats transformed into surging fighting spirit at this moment.
Caelus looked at him and did not refuse.
He also wanted to see how much Dai Huabin's strength had improved after obtaining his second spirit ring; this was also a good reference for him to gauge his own level among his peers.
After all, in the trajectory of the original work, Dai Huabin was one of only three Soul Elders among the Shrek freshmen of their generation; his talent and strength were unquestionable.
"Alright."
Caelus replied indifferently.
Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, Xu Yun, and the others were already accustomed to this, and they tacitly retreated backward, yielding a spacious area.
Passing students and some teachers who had heard the news also stopped, curiously watching this renewed duel between the academy's two top Geniuses.
Behind Dai Huabin, worry was evident in Zhu Lu's cat-like eyes; she knew better than anyone that Dai Huabin had never gained an advantage against Caelus.
The two stood still in the center of the field, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.
"Dai Huabin, level twenty-one attack system Battle Soul Master, please advise."
"Caelus, level twenty-four control system Battle Soul Master, please."
As his voice fell, Dai Huabin launched his attack first.
He knew the strangeness of Caelus's precognitive ability and had to launch a fierce attack with the momentum of thunder.
"First Spirit Ability, White Tiger Body Barrier."
"Second Spirit Skill, White Tiger Light Wave."
Amidst the low roar of a tiger, Dai Huabin's muscles swelled, and black and white tiger stripes appeared on his skin, greatly increasing his defense and strength.
The two yellow spirit rings surrounding him also shone successively.
Simultaneously, he opened his mouth and spat out an incredibly condensed, destructive white light wave, shooting directly toward Caelus's face.
The power of this Second Spirit Skill far surpassed his First Spirit Ability; it was extremely fast and covered a wide area.
However, just before the White Tiger Light Wave was released, the phantom pointer in Caelus's fragmented golden eyes imperceptibly trembled.
Future Sight activated.
He had already "seen" the trajectory of the light wave.
With a seemingly casual misstep, his figure drifted lightly like willow catkins in the wind, and the fierce white light grazed his clothes before blasting into the empty ground behind him, creating a shallow pit.
At the same time, Caelus raised his hand, and the Wind of Time was quietly activated.
Dai Huabin only felt the air around him instantly become viscous, as if he were trapped in an invisible swamp; his movements involuntarily slowed by half a beat, and even his breathing slightly paused.
"Damn it!"
Dai Huabin roared in fury, forcibly breaking free from the airflow restraints using his formidable strength, and lunged forward again, his tiger claws carrying sharp gusts of wind, aiming straight for Caelus's vital points.
He no longer relied on long-range Spirit Abilities, attempting close-quarters combat to compress Caelus's dodging space.
Caelus remained composed; his Future Sight ability allowed him to always discern Dai Huabin's attack intentions a fraction of a second in advance.
Coupled with the Wind of Time's delay effect on Dai Huabin's movements and his own flexible footwork, he dissolved Dai Huabin's torrent of attacks one by one.
A dull sound echoed as their fists and feet met, but Caelus always managed to parry or dodge with the minimum cost at the most critical moment.
He was not using his full strength; it was more like guiding a practical combat lesson, step by step pushing Dai Huabin toward his limits, observing his newly acquired power, changes in fighting style, and the details of his Soul Power circulation.
The more Dai Huabin fought, the more alarmed he became, and the more frustrated he felt.
He felt as if he was fighting an invisible shadow; all his strength landed on empty air.
Caelus was like a bottomless lake; no matter how much trouble he stirred up, he could not see his full extent.
"Roar—!!!"
After failing to land a hit for so long, and with his pride repeatedly trampled, Dai Huabin's patience finally ran out; his rage and unwillingness completely erupted.
The Soul Power around him surged like boiling water, and the phantom of the White Tiger roared behind him, elevating his state to the Peak.
All his strength condensed into his right fist, which struck toward Caelus's chest like a falling meteor, carrying an unstoppable Aura.
This was his ultimate strike, sacrificing defense and condensing all his Soul Power and will.
The might of this punch caused everyone watching to hold their breath, and Zhu Lu nervously covered her mouth.
However, facing this earth-shattering punch, a hint of seriousness finally flashed in Caelus's eyes.
He knew that Dai Huabin had reached his limit.
Just as the tiger fist, condensed with terrifying power, was about to touch his body—
Two spirit rings finally rose simultaneously beneath Caelus's feet.
The first was a bright yellow hundred-year spirit ring.
But the second one, following closely behind, was clearly that deep, noble, heart-stopping energy fluctuation—purple.
Purple, thousand-year soul ring!
"A thousand-year soul ring?!"
"How is this possible?!"
"His second spirit ring is a thousand-year one?! Am I seeing things?!"
In an instant, the entire venue erupted in an uproar, and cries of astonishment swept across the training ground like a tide.
All the students watching, including some teachers, widened their eyes, their faces filled with disbelief.
Common sense in the Spirit Master's world dictated that the limit for a second spirit ring was around seven hundred years.
Yet Caelus, a child who had just turned eight, had a second spirit ring that was actually of the thousand-year level.
This completely overturned their understanding.
Even Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, and Xu Yun, who were always by Caelus's side, covered their mouths in shock; they had never seen Caelus display his second spirit ring before.
They only knew he was strong, but they never knew his spirit ring configuration was this astonishing.