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"The saying goes, true gold fears no fire. After all these years, I'm curious about Tang San's progress. After all, you are *that* person's child. Why don't we have a soul battle?" Ye Wen said.
The confidence Tang San had built up over the past few months in Soto City's Soul Battle Arena made him exceptionally arrogant at this moment.
"Alright."
The three Academic Affairs Committee members exchanged glances. How had things suddenly escalated to a soul battle? However, the best way to verify a soul master prodigy wasn't just by cultivation level but also through combat ability. Thus, they didn't object and quickly arranged a venue for everyone.
Tang San removed his robe with a flick of his hand, summoning his martial soul and the deep green arm armor of his True Body Armor.
"Tang San, martial soul Green Vine, Level 32 Control-Type Battle Soul Lord. Please advise!"
Seeing Tang San's two yellow and one purple optimal soul ring configuration, the three committee members nodded in satisfaction. At just 13 years old, achieving such cultivation truly made him deserving of being called a genius.
At this moment, Ye Tianshui glanced at Ye Wen beside her.
"Dad, should I handle this?"
Ye Wen gave a slight nod. "Go ahead. Remember to take it easy—don't cripple him."
But Ye Tianshui seemed to recall something and asked,
"But Dad, didn't you teach me when I was little that if I don't strike hard, I won't be able to establish my authority?"
An awkward smile appeared on Ye Wen's lips.
Ah, crap.
When she was younger, he had carelessly let slip some of his unfiltered thoughts, and now this girl still remembered them.
"Cough… Well, that depends on the person. This Tang San is too arrogant—he's not suitable as a subordinate. He has too many ideas of his own.
Enough, stop overthinking things. Focus on solving the problem at hand," Ye Wen said irritably.
Couldn't he see the strange looks people were giving him? His carefully crafted persona was crumbling!
Ye Tianshui still felt something was off, but following her father's words was one of her strengths.
With a carefree demeanor, she stood opposite Tang San and summoned her martial soul.
The familiar soul imprint reappeared in her right eye, causing her height to increase slightly. Combined with her heterochromatic eyes, her entire presence exuded an icy elegance.
Tang San felt something stir within him—a shiver ran down his spine. 'This is it—the form I've been dreaming of day and night.'
"Ye Tianshui, martial soul Ice Dragon, Level 35 Power-Type Battle Soul Lord. Please advise."
The moment Ye Tianshui's martial soul manifested, the surrounding air grew noticeably colder.
Yu Xiaogang watched Ye Tianshui with excitement. This was clearly no ordinary Ice Dragon martial soul. For a mere Soul Lord to exude such power—it was astonishing. Upon returning home, he would definitely suggest the idea of an arranged marriage. Such a bloodline being wasted outside their family was unacceptable; only the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan could bring out its full potential.
However, the two battling souls paid no heed to the onlookers' thoughts. The instant their martial souls activated, both entered combat mode.
"First Soul Skill—Entangle!"
Tang San seized the initiative, unleashing his motherly Entangle technique and creating the most advantageous distance for himself.
Faced with the incoming vines, Ye Tianshui smirked disdainfully. With a stomp of her foot, she leapt into the air.
Seeing this, Tang San was delighted.
As someone deeply versed in the techniques of the Chinese civilization, even the Tang Sect of his previous life—a sect specializing in hidden weapons—avoided wide, sweeping movements or standing mid-air during combat.
Such actions created openings for enemies to exploit.
"Second Soul Skill—Parasitic, activate!"
In the moment Tang San unleashed his vines, he had already scattered spores containing Green Vine onto Ye Tianshui's body.
After all, the Green Vine acted like a whip. The powerful kinetic energy generated during the whipping motion instantly adhered the spores to Ye Tianshui.
But soon, Tang San's expression changed drastically—the parasitic spores on Ye Tianshui's body hadn't taken effect.
However, unwilling to miss this rare opportunity, Tang San quickly closed in to find the optimal distance and unleashed his third soul skill.
"Third Soul Skill—Spider Web Restraint!"
A massive spider web erupted from Tang San's right arm, spreading outward with the intent to completely envelop and capture Ye Tianshui.
But what happened next left Tang San dumbfounded. Ye Tianshui stomped forcefully downward, launching herself into the air once more and escaping the range of the web.
"What the heck? This isn't right."
If Tang San's era had understood science, he would have declared this situation "unscientific."
Ye Tianshui, however, didn't bother overthinking Tang San's moves. Since he had attacked without holding back, she saw no reason to show restraint either.
"Moon Step—Shave!"
With another stomp in mid-air, Ye Tian Shui's figure vanished completely.
Only those at the Soul King level or higher could barely track her movements.
Academician Meng Shenji stroked his beard and sighed.
"Is this one of the lower forms of the six styles of Tianxing Academy's Moon Step? It allows one to move through the air and achieve such speed—few Agility-Attack Type Soul Kings could match this."
Ye Wen nodded lightly. "You flatter us. But indeed, the same six styles can unleash different powers depending on the user."
Tang San, meanwhile, had no time to eavesdrop. His eyes began to glow purple as he activated the Purple Extreme Pupil Technique.
"So fast—I can't dodge!" Tang San's expression shifted.
He couldn't predict where Ye Tian Shui would attack next. Fortunately, he had prepared contingency plans years ago.
"Self-Created Soul Skill—Jade Body of the Abyss!"
Tang San's entire body began to emit a green glow, his surface resembling jade. However, its defensive capabilities far exceeded its fragile appearance.
Against weaker opponents, Ye Tianshui had no intention of playing tricks.
Using soul power to reinforce the entire body might seem impressive, but compared to focusing defense on a single point, it actually reduced overall effectiveness.
"Strong Style—Finger Gun Modified—Gun Fist!"
Without hesitation, Ye Tianshui delivered a full-powered punch to Tang San's abdomen.
The intense pain and sensation of weightlessness sent Tang San flying backward. Ye Wen even noticed Tang San's eyes bulging out slightly.
Big-eyed frog?
But why did that scene feel so familiar? Adding a line about "iron block" would make it even more fitting.
Are you brain-dead, Tang San? Even using Shadow Step to evade would have been better than relying on full-body defense in that situation.
It seems staying in that small village for too long has made him think he's the number one genius under the heavens.
Arrogance and prejudice are truly the original sins that doom a person, Ye Wen mused.
Ye Tianshui didn't press her advantage, instead standing in place and looking at Tang San with disappointment.
"After all these years, this is all you've got?"
Her casual remark dealt a critical blow to Tang San. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stand up.
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