Chapter 34: Displaying the Power of the Six Powers
Huo Rui's opponent was a towering man, nearly two meters tall, with muscles like slabs of rock clearly a strong attack system soul master.
"Little girl, you might want to just surrender. I'd hate for you to get hurt if I can't hold back," he warned, sounding sincere enough. At least, he wasn't throwing insults around like some others might.
Hidden under her mask, Huo Rui's expression showed a trace of irritation. Ye Wen had instilled in her the principle that a woman's strength need not lose to any man's, a truth she held onto fiercely.
"Let's settle it with our fists then, sir. And here's a word of advice: you'll regret underestimating me. Heavenly Walk Senior Sister, rank 32 strong attack Soul Elder, martial soul: Heart."
The man frowned, his tone turning serious as he responded, "Xiong Ba, rank 38 strong attack Soul Elder, martial soul: Black Bear."
In the audience, murmurs began as spectators sized up the seemingly uneven match.
"This kid's toast. Xiong Ba's on a nine win streak nearly leveled up to Copper Fighting Soul. His Black Bear martial soul gives him crazy defense and strength. Regular Soul Elders are lucky to survive an encounter with him."
"Heart? What kind of martial soul is that? It sounds completely useless. This girl's out of her depth."
"Tch, unlucky! I thought I'd make my money back betting on a promising newcomer, but she's got a trash martial soul."
Ye Wen watched all this with a detached gaze. If mere words could dishearten a person, they'd never have much of a future anyway. Back in his own life, it was sheer resilience and thick skin that had helped him through the trials of hardship. And he had complete confidence in Huo Rui whether in strength, technique, or martial soul, she stood at the peak among regular soul masters.
The large man summoned his martial soul immediately, transforming as three bright yellow rings appeared around him, lending him an air of fierce authority.
Ye Wen simply shook his head at the sight. This Black Bear soul master was clearly a commoner skilled, perhaps, but lacking in resources. A Black Bear soul was no more than a top tier normal martial soul, offering only a basic physical boost. Against advanced souls, it paled in comparison, offering raw power but no additional special attributes.
Annoyed by Huo Rui's lack of response, Xiong Ba decided to teach this arrogant girl a lesson. "Third Soul Skill: Raging Bear Strike!"
He roared the skill's name, charging toward her like a wild horse unchained. In mere seconds, the distance between them was bridged, his fist barreling toward her like a hammer blow.
Huo Rui remained unfazed. This brawler couldn't match her younger brother in close combat or raw strength, let alone technique. As his fist neared her, she pushed off from the ground and vanished from sight.
Six Powers: Flash Step.
By concentrating her soul power in her feet, she explosively propelled herself, combining strength and technique to create a move that looked like teleportation.
In the blink of an eye, the large man's target had disappeared, and just as he began to realize this, a sharp pain struck his waist. The next instant, he was hurled off the fighting stage.
The crowd exploded in excitement. Most were commoners, here to witness soul master battles and to savor the thrill of this near superhuman profession. They didn't understand the techniques at play, but the spectacle of a petite girl defeating a massive opponent filled them with adrenaline. They roared in unison, awash in the exhilaration of the moment.
Xiong Ba slowly picked himself up, still in disbelief at having been thrown out of the ring. Yet he held no resentment this girl had surprised him, proving that new talent emerged with every generation.
Not all, after all, could match the likes of a certain Buddha who had once tried to kill two hammers for merely injuring his companion in a sparring ring.
Not long after, Huo Quan took to the stage. His opponent, who had watched Huo Rui's match carefully, was clearly on guard. Immediately, he summoned a perfect configuration of two yellow and one purple ring.
"Shan Mao, rank 39 agility attack Soul Elder, martial soul: Leopard Cat."
"Heavenly Walk Second Brother, rank 35 strong attack Soul Elder, martial soul: Onto Body."
After their formal bows, both were locked in a stare off, each observing the other carefully.
"A Leopard Cat soul, hmm? Barely ranks among the advanced martial souls," Huo Quan thought to himself. "It's a decent pick for agility, but I wonder how he's distributed his skills."
Meanwhile, Shan Mao sized up his opponent. Another one in similar garb to that girl, bearing the striking "Heavenly Walk" symbol on his chest.
"Onto Body soul? Another bizarre type of beast martial soul? And just like her, he's hiding his rings... does he have that much confidence in his power? I'll play it safe and test him first."
"First Soul Skill: Phantom Step."
Shan Mao's first ring flared to life, and he began moving with blinding speed. He left afterimages as he darted around, filling the ring with shadows.
"A disorienting skill, huh? Not bad." Huo Quan murmured, seeing the afterimages grow more dense, each one closing in on him. Yet he stayed in place, not rushing into action.
Closing his eyes, Huo Quan let his senses sharpen. His Onto Body soul granted him total control over his body, amplifying all five senses to a near superhuman level.
With a snap of his eyes open, Huo Quan lunged at a specific afterimage.
Six Powers: Finger Gun, Six Shot!
Before Shan Mao could even react, six bleeding wounds opened on his body. Though they missed vital areas, they still caused him to cry out in pain.
"Ahhhh !"
The crowd gasped, watching blood pool at Shan Mao's side. They hadn't expected the match to be over so suddenly, with both combatants seemingly still testing each other. Shan Mao was already crumpled on the ground, losing blood rapidly as he slipped into a near faint.
"Winner, Heavenly Walk Second Brother!" the referee quickly declared, calling medics to the stage. Non lethal fights were meant to avoid serious injuries, so allowing someone to bleed out on the stage could seriously impact his performance record.
(End of Chapter)
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