An Effortless Blow
"What? Your soul power is also Level 18?" Xie Xie's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing Yao Xuan's words.
"Yes. Is it only allowed for you to be Level 18, but not for me?" Yao Xuan stood calmly, his hands resting loosely at his sides.
"Hmph, Level 18 it is! Yao Xuan, let me tell you, people are different. Don't think that just because our soul power levels are the same, you can match me! Hey, are you ready yet?" By now, Xie Xie had already positioned himself on the far side of the battle hall. His voice was filled with arrogant confidence.
"What a coincidence, Xie Xie, that's exactly what I wanted to say to you! I'm ready. Let's begin." Yao Xuan's gaze sharpened as he looked across the distance at Xie Xie.
"Alright! I'll show you what a real gap looks like! Take this!" The moment he finished speaking, Xie Xie pushed off with his right foot, his body shooting forward like a loosed arrow, closing the distance between them in a blur.
As he sprinted, a faint yellow light enveloped his form. His right hand twisted in a practiced motion, and a dagger about forty centimeters long materialized in his grip. It was yellow in hue, gleaming with a cold, sharp light, and it emitted a soft, resonant dragon's roar that filled the battle hall.
"Ancestral Dragon Martial Soul, Possess me!"
Seeing Xie Xie's charge, Yao Xuan took a single step forward, soul power stirring within him. A magnificent, nine-colored light coalesced around him, forming the majestic shape of the Ancestral Dragon Martial Soul.
At his mental command, the Ancestral Dragon let out a silent roar, soaring upwards before arcing back down like a meteor, accelerating fiercely until it merged into the crown of Yao Xuan's head. A faint, nine-colored aura shimmered around him as man and spirit became one.
With the Ancestral Dragon's possession, Yao Xuan's blood and qi surged. His bones creaked and expanded, his height increasing by nearly ten centimeters. A subtle layer of iridescent dragon scales became visible on his skin, shimmering under the hall's lights.
Although Yao Xuan was confident he could defeat Xie Xie with his physical strength alone, without even needing the Martial Soul Possession, he activated it nonetheless—as a sign of respect. Xie Xie was proud, and Yao Xuan knew that not using his full form would be seen as an insult, breeding deeper resentment.
Of course, while he activated the Ancestral Dragon Possession, Yao Xuan did not trigger his bloodline ability, the Right Claw Dragon Transformation. Against an 18th-level Soul Master like Xie Xie, even one with twin martial souls, it was utterly unnecessary. His right arm remained in its human form.
Across the hall, as the Ancestral Dragon Martial Soul appeared, Xie Xie felt a sudden, inexplicable tremor in his heart. The Light Dragon Dagger in his hand quivered slightly, emitting a faint pulse of... fear.
'What's going on?' Xie Xie was puzzled. The opponent was only Level 18, same as him. Why would his martial soul feel fear? His Light Dragon Dagger contained a wisp of true dragon bloodline; the noble dragon race wasn't easily cowed.
Pushing his confusion aside, Xie Xie's movements didn't falter. His figure became a blur, leaving a series of afterimages in his wake. An ordinary Soul Master would have been utterly disoriented, unable to pinpoint his true location.
But Yao Xuan was no ordinary Soul Master. With his "Enhanced Comprehension" and the supreme quality of the Ancestral Dragon Martial Soul, Xie Xie's movements were as clear as day to him. Yao Xuan simply stood his ground, fist calmly clenched, waiting for the right moment.
"Haha! Take this!"
Seeing Yao Xuan standing motionless, Xie Xie assumed his feints had worked. A smug smile touched his lips as he flashed to Yao Xuan's side, the Light Dragon Dagger thrusting precisely toward Yao Xuan's arm—a controlled strike meant to disable, not maim.
"Too slow."
The moment Xie Xie committed to his attack, Yao Xuan moved. His body shifted a mere few centimeters, a subtle, efficient motion that allowed the dagger to slice through empty air, not even grazing his clothes.
In the same instant, Yao Xuan's right fist shot out—a simple, direct, and blindingly fast punch aimed at Xie Xie's abdomen.
THUMP!
A dull impact echoed through the hall. Yao Xuan's fist connected solidly, and Xie Xie was thrown backward as if hit by a tidal wave, crashing heavily onto the stamped steel floor.
Though Yao Xuan had used only a fraction of his strength, Xie Xie, as an Agility System Soul Master, had a physique even less robust than Zhou Changxi's. The punch sent his internal organs roiling, his vision swimming with black spots.
"Oops, sorry! I used a bit too much force! Xie Xie, are you alright?" Yao Xuan feigned concern, stepping forward as if to help him up.
"I—I'm fine! Stay back, I can get up myself!" Xie Xie spat out defiantly, pushing himself up with his arms. His body swayed unsteadily once he was on his feet.
"Oh, you're alright? That's a relief. I was worried I'd hurt you." Yao Xuan's tone was light. "So, shall we continue?"
"No... no need. I lost. There's no need to continue." Xie Xie's lips twitched. He now understood why his Light Dragon Dagger had felt fear. The power behind that simple punch was monstrous.
"Alright, then we'll stop here." Yao Xuan nodded mentally, dispelling the Martial Soul Possession. The nine-colored aura faded from around him. "So, Xie Xie, about my 50,000 Federal Credit appearance fee..."
The system's notification chimed pleasantly in his mind.
"What? 50,000 Federal Credit appearance fee?" Xie Xie stared, momentarily stunned.
"Of course. If you hadn't promised the fee, why would I have agreed to fight you?" Yao Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he casually flexed his fist. "Are you going back on your word?"
"No! No, I'm not." Seeing the gesture, Xie Xie quickly shook his head, the memory of the punch still fresh.
"Good." Yao Xuan's expression softened. He stepped forward and patted Xie Xie's shoulder—a friendly gesture that nonetheless made Xie Xie flinch. "By the way, Xie Xie, you don't look too good. Should I take you to the school clinic?"