The members of Godwind Academy's team were all senior students—elite spirit masters soon to graduate. They had trained with Feng Xiaotian for years, yet none of them had ever seen the expression he wore now.
From the far left, one of the team members spoke firmly, without hesitation:
"Captain, go for it. Win or lose, we've got your back!"
"If even you can't defeat Li Changsheng, then there's no way we can win this round. You're our captain—our core. I support you!"
The others nodded one after another, voices filled with resolve.
Feng Xiaotian let out a soft sigh. "What Li Changsheng said yesterday… it hit me hard. A team has never belonged to one man alone, and I can't speak for everyone. But since you all trust me, I'll give everything I have—for all of us."
"Go for it, Captain!"
"Do your best!"
Seven hands stacked together as one.
In that moment, Feng Xiaotian finally understood what responsibility truly meant.
This battle—he would fight with everything he had.
---
When Li Chang'an and Feng Xiaotian entered the arena from opposite sides, the spectators from every academy erupted in astonishment.
No one had expected Crimson Rose Academy and Godwind Academy to send out their strongest members right from the very first match.
Godwind Academy Captain: Feng Xiaotian, Level 44 Assault-Type Spirit Ancestor.
Martial Soul: Stormwind Doubleheaded Wolf.
Crimson Rose Academy Captain: Li Changsheng, Level 29 Assault-Type Spirit Master.
Martial Soul: Taibai Sword.
Both men walked slowly onto the field, each step measured and steady.
But while Feng Xiaotian's pace carried restrained tension, Li Chang'an's steps flowed like water—natural, unhurried, and impossibly calm.
Still, Feng Xiaotian's gaze never left him.
He could sense at least three elemental attributes emanating from Li Chang'an's body—yet no matter how he searched, he could not find a single flaw to exploit.
After both bowed in courtesy, the referee announced:
"Release your martial souls!"
---
Li Chang'an's martial soul remained the same: the Taibai Sword, modest in appearance yet wrapped in mystery.
The two dark, deep black soul rings that rose behind him only made him more inscrutable.
By contrast, Feng Xiaotian's transformation was a sight to behold.
With a sharp cry, a faint green light erupted from his body. The light surged outward, and his physique began to change.
With a series of cracking sounds, his bones and muscles expanded. His frame grew larger, his long hair turning a shade of jade green.
Most striking of all—a wolf's head emerged from his left shoulder, its eyes glowing cold and fierce, releasing waves of killing intent.
Stormwind Doubleheaded Wolf—a mutated evolution of the Stormwind Demon Wolf.
The Stormwind Demon Wolf was already considered a high-grade martial soul, but the rare mutation into a twin-headed form elevated it into the realm of top-tier martial souls.
It was this extraordinary martial soul that had made Feng Xiaotian what he was today: a prodigy among prodigies, a twenty-something Spirit Ancestor with unmatched talent.
(Though, of course, when the continent spoke of "geniuses" these days, they tended to exclude a certain Holy Son by default.)
Feng Xiaotian's face now bore none of the restlessness from the day before.
He stood calm—just like Li Chang'an.
---
"Li Changsheng."
"Feng Xiaotian."
They called each other's names, solemnly.
It was respect between warriors.
Feng Xiaotian's gaze sharpened. "When my martial soul awakened at the age of six, I was born with innate full soul power."
"Every bit of strength I have today came from years of relentless effort. I admire your power—but today, I must defeat you. Whether for Godwind Academy, or for Huo Wu, I cannot lose!"
Li Chang'an smiled faintly, neither mocking nor dismissive. His eyes said everything—
he too would not yield. Not for pride, not for glory—but to temper himself. And perhaps, for Huo Wu as well.
---
"Begin!"
At the referee's signal, both men exploded into motion.
Feng Xiaotian's figure blurred forward in a flash, green light streaking behind him like the tail of a shooting star.
His acceleration was astonishing.
Li Chang'an was mildly surprised.
According to his gathered intel, Feng Xiaotian was an assault-type spirit master, not an agility specialist.
But the speed he displayed now rivaled that of a Level 40 agility-type Spirit Ancestor.
'So this is… the power of the wind.'
As Feng Xiaotian lunged, his first soul ring flared to life.
Razor-sharp wolf claws extended from his hands, and his predatory eyes locked onto Li Chang'an.
Before his body even reached, his claws slashed downward—
ten crescent-shaped wind blades tore through the air with a shrill whistle, sealing off every possible escape route.
The Stormwind Demon Wolf's first soul skill was normally Wind Blade,
but for the mutated Twin-Headed Stormwind Wolf, the skill had evolved into Wind Blade Array—ten times the number of strikes, ten times the lethality.
That was the advantage of superior martial souls.
But were all paths truly sealed?
Li Chang'an smiled—and answered with his actions.
His steps shifted, fluid and strange.
One tilt, one twist—each step following the rhythm.
The ten slicing blades cut through empty air, grazing past him harmlessly.
This was the essence of the Tai Chi Flow, movement born from the balance of nature itself.
---
Feng Xiaotian's eyes narrowed.
The two were now less than five meters apart—a range where most fighters could strike only once before impact.
Of course, if Li Chang'an fought at his full strength, five meters was plenty of room for a nine-slash combo.
But right now, he kept his soul power restrained to his public rank—Level 29.
He didn't draw his sword.
Instead, both hands flashed forward, aiming straight for Feng Xiaotian's chest.
Feng Xiaotian didn't use a soul skill either.
His wolf claws met Li Chang'an's hands head-on—the two choosing raw soul power and physical prowess over techniques.
That alone spoke volumes about Feng Xiaotian's confidence and battle sense.
Soul power was finite; every technique consumed it.
But in a contest of pure strength, consumption was minimal.
Until one knew an opponent's full abilities, the first to use a skill risked falling behind.
Not using soul skills didn't mean they were unprepared—
it meant that once one of them struck with a technique, the other would instantly counter with their own.
---
Li Chang'an's right hand clashed against Feng Xiaotian's.
With a twist of his wrist, Feng Xiaotian's sharp wolf claws caught and locked Li Chang'an's palm.
As a beast-soul user, Feng Xiaotian's physical strength far exceeded that of a tool-soul user.
When his claws clamped down on Li Chang'an's hand, even he was startled by what he felt next…