Fang Xin's question hangs in the air. Yin Xiaoya glances at the steel-toothed ape-bat, still rasping out its last breaths. With a mental command, the Musou Saber materializes in his hand. He offers the weapon to her, hilt first.
"You... what do you mean?" Fang Xin asks, confusion etched on her face.
"I'm sorry I couldn't save your people," Yin Xiaoya replies, his voice subdued. "But there's no real grudge between me and the soul beast. Defeating it is one thing, but taking its life is another. You, on the other hand—you do have a score to settle. If you want revenge, you need to be the one to do it. If I, an outsider, did it, it wouldn't truly settle things in your heart, right?"
Seeing Yin Xiaoya offer the Musou Saber, remembering the deaths of her clansmen, something shifts within Fang Xin. She seems to age years in a single moment. Her eyes harden with resolve as she takes the saber. She refuses Yin Xiaoya's offer of support. Ignoring the throbbing pain in her legs, she limps toward the downed ape-bat.
"In the Soul Beast Forest, everyone who steps foot here has to be aware of the risks. We kill soul beasts for spirit rings, and in turn, we get attacked by stronger soul beasts. You killed my people. Now, I'll take your life in exchange. It's as simple as that. Nothing complicated about it."
To Yin Xiaoya's surprise, Fang Xin's face is devoid of hatred or rage. There's only a chilling calm, a clear-eyed determination to avenge her tribe.
This girl has a clear sense of right and wrong, she's a good seed.
Yin Xiaoya nods, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, she's definitely got something special. Like a true Kamen Rider…"
Meanwhile, Fang Xin reaches the ape-bat's side. She stares down at the creature, mangled and broken from Yin Xiaoya's assault. A flicker of something almost like humor touches her lips. "Good," she murmurs, her voice low and dangerous. "At least you got to feel some pain before you die. Wouldn't want you getting off easy."
She raises the saber.
Just as she's about to bring it down, a prickling sensation runs down Yin Xiaoya's spine. A sudden, sharp spike of killing intent.
"Careful!"
Before Fang Xin can react, Yin Xiaoya surges forward, grabbing her and throwing them both to the side. An instant later, an earth-shattering explosion rips through the spot where she had been standing. The force of the blast sends a shockwave that throws them both dozens of meters. Yin Xiaoya twists in mid-air, shielding Fang Xin with his body.
Fang Xin is unharmed, protected by Yin Xiaoya's body. But Yin Xiaoya takes the full force of the explosion. The world turns white, then black. The transformation is forcibly ripped away, leaving him gasping for breath.
Damn it! So this is what it feels like to get my ass kicked in this world. Guess I really am living up to the name Kamen Rider Meteor.
Though shaken by the explosion, Fang Xin is physically unscathed. Yin Xiaoya's face is now exposed, realizing he must have been shocked.
"Hey! Hey! Are you okay?"
Fang Xin shoves at Yin Xiaoya, who is still sprawled on top of her.
"Don't shake me," Yin Xiaoya groans, waving a hand weakly. "I... I'm fine. Just a little dizzy."
With a struggle, he pushes himself up, away from Fang Xin. He stares back at the site of the explosion, his expression hardening. A purple soul ring floats lazily in the air where the ape-bat had been lying.
That explosion wasn't meant for Fang Xin. It was aimed at the soul beast.
Understanding dawns, followed by a surge of white-hot anger.
They didn't care who else got caught in the blast. Obtaining that spirit ring was all that mattered. What a bunch of assholes!
"Someone's coming."
Fang Xin, still wincing with pain, points in the direction from which the attack originated. Sure enough, a group of figures in matching uniforms are running toward them at high speed.
The newcomers ignore Yin Xiaoya and Fang Xin, rushing straight to the soul ring. The leader, an old man in ceremonial robes, strokes his beard with satisfaction as he gazes at the ring. "Excellent. To hit the target from that distance shows your spirit skill proficiency has improved. Now, absorb this spirit ring, Jiang Xie."
"Yes, Lord Priest," replies a young man with black hair and piercing red eyes. He looks to be about seventeen or eighteen. He's the one who unleashed the attack. Looking at the floating soul ring, Jiang Xie bares his teeth in a predatory grin. "I thought I'd missed. Turns out fate had other plans. I'll make you mine!"
As he speaks, he channels his soul power. Two spirit rings appear around his body—one yellow, one purple. This Jiang Xie already has a thousand-year spirit ring as his second. This group must be powerful. With a surge of power, Jiang Xie reaches out to draw the new soul ring closer.
The priest waves a hand, and the rest of the group spreads out, forming a protective circle around Jiang Xie. The priest himself takes up a position at the edge of the formation, his eyes falling on Yin Xiaoya and Fang Xin.
"Well, well. The corpses scattered around—those were your companions, I presume? Looks like you softened up the ape-bat for my disciple. Consider this a token of our gratitude."
With a flick of his wrist, the priest sends a cloth bag sailing toward Yin Xiaoya.
BANG!
The bag explodes in mid-air, showering the area with pulverized herbs. The air instantly crackles with tension. The Soul Hall members snap to attention, their eyes narrowing on Fang Xin.
She's the one who fired the shot. Using the Musou Saber. She watched Yin Xiaoya fight the steel-toothed ape-bat and figured out how to use the blunderbuss function.
Yin Xiaoya is furious. He wanted to use those herbs to treat Fang Xin. But Fang Xin refused in such a dramatic way.
This girl...
Though young, Fang Xin is sharp. The sudden attack nearly cost them their lives. But it gave her vital information. The steel-toothed ape-bat had been targeted. Its throat wound was inflicted by this group. It only attacked them so frantically because it was already wounded and desperate. The people in front of them are to blame.
"Who wants your charity!" Fang Xin spits, her voice trembling with rage. "If you hadn't wounded that soul beast, my people would still be alive! This is all your fault! And don't talk to me about fate letting it escape your grasp! If this brother hadn't injured it, you wouldn't have stood a chance!"
Yin Xiaoya stares at Fang Xin, her face flushed with anger. A smile spreads across his face.
"Hey, system, you know what I'm thinking, right?"
[Likely.]
"Can it be done?"
[Provided the necessary conditions are met, everything is subject to the host's will.]
Fang Xin's outburst darkens the priest's face. Jiang Xie, distracted from absorbing the soul ring, throws them a look of disgust.
"Insolent brat."
"Focus on absorbing the soul ring," the priest snaps. "Don't let these nobodies distract you."
"Yes, Lord Priest."
Jiang Xie resumes his efforts to absorb the soul ring. The priest turns his attention back to Yin Xiaoya and Fang Xin. "Since you're so ungrateful, be gone. I don't make a habit of bullying children."
With that, a wave of soul power explodes from his body. Six spirit rings appear—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black. The old man is a Spirit Emperor. The pressure alone is enough to make Yin Xiaoya and Fang Xin gasp for breath. Fang Xin's face pales, her body trembling uncontrollably.
"Hmph. Saying you don't bully children while using soul power to crush them? You're as shameless as ever, old ghost. Martial Soul Hall only reaches this level?"
A deep voice cuts through the air. Soul power, no less potent than the priest's, slams into the oppressive aura, nullifying it. The pressure vanishes, and Yin Xiaoya almost stumbles. A pair of arms catch him.
"Really, going head-to-head with the Martial Soul Hall. Don't know if you're brave or just stupid. Is this the belief of a Kamen Rider?"
"Miss Su? Heh. So you followed me."
Su Xuan supports Yin Xiaoya. The Shrek Academy group stands behind her. Spirit King Jing Tieyang is the one who blocked the priest's pressure.
This is the first time Yin Xiaoya has seen Jing Tieyang's soul rings: two yellow, one purple, and one black. He actually has a ten-thousand-year as the fifth soul ring.
The quality of the spirit ring is one of the biggest criteria that determines the combat power. The older, the higher-quality spirit ring can easily leapfrog the battle. It's no wonder that although Jing Tieyang's level isn't as good as the opponent's, in terms of the thickness of the soul power, he can fight opponents higher level than him.
Ghost Blade's expression darkens. He withdraws his soul power. A battle would benefit no one.
"Shrek... Jing Tieyang. Since when do you stick your nose into other people's business?"
Since the other party took away the soul power, Jing Tieyang also gave face and took back his own. No matter what, right now there's a junior absorbing the spirit ring. If he disturbs him and word gets out, he'll not only lose face, but the other party's identity isn't ordinary, and the trouble will definitely be big.
He glares at Yin Xiaoya, then turns to Ghost Blade. "This kid's a friend of Shrek. Normally, we don't care about what happens in the Soul Beast Forest, but that doesn't mean we lack morals. Ghost Blade, who we call our people isn't something you decide. You should teach your apprentice to have a heart. After all, the Martial Soul Hall doesn't have the best record with that."
"You!"
Ghost Blade is about to retort when a muffled sound comes from behind. Jiang Xie, who's absorbing the soul ring, is bleeding from the corner of his mouth, his brow furrowed in pain.
To prevent accidents, Ghost Blade flashes to Jiang Xie's side and helps him stabilize his power. Then, he turns back to Jing Tieyang, his face a mask of fury. "Take your people and leave. Or I'll consider you enemies of the Martial Soul Hall!"
Jing Tieyang sneers. "Wouldn't want us to be witnesses if something goes wrong? Let's go."
He turns and strides away. Luo Pupu and another student follow, carrying Fang Xin. Yin Xiaoya declines Su Xuan's support.
"I'm fine, Miss Su." He turns his head, his eyes lingering on the Martial Soul Hall members.
Su Xuan says softly, "The Martial Soul Hall is like this. Don't be reckless."
Yin Xiaoya nods.
Not long after they leave, Jiang Xie successfully absorbs the ape-bat's soul ring with Ghost Blade's help. He opens his eyes and says, "I'll never forgive them. Especially that Jing Tieyang. I'll crush him."
Ghost Blade strokes his beard. "Jing Tieyang is beyond you for now. Even the Martial Soul Hall recognizes his talent. Channel your anger. Win back face at the Martial Soul Saint Meeting. This is your mission."
"Don't worry, Lord Priest. I won't fail you."
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz