Han Feng stared at the blazing golden beam hurtling toward him, shock freezing his movements.
Dai Mubai turned just then, catching Han Feng's expression, and laughed heartily.
"Han Feng! Did you think only you and Tang San could create your own spirit skills? This isn't a fully self-created ability yet, but I crafted it just for you—it took me days to perfect! Surprised? "
"Immovable…"
Han Feng tried to activate his third ability for a decisive counterattack, but it was already too late. Dai Mubai's voice followed with a taunt:
"Your third soul skill can't be cast instantly, can it? "
"Tch! " Han Feng clicked his tongue, his first soul ring flashing as Shield of Life blocked the incoming strike.
"You already guessed I'd teleport behind you with my second skill? " Han Feng lowered his Celestial Shield, his gaze steady.
Dai Mubai grinned.
"When I saw you use it against Teacher Zhao, I figured your teleportation had more depth to it. Looks like I was right! "
Han Feng was silent for a moment, then smirked.
"I underestimated you, Dai Mubai! "
"Again! "Han Feng! shouted, summoning the Flame Dragon Armor as his second skill flared and teleported him behind Dai Mubai once more.
But Dai Mubai was ready. He had long since deduced that Han Feng's teleportation required a medium to trigger.
"No way I'm letting you stack six flame shields! " Dai Mubai roared, wielding his White Tiger Light Wave like a blade and cleaving down.
Clang!
The beam slammed into Han Feng's shield, not dispersing but blasting him away.
Dai Mubai, however, didn't celebrate. Planting his foot hard, he launched after Han Feng with another fierce shout.
"Brother! I'm not letting you use your third ability! "
Just as he lunged, Han Feng grinned back at him, teeth flashing.
"With all that momentum, if you can stop yourself… then go ahead and try! "
A shiver of dread passed through Dai Mubai.
"Second Soul Skill—Designated Guard! "
Han Feng teleported again, appearing behind Dai Mubai.
But Dai Mubai wasn't the target.
"Third Soul Skill—Immovable Flame Asura! "
A towering, flaming phantom loomed behind Han Feng, a massive shield before it and a blazing fist raised high.
Dai Mubai whipped around and sucked in a breath at the sight, tension gripping him.
"Fall!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With Han Feng's command, the fiery giant's fist came crashing down like a meteor.
"Is this even a defense-type spirit master anymore? " Ma Hongjun gulped as he watched.
"Come! " Dai Mubai roared in defiance, leaping like a feral tiger to meet the massive strike.
The deafening impact subsided, leaving Han Feng pale but composed. The flame phantom behind him was missing an arm, only the shield-bearing one remaining.
"Still going?" Han Feng asked hoarsely.
Dai Mubai grinned wickedly.
"Loser washes socks for a month! "
"By hand. No soap," Han Feng added.
"Deal!" Dai Mubai's pupils shrank, his jaw set as he charged once more. He knew Han Feng's third ability nullified his White Tiger Light Wave, leaving close combat as his only hope. Slim though the chances were, retreat guaranteed defeat.
Han Feng met his charge, raising his shield as the phantom mirrored him.
Charged Shield Bash!
BOOM!
From within the dust cloud, Han Feng's voice rang out, playful and triumphant:
"From today for the next month, my socks get changed twice a day. Thanks in advance! "
"Cough… Han Feng! That's just cruel! " came Dai Mubai's begrudging reply, drawing relieved laughter from the onlookers.
Han Feng merely smiled and stepped up to Grandmaster. Dai Mubai, out of options, followed.
As expected, Grandmaster's expression was anything but pleased.
"You impressed me at first, Dai Mubai," he began sharply. "Few power-attackers know how to adapt, but you did. Unfortunately, the rest of your performance was deeply disappointing! You couldn't stop Han Feng's third soul skill, yet you didn't need to. It drains massive energy—you should know this. All you had to do was stall for two minutes, and victory was yours. Instead, you chose to clash head-on. Power versus defense—especially a defender with offensive capabilities—is the worst possible matchup! "
"You had a path to victory, but your obsession with an outright win blinded you."
Dai Mubai stayed silent under the rebuke. He knew all of this, but when facing Han Feng, retreat wasn't an option.
Satisfied, Grandmaster turned his gaze to Han Feng.
"And you… Han Feng, I'm even more disappointed."
He didn't mince words.
"Tang San called you a true genius yesterday—spirit power purer than your peers, unmatched defense, formidable offense, even self-created techniques. Yet your behavior today…" Grandmaster paused, catching a flicker of indifference in Han Feng's eyes. He understood immediately—Han Feng already knew what this was about.
Teaching a genius is never easy, Grandmaster thought.
But that didn't mean he would relent.
"You're arrogant. Complacent. Prideful. You put on a friendly face, but beneath it, you're aloof. You seem gentle, but you're convinced of your own superiority. You act as though you hold all the answers. You keep Tang San and the others at arm's length, treating everyone like passing acquaintances. You believe life will always go your way—why? "
Grandmaster wasn't critiquing the battle anymore; he knew Han Feng's cooperation was half-hearted at best. Even if he pointed out his mistakes, Han Feng would brush them off.
This time, however, his words struck home.
Han Feng's pupils contracted, the easy confidence gone, replaced by a dawning realization.
Reflecting on his treatment of Tang San and the others, he was horrified to see how he had unconsciously cast them into the molds of their "original" selves—Tang San, gentle and strong; Dai Mubai, brash and loyal; Ning Rongrong, spoiled and willful.
He had never truly seen their individuality, never noticed their changes, and never bothered to know them beyond what he "already knew."
But that "knowledge" came from a book—one that could never fully capture even a single person, let alone all of them.
The only one he'd genuinely come to understand was Qian Qian, because every bit of his knowledge of her had been earned.
"…Grandmaster, you're right. I do have a problem."
To everyone's astonishment, Han Feng admitted it outright.
The others glanced at Grandmaster with newfound respect. Even Zhao Wuji had never managed to get Han Feng to concede fault.