The faint pawprints in the snow glimmered like molten silver under the morning sun. Mo Xuan crouched low, Spirit Spring pulsing faintly across his chest. Lin Yue's twin martial souls hovered near him, their subtle hum blending with the whisper of the cold wind.
"Rank 5+ Thunder Sabertooth," Elder Feng murmured. "Stay alert. It's clever, fast, and dangerous. Any mistake… and it could kill you."
Mo Xuan's cold gaze swept the forest, scanning for the slightest ripple in the underbrush. Then—a flicker of movement.
From the trees above, a figure descended with astonishing speed, landing lightly on a snow-covered boulder. His presence was commanding, his dark blue tunic flowing like a shadow, and his amber eyes gleamed with confidence.
"You must be Mo Xuan," the newcomer said, voice calm but cutting through the quiet like a blade. "I'm Wei Zhan. Heard there was a talented new Soul Master around here. Thought I'd see if the rumors were true."
Mo Xuan's expression remained neutral. "You're late," he said flatly. "The beast waits, not spectators."
Wei Zhan smirked, eyes glinting. "I'm never late when I want to be on time. But I like to make an entrance. Let's see if you can keep up."
Without another word, Wei Zhan released a pulse of Spirit Energy from his Silver Falcon Martial Soul, sending a sharp shockwave into the surrounding snow. The Thunder Sabertooth growled in confusion, disrupted by the sudden force.
Mo Xuan's pulse quickened. The ancient beast inside purred, approving. Interesting… a rival who doesn't waste words or patience. This one could push you.
Lin Yue moved instinctively, twin martial souls ready to coordinate. "He's strong," Lin Yue murmured, voice low. "And confident… almost arrogant."
"Confidence is not arrogance," Mo Xuan said coldly. "He's just testing us. That's all."
Wei Zhan tilted his head, noticing their subtle coordination. "I like your style. Efficient, controlled… but predictable. Let's see how you handle a real challenge."
Before anyone could react, he leapt toward the Thunder Sabertooth, attacking with incredible precision. Snow flew in arcs as his Silver Falcon spirit claws raked the air, forcing the beast to dodge violently.
Mo Xuan's eyes flickered. He's fast… almost too fast to track visually. But predictable in pattern if you watch carefully.
Mo Xuan tapped the Spirit Spring, subtly warping the snow beneath the tiger. The combination of Spring manipulation and his spatial energy twisted the battlefield just enough to redirect the beast's charge.
Wei Zhan's amber eyes followed every movement. "Hmm… not bad," he murmured, almost to himself. "Quick, precise, and clever. But let's see how you handle a dual strike."
With a smooth, practiced motion, Wei Zhan unleashed a twin barrage: one slash with his Silver Falcon spirit, the other a precise elemental pulse from his minor defensive soul, creating a combined effect of attack and area control. The Thunder Sabertooth staggered, momentarily confused by the simultaneous assault.
Lin Yue's twin martial souls responded immediately, reinforcing Mo Xuan's spatial manipulations. The battlefield became a blur of coordinated energy, ice, lightning, and precise strikes—Mo Xuan and Lin Yue on one side, Wei Zhan on the other, and the Thunder Sabertooth in the center.
Elder Feng watched silently, a faint smile tugging at his lips. This is the kind of rival who will push the boy beyond his limits… and he'll need it.
Mo Xuan's eyes narrowed. Interesting opponent. No arrogance, no malice. Just skill, confidence, and speed. Let's see how well he adapts.
Wei Zhan landed gracefully on a nearby branch, eyes fixed on Mo Xuan. "Your moves are sharp… but you rely heavily on strategy. Let's see if raw skill can match precision."
Mo Xuan's hand flexed on the Spirit Spring. Then we'll give him exactly that.
The forest trembled as the battle began in earnest—a three-way clash of Skill, Strategy, and Spirit Energy. Snow erupted in flurries, lightning arcs danced across frozen branches, and the Thunder Sabertooth, intelligent and cunning, twisted around every attack.
Wei Zhan's every move was precise, designed to test Mo Xuan and Lin Yue without unnecessary cruelty. He didn't attack recklessly—he attacked to provoke, to challenge, to measure the limits of his opponent.
Mo Xuan felt a spark of exhilaration he had rarely experienced since transmigrating—finally, someone matched his intellect and precision with raw, confident combat skill.
Good… purred the ancient beast inside. This one will push you. Learn from him. Adapt. Survive. Dominate.
The snowstorm around them intensified, obscuring their movements, but one thing was clear: the rivalry had begun. Not out of jealousy or malice, but mutual respect and competitive drive. And for Mo Xuan, that meant one thing—he had finally found someone worth testing himself against.