Chapter 18: Live Combat, Tang Niannian vs. Hu Liena

The matter of the soul rings took more than a month to resolve. Afterward, Tang Nian nian began cultivating her soul power.

As an innate level twenty cultivator, she not only advanced faster than her peers but also far outpaced those five or six years her senior.

This was especially evident when compared to the future golden generation.

As the disciple of the Devotion Hall, Tang Nian nian was exempt from attending the Martial Soul Academy run by the Martial Soul Hall. Guang Ling personally taught her about martial souls and soul rings, while also overseeing her training.

Under Guang Ling’s guidance, Tang Nian nian made rapid progress.

She was naturally gifted, and in just one year, her soul power level rose to twenty-three.

Everyone in the Devotion Hall was pleased with this rate of advancement, including Tang Nian nian herself.

However, the faster one rose, the more attention they attracted.

Within a year, reaching level twenty-three soul power, Tang Nian nian quickly became the benchmark of the Martial Soul Academy.

Whether deliberately or unintentionally, Bibi Dong’s move sparked the curiosity of the future golden generation toward Tang Nian nian.

***

At the Martial Soul Academy, on the stadium platform.

A girl with short yellow hair, dressed in the school uniform, was warming up. Her expression was displeased, eyes fixed intently on the person before her, as if she wanted to devour her.

The person opposite her paid no heed to the girl’s glare. She pursed her lips and glanced up at the sky. Dark clouds were gathering; rain was likely imminent.

A swift resolution was necessary.

Tang Nian nian thought to herself.

Indeed, the one standing on the stadium platform now was Tang Nian nian.

Opposite her stood Hu Liena, the direct disciple of the current Pope, Bibi Dong.

Hu Liena was renowned in the Martial Soul Academy for her excellence. Having taken first place for several consecutive years, she was unexpectedly overtaken this year by a yellow-haired girl who had never even attended the academy. Feeling unjustly treated and stirred by other students, she boldly issued a challenge to Tang Nian nian, who was far away at the Devotion Hall.

Initially, Guang Ling had no intention of responding to Hu Liena’s challenge. But when Tang Nian nian insisted on going, he could not stop her. He only cautioned her not to go too far and to avoid causing fatal injuries.

Tang Nian nian curled her lips, somewhat displeased. “Master, you’re not worried about your own disciple but rather about others. Is that how you are?”

***

“Haha, I’m not worried about you at all. Just don’t kill the Pope’s disciple, and that will be good enough. Her trying to harm you is just wishful thinking. Consider this as gaining real combat experience.”

Guang Ling knew well the extent of Tang Nian nian’s strength. Although Hu Liena was six or seven years older, she was only a level two great soul master. At the same level, Tang Nian nian’s soul ring longevity was far superior. When the fight began, it would be no exaggeration to say that Tang Nian nian could annihilate her instantly.

Guang Ling had no interest in such a one-sided battle, so he stayed away, letting Tang Nian nian face the challenge alone.

On the stadium platform,

Hu Liena noticed Tang Nian nian still had the leisure to worry about the weather and immediately felt slighted. She put her hands on her hips and said crossly, “Nian nian, don’t think you can look down on others just because you’ve become the academy’s benchmark. We’re both level two great soul masters; I’m not necessarily weaker than you!”

“That’s right! Nana is the best! Nana is the strongest!”

Before Tang Nian nian could reply, the students gathered nearby began cheering like devoted fans.

Leading the cheers was Yan.

“...”

Tang Nian nian had no idea what expression to show at that moment but thought if she were Hu Liena, she would feel quite embarrassed.

“Bets are open! Don’t miss out! Current odds are 1:10! Guaranteed winnings! Come place your bets!”

When academy students step onto the platform, it’s for competition, so gambling rings often form around them. The match between Tang Nian nian and Hu Liena was the most anticipated in the past six months, naturally attracting many bettors.

Both being level two great soul masters, most students favored Hu Liena. They were familiar with her strength and believed her to be superior in actual combat. Besides knowing Tang Nian nian’s soul power level, they knew nothing else. Between someone battle-experienced and someone without, they naturally chose the former.

The odds ratio confirmed this sentiment.

Hu Liena finished warming up; the duel was about to begin.

“Hu Liena, level twenty-one battle soul master, Martial Soul: Demon Fox. I humbly ask for your guidance.”

“Nian nian, level twenty-three battle soul master, Martial Soul: Yata Soul Mirror. I humbly ask for your guidance.”

Both released their soul power simultaneously, and their soul rings rose beneath their feet.

Hu Liena’s two yellow soul rings appeared without a doubt. The students below cheered excitedly upon seeing her martial soul manifest.

Her popularity boosted Hu Liena’s confidence considerably.

What they did not expect was that the two soul rings appearing beneath Tang Nian nian’s feet were both purple!

“Thousand-year soul rings?!”

How could this be?!

Not only were the students below shocked, but Hu Liena herself was stunned.

Aren’t the first two soul rings strictly limited to less than a thousand years? Why did she have two thousand-year soul rings?

While Hu Liena was stunned, the students who had bet on her win groaned in despair. “It’s over! Our money’s gone!”

No need to even compare—the soul rings alone gave Tang Nian nian the edge.

Hu Liena felt uneasy hearing this. Gritting her teeth, she thought, “They’re just two thousand-year soul rings. So what?”

“First soul skill: Foxfire Order!”

Foxfire appeared in Hu Liena’s hand. Her first soul skill was a single-target attack. The flame’s temperature was extremely high and could corrode spiritual power. Anyone hit would inevitably suffer mental damage.

In such a small duel with only two soul skills, speed was everything. Hu Liena knew that striking first was crucial. As a control-type soul master, releasing control at the same soul power level would be impossible for her opponent to withstand.

“Second soul skill: Fox Charm!”

Hu Liena’s eyes glowed purple as she fixed her gaze on Tang Nian nian, intent on tightly controlling her.

This skill could manipulate the opponent’s body through auditory and visual means, causing rigidity and forcibly stunning them for three to five seconds.

This three to five second window was enough for her first soul skill to strike Tang Nian nian and knock her out of the arena.

Unfortunately for Hu Liena, this was only the smoothest part of her plan.

Tang Nian nian controlled the Yata Soul Mirror, casting it upward.

She leapt toward Hu Liena and said, “Second soul skill: Radiant Protective Shield.”

Four points of light suddenly appeared around Tang Nian nian, quickly converging to form a faint, shimmering shield around her.

“How dare you face my two soul skills head-on? You’re truly arrogant!”