Chapter 49: Ink Radiance vs. Fire Dance

“I, Huowu of the Blazing Fire Academy, challenge Mo Hui of the Divine Wind Academy!”

Hearing the voice echo through the Spirit Arena, Mo Hui was initially taken aback. Then, with a hint of confusion, he pointed to himself as if asking, “Are you calling me?”

“That’s right, you—the bookish kid!”

Seeing Mo Hui’s reaction, Huowu’s irritation flared. With a provocative tone, she taunted, “What, are you scared to accept?”

“Mo Hui, you should go up. Huowu has a proud and competitive nature; she loves to prove her strength. If you don’t face her, she’ll think you look down on her, and life won’t be easy for you afterward.”

At that moment, Feng Yunfan, standing nearby, turned slightly and whispered a warning.

Hearing this, Mo Hui sighed helplessly. He had hoped to be spared, but in the end, it was his turn.

He tucked his book back into his soul guide device and transformed into a streak of blue shadow, bounding swiftly onto the Spirit Arena.

“Hmph! Finally decided to show up. I heard you defeated Feng Xiaotian—is that true?” Huowu sneered coldly, sizing him up as he stepped onto the platform.

Mo Hui nodded calmly. “Yes, I did.”

Huowu’s eyes flickered with surprise. Although she disliked Feng Xiaotian, she did not deny his strength. How did someone so young manage to defeat him?

But she quickly dismissed her thoughts—whether a mule or a horse, a fight would reveal the truth.

“Huowu of Blazing Fire Academy, Soul Name: Fire Shadow, Level 37 Control-Type Battle Spirit!”

Huowu spoke first. A fiery red silhouette appeared behind her like a ghostly flame.

Mo Hui’s eyes showed a trace of surprise. Could she have a double?

The thought vanished as he responded, “Mo Hui of Divine Wind Academy, Soul Name: Bibi Bird, Level 34 Battle Spirit!”

“Level 34? How old are you?” Huowu raised an eyebrow.

“Just turned twelve recently. Why?” Mo Hui replied.

Twelve years old and level 34?

Huowu’s first reaction was disbelief—how could anyone train so fast?

Yet her reason told her there was no need for deceit in this setting. The opponent had no reason to lie.

Her shock deepened. At twelve, she was only level 26. This kid was far ahead.

“Enough talk. Let’s start early and finish so we can rest,” Mo Hui said.

Suddenly, three soul rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—glowed around him. The Bibi Bird above his head radiated a faint cyan light.

Despite Huowu’s arrogance, Mo Hui treated her seriously. While his usual foe could be dealt with by his Wind Blade, facing Huowu, he unleashed the Air Blade: Four-in-One.

In an instant, a massive azure wind blade sliced through the air, striking directly at Huowu, nearly reaching her in a flash.

“Third Soul Technique: Fire Ring Resistance!”

Startled by the wind blade, Huowu quickly activated her third soul skill. A dazzling, circular ring of flames rapidly expanded, colliding with Mo Hui’s Air Blade: Four-in-One.

*Crackling noises.*

The Air Blade: Four-in-One barely held against the Fire Ring and was repelled. Even Mo Hui himself was pushed back over ten meters by the recoil.

“A formidable technique. Though it lacks offense, its control and defense are top-notch. And the Air Blade: Four-in-One was easily deflected,” Mo Hui thought.

Though the Air Blade: Four-in-One was not a high-tier soul skill, its power surpassed many thousand-year techniques. That Huowu could repel it so easily meant she had much more to show.

Suddenly, Mo Hui’s interest was piqued. It had been a while since he faced such an intriguing skill.

His first soul ring glowed brightly as he mentally commanded Bibi Bird, “Use Air Blade: Twelve-in-One. I want to see the limits of her Fire Ring Resistance!”

“Beep beep~”

Bibi Bird’s eyes gleamed. Its wings fluttered rapidly, unleashing twelve nearly one-meter-long, semi-arc wind blades.

In midair, the twelve blades twisted and merged, forming a colossal azure wind blade, tens of meters long, radiating an overwhelming aura of annihilation. It darted towards Huowu, reaching her almost in the blink of an eye.

Everyone present was stunned by the sight. Compared to the blade that seemed to cleave space itself, Huowu appeared so small and fragile.

“No good!”

Huowu immediately summoned her Fire Ring Resistance to defend. Yet before this colossal blade that darkened the sky, her skill—capable of resisting flames ten levels above its own—seemed powerless. No matter how much she increased her output, she could not stop the blade’s advance.

Just as despair crossed Huowu’s face, ready to accept her fate, a tall figure bathed in golden-red light stepped between her and the blade.

It was none other than her father, Huo Yangyan.

Seeing his daughter in danger, he could no longer hold back and intervened personally.

“It’s just a match, yet this kid is using such a deadly move!” Huo Yangyan muttered inwardly. The power of this massive blade surpassed many ten-thousand-year soul skills. Even he would find it difficult to withstand.

Huo Yangyan had the Fire Ring Resistance skill as well. Deflecting Mo Hui’s Air Blade: Twelve-in-One would be easy for him.

However, the Fire Ring Resistance only repels—it doesn’t cancel. Such a large blade carried immense risk when repelled. He had to take it head-on.

Just as Huo Yangyan prepared to manifest his soul weapon to absorb the Air Blade: Twelve-in-One, the massive blade, mere meters from him, suddenly split rapidly, dissolving into countless azure sparks before his and Huowu’s eyes.

The sudden turn left everyone speechless. After a long pause, the referee regained composure and announced, “Winner: Mo Hui!”

“Uh…”

Huo Yangyan’s expression was complicated. Had he intercepted the attack, he would have saved the day. But now, with the attack dispersing before he acted, he was stuck—unable to advance or retreat.

Sensing his awkwardness, Mo Hui spoke gently, “Senior, please help Huowu off the stage. She seems unwell.”

“Oh, of course~”

Realizing Mo Hui was offering him a graceful exit, Huo Yangyan nodded hurriedly and supported Huowu as they swiftly left the Spirit Arena.