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A torrent of flames surged toward Jiang Nannan , seemingly intent on incinerating everything in its path.
However, Jiang Nannan made a peculiar move—she turned her back directly to the flames. Just as the crowd wondered why she would abandon resistance after appearing poised for action, Jiang Nannan vanished.
Though an ultimate martial soul was powerful, it didn't excel in every aspect.
At the very least, Ma Xiaotao couldn't see through the changes obscured by the flames, nor did she possess strong spiritual perception. She could only rely on her extensive combat experience and sensitivity to fluctuations in soul power to predict Jiang Nannan's movements.
The moment Phoenix Fire Line was unleashed, Ma Xiaotao scanned all areas not covered by the flames, searching for Jiang Nannan's evasive figure to follow up with another attack.
But at this moment, Wang Yan, who was already tense in Shrek's competitor lounge, abruptly stood up, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared behind Ma Xiaotao.
"It's a spatial-type soul skill!"
Indeed, Jiang Nannan had activated her third soul skill—Teleportation. Though it was merely a thousand-year soul skill, it was nothing short of divine.
As for why Jiang Nannan had turned her back earlier, it was simply because the teleportation skill relocated her spatial coordinates to another point. Turning her back allowed her to better prepare for her next attack.
Among the various ultimate attributes, ultimate fire was undoubtedly the most aggressive.
With her ultimate fire activated, even ordinary soul masters would suffer constant burns just trying to approach Ma Xiaotao.
Though Ye Wen hadn't provided specific guidance for this match, Jiang Nannan , having absorbed his teachings, had already devised her own plan. Unable to engage in close combat, she would resort to long-range hit-and-run tactics, leveraging her incredible speed to wear down her opponent.
"Storm Leg—Luan Ju!!!" {T/N: The original is 乱菊 which means 'raging/disorderly chrysanthemum'. Makes no sense so I left it as is. It's also the name of Rangiku from Bleach.}
After confirming her position, Jiang Nannan rapidly vibrated her right leg, sending wave after wave of pink soul-powered blades slicing toward Ma Xiaotao's back.
It was only then that Ma Xiaotao finally noticed Jiang Nannan had somehow moved behind her.
"Damn it!"
Though being attacked from behind was irritating, Ma Xiaotao, a battle-hardened Soul Emperor, instantly ceased her Phoenix Fire Line.
Realizing it was too late to turn around and face the incoming attacks, Ma Xiaotao chose not to retaliate but instead activated her third soul skill.
"Third Soul Skill!"
This skill granted Ma Xiaotao flight capabilities, increased the temperature of her flames, and expanded her attack range by 50%—a highly practical enhancement skill.
With a gentle flap of her fiery wings, Ma Xiaotao soared into the air.
From the competitor's lounge, Ye Wen couldn't help but mutter under his breath: "Why do these flying-type soul masters always need a flight skill or have to reach the Soul Elder level before they can fly? So weak."
Unaware of the critique directed at her, Ma Xiaotao focused intently on Jiang Nannan, her expression heavy with concentration.
Though she felt somewhat relieved knowing her opponent wasn't Huo Yuer, even with Jiang Nannan's soul power boosted to Level 70, Ma Xiaotao, wielding the ultimate fire phoenix martial soul, was capable of fighting across a major cultivation gap. There was no reason to back down.
However, the combat techniques Jiang Nannan displayed now warranted Ma Xiaotao's full attention.
In a normal sparring match, Ma Xiaotao might have praised her opponent, but burdened with the honor of Shrek Academy, her sole thought now was to defeat Jiang Nannan as quickly as possible.
"First Soul Skill—Phoenix Fire Line!"
Though it was the same skill, its effect when used mid-air was entirely different from its earlier ground-based execution. Ma Xiaotao was confident that even if Jiang Nannan possessed an incredibly strange method of movement, her aerial flame spray would cover more than half the arena. Let's see how Jiang Nannan planned to dodge this!
Even the simplest first soul skill of ultimate fire, once it struck, was enough to severely wound any soul master of the same level.
Unable to utilize her preferred close-combat style, Jiang Nannan found herself in a bit of a predicament.
But that didn't mean she would stand still and wait to die.
Lifting her right foot again, Jiang Nannan began spinning rapidly in place.
Ye Wen's Storm Leg technique worked by generating a vacuum using soul power to manipulate airflow, which was then expelled with rapid leg vibrations.
This meant that the more kinetic energy accumulated before releasing the Storm Leg, the greater its destructive power.
Though it took less than a second, Jiang Nannan's Soft Bone Rabbit martial soul inherently gave her legs superior strength and development compared to ordinary soul masters.
With a sharp cry, Jiang Nannan shouted, "Storm Leg—All-Around Breakthrough!!!"
By now, Jiang Nannan had honed the Storm Leg to perfection. The accumulated vacuums merged into a continuous stream, unleashing a 360-degree barrage without blind spots.
Her primary target, however, remained Ma Xiaotao's Phoenix Fire Line.
The specially designed arena, capable of withstanding even Soul Douluo-level attacks, now bore a faint but noticeable crack.
Yet, none of the spectators paid attention to this minor detail. All eyes were glued to the clash between Jiang Nannan's Storm Leg and Ma Xiaotao's Phoenix Fire Line.
Even the ultimate fire capable of incinerating anything was completely sealed off by the vacuum barrier.
With the immediate danger averted, Jiang Nannan paused momentarily.
In the final moments before the Storm Leg's power dissipated, she finally devised a way to continue the fight.
"Moon Step!"
A powerful burst of soul power erupted from Jiang Nannan's feet, propelling her high into the sky. With quick successive taps of her toes, she rapidly closed the distance to Ma Xiaotao.
Though Ma Xiaotao could fly, the confined arena limited her mobility. In her haste, she struggled to evade.
And Ma Xiaotao, who had always considered herself a chosen one since awakening her martial soul, was not one to yield easily.
"Storm Leg—All-Around Breakthrough!!!"
"Second Soul Skill—Phoenix Rebirth in Flames." This enhanced all attributes of her phoenix flames and increased her flight speed.
"Fifth Soul Skill—Phoenix Piercing Cloud Strike!!!"
At this moment, the ultimate fire surrounding Ma Xiaotao condensed into a blazing phoenix phantom. Strengthened by two soul skills, its temperature reached an unparalleled intensity. Flapping its wings, the phoenix phantom surged toward Jiang Nannan as she ascended.
The two formidable soul skills collided once again, neither side willing to yield, continuously clashing against each other.
But without sufficient enhancement, Jiang Nannan was ultimately at a disadvantage. Her Storm Leg was burned away, and the flaming phoenix charged straight at her.
Jiang Nannan tried to evade, but despite her exceptional legwork, the strain of repeatedly unleashing powerful moves was beginning to take its toll.
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