"How is this possible?!"
Seeing his attack effortlessly neutralized, Qin Ming's heart jolted with shock. The opponent hadn't even released his Martial Soul, yet he could block his attack and even absorb the flames from his wolf claws.
Forcing down the astonishment in his heart, Qin Ming swiftly changed his move. Flames concentrated on his right leg, sweeping towards Lin Mu like a whip.
However, Lin Mu was always one step faster. His left arm easily blocked the attack, followed by a straightforward front kick that sent Qin Ming flying.
"Without even using his Martial Soul, how can he neutralize Qin Ming's flames?"
Bai Baoshan's pupils contracted slightly, a flicker of incomprehension in his eyes. Even he, as a defensive-type Soul Douluo, couldn't completely nullify Qin Ming's damage.
"Perhaps… the quality of his Martial Soul is far above that of the Blazing Fire Grey Wolf."
Meng Shenji's expression turned grave. They had likely still underestimated this young Soul Sage.
The battle continued, and the more Qin Ming fought, the more alarmed he became. Without using his Martial Soul, the opponent's strength was actually greater than his.
If he didn't start using soul skills, he probably wouldn't even be able to force out the opponent's Martial Soul.
"Third Soul Skill, Grey Wolf's Fury!"
Qin Ming let out a low shout, the purple light of the third soul ring on his body bursting forth.
The flames around him abruptly surged, their color deepening into a more profound hue. A violent, scorching aura rose, continuously gathering even more powerful flame energy!
At this moment, Qin Ming held nothing back, pouncing with his full strength.
Before the wolf claws even arrived, the blistering heat wave already assaulted his face. The flame energy contained within the claw wind far exceeded that of before.
A slight flicker passed through Lin Mu's eyes; he finally felt a trace of pressure.
Just as the flame-wreathed wolf claws were about to strike his face, a suit of armor—streamlined in design, majestic in form, entirely crimson, and covering his whole body—instantly clad Lin Mu!
Ever since his Martial Soul's transformation, the quality of the armor had also improved significantly. It now possessed a powerful aura of intimidation specifically targeting beast-type Martial Souls.
In an instant, an extremely powerful pressure suddenly erupted, a scorching aura sweeping across the entire arena.
"Boom!!"
Another straightforward front kick, without even releasing a soul skill, sent Qin Ming flying out like a cannonball, smashing into the wall at the edge of the arena.
"What kind of Martial Soul is this?"
Looking at the majestic and imposing armor on Lin Mu, the three Education Committee members and Xue Qinghe were stunned. This type of Martial Soul had absolutely never appeared on the continent.
"Could this be a mutated Martial Soul…"
Xue Qinghe thought to herself. For this kind of armor-type Martial Soul, its defensive power naturally went without saying. She just hadn't expected its offensive power to be so terrifying as well.
That ability to devour flames earlier was most likely derived from this Martial Soul.
At this moment, Qin Ming had already freed himself from the wall. The look in his eyes when he gazed at Lin Mu now held a bit more admiration and fear.
That earlier move made him realize the gap in strength between them. This person's strength was probably approaching the Soul Douluo level, simply not on the same tier as him.
"Your talent is peerless. I admit I am no match…"
Having said this, Qin Ming's tone shifted, his aura becoming even sharper as he continued, "However, I still wish to witness your true strength."
As the second youngest Soul Emperor on the entire continent, how could Qin Ming lack pride? He just disdained showing it.
Now, faced with Lord Lin Mu who completely overpowered him, the pride hidden deep in his heart was finally stirred.
Even if he lost, he had to force out the opponent's soul skills.
Seeing Qin Ming still refusing to concede, a strange glint flashed in Lin Mu's eyes. No wonder he could cultivate to the Soul Emperor level at such a young age.
Humble origins are not a disgrace.
Although a graduate of Shrek Academy, Qin Ming counted as one of the rare normal people. His only issue was being too loyal to Shrek Academy.
"Very well, I shall grant your request."
Lin Mu no longer restrained his aura. The soul rings at his feet manifested one after another.
Yellow, Yellow, Purple…
The first three soul rings were a standard configuration. Given Lin Mu's earlier performance, the few spectators weren't surprised in the least.
However, when the fourth soul ring slowly rose, they were instantly dumbfounded.
It was unexpectedly black!
"A ten-thousand-year soul ring?!"
Chief Meng Shenji's pupils constricted sharply. He shot up from his seat.
Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin also widened their eyes, their faces filled with disbelief. This scene completely defied the common knowledge of the soul master world.
"A ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring…"
Xue Qinghe's expression was somewhat dazed, as if feeling overwhelmed by it. Even if she was the young lady of the Spirit Hall, so what? Her fourth soul ring was only a thousand-year one.
Even in the Spirit Hall's records, there had never been such an outrageous soul ring configuration!
Yet, this was merely the beginning.
Before they could recover from the shock of the ten-thousand-year fourth ring, the fifth and sixth soul rings rose in succession, still that profound black!
But the next second, they were completely stupefied. A dazzling blood-red color appeared in their pupils.
The blood-red seventh soul ring slowly spiraled upward, carrying a majestic aura that made souls tremble. The faint silhouette of a kirin seemed to vaguely materialize.
"Red… red?"
"Hundred thousand years!!!"
The three Education Committee members rubbed their eyes in disbelief, but that glaring blood-red soul ring didn't disappear.
Even as Soul Douluo powerhouses, they still felt an immense pressure.
The legendary hundred-thousand-year soul ring, a treasure countless Title Douluo yearned for but could not obtain, actually appeared on a youth only in his early twenties.
And it was merely his seventh soul ring!
Gazing at Lin Mu's hundred-thousand-year seventh soul ring, Xue Qinghe felt as if an invisible hand had tightly clenched her heart. Her breathing noticeably quickened.
A ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring was already shocking enough. Who could have imagined this fellow actually possessed a hundred-thousand-year soul ring as well!
"Lin Mu… I will definitely make you mine."
Xue Qinghe's gaze burned intensely, fixed unwaveringly on Lin Mu in the arena. There was only one thought in her heart: to secure him at any cost.
This thought had never been so intense before!
A long time passed before the three Education Committee members barely regained their senses, the shock in their eyes still not faded.
On the field, Qin Ming stood opposite Lin Mu, experiencing up close the terrifying pressure brought by that red soul ring. His previous fighting spirit and pride had long been replaced by boundless astonishment.
Surrounding Lin Mu were two yellow, one purple, three black, and one red—this soul-shaking, world-defying soul ring configuration was frightening just to look at.
"Instructor Qin, do you still wish to fight?"
Seeing Qin Ming had yet to recover his wits, Lin Mu spoke up to remind him.
Hearing this, Qin Ming took a deep breath, forcibly steadying his mindset. Battle intent once again ignited in his eyes, though not as high as before.
"I ask for your guidance."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Qin Ming immediately activated his only ten-thousand-year soul ring, clearly intending to go all out.
"Sixth Soul Skill, Scorching Heaven Blaze!"
Qin Ming's aura rapidly climbed to its peak, then he abruptly spewed forth a pillar of fire. Everything in its path was scorched black, as if possessing the might to incinerate all.
In response, Lin Mu did not devour the flames as before. Instead, he activated his first soul ring.