Douluo Dalu 2: Peerless Gu master

Huo Yuhao looked at Wang Dong with a calm expression. "Show your martial soul; let me see what you've got."

Although this was just a sparring match(bullying), where winning was inevitable, one should still respect their opponent.

The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion martial soul emerged, and two-soul rings, one yellow and one purple, rose from Huo Yuhao's feet. A chill filled the air, chilling to the bone, and though there was no visible anger, it was enough to intimidate.

Wang Dong immediately became serious, though he maintained his composure. "So, you are capable. No wonder you're so arrogant," he remarked. From his back, a magnificent pair of blue wings spread wide.

They shimmered in an iridescent dance of blue and purple, with golden light orbs arranged in a V-shape on them. The Light Goddess Butterfly martial soul was one of the most beautiful martial soul beasts in Douluo Continent, and perhaps the most graceful of them all.

Though the wings were only illusions, they glistened under the sunlight, dazzling enough to make one's vision waver.

Just like Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong had two soul rings, one yellow and one purple. However, even though he was only a soul grandmaster, his second soul ring had already reached the thousand-year level.

This was quite impressive—people who frequently absorb soul rings are aware that, as per statistics from a certain grandmaster, an ordinary soul master's second soul ring typically maxes out between 600 and 800 years.

Even Tang San, the protagonist of Douluo Dalu's first part, did not break this trend at the start. For others to cultivate to the second ring at this age, and even possess a thousand-year purple ring, was a sign of extraordinary talent.

But Wang Dong was different. As the young master of the Clear Sky Clan, he had grown up surrounded by precious natural treasures—whale glue to enhance physical strength was consumed as casually as food.

Furthermore, with the bloodline of gods and twin martial soul, his physical constitution was exceedingly robust. This allowed him to bear the pressure of a thousand-year soul ring despite his current soul master level.

Wang Dong's main concern was still his soul power. Sometimes, you have to reflect on yourself: Has your soul power increased over the years? Have you been training properly?

Despite having full innate soul power, Wang Dong's current soul power level was only 21. This was a clear sign of insufficient effort. For someone of his potential, this lag in progress was simply unacceptable.

In past Shrek classes, no first-year student had been a soul master. That level was considered the top. But in this class, thanks to an excellent matching mechanism, there were three soul masters, all of whom were specially recruited. This immediately set them apart from the rest.

Seeing that Huo Yuhao remained still, Wang Dong began to grow frustrated. (In fact, Huo Yuhao's energy was mostly focused on conversing with his spiritual sea.)

"So arrogant! Even if you have a second ring of the millennium, so what?"

Wang Dong didn't believe that the handsome boy in front of him could surpass his soul power. Though he had been somewhat lax in his training lately, he was still confident in his innate soul power.

With a flash, Wang Dong propelled himself forward, soul power surging from the golden light balls on his wings. His speed was astounding, darting toward Huo Yuhao like an arrow, full of agility and precision.

This wasn't a soul skill; it was an inherent trait of his Light Goddess Butterfly martial soul. As a flying martial soul, it had a great advantage in early soul master duels.

Within an instant, Wang Dong had closed the distance, arriving before Huo Yuhao, and he raised his right foot to step directly on his chest.

But Huo Yuhao didn't move. Instead, he reached out and grabbed Wang Dong's ankle with his left hand. In that instant, a freezing chill quickly spread along Wang Dong's leg.

"Huh?" Wang Dong felt his entire body stiffen, his thoughts frozen by the intensity of the cold. "Damn, I was careless! If I had used a soul skill earlier, this wouldn't have happened."

The temperature around them plummeted sharply under the cold released by Huo Yuhao.

Sensing the danger, Wang Dong's purple soul ring lit up instantly. A brilliant blue-gold light erupted, making the golden patterns on his wings shine brightly, like tiny suns, as they dispelled the bone-chilling cold.

Huo Yuhao released his grip and let go of his hand. His soul ring flashed as his body was enveloped by a layer of ice crystals. Ice Empress Armor!

This was a skill granted by the Ice Empress sacrifice, and it provided four abilities: the Ice Empress Claw, the Ice Empress Armour, Domain of Perpetual Ice (Permafrost Domain), and Ice Empress' Wrath and one Ice Jade Scorpion's Tosro Bone Soul Skill.

While all of these could end a battle swiftly, Huo Yuhao didn't need to resort to them. The mere coldness emitted by his martial soul was almost enough to defeat Wang Dong. If he had used a full soul skill, Wang Dong would likely have been begging for mercy.

However, Wang Dong wasn't someone to back down easily. He flapped his wings and regained his balance in the air, quickly recovering. Seizing the moment, he launched an aggressive attack. The yellow soul ring behind him flickered. Guillotine Wings!

His wings turned completely azure, and a golden halo emerged. It spread outward, forming a sharp, three-inch light blade at the edges of the front wings. He raised both arms, pulling them back, and with a swift movement, the wings opened wide on either side of him, creating a deadly guillotine-like motion aimed at Huo Yuhao.

Wang Dong's movements were fast—so fast that to an outsider, it would seem as though Huo Yuhao was being relentlessly attacked. His wings, empowered by the soul skill, promised immense destructive force.

Yet, Huo Yuhao didn't dodge. Instead, he clenched his right fist and punched forward.

Bang!

The light blades shattered like rotten wood, and Wang Dong was sent flying backward.

Huo Yuhao exhaled slowly, retracting his ice crystals. His expression was calm. "Hmm? Did you feel that softness and elasticity just now?"

Wang Dong was stunned, his face filled with disbelief. "You're not injured?" At the last moment, Huo Yuhao had pulled most of his strength back, leaving just enough for a buffer. There was no way Wang Dong should have survived that.

Huo Yuhao, using his twin martial souls smoothly, maintained a consistent level of power throughout the fight, carefully managing his soul rings. This was a genius move—if he had gone too far, Wang Dong wouldn't have been able to strike back.

But as it was, the fight was already settled.

Wang Dong, still shaken, sat down on the ground, staring at Huo Yuhao's retreating figure. A burning desire to win surged within him. "Huo Yuhao, just wait. I'll win next time."

[Achievement Triggered!]

[Wang Dong'er's "Strength First" achievement unlocked. Reward: Flash Gu.]

[Flash Gu: Consume the Gu worm in one turn to emit a strong light, temporarily blinding the enemy.]

[Evaluation: Eat my Sun Fist!]

A woman who says one thing and means another, huh? I know you're already convinced.

[Wang Dong'er]

[Relationship: Friends]

[Achievement Task: Martial Fusion Skill]

No fight, no acquaintance? Typical of the Douluo Continent.

"But this task... even in this situation, can I really perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill? Tang San, are you not worried about losing your daughter?

"Well, a cultivation accelerator has come knocking. I won't miss it."

...

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