Douluo Dalu: Path of Power

"Boom!"

On the blazing fire academy's training ground, Beixuan was sparring with Ma Hongjun and the sibling duo, Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu. Since the academy had not yet started its semester, the place was mostly empty.

Huo Wushuang had suggested testing Beixuan and Ma Hongjun's real combat abilities.

Of course, he wouldn't go all out against two six-year-old kids. However, this underestimation led to him being at a disadvantage right from the start.

As their palms clashed, Beixuan only took half a step back, while Huo Wushuang was forced back by two and a half steps.

Shaking his arm, Huo Wushuang exclaimed, "What immense strength! Junior, are you really following the path of a control-type soul master? I may not have used my soul skills, but my Unihorn Fire Tyrannosaur is an absolute power-type martial soul."

"I was just born with immense strength," Beixuan replied casually, making up an excuse. After all, he had no intention of revealing the martial arts knowledge he had gained from the Sun and Moon Codex yet.

Yes, he didn't know any martial arts—he was just naturally strong.

"Naturally strong, huh? Well then, junior, you'd better be prepared, because I'm about to use my soul skill," Huo Wushuang declared. As he spoke, two yellow soul rings emerged around him, and the first one glowed brightly.

"First Soul Skill – Tyrant Dragon Strike!"

Huo Wushuang clasped his hands together at chest level. A dark red glow burst from his palms, instantly forming a palm-sized dark red energy sphere that shot towards Beixuan. It was clearly a single-target attack soul skill.

"Brother Xuan, leave this one to me! First Soul Skill – Phoenix Fire Line!"

Ma Hongjun leaped in front of Beixuan and activated his own first soul skill.

The raging Phoenix Flames clashed against the dark red energy sphere, and for a moment, neither side could overpower the other.

Huo Wushuang was secretly impressed. As expected of a top-tier martial soul, the Fire Phoenix! The sheer intensity of these flames is terrifying. Though he wasn't using his full power, he was nearly ten levels higher than Ma Hongjun and had a second soul ring—yet he gained no advantage in this exchange.

Seizing the opportunity, Beixuan activated his own first soul skill.

"First Soul Skill – Phantom Mist!"

A pitch-black mist spread across the battlefield, instantly shrouding the area. Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu's vision was completely obstructed.

"First Soul Skill – Flame Shadow!"

Huo Wu wasn't one to sit idly by. She immediately activated her own first soul skill. A fiery shadow appeared behind her, radiating heat, enhancing her normal attacks with fire attributes, and granting additional high-temperature damage to close-range targets.

It was a skill that balanced offense and defense, primarily meant to counter melee attackers. After all, as a control-type soul master, if she were to let a power-type opponent get too close, she would be at a severe disadvantage.

At this moment, she used her skill not only to protect herself from potential sneak attacks by Beixuan but also to let Huo Wushuang know her exact position through the sudden rise in temperature.

As expected, Huo Wushuang quickly sensed her presence and rushed toward her. However, as soon as he approached, Huo Wu suddenly launched a fierce palm strike at him.

Startled, Huo Wushuang shouted, "Little sister, what are you doing?!"

But Huo Wu seemed oblivious to his words and continued attacking relentlessly.

This was the second effect of Beixuan's first soul skill—Illusion!

With their mental perception weakened by the mist, Huo Wu couldn't resist Beixuan's spiritual interference. To her, the person in front of her was no longer her brother, but Ma Hongjun.

Thus, it was only natural for her to attack.

If she had known about Beixuan's ability beforehand and prepared a mental defense, she wouldn't have fallen into the illusion so easily. But she was caught off guard, and it cost her.

As time passed, even Huo Wushuang gradually fell under the illusion's influence. In his eyes, Huo Wu had transformed into Beixuan.

Instead of retreating, he launched an attack.

After exchanging a powerful palm strike, both of their second soul rings flashed simultaneously.

"Second Soul Skill – Tyrant Dragon's Wrath!"

"Second Soul Skill – Fire Shadow Clone!"

The siblings were now getting serious. But just as they activated their second soul skills, Beixuan immediately dispelled the Phantom Mist.

The two siblings snapped back to reality at the last second and quickly redirected their attacks. The Fire Shadow and Fire Dragon flames instead crashed into the ground behind them, narrowly avoiding mutual destruction.

After all, this was just a friendly spar—Beixuan had no intention of letting them get hurt.

"Phew… that was close," Huo Wushuang sighed in relief. If he had accidentally injured Huo Wu, their father, the branch head of the Advanced Academy, and their grandfather, the headmaster of the main academy, would have skinned him alive.

"Junior, your first soul skill is truly remarkable. It combines three effects—vision obstruction, mental suppression, and illusion creation. Even though Huo Wu and I are both higher-ranked soul masters, we still fell for it without any preparation."

"You flatter me, senior," Beixuan responded with a smile. "The Nightmare Charm martial soul specializes in deception. Since this was your first time facing me, it's only natural that I managed to take advantage of that."

"No wonder it's considered an advanced version of the Black Enchantress martial soul. Honestly, I was skeptical when I first heard about it. But now, I'm convinced."

Huo Wu stepped forward, her skepticism completely gone.

After all, the Black Enchantress martial soul was wielded by none other than Meng Shenji, a legendary Soul Douluo with a terrifying ability—trapping opponents in an endless dream cycle.

A martial soul of such caliber having an even stronger superior version meant that Beixuan had the potential to become a Titled Douluo in the future.

After witnessing Beixuan's performance, she had no doubts left. Even the Black Enchantress couldn't manifest such a powerful illusion at the first soul ring level.

"But don't get cocky," Huo Wu quickly added, her competitive nature flaring up. "I was just caught off guard. If we fight again, I'll go all out from the start. You might not even get the chance to use your soul skill! Plus, if I focus my mind, your illusion won't work on me again."

As expected, her personality was just as fiery as in the original story—someone who refused to accept defeat easily. More importantly, she wasn't wrong. Her actual strength was indeed above Beixuan and Ma Hongjun's. Losing simply because she didn't use her full power was something she couldn't accept.

"Enough, Huo Wu," Huo Wushuang interjected sternly. "They're just six-year-old kids. If you lose, you lose—stop making excuses."

Though he was quite protective of his sister, he also had the authority of an elder brother. If she couldn't even accept losing to two kids, her mentality wouldn't take her far.

"…Fine, brother," Huo Wu muttered, reluctantly backing down. She might be stubborn, but she always listened when her brother got serious.

Beixuan nodded in approval. Huo Wushuang was indeed more mature than his sister. No wonder he was the future captain of the Blazing Fire Team.

"Juniors, your martial souls and soul skills are incredible," Huo Wushuang said, his eyes filled with excitement. "You're exactly what we need. Train hard, and together, we'll claim victory in the Continental Soul Master Tournament!"

With only three days left before the new semester began, this spar was just the first step in Beixuan's journey. His path was only beginning.