Chapter 35: Guidance

Chapter 35: Guidance

Ye Nantian's reputation was thunderous. In the academy, aside from the group participating in this year's Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament, he was one of the highest-ranked soul masters in terms of soul power.

Dai Yao's heart sank as he faced off against a powerful 29th-level attack-type Battle Soul Master, with a top-tier martial soul—he had no chance of winning.

For the past few days, his mood had been down. Encouraged by the two princes, people had been constantly disturbing his training space. Even worse, some had specifically challenged him by name. There were soul masters, even grand soul masters among them.

But Dai Yao had never agreed to any of these challenges.

These individuals were all sent by the Second Prince to interfere with his training.

If he accepted the challenge out of pride, whether he won or lost, the challengers would gain fame, leading to a never-ending stream of challenges. Dai Yao would never be able to train in peace, and his gap with Dai Yaming would only widen.

Just as one issue was settling, another arose. Ye Nantian came to find him. Dai Yao felt some unease and spoke to Ye Nantian:

"A grand soul master challenging a mere first-ring soul master. Don't you think it's embarrassing?"

Ye Nantian gave a calm smile. "I heard you defeated Dai Mubai, a 17th-level soul master, right after you obtained your soul ring. Today, I won't use my second soul skill. How about we have a friendly competition?"

Over the past few days, Dai Yao had been constantly challenged, and just hearing the word "duel" now triggered a reflexive response in him. Accepting a duel was no small matter. He had hesitated before, as most of those who challenged him were only doing it to show off, seeking to gain fame. Accepting their challenges would only bring trouble.

But Ye Nantian was different.

Ye Nantian came because the commoner soul masters were being oppressed, and as their leader, his reason was justifiable. Furthermore, the opportunity to exchange ideas with such a skilled master was rare.

"Alright, I accept your challenge."

"That's the spirit!" Ye Nantian laughed boldly. "Many who have heard my name immediately surrender, but you, not only refusing to surrender, but daring to accept my challenge? Not bad. You're certainly not the coward I've heard about."

The two of them stood at the edge of the shore, assuming their fighting stances.

The shore of the pond was wide enough to accommodate the duel.

"Dai Yao, 12th-level Battle Soul Master, Martial Soul: White Tiger. Please guide me." Dai Yao activated his martial soul and bowed.

Ye Nantian slowly lowered his crossed arms, releasing a strong, oppressive aura.

"Martial Soul Possession!"

With a roar, his body expanded, growing even larger. His already imposing figure became even more terrifying, and his hair thickened, resembling a lion's mane.

He stood proudly, his voice booming: "29th-level Attack-type Battle Soul Master, Martial Soul: Xuanjia Mad Lion!"

Before he finished speaking, Dai Yao activated his Explosive Step, darting toward Ye Nantian like a bolt of lightning.

"Fast!" Ye Nantian was startled. This speed rivaled that of typical agility-type soul masters.

How is this kid doing this?!

With such speed, and combined with his rumored self-created soul skills that were said to have great power, Dai Yao's punch might be more formidable than it appeared.

Ye Nantian quickly discarded any underestimation and, in the brief exchange, recognized Dai Yao's strength.

He crossed his arms in front of him in defense.

However, something felt off. The seemingly fierce punch that struck his defense felt like a light breeze passing by—there was no force behind it.

"This punch... it's so light?" Ye Nantian thought, confused. But in the next instant, he realized something was wrong!

It was a feint!

The real attack was coming with the next punch!

Dai Yao's eyes gleamed with determination, his soul power surged like a river, and with his feint punch hitting Ye Nantian's defense, his body twisted, and he launched a full-powered punch through the gap between Ye Nantian's hands, directly aimed at his chest.

"Eight Extremes Crash!"

With a shout, a dull thud echoed as the powerful punch stirred up dust, enveloping Ye Nantian in a cloud of smoke.

Dai Yao felt a rush of joy. He had great confidence in his Eight Extremes Crash. In a first-ring soul master's duel, even against a 17th-level Dai Mubai, he had been able to land a solid hit with this move.

When he fought Dai Mubai, the older soul master used his rich experience and techniques that combined both false and real moves to suppress him, making him feel completely at his mercy. After the defeat, Dai Yao had reflected on his weaknesses.

He made sure to remember the concept of blending false and real attacks, and today, he was using it for the first time with some success!

However, as the dust settled, the scene that greeted Dai Yao stunned him. Ye Nantian stood there, unharmed, his body once again swollen with power, exuding the terrifying aura of an ancient beast.

Along with Ye Nantian, two yellow soul rings appeared, with the first soul ring shining brightly.

After taking the punch, Ye Nantian seriously said, "Not bad. Among first-ring soul masters, this punch of yours ranks among the top in terms of power. If I hadn't activated my first soul skill, Mad Lion Transformation, I would've been hurt by that."

Dai Yao's heart sank. He hadn't expected his sure-fire punch to be so easily blocked, though he realized it was due to Ye Nantian's age and superior physical strength.

The air seemed to thicken as the true battle finally began.

After activating Mad Lion Transformation, Ye Nantian's speed, strength, and all his attributes were enhanced, like a shrunken version of the White Tiger's Golden Body Transformation.

In the ensuing battle, Dai Yao clashed several times with Ye Nantian's Eight Extremes Crash, making some progress, but there was no clear indication of victory.

Moreover, using Eight Extremes Crash consumed both time and soul power, so he couldn't use it continuously. As a result, he had to rely on Explosive Step to evade Ye Nantian and keep moving.

Dai Yao, who was becoming increasingly unsettled, compared to Ye Nantian, who was more and more astonished.

Although he had come because of Feng Wutong's request, Ye Nantian wasn't holding back.

Even without using his second soul skill, he was already going all out!

Dai Yao was like a slippery fish, using his Eight Extremes Crash whenever he had the chance, but when Ye Nantian prepared to counter, Dai Yao would slip away with his speed, making it impossible for Ye Nantian to catch him. This was starting to frustrate him.

"You slippery little fish, I don't believe I can't catch you!" Ye Nantian thought angrily.

As Dai Yao circled around the perimeter, suddenly, his eyes flashed with brilliance. He spotted a huge opening in Ye Nantian's defense.

Without hesitation, he charged in and unleashed Eight Extremes Crash once more.

At that moment, Ye Nantian revealed a victorious smile. This opening was deliberately left for Dai Yao—it was a trap.

"You're still too young!" Ye Nantian sighed.

Flexing his muscles, he forcefully endured Dai Yao's punch. The powerful impact left his chest aching. Even though he had anticipated Dai Yao's strength, he hadn't expected the blow to hurt so much. However, his objective had been achieved.

Bringing his hands together gradually, he revealed a victorious smile:

"You little punk, you've hit me so many times—I'll make sure to pay you back properly!"

Dai Yao realized the danger. If Ye Nantian managed to close his arms completely, he would be utterly trapped. Ye Nantian's body was incredibly robust, and in close combat, Dai Yao was no match.

Alarms rang in his mind, but he couldn't think of a way to escape. Explosive movement techniques wouldn't work; Ye Nantian's speed was too fast, and time was running out.

Ye Nantian was feeling increasingly elated, already eager to pummel Dai Yao.

But in the next second, his smile froze.

He felt a strong oppressive force emanating from in front of him—an irresistible pressure from the very depths of a martial soul.

Behind Dai Yao, a pair of snow-white wings suddenly appeared. In a split second, Dai Yao shifted his body direction and narrowly evaded Ye Nantian's embrace.

"Ha—ha—ha—"

After escaping Ye Nantian's attack range, Dai Yao was panting heavily, sweat dripping continuously. A moment's carelessness had almost cost him the duel. If he hadn't activated the second form of his martial soul in time, he would likely have lost by now.

Steadying his mind, he spoke to Ye Nantian:

"Again!"

Ye Nantian's face showed unconcealed astonishment as he asked:

"Is this your true martial soul?"

Dai Yao nodded.

A storm churned in Ye Nantian's heart. Previously, it was always his martial soul suppressing others. This was the first time he had been overwhelmed by someone else's.

It was important to know that his martial soul was among the most top-tier. Even in battles with the First and Second Princes, he had never felt such pressure.

Yet now, he was feeling it from Dai Yao.

He gave Dai Yao a complex look, deactivated his martial soul fusion state, and said reluctantly:

"No more fighting."

"Huh?"

Dai Yao was baffled. They had been fighting so intensely—why stop so suddenly?

"If I focus entirely on defense, you won't be able to hurt me. And as for me, I can't catch you. The result would only be a draw," Ye Nantian analyzed earnestly, deducing the outcome of the duel.

But he couldn't help adding with a hint of frustration:

"You're like a slippery eel, you brat!"

Dai Yao also deactivated his martial soul state. Walking over to Ye Nantian, he clasped his hands together respectfully and expressed his gratitude:

"Thank you, Brother Nantian!"

Throughout the fight, although Ye Nantian had been aggrieved, he hadn't broken any rules or used power beyond a one-ring soul master's level. His conduct had been upright.

Moreover, Dai Yao sensed goodwill from Ye Nantian. Despite claiming he wanted to teach him a lesson, Ye Nantian hadn't brought anyone to humiliate him. Instead, he had preserved Dai Yao's dignity.

After all, Dai Yao was already a laughingstock at the academy. Ye Nantian had no need to add insult to injury.

Ye Nantian nodded approvingly and said:

"Not bad. You're not only exceptionally talented, but also meticulous in your thinking. Feng Wutong asked me to come and give you some pointers."

Hearing that Feng Wutong had requested Ye Nantian's help, a wave of gratitude surged in Dai Yao's heart.

Suppressing his emotions, he hurriedly asked Ye Nantian:

"Brother Nantian, could you tell me what my current shortcomings are?"

Ye Nantian thought for a moment before answering:

"As things stand, your self-created soul skills already put you in an unbeatable position among one-ring soul masters."

He paused, then added heavily:

"But your opponent is the Second Prince. The gap between you two is immense. Even I wouldn't be able to defeat him."

"Though the Second Prince's soul power is only at level 25, he has a soul bone that greatly enhances his strength!"

"Your current soul skills are sufficient for battling one-ring soul masters, but you lack the means to pose a threat to a grand soul master!"

Dai Yao was taken aback. He had already noticed during their fight that even using his most powerful technique, Eight Extremities Break, he couldn't cause effective damage to Ye Nantian—even when Ye Nantian was holding back!

Ye Nantian continued to lay out the harsh truth:

"The difference between you two isn't just in soul skills; it's in soul power. How can your ten-something level of soul power compare to the Second Prince's level 25?"

"In my opinion, you have no chance of defeating the Second Prince."

Hearing Ye Nantian's judgment, Dai Yao felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

He forced a smile and asked:

"Indeed, as it stands, I'm no match for the Second Prince. But I won't give up."

"Good!" Ye Nantian's expression instantly brightened, and he laughed heartily:

"If you really took my words to heart and gave up on yourself, I'd look down on you. I'm just a commoner soul master. I don't have the luxurious training conditions of noble soul masters, but I don't believe my future will be worse than theirs!"

"In my view, your Eight Extremities Break has great potential. I once encountered a soul skill based on punching. Although its power wasn't as strong as your Eight Extremities Break, it had a unique secret technique: hidden force!"

"Everyone who fought him suffered terribly."

"If your Eight Extremities Break could also incorporate hidden force, it would definitely become a deadly weapon. Even against a grand soul master, you could put up a fight!"

Ye Nantian's encouragement inspired Dai Yao.

"Thank you, Brother Nantian," Dai Yao said gratefully.

Ye Nantian's invaluable advice illuminated a path forward for Dai Yao. If he succeeded in imbuing Eight Extremities Break with hidden force, his chances against the Second Prince would increase significantly.

"That's all I have to say. Now Feng Wutong has no reason to pester me anymore." Ye Nantian showed an expression of relief, as if Feng Wutong were some fearsome creature.

"Speaking of which, I really feel like giving you a beating! You hit me so hard!" Ye Nantian gritted his teeth at Dai Yao.

"I didn't know better, Brother Nantian," Dai Yao replied with an awkward smile, soul power already surging under his feet, ready to use explosive movement to escape if needed.

"Just kidding. I'm off. Don't see me out," Ye Nantian said with a hearty laugh. Turning away, he waved casually as he disappeared into the dense forest.

"One more thing," he added, turning back:

"If one day we're on the same level, I want a proper match with you. Suppressing my soul power today just wasn't satisfying!"

After that, he left without looking back, his figure vanishing into the lush forest.

Dai Yao watched Ye Nantian leave. Only after he disappeared did he return to the waterfall.

As the cold water cascaded over his body, Dai Yao's thoughts gradually cooled.

After defeating Dai Mubai, he had become somewhat complacent, having overcome such a significant soul power gap.

But today, even sparring with a restrained Ye Nantian had revealed the vast difference between grand soul masters and one-ring soul masters.

And the Second Prince was not just a grand soul master—he also possessed a soul bone.

Dai Yao touched his forehead. The disparity in strength left him feeling a bit despondent.

"No matter. I'll train hard, narrow the gap, and with my potential, I'll surpass him someday."

He raised his fist and muttered to himself:

"Against the Second Prince, Eight Extremities Break must have hidden force!"

(End of Chapter)

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