Chapter 41: Gu Xuan VS Feng Xiaotian (II)
As the host's voice faded, both Gu Xuan and Feng Xiaotian moved.
"First Spirit Ability: Wind Blade Array!"
Feng Xiaotian's first yellow spirit ring lit up. With a casual wave, several Wind Blades condensed from spirit power appeared, swiftly attacking Gu Xuan.
Gu Xuan immediately charged forward. His first and second spirit rings lit up consecutively. With the enhancement of two Amplification Spirit Abilities, a pair of dark golden Bone Claws directly crushed the Wind Blades one by one. His Bone Claws did not suffer the slightest damage.
Seeing this, Feng Xiaotian's eyes flickered, gaining a clearer understanding of Gu Xuan's strength.
Although the offensive power of his Wind Blades was not considered strong, their cutting ability was top-tier for his Rank. Gu Xuan actually crushed the Wind Blades he released one by one, and his Bone Claws were completely unharmed. This was sufficient proof of the opponent's power, considering he himself was already Rank 40 in spirit power, while Gu Xuan was only Rank 33.
If it were an ordinary Rank 33 Spirit Elder, even a defense system Spirit Elder, they could not remain completely unharmed like Gu Xuan after being cut by his Wind Blades, let alone directly crushing them.
Gu Xuan could not be measured by common sense. Perhaps this was the power of a Titled Douluo's descendant, for he was born with a Golden Spoon, and the Spirit he Awakened directly inherited the powerful Spirit of his father.
Following the release of the two Amplification Spirit Abilities and the crushing of Feng Xiaotian's Wind Blades, Gu Xuan quickly closed the distance. However, Feng Xiaotian was completely unafraid. His second yellow spirit ring lit up, preparing for close combat with Gu Xuan.
"Second Spirit Ability: Twin Wolf Possession!"
Feng Xiaotian's second Spirit Ability was also an amplification skill. Under the effect of the second Spirit Ability, his attack, strength, and defense were all increased by fifty percent. His hands transformed into two hideous Wolf Heads. The Wolf Heads opened wide, revealing two rows of sharp canine teeth that shone with a chilling light, seemingly capable of easily tearing through any defense.
"Bang!"
The two engaged in close combat. The dark golden Bone Claws collided with the Wolf Heads. The collision of Bone Claws and sharp teeth produced a metallic clanging sound, and sparks flew with every impact.
The two exchanged blows several times within a few breaths, prepared both offensively and defensively, with neither gaining an advantage.
However, this single exchange made Feng Xiaotian even more surprised. As a Rank 40 Spirit Elder, someone only one spirit ring away from advancing to Spirit Ancestor, was he only matched by Gu Xuan, a mere Rank 33 Spirit Elder, even after using his second Spirit Ability's amplification skill?
Although Feng Xiaotian had not underestimated Gu Xuan before, he absolutely did not expect Gu Xuan to be this formidable. Could a Rank 33 Spirit Elder actually possess strength comparable to his own?
This truly is a Prodigy!
The Wolf Heads bit frantically, and Feng Xiaotian's first Spirit Ability lit up again. Several Wind Blades were released at close range towards Gu Xuan, the sharp cutting aura instantly approaching Gu Xuan's face.
It must be said that Feng Xiaotian's combat skills and awareness were also top-notch. In the original work, he almost managed to defeat Tang San, who had already consumed an Immortal Grade Herb, relying solely on his own strength. If Tang San hadn't possessed the extra Clear Sky Hammer Spirit in the end, the outcome would truly have been uncertain.
Now, Gu Xuan genuinely felt Feng Xiaotian's power. If not for his profound foundation—absorbing three spirit rings above his Rank, giving him a physique comparable to a Spirit Ancestor—he might have been directly suppressed by Feng Xiaotian in close combat.
Facing the Wind Blades Feng Xiaotian released right in his face, Gu Xuan reacted quickly, forcefully pushing Feng Xiaotian's Wolf Heads away with both arms, and then instantly crushed the close-range Wind Blades one by one with his dark golden Bone Claws.
However, because he was distracted dealing with the Wind Blades, Feng Xiaotian's right leg directly whipped his waist, causing him to stumble and retreat three steps.
At this moment, Feng Xiaotian had the advantage!
The spectators who bet on Feng Xiaotian immediately cheered. Gu Xuan was indeed a Prodigy, but Feng Xiaotian was also very strong! It was clear that Feng Xiaotian held the advantage in the current situation.
Gu Xuan stabilized himself, looked at Feng Xiaotian with his black-gray eyes, and said softly, "You are quite good. To be honest, among my peers, you are the strongest I have encountered."
Hearing this, Feng Xiaotian laughed and replied, "You are also very good. To reach this level of strength with Rank 33 spirit power, you truly live up to being Bone Douluo's grandson!"
Although the two were speaking, their attacks did not cease. Gu Xuan's Bone Claws tore through the air like wind, reaching peak attack power. Every contact with Feng Xiaotian's Wolf Heads caused the latter's luster to dim slightly.
Although Feng Xiaotian was inwardly surprised, his expression remained largely unchanged. He was not afraid of close-quarters combat. After all, his spirit power Rank was higher. Although Gu Xuan had a profound foundation, his spirit power Rank was ultimately lower than his own. As long as he exhausted Gu Xuan's spirit power, he would be the final victor.
Suddenly, Gu Xuan extended his right Claw towards Feng Xiaotian's face. Feng Xiaotian extended his left Wolf Head hand to clamp down on the Bone Claw. Gu Xuan's left knee instantly thrust upwards, aiming directly for Feng Xiaotian's philtrum. Feng Xiaotian felt a chill down his spine and raised his right leg to block it. Both men's legs strained against each other.
At the same time, Feng Xiaotian also launched an offensive. The Wolf Head on his right arm opened wide, its sharp cold light surging as it bit towards Gu Xuan's head. Gu Xuan raised his left Bone Claw arm to defend. For a moment, both were supported by only one leg, wrestling and restricting each other.
Gu Xuan's strength was indeed terrifying, but Feng Xiaotian's strength was not weak either. After all, his spirit power had reached Rank 40, and he had the amplification of his second Spirit Ability. For a time, neither could gain the upper hand.
However, right at this moment, Gu Xuan smiled. Simultaneously, his purple third spirit ring lit up. Feng Xiaotian was completely restricted by him, with nowhere to dodge!
"Third Spirit Ability: Bone Dragon Purgatory!"
Gu Xuan's indifferent voice rang out before Feng Xiaotian. Feng Xiaotian thought, 'This is bad,' and tried to break free from Gu Xuan's control, but Gu Xuan's strength was in no way inferior to his. How could he simply withdraw now?
Bone Swords shot up from the ground, instantly threatening to pierce Feng Xiaotian's body. At such close range, if Feng Xiaotian were stabbed, even if it wasn't instantly fatal, he would definitely end up severely injured.
Just as the power of the Bone Swords was about to pierce Feng Xiaotian, a fierce blue light erupted from his body, accompanied by a purple glow—the spirit ring light associated with his third Spirit Ability release.
"Third Spirit Ability: Storm Twin Wings!"
With the release of his third Spirit Ability, a pair of blue Wings instantly appeared behind him. Relying on the force generated by flapping the Wings, the sudden burst allowed him to break free from Gu Xuan's control, and he shot up into the sky, avoiding the Bone Swords' penetration.
Gu Xuan's expression didn't change at all when Feng Xiaotian broke free. Having read the original work, he knew that Feng Xiaotian's third Spirit Ability was a Flying Spirit Ability. Because of this, the kid could not only engage in close-quarters assault but, relying on the flying speed of the Storm Twin Wings, he could also function as an agility-attack system Spirit Master. He was truly capable of both Assault System and agility-attack system.
Just as Feng Xiaotian shot up into the sky, the dark golden Bone Claw on Gu Xuan's right hand deepened slightly in color, instantly transforming into five longer sharp claws. This was his external Spirit Bone—Dark Golden Dreadclaw.
Gu Xuan's movement was subtle. He had used the external Spirit Bone several times over the past month, but it had never been discovered because the appearance of the Dark Golden Dreadclaw was similar to his second Spirit Ability. Unless he used it continuously, it was difficult to detect, as the spirit power fluctuation from his second Spirit Ability directly masked the spirit power fluctuation of the external Spirit Bone.
"Sky Rending Claw!"
Gu Xuan casually swung a claw towards Feng Xiaotian, who was soaring into the sky. Five dark golden Qi Blades shot up, closely pursuing Feng Xiaotian, who had just ascended.
Fortunately, Feng Xiaotian reacted quickly and immediately activated his first Spirit Ability against the Sky Rending Claw. Wind Blades sliced down towards the Sky Rending Claw.
However, this time left Feng Xiaotian somewhat incredulous, because his Wind Blades were actually cut directly open by the five dark golden Qi Blades, which then continued their attack, flying rapidly towards him without losing momentum.
"How is that possible?!" Feng Xiaotian couldn't help but exclaim!
P.S.: Typos will be corrected after posting.
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Regarding the launch, performance is extremely important. Please do not Hoard the Book. Consistent Follow-up Reading in the background tracking is very important for me. Just flip to the reading progress interface after finishing the chapter! Please!Chapter 42: Storm Devil Wolf Twelve Consecutive Slashes, Feng Xiaotian Defeated
The Sky Rending Claw instantly arrived before Feng Xiaotian, who never imagined that Gu Xuan's claw attack would be so terrifying. He originally thought that dodging his third Spirit Ability would be enough, but it now seemed that this was not the case.
Such an attack, capable of easily shredding his first Spirit Ability, would severely injure him even if he took it head-on. Seeing no way to dodge, Feng Xiaotian's heart hardened: "I didn't want to use this move originally, but I never thought I'd be forced to this extent by a mere Rank 33 Spirit Elder like you."
As Feng Xiaotian made up his mind, his spirit power surged, and the Storm Twin Wings on his back became even more brilliant.
"Storm Devil Wolf Twelve Consecutive Slashes!"
Feng Xiaotian roared in a low voice. With his surging spirit power, his body rapidly turned, dodging the Sky Rending Claw's attack from the side. At the same time, his left wing, like a sharp blade, slashed towards the side of the Sky Rending Claw.
"Clang!"
The sound of metal clashing rang out. A small piece of Feng Xiaotian's left wing was cut off, but the Sky Rending Claw's attack direction was also deflected, no longer threatening Feng Xiaotian.
The small piece of his left wing being cut off only caused Feng Xiaotian's body to sway. As his spirit power erupted, his left wing regrew, and he himself swooped down towards Gu Xuan, his body half-rotating, his right wing slashing towards Gu Xuan's face.
Under Feng Xiaotian's fierce offensive, the originally thin, cicada-wing-like Storm Twin Wings actually transformed into two sharp blades, gleaming with a predatory light, as if they were about to devour Gu Xuan.
Gu Xuan watched Feng Xiaotian rapidly approaching him, feeling a bit speechless internally. As expected of a true Genius from the original work, even though his spirit power had just broken through Rank 40 at twenty-one years old, reaching this Rank at his age could be considered good, but definitely not Genius.
What was truly shocking about Feng Xiaotian was that he could create his own Spirit Abilities when he broke through Rank 30 in his teens. The Storm Devil Wolf Twelve Consecutive Slashes he was now using was his self-created Spirit Ability.
In the original work, Feng Xiaotian appeared three years later. At that time, Feng Xiaotian was twenty-four years old and Rank 44, and his self-created Spirit Ability had reached twenty-four consecutive slashes.
He sacrificed his Cultivation time to perfect his self-created Spirit Ability, and in the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, he almost defeated Tang San with this move. However, Tang San was the protagonist and had plot armor! In the end, Feng Xiaotian still lost.
But this did not diminish his Genius, because five years later, this kid's spirit power directly reached Rank 61, catching up to the Shrek Seven Devils and becoming a Spirit Emperor, and his self-created Spirit Ability also reached fifty-four consecutive slashes. So even Gu Xuan couldn't help but admire and appreciate this guy.
However, that was all there was to it, because Gu Xuan was not afraid of Feng Xiaotian's Storm Devil Wolf Twelve Consecutive Slashes, even though Gu Xuan was only Rank 33 right now.
Feng Xiaotian's self-created Spirit Ability was very powerful, similar to the stacking attack method of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method, making each of his attacks stronger than the last. By the final slash, his attack power could even multiply several times.
However, his self-created Spirit Ability also had one major drawback: he had to rely on his third Spirit Ability, the Storm Twin Wings, to use it. Without the wings, his self-created Spirit Ability would be useless.
Gu Xuan calmly watched Feng Xiaotian, slowly raising his right hand. With the enhancement of his third Spirit Ability, Feng Xiaotian's speed was very fast, almost instantaneous.
Looking at Gu Xuan, who stood still and merely raised his right arm, Feng Xiaotian couldn't quite figure out Gu Xuan's strategy. However, after their previous battle, he already knew Gu Xuan's true strength; this guy was completely immeasurable by ordinary standards. He was a Prodigy.
So, even in this situation, Feng Xiaotian wasn't careless in the slightest. He wanted to do his best to eliminate Gu Xuan and vent his anger for Sister Huo Wu!
Just as his right wing was about to strike Gu Xuan's chest, Gu Xuan moved. His right arm shot out like a venomous snake, and without anyone noticing, his right hand's Bone Claw transformed into five dark golden sharp claws, slicing across the tip of Feng Xiaotian's right wing.
Feng Xiaotian was already fast, and with Gu Xuan's sudden move, Feng Xiaotian couldn't dodge at all. As his right wing slashed past, Feng Xiaotian didn't feel like he hit Gu Xuan; instead, he felt as if he had lost something.
The next moment, Feng Xiaotian fell headfirst to the ground, because his right wing was gone. With only one wing, he couldn't fly at all, so he crashed straight onto the ground.
At this moment, Feng Xiaotian hadn't even reacted, but the audience below saw it clearly.
Gu Xuan still stood there, his right hand still raised in a Dragon Claw shape. In his left hand, he held a cyan feather wing. As the wing lost the spirit power supply from Feng Xiaotian, it slowly transformed into points of spirit power light and dissipated.
Feng Xiaotian struggled to get up. At this moment, he only felt a tearing pain in his back. Although the Storm Twin Wings were a Spirit Ability, they extended from his spinal column. Because the wings also required spirit power to conduct and extend, having a wing severed was like having his bone broken.
"Cough, cough..." Because his wing was severed, causing him to fall heavily to the ground, Feng Xiaotian, now standing, couldn't help but cough out a mouthful of blood.
Gu Xuan slowly turned around and met Feng Xiaotian's gaze. Feng Xiaotian looked at Gu Xuan in disbelief. To be honest, he couldn't imagine what method the other party used to sever his right wing, because he hadn't seen Gu Xuan make a move at all.
Or rather, Gu Xuan moved too fast; in just an instant, Gu Xuan severed his right wing.
"You lost..." Gu Xuan said indifferently.
These words exploded like thunder in Feng Xiaotian's ears. He lost? He actually lost just like that?
Feng Xiaotian's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Gu Xuan. He, a Rank 40 Spirit Ancestor, actually lost to Gu Xuan, a mere Rank 33 Spirit Elder?
And he was defeated head-on even after using his proud self-created Spirit Ability?
Feng Xiaotian didn't answer. Gu Xuan's voice softly rang out again: "Of course, you can choose to continue."
As Gu Xuan spoke, his third purple spirit ring shimmered faintly on his body, as if it would erupt at any moment.
Noticing this, Feng Xiaotian suddenly snapped awake. No matter how unwilling he was to admit it, he had indeed lost.
With his Storm Twin Wings severed, his body was already severely injured. Even if he still had the strength to fight, in his current state, he couldn't withstand Gu Xuan's third Spirit Ability.
Feng Xiaotian could even feel Huo Wu's mocking and cold gaze on him from the audience seats. A Rank 40 quasi-Spirit Ancestor defeated by a Rank 33 Spirit Elder? What else could this be but a tremendous disgrace?
But he had indeed lost. As long as Gu Xuan released his third Spirit Ability, in his current state, he had no possibility of defending.
"I... I lost..." Feng Xiaotian stammered, his voice broken.
"First match of the solo Spirit Battle, Gu Xuan versus Feng Xiaotian, Gu Xuan wins!" Feng Xiaotian stammered, but the host did not.
As the host's voice rang out, Gu Xuan calmly withdrew his Spirit, glanced at Feng Xiaotian, and walked off the Spirit Battle Arena. The audience also erupted in fervent cheers, and at this moment, the entire Great Spirit Arena boiled over.
A Rank 33 Weakling against a Rank 40 master, and the Rank 33 actually won?
That Rank 33 Weakling is Gu Xuan!
Oh, then it's fine... Feng Xiaotian looked at Gu Xuan's calm back, his eyes flickered, and he saw that Huo Wu was no longer in the audience seats. He dragged his stumbling body and followed the direction Gu Xuan had left.
P.S.: Typos will be corrected after publishing.
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Please!Chapter 43: Feng Xiaotian Comes Looking (Seeking collection, recommendation tickets, monthly tickets!)
Walking off the Spirit Battle Arena, Gu Xuan returned to the lounge through a dedicated passage. At this time, only Qin Ming and Ye Lingling were in the lounge; everyone else was still in battle.
Seeing Gu Xuan enter, Ye Lingling said with a smile, "Congratulations, twenty-seven consecutive victories."
After a month of getting along, and with Gu Xuan's deliberate guidance, Ye Lingling was now more cheerful than in the original story. At least, she could smile at Gu Xuan.
Gu Xuan waved his hand and replied, "The pressure is immense. That Feng Xiaotian is not weak. If my ability hadn't happened to counter him, it would be hard to say who would have won that match!"
Ye Lingling didn't refute his words, but Qin Ming spoke up: "Little Xuan, your strength and talent are truly the strongest I've ever seen. Feng Xiaotian's spirit power has already reached level 40. His strength is formidable. Even without acquiring his fourth spirit ring, I guess he could exchange a few moves with a Spirit Ancestor. The fact that you could defeat him, even with an ability counter, is enough to prove your strength."
Qin Ming's praise was unreserved, because Gu Xuan had completely earned his recognition, and even his admiration.
That's right, it was admiration. The strength and talent Gu Xuan displayed were something he had never seen before. Even he, back then, was far from comparable to Gu Xuan.
Just as Gu Xuan was about to reply, there was a knock on the door. Gu Xuan turned to open it and met Feng Xiaotian's somewhat tired eyes.
Feng Xiaotian was not in good shape at this moment, and his spirit power consumption was considerable. In addition, his Storm Twin Wings had been severed by Gu Xuan. Although his third Spirit Ability would recover as before in no time, his current condition was very poor.
Gu Xuan was a bit surprised that Feng Xiaotian would come over. Seeing no hostility, only fatigue in the other party's eyes, Gu Xuan said indifferently, "You're here. What's the matter?"
Feng Xiaotian also knew he was being a bit presumptuous, so he endured the pain in his back and cupped his hands towards Gu Xuan, then whispered, "I... I want to know how you severed my Storm Twin Wings."
Hearing this, Gu Xuan couldn't help but chuckle and replied, "Hey, hey, hey, don't be so naive, alright? Have you ever seen a Spirit Master tell others their trump card?"
Feng Xiaotian's face stiffened at these words. He stared blankly at Gu Xuan, wanting to speak but holding back, and finally turned to leave silently.
Just then, a large hand pressed on his shoulder, and Gu Xuan's voice followed: "Your injury isn't light. If you leave from the entrance of our team's lounge now and collapse on the road, we won't be able to explain it clearly."
Then he was directly pulled into the room, and the tearing sensation from the immense force made Feng Xiaotian gasp.
"Hiss~"
"Lingling, treat him." Gu Xuan winked at Ye Lingling.
Ye Lingling rolled her eyes at Gu Xuan and silently released her Spirit. A light purple begonia flower appeared. As the spirit rings on her body glowed, light purple begonia petals fell on Gu Xuan and Feng Xiaotian. Gu Xuan's not-so-serious injuries instantly recovered, and Feng Xiaotian's complexion also returned to normal.
After three minutes, Feng Xiaotian simply moved his right arm and found that the pain in his back had significantly decreased, and his external injuries had also recovered.
At this moment, Gu Xuan's voice rang out again: "External injuries are easy to treat; internal injuries will take some time to recover. Remember, don't participate in any more Spirit battles for a week after you go back."
Feng Xiaotian nodded at these words, cupped his hands towards Gu Xuan, and also nodded to Ye Lingling, saying, "Thank you."
Qin Ming glanced at Feng Xiaotian, said nothing more, and left the lounge directly. Ye Lingling followed closely behind.
Feng Xiaotian looked at the two who had left so abruptly, feeling a bit confused. Gu Xuan said indifferently, "Teacher Qin is going to watch other people's Spirit battles. I don't know why Lingling left."
Feng Xiaotian hadn't expected Gu Xuan to tell him these things, but he was unwilling to just leave like that. So, after a moment of thought, he spoke again, "Gu Xuan, let's be friends."
"?" Gu Xuan was stunned for a moment, then said, "What? Do you want to secretly learn from me and then defeat me in the future?"
Feng Xiaotian was a bit embarrassed that his little trick had been exposed and said, "Heaven Dou Royal Academy and Shenfeng Academy are both academies of the Heaven Dou Empire. Wouldn't it be great if we became friends?"
Gu Xuan smiled slightly and replied, "You sure can argue. They've all left, yet you still have the nerve to stay."
Feng Xiaotian's face naturally showed some helplessness at these words, but he no longer cared, because he genuinely wanted to know how Gu Xuan had severed his Storm Twin Wings.
The biggest weakness of his self-created Spirit Ability was his wings. If the wings were gone, this self-created Spirit Ability could not be used.
Gu Xuan glanced at Feng Xiaotian, motioned for him to sit down, and then said, "Seeing how sincere you are, I'll tell you the truth. I stumbled upon it by accident. The reason I could sever your Storm Twin Wings was simply because my ability happened to counter yours."
Hearing him, Feng Xiaotian's eyes lit up. Gu Xuan immediately continued, "Don't think about pushing your luck; I won't tell you my ability. However, I can talk to you about your self-created Spirit Ability."
Hearing this, Feng Xiaotian looked at Gu Xuan in surprise: "How do you know about my self-created Spirit Ability?"
When Feng Xiaotian used the Twelve Consecutive Storm Devil Wolf Slashes, he hadn't told Gu Xuan that he was going to use a self-created Spirit Ability, only that this ability of his was very powerful, but Gu Xuan had directly stated it.
Gu Xuan's heart skipped a beat when he heard this. Damn it, he almost let it slip. Fortunately, Gu Xuan's mouth was good at bluffing.
Gu Xuan was heard saying, "You didn't use a Spirit Ability when you previously slashed my Sky Rending Claw, nor did you use a Spirit Ability when you later charged at me, but that terrifying attack power couldn't be faked. Besides Spirit Bones, the only thing I could think of was a self-created Spirit Ability."
"And when you used that special slash, there were no extra spirit power fluctuations, which means it couldn't be a Spirit Bone. So, it could only be a self-created Spirit Ability."
Hearing Gu Xuan's words, Feng Xiaotian nodded thoughtfully, and at the same time became even more curious about Gu Xuan. Just by these details, he could tell that he was using a self-created Spirit Ability. It seemed that the other party's ability to sever his wings was indeed due to his strength.
He just didn't know how the other party managed to do it.
"So that's how it is. Brother Gu Xuan truly has a discerning eye." Feng Xiaotian praised directly.
Gu Xuan waved his hand directly at these words: "It's too early to call each other brothers; don't try to get familiar!"
Feng Xiaotian was helpless, but he didn't refute anything, waiting for Gu Xuan's next words.
PS: Typos will be corrected afterChapter 44: Counseling Feng Xiaotian (Seeking Collects, Recommendation Tickets, and Monthly Votes!)
Seeing Feng Xiaotian look both helpless and eager to know the answer, Gu Xuan couldn't help but smile and say, "To be honest, since we both come from academies, we will definitely be opponents in the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament three years from now. If I help you now, wouldn't I be aiding the enemy?"
Hearing this, Feng Xiaotian's expression changed, and he was momentarily speechless, as Gu Xuan's words were not without reason. The All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament is divided into the Heaven Dou Competition Zone and the Star Luo Competition Zone, and since both of their academies belong to the Heaven Dou Empire, the chance of them facing each other in the future is high.
Thinking of this, Feng Xiaotian racked his brain for words, wanting to persuade Gu Xuan to drop his guard, but he didn't know what to say at the moment.
Looking at the thoughtful Feng Xiaotian, Gu Xuan continued, "You must know that there is no such thing as a free lunch. As students from different academies, our relationship is certainly not overly distant, but it's not as friendly as you might imagine either."
Hearing this, Feng Xiaotian became pensive. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly opened his mouth and said, "What do you need me to do?"
Gu Xuan said calmly, "I'm just making a suggestion. You probably guessed that I was born into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. How about this? Come to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School after you graduate. After all, a Genius like you cannot possibly be confined to a small academy forever; you need a higher platform."
"If you consider it, wouldn't our friendship be established? With your talent, you will definitely become a Powerful Expert someday. At that time, with me as your friend and the resources of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, your future is vast."
Gu Xuan was very good at painting a picture of the future, but it depended on whether Feng Xiaotian would accept this 'pie.' Moreover, Feng Xiaotian's talent was indeed astonishing. If he could bring this person over and cultivate him well, he might even reach the position of Divinity someday, and at the very least, he would become a Titled Douluo.
Hearing Gu Xuan's words, Feng Xiaotian's expression stiffened. He never expected Gu Xuan to set his sights on him, especially since they had only met once.
Feng Xiaotian was not in a hurry to answer. Gu Xuan was clearly not joking, nor did he need to be. Furthermore, Gu Xuan's words greatly moved him. After all, doing so would not only allow him to find out how Gu Xuan countered his Self-Created Spirit Ability but also open up another path for his own future.
However, Feng Xiaotian was not born a commoner; he also had some background.
Both his father and grandfather hailed from Divine Wind Academy. In his grandfather's generation, his grandfather served as the Director of Academic Affairs at Divine Wind Academy, and his father is currently one of the two Vice Deans of Divine Wind Academy. It could be said that his family is now fully integrated with Divine Wind Academy.
And in the original work, after Feng Xiaotian became a Spirit Emperor, he directly became the Vice Dean of Divine Wind Academy. So, honestly, even if Gu Xuan painted him a grand future, he didn't have much confidence in convincing this kid to change his mind and develop elsewhere.
But he still had to try. After all, he couldn't spend every day with Feng Xiaotian like the Royal Fighting Team. If he gave the benefits first, they might be given away for nothing.
No matter how much of a pushover Gu Xuan was, it was impossible for him to blindly give without expecting anything in return. If he did that, what was the point? He might as well be Santa Claus handing out gifts.
After long contemplation, Feng Xiaotian roughly explained his background to Gu Xuan. After hearing this, Gu Xuan merely nodded, showing no reaction, because he wanted to see Feng Xiaotian's attitude.
"Gu Xuan, to be honest, because of my father's relationship with Divine Wind Academy, I am now considered a part of Divine Wind Academy. This connection is not just between the academy and a student, but one that shoulders the future of Divine Wind Academy."
"To be honest, your offer is very tempting, but I also have my reservations. I certainly might not stay at Divine Wind Academy like my father and grandfather, but I haven't fully thought this matter through yet. If you ask me for an answer now, I... I can't answer."
Feng Xiaotian's words were very sincere, and he spoke slowly, looking into Gu Xuan's eyes, word by word.
Gu Xuan could tell that the young man truly couldn't make up his mind right now, but he desperately wanted to know how Gu Xuan had instantly severed his Storm Twin Wings, so all he had left was sincerity.
After pondering for a moment, Gu Xuan couldn't help but pat Feng Xiaotian's shoulder and say, "I understand. Regardless, we met through a fight, and I accept you as a friend."
Hearing this, Feng Xiaotian felt a wave of shame, embarrassed to look into Gu Xuan's "sincere" eyes. After all, he was the hired muscle Huo Wu had brought to beat up Gu Xuan. Now, not only had he failed to beat up Gu Xuan, but he had become his friend?
What would Gu Xuan think if he knew about his relationship with Huo Wu?
"The future is long. There will be a day when you figure things out. My door will always be open for you."
Hearing this, Feng Xiaotian's heart warmed. He had only spent a short time—just over ten minutes—with Gu Xuan, but he clearly felt the other party's sincerity and an indescribable sense of trust and warmth.
To be honest, Feng Xiaotian had met very few people like this in the entire Spirit Master's world. Interacting with Gu Xuan didn't feel like meeting someone for the first time; rather, it felt like meeting an old friend.
Just as Feng Xiaotian was deep in thought, Gu Xuan continued, "In that case, it seems I won't be gaining you today. But I can't let you come all this way for nothing. I have a few things to tell you. Whether you take them to heart is up to you."
Hearing this, Feng Xiaotian's eyes lit up, and he immediately focused intently: "I'm all ears."
"What you most want to know is surely how I was able to instantly sever your Storm Twin Wings and find the flaw in your Self-Created Spirit Ability, right?" Gu Xuan asked softly.
Feng Xiaotian nodded, his eyes growing fervent: "Yes."
Pausing, Gu Xuan continued, "Your Self-Created Spirit Ability does have its merits. If your opponent is an ordinary Spirit Master, this Spirit Ability can indeed be used with great success. However, if you encounter an opponent whose strength or attack power is greater than yours, your Self-Created Spirit Ability is no different from seeking death."
Hearing Gu Xuan's words, Feng Xiaotian's expression turned ugly, because, hearing Gu Xuan describe it this way, didn't his Self-Created Spirit Ability sound completely useless? Had all his years of effort amounted to a joke?
Gu Xuan saw the change in Feng Xiaotian's expression and continued, "What's wrong? Hearing me say that, do you feel that your Self-Created Spirit Ability is completely useless?"
As soon as he said this, Feng Xiaotian's face fell even further. He wanted to refute Gu Xuan, but Gu Xuan had easily neutralized his Self-Created Spirit Ability moments before.
However, Gu Xuan didn't give Feng Xiaotian time to speak. He continued, "The premise of my statement is that your attack power and strength are inferior to your opponent's, or that the gap between you is significant. Although I am only Rank 33, my attack power cannot be underestimated even by a defense system Spirit Ancestor, which is why you failed."
"And wouldn't it be better if you simply didn't use this Self-Created Spirit Ability when facing an opponent like me? You are about to reach Rank 40. Once you obtain your fourth spirit ring, you can rely less on using your Self-Created Spirit Ability for offense."
"Think about it: if you focus on raising your spirit power Rank now, in the future, when no one facing you can surpass you in strength or attack power, who will be able to withstand your Self-Created Spirit Ability?"
Listening to Gu Xuan, Feng Xiaotian instantly gained enlightenment, but he was still a little unwilling. Should he really give up this Self-Created Spirit Ability that he had researched for so many years?
He felt he couldn't do it.
PS: Will correct typos after postingChapter 45: Feng Xiaotian Leaves (Seeking collections, recommendation votes, and monthly passes!) It wasn't that Feng Xiaotian hadn't thought about Cultivating his spirit power first and then perfecting his Self-Created Spirit Ability, but he was still a young man. Being able to create a Spirit Ability at such a young age just this title alone allowed him to enjoy fame for several years.
Moreover, he was afraid that if he gave up Cultivating his Self-Created Spirit Ability now, would he still have the same mindset and ideas later on?
However, after being easily defeated by Gu Xuan and hearing what Gu Xuan had said, Feng Xiaotian's previous resolve began to waver instantly.
If it had been anyone else, it would have been fine, but Gu Xuan was only Rank thirty-three! He, a Rank forty Quasi-Spirit Ancestor, was defeated by a mere Rank thirty-three Spirit Elder, and he was defeated head-on while using his Self-Created Spirit Ability.
At this moment, Feng Xiaotian had no choice but to reconsider whether he should continue perfecting his Self-Created Spirit Ability or prioritize Cultivating his spirit power.
Just as Gu Xuan had said, his Self-Created Spirit Ability currently had many flaws, but what if his spirit power Rank increased? At that time, his sheer power would overcome all techniques, allowing him to completely ignore the problems Gu Xuan had pointed out.
Seeing Feng Xiaotian still struggling internally, Gu Xuan added, "Let me remind you of something: the most important thing for a Spirit Master is always spirit power. The fact that you can create a Spirit Ability at your age is indeed exceptionally gifted, but if your spirit power Rank doesn't rise, it will be in vain. No matter how powerful your Self-Created Spirit Ability is, can you rely on Rank forty-one spirit power to fight a Spirit King?"
"Furthermore, if you had focused on Cultivating your spirit power from the start, you wouldn't be stuck at only Rank forty now."
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiaotian felt as if he had just woken from a dream. Yes, if he hadn't wasted time perfecting his Self-Created Spirit Ability, given his Cultivation speed, even if he hadn't reached the Spirit King Rank, he would at least be a High-Rank Spirit Ancestor now.
His Self-Created Spirit Ability was indeed good, but he didn't have the confidence to defeat a High-Rank Spirit Ancestor using that Self-Created Spirit Ability while only at Rank forty-one.
This was the difference. In the early stages, before spirit power Ranks reached the Late Stage, some Genius Spirit Masters could indeed fight above their Rank. Just like a Prodigy such as Gu Xuan, who defeated him using only Rank thirty-three spirit power.
However, the further a Spirit Master progresses into the Late Stage, the more crucial spirit power Rank becomes. Many Spirit Masters were exceptionally gifted in their youth and could fight above their Rank, but didn't they all end up the same way in the Late Stage?
Thinking this, Feng Xiaotian glanced at Gu Xuan again. The fact that this guy could defeat him using only Rank thirty-three spirit power meant he wasn't just good at talking; he possessed genuine skill.
Gu Xuan was right. All techniques are illusory before true strength. Only by increasing one's power does one gain the qualifications to discuss anything else.
Feng Xiaotian understood at this point. He stood up and bowed to Gu Xuan, saying, "Gu Xuan, I will carefully consider your previous words. I will give you my answer after the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament concludes."
Gu Xuan helped him up and said earnestly, "Your future is promising. Instead of letting you blindly follow one path, I thought I would give you a hint. Keep going, young man!"
Feng Xiaotian smiled upon hearing this. If anyone else had said that, he would definitely have thought they were an idiot, but Gu Xuan was different; this guy was a Prodigy.
"I understand. I won't give up on my Self-Created Spirit Ability, and I will remember the two flaws you pointed out. Of course, the most important thing now is to raise my spirit power. I will give you a surprise at the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament three years from now," Feng Xiaotian replied very seriously.
"Thank you very much. If you ever need anything in the future, Feng Xiaotian will not hesitate to help." After Feng Xiaotian finished speaking, he turned and left.
Gu Xuan watched his retreating figure and smiled slightly, saying, "I await the day you challenge me."
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiaotian stumbled, but he refrained from complaining, knowing that he was indeed no match for Gu Xuan right now.
After Feng Xiaotian left, Gu Xuan sat down again. He wasn't afraid of Feng Xiaotian Cultivating diligently in the future, because he was confident he could surpass Feng Xiaotian.
On the contrary, Gu Xuan also needed some Geniuses who could contend with him to accompany his growth along the way. This was one reason why Gu Xuan was able to enlighten Feng Xiaotian.
Moreover, Gu Xuan was only twelve years old; his future was destined to be even more brilliant.
Not long after Feng Xiaotian left, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling returned together. Dugu Yan had just finished her Single Person Soul Battle, and her spirit power consumption was considerable.
Although Dugu Yan was already Rank thirty-eight, her opponent was not weak: a Rank thirty-nine agility-attack system Spirit Elder whose Spirit was also a snake-type Spirit, the Black-Striped Snake, which possessed extremely swift speed and decent Poison Resistance.
Because her opponent's spirit power was one Rank higher than hers and they also had decent Poison Resistance, even though Dugu Yan won the match, it was not an easy victory.
This was only thanks to Gu Xuan having specifically trained her Close Combat Ability during the past month; otherwise, the outcome of this Soul Battle would truly have been uncertain.
"Sister Yan, congratulations, that's nine consecutive victories," Gu Xuan said softly, smoothly taking Dugu Yan from Ye Lingling's shoulder.
Dugu Yan leaned her weight onto Gu Xuan, rolled her eyes at him, and replied, "What's there to congratulate? If you hadn't trained me this past month, I would have certainly failed this time."
Gu Xuan helped her over to the sofa, tidied the slightly messy hair on her forehead, and said, "So how will you thank me?"
Hearing this, Dugu Yan pushed Gu Xuan's hand away. After all, Ye Lingling was still there. While she and Gu Xuan had moved beyond a simple friendship, allowing for occasional ambiguous actions, that didn't mean she wouldn't feel shy.
"Thank me? Is a kick enough?" Dugu Yan said, raising her fair foot and giving Gu Xuan a kick.
When Dugu Yan used Spirit Possession, her feet would transform into a snake tail, so she usually didn't wear shoes during a Soul Battle. Her crystal-clear little foot stepped on Gu Xuan's upper thigh, causing a small thrill.
If Ye Lingling hadn't been there, he definitely would have grabbed it to play with. Those legs, that little foot
they were truly worth playing with for years!
Dugu Yan retracted her fair and tender little foot. Gu Xuan poured her a cup of water and said, "You should rest well first. I still have a Soul Battle."
Then, Gu Xuan stood up and said to Ye Lingling, "Lingling, let's go. Our Combination Soul Battle is about to start."
On the way back, Gu Xuan had already registered for a Dual Soul Battle. The next group up was him and Ye Lingling.
Ye Lingling nodded, secretly glanced at Dugu Yan, and seeing that Dugu Yan showed no reaction, she followed Gu Xuan out of the lounge.
Undoubtedly, Gu Xuan won this Dual Soul Battle again. In the Dual Soul Battle, he had reached twenty-seven consecutive victories. If he won the Team Soul Battle tonight, he would have twenty-seven consecutive victories across all categories.
If he kept this up, in less than half a month, he would be able to become a Gold Soul Battle Badge owner.