"First Soul Skill, Phoenix Flame Line."
Ma Xiaotao decided to seize the initiative. With a loud, triumphant phoenix cry echoing across the sky, a vivid fiery phoenix silhouette suddenly appeared behind her.
The phoenix was engulfed in blazing crimson flames, instantly igniting the surrounding air.
The flames rapidly condensed into a blazing line of fire, shooting fiercely toward Zhang Lexuan.
The scorching heat caused the temperature on the beach to rise sharply, as if the very air was ablaze. Even the sand beneath their feet began to crystallize under the intense heat.
Truly worthy of the Phoenix Martial Soul—despite some flaws, the terrifying heat contained within this phoenix fire was unexpectedly intense, as if it could incinerate everything in the world.
"First Soul Skill, Moon Ring Severing Blade."
Facing Ma Xiaotao's fierce assault, Zhang Lexuan's expression remained calm as she softly called out.
In an instant, the light of her first soul ring flared brightly, and the silver moon phantom above her head radiated a richer, more brilliant glow.
The moonlight quickly condensed into a crescent-shaped, razor-sharp sword energy. Accompanied by a piercing, whistling sound as it cut through the air, it streaked like a silver lightning bolt, directly slashing at the fiery phoenix line.
Within the cold, clear moonlight was a biting chill, as if it could dispel the scorching heat from the beach.
"Boom—!"
With a deafening explosion, an invisible shockwave spread wildly from the point of impact.
A massive crater appeared instantly on the sand, the once flat ground completely devastated.
The explosive flames were devastating, instantly turning the surrounding sand into crystal-clear crystals that sparkled under the sunlight like a dazzling jewel-studded land.
"Second Soul Skill, Fire-Immersed Phoenix. Third Soul Skill, Phoenix Wings Soar."
Failing to land a hit, Ma Xiaotao was far from discouraged. Instead, she quickly unleashed a more powerful assault.
Her soul rings glowed fiercely as she activated her second and third soul skills.
Torrents of roaring flames surged from within her, enveloping her entire body.
A magnificent pair of blazing red wings burst forth from her back, radiating intense heat with every beat.
With the strength of these two skills combined, Ma Xiaotao's body slowly lifted off the ground, soaring into the air.
Trailing behind her were several long, crimson phoenix tails that danced in the wind. From afar, she resembled a phoenix reborn from the flames, exuding unparalleled majesty and beauty.
With the boost from these powerful soul skills, Ma Xiaotao not only gained the ability to fly freely and control the battle's pace, but her attributes were significantly enhanced, her power surging instantly. Her aura transformed dramatically.
"Second Soul Skill, Heavenly Dance Moon Wheel Sword."
Zhang Lexuan's cool voice floated like a distant melody through the air.
High above in the silver moon, seven beams of moonlight suddenly descended like tangible streams of light, transforming into seven shimmering moonlight sword shadows imbued with biting cold.
These sword shadows rapidly circled around Zhang Lexuan, forming an impenetrable defensive sword formation, their gleaming chill sending shivers down one's spine.
With her fingers pressed together like a sharp sword, Zhang Lexuan gave a gentle flick.
In that instant, the seven sword shadows obeyed her command, slicing through the air with sharp, piercing whistles as they shot toward the airborne Ma Xiaotao like falling stars.
Their speed was so fast that there was barely time to react, leaving only streaks of silver light flickering in the air.
Watching Ma Xiaotao darting and dodging beneath the seven soaring, razor-sharp sword shadows, Lu Jingming bit on his straw with a smirk playing at his lips, his eyes filled with amusement.
Perhaps from years of studying swordsmanship under Jingliu, Zhang Lexuan had carefully chosen soul beasts that granted her sword-type soul skills.
Take this second soul skill, "Heavenly Dance Moon Wheel Sword," for example — its execution carried the ethereal elegance and sharp grace of a sword immortal.
However, Ma Xiaotao was after all an elite disciple of Shrek Academy. She spent most of her time training and fighting in the Spirit Combat arena, accumulating a wealth of battle experience that someone like Lu Jingming—who rarely engaged in actual combat—could not possibly match.
In midair, she moved with the agility of a swift swallow, her speed boosted by her soul skills as she darted left and right, evading the relentless attacks of the seven sword shadows.
At the same time, she suddenly expelled a torrent of scorching phoenix true fire from her mouth, sweeping toward the seven moon ring swords, attempting to weaken their power with intense heat.
The fierce confrontation lasted for a moment. Although Ma Xiaotao successfully dodged the sword shadows' encirclement and diminished the threat of the moon ring swords with her phoenix fire, the intense effort drained a significant amount of her soul power.
Breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly, her face flushed a vivid red from the strenuous battle.
Her clothing had been torn apart by the relentless sword energy, revealing large patches of her snow-white skin that radiated a subtle, captivating allure.
She had already given her all to avoid the attacks—any less effort and the damage would have extended far beyond just her clothes.
Ma Xiaotao, famously known in Shrek Academy as the "Flame Maniac," was not used to suffering such setbacks. A surge of anger welled up within her, and her reason was quickly overwhelmed by fury.
Suddenly, the light of her fourth soul ring flared brightly. Her entire form transformed into a blazing streak of fire, hurtling like a burning meteor toward Zhang Lexuan, accompanied by a fierce battle cry: "Fourth Soul Skill—Phoenix Sky Roar Strike!"
As the purple soul ring's glow intensified, a dazzling red light erupted beneath Zhang Lexuan's feet.
Then, a towering pillar of flame shot straight up toward the heavens, as if it sought to pierce the sky itself.
The raging fire engulfed Zhang Lexuan completely. The searing heat twisted and warped the surrounding air, and the sand on the beach began to melt.
A proud smirk unconsciously lifted the corner of Ma Xiaotao's mouth; victory seemed within her grasp.
Yet, in the next moment, that smile froze stiff on her face.
For within the inferno of the blazing flame pillar, Zhang Lexuan's fourth soul ring also shone brilliantly. A gentle silver moonlight surged forth like a tidal wave, tightly enveloping her entire body.
Astonishingly, the once overwhelmingly hot and unstoppable phoenix true fire was repelled as if it had met its natural enemy. Under the radiance of the silver moonlight, the flames were forced back, unable to harm Zhang Lexuan in the slightest.