Seeing that Lin Feng agreed, Qian Renxue and Ling Yuan, who were about to speak up to dissuade him, fell silent.
However, there was still anxiety and unease in their eyes.
Although Qian Daoliu had said he would suppress his strength to the level of a Grand Soul Master,
As a Peerless Douluo, his control over soul power and combat experience far exceeded Lin Feng's.
"Grandpa, you'd better be careful~"
Qian Renxue squinted her eyes, her tone laced with a hint of threat.
Qian Daoliu twitched at the corner of his mouth. His once sweet granddaughter had become rebellious—it would never be the same again.
He sighed internally for a couple of seconds before turning his gaze to Lin Feng.
Seeing that Lin Feng showed no fear, he couldn't help but admire him silently. However, he scoffed out loud:
"You make the first move. I'll let you have a few."
"Alright!"
Lin Feng didn't hold back. The innate treasure orb had already been summoned.
A purple soul ring hovered up and down.
Without activating it, Lin Feng waved his palm.
"Second soul skill: Earthfire Surge."
Crimson flames surged from the ground, some shooting into the air.
With a strange hand seal formed by his right hand—
"Condense!"
The flame field transformed into over a dozen blazing swords.
The surrounding temperature soared immediately.
"I call this move 'Unlimited Blade Works'. What do you think, Grandpa?"
Qian Daoliu chuckled:
"Sounds pretty impressive, but let's see if it has the power to match the name!"
Lin Feng smiled:
"Please give me your guidance."
As soon as the words fell, a blazing sword appeared in Lin Feng's hand.
With a shout, he charged at Qian Daoliu.
Beams of light shot through the air, rushing toward Qian Daoliu.
The flames on the ground followed, closing in on him.
A wave of heat erupted instantly.
Lin Feng, wielding the fire sword, attacked down the middle.
Controlling three things at once, he locked in on Qian Daoliu's upper, middle, and lower paths.
Clang!
"Second soul skill: Angelic Guard!"
To the shock of the three onlookers, Qian Daoliu had already blocked Lin Feng's sword before he even reached him.
With a swift move, he dodged the airborne attacks and avoided the flames on the ground.
His timing was perfect, wasting not a single ounce of soul power.
Lin Feng cursed inwardly. He shouldn't have fired all three attacks simultaneously—he should've staggered them.
"Boy, you're wasting soul power."
Qian Daoliu shook his head.
The Angelic Martial Soul appeared, surrounded by eight black and one red soul rings.
He had completely suppressed their pressure. Otherwise, just the aura from the rings would've made everyone present tremble.
The forest would've fallen into chaos.
The second black ring gleamed—releasing the Angelic Guard skill.
Lin Feng exhaled deeply. The soul ring configuration was indeed overwhelming.
But with Qian Daoliu holding back his pressure, he felt more like an ordinary person.
Golden light flashed from Qian Daoliu's body, enveloping him before fading.
Ending the soul skill, Qian Daoliu smiled at Lin Feng:
"Again. I'll give you another free shot."
Qian Renxue frowned:
"Didn't you say you'd let Xiao Feng have a few moves, Grandpa? Why are you using soul skills?"
…
Qian Daoliu almost coughed up blood, casting a resentful glance at Qian Renxue:
"Should I just turn into a wooden dummy for your Xiao Feng to chop at?"
Qian Renxue blushed and averted her gaze.
She mumbled like a mosquito:
"That… wouldn't be bad…"
Qian Daoliu finally lost it.
"How would that still be called sparring? Xue'er, you really…"
Qian Renxue stuck out her tongue but said no more.
"Grandpa, no need to go easy. Since I accepted, I won't back down.
From here on, go all out.
Well… within the Grand Soul Master level, of course."
"Naturally."
"Third soul skill: Gravity Control!"
The battle erupted.
Scattered stones surged toward Qian Daoliu. The flames turned into chains, weaving through the storm of rocks, wrapping toward him.
The fusion of both made Lin Feng's skill resemble a dense net, encasing Qian Daoliu completely.There was nowhere to dodge!
Only one way—break through!
Because Lin Feng's third soul skill could be cast directly next to the opponent.
It didn't need a guiding process. It cut down the skill's flight time and shortened the opponent's reaction window.
"Good! First soul skill: Angelic Holy Sword!"
Qian Daoliu praised.
A golden sword appeared in his hand. In a flash, it cleaved through a giant stone.
He charged at Lin Feng.
Lin Feng's pupils contracted. He quickly retreated, adjusting his soul skill.
The swarm of stones and fire chains circled back, attacking Qian Daoliu again.
Boom! Qian Daoliu was struck from behind—not enough to break his defenses, but enough to make him raise an eyebrow.
The way Lin Feng used soul skills was so fluid—it didn't feel like he was only just a Soul Elder.
At Grand Soul Master level, it was truly impossible to avoid such attacks.
This kid's skills are all ranged. Though the flames are flexible, close combat is definitely his weakness.
With that in mind, Qian Daoliu stomped hard and burst forward.
His longsword slashed like a dragon in a storm, precisely cutting through weak points in the soul energy, dispersing incoming attacks.
"Xiao Feng, careful!"
"Grandpa's going for close combat!"
Two urgent voices cried out. Qian Renxue and Ling Yuan wore worried expressions.
Crack!
Lin Feng's flame sword shattered—it was, after all, a conjuration.
It couldn't compare to Qian Daoliu's pure soul skills.
Qian Daoliu's face showed rare mockery:
"Still too weak, brat!"
The golden sword flipped, the back of the blade sweeping toward Lin Feng.
"Third soul skill!"
A stone wall instantly rose beside Lin Feng, blocking Qian Daoliu for a moment.
Lin Feng used both arms to push off and barely evaded from the other side.
"Scattered, they're like stars in the sky; gathered, a blazing fire."
The second soul skill activated again—but this time, all the flames condensed into one giant fireball.
Terrifying energy caused waves of pressure to ripple through the air.
Back when he was only a Grand Soul Master, this move could already rival a Soul Elder's strength—let alone now!
Qian Daoliu wanted to take him down in melee.
But wasn't Lin Feng also waiting for just this opportunity?
Now!
Lin Feng shouted.
At the moment the Angelic Holy Sword was blocked by the stone wall, Lin Feng hurled the nearly solid fireball at Qian Daoliu's abdomen.
The violent energy even made Qian Daoliu wary. No doubt—no Grand Soul Master could take this attack!
And now, having committed to an attack with no new strength yet mustered, he had no choice but to face it head-on.
"Second soul skill: Angelic Guard!"
The golden shield reappeared.
Clang!
The shield shattered. The fireball struck Qian Daoliu square in the abdomen.
His luxurious and elegant robe was blown open and scorched, revealing his skin beneath.
At the same time, the Angelic Holy Sword, weakened by Lin Feng's third soul skill, struck Lin Feng's back.
Bang!
Lin Feng flew back, coughing up blood.
Qian Daoliu halted his attack, looking at Lin Feng with conflicted eyes.
"Xiao Feng!" ×2Two figures flashed over, holding Lin Feng in their arms.
"Are you alright, Xiao Feng?"
Qian Renxue looked at the burn on Lin Feng's back, then turned her furrowed brows to Qian Daoliu—accusation clear in her eyes.
"Hmph. This brat's fine. He won."
Qian Daoliu withdrew his Martial Soul and looked bitterly at his ruined clothes, snorting.
Lin Feng struggled to his feet, the corner of his mouth lifting:
"Grandpa was holding back, after all."
He said it lightly, but the searing pain in his back was very real.
Stubborn to the end.
Admitting he was in bad shape? Never.
"Breath of Life."
Under the soft white glow, Lin Feng's injuries quickly healed.
Qian Daoliu's mouth twitched. Offense, defense, and healing? What kind of monster was this?
That last move already had the power of a Soul Sect. Even suppressing his strength to Grand Soul Master level, or even Soul Elder level, Qian Daoliu wouldn't have come out unscathed.
Qian Renxue and Ling Yuan both breathed sighs of relief.
Their eyes were full of joy and admiration.
To win a duel—even with suppressed strength—against Qian Daoliu, was something Lin Feng could brag about for a lifetime.
T/N: For up to fifteen chapters ahead on this fic and twenty on my other, become a P@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle