"First Soul Skill, Phoenix Fire Line." Ma Xiaotao decided to strike first. With a high, resonating phoenix cry echoing through the sky, a lifelike fire phoenix apparition suddenly emerged behind her.
The fire phoenix was engulfed in blazing crimson flames, instantly igniting the surrounding air. The flames quickly condensed into a scorching fire line, shooting towards Zhang Lexuan.
The intense heat caused the temperature on the beach to rise sharply; the surrounding air seemed to catch fire, and the sand on the ground gradually began to crystallize under the scorching heat.
As expected of a Phoenix martial soul, despite its flaws, the terrifying temperature contained within this True Phoenix Fire was surprisingly high, as if it intended to incinerate everything in the world.
"First Soul Skill, Moon Ring Severing Blade." Faced with Ma Xiaotao's fierce attack, Zhang Lexuan's expression remained unchanged. She simply let out a soft cry. In an instant, her first soul ring glowed brightly, and the silver moon apparition above her head released an even richer silver moonlight.
The moonlight quickly condensed, forming a sharp, crescent-shaped sword aura that, accompanied by a sharp, piercing sound, cut through the air like a silver lightning bolt, leaving a clear ripple as it directly struck the Phoenix Fire Line.
The cool moonlight carried a chilling coldness, as if it intended to dispel the heat from the beach.
"Boom—"
Accompanied by a deafening, violent explosion, an invisible wave of air surged outwards from the epicenter.
A massive crater instantly appeared on the beach, the previously flat sand completely destroyed.
The flames generated by the explosion were incredibly powerful, instantly turning the surrounding sand into sparkling, translucent crystals that shimmered with colorful light under the sun, like a dazzling land of gems.
"Second Soul Skill, Phoenix Rebirth, Third Soul Skill, Phoenix Wing Sky Soar."
Failing to land a hit, Ma Xiaotao was not discouraged. Instead, she swiftly launched a more ferocious attack. Her soul rings shone, and she instantly unleashed her second and third soul skills.
Surging flames poured out from her body like a tide, completely engulfing her. A pair of dazzling, fiery red wings, emanating scorching light, suddenly unfurled from her back. Each flap of her wings stirred up waves of hot air.
Aided by these two powerful soul skills, Ma Xiaotao's body slowly lifted off the ground, flying into the air. Several long, crimson phoenix tails trailed behind her, dancing in the wind.
From a distance, she looked like a true phoenix reborn from fire, radiating unparalleled majesty and beauty.
Enhanced by these two potent soul skills, Ma Xiaotao not only gained the ability to fly, allowing her to soar freely and control the initiative in combat, but her various attributes also received significant boosts, her strength instantly skyrocketing, and her entire aura shifting.
"Second Soul Skill, Sky Dance Moon Wheel Sword."
Zhang Lexuan's clear voice echoed like a melody from an empty valley. From the silver moon suspended high in the sky, seven substantive beams of moonlight suddenly descended.
Like seven agile streams of light, they instantly transformed into seven moonlit sword shadows emanating a chilling coldness.
These sword shadows rotated rapidly around Zhang Lexuan, forming an impenetrable defensive sword array, their flashing cold light sending shivers down one's spine.
With Zhang Lexuan's fingers pressed together like a sharp sword, she gently swiped. In an instant, the seven sword shadows, like flying swords obeying a command, shot rapidly towards Ma Xiaotao in the air, accompanied by sharp, piercing sounds.
Their speed was so astonishing that one barely had time to react, leaving only streaks of silver light flashing in the air.
Watching Ma Xiaotao being chased and slashed by the seven fiercely maneuvering sword shadows in the air, Lu Jingming bit on his straw, his lips curling upwards imperceptibly, his eyes full of suppressed amusement.
Perhaps due to long-term study of swordsmanship with Jingliu, Zhang Lexuan had specifically chosen soul beasts that could grant sword-type soul skills when acquiring her own.
Take this second soul skill, "Sky Dance Moon Wheel Sword," for example; when unleashed, it possessed the extraordinary, sharp, and elegant demeanor of a sword immortal.
However, Ma Xiaotao was, after all, an elite disciple of Shrek Academy. She spent most of her time in the Douluo arenas, having been tempered by countless battles.
The combat experience she had accumulated was simply incomparable to someone like Lu Jingming, who participated in actual combat less frequently. She moved agilely in the air like a nimble swallow, dodging the frantic attacks of the seven sword shadows with astonishing speed, enhanced by her soul skills.
At the same time, she furiously spewed a searing True Phoenix Fire from her mouth, sweeping it towards the seven Moon Wheel Swords, attempting to erode the sword shadows' power with high temperatures.
This fierce clash lasted for a moment. Although Ma Xiaotao successfully evaded the sword shadows' encirclement and used her True Phoenix Fire to weaken the Moon Wheel Swords' power, this series of actions also consumed a large amount of her soul power.
At this point, she was slightly out of breath, her chest heaving violently. Due to the intense fighting, her face was flushed crimson. Her clothes, too, were tattered by the raging sword qi, revealing large expanses of pale skin, exuding a unique allure.
She had exerted her utmost to avoid the sword qi attacks; otherwise, the damage would have been more than just to her clothing.
To think of Ma Xiaotao, known as "Fiery Demon" in Shrek Academy, ever suffering such a disadvantage! A surge of anger instantly rushed to her heart, her rationality clouded.
Her fourth soul ring glowed brilliantly, and she transformed into a dazzling flash of fire, rushing towards Zhang Lexuan like a burning meteor, simultaneously shouting, "Fourth Soul Skill, Phoenix Roar Heavenly Strike!"
As the purple soul ring radiated a dazzling light, a blinding red glow instantly lit up beneath Zhang Lexuan's feet. Immediately after, a colossal pillar of flame shot skyward, as if intending to pierce the heavens.
The overwhelming flames, like a surging tide, instantly enveloped Zhang Lexuan completely. The scorching heat distorted the surrounding air, and the sand on the beach began to melt.
Ma Xiaotao's lips curled into an involuntary, triumphant arc; she seemed to have already seen the dawn of victory.
However, the next moment, the smile on her face froze, as if perfectly still. Because within that blazing pillar of flame, Zhang Lexuan's fourth soul ring also shone with dazzling light. Soft silver moonlight poured out like a tide, completely enveloping her.
Surprisingly, the previously incredibly hot and unstoppable True Phoenix Fire, under the illumination of the silver moonlight, seemed to have met its natural enemy, being forcibly repelled and unable to harm Zhang Lexuan in the slightest.