Phoenix Meteor Shower was the ten-thousand-year soul skill of the Evil Fire Phoenix, and Ma Xiaotao's sixth soul skill was precisely that. Jiang Qingtong's third soul ring was already at the ten-thousand-year level, so her ability to use Phoenix Meteor Shower wasn't surprising to Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er.
What shocked them was how Jiang Qingtong used it.
In this current age—from powerful Title Douluo to one-ring soul masters—the standard method of using soul skills was simple: activate the soul ring, cast the skill, and repeat as needed.
Yan Shaozhe had watched Ma Xiaotao use Phoenix Meteor Shower many times, yet never once had he imagined the technique could be employed like this.
Jiang Qingtong not only used the skill in its traditional form but also turned it into a strategic offensive tool, launching follow-up attacks that eliminated both Dai Huabin and Ning Tian.
One soul skill, multiple applications!
"How about it?" a voice asked from behind, interrupting the two's stunned silence. "Do you still doubt that her talent surpasses anyone you've ever seen?"
The two turned quickly and saw Mu En seated in a recliner, a faint smile on his face as he watched them—and more importantly, Jiang Qingtong on the arena stage.
Yan Shaozhe nodded, acknowledging the truth. "Indeed. Her talent surpasses anyone I've ever seen."
"I can say with certainty," Mu En said slowly, his gaze locked onto Jiang Qingtong, "that as long as she doesn't perish prematurely, she is destined to become a Limit Douluo. A Limit Douluo with twin martial souls—one of which is even an ultimate element martial soul. That would make her… unbeatable under heaven."
Unbeatable under heaven!
The pupils of both Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er shrank. For even Mu En to say such a thing, there could be no doubt.
"If she ever conquers the continent for the Sun Moon Empire, there will be no place left for the three original Douluo nations to stand," Yan Shaozhe murmured solemnly. His eyes slowly sharpened with determination. "For Xiaotao, and for the survival of the original Douluo nations, we must keep her here—at Shrek."
"Don't act rashly. That will only push her away."
Mu En warned, "Her heart is still pure. She's not yet like those Sun Moon people who'll do anything for conquest. Besides, the academy could use the prospect of helping her suppress the Evil Fire as leverage to keep her."
"Suppress the Evil Fire?"
Yan Shaozhe glanced at Jiang Qingtong on stage. "But… she doesn't seem to be suffering from the Evil Fire's effects at all?"
Mu En shook his head. "You can't see it—but these old eyes can. She's still resisting the Evil Fire's influence, just concealing it well. I believe the reason she's avoided using her second martial soul until now was precisely to delay triggering the Evil Fire."
"I see!" Both Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er had a moment of realization.
They had assumed that since she could use the Evil Fire Phoenix without displaying any instability, she must have already found a method of suppressing the fire. But now it made more sense—Jiang Qingtong, as a twin martial soul user, had simply been avoiding the risks of using her second martial soul unless absolutely necessary.
Yan Shaozhe frowned again. "But Xiaotao's Evil Fire still hasn't been suppressed. Will she really believe we can help her with hers?"
Mu En replied calmly, "That depends on how you two talk to her. Evil Fire Phoenix can only be restrained by ultimate ice. And when it comes to martial soul research and cultivation, who could be more qualified than us at Shrek?"
"We understand." Both nodded, grasping the strategy.
In essence—convince her to stay, then search for an ultimate ice martial soul user to neutralize her fire.
—
On the arena stage, with both Ning Tian and Dai Huabin defeated, only Xie Huan Yue remained. He stared grimly at Jiang Qingtong. Without Ning Tian's enhancements, he knew he stood no chance.
A soul master with a perfect soul ring configuration, ten-thousand-year rings, twin martial souls, and a three-ring cultivation base—all in one person. A true prodigy.
Jiang Qingtong's Evil Fire Phoenix flared, screeching into the sky. She charged straight toward him.
Xie Huan Yue clenched his fists and shouted, "So what if you have twin martial souls?! You think you're unbeatable? Take this—Elephant's Fury!"
Once again, he cast his most powerful technique, hoping to clash head-on.
But after having already fought Wang Dong and with his soul power depleted, and now lacking Ning Tian's support, Xie Huan Yue had no hope of winning.
Jiang Qingtong summoned multiple fireballs from Phoenix Meteor Shower, each burning with searing heat. She clenched her fist and punched.
As her blow struck Xie Huan Yue, all the meteor fireballs exploded in succession, bombarding him point-blank. Even with his Pi Pi Elephant's enhanced defense, he was launched from the stage, black smoke rising from his body.
With that final blow, all three members of the strongest challenger team had fallen—completely defeated by Jiang Qingtong alone.
—
Below the stage, Wu Feng rushed forward from the audience, panicked. She knelt beside Ning Tian and held her in her arms.
"Young Mistress! Are you alright?!"
"Wu Feng…" Ning Tian coughed softly. She furrowed her brow and tried to sit up, murmuring, "I told you… at the academy, call me 'sister.'"
"…Sister," Wu Feng nodded, subdued.
Ning Tian looked up at the stage, at the still-flaming silhouette of Jiang Qingtong, and gave a wry smile. "So… it turns out she didn't choose the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda because she didn't need to. She has her own confidence. I guess… I was too arrogant."
Wu Feng's eyes flashed with anger. "She hurt you! Should we—?"
"No." Ning Tian immediately shook her head. "This is Shrek Academy. We must not invoke our clan's power here. And instead of revenge… we should find a way to bring her into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
"Bring her into the clan?" Wu Feng blinked. "But, sister—"
"With someone like her, our clan's future would shine even brighter." With Wu Feng's help, Ning Tian slowly stood.
—
Elder Zhuang leisurely walked over, waving his hand and casting healing light over the three injured students.
Dai Huabin climbed out of the crater his body had made in the arena floor. He looked up at Jiang Qingtong, his face complicated.
She still hadn't withdrawn her martial soul.
She met his gaze and gave a light smile. "What? Still not convinced?"
Dai Huabin sighed. His voice was heavy. "We lost…"
There was no excuse. No variables. They were thoroughly, utterly defeated—crushed head-on by absolute power.
Twin martial souls. A ten-thousand-year soul ring.
There was no shame in losing to that kind of overwhelming talent.
PS: Access advance (30+) chapters at
https://www.patreon.com/c/NanamiTL