Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Charcoal Servant, Crimson Lotus Azure Flame!

Almost the instant Lin Xia stepped onto the edge of the training ground, countless gazes focused on her.

"It's junior Lin Xia!"

"And that amazing Tanjiro!"

"He's finally arrived at the training grounds!"

The crowd stirred, and soon, several senior students surrounded them with excited and curious smiles.

The leader was a rather muscular boy wearing the uniform of a senior student at Blazing Fire Academy, with a cheerful smile on his face.

He stared intently at Lin Xia and Tan Xiaoshi, his voice booming.

"Junior Brother Lin Xia! Are you here for a Soul Master battle?"

Looking at the group of enthusiastic senior students in front of her and feeling the surging fighting spirit in the training ground, Lin Xia's desire for validation grew even stronger.

Lin Xia nodded calmly, a fighting spirit curving her lips.

"Yeah, senior. Looking at the atmosphere here, I couldn't help but want to come and experience it."

"Hahaha! That's right!"

The burly young man at the head patted his solid chest and let out a hearty laugh.

"No true powerhouse is forged through meditation alone! The essence of a fire-attribute soul master lies in the clash of fists and soul skills!"

"I noticed you hadn't set foot here for over ten days after enrolling, and I thought you were just like those bookworms who only knew how to bury themselves in books!"

He spoke frankly, carrying the bold and unrestrained spirit unique to the Blazing Academy.

Lin Xia simply smiled and offered no explanation.

After all, everyone has their own opinion!

"Good! You've got guts!"

The admiration in the eyes of the burly young man deepened.

"Come on, junior, the arena's empty, let's have a match! My name is Huo Lie, a level 17 power-attack type Soul Master, my Martial Soul is the Fire Leopard!"

Huo Lie announced his name, his soul power surging slightly, and a scorching and wild aura spread out. Behind him, a lithe leopard shadow made of flames faintly appeared, and a yellow soul ring rose from his feet.

"A level 17 Soul Master..."

Lin Xia felt a chill run down her spine, but her eyes showed no sign of backing down; instead, they ignited an even stronger fighting spirit.

"Lin Xia, an eighth-level Soul Master, Martial Soul—Charcoal Servant, please enlighten me, Senior Huo Lie!"

Lin Xia clasped his hands in a fist salute, his eyes sharp as knives.

As soon as he finished speaking, Tan Xiaoshi stepped forward, his small body standing straight, his helmet ablaze with flames, his bright, fiery eyes fixed on Huo Lie opposite him, emitting a low, alert hum.

"Ugh—!"

"Level eight?"

Huo Lie was taken aback, a look of surprise and hesitation appearing on his face.

He scratched his head, looked at his own spirit rings, then at Tan Xiaoshi, who didn't even have a single spirit ring at Lin Xia's feet, and said somewhat embarrassedly:

"Um... junior, how about... I don't use my soul skills? I just use the basic power after my martial soul is attached? It feels a bit unfair to use soul skills, it's not fair."

Huo Lie wasn't being dismissive, but rather felt that it was unfair to win by bullying the weak.

There were some murmurs from below the arena, with many agreeing that Huo Lie's suggestion was reasonable.

After all, the gap between a Soul Master and a Soul Warrior is too great.

However, Lin Xia shook her head, and the confident smile on her face widened even more.

"Thank you for your kindness, senior, but there's no need for that. Senior Huo Lie, please feel free to fight. I'm not as weak as you think."

Lin Xia's gaze swept over Tan Xiaoshi, and the unspoken understanding between them prompted Tan Xiaoshi to give a firm response.

"Uru!"

Huo Lie looked at the calm and fighting spirit in Lin Xia's eyes, which was definitely not a bluff, and he also recalled the record of the Heart-Burning Stele that shocked the entire academy more than ten days ago, as well as the self-created soul skill that subverted his understanding!

"good!"

The last trace of hesitation in Huo Lie's eyes vanished, replaced by seriousness and respect.

"In that case, junior Lin Xia, watch out!"

"roar--!"

A deep roar rang out, and Huo Lie suddenly lowered his body, his muscles bulging, faint flame patterns appearing on his skin, and his hands were covered with a layer of sharp fiery claw shadows.

His first spirit ring suddenly shone brightly!

"First Soul Skill: Blazing Assault!"

Huo Lie's figure instantly transformed into a blurry crimson streak of light, moving at an astonishing speed. With scorching air currents and a sharp whooshing sound, he covered more than half the distance of the arena in the blink of an eye, heading straight for Lin Xia and Tan Xiaoshi!

However, Lin Xia reacted even faster than he had expected!

"Charcoal Servant—glare!"

Lin Xia instantly issued the command in her mind.

The fiery eyes beneath Tanjiro's helmet erupted with a powerful purple light!

An invisible, highly aggressive, and intimidating mental shockwave, like an invisible hammer, precisely struck the rapidly advancing Huo Lie!

Huo Lie felt a strong chill and palpitation suddenly strike him, as if he were being targeted by an invisible, ferocious soul beast. His momentum involuntarily faltered, and the soul power flowing smoothly within his body also showed a slight, imperceptible disorder.

Although he was able to break free from the mental threat instantly thanks to his stronger soul power and mental strength, his speed and momentum of the sprint had been abruptly interrupted!

This brief delay gave Lin Xia and Tan Xiaoshi precious time to react!

"spark!"

Lin Xia's instructions followed immediately.

A blinding red light instantly shone from the core of Tan Xiaoshi's small palm!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Three beams of orange-red flame, condensed like arrows and with astonishing temperature, shot precisely in a triangular formation towards the gap in Huo Lie's chest exposed by his sprint being hindered!

The air hissed as it was scorched!

Huo Lie's pupils contracted slightly, secretly amazed by Lin Xia's precise timing.

"Such a quick reaction!"

He let out a low shout, his arms, burning with flames, crossed in front of his chest, and dense soul power formed a fiery shield on his arms.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Three muffled thuds exploded into three brilliant bursts of sparks. Huo Lie's body swayed, and he was jolted back half a step by the impact, feeling a burning pain in his arms.

Although he successfully blocked it, he also made Huo Lie question his life choices.

Is that correct?

If I wasn't mistaken, that was a soul skill, right?

And not just one! There were two!

Combined with the soul skill I learned in front of the Burning Heart Monument.

That's already three self-created soul skills!

The onlookers were dumbfounded. What kind of heaven-defying comprehension was this!

However, it was precisely because of this that Huo Lie's fighting spirit intensified, and he completely placed Lin Xia on the position of an equal opponent.

"Wow, that's impressive, junior. But now I'm getting serious!"

After saying this, Huo Lie quickly stepped forward, crossed his claws, and swung them out fiercely!

The space was compressed to its limit.

Faced with this unavoidable attack, Lin Xia showed no panic whatsoever; instead, a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes!

"This is the moment we've been waiting for! Tanjiro—hang in there!"

Tan Xiaoshi's small body burst forth with an astonishing aura!

Instead, he stepped forward to meet the two claw attacks!

"Ugh—!!!"

Tan Xiaoshi's small body was instantly enveloped in a layer of intensely bright red energy!

This energy carries an indomitable, tenacious, and unyielding will, as if it wants to transform all the pain and adversity into explosive power!

Hang in there!

When the user is in an abnormal state, the power is doubled!

At this moment, Tan Xiaoshi and Lin Xia are suffering from the "burning" effect brought about by the fiery attack!

boom----!