Chapter 67: Subtle Changes

A twenty percent attribute boost makes Tie Li's aura even heavier.

Their eyes turn to the two attackers; the female Soul Master attacks head‑on, clearly trying to hold him back, while the male Soul Master attacks from the side, their aim being to eliminate Ning Ning first.

They are aware of the amplification effect of Ning Ning's Ruyi Tower, and naturally take Ning Ning as the first target to eliminate.

But at that moment, Tie Li suddenly lifts Ning Ning onto his back, his left hand supporting her rounded hips, knees bent to gather power, he lunges toward the female Soul Master, his right hand gripping the Forging Hammer as the First Soul Ring lights up.

The Forging Hammer instantly shifts into Thunder Hammer Form, and Lightning Armor rushes onto Tie Li's arm.

The female Soul Master is stunned; she didn't expect Tie Li to be so bold, carrying Ning Ning on his back and daring to confront her head‑on?

"You're overestimating yourself."

The female Soul Master's Third Soul Ring lights up, and in her anger she directly releases the Third Soul Technique.

In an instant, purple flames envelop her, coalescing into a massive wolf of violet fire that wraps around her body and, with terrifying momentum, charges at Tie Li.

The slightly flushed Ning Ning is about to release the Thousand-Year Soul Technique to boost Tie Li.

"No need to use the Thousand-Year Soul Technique yet," Tie Li's calm voice sounds in her ear.

The Second Soul Ring on Tie Li lights up; under the aid of the First Soul Technique, the Second Soul Technique is pure offense.

The raging Lightning Light at this moment condenses onto the hammer head and slams down hard onto the oncoming violet‑flame wolf.

The clash of thunder and violet flame.

"Sss"

The spot where the violet‑flame wolf is struck by the Thunder Hammer cracks, and that fissure spreads outward at a startling speed.

The male Soul Master immediately uses the First Soul Technique and the Second Soul Technique; both have speed amplification, allowing him to generate sufficient speed to coordinate with the female Soul Master and form a pincer on Tie Li.

He sees the female Soul Master's Third Soul Technique about to shatter under the opponent's attack; sensing trouble, he instantly releases his own Third Soul Technique.

Likewise, the soul skill attached to the Thousand-Year Soul Ring, with speed boosts from the First and Second Soul Techniques, makes his Third Soul Technique's attack even fiercer.

"Sss sss"

His form at that moment seemed like a raging thunderbolt, charging straight at Tie Li and Ning Ning.

It is also at that moment that Tie Li breaks through her Third Soul Technique, and the residual attack strikes her, causing injury.

He doesn't have time to finish her off; Tie Li must now contend with the male Soul Master's attack.

"Bastard."

The female Soul Master's expression turns sour; even though she's wounded, she refuses to let this rare chance slip away.

The First Soul Ring lights up, purple flames encircling her sharp claws, augmenting the attack while adding fire damage.

Tie Li's attention shifts to the male Soul Master.

He deactivates the Thunder Hammer Form, the Second Soul Ring lights up, and Tie Li's own strength, combined with Ning Ning's amplification, all stack onto the Shock Repel effect of the thunder smash, which may not lose to the opponent's attack.

"Bang"

"Clang"

The first sound is Tie Li's hammer blasting the male Soul Master away; the Shock Repel effect combined with Tie Li's force hurls him completely outward.

The second sound is the female Soul Master's attack landing on Tie Li, tearing his clothing but failing to breach his metal inner armor.

This inner armor is made of High-Level Metal; even a Four Ring Soul Ancestor might not be able to break it.

"You…" the female Soul Master gasps, but the response she gets is the head of the Forging Hammer.

With a "Bang", the female Soul Master is directly knocked out of the Soul Battle Platform.

Ning Ning on Tie Li's back turns bright red; each time Tie Li exerts force, his left hand involuntarily clamps down, yet his left hand is the one dragging Ning Ning.

Seeing the opponent eliminated, Tie Li puts Ning Ning down; his mask covers only half his face, and the reddened Ning Ning's oddity is instantly apparent.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing…"

The Soul Battle has no rule prohibiting weapons; Tie Li's metal inner armor is within the regulations.

The referee steps onto the stage to announce the Soul Battle result, and the two winners return to the lounge.

The female Soul Master, knocked down to the floor, shows a venomous glare in her eyes, doesn't even glance at her companion, and leaves the Soul Battle arena.

Having won the two‑versus‑two Team Duel, Ning Ning leaves the main Soul Battle arena first.

Tie Li feels his condition is still good and joins another solo Soul Battle.

After successfully defeating his opponent, he returns to his residence.

In the next seven Team Duels, the two gradually coordinate, and their speed of winning battles becomes faster and faster.

…

"Ke Xi, I already told you that Sister Ning hasn't been coming to the academy lately; I don't know anything about her."

"How could you not know? Did you deliberately hide it from me?"

Ke Xi's towering build, a head of golden long hair, and pale‑blue pupils flashing with anger, as he is about to stand and question Chi Ru.

At this moment Da Niu steps in front of Chi Ru; facing Da Niu, whose aura is not inferior to his own, Ke Xi's arrogant blaze instantly sputters.

He is only a Three Ring Soul Honorable; how could he possibly be a match for Da Niu, the Soul King.

"Hmph!" Ke Xi lets out a cold snort, turns his back and leaves, and no one knows where he's headed.

Chi Ru, seeing Ke Xi leave, only then shows a hint of nervousness on her face.

"Alas, who is so hateful, spreading rumors all over the academy, now Sister Ning's reputation is completely ruined."

"Da Niu, what should we do?" Chi Ru looks toward Da Niu beside her.

Da Niu wants to help Chi Ru, but the problem is too difficult and not suitable for him.

Seeing this, Chi Ru realizes she can't get a satisfactory answer, so she simply gets up to find Ning Ning, letting her see how to handle the issue.

…

Having won another Soul Battle, Ning Ning is delighted and invites Tie Li to eat at the street‑corner stalls.

It was rare to have guests over for a meal, so Tie Li certainly wouldn't refuse.

Ning Ning was well acquainted with the stall owner, and as soon as she arrived, the owner recognized her.

"Xiao Ning, what do you want to bring your friend to eat?"

"Uncle Zhang, three servings of beef noodles."

"Okay."

The two sat on either side of the wooden table set up by the stall; Ning Ning's appearance naturally attracted many onlookers, but when they saw Tie Li sitting opposite her, their admiring glances instantly turned to contempt, and they silently cursed in their hearts.

A fresh flower stuck in cow dung!

After a while, the stall owner brought three bowls of noodles to the table; Ning Ning had a small appetite, so she ate one bowl and pushed the other two toward Tie Li.

The two ate their noodles in silence, but two gazes watched them from the shadows.

"I thought the rumors at the academy were false, but I didn't expect them to be true."

"Ning Ning is actually hanging out with a guy off-campus, and it's a shame that the boss treated her so well."

"Come on, let's go tell the boss."

"Okay."

Tie Li keenly noticed that two gazes had just been fixed on him, but when he turned to look, they had vanished.

"What's wrong?" Ning Ning asked.

(End of chapter)