Chapter 24: with translation of chapter title

Even though Gu Xuan's soul power level was two levels lower than his, Shi Mo still felt immense pressure from Gu Xuan, and the scene from yesterday where Gu Xuan pressed and beat Yu Tianheng still occasionally flashes in his mind.

Thinking this, Shi Mo couldn't help but sigh inwardly: "This is the might of absorbing a soul ring beyond one's level, right?"

"Shi Mo, give it your all—I won't hold back. This morning's training left me dissatisfied, so now I'll take over Qin Ming's role and train you." Gu Xuan said slowly.

Hearing this, a hint of embarrassment crossed Shi Mo's face; this morning's training remains unforgettable—those moves weren't overly complex for one person; they were especially simple, things you could get at a glance, but actually performing them without martial soul or soul power, he could barely do a hundred push-ups.

Although this is his first time doing something like this, the single attribute also reveals a problem: if he gives up his Soul Master identity, he might even be worse than an ordinary person.

Of course, that's somewhat of an exaggeration, but Shi Mo himself can't deny feeling a bit worthless.

When Gu Xuan said that, if it were an ordinary person speaking like that, he would have already gone up and given them a beating; but since Gu Xuan said it, he really doesn't have the courage to give Gu Xuan a beating.

A hint of helplessness flashed across Shi Mo's face, and he replied in a muffled voice: "Come on, I won't give up resisting."

"Hehe." Gu Xuan grinned: "That's exactly the attitude I want."

Qin Ming stood to the side, watching Gu Xuan nod in satisfaction. Although they had only been in contact for less than two days, he was very pleased with Gu Xuan, and if Gu Xuan weren't just a Soul Elder, Qin Ming would think Gu Xuan could handle a teacher's position.

Upon hearing Gu Xuan's words, Qin Ming also wanted to see how Gu Xuan trains Shi Mo, after all Gu Xuan's training method would be effective even if used on him, so he looked forward to Gu Xuan's next moves.

"I'm coming!" Gu Xuan announced.

As the words fell, Gu Xuan's leg muscles bulged, exploding with speed far surpassing that of a battle soul master, charging straight at Shi Mo.

During this process, the first yellow soul ring on Gu Xuan's body lit up.

"First soul skill: Bone Dragon Battle Body!"

As the soul skill was released, Gu Xuan's body seemed to be clad in heavy silver-white armor, and a pair of bone claws grew even heavier; the bone claws clenched into fists, and the huge fists came down directly at Shi Mo.

Shi Mo naturally couldn't just stand there and let Gu Xuan beat him; after all, even though his Xuanwu turtle shell defense is astonishing, it originally couldn't withstand Gu Xuan pressing and beating Yu Tianheng.

"First soul skill: Shield Formation!"

Shi Mo shouted loudly, his first soul ring on his body flaring; his soul skill is exactly the same as the stone mill's soul skill, and as the first soul skill is released, the turtle shell originally attached to his body detaches and becomes a turtle-shell shield one zhang high and one point five meters, sixty centimeters wide.

"Clang!"

Like the sound of striking iron on a big bell, a clang rang out, and Gu Xuan's huge, overbearing fist left an imprint on Shi Mo's heavy turtle-shell shield.

Although Shi Mo blocked Gu Xuan's attack, Gu Xuan's terrifying strength directly blasted him back nearly a meter.

This was merely the first probing clash, directly letting Shi Mo personally experience Gu Xuan's terror, because his first soul skill not only can turn the turtle shell into a shield but also can increase his strength by thirty percent.

Yet even so, his strength still couldn't match Gu Xuan's, whose soul power level is two levels lower than his.

However, there's no time for Shi Mo to be surprised now; as Gu Xuan's first fist lands, quickly followed by the second, third… Gu Xuan's leg muscles bulge and keep up, and similarly explosive muscle bulges appear on his arms; the huge silver-white bone fists fall like raindrops, striking the turtle-shell shield in Shi Mo's hand, producing a ding-dang sound like striking iron.

Shi Mo likewise mustered all his strength, trying to block Gu Xuan's fists from falling, but to no avail; Gu Xuan's hands turned into bone claws and even felt no pain, each strike carrying a force of thousands of jin, causing Shi Mo's turtle-shell shield to tremble.

Shi Mo's legs were kept straight, but they still slid backward a little, because Gu Xuan's power was too terrifying.

Even when facing Yu Tianheng, Gu Xuan's violent attack style had never left him so helpless, because his fists fell too fast, almost uninterrupted, giving him no chance to release soul skills.

If he were forced to release a soul skill at this moment, he would definitely be hit several times by those terrifying fists; although it wouldn't cause serious injury, it would certainly be unpleasant.

Other spectators perhaps didn't have such a direct feeling, only feeling that Gu Xuan was pressing and outputting against Shi Mo, but Shi Mo himself clearly knew that if struck by this punch, he could even have several ribs broken.

Gu Xuan's stamina is enough to sustain him pressing and hitting Shi Mo like this; as long as Shi Mo doesn't resist, Gu Xuan intends to simply push him off the Dou Hun Tai.

Even while continuously outputting, Gu Xuan will suddenly unleash a heavy hammer, causing Shi Mo to slide back two or three meters.

The Dou Hun Tai's diameter is one hundred meters; Gu Xuan and Shi Mo initially stood opposite each other in the center with a distance of twenty meters, meaning Shi Mo's distance to that side of the Dou Hun Tai is forty meters.

Now three minutes have passed, and Shi Mo's distance to the edge of the Dou Hun Tai is less than ten meters.

Although thanks to the Xuanwu turtle shield's defense he wasn't injured, his arms are a bit sore, and his viscera feel somewhat intense from the tremendous force's vibration, but this is entirely within his tolerance.

"Hehe, do you just plan to keep shrinking back like this?" Gu Xuan couldn't help but mock.

Upon hearing that, Shi Mo wasn't the slightest bit angered, because he's already used to it, or rather Qin Ming's training of them is like that; as a Soul Master, the most important thing is not to let emotions be swayed by the enemy.

Shi Mo didn't reply; Gu Xuan's attack became even more fierce, the second yellow soul ring on his body flared, and a pair of huge bone fists turned into a pair of dark-gold bone claws, madly attacking Shi Mo's turtle-shell shield.

"Sizzle-sizzle!" The sharp bone claws, each time they contact the turtle-shell shield, produce a shower of sparks; Shi Mo, holding the shield to block, already feels his heart churning with huge waves, because Gu Xuan's attack power can actually reach such a level.

Shi Mo feels that if he continues defending like this, even without him retracting the turtle-shell shield, Gu Xuan could directly shatter it with his formidable attack power.

Shi Mo knows he can't continue like this.

Suddenly, Shi Mo thought of a countermeasure; when the next dark-gold bone claw from Gu Xuan falls, he will use the force to retreat, and his distance to the edge of the Dou Hun Tai is now less than two meters.

But just then, the third purple soul ring on Gu Xuan's body lit up; at the moment Shi Mo retreated, countless spine-like bones, like swords, protruded one by one before Gu Xuan, instantly enveloping Shi Mo.

"Third soul skill: Bone Dragon Purgatory!"

PS: Typos to be corrected later.

(End of chapter)