As light flashed, Xia Yi, Gu Yue, and Mu Xi were instantly teleported out of the stadium. Beside his in-game nickname "Big Brother Hao," the text "1 Win, 0 Losses" now appeared.
"Ugh, the first person I run into is this guy. What a jinx," Xia Yi grumbled. He had wanted to enjoy his time on the Star Battle Network, but Lin Pingzhi's interference had killed all his enthusiasm.
"All right, I'm going to finish playing with Mu Xi. While we're waiting for the official matches to start, I'll help her get some battle experience. Want to join in?" Gu Yue smiled slightly and gave Xia Yi a glance. "I'm also curious to see what the latest Federation tech is capable of."
"Aww, Yue'er, you're the best." Xia Yi hugged both Gu Yue and Mu Xi, spun them around, and gave each a kiss on the forehead before grinning. "You two fight—I'll just watch, hehe."
He'd brought Gu Yue into the Star Battle Network to help train Mu Xi.
Mu Xi had great power, but lacked combat experience.
Xia Yi's soul skills were all brute-force and straightforward. If he sparred with Mu Xi, she wouldn't gain much from it.
Gu Yue, on the other hand, had soul skills that were ever-changing.
Sparring with her would yield far more experience than fighting Xia Yi.
Of course Gu Yue saw right through Xia Yi's little plan. Rather than wait for him to ask, she chose to take the initiative.
It was also a good opportunity to ease the past tensions between her and Mu Xi.
And truthfully, Gu Yue was genuinely interested in exploring humanity's latest AI technology.
"Sister Xi'er, let's give it a try," Gu Yue giggled and challenged Mu Xi. A flash of light later, both were on the combat platform.
Under the guidance of the AI system, Xia Yi pulled up the battle panel, found the match between Mu Xi and Gu Yue, and clicked "Watch." After spending 100 Federation Coins, he was instantly teleported to a spectator seat.
"Not bad, direct seat teleportation. No need for on-site order management either," Xia Yi nodded approvingly. Despite some AI quirks, the Star Battle Network, as a product of the Sun-Moon Federation's latest tech, was overall very well-designed.
On the platform, Gu Yue had already started instructing Mu Xi on how to fight.
"Xi'er, your Samadhi True Fire is terrifying. Even a two-word battle armor Soul Douluo wouldn't dare take it head-on. But it burns through your soul power too fast. So during matches, it's best used as a finisher to overwhelm your opponent at a key moment. Right now, focus on making full use of your martial soul. Attack me."
"Okay! Be careful, Sister Yue." As eight pitch-black soul rings rose from beneath her feet, a crimson sun blazed into existence behind Mu Xi.
"Impressive. Even without using the Samadhi True Fire, Xi'er's flames are already among the top-tier for fire-attribute soul masters," Gu Yue nodded. Although the Samadhi True Fire hadn't fully merged with Mu Xi's martial soul, it had still enhanced it significantly.
Mu Xi's martial soul had undergone a major evolution.
In terms of flame quality alone, her blazing sun flame was now on par with the flames of the Sun Martial Soul, which had been a top-tier martial soul for tens of thousands of years and the signature of the Sun-Moon Imperial Family.
Mu Xi's Sun Radiance martial soul was essentially a simplified version of the Sun Martial Soul.
In a way, it had evolved.
Not holding back, Mu Xi activated her fifth soul ring—the fifth soul skill: Sun Radiance Bombardment!
Boom! Boom! Boom! A storm of fireballs surged toward Gu Yue, filling the sky above her and turning the area within a hundred meters into a sea of flames.
In the firestorm, Gu Yue's body flickered like an elf, gracefully evading every fireball. "You're controlling these with spiritual power, right? But with your current spiritual strength, managing so many at once is still too rigid. Unless you're using them in a team battle to suppress a support-type soul master, it's hard to land hits in a duel. Still, they're good for interrupting enemy offense or disrupting defense."
"I understand. Be careful, Sister!" Mu Xi's sixth soul ring lit up—Sun Radiance Storm!
A golden shockwave exploded from the blazing sun above Mu Xi, sweeping toward Gu Yue.
"Now this is interesting," Gu Yue's eyes sparkled. She summoned an Elemental Staff, and with a wave, multicolored light screens formed in front of her.
BOOM BOOM BOOM...
The golden energy slammed into the rainbow shields and exploded, blowing holes through several of them. The remaining energy surged through the gaps, headed straight for Gu Yue.
A flicker of surprise crossed Gu Yue's eyes, but she had already prepared. With a motion of her staff, she opened a spatial rift and diverted the force into it.
At that moment, Mu Xi's seventh soul ring lit up. The blazing sun above her dropped and fused into her body. A searing glow erupted, covering her completely.
Centered on Mu Xi, the heat distorted the air across the entire stage.
Then her eighth soul ring activated—nine massive suns flew out from her body and hurtled toward Gu Yue.
Even Gu Yue felt the surrounding air turn to molten lava. Her expression turned serious for the first time. Behind her, a pair of wind wings appeared, instantly boosting her speed.
As the first sun neared, she twisted aside, barely dodging. But the sun suddenly turned and rejoined the others, forming an encirclement.
"Still a bit stiff." Enhanced by wind wings, Gu Yue was so fast that Mu Xi could only see afterimages. Even nine suns couldn't lock onto her.
Mu Xi was forced to rely on prediction to intercept her.
BOOM—
Two suns collided and exploded. Gu Yue used the blast to propel herself away, narrowly avoiding the rest.
Even while only defending, Mu Xi couldn't touch her.
Since the goal was to help Mu Xi gain combat experience, their spar lasted a full three hours.
Even when Mu Xi ran out of soul power, she meditated right there on the platform to recover.
Only when they were both too exhausted to continue did they end the match.
"Sister Gu Yue, you're amazing," Mu Xi said a bit glumly as they left the arena, giving Xia Yi a pitiful look.
The match had shaken her confidence.
She could accept losing to Gu Yue—but this was the Star Battle Network, where divine-level powers were restricted.
Everyone was a Soul Douluo, yet she'd been utterly outclassed, like a clown.
"Don't sell yourself short, Xi'er. You're already incredible. There aren't many Soul Douluo who can match you," Gu Yue stepped forward and linked arms with her, smiling.
Mu Xi wasn't weak. She only seemed that way because her opponent was Gu Yue.
There were few Soul Douluo worthy of Gu Yue's attention.
Seeing Mu Xi still downcast, Gu Yue smiled again. "Xi'er, your soul power is strong, your martial soul is powerful, and you even have divine flame like Samadhi True Fire. The only issues are in the transitions between your soul skills and your control over them. With more training, you'll be fine. Once you break through to Titled Douluo, I'll personally craft a soul spirit for you. I guarantee you'll be second to none."
"Really? Thank you, Sister Gu Yue!" Mu Xi lit up with excitement, her gloom instantly vanishing.
In the entire Spirit Pagoda, when it came to artificial soul spirits, Gu Yue was second to none.
Even Leng Yaozhu couldn't compare to her now.
What's more, Gu Yue knew many soul beasts humans didn't. The soul spirit she created for Mu Xi would definitely be a perfect fit.
"Just a little effort, no need to thank me." Gu Yue smiled and waved her hand, then said, "Let me think of a way. I'll try to help you break through to the Spirit Domain level before the Star Dou Battle Network Competition begins. By then, your control and usage of soul skills will be completely at your command."
Previously, while cultivating the Three-Flavor True Fire, Mu Xi's spiritual power had been enhanced in return, allowing her to raise it to the peak of the Spirit Abyss level — just one step away from the Spirit Domain level.
However, many prodigies truly get stuck at this very step, unable to break through.
A single step — as if separated by a chasm.
Although Mu Xi had confidence in achieving the breakthrough, it would normally have to wait until she advanced to the Title Douluo level and gained a deeper understanding of the Three-Flavor True Fire.
Being able to break through ahead of schedule — how could Mu Xi not be delighted?
(This chapter ends)