"I want this item. I'll give you an immortal herb right now."
As Xiao Lin's words fell, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes instantly lit up.
"You have the Netherworld Civet Cat spirit, known for speed and agility, but in truth, enhancing the Nether attribute is the true path of strength. I happen to have an immortal herb called Phantom Nether Lotus."
"The effect of this herb is to enhance Nether attributes, including but not limited to stealth ability, speed boost, soul resilience, and phantom clones."
Listening to Xiao Lin's description, Zhu Zhuqing could not think of anything else.
Without hesitation, she made a Martial Soul Oath.
After Zhu Zhuqing finished her oath, Xiao Lin motioned for Tang San to hand the Phantom Nether Lotus over to her.
This Phantom Nether Lotus was merely a top-tier spiritual herb, definitely not comparable to the Water Fairy Jade Bone that Zhu Zhuqing absorbed in the original timeline.
But in terms of compatibility, this immortal herb was far better than the Premium Yellow Essence that Yue Feng and Oslo received.
It was precisely because this herb suited Zhu Zhuqing perfectly that Xiao Lin had asked her to swear a more demanding oath.
And that was because of her ambiguous relationship with Dai Mubai.
After all, the two families had a long-standing history of Spirit Fusion Technique inheritance.
For all he knew, some family reason could make Zhu Zhuqing betray them.
As for why Yu Tianheng didn't need to swear, it was simply because Xiao Lin never considered Master Yu Xiaogang a threat.
Yu Xiaogang? A joke.
That "eight-year promise"? Xiao Lin felt it was laughable.
Yu Xiaogang's greatest miracle-level cheat was right beside Xiao Lin. Without Tang San, Yu Xiaogang could never return to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Even if he returned, the clan wouldn't offend Xiao Lin for the sake of a waste.
Xiao Lin understood this very clearly.
"Alright, Xiao Lin, come up and fight."
On the stage, Qin Ming seemed unhappy that Xiao Lin was drawing everyone's attention.
He was obviously prepared to give everyone a combat demonstration, and Xiao Lin was still acting so casually?
"Wait a moment, Teacher Qin Ming. We should let Zhu Zhuqing finish absorbing the immortal herb. Everyone should observe it together."
Xiao Lin wasn't in a hurry. Since he was going to teach real combat, he needed to put on a proper performance, and it needed to be seen by all team members.
He would definitely teach them well.
Next, I'll use at most four spirit abilities, Xiao Lin thought to himself.
After about fifteen minutes, Zhu Zhuqing had initially finished absorbing the Phantom Nether Lotus. Her spirit power had risen to level 39.5, only a little more time needed to break through to level 40, Spirit Ancestor.
"Alright, since Zhu Zhuqing has finished absorbing the herb, then watch carefully—this will be my and Xiao Lin's real-combat lesson."
Qin Ming waved his hand and signaled the referee, Yu Tianheng, to announce the start.
Xiao Lin was already standing on the stage, hands in his pockets, his stance full of openings.
Qin Ming frowned, thinking Xiao Lin was too careless, but since the match had not started, he said nothing.
"Begin!"
Having heard things about Xiao Lin's strength from the Shi brothers, Yu Tianheng did not underestimate the seemingly full-of-openings posture. Seeing both sides ready, he announced the match.
"Blazing Sky Wolf—attack!"
"Awoo!"
The moment the match began, Qin Ming entered Martial Soul Possession.
As a powerful fighter raised by Shrek Academy, he had rich dueling experience.
In an instant, his body expanded in size. White flames near the level of Ultimate Fire burned along his fur, and the wolf form and human body fully merged.
If Qin Ming ever reached Spirit Saint level and awakened Martial Soul True Body, his appearance would be terrifying.
Facing a nearly four-meter-tall flaming wolf, even Xiao Lin felt a bit of pressure.
A real threat.
The next moment, a black spirit ring flashed beneath Qin Ming.
Immediately afterward, a roaring blaze ignited, and under the massive burst of white flames, Xiao Lin couldn't see Qin Ming's true body.
At the same moment, Xiao Lin sensed a rapidly heating airflow from his left.
"Bang!"
"Boom!"
A huge blast wave erupted to Xiao Lin's left.
At the last possible second, Xiao Lin summoned the Coiled Dragon Staff, blocking the attack.
Qin Ming's sixth spirit ability collided directly with the staff, generating a massive shockwave.
Xiao Lin was forced back three steps from the impact.
Now, Xiao Lin could no longer look down on Spirit Emperors.
He had always been able to easily crush weak-quality Spirit Emperors—and even some Spirit Saints—but only when their martial souls were inferior.
Qin Ming was clearly not one of them.
The Blazing Sky Wolf martial soul surpassed most in the Emperor Team.
And thanks to the premium herb Xiao Lin previously gave him, Qin Ming's flames had become pseudo-Ultimate Fire.
Pseudo-Ultimate Fire might not harm Xiao Lin directly, but the burst power was extremely terrifying—no weaker than Ma Hongjun's Evil Phoenix flame.
That explosive force combined with the sixth spirit ability had forced Xiao Lin back three steps.
Keep in mind—the Coiled Dragon Staff had the same ever-increasing weight trait as the Clear Sky Hammer, and Xiao Lin's body toughness was not inferior to Qin Ming in Martial Soul Possession.
He didn't know what Qin Ming's sixth skill was, but it clearly wasn't a simple charge.
Xiao Lin's battle instincts and analytical mind kicked into full speed.
Since he couldn't reveal his 100,000-year fifth spirit ring, nor use Ultimate attributes to counter directly, he couldn't think of a good method to maintain an evenly matched fight.
Next moment, Qin Ming's speed increased further.
In a flash, Xiao Lin felt heat surging behind his back.
He's behind me already? His sixth ability can continuously accelerate?
Wanting to break the stalemate, Xiao Lin used two spirit abilities without hesitation.
"Heaven-Earth Throw! Lightning Shadow Flash!"
One yellow ring and one purple ring shone beneath his feet.
This time, the abilities were not used on himself, but on the Coiled Dragon Staff.
Facing Qin Ming behind him, Xiao Lin spun around and swung the staff backwards.
Boom!
This time Qin Ming did not dodge the staff boosted to 400% attack power. Instead, a purple spirit ring flashed beneath his feet, and his body was covered with fire armor.
"Fifth spirit ring—Fire God Transformation!"
The fire armor was invisible yet solid. Combined with the momentum from the sixth ability, its force was no weaker than Xiao Lin's two spirit abilities.
But what happened next shocked Qin Ming and the entire Emperor Battle Team.
Qin Ming caught the Coiled Dragon Staff with his left hand. While the fire armor shattered, a second staff, flickering with lightning, swept horizontally.
Knowing Xiao Lin's skills clearly, Qin Ming's eyes widened.
This time, he could not take the hit. Flames burst beneath his feet, and he leapt out of the attack range.
Only flames were left dancing on the stage.
"Xiao Lin, looks like you've made quite some progress these days."
Experienced as he was, Qin Ming instantly realized Xiao Lin was fighting differently than before and understood the benefit of the change.
"Where? Teacher Qin Ming's Fire God Transformation is what's truly impressive."
Xiao Lin knew Qin Ming's martial soul data panel.
Qin Ming did not originally possess this spirit ability.
"Yes, this Fire God Transformation is my secondary development of my fifth spirit ability—turning intangible flame into physical form, greatly enhancing both attack and defense."
Receiving Xiao Lin's praise, Qin Ming couldn't help explaining.
Since he was the grandson of Master Xiao Yan, Xiao Lin's compliment meant the technique was indeed excellent.
(End of chapter)