Knocked back by Yan's punch, Ling Xiao gritted his teeth against the searing pain in his chest. Although injured, his fighting spirit did not diminish; instead, it surged.
Gripping the Profound Sky Axe with both hands, he raised it high above his head.
"First Soul Skill: Metal Revolution!" he barked.
As he activated his first Soul Skill, a powerful pressure rose from Ling Xiao.
Golden light spiraled upward while dark red ripples fluctuated around him.
In an instant, a massive axe blade of dark gold energy formed upon the Profound Sky Axe. The phantom blade was so large it seemed to dye the bronze-colored axe in dark gold, radiating a sharp, bone-chilling aura.
Ling Xiao swung down violently.
The giant half-moon axe-light tore through the air, hurtling toward Yan at incredible speed with an imposing momentum.
"This is his first Soul Skill? I didn't expect such power from a mere Rank 11."
Both Yan on the stage and Xie Yue's group below were visibly startled by the intensity of the attack.
"First Soul Skill: Flame Savage Assault!"
Facing Ling Xiao's Soul Skill, Yan took it seriously.
He swung his arms as dark red light erupted.
A strong wave of soul power rose from him, and flames shot toward the sky.
His possessed Flame Lord Martial Soul grew several sizes larger, completely enveloping him in fire. His lower body transformed into a massive ball of flame as he charged at the incoming Metal Revolution with blistering speed.
The two formidable attacks collided in the blink of an eye.
A thunderous explosion rang out as dark red and dark gold lights scattered in all directions. A fierce wave of soul power swept across the arena, sending ripples of energy outward like waves on a pond.
However, the two Soul Skills did not cancel each other out. Yan, using his entire body as a medium for Blazing Charge, let out a roar as he shattered Ling Xiao's Metal Revolution with a heavy "bang" and continued hurtling toward Ling Xiao.
Though his speed had been cut by more than half and the flames were no longer as dense—even revealing his upper body through the fading fire—the attack was still active.
Ling Xiao had prepared himself mentally, but he still felt a trace of disappointment. While Metal Revolution was incredibly potent, the gap in cultivation was simply too vast. It wasn't enough to completely halt Yan's Soul Skill.
Seeing the attack about to strike, Ling Xiao gritted his teeth, raised the Profound Sky Axe once more, and chopped down at the oncoming scorched figure.
BOOM!
This time, Ling Xiao had truly exhausted his strength.
He was instantly sent flying, crashing hard onto the ground. Every inch of his body ached, and he couldn't suppress a pained groan. His grip failed; the Profound Sky Axe slipped from his hand, spinning through the air before its blade embedded itself into the bluestone floor of the stage.
Seeing that Ling Xiao had no strength left to fight, Yan ceased his offensive. He landed back on the ground, the flames slowly receding as he deactivated his Martial Soul Possession.
Despite his victory, there was little joy on Yan's face.
He had indeed held back initially, but during that final Soul Skill clash, he had used his full strength. Even so, Ling Xiao's skill had consumed the majority of his power. One had to remember that Ling Xiao was only Rank 11.
If they were at the same rank, the outcome might have been very different.
"Ling Xiao!"
Seeing the match end with Ling Xiao collapsed on the ground, Hu Liena cried out in worry.
She and Xie Yue immediately rushed onto the arena to check his injuries. After a careful inspection, Xie Yue felt relieved.
"Don't worry, his injuries aren't too severe."
As Hu Liena remained anxious, Xie Yue prepared to say more when a playful, aged voice drifted over.
A white-robed elderly man suddenly appeared on the stage; he moved so fast that no one present had even sensed his arrival.
"Aye, you little rascals. You really go all out for a spar, don't you? Now you've gone and bothered this old man again!"
The elder had white hair but a youthful complexion.
He didn't appear to have a high cultivation level, yet he radiated a sense of warmth and tranquility that made everyone feel at ease.
Seeing him, Xie Yue brightened up.
"So it's you, Director Sun! Please, help Ling Xiao with his injuries so we don't have to carry him to the infirmary."
"Being so competitive at such a young age isn't good. Even a spar should have limits. At your stage, fighting isn't the most important thing," Director Sun lectured.
However, his hands weren't idle.
With a flash of white light, a jade-green staff appeared in his hand—it was the Healing Wand, a rare high-level healing Martial Soul. Holding the Healing Wand, he tapped it lightly on the ground. The ring at the top of the staff suddenly blossomed with a vivid green light.
The light seemed sentient as it washed over Ling Xiao's body.
A miraculous scene unfolded.
The injuries Ling Xiao had sustained during the fight began to mend at a pace visible to the naked eye. Within a few breaths, his wounds vanished, and even the scorched skin on his chest was restored to perfect condition.
Ling Xiao felt the green light pass over him like a gentle spring breeze.
The pain faded until it was gone.
He flexed his arms and clenched his fists; his injuries were completely healed. The effect was instantaneous. He couldn't help but marvel at the power of a Support System Martial Soul in the Douluo Continent.
Seeing him try to stand, the elder smiled.
"Hehe, little fellow, we're not done yet!"
The elder activated his soul power again, and a water-blue light bloomed from the top of the wand. The blue light curved like a stream of water and sank into Ling Xiao's body.
"This is...!" Ling Xiao gasped.
This sensation was different.
If the green light was like a spring breeze, this blue light felt incredibly refreshing, as if he were being cooled from the inside out.
"There, your injuries are healed. You are too young for such violent combat; I've given you a full treatment to ensure no hidden internal damage remains. Now it's foolproof."
The white-robed elder chuckled, but ended with a stern warning: "However, you must be careful in the future. Your current body is not yet suited for such intense battles."
"Understood. Thank you, Senior. Ling Xiao is deeply grateful."
Ling Xiao stood up and cupped his fists in respect.
"So you are Ling Xiao?" the elder asked with interest.
As a veteran of the Spirit Hall Academy, he naturally knew that two students with Innate Full Soul Power were enrolling this year, and one of them had been taken as a disciple by the Pope.
"I am."
The elder nodded kindly and said no more, turning to leave.
As he walked away, other students nearby bowed and greeted him; it was clear he was highly respected within the academy.
Ling Xiao watched the old man depart, trying to recall who he might be. Based on his knowledge of his "previous life," he couldn't find any information on this person.
Sensing his confusion, Xie Yue introduced him: "That is the Director of the Academy's Support Department, Teacher Sun Renxin. He is a Soul Douluo of the Healing System. His Martial Soul is the Healing Wand."
"A Healing System Soul Douluo?" Ling Xiao was stunned.
He hadn't expected the man to be a Soul Douluo. Based on what he knew of the world, the current number one support Soul Master was Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Fengzhi had cultivated the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Martial Soul to the Soul Saint realm, which was the limit for that specific soul.
Ling Xiao had assumed there were no Support Soul Masters above Rank 80 in this era. It turned out he was wrong; it was simply that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile was so powerful that even across a major realm gap, its supportive power remained superior.
He could feel that Director Sun's healing power was immense and immediate.
Having such a healer as backup would be a massive advantage in battle. Yet, even being a full realm higher, his supportive capabilities were still considered secondary to Ning Fengzhi's. It seemed he had underestimated the "Number One Support Martial Soul under Heaven."