The Strongest Talent Tree

The next moment, monstrous waves of fire erupted from the fire bird’s wings, churning and howling like clouds as they closed in on Xi Yueyao.

"I’m gonna die! I’m gonna die!" Xi Yueyao was terrified, muttering the same words over and over.

Zhang Meng and the other two didn’t dare to delay, rushing forward to help. However, the waves of fire were ferocious. Not only were their attacks useless, but they were also swallowed by the flames. A terrifying burning sensation instantly spread through their bodies, and their Qi Blood dropped frantically.

"Fatty, hurry and use your ice-attribute Secret Technique!" Li Mufeng said, his face grim.

"The fire is too strong! My ice-attribute Secret Technique is completely useless," Zhang Meng said, on the verge of tears. He felt like all the fat on his body was about to be roasted off.

Xi Yueyao was undoubtedly in the worst state. Facing the scorching flames, she couldn’t help but curse out loud, "You little bitch! Just wait until I get out of here, I’ll make you pay!"

"Aargh, I’m so pissed! If there wasn’t a problem with my bloodline, I’d freeze you into a million pieces!"

As it turned out, her curses only enraged Xie Xiaoyu further. With a piercing shriek, the fire bird dove into the flames and began to circle around Xi Yueyao.

With each circle, the intensity and temperature of the flames rose by a level. After just a few passes, Xi Yueyao’s health was almost at rock bottom.

"You damn girl still dare to talk tough? Watch me burn you into a roasted pig!" Xie Xiaoyu sneered in her fire bird form.

"You’re the pig! Your whole family are pigs!" Xi Yueyao had always been proud. In her dictionary, the word "surrender" didn’t exist; only others ever surrendered to her.

Xie Xiaoyu was clearly infuriated. She screeched strangely as she circled Xi Yueyao, "Burn! Burn to death—!"

"I’m so mad!" Xi Yueyao frantically swung her long whip, but she couldn’t disperse the surrounding flames at all.

At the critical moment, Feng Hao arrived just in time.

Seeing Xi Yueyao surrounded by flames, his heart tightened. He hastily drew his twin daggers and used a series of shadow strikes, relying on the high defense of [Shadow Strike Phase] to push through the damage and charge into the Sea of Fire.

"Huh? Medicine seller, you’re back?" Xi Yueyao was overjoyed.

Feng Hao said irritably, "You little brat, how is it that every time I come back, you’re fighting someone?"

"Hmph, you weren’t around, so I was bored!" Xi Yueyao said with a pout, then pointed at the fire bird in the air and yelled, "Medicine seller, help me beat her up!"

Feng Hao shook his head helplessly and frowned at the circling fire bird. He tried unleashing a [Dark Moon Massacre], but the flames before him didn’t weaken in the slightest. ’That’s a bit strange.’

’This fire is strange. I have to deal with the bird itself.’ Feng Hao quickly realized the key to the problem and swung his dagger at the fire bird.

Under the cover of the fiery light and his Moon Wheel Dance, he stealthily released a [Moon Thorn]. The small, sharp blade shot through the Sea of Fire like a shuttle and easily struck the fire bird’s wing.

The next moment, the fire bird cried out in pain and fell to the ground with a FLUTTER. The sky-filling flames vanished along with it.

After crashing to the ground, the fire bird quickly reverted to Xie Xiaoyu’s form. She clutched her arm in pain, her savage little face filled with hatred. "Ganging up on someone younger, are you even a man?"

"Er, about that..." Feng Hao was awkwardly speechless. He curiously sized up Xie Xiaoyu.

’To be honest, I’m amazed that a newly enrolled freshman possesses such terrifying strength.’

Meanwhile, Zhang Meng and the other two also escaped the Sea of Fire. Seeing Feng Hao, they ignored their injuries and rushed over. "Boss, you’re finally back!"

"Yeah, Boss, I thought you’d abandoned us," Tu Xiaoshan said, his eyes turning red.

"Look at the state you’re in. We can catch up later. Let’s deal with the trouble in front of us first," Feng Hao said, rolling his eyes.

Zhang Meng and the other two were instantly embarrassed and stepped behind Feng Hao and Xi Yueyao.

Meanwhile, Xi Yueyao was brimming with confidence again. She pointed at Xie Xiaoyu and yelled, "Medicine seller, help me beat her up!"

"Don’t cause trouble, you brat. We’re all from the same academy. Can’t you just get along?" Feng Hao said, lines of exasperation forming on his forehead.

"No! There can only be one boss among this year’s freshmen, and it has to be me," Xi Yueyao declared proudly.

"Heh, you’re really getting into it, aren’t you?" Feng Hao irritably patted her head, then took her small hand and said, "Come on. Be a good girl and come with me to discuss the meaning of life."

Xi Yueyao pouted but nodded. "Fine. I’ll let her off the hook for today."

Just as the two were about to leave, Xie Xiaoyu objected. "Stop! Who said you could leave?"

"See? I told you this damn girl is asking for a beating, didn’t I?" Xi Yueyao said with a huff.

Feng Hao instinctively looked at Xie Xiaoyu and couldn’t help but smile bitterly. ’Well, that’s just great. Two Little Demons have run into each other. I’m afraid the Five Provinces Academy won’t know peace from now on.’

Xie Xiaoyu glared at them, grinding her teeth. She curled her lip into a sneer and said, "Hmph. Don’t think you’re the only one with backup."

"Tch. My medicine seller is invincible. I don’t care what backup you have," Xi Yueyao said, hugging Feng Hao’s arm. She looked as smug as could be, glancing disdainfully at Xie Xiaoyu as if showing off a prize.

Xie Xiaoyu trembled with anger, then burst into tears, wronged. "WAAAH! Big brother, someone’s bullying me~!"

"Who dares bully my, Xie Kuangfeng’s, sister?!"

The next moment, to everyone’s astonishment, an Armored Warrior clad in full plate came charging over.

BANG!

With a heavy THUD, Xie Kuangfeng landed beside Xie Xiaoyu. Killing intent boiled off him, and the Light Blade in his hand was at Fifth Gear, looking like he was ready to throw his life away.

"Xiaoyu, don’t cry. Tell big brother, who bullied you?" Xie Kuangfeng soothed her gently.

Xie Xiaoyu sniffled aggrievedly, then pointed viciously at Feng Hao and Xi Yueyao. "It was them."

Xie Kuangfeng turned to look, and his brows furrowed when he saw it was Feng Hao. "Feng Hao?"

"Oh, it’s Senior Brother Xie," Feng Hao said in surprise. "This whole thing today is a complete misunderstanding."

"I don’t care! Anyone who bullies my sister is a bastard!" Xie Kuangfeng said, his expression dark.

Feng Hao felt lines of exasperation on his forehead again. "It was just two girls playing around. Is it necessary for Senior Brother Xie to get this angry?"

"Well..." Xie Kuangfeng smacked his lips and turned to look at Xie Xiaoyu beside him.

Xie Xiaoyu stood with her hands on her hips and pointed viciously at Feng Hao. "Big brother, beat him up!"

Then, to everyone’s astonishment, Xie Kuangfeng didn’t hesitate for a second. He swung his Light Blade and charged at Feng Hao. "My apologies, little brother, but my hands are tied."

’My hands are tied, my ass. Just admit you have a sister complex,’ Feng Hao cursed silently, hastily pushing Xi Yueyao aside.

The next moment, Xie Kuangfeng was already charging recklessly. His Fifth Gear Light Blade was at full power. As demonic light flowed, countless blades of Sword Qi howled toward Feng Hao.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

As the Sword Qi approached, gasps of alarm rose from the crowd, but Feng Hao remained unmoved.

’To be honest, after being tempered by the Scoundrel Qualifiers, these so-called academy elites were like children playing with wooden swords in front of him. They posed no threat whatsoever, and that included even a top academy expert like Xie Kuangfeng.’

’As for the Fifth Gear Light Blade, there was even less reason to be afraid. What a joke. He had defeated opponents wielding Divine Soul Weapons before. What was a mere Fifth Gear Light Blade in comparison?’