The Strongest Talent Tree

The next moment, monstrous waves of flame burst forth from the fire bird’s wings, churning and roaring 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 too ferocious. Not only were their attacks useless, but they themselves were swallowed by the flames. A horrific 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 expression grim.

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

Xi Yueyao was undoubtedly suffering the most. Facing the searing flames, she couldn’t help but start cursing, "You little bitch! Just wait until I get out of here, I’ll make you pay!"

"Aargh, I’m so pissed! If it weren’t for the problem with my bloodline, I’d freeze you into a million pieces!"

As it turned out, her curses only fueled Xie Xiaoyu’s rage. With a piercing shriek, the fire bird dove into the flames and began to circle Xi Yueyao.

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

"You damn girl, still talking tough? Watch me burn you into a roasted pig!" Xie Xiaoyu sneered from within her fire bird form.

"You’re the pig! Your whole family are pigs!" Xi Yueyao had always been proud. In her mind, the concept of 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—!"

"This is infuriating!" Xi Yueyao frantically swung her long whip, but the surrounding flames couldn’t be dispersed.

At the critical moment, Feng Hao arrived just in time. Seeing Xi Yueyao surrounded by fire, his heart tightened. He quickly drew his twin daggers and used a series of shadow strikes, relying on the high defense of his Shadow Strike’s phasing effect to power 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 rascal, how come every time I see you, you’re fighting with someone?"

"Hmph, I was bored because you weren’t around!" Xi Yueyao said with a pout, then pointed at the fire bird in the sky and yelled angrily, "Medicine-seller, hurry up and 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 was a bit strange.

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

Under the cover of the fiery light and his Moon Wheel Dance, a [Moon Thorn] was silently released. The tiny, sharp blade shot through the Sea of Fire like a shuttle, easily striking 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-full of flames vanished along with it.

After the fire bird hit the ground, it quickly reverted to Xie Xiaoyu’s form. She clutched her arm in pain, her defiant little face filled with hatred. "Picking on someone weaker than you! Are you even a man?"

"Er, about that..." Feng Hao was at a loss for words, studying Xie Xiaoyu with curiosity for a few moments.

To be honest, he was truly surprised that a new student who had just enrolled could possess such terrifying strength.

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

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

"Look at the pathetic 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 others were instantly embarrassed and quickly moved to stand behind the two of them.

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

"Kiddo, stop messing around. We’re all from the same academy, can’t you just get along?" Feng Hao said, thoroughly exasperated.

"No way! There can only be one boss among this year’s new students, and it has to be me," Xi Yueyao said, full of pride.

"Oh, you’re really getting into it, huh?" Feng Hao patted her head in annoyance, took her small hand, and said, "Come on. You’re coming with me to have a nice little ’chat about 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? Didn’t I tell you this damn girl is asking for a beating?" Xi Yueyao said with a huff.

Feng Hao instinctively glanced at Xie Xiaoyu and couldn’t help but smile wryly. ’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 sneered, "Hmph. Don’t think you’re the only one with backup."

"Tch. My Medicine-seller is invincible. I don’t care what kind of backup you have." Xi Yueyao threw her arms around Feng Hao’s arm, looking as smug as could be. She shot a disdainful glance at Xie Xiaoyu, as if showing off a prize.

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

"Who dares to bully the sister of Xie Kuangfeng?!"

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

BAM!

With a heavy thud, Xie Kuangfeng landed beside Xie Xiaoyu. Killing intent boiled off him, and the Light Blade in his hand was fully powered to Fifth Gear. He looked ready to throw his life away.

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

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

Xie Kuangfeng turned to look. When he saw it was Feng Hao, he couldn’t help but frown. "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 face darkening.

Feng Hao said, thoroughly exasperated, "It’s just two girls messing around. Senior Brother Xie, is there any need to get so 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, pointing fiercely at Feng Hao as she commanded, "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. My hands are tied."

’My hands are tied, my ass. Just admit you’re a sis-con,’ Feng Hao cursed silently, quickly pushing Xi Yueyao aside.

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

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

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

To be honest, after the baptism of the "Thief Preliminaries," these academy elites were like children playing with wooden swords in front of him. They posed no threat whatsoever, not even a top-tier expert of the academy like Xie Kuangfeng.

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

(Revised version. This Chapter has been thoroughly edited. The plot may differ from other versions. For details, please head to DB.)