Chapter 414: If You're Weak, Keep Practicing; You’ve Met Your Match

Feng Xiaotian pointed at Su Ming, full of confidence, and said, "Su Ming, if you're really a man, accept my challenge! People say you're already a Soul King, but I don't believe it! If you have the guts, fight me!"

Feng Xiaotian knew he was being impulsive, but Su Ming had never shown his true power, so he believed he still had a chance. Su Ming shook his head and replied, "Feng Xiaotian, do you think you're being impressive? Just because your martial soul is a wolf doesn't mean you can bite anyone you want. Watch out, or it'll bite back!"

"Pfft, hahahaha!" A burst of laughter erupted from the side, and it was Huo Wu, holding her stomach and laughing uncontrollably. "Sorry, I couldn't help it; that's the best insult I've heard in ages."

Feng Xiaotian, undeterred, proclaimed, "All I'm saying is, if you're a man, then right here, right now, fight me!"

Su Ming sighed and waved his hand dismissively, "You probably can't even beat Huo Wu, so how do you expect to win against me? Besides, Huo Wu doesn't like weaklings...or people who grovel." He added, "Since you insist, let's do this. No need to change locations; it's quiet here anyway."

"Damn it!" Feng Xiaotian hated being called a groveler and immediately summoned his martial soul. "Gale Double-Headed Wolf, possession!" Four spirit rings appeared beneath him.

Without concern, Su Ming lazily summoned his martial soul, and five spirit rings rose beneath him, yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black—he was indeed a Soul King. He masked his fifth ring as a black ten-thousand-year ring rather than a hundred-thousand-year one to keep a low profile.

Huo Wu, watching the confrontation intensify, stepped aside, intrigued to witness Su Ming's strength firsthand.

Seeing Su Ming's fifth black ring, Feng Xiaotian's eyes widened—he really was a Soul King! But with the challenge issued, there was no turning back. Besides, seeing that Su Ming's martial soul was wood-based, he figured his own sharp spirit abilities might counter it. Summoning his second skill, Feng Xiaotian charged at Su Ming, believing he might have a chance.

Su Ming watched, already bored. He had no real desire to entertain Feng Xiaotian, and with a slight tap of his foot, a large wooden hand shot forward, capturing Feng Xiaotian mid-dash.

"What?!" Feng Xiaotian's mind went blank—had Su Ming even used a skill? There was no ring glow, no chanting, nothing.

Huo Wu was impressed. "That must be Su Ming's technique...instantly cast. He's good."

Though momentarily shocked, Feng Xiaotian quickly recovered. "First skill, Wind Blade Array!" Sharp wind blades surrounded him, slashing toward the wooden hand. But as the blades struck, they only left tiny marks that vanished in seconds, leaving the wood unharmed. Feng Xiaotian felt a wave of frustration—weren't his wind blades supposed to counter plant-based abilities? Why weren't they working?

"Now you see the gap between us, right?" Su Ming said calmly. "I really don't want to fight you. If you're weak, then just keep practicing."

He continued, "If I'm not mistaken, Feng Xiaotian, you're already 24, aren't you? Born with full spirit power, and yet Huo Wu, who's five or six years younger, has a higher spirit level."

Feng Xiaotian thought himself strong, but to Su Ming, he was just another talent who'd wasted too much time on self-created skills instead of mastering the basics.

Feeling his face burn from embarrassment, Feng Xiaotian could only stammer, unable to respond. He had always considered himself talented, a Soul Ancestor at level forty-three, and usually the best of the best. He even had his own powerful self-created skills. Why wouldn't Su Ming let him showcase them?

Su Ming, meanwhile, would've shrugged at the idea. If your power's insufficient, you can't use your skills. That's on you, not me. "If you're weak, just practice more," he would say.

Though Su Ming initially intended to teach Feng Xiaotian a simple lesson with a wood spike, he decided to drain him instead. With the Emperor Snow speech the next morning and their upcoming journey to Spirit City, he summoned a wooden dragon instead.

Seeing the dragon's massive maw coming straight for him, Feng Xiaotian panicked. Was Su Ming planning to kill him?

"No, wait! Su Ming, I give up! Don't, don't come any closer!" he yelled frantically, "Huo Wu, help me!"

As he begged for help, Huo Wu shook her head. Was this really the guy who claimed to like her? She thought to herself, Only if I were blind would I even consider him. If I had to choose, why not someone strong and handsome, like Su Ming?

She knew Su Ming would stop short of anything life-threatening. Meanwhile, Su Ming, rolling his eyes at Feng Xiaotian's dramatic reaction, watched the dragon close in, absorbing his spirit power in seconds. Feng Xiaotian's face paled as he fainted on the spot.

"Su Ming, are you sure it's fine to drain Feng Xiaotian like that? Won't it cause trouble later?" Huo Wu asked.

Su Ming shrugged. "Nothing to worry about. I just drained his spirit power, you see?" He gestured to his wooden dragon. "He's passed out from the depletion, but he'll be fine otherwise."