The Strongest Talent Tree

Narrowly dodging Huo Yuanjia’s roundhouse kick, Ming Xin Yan’s expression turned incredibly grave.

Seeing the six of them closing in, Ming Xin Yan brandished her Three Treasures Bell. Gritting her teeth, she let out a cold snort. "If that’s how it’s going to be, then let’s go all out! It won’t be so easy to kill me!"

"Coordinate! Don’t let her escape," Huo Yuanjia ordered, instantly charging toward Ming Xin Yan.

Lv Mingbo and the other four weren’t idle either. Two melee Mages flanked her, while the other ranged Mages launched their attacks without hesitation.

For a moment, the battlefield was a swirl of light and shadow. Ice and fire spread across the ground, and a volley of arrows and light projectiles wove through the chaos, completely pinning Ming Xin Yan down.

"Fuck! Don’t use any Secret Techniques that aren’t soul-bound! You fucking hit me!" Huo Yuanjia suddenly roared.

A short distance away, the Magic Master looked embarrassed and hastily retracted his Secret Technique. It couldn’t be helped; without a magic soul to guide it, the technique couldn’t distinguish between friend and foe.

Facing the six-person assault, Ming Xin Yan was not one to simply wait for death. The Three Treasures Bell hovered above her head, showering her in a golden light. In an instant, her entire body turned a brilliant gold, like a Golden Body Arhat, her aura surging with immense power.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG...

The moment countless attacks struck her, an enlarged, ethereal golden bell materialized, blocking every blow.

"All of you can just go die!"

Opening her eyes, Ming Xin Yan seemed like a different person. She condensed a Golden Energy Ball between her hands and hurled it directly at Huo Yuanjia.

BOOM!

The terrifying explosion flattened the surrounding trees. Huo Yuanjia was sent flying by the force of the blast, his Qi Blood dropping by more than ten thousand.

As the Golden Energy Ball shattered, a shower of golden raindrops descended from the sky, completely blanketing an area dozens of meters wide.

"This is bad! The damage from these raindrops is too high!" The two melee Mages’ expressions changed drastically. They scrambled to retreat, trying to get out of the golden rain’s range.

But Ming Xin Yan just turned and pointed, swiftly conjuring a golden vortex that instantly yanked the two of them back.

The two melee Mages struggled to break free, but the vortex’s pull was too strong. They were quickly devoured by it.

The next moment, the golden vortex exploded. Combined with the damage from the deluge of golden rain, it instantly killed and eliminated the two melee Mages.

Huo Yuanjia’s face was grim, but he didn’t dare enter the range of the golden rain. He could only watch helplessly as two of his men were eliminated.

"Keep attacking! She can’t maintain that state for long!" Huo Yuanjia shouted. He swung his fists again, and two wolf-like shadows shot through the golden rain, pouncing on the ethereal bell protecting Ming Xin Yan.

Lv Mingbo and the other two had escaped the golden rain. Following Huo Yuanjia’s command, they began to frantically attack Ming Xin Yan.

Meanwhile, outside the arena, the crowd was already in an uproar. Everyone was stunned by Ming Xin Yan’s terrifying combat power, especially after her transformation into the golden-body form.

Even the Thief Master on the viewing platform looked surprised. "Oh? An enhancement-type Secret Technique. You don’t see those very often."

’What a terrifying woman,’ Lin Luo said, clicking his tongue. ’By the way, Thief Master, what’s an enhancement-type Secret Technique? How come I’ve never heard of it?’

The Thief Master’s expression was peculiar. "Enhancement-type Secret Techniques are extremely rare, and they’re very difficult to learn. They require not only an incredibly complex structural framework but also immense physical fortitude. There are no known legacies of enhancement-type Secret Techniques in our Ancient Cang Realm. That girl, Ming Xin Yan, must have an extraordinary background."

’Then how do you counter a Secret Technique like that?’ Lin Luo asked, his brow furrowed.

’Stall for time,’ the Thief Master explained with a soft chuckle. ’Enhancement-type Secret Techniques consume a massive amount of stamina and Magic Power. It’s already impressive that this girl has maintained it for so long.’

’That’s a relief.’ Lin Luo couldn’t help but sigh. It was hard not to be worried; her combat power in that golden-body state was just too frightening.

Elsewhere, Jing Lou couldn’t help his curiosity after listening in. ’Thief Master, are there many similar Secret Techniques outside our realm?’

’Not a lot, but not a few either,’ the Thief Master replied calmly.

’In that case, could you perhaps reconsider? After all, this business of pre-selection is something I’ll have a hard time explaining to those under me,’ Jing Lou probed again.

Unfortunately, the Thief Master’s answer was the same. ’Don’t even think about it. I am not changing my mind.’

Jing Lou’s face darkened. ’I admit, Feng Hao’s strength has indeed surpassed my expectations. But the position of Thief must go to the tournament champion to be publicly accepted. Otherwise, what’s the point of this whole competition?’

’So you’re saying it’s impossible for Xiaofeng to become champion?’ the Thief Master asked, smiling and glancing at him sideways.

Jing Lou looked slightly awkward. ’But even if he does win the championship, there’s still the final battle for the Thief position. You know as well as I do how strong those seeded contestants are. He can’t take on any one of them.’

’That’s a year from now,’ the Thief Master said dismissively.

’To be honest, he wasn’t the least bit worried about Feng Hao’s performance a year from now. After all, his Talent Grafting ability was just too heaven-defying. To put it irreverently, even the Thief God Ancestor himself, were he still alive, probably couldn’t compare.’

Faced with the Thief Master’s obstinance, Jing Lou could only force a wry smile.

Just then, the once-raucous Thief God Peak suddenly fell silent. Jing Lou paused, startled, and glanced at the Holy Realm Projection. His jaw dropped.

It wasn’t just him. On the entire viewing platform, everyone except the Thief Master and Lin Luo’s group of four looked as if they had seen a ghost.

...

Back with Huo Yuanjia and Ming Xin Yan, a large swath of the mountainside was devastated, the echoes of terrifying explosions reverberating through the valley.

Empowered by her enhancement Secret Technique, Ming Xin Yan was simply unstoppable. Huo Yuanjia and his three subordinates were so overwhelmed they could barely breathe.

Huo Yuanjia was still in decent shape, with two-thirds of his health remaining, but it was a different story for Lv Mingbo and the other two. Their health was critical, and they were scattering in disarray.

’Thank goodness I seized this opportunity. Otherwise, in the one-on-one duels later, I would have had no chance of winning,’ Huo Yuanjia thought, inwardly relieved as he faced Ming Xin Yan’s frenzied assault.

A few minutes later, Ming Xin Yan finally exhausted her power. The golden light enveloping her gradually dimmed before dissipating completely.

Seeing this, Huo Yuanjia couldn’t help but roar with laughter. "Haha, she’s finished! Attack with me!"

"No problem!" Lv Mingbo and the other two looked equally thrilled and immediately launched a counterattack.

Pale-faced, Ming Xin Yan struggled to stay on her feet. Her eyes filled with despair, and she closed them with a bitter smile.

But what followed was not an attack, but the agonized screams of Lv Mingbo and his two companions.

Ming Xin Yan’s eyes snapped open in shock. Feng Hao’s figure had appeared like a phantom. In the blink of an eye, he had killed the low-health Lv Mingbo and his two companions. Then, with a single Rapid Shadow Slash, he blocked Huo Yuanjia’s path, effortlessly forcing him to retreat.

"Sis, you okay? Sorry I’m a bit late. It was a long way," Feng Hao said with a grin.

"I’m just glad you’re here." A radiant smile graced Ming Xin Yan’s lips, her beautiful eyes shimmering. "Just try to stall for time and let me recover."

"Stall for time? To deal with him?" Feng Hao scoffed with a confident smile, glancing over at Huo Yuanjia. "You’re Huo Yuanjia?"

"That’s right." Huo Yuanjia nodded, his brow furrowed and his expression unreadable. The damage from that Rapid Shadow Slash had shaken him.

"Tsk, tsk. With the way you operate, you’re a disgrace to that fine name," Feng Hao said scornfully.

"Hmph! It’s not your place to pass judgment on my name," Huo Yuanjia snorted, frowning. "And who are you?"

Feng Hao wasn’t one for wasting words. He charged forward without another thought. "You don’t deserve to know my name."