Douluo: I Can Choose My Own Soul Skills

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A yellow spirit ring materialized at Tang San's feet, drawing gasps from students gathered around the Nuoding Academy plaza.

"Look—his first ring is yellow! Who is he? I haven't seen him before."

"A hundred–year ring? Is he from a noble family?"

"That other guy's toast. Most people only get their first hundred–year ring at Level Twenty."

"Exactly—there's a huge gap between having no ring and a hundred–year ring."

A few girls, however, weren't staring at Tang San. Instead, their eyes remained fixed on Ye Lan. "He's so handsome—if only he were just as strong!"

"Dream on. You're fawning over that yellow ring guy. He's alright-looking, but not as cute."

"I'd still pick the blue-haired one over strength any day—even if he's powerless, I'd like him!"

Ye Lan paid no mind to the chatter. Inwardly, he calculated Tang San's capabilities. Tang San claimed to be an Instrument Soul Master at Level Eleven, but Ye Lan knew from the Soul Hall's test that his actual soul power had reached Level Thirteen. Add in that hundred–year ring—Blue Silver Grass Entanglement—and Tang San was far more dangerous than in their last bout.

In seconds, Ye Lan had assessed Tang San's profile. Then, without hesitation, Tang San charged first, using pure physical strength to close the gap. Ye Lan didn't step back—he met the rush head-on.

Tang San, seeing the distance close, activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. With a sidestep to Ye Lan's right, he threw a punch at Ye Lan's waist.

Ye Lan sensed the strike and remained calm. He pressed his palm against Tang San's fist and, using the attacker's momentum, pivoted backward.

Tang San's force was noticeably stronger than last time—no surprise, given his dual breakthrough in Xuan Tian Skill. Yet the whale resin had boosted Ye Lan's physique beyond Tang San's reach.

Tang San's only advantages now are greater soul power reserves and that hundred–year ring. But my soul power efficiency far exceeds his. The deciding factor is that ring—if I can evade its skill, he's no threat. Ye Lan absorbed this crucial insight the moment Tang San struck.

But Tang San, ecstatic over his own power surge, dashed in again without regard. In mere seconds, he unleashed more than a dozen rapid punches.

Each punch felt as though it struck a bundle of cotton—powerful yet hollow—and was easily evaded by Ye Lan.

Ye Lan flowed around Tang San, deftly stretching out the attack range.

Seeing his feinting yield no results, Tang San decisively invoked Xuan Tian Skill once more. His eyes glowed purple, and his footwork became faster and more elusive.

This sudden shift threw Ye Lan off by a fraction.

Sensing the momentary lag, Tang San struck like a storm, relentless.

With a flash of white light on his hands—Mysterious Jade Hand—Tang San sought to trap Ye Lan into a soul–power clash, leaving no room for evasions.

Ye Lan, however, remained unfazed. He split his focus between countering Tang San's whirlwind assault and closely observing the yellow ring—readying himself to neutralize its threat.

A yellow spirit ring materialized at Tang San's feet, drawing astonished murmurs from students by the Nuoding Academy plaza.

"Look—his first ring is yellow! Who is he? I've never seen him before."

"A hundred-year ring? Is he from a noble family?"

"That other guy's doomed. Most people only get their first hundred-year ring at Level Twenty."

"Exactly—having a ring versus none is a massive gap. And a hundred-year ring at that!"

Several girls, however, weren't watching Tang San. Their eyes were fixed on Ye Lan. "He's so handsome—if only he were stronger!"

"Dream on. You're fawning over that yellow-ring fellow. He looks okay, but he's no looker."

"I'd still choose the blue-haired one over strength any day—even if he's powerless, I'd like him!"

Ye Lan ignored their chatter. Instead, he calculated Tang San's capabilities: though Tang San claimed to be an Instrument Soul Master at Level Eleven, Ye Lan knew from the Soul Hall's tests that Tang San's true soul power was Level Thirteen. Combined with that hundred-year ring, Blue Silver Grass Entanglement, Tang San now presented a far more formidable challenge than before.

Within seconds, Ye Lan had assessed Tang San's strengths and weaknesses. As Tang San lunged forward, Ye Lan met him head-on without retreat.

Tang San, rushing in, activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and sidestepped to Ye Lan's right, launching a punch at his waist.

Calmly, Ye Lan caught the blow with his palm and used Tang San's momentum to pivot backward.

While Tang San's physical strength had increased since their last duel—thanks to his dual breakthrough in Xuan Tian Skill—the whale resin boost had strengthened Ye Lan's physique even more.

Tang San's only real advantages now are greater soul power reserves and that hundred-year ring. But my soul power efficiency is far superior. If I can neutralize that ring, I'll win. Ye Lan gleaned this key insight the instant Tang San struck.

Tang San, exhilarated by his newfound power, pressed on relentlessly. Within seconds, he unleashed a flurry of over a dozen rapid punches—but each strike felt like hitting soft cotton, easily evaded by Ye Lan.

Flowing around Tang San, Ye Lan stretched out the attack range, avoiding direct clashes.

Frustrated, Tang San summoned Xuan Tian Skill once more. His eyes glowed purple, and his footwork grew faster and more elusive.

This sudden shift caught Ye Lan off guard for a moment.

Sensing the hesitation, Tang San drove in like a storm, relentless. With a flash of white light—Mysterious Jade Hand—he aimed to trap Ye Lan in a soul-power duel, leaving no room for evasions.

Ye Lan remained unfazed. He split his focus between fending off Tang San's furious onslaught and monitoring that yellow ring, preparing to counter its danger.

After dozens of exchanges, both fighters were nearing exhaustion. Tang San still had enough soul power for one last skill.

As they danced around each other in the next round, Tang San feigned fatigue. Then, leveraging Ye Lan's forward momentum, he suddenly expanded the distance between them.

His Purple Demon Eye locked onto Ye Lan's silhouette. Blue Silver Entanglement! he silently intoned.

At his feet, tendrils of snake-patterned Blue Silver Grass shot up. Just as Tang San thought he'd missed, he saw red droplets on Ye Lan's ankle—his spirit grass had scraped the skin, drawing blood.

Tang San's heart soared. His Blue Silver Grass not only bound but also carried a toxic paralysis effect.

"Admit defeat! My Entanglement not only restrains but also poisons. Be careful—or you won't live to see dawn!" Tang San taunted, feigning concern for Ye Lan's life.

Ye Lan had not anticipated Tang San would unleash his hundred-year skill so swiftly or at such a precise moment—right as both his feet landed. Though injured, Ye Lan knew this poison was not lethal, merely paralytic.

Quickly analyzing the situation, Ye Lan snapped, "Cut the theatrics—no victor has been decided yet!"

Tang San frowned but remained confident. As soon as this paralysis spreads through Ye Lan's body, I'll win. He prepared to stall, letting the poison take effect.

Ye Lan, however, refused to give Tang San that luxury. Channeling soul power into his waist, back, and arms, he teleported instantly to Tang San's side. Concentrating his force into his right fist, he struck with full power.

Facing that crushing blow, Tang San summoned every ounce of Xuan Tian Skill to reinforce his Mysterious Jade Hand, his palms glowing like solid jade.

Sss… sss… The friction of Tang San's boots against the ground left two dark trails.

Ye Lan's punch drove Tang San backward several meters—yet Tang San managed to absorb the impact, though his palm bones ached fiercely.

Ye Lan closed in again with blinding speed, but Tang San bit down and maintained his jade-hardened defense against the onslaught.

Just as Ye Lan's pace seemed to falter, Tang San sensed his opening. He gathered his remaining soul power, lowered his stance, and flared his palm with blinding white light, driving it toward Ye Lan's lower abdomen.

Tang San couldn't contain his triumphant grin. This is it—I've won!

(End of Chapter)