"I at least didn't end up like that Sima Xian, who got defeated without even showing a bit of his strength..."
"I believe you definitely have the capability for this."
Dai Yueyan looked at the young man before him and said with a smile.
To be honest, a young man possessing the strength to completely overwhelm a Titled Douluo—being able to exchange a few moves with him was already quite an achievement.
As for losing face...
What's the big deal? He had become a Soul Emperor in his early twenties, with such talent evident. With the entire Star Luo Empire's resources poured into him, he had the potential to reach Limit Douluo in the future.
Losing face today meant nothing. There would be scholars to justify it for him later. Besides, when Luo Chuan truly shone brightly, others would finally understand...
That losing to him was completely justified.
"Brother Yueyan..."
Hearing this, Tang Luochuan could only respond helplessly. In response, Dai Yueyan's smile grew even brighter.
See, even Luo Chuan, who had the makings of a god!
He was still his brother-in-law!
"..."
"Just how high is this Prince Consort's talent?"
"I don't know, but my teacher said that even from a distance, the power of that earlier strike made him, a Soul Sage, feel somewhat terrified. Could this be the legendary monster?"
"No wonder even Shrek Academy values him so highly. His Majesty's judgment in choosing a son-in-law is far beyond our imagination."
"Exactly, exactly!"
Meanwhile, even as they watched Tang Luochuan and Dai Yueyan leave the arena one after another, the people in the audience seats still gasped in awe.
Even now, they couldn't get the image of that sword strike, imbued with light energy and immense pressure, out of their minds.
This Tang Luochuan was truly terrifying!
"Luo Chuan, you're back."
"I never expected your opponent to be Yun'er's brother. The match was quite quick..."
The moment Tang Luochuan returned, the others immediately said with cheerful smiles, making Dai Yueyan, who was standing nearby, feel slightly awkward.
Well, just a tiny bit awkward!
But he believed that at least Yun'er, his own sister, wouldn't be as heart-piercing as the others. Thinking this, he began searching for her figure, a smile reappearing on his face...
"Luo Chuan, you're back! Let me tell you, we've struck it rich, hehe!"
Dai Yun'er was holding several cards in her hand, completely ignoring her own brother as she looked toward Tang Luochuan, her eyes sparkling with gold.
"Remember when there was betting on whether you or my brother would win? I bet everything on you, ehe..."
"Earned enough for many grilled fish meals!"
Dai Yun'er said with great delight.
She never thought her brother losing—something that was practically a sure thing—could actually bring her an unexpected windfall. So happy!
"..."
Nearby, the smile that had just appeared on Dai Yueyan's face slowly froze. His already slightly wounded heart silently died a little.
"Ah, Brother, you're here too?"
"I know you did your best. Losing to Luo Chuan is normal."
Noticing the silent man standing to the side, Dai Yun'er finally became aware of his presence. She spoke up slightly and immediately offered comfort.
"..."
"Thank you, Yun'er."
Dai Yueyan gave a bitter smile. When it came to his elder brother, Yun'er's sharp words never held back...
Yun'er really knew how to comfort people.
"You're welcome!"
Dai Yun'er shook her head gently and spoke softly.
See, he even has to thank us!
"Let's go back and prepare."
"This afternoon..."
"Is when we enter the competition."
The next moment, as if remembering something, Dai Yun'er casually tossed the card in her hand into her Soul Guidance Device, her eyes sparkling with energy.
At this, a peculiar light also flashed in everyone else's eyes. This morning, only the Tang Luochuan brothers had completed their elimination matches.
As for the matches for the rest of them...
They would begin in the afternoon!
"In the future."
"The names Xie Xie and Wei Xiaofeng will surely become renowned!"
"Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi will be too!"
Xie Xie and Wei Xiaofeng clearly carried a mix of youthful idealism and aspiration as they murmured to themselves. Beside them, Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi undoubtedly felt the same.
When they were very young, their leader had once said that emotions were a major taboo on the path of cultivation. Though they suspected he probably didn't remember it anymore.
For them, cultivating to become stronger, reaching the pinnacle of power, and achieving fame were their greatest desires.
At the very least...
In this lifetime, they wanted to leave their own mark in this era where their leader was destined to dominate the world!
"I believe you can do it..."
Seeing this scene, Tang Luochuan smiled. Nearby, the girls led by Xu Xiaoyan felt the same, though they didn't share such ambitious thoughts.
Even so, they were determined to shine brightly in this competition and achieve impressive rankings.
"At the very least..."
"We must have the ability to stand by his side!"
They secretly thought to themselves.
Staying by Luo Chuan's side was inevitable!
For a moment, the air was filled with passionate energy.
"..."
Later that afternoon, at the eastern competition ground.
"Next match: Su Mu number 1526 versus Xu Xiaoyan number 1428!"
"Both contestants, please enter the arena!"
As the referee's voice echoed, a man with long white hair and an exotic appearance had already taken his position at one end of the arena, wearing a confident smile.
His name was Su Mu, one of the Eight Great Heavenly Kings of Monster Academy, renowned as the "Fox King." As a high-level Soul King with the Nine-tailed Fox Martial Soul, he had never shown much fear even in front of his partner, the Tiger King Dai Yueyan.
"I hope my old partner..."
"Has good luck."
A thoughtful expression crossed Dai Yueyan's face as he recalled the girl who had also stood up in the waiting hall earlier, then turned his gaze to the other figure on the screen.
That girl with long twin tails who was always by Luo Chuan's side, constantly wearing a sweet smile—she seemed to be called Xu Xiaoyan.
"According to Yun'er, she also possesses unparalleled potential and has reached the Soul King level in cultivation..."
"Both being Control System Soul Kings, I wonder who is stronger between her and Su Mu."
Dai Yueyan couldn't help but voice his curiosity. From what Yun'er said, her Martial Soul was a mutated Star Staff.
It sounded like her power would be significantly weakened during daytime?
But for some reason, he had a feeling that his old friend would have a hard time defeating her. Was it just his misconception?
"Fox King Su Mu!"
"Our male god has appeared!"
As the opponent took the stage, the audience erupted with enthusiasm once again—Su Mu, one of the Eight Great Heavenly Kings, with the Nine-tailed Fox Martial Soul!
Undoubtedly, this was a top-tier Beast Battle Soul. As a prodigy of the new generation, Su Mu also possessed remarkable fame.
In response, Tang Luochuan and his companions merely smiled without speaking. Tang Wulin, particularly consumed by greed, imitated Dai Yun'er and dragged others to bet on their companions' victory, looking as though he intended to strip the Soul Arena bare.
"Dear audience, first to appear is the Fox King, Su Mu—a top-tier genius from Monster Academy and one of the Eight Great Heavenly Kings. Though barely over twenty years old, he is already a 56th-ranked Soul King."
"In the future, he will become a Super Douluo of the empire, writing his own legendary tale..."
The referee passionately introduced the Fox King Su Mu's credentials.
"His opponent, Xu Xiaoyan, hails from the Shrek Academy delegation. According to the records..."
"She's also a Soul King? Ah..."
Yet the next moment, when seeing Xu Xiaoyan's information, even this seasoned referee couldn't help but voice his confusion.
"..."
"How much?"
Hearing this, the audience fell into bewilderment. How old was this girl? How could she possibly possess the strength of a fifth-ring Soul King!
On the competition stage, both contestants had already taken their positions, fully prepared.
"Fox King Su Mu, 56th-ranked Control System Battle Soul King."
"Please enlighten me."
Seeing the harmless-looking sweet girl before him, Su Mu visibly paused for a beat before smiling politely.
As nine tails materialized behind him, five purple millennium Soul Rings—purple, purple, purple, purple, purple—simultaneously emerged around him.
Though far inferior to Dai Yueyan's Soul Ring configuration, this still made him an undisputed elite among his peers. Yet at this moment, few cheers were heard.
Compared to his status as a Soul King, the other combatant—a clearly much younger, sweet-faced girl—deserved far more astonishment and anticipation.
"Very well."
"Xu Xiaoyan of Eastsea."
"57th-ranked Control System Battle Soul Master. Please enlighten me."
Xu Xiaoyan smiled faintly, her beautiful large eyes seeming to contain an entire galaxy of stars.
As she spoke, a Sacred Spirit Star Staff radiating brilliant light materialized in her hand.
Around her, unlike her opponent's five shining purple rings, five deeply colored Soul Rings emanated overwhelming pressure.
Black! Black! Black! Black! Red!
Four black and one red—a top-tier Soul King!
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