Originally, the crowd had been attracted by Wang Dong's revelation of his second martial soul, the Haotian Hammer, but they all turned in unison to look at the young man standing in the center of the arena, exuding an ethereal aura.
Everyone present had their own pride as core disciples of Shrek Academy.
But deep down, could any of them truly claim to have the courage to say those words?
Who dared claim invincibility? Who dared say they were undefeated?
Yet when Yu Tianhuang said those words, no one could find a shred of doubt. Especially among those second-year core disciples who had faced him in the freshman trials—Dai Huabin, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Zhou Sicheng, and Cao Jinxuan.
Dai Huabin clenched his fists tightly, as though deep in thought. The resentment in his eyes faded gradually as his hands relaxed.
Moved, he realized that his elimination earlier had been because of his own weakness. If he had the same strength as Yu Tianhuang, he wouldn't be standing on the sidelines now.
Instead of blaming the heavens and the earth, he resolved to focus on improving his strength.
"I'll close the gap between us next time," Dai Huabin silently vowed in his heart.
He hadn't even realized that after repeatedly losing to Yu Tianhuang, his temperament had become much more calm and composed. This change would undoubtedly benefit him for life.
Similarly moved was Wang Dong, whose prideful expression was replaced by a contemplative gleam. However, the superiority fostered by his extraordinary talent and deep family background was not so easily erased.
Both Dai Huabin and Wang Dong were children from influential families used to looking down on their peers. But after being overwhelmed by Yu Tianhuang, Dai Huabin had let go of his sense of superiority and learned to reflect on himself.
Wang Dong, on the other hand, still clung to the superiority of his twin martial souls.
Normally, the advantage of twin martial souls over regular soul masters was massive. He also didn't find Yu Tianhuang's soul ring pairing to be anything extraordinary.
With his physical strength, he could have absorbed a ten-thousand-year soul ring at level 40.
His pride ran deep. Unless he encountered a setback severe enough to make him question himself, it would be hard to change his attitude.
Perhaps his personality wasn't outright malicious, but his inability to rein in his pride would make it difficult to form genuine friendships.
As for Xiao Xiao, Zhou Sicheng, and the other second-year core disciples who had been eliminated, they all shared a blind confidence in Yu Tianhuang. After all, his recent victory over a ten-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider had left an indelible impression on them.
Zhou Sicheng couldn't help but exclaim in a trembling voice, "Captain is so cool! I feel like I'm on fire! Goosebumps all over. No wonder even Ning Tian, with her background, is willingly chasing after him. If I were a woman, I'd definitely like him too."
Even Tuoba Yu, who normally liked to banter with Zhou Sicheng, fell silent for once.
Cao Jinxuan, a man who lived for fun, laughed playfully and teased Zhou Sicheng,
"Even if you're a guy, you might still have a chance."
"Get lost. My sexual orientation is perfectly normal," Zhou Sicheng shot back.
"I only like gentle, beautiful girls."
Tuoba Yu, now a little more subdued, smirked.
"Yeah, I know you like Senior Jiang from sixth year."
Zhou Sicheng quickly clamped Tuoba Yu's mouth shut and glanced nervously toward the area where Bei Bei, Xu San Shi, and Jiang Nannan were.
He caught the 'friendly' gaze of Xu San Shi.
Although their voices were muffled, Zhou Sicheng and his friends could tell Xu San Shi became unusually sensitive when it came to Jiang Nannan.
As for the other upperclassmen core disciples, they didn't consider Yu Tianhuang's challenge to be an overestimation of himself.
Yu Tianhuang's reputation as the first control-type soul master from the outer academy had long spread throughout Shrek Academy. His talent even exceeded that of Beibei and Xu San Shi, the twin stars of the outer academy. Furthermore, now that he had advanced to Soul Ancestor and possessed a terrifying soul ring pairing, his abilities were undeniable.
However, regarding his attempt to challenge both Beibei and Xu San Shi in a single bout, many of them were still cautiously observing and not making any premature judgments.
But it was undeniable that Yu Tianhuang's words had ignited everyone's emotions.
The new generation of outer academy geniuses was about to take over—the first control-type soul master challenging the academy's strongest attack-type and defense-type soul masters.
The topic was ripe for discussion.
Even Old Xuan paused in his chewing, clicking his tongue in amazement.
"Today's youth really have guts. But that's a good thing. It's time to put some pressure on Beibei and Xu San Shi, those little brats."
With competition and pressure, there is progress.
Though he didn't say it out loud, Old Xuan was pleased with the emergence of such talented individuals in Shrek Academy.
Meanwhile, the two third-year core disciples, Shizi Soul Master and Spear Soul Master, exchanged looks of shock and confusion.
Of course, despite their confusion, they were optimistic about the situation.
Yu Tianhuang's challenge to Beibei and Xu San Shi, regardless of the outcome, meant that they would secure at least two spots in the final seven. Why not support him?
Xu San Shi, who had been glaring at Zhou Sicheng, Cao Jinxuan, and Tuoba Yu, turned away and, with Bei Bei, looked toward Xu Zihuang standing in the center of the arena.
Bei Bei's elegant smile faded slightly. His eyes narrowed, giving him a much more dangerous and sharp aura.
On his dragon-like arms, covered with blue-purple scales, violent lightning crackled and danced, warping the surrounding air as if it were being distorted by the intense energy.
"If we don't count the sparring with San Shi, no one else has truly beaten me."
After Beibei finished speaking, Xu San Shi also responded to Xu Zihuang's question.
"I've only had wins and losses in sparring with Beibei."
With the massive Xuanming Turtle Shield held horizontally in front of him, Xu San Shi looked calm and stable, like a mountain.
They both understood what Yu Tianhuang's words meant.
But they also had to admit that, since the awakening of their martial souls, Yu Tianhuang was the first peer to give them such pressure.
Moreover, Yu Tianhuang was nearly three years younger than them.
"Then let's give it our all," Xu Zihuang smiled, his aura escalating. "I've wanted to spar with both of you for a long time. I hope you won't hold back."
At that moment, Xu Zihuang's aura flared, sending his black mid-length hair flowing without wind. His tall figure seemed to resonate with an immense, undeniable presence, which caught Ning Tian's attention.
Her long lashes fluttered as she gazed at him, her water-blue eyes reflecting Xu Zihuang, glowing with light.
A confident, powerful youth like him was bound to draw attention wherever he went.
To Ning Tian, the outcome no longer mattered. No matter what happened, it wouldn't change her decision.
In the future, she would follow the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda beside Yu Tianhuang and help him reach the peak of the continent.
Even Jiang Nannan, who had been standing behind Beibei and Xu San Shi, couldn't help but take another look at Xu Zihuang.
Beibei and Xu San Shi both stepped forward, their sharp gazes fixed on Xu Zihuang. Their soul power surged, one blue, one black, distinct and forceful.
The situation now left no room for retreat, nor did they want to.
A soul master aiming for the peak must move forward without fear of failure. Otherwise, their mindset would falter, leaving scars that could hinder future progress.
And for this confrontation, not only Xu San Shi, but Beibei was equally eager. A soul master's personality was partly shaped by their martial soul. Those with the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon bloodline, like Beibei, had a naturally aggressive disposition.
He had always been indifferent due to having no worthy rivals among his peers—except for Xu San Shi.
But now, that opponent had appeared, igniting a passionate fire within him.
Beibei locked eyes with Xu Zihuang, his voice suddenly turning serious as he asked,
"Tianhuang, what is it that you seek?"
He was genuinely curious what a genius like Yu Tianhuang sought in his heart.
The golden glow of Xu Zihuang's soul power radiated from his body, filling the surrounding space with a brilliant golden light. He stood facing Beibei and Xu San Shi, his aura formidable.
Golden, blue, and black soul power filled the entire arena.
Xu Zihuang didn't let Beibei and Xu San Shi's pressure suppress him.
Hearing Beibei's question, he paused for a moment, then responded from the bottom of his heart,
"The strongest."
That simple phrase reflected his core belief. After three years of captivity, he understood that only absolute power could give him control over everything.
Power and authority were what he craved most. For that, he would sacrifice everything, even feelings.
"The strongest?" Beibei's expression was a mixture of surprise and admiration. Even someone as talented as Mu En, the Dragon God Douluo, probably wouldn't dare say such a thing.
He then turned to Xu San Shi,
"San Shi, give it your all."
Xu San Shi looked surprised, rarely seeing Beibei so serious. However, whether or not he could go all out wasn't something he could control.
Just as he was about to speak, Beibei's voice transmitted through soul power directly into his ear.
"San Shi, we're the designated Shrek Seven Devils. But Nannan is different. If we don't count us, there are still six people left in the arena. If we lose, Nannan might not be able to secure one of the spots. I'm sure you don't want Nannan to be eliminated, right?"
Even at this moment, Beibei had a firm hold on Xu San Shi.
Beibei's words acted like a spark to an already ignited powder keg. Xu San Shi glanced at Jiang Nannan behind him, and his eyes turned red instantly.
Although Beibei's words were just a possibility, when it came to Jiang Nannan, Xu San Shi easily lost his composure.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Xu San Shi suddenly infused his Xuanming Turtle Shield with soul power, the shield glowing intensely. The once sturdy shield became more flexible, as if it were alive, the black light turning into a rich dark green.
His physique swelled, his red hair glowing faintly. He stood still, as immovable as a towering mountain.
Xu San Shi had fully awakened his Xuanwu bloodline. Even though he still had only four soul rings—two yellow, two purple—his power far exceeded that of a typical four-ring soul master.
At the same time, Beibei unleashed his most powerful move.
His eyes shone brightly, and with a loud dragon's roar, golden lightning enveloped his body. The scales on his arms shifted, turning from blue-purple to bright gold. Lightning crackled, swirling around him like serpents.
In that instant, Beibei's martial soul temporarily evolved into the Holy Light Dragon, or more accurately, the Blue Electric Holy Dragon.
Though his bloodline carried the legacy of the Holy Light Dragon, his martial soul had only partially manifested this power. Until Mu Lao stabilized the bloodline, Beibei couldn't fully evolve his martial soul into the Holy Light Dragon.
But even in this half-evolved form, his strength was overwhelming.
Xu Zihuang slowly raised his hands, and beneath the strange dark red ripples, two solid dark red crystal spears formed in his palms.
At this point, both Beibei and Xu San Shi had at least the strength of a Soul King. The pressure they exerted on him was even greater than the ten-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider he had faced during the advancement exam.
His long-dormant heart was stirring once more.
Fighting opponents of this caliber would truly push his limits. This was one of the reasons he chose to challenge Beibei and Xu San Shi—he wanted to show his full potential and earn the Dragon Pill from Mu Lao.
He intended to prove, through this battle, that he was more deserving of the Dragon Pill than Beibei. Whether Mu Lao chose the academy or his personal attachment, that was beyond his control.
All he could do was give it his best shot.
As Xu Zihuang, Beibei, and Xu San Shi unleashed their immense aura, the core disciples' expressions changed drastically.
Was this truly a battle between Soul Ancestors?
Wang Yan even rushed to Old Xuan's side, excitedly asking, "Old Xuan, what's happening with Beibei and Xu San Shi?"
As someone deeply invested in studying martial souls, Wang Yan was visibly trembling with excitement.
Old Xuan, still chewing a chicken leg, stared intently at the arena, his eyes flashing with a strange light.
"Beibei is Mu Lao's descendant, and Xu San Shi possesses the Xuanwu bloodline."
"The Holy Light Dragon and the Divine Beast Xuanwu?!" Wang Yan exclaimed in awe, unable to contain his shock.
As they spoke, the figures of Xu Zihuang, Beibei, and Xu San Shi in the center of the arena suddenly moved.
Xu San Shi's third soul ring gleamed brightly as he let out a fierce roar. The green glow from his shield surged, and his muscles expanded as the green light shot out, thickening the surrounding air.
His figure no longer resembled a soul master but a terrifying beast.
His third soul skill, Xuanming Power, was an overall enhancement technique. With the awakening of his Xuanwu bloodline, it was powerful enough to double his strength in a short period.
Beibei also used his third soul skill.
A deep, thunderous boom erupted from Beibei, and golden lightning coursed over his body. The scales on his arms expanded, covering his chest. His aura skyrocketed in an instant.
The golden lightning didn't possess the same chaotic volatility as his previous blue-purple electric power, but instead exuded a regal and overwhelming dominance. It was the embodiment of pride and royalty, with an undeniable sense of strength.
The dazzling light also radiated from his purple third soul ring.
His third soul skill, Thunder Fury, amplified his soul power by fifty percent and doubled the power of his lightning abilities.
Though this was not an attack skill, it significantly boosted Beibei's combat potential.
With their full power unleashed, Beibei and Xu San Shi turned into streaks of golden and dark green light, charging straight toward Xu Zihuang.
Xu Zihuang, wielding two crystal spears, made no attempt to dodge. Instead, he advanced toward them.
Purple, purple, purple, black—four soul rings revolved around him. Almost as soon as he took a step, his second soul ring activated. The luxurious purple glow and the dark red ripples mingled together in a spectacular display.
Beibei and Xu San Shi's momentum suddenly stalled as heavy dark red crystals enveloped their bodies.
Despite their incredible speed, no one could outrun the lock of spiritual power.
Xu Zihuang threw the two crystal spears at Beibei and Xu San Shi. At the same time, his third soul ring flashed.
From the very beginning, he had been fully unleashing his power.
The distance between Xu Zihuang and Beibei and Xu San Shi was already small. The two crystal spears reached them in an instant, almost tearing through the air with a shrill whistling sound.
Just as they were about to pierce through the two, Xu Zihuang furrowed his brow, sensing something.
In response to his gaze, the dark red crystal shattered with a loud crash.
Xu San Shi crossed his evolved Xuanwu shield in front of him, and a rippling, water-like green barrier appeared in front of both him and Beibei.
This was Xu San Shi's second soul skill, Xuanming Shield Formation. When his Xuanwu bloodline awakened, it became the Xuanwu Shield Formation.
The two sharp, powerful crystal spears, brimming with impact, collided with the green shield. The force was dissipated almost entirely, as though the spears had struck cotton.
Xu Zihuang didn't use his second skill Shattering Mirror's second phase because he knew that under the Xuanwu bloodline's awakened state, it wouldn't cause the kind of devastating injury he hoped for to Beibei and Xu San Shi.
Instead, he chose to restrict their movements and ensure that they couldn't release their soul skills before being engulfed by his third skill, Time Disorder. This would allow him to combine it with the second skill to unleash his strongest attack without the use of his fourth skill.
After all, his third soul skill was a range-based domain skill, not an instant attack activated by spiritual power.
But what surprised him was that the two of them broke free from the restriction of Shattering Mirror faster than he had expected. They were not called the twin stars of the outer academy for nothing.
The crystal spears that had been completely neutralized by the Xuanming Shield Formation fell to the ground with two clear, crisp sounds.
Before the golden light surrounding Xu Zihuang could fully cover the arena, Xu San Shi suddenly made a motion with his arm, raising the shield above them. The green light from the shield completely enveloped both him and Beibei.
At the same time, Beibei's fourth soul ring activated. The overwhelming dragon's might radiated into the sky, and the sound of a dragon's roar echoed as a massive golden thunder dragon head appeared.
Beibei, having awakened the Holy Light Dragon bloodline, was now wielding his fourth soul skill, Thunder Dragon's Head. In combination with his third soul skill Thunder Fury, the power of the dragon's head was terrifying, surpassing the power of most Soul Kings' fifth soul skills.
However, Beibei had been holding back. The golden lightning that wrapped around the dragon head was concentrated in front of him, waiting for the right moment. Xu San Shi was kneeling slightly, using his second soul skill, Xuanming Shield Formation, to shield both of them.
At this moment, Xu Zihuang finally understood Beibei and Xu San Shi's strategy.
They had clearly studied his third soul skill, Time Disorder.
In the area covered by Time Disorder, the more powerful their soul skills were, the more soul power Xu Zihuang would have to expend to maintain control over the time flow around them.
If this stalemate continued, Xu Zihuang's soul power would drain much faster than theirs.
This was the first time he had felt like he was being led by the nose in a battle with other soul masters.
Xu Zihuang knew he couldn't just lift his third soul skill and allow himself to waste soul power.
A cold gleam flickered in his eyes as he clenched his right hand.
A huge dark red conical crystal, resembling a small mountain, materialized high in the air.
With the time distortion caused by Time Disorder, the speed at which the crystal fell accelerated drastically.
To save soul power, Xu Zihuang waited until the crystal touched the dark green barrier created by Xuanming Shield Formation before canceling his third soul skill.
"Boom—!"
A terrifying crash echoed, accompanied by a sharp sonic wave that seemed to shake the entire space.
The golden thunder dragon head surged upward with immense force, and the dark red conical crystal shattered into countless pieces.
At the edge of the arena, He Caitou and Ning Tian, along with Jiang Nannan, Shizi Soul Master, and Spear Soul Master, were nearly knocked off balance by the force of the explosion, almost being thrown out of the arena by the shockwave.
When the smoke and dust cleared, Xu San Shi, holding his Xuanming Shield, was coughing up blood.
Earlier, Xu Zihuang had relied on the combination of his second and third soul skills to break through the ten-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider's hard shell.
Now, Xu San Shi had taken a direct hit from that explosive attack. Although his shield was intact, the violent internal shockwaves caused his blood to surge, and he suffered internal injuries.
"Tianhuang. You're really strong." Xu San Shi's voice, thickened with a new depth, carried an unusual magnetism, one that wasn't usually present in his usual calm demeanor.
"But I can't lose—for Nannan."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Zihuang, standing directly across from Xu San Shi, noticed two red flashes flicker on the shield's surface.
Then, he felt a distortion in space.
A thick, jet-black soul power erupted from Xu San Shi's body, and his fourth soul ring also lit up.
His fourth soul skill, Xuanming Shift, was now enhanced by his Xuanwu bloodline, becoming a powerful skill that allowed him to swap positions with others and even teleport them. After teleporting an opponent, there would be a one-second paralysis.
This skill was not based on spiritual power but was more like an absolute effect.
No matter how strong Xu Zihuang's spiritual power was, it had no effect here.
Xu Zihuang immediately understood the secret of Xu San Shi's Xuanwu power. As the light flashed, a ethereal whale's song resonated in the air.
His first soul skill, Whale's Song, could only remove negative effects, not avoid Xu San Shi's Xuanming Shift.
In an instant, Xu Zihuang was right next to Xu San Shi, and he saw Xu San Shi's eerie, completely black eyes—eyes that had been altered by the bloodline awakening.
When Xu San Shi saw that Xu Zihuang hadn't been paralyzed, he was momentarily stunned, unable to fully comprehend.
But it didn't matter anymore. He just needed to give Beibei the chance to strike.
A surge of golden light erupted from Xu San Shi's back, revealing Beibei's form. Stepping forward, Beibei shouted, "Bahuang, Thunder Domain!"
Beibei's aura skyrocketed, and golden light formed thunderbolts that cascaded around him, covering a vast area. The air thickened as it expanded into a sphere of lightning.
In that moment, Beibei became like a golden sun, while Xu Zihuang appeared as a black-purple demonic sun, filled with wild power and an aura of devouring.
At the edge of the arena, Old Xuan suddenly stood up. His chicken leg dropped unnoticed as he exclaimed with excitement,
"Ultimate—Thunder!"
As his words rang out, the black-purple demonic sun clashed against the golden solar thunder, engulfing the entire arena.
The space warped and twisted as a catastrophic storm of thunder and lightning raged. The clash between the two forces created an overwhelming shockwave that ravaged the entire area.
For nearly fifteen seconds, the storm raged uncontrollably before slowly dissipating.
At the center of the arena, Xu Zihuang stood proudly, the residual lightning flickering around his body like a god of thunder descending from the heavens.
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