Inside the Soul Dueling Arena, Zhu Ziyang and Bei Bei stood facing each other.
"First-year Class One's Bei Bei challenges First-year Class One's Zhu Ziyang! Let the match begin!" With the referee's command, he immediately exited the arena.
Zhu Ziyang and Bei Bei simultaneously released their Spirits. Zhu Ziyang extended his right hand, and the Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe appeared in his grasp. The three spirit rings—one yellow and two purple—filled everyone outside the arena with envy and admiration. Bei Bei also released his Spirit; his stature grew a few inches, and his right arm, from shoulder to palm, instantly swelled into a thick, powerful Dragon Claw. Blue-purple dragon scales shimmered with electric arcs, and his entire demeanor became wild.
Dragon Transformation, a symbol of a top-tier Dragon Spirit. Compared to his first Spirit Ability, Lightning Dragon Claw, the amplification brought by Dragon Transformation was undoubtedly more powerful. The sheer increase in strength alone was incomparable.
Two yellow and one purple spirit rings floated behind Bei Bei. His face was filled with fighting intent as he shouted, "Ziyang, take this!"
As soon as his words fell, the third spirit ring behind him instantly lit up. He had no intention of holding back, because he knew that against Zhu Ziyang, only a quick battle, giving his all, would suffice! His third Spirit Ability was instantly unleashed, and blue-purple electric arcs immediately enveloped Bei Bei's body. His dragon-transformed right arm expanded another size, creating a powerful visual impact.
Third Spirit Ability, Wrath of Thunder!
After activating this Spirit Ability, Bei Bei's lightning attribute amplification increased, his spirit power attack effect improved, and the characteristics of his lightning element were greatly enhanced. This was a very strong amplification-type Spirit Ability, derived from a two-thousand-year-old sub-dragon Spirit Beast, the Thunder Dragon Crocodile.
With his third Spirit Ability active, Bei Bei swiftly charged at Zhu Ziyang, simultaneously unleashing his first Spirit Ability.
Facing Bei Bei's full-force offensive, Zhu Ziyang smiled slightly. His second and third spirit rings simultaneously lit up, and the Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe instantly burst forth with dazzling light. With the two great Spirit Abilities boosting him, Zhu Ziyang's state also reached a high level, and he charged forward to meet Bei Bei.
The giant blue Dragon Claw and the golden scythe collided, immediately producing a massive sonic wave. Where they met, sparks flashed, scattering across the ground.
The scythe clearly held the advantage, pressing gently forward, actually forcing the huge Dragon Claw to retreat a step. Zhu Ziyang, not letting up, continued to exert force. Bei Bei struggled to hold on, his legs braced against the ground, which audibly cracked under his feet!
Bei Bei's brows furrowed. Knowing this couldn't continue, he gathered his remaining strength, putting all his might into it, and suddenly pushed the scythe on his claw away. The Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe flew upwards uncontrollably. Zhu Ziyang's expression darkened. He exerted force in his wrist, instantly regaining control of the scythe handle, then twisted his waist, bringing the Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe level with his shoulder. Without any hesitation, he executed a horizontal sweep, the long scythe handle and blade striking directly at Bei Bei's body.
After sending the Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe away, Bei Bei subconsciously relaxed. It wasn't until the corner of his eye caught sight of the golden scythe sweeping towards him that his expression changed drastically. He tried to block, but it was already too late.
The Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe directly sent Bei Bei flying over ten meters. Bei Bei fell heavily to the ground, his face pale. Although not injured, he understood that the outcome was decided; he had lost again!
"Are you alright?" Zhu Ziyang immediately retracted his Spirit. His confidence and strength needed no words. He walked to Bei Bei's side, extended his hand, and asked.
"I'm fine." Bei Bei also put away his Spirit, a bitter smile appearing on his handsome face. He took Zhu Ziyang's outstretched hand and said, "It seems I still need to keep working hard!"
Zhu Ziyang pulled Bei Bei up, smiling, but saying nothing.
The victor was decided, so the referee naturally didn't need to announce the result. The first-year students in the audience cheered, while the second and third-year students exchanged glances, wondering if this batch of freshmen was really that fierce?
—
Sea God Pavilion.
After three days of rest, Zhu Ziyang arrived at the Sea God Pavilion as per Mu En's instructions.
"Teacher, I'm here," Zhu Ziyang called out from outside the Sea God Pavilion.
"Come in," Mu En's voice responded, and the Sea God Pavilion's main door opened.
Zhu Ziyang walked in with an unchanging expression. Mu En was leisurely lying at the end of a long table. Seeing Zhu Ziyang enter, a smile appeared on his aged face.
"Hmm, very good! It seems you rested well these past three days." Mu En observed Zhu Ziyang, then showed a satisfied smile and said, "A balance of tension and relaxation, a rhythm of tight and loose, that is the path to long-term success."
"Teacher, you flatter me," Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile.
"No need for modesty." Mu En waved his hand, then said seriously, "Your mental force has reached the realm of substantial yet formless, even faster than I expected, excellent. With this, I can impart my unique skills to you."
"Teacher's unique skills?!" Zhu Ziyang's eyes lit up. He had inquired from Yan Shaozhe that Mu En had three ultimate skills: Reign Over The World, Dragon Emperor Evil-Breaking Split, and Dragon Emperor Shocking Domain. Among them, Reign Over The World was the most important and powerful move.
"Indeed. I, this old man, have lived for so many years with little achievement, only some rather crude self-created combat techniques to pass on to you. You must learn them well." Mu En suddenly became modest himself, but the smile on his aged face was full of confidence.
"Yes, Teacher," Zhu Ziyang nodded solemnly.
Mu En's three ultimate skills—Dragon Emperor Evil-Breaking Split and Dragon Emperor Shocking Domain—set aside for now, the first skill to focus on was Reign Over The World.
Reign Over The World, strictly speaking, was not a combat technique, nor was it a Spirit Ability. If forced to categorize it, it should be considered a kind of technique, or a cultivation method. A method of integrating mental force with spirit power, and incorporating mental force into physical attacks.
Here, it's necessary to expand on some knowledge. On the Douluo Continent, Spirit Master attack types are mainly divided into two categories: one is physical attack, referring to attacks that cause damage to the Spirit Master's body. This is the most common type, with over ninety percent of Spirit Master Spirit Abilities falling under physical attacks. The other is mental attack, also known as soul attack, specifically referring to attack types that cause damage to a Spirit Master's mental force and soul. These are very rare Spirit Abilities, usually only usable by mental-type Spirit Masters. Common mental attack Spirit Abilities include Charm.
Mu En's Reign Over The World was the integration of his own mental force into physical attacks, forming an ability akin to a Domain. This powerful ability, combining physical and mental aspects, once it defeats an opponent, simultaneously shatters the opponent's confidence. Whenever they face the user of Reign Over The World again, they will feel an inability to contend. Commonly known as, psychological fear.
Reign Over The World was the foundation of Mu En's ultimate skills. Mu En's requirement for Zhu Ziyang was to first cultivate the method of mental force and spirit power fusion. Once he mastered it, he would then use it to form his own Reign Over The World. Only by learning Reign Over The World could he continue to learn Dragon Emperor Shocking Domain and Dragon Emperor Evil-Breaking Split, these two incredibly powerful self-created Spirit Abilities.
Dragon Emperor Shocking Domain and Dragon Emperor Evil-Breaking Split, as their names suggest, are two combat techniques that require a dragon-type Spirit to cultivate. Therefore, Yan Shaozhe, with his Light Phoenix Spirit, could not cultivate them. Instead, Xian Lin'er, with her Azure Flame Dragon Spirit, successfully cultivated them and developed her own unique combat techniques based on them.
Dragon Emperor Evil-Breaking Split was a powerful combat technique created by Mu En, based on Reign Over The World and rooted in his Light Holy Dragon Spirit. It uses the magnificent and vast aura of Light as a blade, possessing immense power to eradicate all evil. This move would evolve as the user's cultivation increased.
Dragon Emperor Shocking Domain was also a Spirit Ability created based on Reign Over The World and rooted in the Light Holy Dragon Spirit. It was a Domain-type Spirit Ability, within whose range all evil abilities would be greatly weakened. It was a Spirit Ability Mu En specifically created to counter Evil Soul Masters.
The priority of these two Spirit Abilities was not as high as Reign Over The World, and they were more specialized. Mu En's suggestion was that Zhu Ziyang could reference them but didn't necessarily need to master them. He could learn from Xian Lin'er and modify them into Spirit Abilities suitable for himself. After all, Zhu Ziyang's dragon-type Spirit was the Heavenly Frost Sacred White Dragon, and there was a difference between ice and Light Attribute.
"Alright," Mu En said, his face a bit weary after teaching Reign Over The World, but showing no intention of stopping, "From now on, you will cultivate the method of mental force and spirit power fusion on the island."
"I understand, Teacher," Zhu Ziyang replied.
"Good," Mu En smiled and said, "Then let's continue with the next item!"