Arrival, Gauntlet Battles

"Here... good grief, there were traps set up too. A thousand-year spirit beast to the left, and a wolf den as well."

Qian Yuxi flew low through the forest, the Aurora Sacred Feather Bow constantly drawn with an arrow ready to fire. He left markers at dangerous spots along the way so the little ones behind him could arrive safely.

He controlled his speed well. Those faster than him had already run far ahead, while the only ones slower were the two-ring children, who posed no threat. He might as well take this chance to win people over.

Finally, after another half-quarter of an hour of flying, the campfire came into view. Qian Yuxi descended from the sky, becoming the thirtieth person to arrive.

After checking in, he chose a flat patch of grass and took out his wilderness survival gear. Qian Yuxi swept his gaze around. At least half of them were wounded, and quite a few were covered head to toe in blood, their faces already pale. Jiang Xiruan looked around and said slowly, "Rest for half a quarter of an hour. Anyone who has not arrived by then will be eliminated. Those who survive but arrive late can pack up and leave. After another hour of rest, the second training session will begin."

As soon as she finished, two male instructors stepped forward and waited at the exit of the Spirit Beast Forest, holding pocket watches to keep time.

Qian Yuxi paid them no mind. He set up his tent, took out food and water, and prepared to fill his stomach first.

More than half of his Soul Power had been consumed. Spirit beast meat was still the fastest way to recover. He arranged the firewood and lit it.

Qian Yuxi took out a dagger and cut the Hundred-Year Blood Leopard's corpse into pieces. He skewered them on wooden sticks, making at least twenty large skewers.

Half a quarter of an hour later, the meat was nearly ready to eat, and the time set by the instructors had also run out. Of the hundred people, thirteen had been eliminated in the first round, leaving eighty-seven. To be honest, this result slightly exceeded Jiang Xiruan's expectations.

Everyone settled down to rest. Yet regarding the kind big brother who had helped guide them without revealing his name, they all tacitly chose to keep quiet. One thing was certain: the kind big brother who had guided them with his Martial Soul possessed an archery Martial Soul.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

"It smells so good... It's grilled meat."

Some children with sharp noses followed the aroma over. Looking at the pile of roasted spirit beast meat in front of Qian Yuxi, they could not stop themselves from drooling. However, with Jiang Xiruan nearby, they did not dare act too recklessly, though their gazes at Qian Yuxi had already become fervent.

Qian Yuxi glanced at them, then tilted his head to look at Jiang Xiruan, who remained unmoved, and asked with a light laugh, "Want some?"

"Yes!!" the children answered in unison, their eyes fixed on the tempting skewers of grilled spirit beast meat with blazing intensity.

Qian Yuxi separated five skewers and smiled calmly. "Five pieces of meat per skewer. Split them yourselves, but don't forget the instructors are still here. Don't start fighting over them."

"Thank you, brother!!"

The children thanked him gratefully and rushed to grab the grilled meat. Some even bit off the meat together with bits of the wooden skewer.

Qian Yuxi ignored them and began eating his own portions. An hour quickly passed. Many people had yet to fully recover their Soul Power, though they had recovered more than half of it.

"Fall in!" Jiang Xiruan shouted.

All the children quickly stood and formed up. Qian Yuxi hurriedly doused the flames with a cup of water.

"After that round, does anyone still want to quit?"

Jiang Xiruan's oppressive gaze swept across the crowd. Every young person remained silent. Even the children with only one ring did the same. Not a single one wanted to leave.

"Very good. It seems you have all prepared yourselves to face death. You already possess the heart to become stronger, but that is far from enough. Only by placing yourselves in death's grasp can you be reborn and earn the right to become strong. Now, I will give you the chance to become strong!"

"All Soul Elders, step forward!"

At Jiang Xiruan's shout, the entire camp fell silent. Including Qian Yuxi, a total of four people stepped forward.

"Good. The gauntlet battles begin now. The more opponents you four defeat, the greater your rewards after the battles will be. Likewise, whoever can defeat any one of them will receive five White Soul Tickets!"

"Yes," the four answered in unison. They then followed Jiang Xiruan to four flat grassy areas. Four instructors stepped out, ready to intervene at any time in case someone went too far.

During the preparation time, Qian Yuxi turned his head and sized up the other three opponents of the same rank as him.

There were two boys and one girl. The youth whose Martial Soul was a Scale Dragon looked exceptionally sturdy. When he used Martial Soul Possession, white dragon scales covered his chest, and three sharp horns protruded from his head.

The girl named Bing Xinwu held a gleaming silver staff in her hand, a faint smile always lingering on her face. From time to time, she even exchanged flirtatious glances with Yu Longsan.

Lastly was Luo En, whose Martial Soul was a Water Bird. His expression was cold but not feminine, and his water-blue eyes remained calm at all times. However, a scar resembling the claw marks of a spirit beast ran across his face.

"Go up and challenge them on your own. Don't wait for the instructors to call your names," Jiang Xiruan added before taking a sip of water to soothe her throat.

Pressed by the instructors' intimidating presence, someone soon came forward to challenge Qian Yuxi. Qian Yuxi had some impression of him, since he had been the first one called during roll call.

"Qian Yuxi."

"Gou Tangsan."

After exchanging names, Gou Tangsan was the first to release his Martial Soul. A dark green begonia flower appeared, accompanied by two yellow spirit rings.

"A level twenty-one Soul Grandmaster... Then there's no need to use my Martial Soul." Qian Yuxi chuckled inwardly. After three years of training under the Radiant Feather Douluo, the basic footwork and evasion an archer required had become second nature to him.

"Qian Yuxi, please teach me!"

Gou Tangsan looked as though he faced a formidable enemy, watching Qian Yuxi warily.

Qian Yuxi calmly drew a dagger, his gaze as steady as ever.

Not using his Martial Soul?

A trace of anger rose within Gou Tangsan. Even if Qian Yuxi was a Soul Elder, this was far too arrogant!

"Are you overestimating yourself, or looking down on me?"

Qian Yuxi tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I'm not looking down on you. I just want to try conserving Soul Power."

"Fine. Since that's the case, let's begin." Gou Tangsan did not waste any words. His first spirit ring immediately lit up, and dark green vines shot rapidly out from the ground.

"Green Vine Entanglement!"

Qian Yuxi's eyes flickered constantly, his gaze sharp. He pushed off with both legs and launched himself into the air, his dagger whistling through the air.

Crack, crack...

The sound of plants shattering rang out as black venom splashed from the vines and stained Qian Yuxi's dagger. He charged forward like a cannonball.

Gou Tangsan was startled. His second spirit ring flared, and the dark green begonia immediately sprayed out pale white pollen as he rapidly retreated.

Qian Yuxi frowned slightly. As he braked, his feet kicked up a large swath of sand and stones. He performed a fierce one-legged backflip, sending dirt flying and dust billowing everywhere.

A patch of the pollen was blown away. Holding his breath, Qian Yuxi gripped his dagger and sprinted through the opening.

In his panic, Gou Tangsan extended a vine from his hand and viciously lashed it at Qian Yuxi. But Qian Yuxi flicked his wrist, sending the dagger through a graceful arc. It instantly pierced the vine, then twisted with the motion.

Squelch.

The vine snapped in response. Qian Yuxi had already reached Gou Tangsan, his dagger, stained with the poison from Gou Tangsan's own Martial Soul, pressed against his throat.

"Gulp..."

Gou Tangsan's throat bobbed, fear appearing on his face.

Qian Yuxi remained silent. He turned the dagger around and struck Gou Tangsan down with its hilt. "You lost."

Jiang Xiruan saw the scene as well, and a flash of surprise crossed her eyes. Defeating a Soul Grandmaster with nothing but a dagger and without using his Martial Soul—this level of combat experience far surpassed ordinary people. Guidance from those great figures in Spirit City truly benefited Soul Masters immensely...

After collecting herself, Jiang Xiruan said coldly, "Arena One, next."

"Yes!"

Gou Tangsan stepped down with some reluctance. The second youth quickly walked up. As the two passed each other, Qian Yuxi noticed the look they exchanged.

The second youth assumed a fighting stance, Soul Power surging throughout his body. Two Hundred-Year Spirit Rings rose beneath him as he tightly gripped his silver longsword Martial Soul, staring gravely at Qian Yuxi.

"Si Xiaowu."

"Qian Yuxi."