The Battle Begins

The Battle Begins

"Thirty-ninth level!"

Upon hearing that number, Ning Rongrong could not help but cry out in surprise.

She then realized she had lost her composure and hurriedly covered her little mouth, yet the shock in her eyes did not fade for a long while.

In truth, aside from Tang San, who had long known Su Ming's exact strength,

everyone else, even Xiao Wu, was plunged into astonishment.

Twelve years old, a thirty-ninth-level Soul Elder.

Just one step away from becoming the youngest Soul Ancestor on the continent and setting a new record beyond everyone's reach.

At that moment, everyone had different thoughts.

Xiao Wu thought, Brother Ming's talent is ridiculously terrifying!

If I had talent like that, maybe I could avenge Mom sooner.

Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, was thinking that although Little Bone's talent was formidable, the talent of the guy before her was even more monstrous. He was still inferior.

The Little Bone she spoke of was the descendant of Gu Rong, the Bone Douluo, and also her childhood companion.

His Martial Soul was a Mutated Bone Dragon.

Not only had he completely inherited the Bone Dragon Martial Soul's abilities, but he had also gained a special ability to control shadows.

Naturally, his Soul Power was Innate Full Soul Power as well.

But before Su Ming, he seemed somewhat "dull by comparison."

If possible, she absolutely had to recruit him into their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Even if recruitment failed, they still had to build the best possible relationship with him.

After Zhu Zhuqing formed a faint guess, a flash of eagerness crossed her icy face.

She believed that geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power and extremely rapid cultivation speed existed in this world;

but in the several-thousand-year history of Douluo Continent, there was likely only one example of someone nearly becoming a Soul Ancestor at twelve years old—the youth before her named Su Ming.

Moreover, his Spirit Ring configuration defied common sense. It was one of a kind.

Perhaps he possessed a secret related to rapidly cultivating Soul Power.

If she could obtain it, perhaps she could break free from her original fate and take revenge on those people.

Of course, Zhu Zhuqing knew her own limits.

Even Tang San and Xiao Wu, who clearly had a close relationship with Su Ming, could not cultivate so quickly.

For her to learn that secret would be even harder than ascending to the heavens.

Besides, this was only her guess.

Perhaps his talent was simply truly terrifying.

Ever since she fled the Star Luo Empire, her mind had constantly been filled with wild thoughts.

She wanted to seize every opportunity that might change her fate.

Dai Mubai's thoughts were far simpler.

He wanted to recruit Su Ming as much as possible from this point onward.

If Su Ming continued developing like this, he would become the youngest Titled Douluo in Douluo Continent's history.

With Su Ming's help, if another struggle for the throne took place in the future, Dai Mubai might have a chance to claim the position of Crown Prince.

As for Su Ming himself, he was thinking that the main event for harvesting Votive Power was about to begin.

Among them, Tang San probably had the purest thoughts at the moment.

He was simply thinking, As expected of Brother Ming. His talent really is this powerful.

Although I can't catch up to Brother Ming, I still have to narrow the gap between us as much as possible.

When we head to Sun Moon Continent in the future to help Brother Ming take revenge, I must do my best not to hold him back.

"Alright, let's discuss the tactics for what comes next.

"At the same time, everyone can give a detailed introduction of your own circumstances to make tactical arrangements easier."

Since no one around him made a move, Su Ming gave a light cough and took the initiative to dispel the invisible awkwardness.

"Zhao Wuji's Martial Soul is the Great Strength Vajra Bear. His entire body has no weaknesses, and his defense is extremely powerful. He isn't good at speed, so we can do this—"

Just like that, the time it took for an incense stick to burn quickly passed.

Standing on the arena, Zhao Wuji loudly urged them, "Well, little monsters? Have you finished discussing your tactics? Time to begin."

Seeing everyone walk toward the arena, he took out another stick of incense.

Before he could light it, Su Ming strode to the front and said to Zhao Wuji, "The rules for this stage should be changed."

"What, you think you can't win? Want to beg for mercy?" Zhao Wuji stopped what he was doing and looked at Su Ming with interest.

At first, he thought Su Ming wanted to reduce the challenge's difficulty.

But the incomparably confident aura around Su Ming made him realize that the boy was anything but ordinary.

If he wanted to lower the difficulty, he definitely would not come over and speak with such confidence.

"Of course not. I just think the challenge is still a little too easy. It can't prove our true strength."

Su Ming laughed brightly and explained, "How about we change the condition for victory to defeating you?

"With a Soul Sage willing to suppress his strength and fight us, I really want to test my own power."

Seeing that he was being looked down on, Zhao Wuji was not angry. Instead, he felt that Su Ming's personality suited his tastes quite well.

Though he looked fierce on the outside, after becoming a teacher at Shrek Academy, he had gradually become kinder and more appreciative of talent.

Especially gifted youths who particularly suited his tastes.

"Do all of you think the same way? If the rules are changed and you fail the challenge, you'll have no chance of entering Shrek Academy."

Still, Zhao Wuji gave them the usual warning, trying to make this group change their minds.

But Zhao Wuji was disappointed.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the others all voiced their agreement with Su Ming in unison, without the slightest hesitation.

Although they believed that even if Zhao Wuji suppressed his strength, the challenge would still be extremely difficult,

they were still willing to take a wild gamble alongside a peerless genius like Su Ming.

Sometimes, personal charisma was truly useful.

Once Su Ming displayed his Martial Soul, level, and Spirit Ring configuration,

a charisma that inspired confidence naturally emerged, making people feel that Su Ming could accomplish what ordinary people could not.

"Good. As long as you defeat me, you'll have passed this assessment!"

Seeing that none of them objected, Zhao Wuji immediately changed the rules.

"However, I'll still light this incense stick. If your performance in battle satisfies me, then even if you lose only after the incense burns out, I'll still count you as qualified."

Clearly, Zhao Wuji did not believe these children could possibly defeat him.

The fact that they had skipped past the earlier assessments to reach this stage proved that they were all highly talented.

He did not want to let such people slip away.

Thus, Zhao Wuji temporarily added this compromise rule.

As he spoke, he lit the incense stick in his hand.

While Zhao Wuji turned around to place the burning incense down, everyone who had entered the arena immediately began moving.

Tang San had long prepared the support-type Soul Food produced by his two Soul Skills.

After stepping onto the arena, they quickly ate the buffing food

and began acting according to the plan they had just discussed.

"Seven Treasures are renowned! First: Strength."

"Seven Treasures are renowned! Second: Speed."

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda swiftly appeared in Ning Rongrong's palm.

Two bright yellow Spirit Rings flashed rapidly around her body.

With the expenditure of a large amount of Soul Power, her two Soul Skills were rapidly unleashed.

Most of the enhancement landed on Su Ming.

This would make the buffs last relatively longer.

This was a tactic they had discussed before entering the arena. The attempt to defeat Zhao Wuji had been proposed by Su Ming.

Among them, the person most likely to defeat Zhao Wuji was Su Ming as well.

Therefore, the main force of this battle naturally became Su Ming.

"One Qi Grand Hand Seal!"

Su Ming no longer held back and rapidly leaped into the air.

A purple thousand-year Spirit Ring around him swiftly lit up, granting Su Ming a tremendous boost.

Immediately afterward, he unleashed his Self-Created Soul Skill at maximum power—the One Qi Grand Hand Seal.

Compared with the One Qi Hand Seal, this move could be considered its enhanced version.

It was more powerful and more effective.

A several-meter-tall white palm of Qi swiftly struck toward Zhao Wuji.

Aside from Ning Rongrong, everyone else simultaneously unleashed their own offensive Soul Skills.

Tang San naturally employed some hidden weapon techniques.

"Immovable King Body!"

Zhao Wuji, who had been setting down the incense, sensed the danger behind him.

Seeing that he had no time to evade, the Great Strength Vajra Bear Martial Soul instantly possessed him, and he decisively activated his first Soul Skill.

A hundred-year Spirit Ring lit up.

Golden light erupted from Zhao Wuji's burly body.

Aside from Su Ming's One Qi Grand Hand Seal, everyone else's attacks were instantly sent flying.

"Boom!"

The One Qi Grand Hand Seal, which had not been deflected, descended from above Zhao Wuji's head with immense force.

A powerful force struck him, and Zhao Wuji instinctively staggered back several steps to relieve the pressure on himself.

What terrifying power. What bizarre Soul Skill. Are rookie Spirit Masters this terrifying these days?

Although Zhao Wuji looked fine after taking the attack head-on, he secretly clicked his tongue in astonishment.

Not only had this attack ignored his Immovable King Body, but its power was immense.

He had suffered a loss through a moment of carelessness.

I can't let them look down on me. It seems I need to get serious. Zhao Wuji began to take these challengers seriously and prepared to fight earnestly.

"Since you're going all out, don't blame me for bullying the young with my seniority."

To regain some face, Zhao Wuji shamelessly activated his third and fourth Soul Skills.

Two purple thousand-year Spirit Rings lit up one after the other.

Third Soul Skill—Gravity Enhancement.

An invisible force swiftly spread across the arena.

Everyone's bodies suddenly became heavy, and their movements slowed.

Among them, only Su Ming was unaffected by this gravity.

Tang San was doing slightly better than the others.

Fourth Soul Skill—Targeting Trace.

This move was a Soul Skill Zhao Wuji had obtained through a fortunate coincidence in his youth.

Its effect was extremely useful.

The Spirit Ring rapidly flew out and encircled Ning Rongrong.

Seeing that the situation was wrong, the others attacked Zhao Wuji again.

But Zhao Wuji had long been prepared. The instant Ning Rongrong was locked on, he used his jumping power to close the distance between them.

Originally, Zhao Wuji planned to use the Great Strength Vajra Palm to directly send Ning Rongrong flying off the arena.

But considering her background in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he chose a gentler method to send Ning Rongrong out of the match.

He was no longer the man he had been in his youth. He no longer acted without considering the consequences, doing whatever he pleased.

Next should be that kid named Tang San.

After dealing with Ning Rongrong, Zhao Wuji shifted his gaze to Tang San.

While Su Ming and the others had been discussing tactics, Zhao Wuji had learned their names and Soul Power Levels from Dai Mubai.

Although Tang San was a Food-type Spirit Master, those little things he occasionally threw out were quite troublesome.

So Zhao Wuji intended to send Tang San out of the arena second.

That way, the only one with enough strength to continue fighting would likely be Su Ming.

With Su Ming alone, he probably would not be able to stir up much trouble.

That was what Zhao Wuji thought.

Little did he know that having Ning Rongrong leave first had been part of the plan they had devised.

Because this duel was Su Ming's one-man show!

Otherwise, why would they have allowed Ning Rongrong, whose support role was so important, to leave first?

Why would they have made no defensive preparations at all?

Zhao Wuji knew nothing of the plan Su Ming and the others had made.

Before the others could break free from his Gravity Enhancement, he prepared to send several more of them out.

"Great Strength Vajra Palm!"

Zhao Wuji's hands transformed into bear paws and swiftly struck toward Tang San in the distance.

I have to buy more time for Brother Ming.

Watching Zhao Wuji attack him, Tang San did not panic.

He immediately used the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to widen the distance between them.

He began acting according to the plan they had originally devised.

When they had discussed their strategy, Brother Ming had told everyone that he had a trump card capable of defeating Zhao Wuji.

However, before using this trump card, he needed time to gather his strength.

At that point, the others would need to delay for as long as possible.

Thus, after launching the fierce first wave of attacks, Su Ming quickly retreated to gather his strength.

Ning Rongrong, left completely unprotected, was the first measure to help Su Ming buy time.

Sure enough, Zhao Wuji took the bait.

After all, many Spirit Masters followed the principle of defeating the enemy's Support-type Spirit Master first.

In a team battle, the buffs provided by a Support-type Spirit Master could often affect the entire course of the fight.

Even though Zhao Wuji was a Soul Sage, he still instinctively followed this principle in battle.

"Zhuqing, let's go."

Seeing Zhao Wuji charge toward Third Brother, Xiao Wu called Zhu Zhuqing over to stop him together.

According to the original plan, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were the second wave tasked with buying time.

"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded and immediately followed.

The effects of Gravity Amplification were gradually weakening.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing's original speed was slowly returning as well.

Are these two little girls idiots?

Watching Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing attack as if they were committing suicide, Zhao Wuji found it hard to believe.

But he did not think much of it. He immediately unleashed the Great Strength Vajra Palm and struck swiftly at the two of them.

His mindset as the stronger party had caused him to lose some of his ability to think when facing Su Ming and the others' challenge.

He believed his strength was enough to easily control the entire situation.

This time, however, Zhao Wuji had none of the reservations he had shown toward Ning Rongrong, so he put considerable force into the attack.