Golden Lion

When Liu Xinghan directly invoked Spirit Hall, Ouyang Tian's eyes widened, but he said nothing more.

He was arrogant, but Spirit Hall was also a colossal force he could not afford to provoke. The rules were there; knowingly breaking them was not arrogance, but stupidity.

Liu Xinghan's expression shifted as he asked, "Do you really want my courtyard?"

Ouyang Tian snapped, "Of course! This is the best courtyard in the entire area, and only this courtyard is worthy of this young master's status!"

"I don't know what those idiots were thinking. They gave such a fine courtyard to you instead of this young master!"

This arrangement had naturally been made because Bibi Dong's attention toward Liu Xinghan had caught the Vice Dean's notice.

Liu Xinghan suggested, "How about this? Since you want this courtyard so badly, I'll give you a chance. Let's have a match. If you win, I'll give you the courtyard. If you lose, you give me one hundred Gold Soul Coins. How about it?"

Hearing that, Ouyang Tian raged, "One hundred Gold Soul Coins? Why don't you just rob me, brat?"

Even with his status, one hundred Gold Soul Coins was his monthly allowance. This brat had demanded an entire month's allowance the moment he opened his mouth—he was simply outrageous.

Liu Xinghan said, "What, do you think you have no chance of beating me? That makes sense. Even if I gave you one hand, you still wouldn't be my match. Looks like you and my courtyard aren't fated to be."

That only made Ouyang Tian angrier.

Among people his age, no one had ever dared say they could beat him with one hand tied behind their back!

"Fine, it's a bet! Don't you dare regret it!"

Liu Xinghan smiled.

Someone was delivering money right to his door. There was no reason not to take it!

He could also complete the system's task while he was at it.

The two arrived at Spirit Academy's Battle Arena.

Students were forbidden from fighting privately within Spirit Academy. Anyone who wanted a duel had to register at the Battle Arena.

After registering, they were assigned to Group Four on the C-Grade Battle Stage.

Unlike the bustling Battle Arenas elsewhere on the continent, which were packed with people, this one had very few spectators—only a scattered hundred or so figures.

That was because this Battle Arena was exclusively for academy students, and Spirit Academy had fewer than a thousand students in total. Naturally, there were not many people here.

At that moment, a spirit battle was taking place on the C-Grade Battle Stage.

The two combatants were both Soul Grand Masters, each possessing the optimal spirit ring configuration of two yellow Hundred-Year Spirit Rings. One had an elephant-type Martial Soul, while the other had a rhinoceros-type Martial Soul. Both were typical power-based Assault Type Martial Souls.

Their battle was therefore a brutal exchange of blows, every punch landing solidly.

In the end, the Spirit Master with the rhinoceros Martial Soul was defeated.

The referee immediately announced, "Group Three, Hu Yanhao wins. Group Four, take the stage."

Liu Xinghan paused. Hu Yan was the surname of the Elephant Armored Sect, one of the Lower Four Sects among the continent's Seven Great Sects. Its inherited Martial Soul, the Diamond Mammoth, was also one of the continent's top Beast Martial Souls.

So that guy's Martial Soul just now was the Diamond Mammoth, Liu Xinghan thought.

Already on the Battle Stage, Ouyang Tian arrogantly called out, "Brat, are you coming up or not? Don't tell me you're scared and planning to run away at the last minute!"

"Scared of you? You're not worthy!"

Liu Xinghan leaped onto the Battle Stage.

"Martial Soul Possession!"

Ouyang Tian shouted.

Golden light erupted alongside the roar of a lion, and Ouyang Tian completed his Martial Soul Possession.

After possessing his Martial Soul, his body became far more robust. Though only six years old, he was already nearly 1.6 meters tall. Golden mane grew around his neck, his hands transformed into lion paws, and indestructible golden light flowed across his body as a yellow spirit ring rose beneath him.

Ouyang Tian declared, "Ouyang Tian, Martial Soul: Golden Lion. Level 11 Assault Type Battle Spirit Master!"

"Golden Lion?"

Liu Xinghan was slightly surprised. The original novel had mentioned that Martial Souls bearing the name Golden were all top-tier existences among Martial Souls, exceptionally powerful.

This brat actually has a Golden Series Martial Soul. No wonder he's so arrogant!

Liu Xinghan followed with, "Liu Xinghan, Martial Soul: Summoning Tome. Level 14 Assault Type Battle Spirit Master."

Before a spirit battle began, both sides declared their Martial Souls and Soul Power Levels. It was an unwritten rule of the spirit battle world, a sign of respect for one's opponent.

"Level 14?"

Ouyang Tian was somewhat surprised when he heard Liu Xinghan's Soul Power Level. However, Liu Xinghan's Martial Soul left him puzzled. What kind of Martial Soul was that? He had never heard of it, and it was an Assault Type Martial Soul at that!

After careful consideration, Liu Xinghan had ultimately classified his Martial Soul as an Assault Type!

A real man should be Assault Type!

His First Spirit Ring lit up. His Hundred-Year Spirit Ring skill: Golden Body.

Ouyang Tian's entire body was coated in a layer of gold, and his aura surged. He charged toward Liu Xinghan in great strides.

Although Ouyang Tian was arrogant, he did not underestimate his opponent in battle. Upon learning that his opponent's Soul Power was higher than his own, he immediately used his First Spirit Skill without hesitation. In the Golden Body state, both his attack and defense were increased by one hundred percent.

Liu Xinghan also summoned his Martial Soul, and a bronze tome appeared in his palm.

His First Spirit Ring lit up. The tome opened, and the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear appeared before Liu Xinghan.

"A spirit beast?"

Ouyang Tian was startled. Could this be the ability of Liu Xinghan's Martial Soul?

"Go!"

Liu Xinghan commanded the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear to charge at Ouyang Tian.

"As if I'd be afraid of you!"

As the owner of a Golden Martial Soul, Ouyang Tian excelled at head-on close combat.

Without the slightest fear, he threw a punch at the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear!

The ignorant feared nothing. If he knew what level of spirit beast the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear before him was, he definitely would not have remained so calm while meeting it head-on.

Boom!

With a thunderous crash, Ouyang Tian spat out a mouthful of blood. He felt as though his arm was about to break as his entire body was sent flying sideways.

"You lost!"

Liu Xinghan said with a smile.

He had still held back and had not used his ultimate move, Dark Gold Dreadclaw. Otherwise, that strike might have torn Ouyang Tian directly into pieces!

However, they had not reached the point of fighting to the death. Besides, students were not allowed to use lethal force in spirit battles at Spirit Academy. Violators would be severely punished.

I actually lost? I couldn't even block one move!

Ouyang Tian lay on the ground, gasping heavily. It was a crushing defeat. He had never imagined that, against another One-Ring Spirit Master, he would be so utterly powerless!

The pride he had accumulated over the years was instantly shattered to pieces!

The referee was also stunned by the battle's instant conclusion. He gave Liu Xinghan a strange look before announcing, "Group Four, Liu Xinghan wins."

With a wave of his hand, staff standing by immediately brought over a stretcher and carried Ouyang Tian away for treatment.

"Ouyang Tian, don't forget that you owe me one hundred Gold Soul Coins!"

Liu Xinghan shouted.

Hearing this from atop the stretcher, Ouyang Tian nearly spat out another mouthful of blood. Clenching his fists, he roared inwardly, Liu Xinghan, just you wait. One day, I'll defeat you with my own hands!

After defeating Ouyang Tian, Liu Xinghan received ten Points. Adding the Points he had earned from signing in over the past few days, he now had ninety Points.

However, that was still far from the one thousand Points needed for a draw.

At the same time, his Spirit Hall Side Quest 1, joining Spirit Academy, had been successfully completed. Side Quest 2 appeared: place first in Spirit Academy's Mid-Year Exam. Reward: Points x100.