Guang Ling and Qian Daoliu's Scheme

There were twenty students in the Elite Class, and the tournament followed a single-elimination format. Some would receive byes until the final victor was chosen.

The winner would receive the Ten-Thousand Year Head Spirit Bone in Bibi Dong's possession as a reward.

Among the six spirit bones in the human body, torso bones and head spirit bones were the most precious.

Many of the Spirit Hall Elders present were deeply annoyed. It was not as if they had never participated in the Elite Class Competition before—so why had such a good opportunity not come up back then?

Led by Lor Diarra, the twenty students, including Ye Tianxing, stood in a standard Soul Battle Arena spacious enough to hold ten thousand people. An invisible fighting spirit filled the entire stage. Before the battle had even begun, many of the children were already rubbing their fists in anticipation. The spirit bone reward was simply too tempting.

Just then, a beam of light illuminated the front, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

The Spirit Hall Elders present all rose to their feet and bowed toward the beautiful figure standing in midair within the light.

"Your Holiness the Pope—"

The thunderous cry echoed across the arena and resounded in the hearts of every child.

Ye Tianxing looked up at the beautiful figure within the light. Clad in a purple-gold robe and holding a scepter, Bibi Dong radiated an imposing authority without even showing anger. Her phoenix eyes swept across the crowd, and the children all lowered their heads. To them, meeting her gaze was the greatest disrespect. Yet when her eyes reached Ye Tianxing, he was staring straight at her.

Bibi Dong paused slightly. Ye Tianxing was a very unusual child. In what way? Mainly, he was fearless. He had a great deal of nerve.

It was said that when he first arrived, he had dared to draw his bow and shoot at the stone monument erected by Qian Daoliu's ancestors. He had also beaten quite a few students at the academy whom he found unpleasant, achieving an impressive record. However, he had never competed against Huyan Bo, so the outcome between the two remained unknown.

Shifting her gaze away from Ye Tianxing, she spoke in a clear yet commanding voice. "You are all the future of Spirit Hall. In this year's Spirit Hall Academy Elite Class Competition, the victor will receive this Skull of Wisdom, which has been condensed with spiritual power for sixty thousand years."

The moment those words were spoken, the entire venue fell silent.

Everyone was stunned, including Ye Tianxing.

No one had expected a mere Elite Class Competition to offer a spirit bone as a reward, and this spirit bone had quite the origin. The elders had all heard that it had supposedly been obtained after the previous Pope slew its owner.

There had previously been rumors that Bibi Dong intended to bestow it directly upon her disciple, Hu Liena. Yet for some unknown reason, the Grand Worshipper had rejected the proposal. No one had expected it to be used here.

"I learned some inside information beforehand. The reason Bibi Dong unprecedentedly took out a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone was simply to win over the Elephant Armored Sect, one of the Lower Four Sects," Golden Crocodile Douluo said.

"Isn't using a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone to win over the Elephant Armored Sect a bit too extravagant?" Qingluan Douluo asked.

Golden Crocodile Douluo shook his head. "That crazy woman is capable of anything. Spirit Hall will sooner or later fall into her hands."

"Fifth Brother, there are no outsiders here. Can you tell us about the scheme you and Big Brother devised?" Demon Subduing Douluo seemed to have noticed something and turned toward Radiant Feather Douluo.

"Bibi Dong has always intended to bestow that spirit bone upon Hu Liena, but every time she brought it up during meetings, it was rejected."

At that moment, Radiant Feather Douluo looked nothing like a Titled Douluo. His legs swung back and forth, and his expression was relaxed, as though the final owner of the spirit bone had already been decided.

"That is why you advised Big Brother," Mighty Lion Douluo said.

Radiant Feather Douluo leaped down from the table and walked to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window. Watching Ye Tianxing gradually make his way down to the arena, he smiled. "We archers are only responsible for ranged attacks. We are completely useless in close combat. That Skull of Wisdom not only enhances one's spiritual power, but can also scout the enemy situation nearby. It is practically perfect for my disciple, who possesses the Withered Wood Bow Martial Soul."

"It would be a waste to give it to Bibi Dong. It would be better off with my disciple."

Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu represented two separate factions, and they had openly and secretly fought each other plenty of times over the years. Most of Bibi Dong's proposals were accepted.

Qian Daoliu had never intended to argue with Bibi Dong, but this time, he had unusually raised an objection.

After hesitating for a moment, Qingluan Douluo still said, "But do not forget that while your disciple's martial soul excels at range, close combat is a major weakness. Setting aside the other children, how does your disciple plan to deal with the one from the Elephant Armored Sect?"

After speaking, Qingluan Douluo looked toward the seats below. The Elephant Armored Sect's leader, Huyan Zhen, had actually come in person. With muscles all over his body and a build like a small mountain, he barely managed to sit down while taking up the seats of four or five people.

At that moment, Huyan Zhen stared greedily at the spirit bone in Bibi Dong's hand. He was clearly determined to obtain it.

Radiant Feather Douluo smiled. "It is nothing more than a matter of spear against shield. Do not worry—a sharp spear will pierce a sturdy shield. Even if he cannot defeat him, I believe my disciple will give all of us a surprise."

Everyone waited and watched.

Below the stage, the twenty children began drawing lots for the round of twenty down to ten.

Someone cried, "It's over! My opponent is Huyan Bo!"

Someone laughed. "Wonderful, this is an incredible draw!"

"Awesome!"

Li Xin looked at the number one lot in his hand, then at the number twenty in Ye Tianxing's hand, and immediately laughed. "Ye Tianxing, I have been looking forward to this day for a long time."

Ye Tianxing ignored him and slowly walked toward the stage. The first match would be between himself and Li Xin. The two were old rivals.

Unexpectedly, the referee was none other than Bibi Dong's disciple, Hu Liena.

The girl's lively eyes moved back and forth between Ye Tianxing and Li Xin. As Bibi Dong's disciple, she naturally knew who Ye Tianxing's teacher was.

She was simply curious. Was that spirit bone not something her teacher had intended to prepare for her? How had the Grand Worshipper rejected it?

As she watched Ye Tianxing step onto the stage, his eyes rested on her briefly before shifting away. In that instant, Hu Liena understood a few things.

Bibi Dong also came to realize that something was strange. Qian Daoliu might not be scheming and calculating, but in a gamble like this, he had actually dared to wager a Sixty Thousand Year Head Soul Bone. Something was very wrong.

"The Spirit Hall Academy Elite Class Competition will use a one-on-one elimination format. Ye Tianxing versus Li Xin. Both sides have one minute to summon their martial souls."

The moment Hu Liena finished speaking, Li Xin impatiently summoned his martial soul. The Giant Strength Ant Martial Soul was a typical pure strength-type martial soul. Though it was inferior to the Thousand-Ton Ant, it was still not to be underestimated among strength-type martial souls.

Two black antennae extended from Li Xin's forehead. Three large hands covered in black barbs appeared around his waist and abdomen, his complexion turned dark, and sturdy carapace emerged across his body. He was armed from head to toe.

As his old rival, Ye Tianxing merely held a Withered Wood Bow in one hand and stood there quietly. He had not opened his eyes from beginning to end. His calm and composed appearance made it seem as though he did not take Li Xin seriously at all.

"Ye Tianxing, you are still as annoying as ever. Just watch—I will defeat you, and then everyone else!"

"First Soul Skill, Giant Strength."

Li Xin's first spirit ring lit up. His soul skill, Giant Strength, increased his attack power. He leaped high into the air, clenched both fists, and smashed them viciously toward Ye Tianxing.

In his imagination, Ye Tianxing had already fallen off the stage.

Yet contrary to expectations, Ye Tianxing shifted slightly to the side, then landed a whip kick squarely on Li Xin's backside. Momentum sent Li Xin tumbling straight off the stage.

Fundamentally speaking, the Elite Class Competition was just children fighting.

It was only because the prize was so generous that it drew so many spectators.

If they could not have it themselves, could they not at least watch a little to satisfy their craving?