The Formidable Golden Light Shield

"One thousand-year ring, two ten-thousand-year rings... Teacher, are you lying to me? Does such a combination really exist?"

"Teacher, I want my second soul ring to be a ten-thousand-year soul ring too. I advise you not to meddle."

"Don't worry. Go ahead and try. If I can stop the soul beasts, I lose."

"Lu Leng! One cold blade! Lu Leng's cold blade!"

"..."

Below the stage, voices of shock, doubt, admiration, and screams...

They rose one after another, forming surging waves that crashed in succession...

Compared to the students, the academy teachers were much calmer. After all, they all knew Lu Leng's background. Yet even so, when they saw it with their own eyes, they could not hide the shock in their gazes.

A God-level Martial Soul, Innate Soul Power at level twenty-one—his dazzling path had been destined from the moment he entered Spirit Hall.

"Teacher Mimis, do you think Lu Leng can win?" Hu Liena asked worriedly.

Mimis could not help but frown. "If Jin Zhengyang were level forty-nine, then with Lu Leng's strength, he could win. But now that Jin Zhengyang has broken through to level fifty, the outcome is hard to determine."

"Though it is only a single-level increase, it is a qualitative leap from Soul Ancestor to Soul King. His strength has risen by far more than a little. In the early stages, the gaps between soul power levels are not actually that great. Relying on the advantages of his Martial Soul and soul rings, Lu Leng could defeat a level-forty Soul Ancestor when he was only level twenty-five. But later on, increasing one's soul power level becomes much harder, and the gap between every level also becomes enormous. Some people may only be one level higher, yet they can still fight several opponents at once."

"So, I cannot say for certain whether Lu Leng can win."

Hearing this, Hu Liena could not help clenching her fists.

At the same time, on the stage, Jin Zhengyang looked at the shining soul rings around Lu Leng and found them exceptionally glaring.

Roar!

Jin Zhengyang roared and could no longer hold back. His hair instantly turned golden, while dense scales began appearing across his body. The scales were golden, hard, and thick, making him look as though he wore a suit of golden armor.

This was his First Soul Skill, Golden Crocodile Armor!

It increased his defense, making him impervious to blades and swords while also enhancing his strength.

"Come on!" Jin Zhengyang stood where he was, raised his middle finger, and taunted Lu Leng.

"You dead crocodile, let's see whether your shell is tougher or my blade is tougher." Lu Leng's face remained cold after being taunted. He gripped his blade and charged forward.

With one slash, Jin Zhengyang directly raised his fist to block it head-on. When the two collided, intense sparks flew.

"Looks like your blade is nothing special," Jin Zhengyang mocked.

"Oh? Is that so?" Lu Leng sneered. "Then try this move again."

As soon as he spoke, lightning began coursing over the Zhan Luo Blade, and faint rumbles of thunder arose from nowhere.

Jin Zhengyang's expression changed drastically. The blade seemed to have undergone a tremendous transformation, and its might appeared several times greater than before.

Slash! Lu Leng swung his blade fiercely. Jin Zhengyang circulated his soul power and met it again. But this time, the Zhan Luo Blade cut directly through his scaled armor, leaving a gash as easily as slicing tofu.

Jin Zhengyang cried out in pain and hurriedly pulled back his fist. He stared at the wound in horror. Wisps of black smoke rose from it, and he could even smell roasting meat.

Good thing I pulled back quickly. Otherwise, it might have reached the bone. It seems I still underestimated his blade.

Having succeeded with one strike, Lu Leng showed no mercy. He pressed the attack, slash after slash carving across Jin Zhengyang's body.

Jin Zhengyang fought back with all his strength, but his scaled armor was only a hundred-year soul skill. Even with his abundant soul power, wounds continued appearing beneath Lu Leng's blade.

"That armor you're wearing must be pretty heavy, right?" Lu Leng suddenly said.

Jin Zhengyang's pupils instantly contracted. Even his body trembled slightly, as though someone had seen through his weakness.

"What's wrong? Did I hit the mark?" Lu Leng smiled. He had already guessed it when Jin Zhengyang had allowed him to attack first.

"If this is all the speed you have, then prepare to face my raging storm!" With that, Lu Leng's speed suddenly increased. At the same time, blade light flashed repeatedly in his hand, and in an instant, miserable cries rang throughout the entire arena.

"My god, he's too strong! Lu Leng is actually suppressing him the whole way!" The students below the stage were all dumbfounded.

They had thought Lu Leng would be the one suppressed by Jin Zhengyang, but they had not expected the actual situation to be completely reversed.

"Lu Leng, well done! Beat him to death! If you win, I'll be your little brother!" Xiong Rige shouted excitedly, his fists clenched tightly as though he were the one beating Jin Zhengyang.

Third Soul Skill, Giant Crocodile Stomp! Jin Zhengyang could no longer endure the feeling of being suppressed. He roared, and a giant golden crocodile immediately appeared.

Jin Zhengyang raised his leg and stomped fiercely on the ground beneath him. The golden crocodile likewise slammed down its thick foreleg.

A tremendous boom erupted, accompanied by violent tremors that shook heaven and earth. He had actually stomped a giant pit fifty meters in diameter into the fighting stage.

Jin Zhengyang looked around furiously, but he could not find Lu Leng anywhere.

"What are you looking at?" Lu Leng's voice came from in front of him.

He flicked the blade in his hand and yawned. "If this is all you can do, then you can lie down now. I don't feel like playing with you anymore."

Hearing this, Jin Zhengyang's fury flared. In all this time, he had never been in such a sorry state, nor had he ever been mocked like this.

He was truly enraged.

Second Soul Skill, Golden Light Shield!

Fourth Soul Skill, Berserk Bloodline!

Jin Zhengyang roared as a golden light shield suddenly appeared around his body. At the same time, his aura changed. His eyes turned blood-red, his muscles tightened and became even more powerful, and a violent, rampaging presence filled the entire arena.

"His golden armor is healing." Lu Leng saw that beneath the golden light, Jin Zhengyang's injuries were actually healing. At the same time, the undamaged golden armor became even more condensed.

This Golden Light Shield was no simple thing.

"Die!"

Jin Zhengyang roared. He was clearly speaking human words, yet there was a trace of a beast's howl in his voice.

"Perfect."

Lu Leng's fighting spirit surged. This was exactly the effect he wanted.

"Thunderous Might!"

In an instant, a bolt of purple lightning exploded out of thin air from the sky and struck Jin Zhengyang.

Yet the expected shattering never came. The Golden Light Shield rippled, and when the purple lightning struck it, it was directly absorbed. Not only was it absorbed, but it actually strengthened the Golden Light Shield even further.

It seemed this Golden Light Shield was no ordinary defensive skill.

"This soul skill is specifically designed to counter energy-based soul skills. As long as it's a purely energy-based attack, he can absorb and use it. Lu Leng can't use Thunderous Might anymore," Mimis said.

"Then doesn't that mean Lu Leng has lost one of his skills?" Hu Liena asked worriedly.