Lu Wushuang [Begging for Recommendation Tickets!]

Use any means necessary, pay any price, and eliminate as many opponents as possible. This Preliminary Round was highly open-ended—you could fight, launch sneak attacks, or join forces with others.

In short, 150 contestants had to be eliminated within the time it took an incense stick to burn, leaving only 50 qualified participants. One could imagine just how brutal this competition would be.

The teachers had only one requirement for this match: no killing!

Every student at Heaven Dou Academy had some sort of backing. If anything happened, it would certainly cause trouble for the academy. Moreover, these students were the academy's future hopes, and the teachers did not want anyone to die during the competition.

As an incense stick was lit, the gray-robed elder swept his gaze over the densely packed contestants below. He gave a light cough and announced loudly, "I now declare the competition open! Remember, this match ends when a point is made. Do not take lives."

As soon as the announcement rang out, the entire venue erupted.

Enemies!

Everyone was an enemy!

Everyone's expressions turned grim as they warily watched their surroundings.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Soul Power Storms burst forth one after another, like raging winds sweeping across the Six Directions and Eight Desolations. The contestants unleashed their Martial Souls and activated their Soul Rings.

Two-headed wolves, demonic-patterned tigers, eagles, vines, hoes, rakes, blades, spears, and more—there were countless varieties of Martial Souls. For a moment, the students' bizarre and varied Martial Souls dazzled the eye.

More than two hundred people revealed their Martial Souls at once, creating a spectacular scene. Most of them were above level twenty and possessed two Yellow Soul Rings. When they activated their Soul Rings simultaneously, brilliant golden light instantly illuminated the entire Square.

The battle began!

Gales howled, and battle cries shook the heavens. The scene descended into chaos as everyone fought with bloodshot eyes, throwing themselves into battle for the chance to advance.

Among them, a black-haired youth was like a lone wolf, charging through the crowd without equal. Every brilliant arc of blade light he swung sent three to five people flying.

Fang Xuan's eyes turned sharp as he locked onto a green-haired young man in his twenties. Carrying the still blood-dripping Shadowless Blade, he swiftly charged toward him.

The man was broad and powerfully built, with rugged features. A wolf-shaped Martial Soul flickered in and out of sight around his body.

The green-haired young man's Soul Power was exceptionally robust, far surpassing those around him. He appeared to have reached the peak of the Soul Grandmaster realm and would soon break through to become a Soul Elder!

"Hmph, you little brat who doesn't know his place. I wasn't even looking for you, yet you came to provoke me. Do you really think Lu Wushuang is easy to bully?!" Lu Wushuang laughed wildly when he noticed Fang Xuan rushing toward him, his voice brimming with confidence.

"Lu Wushuang! That guy is Lu Wushuang!"

"One of the strongest young experts among the Heavenly Supreme Level students!"

"I heard that Lu Wushuang is probably the strongest contestant in this Preliminary Round."

"Who is that ignorant brat? He actually dared provoke Lu Wushuang. Isn't he just courting death?!"

When many people saw the green-haired young man in the center of the crowd, they quickly kept their distance, not daring to contend with him. Yet Fang Xuan had actually taken the initiative to challenge Lu Wushuang. Such arrogant ignorance left everyone dumbfounded.

"Lu... Wushuang?!!"

The discussions around him reached Fang Xuan's ears. His body jolted, and he abruptly stopped three meters away from Lu Wushuang. A grave expression appeared on his face as a thoughtful glint flashed through his eyes.

"Haha, you got scared when you heard my name, didn't you!"

Lu Wushuang crossed his arms as the wolf-shaped Soul Beast floated above his head. Looking incomparably smug, he stared arrogantly at Fang Xuan and suddenly said, "If you retreat now and admit defeat, I'll be magnanimous and let this go. You'll also avoid suffering a beating. What do you say?!"

Fang Xuan stared solemnly at Lu Wushuang. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, "What a good name!!"

To live a good life, a man needs a little green above his head!

But this Lu Wushuang was actually... green beyond compare. Now that was a real man!

The man before him earned a measure of Fang Xuan's respect.

"You damned bastard, I see you don't want to live anymore!"

Flames seemed to blaze in Lu Wushuang's eyes, and the corner of his mouth twitched violently. How could he fail to hear the mockery in Fang Xuan's words? Fang Xuan was clearly making fun of him on purpose.

The wolf Martial Soul above his head let out a roar and transformed into a streak of green light, merging into Lu Wushuang's body. His already burly frame became even more muscular.

His bulging pectorals, abs, and biceps directly burst apart his shirt, revealing a golden physique no less impressive than that of a world bodybuilding Championship winner!

Roar!

Lu Wushuang howled wildly, his green hair flying in the wind. Dropping onto all fours, he seemed to transform into a humanoid Fierce Beast as he pounced fiercely at Fang Xuan.

"Die, brat!"

Lu Wushuang was truly enraged and wanted to kill Fang Xuan outright.

"Blade Drawing Technique... Frost!"

The sharp gale tossed Fang Xuan's black hair aside, revealing a pair of cold, resolute eyes. He activated the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul within him, and the power of frost erupted.

The Shadowless Blade pierced through the air, carrying terrifying frost energy as it slashed viciously against Lu Wushuang's steel-like body!

"Ah..."

With a miserable scream, more than half of Lu Wushuang's body was frozen over. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he flew backward, sent out of the arena by a single slash and knocked unconscious.

The entire venue was stunned!

The students still engaged in fierce battle nearby noticed this astonishing sight and, as if by prior agreement, stopped fighting. They turned toward Fang Xuan's battlefield with horrified expressions.

"No way..."

"Lu Wushuang actually lost. He was defeated in a single slash! Just who is this guy?!"

"Fang Xuan, I remember that guy seems to be called Fang Xuan. Just an ordinary Heavenly Micro Level student!"

"He was the one who killed that Thousand-Year Soul Beast last time. Then he defeated Ye Liangchen and the Long Aotian brothers, and now even Lu Wushuang has fallen to him. Isn't this guy ridiculously strong?!"

The students discussed the matter heatedly.

The teachers watching from the judges' stand were equally astonished. Teacher Ruolan, in particular, was both shocked and delighted. Her beautiful eyes shone as they remained fixed on Fang Xuan, and she thought, This little brat has been hiding his strength quite well...

For a time, Fang Xuan's name began to spread throughout Heaven Dou Academy.

Many people swallowed hard. Their gazes toward the cold youth were filled with fear as they instinctively moved away from him, hoping to avoid encountering such a ruthless person.

Fang Xuan had still held back. Otherwise, that strike could have frozen Lu Wushuang completely, and Lu Wushuang would have lost his life.

He had little interest in the growth of his reputation. Carrying his blade, he charged once more toward the most densely packed central area, using these students to hone his Blade Drawing Technique.

Soul Power +1, +1, +1...

With every slash he drew, his strength steadily increased.

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