Academy Sparring (Requesting Follow-Reads, Requesting Recommendation Tickets)

Qian Daoliu's Soul Ring Configuration was simply too shocking, completely beyond these people's understanding.

Likewise, the eighty-thousand-year Evil Spirit Orca among the pod, along with the rest of its kind, was deeply alarmed. Though their intelligence had not reached the level of humans—

—they still understood what the nine Soul Rings beneath this human's feet represented.

The eighty-thousand-year Evil Spirit Orca had once been fortunate enough to witness the earth-shaking battle between the High Priest of Sea God Island and the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.

And the aura emanating from the human before them was no weaker than that High Priest before she had drawn upon the Sea God's divine power.

"Not good! A Limit Douluo! Run!"

The eighty-thousand-year Evil Spirit Orca could not speak human language, but its own kind could understand its cries.

As soon as the cry rang out, the Evil Spirit Orcas hurriedly fled in groups.

"Hmph, trying to run?"

Qian Daoliu's voice resounded like that of a god high above the heavens, carrying a terrifying spiritual assault.

Under the suppression of his immense Soul Power, Qian Daoliu effortlessly subdued the entire pod of Evil Spirit Orcas without even using a Soul Skill.

"Roar!!"

The Evil Spirit Orcas roared repeatedly, terror filling their hearts.

No matter how the pod struggled beneath Qian Daoliu's Soul Power pressure, it was all in vain.

"Angel Holy Sword!"

A magnificent Treasure Sword appeared in Qian Daoliu's hand. With one slash, terrifying golden sword qi descended. Several ten-thousand-year Evil Spirit Orcas died instantly, and even the sea's surface was cleaved open with a deep ravine.

The aftershock of the sword qi spread outward, killing several weaker thousand-year Evil Spirit Orcas on the spot.

Qian Daoliu did not slaughter the entire pod. After delivering that slash, he stopped attacking and allowed the surviving Evil Spirit Orcas to escape.

He had originally come intending to kill only one, but he had not expected to encounter a group of Spirit Beasts ahead of time. He figured he might as well bring back a few more.

Perhaps they could help some Soul Douluos hoping to break through to Title Douluo, as well as Ji Er's two Apprentices.

Of course, those two children might not be able to perfectly absorb the energy of Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly, but thousand-year Whale Rubber would be fine.

Qian Daoliu's gaze fell upon the corpses of the Evil Spirit Orcas floating on the sea. Several streaks of sword qi descended, precisely splitting open their heads.

With a flick of one hand, he drew dozens of pieces of Whale Rubber into his grasp.

Among them were five pieces of Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly and ten pieces of thousand-year Whale Rubber.

The highest-quality and finest piece naturally came from the eighty-thousand-year Evil Spirit Orca.

Qian Daoliu looked down at the sailors below, who had long since gone stiff with shock and were unable to make a sound. In an even tone, he said, "This journey is over. Return as soon as possible."

Only then did the sailors recover their senses.

"O-okay..."

Though Qian Daoliu appeared lofty and unapproachable, he was kindhearted. To prevent the sailors from suffering retaliation after he left, he accompanied their ship back to the harbor.

After returning to the harbor, Qian Daoliu told them not to go to sea for the next half year before departing.

"We actually encountered the legendary His Holiness the Pope..."

"As expected of His Holiness the Pope. He was so powerful that he killed so many ten-thousand-year Evil Spirit Orcas with just one sword strike."

"Of course! That was a Title Douluo, a realm countless Spirit Masters could only dream of reaching. How could he not be powerful?"

"Hehe, we'll have plenty to brag about from now on."

The sailors had finally recovered from their shock and began chatting excitedly. None of them had expected to encounter the legendary Pope of Spirit Hall.

Of course, they might never learn in their lifetimes that the person they had met was actually the former Pope, Qian Daoliu, the current Grand Elder of Spirit Hall.

Spirit Hall Academy, training grounds.

Gu Han quickly integrated into the group. Among the twenty of them, his Soul Power was the lowest, but the educational environment here was excellent. No one looked down on him for having low Soul Power or accused him of getting in through the back door.

Of course, competition was unavoidable.

At that moment, everyone made room in the field. Gu Han gripped the Mystic Ice Sword, and two yellow Soul Rings pulsed beneath his feet.

Standing opposite him was a spear-wielding youth, with two yellow and one purple Soul Rings slowly pulsing beneath his feet.

"Gu Han, Martial Soul: Mystic Ice Sword. Level 23 Power Attack System Soul Grandmaster. Please instruct me."

"Wang Bo, Martial Soul: Flame Spear. Level 31 Power Attack System Soul Elder. Please instruct me."

The two bowed to each other and introduced their Martial Souls and specialties before facing off.

"First Soul Skill, Flame Thrust!"

Wang Bo launched the first attack. His First Soul Skill coated the spear with a layer of flame, increasing its attack power by ten percent.

The flames were dazzling, concealing a flash of cold light as the spear rapidly thrust toward Gu Han.

"First Soul Skill, Mystic Ice Sword Qi!"

"Second Soul Skill, Ice Spirit Guard!"

The two Soul Rings beneath his feet lit up simultaneously, and a layer of razor-sharp frost coated the blade.

A heavy ice shield formed before Gu Han. His Second Soul Skill came from an eight-hundred-year Ice Mystic Tortoise. Its defensive power changed according to his level, making it an extremely practical defensive Soul Skill.

Of course, Gu Han had not activated this Soul Skill solely for defense. He also wanted the ten-percent increase to all his attributes.

Clang!!

The flame-wreathed Long Spear struck the ice shield. At the instant of contact, Wang Bo's eyes widened. A powerful rebounding force surged back along the shaft, and he hurriedly withdrew his spear, twisting his body as he retreated.

"He actually forced Wang Bo back despite being eight levels lower in Soul Power!"

Even Ghost Leopard was somewhat astonished. Naturally, he had heard a little about Gu Han. He was an exceptionally talented and hardworking child who had once achieved an impressive hundred-win streak at the Great Soul Arena.

But in Ghost Leopard's view, although the Soul Elders Gu Han had defeated were still Soul Elders, they all possessed low-grade Martial Souls and were not worth mentioning.

Wang Bo's Flame Spear, however, was a high-grade Martial Soul. At the same realm, he was far beyond the Soul Elders Gu Han had defeated before.

Yet even so, Wang Bo had suffered a loss despite attacking first.

"Slash!"

Gu Han transformed the ice shield into armor that covered his body, then rushed forward and swung the Mystic Ice Sword in a horizontal slash.

Wang Bo was instantly startled. He hurriedly leaped backward again while thrusting his spear toward Gu Han's vital points.

Gu Han turned his blade and slashed at the shaft of the Flame Spear.

After their first exchange, Gu Han realized that this Soul Elder was far stronger than any Soul Elder he had encountered before.

He did not know what the other party's later Soul Skills were, but his own offensive was exceptionally fierce, giving Wang Bo no opportunity to use them.

Gu Han's sword moves alternated between fast and slow, dazzling the eye. Every strike came at precisely the right moment, leaving Wang Bo with the frustrating feeling that he had strength but nowhere to use it.

They said that greater reach meant greater advantage, but Gu Han chose to fight at close range. With footwork that was impossible to predict, he clung tightly to Wang Bo and prevented him from using his advantage at all.

Moreover, Gu Han's sword attacks were far too fierce. Wang Bo soon failed to keep up with the tempo, and Gu Han seized the chance to knock his Martial Soul flying with a single upward slash.

"Wha—"

Wang Bo was greatly alarmed and had just moved to catch his Martial Soul when, in the next instant, the Mystic Ice Sword was already pointed before him.

"You let me win."