First Battle, A Stunning Debut

The Promotion Match of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament's Heaven Dou Empire Region began beneath the gaze of countless spectators.

Unlike the team battles of the Preliminary Match, the Promotion Match used an individual arena format, better showcasing each Soul Master's personal strength. It was held in a specially cleared, enormous area within the Royal Hunting Ground, surrounded by tiered Audience Seats that were already packed with people, their clamor shaking the heavens.

The teams from the various academies waited in their designated areas, banners fluttering as the atmosphere grew tense yet fervent.

In the Imperial Fighting Team's area, Yu Tianheng and the others studied the matchup chart with grave expressions. Their opponent in the first round was a team called Rock Ash Academy. Though not among the very strongest, they were not to be underestimated. Their captain was a Level 43 Assault Department Battle Soul Ancestor.

"Who's going up for the first match?" Yu Tianheng asked in a deep voice. By convention, the first match called for a stronger team member to secure a winning start.

The Team Members exchanged glances and were just about to volunteer.

At that moment, a lazy voice spoke up. "I'll go."

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw that Zhang Bufan had risen at some point. He stretched, looking as though he had not fully woken up.

Yu Tianheng frowned. "You? The first match is important. We can't afford any mistakes." Deep down, he still did not trust Zhang Bufan's strength and felt that sending him out might ruin things.

Zhang Bufan glanced at him, his tone as calm as ever. "Precisely because it's important, we need to make sure nothing goes wrong. You guys... are too slow."

With that, he did not wait for Yu Tianheng's approval and headed straight for the arena.

"You!" Yu Tianheng clenched his fists in anger, but under the Match Rules, team members could volunteer to fight, and even as captain, he could not forcibly stop him.

"Let him go!" Committee Member Meng Shenji's voice came from behind them. He had arrived in the resting area at some point, a cryptic smile on his face. "Trust Lord Bufan."

Yu Tianheng could only suppress his anger, snort coldly, and sit back down. The other team members exchanged looks, all nursing resentment as they waited to see Zhang Bufan make a fool of himself. Only Dugu Yan rested her chin in her hand, her eyes following Zhang Bufan's retreating figure with interest.

Zhang Bufan strolled onto the arena, and his "strange attire" immediately drew the attention and discussion of the entire audience.

"Who's that? A newcomer to the Imperial Fighting Team?"

"What is he wearing? Isn't that way too casual?"

"Does the Imperial Fighting Team have no one left? They're sending some kid out first?"

Rock Ash Academy's captain, a broad and sturdy young man with bronze-colored skin, was initially stunned when he saw Zhang Bufan approach. Then fury appeared on his face at the perceived slight.

"What does the Imperial Fighting Team mean by this? Are you sending some brat to humiliate me?" Rock Ash Academy's captain roared like a bell, his voice filled with anger.

Zhang Bufan picked at his ear, seemingly finding the other man too noisy. "Are we fighting or not? If not, get down. Don't waste time."

"Arrogant!" Rock Ash Academy's captain roared. "Kid, I'll make you pay for your arrogance! Remember my name—Shi Lie of Rock Ash Academy! Level 43 Assault Department Battle Soul Ancestor! Martial Soul: Molten Rhinoceros!"

With his roar, two yellow and two purple Soul Rings rose beneath his feet. A scorching, heavy presence erupted as what seemed to be flowing magma covered the surface of his body, making him look brimming with power.

A wave of gasps rose from the Audience Seats. A Level 43 Soul Ancestor was already quite formidable among the younger generation.

Yet Zhang Bufan did not even look at his Soul Rings. He remained as lazy as before, not even bothering to summon his Martial Soul.

"Are you ready?" he even asked kindly.

Shi Lie felt humiliated as never before. With an enraged shout, he cried, "First Soul Skill, Rhinoceros Crash! Second Soul Skill, Lava Armor!"

Like a humanoid tank, he charged at Zhang Bufan with unstoppable momentum, blazing lava armor covering his entire body! Even the arena floor trembled faintly beneath his footsteps!

As that terrifying impact was about to slam into the seemingly defenseless Zhang Bufan, cries of alarm even rose from the Audience Seats.

In the Imperial Fighting Team's resting area, Yu Tianheng and the others held their breath. Although they disliked Zhang Bufan, they did not want to see a teammate severely injured on the arena.

Just as Shi Lie was about to collide with Zhang Bufan—

Zhang Bufan moved.

He merely raised his right hand casually and extended one finger.

No Soul Ring shone. No light of erupting Soul Power appeared. It was just an ordinary finger, aimed at the charging Shi Lie, lightly tapping through the air.

It was as if time froze for an instant.

The next second, Shi Lie, who had been charging forward so fiercely, seemed to have slammed into an invisible, indestructible wall. He was violently hurled backward at an even greater speed than he had come!

"Puh—!"

The Lava Armor around him shattered inch by inch like paper. The blood he spat out drew a glaring crimson streak through the air. Like a kite with its string cut, he flew directly off the arena and crashed heavily into the ground dozens of meters away. After rolling several times, he fainted.

Silence!

Deathly silence!

The entire massive competition grounds fell still. Tens of thousands of spectators, including the competitors and teachers from every participating academy, and even Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, and the others in the VIP seats, were all stunned.

What had happened?

They had only seen Rock Ash Academy's captain charge forward menacingly. Then that Imperial Fighting Team newcomer seemed to... point at him through the air with a finger? And then... Rock Ash Academy's captain flew away? Flew that far? And fainted?

What... what the hell kind of Soul Skill was that?! No, he had not even summoned his Martial Soul! His Soul Rings had not even lit up!

After that brief silence came an uproar like mountains collapsing and seas surging!

"Holy shit! What did I just see?!"

"One finger! Just one finger! He sent a Soul Ancestor flying through the air?!"

"Are you kidding me?! How is that possible?!"

"Who the hell is he?! Where did the Imperial Fighting Team find this monster?!"

The referee was stunned for several seconds before finally reacting. He hurried onto the arena to check Shi Lie's condition, then raised his hand, his voice trembling in disbelief. "The... the Imperial Fighting Team's Zhang Bufan wins!"

In the Imperial Fighting Team's resting area, Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and the others had all turned to stone.

Yu Tianheng's mouth hung open, his eyes wide. Every bit of dissatisfaction and doubt he had felt toward Zhang Bufan was crushed to pieces in that instant! All that remained was boundless shock and... a trace of fear? What kind of terrifying power was that?! He knew that even if he gave it his all, he could never defeat Shi Lie, who had activated a defensive Soul Skill, so effortlessly with a single finger!

An astonishing gleam burst from Dugu Yan's green eyes. Watching the young man on the arena, whose face remained calm as though he had merely swatted a fly, her heart began racing against her will. Powerful, mysterious, and carrying a fatal allure!

Yu Feng, Osler, and the others looked as if they had seen a ghost. They muttered, "A... a monster..."

Standing on the arena amid the uproar of the entire venue and countless shocked, fearful, probing gazes, Zhang Bufan merely picked at his ear in boredom. Then, toward the referee and the opposing academy, he said lazily:

"Next."

His voice was not loud, yet it rang clearly throughout the entire arena.

That overbearing composure, as though he regarded all the heroes beneath heaven as nothing, was deeply etched into the hearts of everyone present.

Imperial Fighting Team. Zhang Bufan. From this moment onward, that name swept through the entire Heaven Dou Empire Region like a storm!

And beyond winning effortlessly, his purpose in this first battle was to send a message toward a particular direction in the Audience Seats—I'm here.