My Strength Is Above Yours!

Xu San Shi clearly hadn't expected anyone to attack him, let alone twice in a row, and was caught off guard. He instinctively blocked with his right hand, which met the incoming palm with a solid clash. Both men took a step back, neither gaining an advantage.

The attacker was none other than the Tang Sect's senior disciple, Bei Bei. Tang Ya appeared immediately after, her delicate, pretty face filled with rage.

"Xu San Shi, how dare you bully my people? I'll fight you to the death!" Tang Ya declared, raising her right hand. A speck of golden light shot towards Xu San Shi.

Xu San Shi waved his right hand, conjuring a sharp black light to deflect the golden light. But a surprising thing happened: the golden light suddenly flashed, slipped through the black light, and disappeared into his body.

A moment later, Xu San Shi trembled, his eyes suddenly unfocused. Two yellow and one purple soul rings rose from his feet, and his body expanded slightly. A black tortoise shell shield, 1.5 meters in diameter, appeared in his right hand.

"Tang Ya, don't think I can't touch you just because Bei Bei is protecting you."

Tang Ya sneered, "Come on! Do you really think I'm afraid of you?"

Bei Bei said calmly, "Xu San Shi, you bullied my junior disciple. You need to give an explanation for today's events. Otherwise, we'll settle this in the dueling arena."

Xu San Shi pointed at Huo Yu Hao, hesitating, "He's your junior disciple?"

Bei Bei nodded expressionlessly.

Xu San Shi said coldly, "So what? If he doesn't show respect to Nan Nan, he doesn't show respect to me. The grilled fish, I already paid for it."

Tang Ya angrily exclaimed, "That was for Yu Hao to give to me! Bei Bei, why are you still wasting words with him? Beat him! Beat him until he can't take care of himself, and I'll let you kiss me."

Bei Bei, whose expression had been tense, twitched the corner of his mouth at her words.

Xu San Shi curled his lip, "Your little Ya is still so out of it. It's been a while since we sparred. Dueling arena it is, let's go!"

"Senior Brother Bei Bei, can I take over this spar?" Lin Yuan's voice was calm as he stepped forward, standing before everyone. "I'm in a bad mood today. If I don't vent this anger, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight."

Bei Bei glanced at him, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. He knew Xu San Shi's strength and the cause of the conflict. But he also knew Lin Yuan's power and understood that this eleven-year-old boy was far from simple.

"Junior Brother Lin Yuan, are you sure?" Bei Bei asked in a deep voice.

"Don't worry, I have my limits. I won't kill him," Lin Yuan smiled slightly, his gaze already fixed on Xu San Shi.

Hearing this, Xu San Shi's anger instantly ignited. "Kid, you're quite arrogant! Fine, I'll grant your wish!" With that, he turned and walked towards the academy's dueling arena.

Wang Dong tugged at Lin Yuan's clothes, her powder-blue eyes filled with worry. "Are you really going to fight? He's a Soul Elder!"

"Soul Elder? Who isn't a Soul Elder these days? Watch me pin him to the ground." Lin Yuan waved his hand.

The dueling arena was located in the northwest corner of the Martial Soul Department, near Shrek City, and was a popular spot for senior students. Various competitions could be held here, with dedicated teachers serving as referees, responsible for determining victories and defeats, protecting students, and providing rescue and treatment services. Of course, these services came at a cost. For a duel, both parties had to pay at least ten gold soul coins as a venue fee, yet many students still participated enthusiastically. This was because fighting here was unrestricted, and there was no need to worry about using excessive force, as the referees would maintain control. Furthermore, winning duels could earn academic credits, which would add to one's score in grade examinations. The matches were open to all students, with spectators needing to pay one silver soul coin for a ticket.

To Wang Dong and Huo Yu Hao's surprise, this one-on-one duel attracted the attention of many students. Most of those who had watched the commotion at the academy gates earlier, regardless of their grade, had followed. When the group arrived at the dueling arena, many people were already waiting. News spread quickly, and more and more students flocked to the venue.

The dueling arena was hexagonal, similar in size to Shrek Plaza. The center was a large open space for matches, surrounded by tiered seating that could accommodate about three thousand people. Currently, three to four hundred people were seated around the edge of the arena. Wang Dong, Huo Yu Hao, and Tang Ya had arrived early and were sitting in the front row, closest to the arena.

Inside the arena, Lin Yuan was already standing on the dueling platform, quietly meditating with his eyes closed. Bei Bei had accompanied Xu San Shi to the lounge, presumably to retrieve the Dragon Whisker Needles from his body and, incidentally, to extort some benefits for Huo Yu Hao.

As time passed, the stands were quickly filled by enthusiastic students. Lin Yuan's duel, a freshman challenging a senior student, rapidly became the hottest topic of discussion.

"Who is that freshman? He's too arrogant!"

"You don't know? His name is Lin Yuan, he's eleven years old and level thirty-nine!"

"Really? I don't believe it!"

Just as everyone was murmuring, a voice caught everyone's attention: "Wow! He's so handsome! Silver hair and purple eyes, his aura is just incredible!"

Following the voice, a female student was seen excitedly covering her face, her eyes sparkling. Her companions nodded in agreement, their gazes fixed on the figure meditating on the dueling platform.

"I declare, from today onwards, he is my new male idol!"

"Wake up, he's only eleven years old!"

"So what? We'll wait until he grows up!"

Meanwhile, in another corner of the stands, Jiang Nan Nan was sitting with a few female students. Her gaze was also involuntarily drawn to Lin Yuan on the dueling platform.

"He's the one who blocked Xu San Shi at the entrance today?"

"Yes, I heard he's the class leader of Class One Freshman!"

"Not only is he good-looking, but his strength is also so formidable..."

Just then, Xu San Shi and Bei Bei emerged from the lounge together. Xu San Shi's soul power fluctuations had completely subsided, indicating that he had expelled the Tang Sect's hidden weapons from his body.

"Kid, are you ready to be beaten until you cry?" Xu San Shi stood in the center of the dueling platform, looking provocatively at Lin Yuan. Accompanying him was a teacher in his forties.

Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in his purple irises, yet a playful smile touched his lips. "Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

The referee teacher walked to the center of the arena and said solemnly, "Freshman Year One Lin Yuan challenges Year Five Xu San Shi. If Xu San Shi loses the match, he will have to pay an additional ten gold soul coins. Are you both ready?"

Lin Yuan and Xu San Shi nodded simultaneously.

"Begin the match," the referee announced and quickly retreated.

As soon as the words fell, Xu San Shi immediately released his Martial Soul. His body expanded again, his school uniform stretching taut, and the massive tortoise shell shield in his right hand reappeared. The dueling arena, which had been slightly noisy a moment before, fell silent instantly, all eyes focused on the center of the field.

Lin Yuan did not rush to release his Martial Soul, merely standing still. His purple eyes were calm and undisturbed, as if his opponent was not worth taking seriously.

Seeing Lin Yuan's dismissive attitude, Xu San Shi's anger intensified. The first hundred-year yellow soul ring among his two yellow and one purple soul rings lit up. The black light on the tortoise shell shield doubled in intensity, and a powerful black halo spread out from the shield, covering an area of over ten square meters, accompanied by a rumbling sound.

Lin Yuan stepped down, quietly activating his Authority of Earth. A fluctuation, no weaker than the Profound Nether Tremor, spread from beneath his feet.

The two powerful tremors collided head-on in the center of the dueling platform, instantly forming a visible shockwave that swept outwards.

Xu San Shi grunted, staggering back three steps. The massive tortoise shell shield in his hand trembled slightly, clearly having taken a significant impact. Lin Yuan, however, remained standing in place, his feet rooted to the ground, his clothes not even fluttering.

"This is a self-created Soul Skill I've been practicing recently. I'll test its power on you right now. Space Strangulation!" As soon as Lin Yuan finished speaking, the air in the center of the dueling platform seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand, and the surrounding light distorted slightly.

Fine silver-white patterns instantly appeared on the ground beneath Xu San Shi's feet, like an invisible net, locking him firmly in place.

"Not good!" Xu San Shi's heart leaped in alarm. His second soul ring flared with light, and he rooted himself like a boulder, attempting to withstand the force head-on.

However, Space Strangulation wasn't about brute force. Instead, it twisted space itself into threads, cutting from all directions simultaneously. Although Xu San Shi's defenses were strong, he found his limbs sinking into a viscous mire, his movements sluggish, and his protective soul power being stripped away bit by bit.

"Profound Nether Power, protect me!" Xu San Shi roared. His third soul ring erupted with black light, and thick black armor materialized on his body.

Just then, Lin Yuan snapped his fingers, and the invisible spatial threads instantly closed in!

"Chh--"

With a faint sound, Xu San Shi's protective black armor was actually scored with several tiny white marks, and a thin layer was shaved off the edge of his Tortoise Shell Shield.

Xu San Shi grunted, his blood churning. He retreated several steps before managing to stabilize himself.

The entire audience held their breath. This was the first time they had witnessed someone break through Xu San Shi's defenses so effortlessly while only being a Soul Grandmaster!

Lin Yuan stood calmly in place, looking at Xu San Shi, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You should be grateful I haven't released my Martial Soul or used my own Soul Skills yet. Otherwise, you'd already be lying on the ground. But I've had my fun, and the match should end now!"

With that, Lin Yuan moved. The next instant, his figure left a faint afterimage where he stood. He appeared before Xu San Shi like a phantom. His fingers hooked like claws, precisely gripping the man's throat, while his other hand pressed heavily on Xu San Shi's chest, slamming him to the ground.

"Bang!"

The dueling platform trembled violently, scattering debris. Xu San Shi's massive body was pinned firmly to the ground, his protective soul power shattering under the force of the press. The Tortoise Shell Shield clanged as it flew out of his grasp, smashing heavily against the edge of the platform.

Silence fell over the entire venue. Everyone was utterly stunned by the scene. From the start of the match to its end had taken mere seconds. A fifth-year Soul Grandmaster had been suppressed by a first-year freshman using only physical techniques, without even having time to fully unleash his Martial Soul abilities.

"You lost," Lin Yuan said calmly, without a hint of triumph.

Xu San Shi's face turned red. He struggled with all his might, but found the hand gripping his throat was like an iron clamp, unmoving no matter how hard he strained. What terrified him even more was that the hand on his chest was emitting a strange suction, drawing out the churning soul power within him, leaving him without even the strength to activate his Soul Skills.

"Referee!" Lin Yuan looked towards the side. "The winner has been decided."

The referee finally snapped back to reality and quickly stepped forward, announcing loudly, "The match is over! Lin Yuan wins!"