Battle Against Jing Hongchen

Academy, First Soul Tool Proving Ground.

A massive protective shield rose, enveloping the area capable of accommodating battles between Soul Douluo level experts.

Jing Hongchen stood in the center of the arena. Though his expression was calm, a hint of seriousness flickered in his eyes.

While he didn't believe he would lose to a Soul Sage, since Gu Yuejin dared to propose this, he must have his reasons.

As an Old Fox, he never underestimated his opponents.

"Young friend Gu Yue, since you insist, then this Old Man shall not refuse."

"Be careful!"

Boom--!

A vast aura erupted from Jing Hongchen's body.

The air behind him distorted slightly, and a phantom of a toad, entirely golden and radiating a rich, precious light, appeared.

Toad Martial Soul!

At the same time, nine soul rings slowly rose from beneath his feet.

Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Black.

A standard, optimal soul ring ratio, yet it lacked that touch of red, the mark of a top-tier Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.

Looking at the nine soul rings, Gu Yuejin sighed inwardly.

"As expected, even someone as wealthy as Jing Hongchen can't get a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring."

"This is the sorrow of Sun Moon Empire soul masters; their over-reliance on Soul Tools has led to their own martial souls' development and opportunities lagging behind."

"Hall Master Hongchen, please."

Gu Yuejin stood with his hands behind his back, his posture as upright as a pine tree. He hadn't even released his martial soul, simply watching the Titled Douluo opposite him with a calm demeanor.

"Arrogant!"

Even Jing Hongchen, who was usually deeply calculating, felt a spark of anger ignited within him.

Even if you are an unparalleled genius, even if you are a high-level Soul Sage, to be so presumptuous in the face of a Titled Douluo?

"Since that's the case, then don't blame this Old Man for bullying the young!"

Jing Hongchen let out a low roar, and the toad phantom behind him suddenly solidified.

Although he wasn't using any Soul Tools, he was, after all, a Level Ninety-three Titled Douluo. Every movement he made was imbued with the power of heaven and earth.

"Hmph!"

With a wave of his right hand, he didn't use a soul skill, but directly mobilized the power of his martial soul's origin.

A thick, dark gold mist, carrying a nauseatingly sweet and fishy smell, transformed into a giant poisonous python and lunged straight at Gu Yuejin's face!

That was the toad's innate potent poison—Lian Hongchen!

This poison had extremely strong corrosive and nerve-paralyzing effects. If an ordinary Soul Sage were to touch even a tiny bit, they would lose a layer of skin, if not die.

"Is this the casual strike of a Titled Douluo?"

Lin Jiayi, watching from the sidelines, was so shocked his heart pounded. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Why hasn't Mr. Gu Yue dodged yet?! The soul power gap between a Soul Sage and a Titled Douluo is like a chasm. Resisting it head-on is certain death!"

However, in the next second, something happened that made everyone's jaws drop.

Facing the whistling, venomous golden python, Gu Yuejin not only didn't dodge but casually raised his left hand.

Without any soul power flashing, he simply grabbed.

Poof--!

A soft sound.

The poisonous python, capable of corroding metal, was actually caught by its vital spot by his slender hand!

"How is this possible?!" Jing Hongchen's pupils constricted.

Immediately after, a faint ice blue halo flashed across Gu Yuejin's left arm.

That was the Extreme Ice power bestowed by the Water Dragon King's Left Arm Bone.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle--

Faced with the extreme cold, the so-called "Lian Hongchen" poison didn't even have a chance to resist. It was instantly frozen into dregs, then shattered by the Bloodline Power surging from Gu Yuejin's palm, dissipating into the air.

"This poison, the taste is average."

Gu Yuejin clapped his hands, a playful smirk on his lips. "Hall Master Jing, if this is all you've got, then you're quite disappointing."

"You..."

A storm raged in Jing Hongchen's heart.

Being able to catch poison with bare hands and neutralize it instantly meant the opponent's physique had reached a level of invulnerability to all poisons and elements!

"Good kid! It seems Old Man underestimated you!"

Jing Hongchen took a deep breath, his contempt completely vanishing from his eyes.

"Since that's the case, then take this move from this old man!"

Hummm--!

The sixth black soul ring on his body suddenly lit up.

"Sixth Soul Skill, Prodigal Son Returns!"

This time, it was no longer a probe.

The Toad Phantom suddenly opened its large mouth, and a visible Golden Soundwave Ripple, carrying extreme metallic vibration power, swept towards Gu Yuejin like a tsunami.

Wherever it passed, the Metal Floor on the ground shattered, and even the protective shield let out a mournful cry of being unable to bear the load.

"Now that's more like it."

Feeling the overwhelming pressure, the golden light in Gu Yuejin's eyes finally lit up.

"Body Martial Soul, activate!"

Boom--!!!

A terrifying Bloodline Power, as if from ancient times, erupted from Gu Yuejin as the center.

Without using any soul skills, it was merely the aura burst from the Martial Soul Avatar!

His skin instantly turned a brilliant Golden Color, and his entire being seemed to transform into an indestructible Golden God of War.

The terrifying Golden Soundwave struck him, like waves crashing against a reef, shattering instantly, not even lifting the corner of his clothes.

"Go... get back!"

Gu Yuejin took a step forward and threw out his right fist.

Dong--!

The air was instantly blasted apart.

An extremely domineering Invisible Fist Force actually pushed against the soundwave, surging upstream, and fiercely slammed into Jing Hongchen's Protective Soul Power.

Bang!

Jing Hongchen felt a dull thud in his chest, and his entire body was blasted away like a cannonball, retreating more than ten steps before barely stabilizing himself.

Silence.

The entire venue was dead silent.

Outside the arena, Xu Tianran stared intently at the golden figure in the center, which resembled a god or demon, his fingers tightly gripping the armrest of his wheelchair.

"That's... a Body Martial Soul?!"

"He actually repelled a Titled Douluo relying solely on Physical Strength?!"

Most of the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Masters relied on Soul Tools. They knew very little about Martial Souls that depended entirely on talent and physical bodies, like the Body Martial Soul. At this moment, they all looked as if they had seen a ghost.

In the center of the arena.

Jing Hongchen clutched his slightly stuffy chest, his gaze towards Gu Yuejin filled with shock, admiration, and... deep apprehension.

Although he hadn't used his Soul Tool, his strength was greatly diminished, but he still possessed the foundation of Level Ninety-three soul power.

Yet, even so, he had lost in a pure head-on collision!

"Is this the Anomaly among Traditional Soul Masters..."

Jing Hongchen felt bitter.

He also realized that the Sun Moon Empire's Titled Douluo, once stripped of their Soul Tool armament, indeed appeared somewhat fragile when facing such a top-tier Power Attack System battle Soul Master.

"Young friend Gu Yue, you have won."

Jing Hongchen sighed and was about to retract his Martial Soul.

"Don't rush, Hall Master Jing."

Gu Yuejin suddenly grinned. In that instant, the Aura emanating from him abruptly changed.

From the domineering and fierce Aura just now, it transformed into a suffocating and terrifying pressure.

"Since we've already started fighting, how can I not show everyone my sincerity?"

"Watch closely, this is my Trump Card!"

Hum--

Under everyone's gaze, the Soul Rings beneath Gu Yuejin's feet slowly rose.

First Soul Ring, yellow.

Second Soul Ring, purple.

Third Soul Ring, purple.

Seeing this, although the crowd was surprised by the unconventional configuration, they could still accept it.

Next.

Fourth Soul Ring, black!

Fifth Soul Ring, Black!

Sixth Soul Ring, Black!

The entire crowd gasped.

A ten-thousand-year fourth ring?! What kind of monstrous configuration is this?!

However, before they could recover from their shock, the seventh Soul Ring finally appeared slowly.

In that instant.

The light within the entire trial ground seemed to be swallowed.

A dense, unresolvable blood-red light, carrying endless slaughter and majesty, descended abruptly!

Red.

Blinding red.

That was the highest honor in the Soul Master World, representing absolute power and miracles--

A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!

Boom--!!!

With the appearance of this red Soul Ring, the atmosphere at the scene completely exploded.

"A... Hundred Thousand Year?!"

Lin Jiayi collapsed directly onto the ground. Xu Tianzhen covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with horror.

Jing Hongchen stiffened all over. Staring at the vibrant red Soul Ring, he felt his scalp tingle.

The Seventh Soul Ring was a Hundred Thousand Year one?!

What level of Fierce Beast did this guy hunt?!

"Hoo... hoo..."

At the side, Xu Tianran's breathing instantly became rapid.

He stared intently at Gu Yuejin, his originally sinister eyes now burning with raging flames.

It was greed, desire, an obsession that had to be obtained!

"A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring..."

"A Soul Sage under twenty years old, possessing a Hundred Thousand Year treasure, with combat power comparable to a Titled Douluo..."

Xu Tianran's fingers dug deeply into the armrest due to excessive force.

He had only one crazy thought in his heart!

"I must have him!"

"No matter the cost, I must make him mine!"

"If I can obtain his assistance, why worry about the world not being peaceful? Why worry about Shrek Academy not being destroyed?!"