The Golden Light Screen at the Otherworld Auction House tore open a new image in the morning light. The screen, which had previously only projected rankings, suddenly split off a Virtual Light Screen a full yard tall. The four huge, gilded characters "Simulation Arena" hung in its center, their cold metallic sheen almost blinding. As the rules began scrolling beneath them, the Soul Masters gathered in the square froze in place.
"Simulation Arena? What's this new thing?" A Level 32 Assault System Soul Master in a coarse cloth tunic stood on tiptoe, poking the screen as curiosity filled his voice. A literate Soul Master beside him immediately leaned over and read aloud, spittle flying: "Soul Masters register with Point Vouchers, and the system matches them with Virtual Monsters of comparable strength! Win and earn Points. Low Grade Soul Masters between Level 30 and 60 can earn up to 50,000 a week! Challenge someone above your level and your Points are doubled. Lose, and there's no penalty!"
The announcement crashed into the crowd like a thunderclap, and the Low Grade Soul Masters erupted. Most Soul Masters in their thirties came from poor families. They had to save up resources for ages just to buy a bottle of Second-grade Soul Power Pill. Now they could earn Points by fighting Virtual Monsters, with double rewards for challenging someone above their level—and even losing wouldn't cost them anything. This wasn't an arena; it was a "treasure trove" handing out Points!
The white-clad group from Spirit Hall was the first to move from the west side of the square. Their leader, the Level 50 Soul King Bai Feng, stared at the screen as though it were prey. "Those Level 30-something youngsters are short on Points to exchange for pills. This arena's perfect for them! Send someone in first to test the waters and see how strong these Virtual Monsters are."
As soon as he finished speaking, a tall, thin young man stepped forward. His name was Lin Ye, a Level 38 Assault System Soul Elder with the Martial Soul "Azure Flame Sword," one of the best among Spirit Hall's younger generation. "Hall Master Bai, I'll go!" Lin Ye clenched his fist and glanced at the words "Challenge Above Your Level." "I want to try fighting a Level 45 Virtual Soul Ancestor. If I win, I'll have enough Points for a bottle of Second-grade Body Tempering Pill!"
Bai Feng paused, then nodded. "Don't push yourself. If you can't win, withdraw. Figuring out its tactics is more important than anything else." He wanted his disciple to earn more Points, but he was also worried the Virtual Monster might be too powerful. An injury wouldn't be worth it.
Lin Ye acknowledged him and hurried to the registration desk with his Point Voucher. After checking the information, the Silver Armored Guard handed him a black token. "Crush it to enter the arena. To leave, just think about withdrawing."
Lin Ye took a deep breath and squeezed. The token cracked apart with a snap. A pale blue pillar of light lifted him into the air. When he opened his eyes again, he was standing on a black stone arena. Darkness stretched all around him, with only a solitary lamp glowing overhead. Across from him, a Virtual Soul Ancestor slowly took shape. It wore black armor and held a giant axe, with four Soul Rings circling beneath its feet: two yellow and two purple, the standard Soul Ancestor configuration.
"Level 45 Virtual Soul Ancestor. Martial Soul: 'Black Iron Axe.' Specializes in strength-based attacks. Total Soul Power is 1.5 times yours." The system's emotionless voice rang beside him. "Confirm challenge?"
"Confirm!" Lin Ye replied without hesitation. His Azure Flame Sword flashed from its sheath, and three Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet—two yellow and one purple. His hand tightened around the hilt, veins standing out, as he fixed his gaze on the Virtual Soul Ancestor. "Defend first, then attack. I'll wait until it's used up most of its Soul Power before counterattacking."
"Challenge begins!"
At the system's words, the Virtual Soul Ancestor charged like a small mountain, its giant axe whistling toward Lin Ye. Lin Ye's pupils contracted. He immediately released his first Soul Skill, "Azure Flame Body Protection." A layer of pale blue flame enveloped his sword as he held it crosswise in front of himself.
"Clang!"
The crash of metal against metal hurt his ears. A tremendous force surged through the sword, numbing Lin Ye's arm until he could barely feel it. He stumbled back five steps before regaining his balance. Looking down, he saw a small chip in the blade of his Azure Flame Sword. His heart lurched. This Virtual Soul Ancestor was stronger than any real Level 45 Soul Ancestor he had ever faced!
Before he could recover, the Virtual Soul Ancestor charged again, sending out a black wave of energy with its second Soul Skill, "Axe Qi Slash." Lin Ye hurriedly dodged to the side. The wave grazed his clothes and carved a half-foot-deep trench in the ground. He didn't dare let up, and immediately released his second Soul Skill, "Azure Flame Stab." The flames on his sword condensed into a spike, which he drove toward the Virtual Soul Ancestor's chest.
But the Virtual Soul Ancestor seemed to have anticipated the attack. It raised its giant axe and blocked him. With a clang, the Azure Flame Stab struck the axe, and the flames were instantly scattered. Lin Ye's heart sank. Just as he was about to retreat, the Virtual Soul Ancestor suddenly turned and swept its axe at him with its third Soul Skill, "Whirlwind Slash." Black winds wrapped around flying rubble, forcing him back again and again.
"I'm losing Soul Power too fast!" Lin Ye gritted his teeth as cold sweat ran down his face. He had less Soul Power than the Virtual Soul Ancestor to begin with, and after releasing Soul Skills one after another, he had already used up nearly a third of it. The Virtual Soul Ancestor, meanwhile, looked completely unaffected. Its attacks grew fiercer, and the axe winds nearly sealed off every avenue of retreat.
Just then, the Virtual Soul Ancestor suddenly leapt into the air and brought its fourth Soul Skill, "Giant Axe Smash," down toward Lin Ye's head. Lin Ye's pupils contracted. Knowing he couldn't dodge, he could only summon every ounce of strength he had to release his third Soul Skill, "Azure Flame Spreads." The flames on his sword surged, forming a wall of fire in front of him.
"Bang!"
The giant axe slammed into the wall of fire, scattering the flames instantly. Lin Ye flew backward like a kite with its string cut and crashed hard onto the arena. His Azure Flame Sword fell from his hand and landed nearby. He struggled to get up, only to find his bones felt as if they had come apart. He couldn't summon even a shred of strength.
"Challenge failed." The system's prompt rang out. The Virtual Soul Ancestor and arena vanished at once, and a pale blue pillar of light sent Lin Ye back to the square. The moment he landed, Bai Feng hurried over and handed him a bottle of Soul Power Recovery Potion. "How was it? Are you hurt? Just how strong was the Virtual Soul Ancestor?"
Lin Ye took the potion and drank it. Feeling his Soul Power slowly recover, he shook his head with a bitter smile. "It was too strong... harder to fight than a real Level 45 Soul Ancestor. I lost in fewer than twenty moves. The system said I fought valiantly despite losing and gave me 3,000 Points."
"3,000 Points?" The Soul Masters around them were stunned. They could earn Points even if they lost a challenge above their level? But then they remembered Lin Ye's battered state, and their excitement faded. If even one of Spirit Hall's best Soul Elders couldn't beat a Level 45 Virtual Soul Ancestor, could ordinary Soul Masters in their thirties beat opponents at their own level?
In the end, curiosity overcame their apprehension. From the east side of the square, a Level 35 Soul Elder from Heaven Dou Royal Academy stepped forward. His name was Zhao Lei, his Martial Soul was "Thunder Leopard," and he specialized in speed attacks. "I'll try fighting one at my own level!" Zhao Lei gripped his token, uncertain, but the thought of the 50,000-Point limit made him grit his teeth and enter the arena.
His result was even worse than Lin Ye's. The Level 35 Virtual Soul Elder had the Martial Soul "Rock Bear" and incredible defense. Zhao Lei's Thunder Leopard Soul Skills left only a few white marks on it. The Virtual Rock Bear struck back with one paw, sending Zhao Lei flying before he even had the chance to use his third Soul Skill. He barely earned 1,000 Points before retreating in disgrace.
"These Virtual Monsters are ridiculous! They're this hard to beat even at the same level?" Zhao Lei clutched his chest, his face pale. "Its defense was three times stronger than a real Rock Bear Soul Elder, and it wasn't even slow. I couldn't hurt it at all!"
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