A Monster Who Could Suppress an Era, a Familiar Pouch

After Ji Xuan stepped down from the arena, Ning Fengzhi slowly sat back on the sofa, the shock on his face replaced by worry.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was rich enough to rival a nation, with informants spread across the continent.

Although Spirit Hall itself was impossible to infiltrate, a place like Spirit Hall Academy naturally had his informants.

After news of Ji Xuan spread through the academy, the intelligence had reached Ning Fengzhi's hands immediately.

Over the years, he had been investigating in secret, trying to determine why Ji Xuan's Soul Rings could surpass their limits.

But Spirit Hall had sealed off the information so tightly that not a single detail had leaked.

Moreover, Ji Xuan had always been secretly protected, and Ning Fengzhi's people could not get close at all. Some had even been eliminated outright.

Even now, he had yet to find an answer.

"He is only ten years old, yet he has already reached Soul Elder. His Third Soul Ring has even reached the Ten-Thousand-Year level..."

Ning Fengzhi sighed, his voice heavy. "This generation of Spirit Hall has produced a monster capable of suppressing an entire era."

Ning Fengzhi rose to his feet. "Uncle Jian, come with me to the palace to see Your Majesty."

"Teacher Qin Ming, is this new round of training you mentioned Soul Fighting?"

Not long after Ning Fengzhi left, Qin Ming brought the Imperial Dou Team to the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.

Yu Feng looked at the magnificent structure before him and was the first to ask.

"That's right." Qin Ming nodded.

"True powerhouses are not raised in greenhouses. This is the best place to test your strength."

Clearly, Qin Ming had brought out Shrek Academy's methods.

Qin Ming swept his gaze across the group before continuing, "My requirement is that, aside from Ye Lingling, all of you must obtain Silver Douluo badges."

"After that, I'll take you to the Great Soul Arenas in the major cities to challenge their strongest teams."

Everyone nodded in understanding.

At that moment, Osler leaned over. "Hey, have you heard about that guy named Jian Xuan?"

Aside from Yu Tianheng, who had been confined for a month, the others all nodded slightly.

The name Jian Xuan had long spread throughout every street and alley of Heaven Dou City. Naturally, they had heard of him.

Yu Feng picked up the thread. "I heard Jian Xuan only participates in Death Matches. In just a few days, he has already risen to the rank of Silver Douluo."

"And... he's only a Level Thirty-Four Soul Elder, yet he dares to challenge Soul Ancestors above his level. He has never even used his martial soul."

At those words, Yu Tianheng's pupils suddenly contracted.

He had always been proud of his talent, but Jian Xuan's feats struck his heart like a bolt of lightning.

Just then, Qin Ming cut off their conversation. "Let's go. We'll register first."

No one said anything more as they followed Qin Ming into the Great Soul Arena.

After the seven registered their information, they signed up for a team match.

Since there were two matches ahead of them and they needed to wait, they headed for the spectator stands.

On the way, several people passed by, and a burst of discussion reached them.

"Did you see Jian Xuan's match today? He was too strong! Even a Soul King was no match for him!"

"Today was also the first time he used his martial soul!"

"His Soul Ring configuration is simply unbelievable!"

"I heard he has another match later. Hurry, let's go watch."

After those people walked away, Yu Tianheng looked at Qin Ming. "Teacher Qin Ming, since we still have to wait, how about we go observe Jian Xuan's match?"

After thinking for a moment, Qin Ming nodded in agreement. "Sure. Watching other powerhouses fight will help you as well."

By the time the Imperial Dou Team arrived and took their seats in the Death Zone stands, Ji Xuan's match had begun.

On the Soul Fighting Arena, Ji Xuan carried himself like an immortal. A Golden Long Sword condensed in his hand, while the Soul Ring configuration rising beneath his feet sent the entire venue into an uproar.

"I-I'm not seeing things, am I? His Soul Rings! Did you see them?!"

Yu Feng grabbed Osler's arm beside him and shook it frantically.

"I... I saw them!" Osler's mouth hung open, unable to close for a long while. He was equally stunned.

The usually composed brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo also had their pupils tremble. They exchanged a glance and saw the same terror in each other's eyes.

Even Ye Lingling, who had always been aloof and cold, showed ripples in her calm, undisturbed eyes for the first time.

Even their instructor, Qin Ming, became incomparably grave, his gaze fixed firmly on that Soul Ring configuration.

Yu Tianheng, who had only just been released from confinement and was cut off from news of the outside world, suffered the greatest shock.

As the heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he considered himself a genius.

But this earth-shattering sight left his mind completely blank. "Purple, purple, black... How... how is that possible?!"

His pride and understanding were both shaken to the brink of collapse.

While everyone was drawn to those astonishing Soul Rings, the battle on the Soul Fighting Arena had already erupted.

Ji Xuan's opponent was a Rock Turtle Soul King known for his defense, with Level Fifty-One Soul Power.

Facing that indestructible turtle-shell defense, Ji Xuan moved like the wind. Sword energy crisscrossed the arena, continuously leaving deep slashes across the Rock Turtle's shell.

Suddenly, the Soul King lunged forward. As Ji Xuan sidestepped to evade, the clothing around his waist lifted slightly.

A blue pouch flashed past at his waist.

In the spectator stands.

Dugu Yan, who had also been immersed in shock, happened to glance at that pouch. It was as though she had been struck by lightning, and she shot to her feet.

That pouch... she knew it better than anyone!

It was the Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch that her grandfather, Dugu Bo, never let out of his sight!

"No... impossible...!!"

Dugu Yan muttered to herself. Her face instantly turned as pale as paper, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Her emerald eyes were locked onto Ji Xuan's waist, filled with disbelief, panic, and fury.

How could her grandfather's Soul Tool be on him?!

Her grandfather had been missing for so long, neither seen alive nor found dead...

According to the information gathered by the royal family, she only knew that her grandfather had likely been harmed by Spirit Hall, but there was still no conclusive evidence.

"Yanzi? What's wrong?"

Yu Tianheng noticed something was wrong and stood up to support her swaying body.

"I saw Grandfather's Soul Tool. It's on Jian Xuan!"

Her voice was not loud, yet the words exploded beside the Imperial Dou Team like a thunderclap.

Everyone froze, instantly understanding why Dugu Yan had lost control so badly.

They were all nobles with well-connected sources of information, so they naturally knew about Dugu Bo.

And Dugu Bo's belongings had appeared on a mysterious person...

What that implied went without saying.

"Yanzi, calm down!"

Yu Tianheng placed one hand on her shoulder. "Now is not the time to act impulsively!"

"With your grandfather's strength as a Title Douluo, how could a mere Soul Elder possibly have succeeded against him?"

He lowered his voice, his tone stern. "There is very likely a Title Douluo protecting him."

Seeing that Dugu Yan was still staring fixedly at the arena below, Yu Tianheng said in a deep voice, "Now that we have a clue, you need to keep your composure even more."

"The most urgent thing is to grow stronger, not rashly throw your life away!"

Dugu Yan suppressed the anger in her heart at his words.

Tianheng was right... She could not act rashly. Otherwise, who would avenge Grandfather?

"I understand."

Dugu Yan slowly sat down, but her icy gaze remained fixed on Ji Xuan.

Beside her, Ye Lingling gently took Dugu Yan's hand. "Yanyan..."

At that moment, the match on the Soul Fighting Arena was decided.

Faced with the Rock Turtle Soul King's indestructible defense, lightning surged wildly around the Sword of Order in Ji Xuan's hand.

With one slash, the thick turtle shell shattered in response!

Then, another sword strike ended his life.

Ji Xuan stood with his sword sheathed as the Sword of Order dissolved into specks of Golden light.

As he turned and walked down from the arena, he seemed to sense something and glanced toward the stands where the Imperial Dou Team sat.

When his gaze met Dugu Yan's hate-filled eyes, he paused very slightly.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he withdrew his gaze and disappeared into the end of the passageway.

"Let's go. We should prepare for the team battle."

At that moment, Qin Ming spoke at the right time, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

Dugu Yan gave one final look toward the direction where Ji Xuan had disappeared, engraving his retreating figure deeply into her heart.

Sooner or later, she would collect this debt.