Soul Power Pressure, Huo Wu Eliminated

"Alright, alright, everyone, quiet down. The lava arena still needs an hour before it fully solidifies. Now, it's time to register. Soul Masters, Soul Grandmasters—regardless of your Soul Power level or your age."

"As long as you meet the standards for a Soul Master or Soul Grandmaster, you may register here."

Lin Yan clapped his hands at the crowd. At the same time, two scantily clad beauties emerged from the tent carrying wooden boxes and set up small booths in front of the arena.

Two wooden signs stood before the arena, reading respectively:

[Soul Master Registration Fee: 10 Gold Soul Coins]

[Soul Grandmaster Registration Fee: 100 Gold Soul Coins]

Before the crowd could react, Lin Yan took out a large board from his Soul Tool and set it up in front of himself. It was divided into two sections, each with sixteen blank spaces, presumably for recording the Soul Masters' names.

Looking at the large board and the registration fees, Wang Qi vaguely guessed Lin Yan's identity.

The Great Soul Arena—a force dedicated to providing Soul Masters with combat and soul battles.

After glancing at Lin Yan, Wang Qi looked at the onlooking crowd, put his food back into his Soul Tool, then took out ten Gold Soul Coins and tossed them into the wooden box.

"For ten Gold Soul Coins, you get a chance to obtain a Golden Flame Fruit. It's worth the gamble."

Wang Qi's words were like a boulder thrown into a tranquil lake, instantly stirring up discussion among the crowd.

That was right. Ten Gold Soul Coins—or a hundred Gold Soul Coins—for a chance to obtain a Golden Flame Fruit. How could such a deal not be worth it?

As for Lin Yan going back on his word and refusing to hand over the Golden Flame Fruit after someone won? Did they not know where this was? This was Blazing Fire City.

"Hello, sir. May I ask for your codename?"

"Third Generation Vermilion Bird."

Wang Qi's codename made Lin Yan pause. His peripheral vision swept Wang Qi up and down, as if trying to spot something suspicious about him.

Vermilion Bird might occasionally be used as a codename, but adding a generation before Vermilion Bird gave it an entirely different meaning.

The Great Soul Arena had been founded upon the five great Titled Douluo families. Each Titled Douluo family possessed a codename: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, and Qilin.

These generational designations carried extraordinary significance as well.

The first generation could only be inherited by the most talented member of a family. Such a person was practically guaranteed to become the future family head or an elder.

The second generation referred to descendants of ordinary talent who were willing to contribute to the family.

As for the third generation? The third generation referred to those who had severed ties with their family, those whose blood inheritance had henceforth become detached from the family.

Wang Qi's reason for revealing his identity was simple. He needed a stepping stone, one that would certainly draw Lin Yan's attention.

As time passed, registration before the arena gradually became increasingly lively. Not only did civilian Soul Masters sign up, but even soldiers of Blazing Fire City's guard force and students from Blazing Fire Academy joined the registration.

In just one hour, nearly seventy people had registered for the Soul Master group. There were slightly fewer in the Soul Grandmaster group, but still nearly forty, including Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu.

"There are more people than I expected. Then, to make the upcoming ranking matches more convenient, I'll ask one last time: if anyone is willing to withdraw, I can refund the registration fee."

"Good. As expected of Blazing Fire City, a city with a thousand years of history and heritage. Since no one has chosen to withdraw, the first round of selection will begin."

"Soul Power pressure. Next, I will release Soul Power pressure upon the Soul Master group and the Soul Grandmaster group separately. Anyone affected by the Soul Power pressure will immediately lose their qualification to compete."

"This will continue until only sixteen people remain, who will advance to the second-round ranking matches. After entering the second-round ranking matches, Soul Masters will fight in pairs. The final victor will advance to the third round, where they will engage in a soul battle with my son."

"As long as you win, the Golden Flame Fruit will be yours."

With that, Lin Yan pointed his Large Hand toward the Soul Master group. Soul Power pressure instantly erupted without any warning, appearing almost in the blink of an eye.

Some Soul Masters who had not yet prepared themselves were immediately pressed to the ground in utter humiliation. The staff beside them stepped onto the stage and dragged away those eliminated Soul Masters, who cursed and complained about unfairness.

Soul Power pressure was an extremely direct and comprehensive method of testing a Soul Master's strength.

Controlling Soul Power pressure was extremely difficult. One generally had to be at least two, or even three, major ranks higher to release it steadily.

Soul Power pressure comprehensively suppressed one's body, physical strength, Soul Power, will, and a whole range of other attributes. The greater one's aptitude, combat strength, and force of will, the more Soul Power pressure one could withstand.

There was almost no room for tricks, making it relatively fair.

The Soul Power pressure reached level twelve, then thirteen, then fourteen.

At that moment, Wang Qi felt the pressure. It was as though the blood in his chest had been stopped from flowing, and breathing began to grow difficult.

"This Soul Power pressure is really useful for dealing with weak little trash. With my physical condition and strength, I'm actually finding it difficult even without releasing my Martial Soul or using Martial Soul Possession."

As Wang Qi sighed inwardly, the Soul Power pressure intensified again. Beads of sweat began appearing on his forehead. He swept his gaze over the surrounding crowd. Thirty-one people remained.

Fifteen of them had yet to release their Martial Souls, their expressions remarkably calm. Those fifteen were at least level seventeen or eighteen, perhaps even level nineteen Soul Masters.

"As expected of a Golden Flame Fruit. It actually drew out so many high-level Soul Masters at once. Impressive, truly impressive."

The Soul Power pressure intensified again, reaching level sixteen—two levels above Wang Qi's limit of level fourteen Soul Power. At that point, Wang Qi had no choice but to release his Martial Soul to withstand the pressure.

His Blazing Humanoid Martial Soul emerged, and Wang Qi immediately felt the pressure drop sharply, as if his previous exhaustion had never existed.

At that moment, nineteen Soul Masters remained on the field. Aside from Wang Qi, who was not from Blazing Fire City, there were ten guard force soldiers, three Blazing Fire Academy students, and five local civilian Soul Masters from Blazing Fire City.

"Level sixteen now. Those five civilian Soul Masters from Blazing Fire City and the three academy Soul Masters are having trouble holding on."

"The Soul Power pressure probably won't suddenly rise in steep steps from here. It should increase gradually instead."

Just as Wang Qi had guessed, the Soul Power pressure increased bit by bit, and Soul Masters gradually began to collapse.

The number slowly dwindled as well. Eighteen, seventeen, sixteen!

The first round of screening for the Soul Master group concluded perfectly.

Ten guard soldiers, two Blazing Fire Academy students, three civilian Soul Masters, and Wang Qi.

Those who had passed the first round in the Soul Master group were given some time to recover. Meanwhile, the same Soul Power pressure descended upon the Soul Grandmaster group.

What Wang Qi had not expected was that Huo Wu, who would become Blazing Fire Academy's vice-captain in the future, had failed the Soul Power pressure test.

Watching Huo Wu's eyes redden after being eliminated as she forced herself not to cry, Wang Qi felt a little curious. If he punched her right now, would the girl start crying?

After all, people with such stubbornly competitive personalities were the best at making things difficult for themselves.