The Tournament Collision with the All-Powerful Substitute, First Meeting with Tang Wulin and Gu Yue

Chapter 15: Qualifiers Encounter an All-Powerful Substitute, First Meeting Tang Wulin and Gu Yue (4K)

The vast, boundless primitive forest was filled with fresh, pleasant air, ancient trees with twisted roots and gnarled branches. The Spirit Ascension Platform of Eastsea City was no different from the headquarters' environment, both imitating the outer area of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Ink Black and Silver-White pupils suddenly snapped open. The other person was right beside them. The Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform allowed soul master teams to enter, and they would be teleported together, saving the trouble of finding each other.

"Na'er, how many more years can your two soul rings increase in total?" Zhao Xuanzhen asked.

"About two hundred years."

The two had lived together day and night for four years, long since becoming the most tacit partners. The moment Zhao Xuanzhen spoke, Na'er instantly understood what he meant.

Backed by the Spirit Pagoda Deputy Tower Master, the quota for the Spirit Ascension Platform that outside soul masters fought tooth and nail for was easily within reach. As long as their bodies and minds could withstand it, Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er could enter the Spirit Ascension Platform anytime to advance their soul rings.

This meant that both of their soul rings were nearly at their limit. Today, they would need to restrain themselves slightly when killing soul beasts in the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Zhao Xuanzhen possessed the Original Martial Soul True Self, his physical fitness far surpassing Na'er's, but the burden of two Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings was immense. He could absorb at most three hundred more years of spiritual power feedback, and he also had to reserve some blank space to kill the guardian.

A small problem. The primary Spirit Ascension Platform mostly had Hundred-Year and Ten-Year soul beasts. Calculated at a ten percent conversion rate, the two of them together had a full five thousand years of quota. Moreover, advancing the soul rings themselves was not the ultimate goal of this trip.

The two walked side by side, heading deeper into the Spirit Ascension Platform.

"Zhao Xuanzhen."

"Hm?"

"Why did Aunt Leng suddenly want us to test that Gu Yue?" Na'er's eyes revealed a hint of confusion.

"Gu Yue is a genius soul master recommended by the East Sea Tower Master, and she's willing to join the Spirit Pagoda. Teacher plans to take her directly into the Phoenix Family faction.

Me, you, Gu Yue—the three of us are the Trident in Teacher's mind.

The so-called test is just a formality. First, it's convenient for Teacher to personally observe whether Gu Yue's abilities are genuine. Second, the three blades of our Trident get to know each other. As the old saying goes, 'No fight, no acquaintance.'"

Zhao Xuanzhen explained patiently. Na'er was undoubtedly exceptionally talented, but Leng Yaozhu wouldn't reveal all her thoughts to her without reservation.

In Leng Yaozhu's heart, the most important position was always held by her personally raised Direct Disciple, Zhao Xuanzhen. Na'er was a solid and powerful left arm, while Gu Yue would be the future right arm.

"Is there a possibility that we give Gu Yue a good beating, and then Aunt Leng abandons her?" Na'er said, itching for action.

"Gu Yue joining the Spirit Pagoda is a done deal. Behind her stands a powerful Hidden Family. Teacher plans to meet with Gu Yue's mother, Purple Dragon Douluo.

Talent, strength, background—she has all three. With a genius soul master young master willing to join, the Spirit Pagoda absolutely won't let the opportunity slip. Even if Teacher disagrees, the Four Great Spirit Messengers, Deputy Tower Master Zhang Geyang, and even the Tower Master's Qiangu Lineage will do everything to win Gu Yue over.

Na'er, the Spirit Pagoda isn't of one mind. There are numerous factions within. Rather than letting Gu Yue stand with another team, it's better to absorb her for our own use. Whatever she does, we'll know clearly."

"Alright."

Hearing this, Na'er let out a long sigh, a sigh filled with distress. Then she circled around to stand in front of Zhao Xuanzhen, raised her head to meet those pitch-black eyes, and emphasized seriously:

"We've lived together for four years, through wind and rain every day. When that Gu Yue comes, you absolutely cannot help her bully me. It's best... best if you don't get too close to her!"

"Got it. You want me to pretend to be friends with her?"

"Hit the nail on the head!"

Na'er was ecstatic. For the first time, she felt like Zhao Xuanzhen had actually spoken human words!

"Alright, three Hundred-Year soul beasts are approaching. Get ready to fight." Zhao Xuanzhen said helplessly.

"Just mere Hundred-Year soul beasts? You handle them!"

Na'er applied for a break. They were contestants who roamed the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform. Coming to the primary one was purely like creating a low-level alt to crush noobs. She decided to be a carried dog for once.

From several hundred meters away, the three Hundred-Year soul beasts arrived in an instant. They grabbed ancient tree branches with their hands and charged forward like swinging on a swing.

Ape-type soul beasts. Hundred-Year Iron Arm Apes.

"Strange. Why do I keep dealing with gorillas, baboons, and monkeys every day..."

Zhao Xuanzhen fell into deep thought. At the headquarters' Spirit Ascension Platform, he beat Wind Baboons. In the Real Illusion, he pummeled Great Strength Gorillas. And in Eastsea City, he fought Iron Arm Apes!

During the Riot Period, soul beasts were more frenzied than usual. The three Iron Arm Apes quickly closed in on Zhao Xuanzhen. A fierce glint flashed in their beastly pupils as they pounced from three directions.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The Iron Arm Ape squad hit nothing but air, kicking up a cloud of dust. From their perspective, their prey had vanished at almost Instant Transmission speed. Then, one Iron Arm Ape's arm was seized by a pale white hand. An unbelievable force pulled and twisted, lifting its entire Beast Body and spinning it through the air!

"Rip—"

The Iron Arm Ape was renowned for its Copper Skin Iron Bone, but under Zhao Xuanzhen's Hidden Strength, its steel-like body was twisted into a pretzel. Its mouth didn't even have time to scream before it died on the spot.

The fate of the remaining two Iron Arm Apes was the same. Their throats and backs were struck critically. Necks snapped, hearts ruptured. They followed their companion into death. The entire kill took less than ten seconds. Zhao Xuanzhen hadn't even used his martial soul, relying purely on his fierce Physical Fitness and Taijiquan.

With the three Hundred-Year soul beasts dead, thick yellow spiritual power dispersed. During the Riot Period, the fusion time was a hundred times longer than usual. Zhao Xuanzhen absorbed it slowly, a negligible increase to his soul ring's age.

"Boom—"

In the distance, a beam of blazing red light tore across the sky. Its scorching high temperature distorted the surrounding air as it shot straight toward Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er.

The two didn't even dodge, because that attack was merely a show of force, a flex. The light crashed heavily into the ground, igniting a large patch of flames.

From within the fire stepped two males and one female, around fifteen or sixteen years old. The two boys were ordinary and unremarkable, but the girl was extremely beautiful. Her golden hair was tied into a ponytail, and her Tight-fitting clothes made her look Heroic and spirited.

The one who had just warned them was the Golden-Haired Girl. Above her head floated a scorching fireball like a sun. Two yellow and one purple, three great soul rings shone brilliantly. She said coldly:

"Leave the spiritual power behind and exit the Spirit Ascension Platform. Otherwise, the blazing sun will land on you next."

With the tacit understanding formed over a long time, Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er moved in sync. They turned their heads to exchange a glance, seeing in each other's eyes an appreciation for the girl's commendable courage. Eastsea City truly produced outstanding talents!

"I'll be back shortly."

Zhao Xuanzhen made no effort to lower his voice. The words rang clearly in the young girl's ears, and her willow eyebrows immediately shot up in anger.

The Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform was essentially a battlefield of slaughter and tempering. Those who entered faced both soul beasts and soul masters. Seeing that Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er were young, she had already held back. Yet the other party seemed to dismiss her entirely!

"Sister Mu Xi?" the two boys tested.

"Eliminate them!"

Mu Xi snorted coldly. The first soul ring of her Blazing Sun Martial Soul blazed with light, condensing clusters of high-heat fireballs, fueled by the fury of a young girl being ignored!

The next second, a scene that shattered Mu Xi's worldview unfolded. Zhao Xuanzhen's toes touched the ground, his body drifting like willow catkins. His footwork shifted with ethereal grace, nearly brushing past the Blazing Sun fireballs without taking a single scratch!

"Sister Mu Xi, I'll help you!"

One of the boys roared. Three yellow soul rings rose around him, and purplish-black dragon scales crept up the sides of his face. A stifling mental fluctuation spread outward—Fearful Demon Dragon!

Among the Dragon Clan, where strength reigned supreme, the Fearful Demon Dragon was never conspicuous—mediocre bloodline, frail physical constitution. But as a rare Mental Attribute Soul Beast, its mental attacks were hard to guard against, making it a true weapon for underhanded strikes!

"Third Soul Skill, Spiritual Fear!"

The Fearful Demon Dragon Soul Elder went straight for his trump card, the third soul skill. A grotesque wave of spiritual fear pressed down on Zhao Xuanzhen. He was confident that if Spiritual Fear took effect for even a second, Zhao Xuanzhen would be devoured by the Blazing Sun's flames!

"Pfft—"

A mouthful of blood suddenly sprayed out. The Fearful Demon Dragon Soul Elder's Sea of Consciousness trembled uncontrollably, blood gushing from his seven orifices. The gap in mental strength between them was too vast—mental backlash!

"Spirit... Spirit Sea Realm!"

Years of bitter cultivation and martial soul talent had granted him Spirit Connection Realm mental strength thanks to the Fearful Demon Dragon. To ignore Spiritual Fear and suffer backlash meant the enemy was at least at the Spirit Sea Realm!

The next moment, Zhao Xuanzhen's True Self Martial Soul possessed his body. A strand of black hair at his forehead turned pale, and his entire aura skyrocketed wildly!

Black, black!

Two pitch-black, sun-like Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings erupted into existence, as if devouring all light. Mu Xi and the other two stood frozen—Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings!

"Run!"

All of Mu Xi's thoughts scattered in an instant. Her Blazing Sun flung out a wall of fire.

The last boy received the signal and hastily released his martial soul. A pair of massive wings sprouted from his back, countless iron-black feathers folding together as he lifted his two companions into the air!

Martial Soul: Giant Winged Griffin. First Soul Skill: Charge. Second Soul Skill: Wind Protection!

The moment Zhao Xuanzhen's martial soul possessed him, the three realized they had hit an iron wall today. Two Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings plus Spirit Sea Realm mental strength—a monster they had never heard of!

"Good thing we can fly..." the Fearful Demon Dragon Soul Elder said, still shaken. "Sister Mu Xi, let's just hunt soul beasts quietly. Who knows if we'll run into another freak..."

"You're right, but..." Mu Xi's face turned grim. "That freak down there doesn't seem to want to let us go!"

The Fearful Demon Dragon Soul Elder looked down and saw two figures racing through the forest at high speed, barely slower than the Giant Winged Griffin's flight. A black-and-white Taiji Diagram had somehow already pierced through the dense treetops, hurtling toward the Giant Winged Griffin!

Qi Dong Shan He!

"Ahhh—"

The Giant Winged Griffin Soul Elder screamed. His wings were ravaged by Yin and Yang Dual Qi, losing their ability to fly as he plummeted!

Dizziness flooded their minds. Mu Xi and the other two shook their heads, pain wracking every inch of their bodies. Fortunately, the trees cushioned their fall, keeping them from being ejected from the Spirit Ascension Platform.

"Mu Xi?"

Mu Xi took two and a half seconds to recover, turning her head toward the voice. A crowd had gathered around her—all students from various grades of Eastsea Academy.

Eastsea Academy was the premier Soul Master Academy in Eastsea City, where many offspring of the city's high-level officials studied and trained. The Riot Period Spirit Ascension Platform occurred twice a year. The forces behind those students had all pulled strings to secure ascension slots. They had happened to converge here, and since classmates shared a baseline of trust, they decided to form a team to boost their hunting success rate.

At the head was a youth of seventeen or eighteen, with a soul power cultivation of thirty-fifth rank and soul rings of two yellow and one purple. He gripped a long, snow-white staff topped with a blue crystal.

Behind the youth stood a little girl holding an identical ice staff, a single yellow soul ring floating around her. Her light blue hair was tied into cute ponytails, and her delicate, lively little face curiously studied the three who had fallen from the sky.

"Senior Xu Xiaoyu!"

Mu Xi recognized the youth and couldn't help feeling a surge of surprise.

"What's going on?" Xu Xiaoyu frowned.

Mu Xi smiled bitterly. "You could say we asked for trouble. We spotted two young soul masters who had killed three hundred-year Iron Arm Apes and thought we'd snatch an easy gain.

Turns out one of them has two Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings and Spirit Sea Realm mental strength. We turned tail and ran, but then his soul skill knocked us down. They should be catching up soon."

Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings! Spirit Sea Realm mental strength!

Like twin thunderbolts striking the Eastsea students' skulls, Xu Xiaoyu and the ponytailed little girl were equally horrified. Mu Xi hadn't picked a soft target—she had picked a Ninth Rank Fixed Soul Tool Cannonball!

"Sister Mu Xi, setting aside the facts, aren't they in the wrong too?" someone shouted.

"Right, even taking a step back, everyone has their faults. Why be so relentless!"

"Brothers, we'll fight back for you!"

The crowd was fired up, but beneath it all lay nothing but worldly savvy. Mu Xi was a genius blacksmith, and her father was the Rank 8 Saint Craftsman Mu Chen. Buttering her up now was like delivering charcoal in a snowstorm—both she and their families would reap future benefits!

"So what if he has two Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings? His soul power's at most twenty-ninth rank. I don't believe he can beat all of us!"

A burly man pounded his chest. "Brother Xiaoyu, I'm a Defense Type soul master. I'll go first!"

Xu Xiaoyu nodded silently. The Xu Family was one of Eastsea City's premier great clans. His father was the Chief Financial Officer, and he had long been told to maintain good relations with Mu Xi. He was about to graduate, and hitching himself to Saint Craftsman Mu Chen brought nothing but advantages.

The Eastsea Academy members quickly formed ranks, bracing themselves for the BOSS's arrival.

Moments later, Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er emerged through the trees. The moment the crowd caught sight of their faces, their eyelids twitched involuntarily—their first impression was of two people so clean they resembled early morning sunlight, nothing like the monsters Mu Xi had described.

"Teamed up, have you?" Zhao Xuanzhen said flatly.

"In that case, let's clear the field."

"Jie Jie Jie, just what I wanted!"

Na'er fully displayed her villainous big-boss aura.

"Revenge for Sister Mu Xi!"

The burly man charged out at the front of the team, raising a massive earthen-yellow shield in each hand. Two yellow and one purple soul rings lit up in succession!

Advanced Defense Type martial soul, Rock Giant Shield!

First Soul Skill Hardening, Second Soul Skill Expansion, Third Soul Skill Immovable Rock Power!

Impregnable as metal walls, indestructible as iron bastions!

"Brothers, charge! I'll hold them off!"

"Wulin, there are a lot of soul masters fighting up ahead."

The five-man team advanced cautiously. A black hawk circled overhead as one person suddenly spoke.

"Go take a look. Stay alert."

Captain Tang Wulin made the decision, and the five headed toward the source of the battle. One thing was strange: the rear and middle of the formation kept an unusually long distance, and the black-haired girl bringing up the rear wore a cold expression.

They crept carefully toward the battlefield and witnessed the entire fight.

A group was ganging up on two people. The burly man with the two giant shields charged at the youth with black-and-white mixed hair. The latter's response was simple and direct—black and white qi flow coated his elbow as he spun and struck hard!

"Brothers, run! I got sent flying by one elbow!"

The Rock Giant Shield shattered, the burly man flew backward, shouting retreat as he went. A massive deep pit caved into his chest, and he was immediately ejected from the Spirit Ascension Platform!

The youth withdrew his elbow. Two other Strong Attack Type soul masters rushed him from left and right. He didn't even light up that terrifying Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring as he met them head-on.

Fist, palm, elbow, shoulder—every strike produced a shock blast that cracked the air, each blow aimed at vital points. Anyone hit was thrown back as if struck by a truck, pinned to the ground and unable to move.

Tang Wulin watched the scene below shift from a group siege to a rout in all directions. Then he spotted his familiar senior sister Mu Xi. She and the Ice Staff Man were combining fireballs and frost to try and block the youth's advance, but before they could even reach him, a Black and White Vortex swept them in, and the doubled force sent them fleeing in panic.

Zhao Xuanzhen unleashed Yin Yang Reversal to bounce back Blazing Sun Fire and Ice Staff Ring. The human wave tactic was nothing but a clumsy circus act to him—every time he struck, someone fell, the sound of bodies hitting the ground as dull as a heavy hammer.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, he looked in a certain direction. What he saw were faces frozen in shock.

"He found us."

The black-haired girl lingering apart from the team said softly.

The remaining four exchanged glances. The handsome youth gripping a golden dagger spoke bitterly:

"Wulin, I'm afraid our final exam is in trouble..."

Tang Wulin nodded in deep agreement. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi covered their faces in pain.

Running into an All-Powerful Substitute in the promotion match—we're screwed!