Roadblock

"Good, that's a great idea!"

Dugu Yan, ever eager for a fight, immediately agreed. Ye Lingling merely shook his head and voiced no objection.

After all, although he was a Nine Heart Begonia Soul Master, he was still a Support-Type Soul Master. When it came to combat, he had to follow the lead of combat-oriented Soul Masters.

What was more, Dugu Yang's strength had thoroughly won him over.

After settling on their plan, the three of them headed toward the finish line.

Soul Masters' bodies differed from ordinary people's. Even though those participating in the New Student Trial were only eleven- or twelve-year-old children, their physical fitness matched that of ordinary adult men. With their Martial Souls enhancing them, their physical abilities would improve even further.

Before long, quite a few teams had successively run out of the ten-kilometer safe zone.

After that, the various teams began carrying out different plans. Some lay in ambush where they were, some took the initiative to attack, and others, like Dugu Yang's group, continued toward the finish line.

The three of them were neither fast nor slow, since Ye Lingling, a Support-Type Soul Master, was part of their team.

Although Ye Lingling's Soul Power Level was not low, having reached Level 25, his speed still could not compare to Dugu Yang's or Dugu Yan's.

Of course, compared to everyone else, Ye Lingling was definitely not slow.

Furthermore, because of the temporary rule Zhi Lin had added, many teams had come to a complete stop.

At this pace, Dugu Yang's group could still reach the finish line before everyone else.

Roar!

A tiger's roar echoed through the forest.

A tiger-type soul beast over five meters long, its entire body covered in crimson markings, blocked the path of Dugu Yang's group.

The New Student Trial was being held in the Heaven Dou Royal Forest. Even with the added rule of stealing Crystal Cards, the greatest obstacles for the new students still came from soul beasts.

"A five-hundred-year Crimson Demon Tiger. Ayang, leave it to me!"

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up as she volunteered for the fight.

"Alright. Be careful."

Dugu Yang nodded slightly. A five-hundred-year Crimson Demon Tiger was something Dugu Yan could definitely handle alone now.

"Don't worry. It can't hurt me."

Dugu Yan spoke with complete confidence. Then her figure blurred, and her long, straight legs vanished, replaced by a thick, powerful green Snake Tail.

A diamond-shaped scale also appeared between her brows.

Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul, possession!

Roar!

As though it sensed the danger, the Crimson Demon Tiger let out a furious roar and actually launched an attack on Dugu Yan first.

It had to be said that although the Crimson Demon Tiger was only a five-hundred-year soul beast, a soul beast's innate physique meant its speed was no slower than that of a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster. With just a few great strides, it charged straight in front of Dugu Yan.

Facing the Crimson Demon Tiger's sudden attack, Dugu Yan sneered without the slightest panic.

She made no visible movement. She merely raised her right arm, and a black shadow shot out in an instant.

Before the Crimson Demon Tiger could react, it felt a tearing pain in its shoulder.

Taking a closer look, it was actually an ice snake.

It was Dugu Yan's Right Arm Spirit Bone skill, Ice Snake Shadow.

Caught off guard and struck, the Crimson Demon Tiger's attack rhythm was immediately disrupted.

And that was only the beginning.

Buzz—

The Second Spirit Ring coiled around Dugu Yan's Snake Tail lit up at that moment.

Snake Scale Poison Sting

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

A dense barrage of poison stings flew toward it in a fan-shaped spread. The Crimson Demon Tiger's Body Size was already large, and after being hit by Ice Snake Shadow, its speed had slowed.

Faced with such a dense barrage of poison stings, it naturally could not evade in time. Its entire front was nearly turned into a porcupine.

The poison of Snake Scale Poison Sting was not lethal, but it came with an intense dizzying effect.

The Crimson Demon Tiger had taken nearly the full attack. Even with a soul beast's body, it could not withstand it at all. Its eyes rolled wildly, its limbs seemed no longer its own, and it staggered back and forth, on the verge of collapse.

Seeing this, Dugu Yan gave the Crimson Demon Tiger a swift end.

Whoosh—

Bang!

The thick Snake Tail whipped up a fierce gale before lashing directly into the Crimson Demon Tiger's head.

Even at full strength, the Crimson Demon Tiger would have found it difficult to endure that strike of the Snake Tail, much less now.

Without nearly any resistance, the Crimson Demon Tiger instantly fainted.

"Let's go."

With Dugu Yan having dealt with it, the team did not waste any time and continued toward the finish line.

As for why they did not kill the Crimson Demon Tiger outright, first, there was no need to; second, Heaven Dou Academy expressly forbade it.

The Heaven Dou Royal Forest was a soul beast forest maintained by Heaven Dou Academy. Every soul beast within it was valuable academy property.

Normal Soul Ring Acquisition was one thing, but maliciously killing soul beasts during the New Student Trial required compensation.

On the way to the finish line, Dugu Yang's group encountered quite a few soul beasts. Aside from one that had reached Nine Hundred Year, Dugu Yang hardly made a move. Dugu Yan handled them all.

Although it left Dugu Yan somewhat tired, it also allowed her to fight to her heart's content.

And with Ye Lingling, a Nine Heart Begonia Soul Master, there was no need to worry about Dugu Yan being injured.

Naturally, aside from soul beasts, they also encountered quite a few other student teams.

However, neither side fought. The reason was simple: Dugu Yang's group still intended to intercept others before the finish line and did not want to waste time along the way.

As for their opponents, they simply found Dugu Yang's group far too strong.

Thus, with almost no delays, Dugu Yang's group quickly completed half the journey. Their pace was practically the fastest among all the teams.

Crackle, crackle!

By the campfire, Dugu Yang's group sat on the ground, with three pieces of dried meat roasting before them.

The New Student Trial had already been underway for most of the day. The long journey and repeated battles had left the team exhausted, and they needed to replenish their strength.

Once the dried meat was done roasting, the three ate while planning their route ahead.

"By the way, Ayang, didn't you promise to fight Yu Tianheng? What if he gets eliminated early?"

Dugu Yan suddenly asked.

"He won't. He's a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. He won't be eliminated that easily."

Dugu Yang waved a hand, then added:

"Besides, if he really is eliminated early, that only proves he lacks the strength. Then he wouldn't be qualified to fight me."

"That's true."

Dugu Yan nodded, agreeing with Dugu Yang.

"Yanzi, Yu Tianheng wants to challenge Dugu Yang?"

Ye Lingling, sitting nearby, asked curiously.

He knew nothing about this matter.

"Yes. That guy can't compare to Ayang in Soul Power Level, so he wants to defeat Ayang and prove that he's the number one Genius of Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Dugu Yan gave a disdainful laugh and said:

"Hmph, how ridiculous. Once he truly fights Ayang, he'll learn that even among geniuses, there are differences."

"Don't underestimate him. Yu Tianheng is still a disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. No one knows what methods he has mastered. Even if his cultivation is inferior to Dugu Yang's, he absolutely cannot be taken lightly."

Although Ye Lingling was looking at Dugu Yan, those words were actually meant for Dugu Yang.