"Y-Your Soul Rings... They're one yellow, two purple, and one black?!"
Yu Tianheng practically shouted the words.
This wasn't simply absorbing Soul Rings beyond their usual age limits!
He'd skipped an entire stage!
Even a genius Soul Master like Yanzi could only have two yellow and two purple Soul Rings at the Soul Ancestor level. But he had a black one?!
Yu Feng instinctively took a step back.
Osler's Ghost Leopard apparition appeared behind him, and his eyes were full of awe.
Ye Lingling tightened her grip on the Nine-Heart Begonia.
Even she, a support-type Soul Master, could sense the immense power contained in that Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Even the usually composed Shi Mo and Shi Mo brothers couldn't help exchanging a glance. The same shock stared back at them.
Eleven and a half years old, level 43,
a thousand-year Second Soul Ring...
a ten-thousand-year fourth Soul Ring...
Such talent was unheard of—not just at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but across the entire Douluo Continent!
Chen Jieqi stood among them, his expression calm, as if he'd merely shown them something perfectly ordinary.
"It was just luck. Nothing worth mentioning."
To everyone else, those words sounded like a thunderclap.
"Luck?"
Something this defying of the heavens was just "luck"?!
Yu Feng spoke from the side, his voice carrying a hint of barely concealed urgency.
"A black Soul Ring can only come from a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. How could someone your age withstand the spiritual impact of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring?"
"Absorbing a Soul Ring beyond its age limit is already unthinkable. To skip straight to a black ring is completely contrary to the principles of Soul Master cultivation."
Osler stood frozen in place. After a long moment, he finally managed to blurt out,
"He's even stronger than our big sis..."
The Soul Power around him wavered with his shock. His gaze at Chen Jieqi had shifted from friendly curiosity to complete awe.
A feat like this couldn't be explained by talent alone.
He must have worked harder than anyone could imagine, or stumbled upon some unknown opportunity.
Shi Mo and Shi Mo both widened their eyes in unison, their faces paling as they struggled to get the words out.
"D-Did we see that right?
"It really is black!
"C-Chen, what kind of monster are you?"
The two exchanged a glance, then their faces lit up with excitement.
With a teammate like him, the Imperial Fighting Team's strength would surely reach new heights. They might even have a shot at winning the Soul Master Tournament!
Yu Tianheng stood to one side, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white.
He stared at the black Soul Ring beneath Chen Jieqi's feet. For the first time, he felt powerless.
Before this young man, even he, the vice-captain, seemed utterly ordinary.
But the pride and fiery spirit of a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Master quickly swept away that fleeting sense of defeat.
Facing a strong opponent had never made him back down.
He raised his head, and his eyes burned with an even fiercer fighting spirit.
Ye Lingling hadn't said a word, but the shock in her eyes was plain to see.
She stole a glance at Dugu Yan. The usually forceful "big sis" showed not the slightest trace of jealousy.
Instead, her expression held something close to relief and pride.
While the others were still stunned, Dugu Yan took a deep breath and walked up to Chen Jieqi.
Her gaze swept over every teammate before settling on him. Her voice was clear and firm.
"Starting today, you'll take over as captain of the Imperial Fighting Team!"
"Who's for it, and who's against it?"
Everyone froze at her words. The training room fell silent.
"Sis Yanyan..."
Chen Jieqi had just started to speak when Dugu Yan raised a hand to stop him.
"Don't rush to refuse."
The corners of Dugu Yan's mouth lifted slightly. Her usually sharp eyes held an unexpected warmth.
"I, Dugu Yan, may be a little stronger, a little prettier, and come from a more powerful background.
"I may have a bit of a temper,
"but I've never been someone who couldn't read the situation."
She turned to face the rest of the Imperial Fighting Team, speaking frankly.
"For all these years, you've called me 'big sis' to show me respect.
"But I know I'm impatient and impulsive. A lot of the time, I win through brute force instead of brains."
"He's different. He's calmer than I am, better at planning, and better at figuring out how to bring out the best in everyone."
Dugu Yan paused, then continued.
"A team's glory has never belonged to just one person. It comes from everyone fighting side by side. The captain's position should go to whoever's most capable.
"I can't match his talent or strength, let alone his understanding of cultivation.
"He's earned the right to be captain."
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word rang with conviction. They stirred ripples in everyone's heart.
Everyone knew how proud Dugu Yan had been since becoming the "big sis" of Heaven Dou Academy.
For her to give up the captaincy was unthinkable. She'd never even been one to give ground, and her strength and temper had kept the others from daring to challenge her!
Only Yu Tianheng had managed to hold out for a little while.
But now Dugu Yan looked open and composed, without a hint of reluctance, as if she were stating the most ordinary fact in the world.
Chen Jieqi fell silent for a moment.
He had thought about trying for the captaincy one day, but not now. Taking over as soon as he'd joined would be too showy.
He'd planned to first earn everyone's respect with his strength and gradually build his reputation.
That way, he could win their genuine trust and lay a foundation for the future.
But every word Dugu Yan had spoken was sincere and reasonable. She was using her own reputation to clear the way for him.
Chen Jieqi deserved this position.
That trust weighed heavily on him.
"Sis Yanyan..."
Chen Jieqi lifted his head and met Dugu Yan's gaze, his tone turning serious.
"Since you put it that way, I won't stand on ceremony. But..."
He changed tack, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"I want to win the captaincy with my strength."
Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow, a note of approval flashing in her eyes.
"I've never beaten Xiao Qi in all these years of private sparring."
Dugu Yan glanced at Yu Tianheng, whose expression was complicated, and tilted her chin toward him.
"Talk is cheap. Yu Tianheng, you'll represent us. Have a Soul Fighting match with him, and let's see for ourselves.
"The stronger one becomes captain!"
She paused, then added,
"Don't hold back. Let me see your true strength."
Yu Tianheng was taken aback, then his eyes blazed with fighting spirit.
He thought of all the times he'd challenged Dugu Yan over the years, all the times he'd lost, and how he'd still gotten back up each time.
Having a strong opponent out in front had kept him pushing himself to become stronger.
And now, someone even stronger had appeared.
"Good!"
Yu Tianheng nodded firmly, excitement barely contained in his voice.
"Yanzi, I've wanted to spar with Chen for a long time!
"It's an honor to fight a true powerhouse!"
He looked at Chen Jieqi without jealousy or resentment, only pure fighting spirit and respect.
As a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Master, he had a warrior's fire in his very bones. Facing a strong opponent had never made him back down.
He would only meet the challenge head-on, find his shortcomings in battle, and grow stronger.
Yu Feng took a deep breath and patted Yu Tianheng on the shoulder.
"Captain Yu, don't let us down."
Osler clenched his fists, anticipation in his eyes.
"Come on! Show us just how strong Chen is!"
Shi Mo and Shi Mo shouted in unison.
"Boss, go for it!"
Even Ye Lingling, who was usually silent, gave a slight nod, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
Every member of the Imperial Fighting Team gathered around, watching the two men in the center with eager eyes.
This wasn't just a Soul Fighting match. It was a changing of the guard, the starting point of the Imperial Fighting Team's rise to greater heights,
and a tribute to the strong—and a testament to their own yearning to become stronger.
"Since this is a Soul Fighting match, I'll referee."
Qin Ming stepped forward with a smile, unable to hide his anticipation.
He looked at Chen Jieqi, then at Yu Tianheng, a flicker of reminiscence in his eyes.
Back at Shrek Academy, he'd been the same way, clashing again and again with stronger opponents
and constantly breaking through his limits in battle.
At his words, everyone stopped talking and quickly moved to the Soul Fighting room beside the training room.
Everyone could feel it: a true showdown was about to begin.
And this would mark the Imperial Fighting Team's rebirth.