What came into view was a vast plaza in front of Pope Hall.
The plaza was surrounded by Spirit Hall disciples, who had been summoned to witness an exceptionally unusual Soul Master duel.
Preparations for this duel had begun five days earlier.
Power Attack System + Agility Attack System vs. Healing System + Food System
The teamwork of the Power Attack System and Agility Attack System was hailed as a blitzkrieg in battle: fast, precise, and ruthless, it overwhelmed the enemy and secured victory.
By contrast, the Healing System and Food System had virtually no combat ability. In a team, they could only provide support and healing.
Soon, all four contestants took the field: two men and two women.
The Power Attack System and Agility Attack System were represented by one man and one woman, as were the Healing System and Food System.
War Tiger + Golden Eagle vs. Healing Scepter + Bun.
Almost everyone believed the former pair would win with ease. Even the War Tiger Soul Master and Golden Eagle Soul Master thought so.
Under Ye Guyi's guidance, the Healing Scepter Soul Master and Bun Soul Master had already learned the basics of using Soul Tools. They had a seventy-to-eighty-percent chance of handling these two opponents. Add in their opponents' overconfidence, and their chances were a hundred percent.
"Begin," Bibi Dong said.
Immediately, all four contestants released their Martial Souls. To ensure the match was fair, all four were Soul Ancestors.
"First Soul Skill: Take Flight."
A pair of brown wings sprouted from the Golden Eagle Soul Master's back, then his third Soul Ring lit up.
"Third Soul Skill: Eagle Snatches the Chick."
"There's no need for me to get involved personally to deal with you," the War Tiger Soul Master said dismissively.
But then Bun Soul Master's lips curved into a mysterious smile. "You'll regret that decision today."
The first and second Soul Rings beneath Bun Soul Master's feet lit up, and he stuffed two buns into the Healing Scepter Soul Master's mouth.
A series of clacks came from the Healing Scepter Soul Master's back. To the crowd's confusion and astonishment, he rose into the air and began flying.
The sight stunned everyone present, including the Golden Eagle Soul Master. By all accounts, unless a Martial Soul had wings, its owner couldn't remain airborne for long without breaking through to Soul Saint.
But that wasn't how things worked, either. Even several Titled Douluo elders were staring blankly up at the sky.
A pair of metallic-looking Flight Soul Tools was attached to the Healing Scepter Soul Master's back. The two heavy wings made Thunder Nether Douluo, standing behind the others, shake his head.
They were clearly shoddy Flight Soul Tools from the Star Luo Empire. They were not only cumbersome, but also noisy in flight. The Sun Moon Empire had long since developed more advanced models, with wings as thin as cicada wings. The more advanced versions could even project something like a protective membrane to shield the user and others from the headwinds.
At the same time, Bun Soul Master also took to the air with a Flight Soul Tool on his back.
The Golden Eagle Soul Master's attack missed, and he prepared to fly higher and face them in the sky.
Then came another series of clacks. Under the crowd's watchful eyes, several cannon barrels extended from either side of the Healing Scepter Soul Master's body, along with a larger one on his shoulder. Bun Soul Master had the same equipment.
Each of them held a Milk Bottle. Their Soul Power flowed into their Turret Soul Tools, and yellow orbs rained down from above, leaving the Golden Eagle Soul Master nowhere to hide.
At this point, the War Tiger Soul Master could no longer stand aside.
"Third Soul Skill: Tiger's Roar in the Mountains."
The War Tiger Soul Master roared at the sky and bent his legs, preparing to leap up and attack the two men above.
But at that moment, the weakness of Battle Soul Masters was laid bare.
The moment the War Tiger Soul Master leapt, yellow orbs rained down on him, drawing one anguished cry after another. He crashed heavily to the center of the arena.
Facing such a dense barrage, the Golden Eagle Soul Master tried to fly higher to evade it. But soon, two golden beams shot from the Soul Cannons mounted on the shoulders of Bun Soul Master and the Healing Scepter Soul Master. The Golden Eagle Soul Master was swallowed up by the beams, and he crashed down beside the War Tiger Soul Master.
"Boom—"
A deafening roar rang out. When the smoke from the explosion cleared, the War Tiger Soul Master and Golden Eagle Soul Master had both been knocked unconscious. Healing Soul Masters from Spirit Hall came to carry them away for treatment.
At that moment, the entire crowd fell silent. They must have gotten up too early today.
Food System Soul Masters and Healing System Soul Masters were supposed to have no combat ability whatsoever. Yet with the help of unfamiliar "equipment," they had turned the tables and defeated the Power Attack System and Agility Attack System Soul Masters, renowned for their "blitzkrieg." The sight left everyone dumbfounded.
Quite a few Food System and Healing System Soul Masters were present, and their eyes lit up at the sight.
Bibi Dong was in high spirits. The heavy doors behind her swung open.
"Everyone, come inside."
The Titled Douluo elders had none of their previous arrogance left. They followed Bibi Dong inside in silence, while the victorious Healing Scepter Soul Master and Bun Soul Master were surrounded by Spirit Hall disciples, who peppered them with questions.
Inside Pope Hall.
Bibi Dong smiled faintly. "Those two devices we just saw are called Soul Tools: one is a Flight Soul Tool, and the other is a Turret Soul Tool. I believe you all saw what they can do. What does everyone think?"
They looked at one another, but in the end, no one spoke.
One man was bold enough to speak up, though he did so with some trepidation. "Your Holiness the Pope, Soul Masters rely on their own strength to cultivate. Soul Tools may be useful in the early stages, but once we break through to Titled Douluo, these things are of no use to us."
Bibi Dong had already prepared for this. She clapped her hands.
Qin Chuan wheeled in an LCD Screen Soul Tool. Thunder Nether Douluo emerged from a secluded corner and, under the bewildered gazes of countless elders, operated the Soul Guide Screen with an impassive expression.
The moment the Soul Guide Screen lit up, this group of sheltered locals was utterly shocked.
"What is that?"
"Look! There's a picture on it!"
"..."
The screen showed a towering mountain peak. A meteor streaked across the sky and plunged into it. In an instant, a cataclysmic explosion erupted.
The towering peak was leveled in the next moment. Although they were only seeing it all through a screen, everyone present still felt as though it couldn't be real.
Could a weapon like that really exist?
Thunder Nether Douluo slowly turned to face the crowd and introduced himself. "My title is Thunder Nether. The potential of Soul Tools far exceeds your imagination. The weapon just shown was a Grade 9 Fixed Soul Cannon Shell, the most powerful Soul Tool in history. Only a Grade 9 Soul Engineer can make one, and I, Thunder Nether, am a Grade 9 Soul Engineer."
"If any of you would like to test the power of a Grade 9 Fixed Soul Cannon Shell, I still have a few in stock. Who would like to give one a try?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the vast Pope Hall fell utterly silent.
Silence, then even deeper silence.
No one said a word.
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