"Sect Master Yu, long time no see!" A beautiful middle-aged woman walked over slowly, followed by a girl of about twelve who bore some resemblance to her.
"Sect Master Nan, you're as graceful and charming as ever," Yu Yuanlong said with a faint smile. Then his gaze fell on the little girl beside her, and he smiled. "I presume this is your niece, Qiuqiu! A few years have flown by, and look how much she's grown!"
"Uncle Yu!" Nan Qiuqiu greeted him politely.
"Allow me to introduce someone." Yu Yuanlong gestured toward Bei Bei beside him. "This is Bei Bei, from Shrek Academy. He's Mu En's great-grandson."
Bei Bei smiled at Nan Shuishui and Nan Qiuqiu, the mother and daughter, with gentlemanly grace.
"What a fine young man. I imagine he received Mu En's personal instruction," Nan Shuishui praised him, sensing the profound strength of his aura despite his youth.
Nan Qiuqiu, standing nearby, couldn't help but let her eyes light up when she saw Bei Bei.
After all, Bei Bei was exceptionally handsome, with long golden hair spilling over his shoulders, giving him a lazy yet sunny air.
He was tall and straight, dressed in white embroidered with various golden patterns that accentuated his noble, refined bearing.
Most striking was his warm, springlike smile, which made him seem gentle. Anyone who saw him at first glance would take an instant liking to him.
"Someone, bring us seats," Yu Yuanlong ordered.
The Heavenly Dragon Sect disciples promptly carried over several chairs.
They arranged them in two rows, with three seats at the front. Yu Yuanlong, Nan Shuishui, and Bei Bei sat down.
The chairs in the row behind them were occupied by the elders and senior members of the Heavenly Dragon Sect and Earth Dragon Sect.
As the younger disciples of the two sects gathered together, the friendly matches officially began.
One dragon Martial Soul after another appeared, opening everyone's eyes.
Dragon Soul Masters were already far stronger than ordinary Soul Masters. What's more, these two sects together accounted for the vast majority of dragon Soul Masters on the continent.
After several rounds of fighting, Bei Bei had broadened his horizons considerably.
As a new round of battles began, Bei Bei noticed that quite a few disciples from both sects were fighting with Soul Tools.
This couldn't help but set him thinking. Shrek Academy had established a Gravity Chamber in the Soul Tool Department for Martial Soul Department students to train in, giving them more opportunities to learn about Soul Tools.
But most Soul Masters at Shrek Academy remained lukewarm toward Soul Tools. In particular, they had never managed to get Soul Masters to train in combat by combining their abilities with Soul Tools.
Bei Bei wanted to promote the idea, but he had little influence. Though his status was high, he had no real decision-making power and couldn't change the minds of the traditional Soul Masters at the academy.
In the matches between Heavenly Dragon Sect and Earth Dragon Sect disciples, most of the Earth Dragon Sect disciples were at a disadvantage.
The difference lay in the fundamental quality of their Martial Souls. The Heavenly Dragon Sect disciples possessed stronger dragon Martial Souls, so they won more matches.
Nan Qiuqiu, standing nearby, couldn't hold back any longer. She stepped forward and went up onto the arena to fight herself.
"Nan Qiuqiu, Martial Soul: Rouge Dragon, level twenty-six Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. Who'll fight me?" Nan Qiuqiu said, hands on her hips, brimming with confidence.
Two Yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath her feet. Pink light burst from her forehead, and a diamond-shaped scale appeared between her brows, translucent and sparkling like a pink gemstone.
Her body grew taller and more mature, pink scales spreading from her arms as pale-pink flames flickered to life.
"As expected of the Rouge Dragon Martial Soul. Though it's an Earth Dragon Martial Soul, its rare Annihilation attribute makes it no weaker than a True Dragon Martial Soul," Yu Yuanlong praised.
"Don't tease me, Sect Master Yu. An Earth Dragon is still only an Earth Dragon. It can't compare with a True Dragon," Nan Shuishui replied with a light laugh, her charm drawing the attention of many in the crowd.
Just then, a voice came from beneath the arena.
"I'll fight!" A red-haired boy jumped onto the platform and faced Nan Qiuqiu. "Xing Yan, Martial Soul: Crimson Dragon, level twenty-nine Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."
Two Yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet. A crimson fire dragon appeared behind him and merged into his body, making him grow dramatically in size. Dark-red scales sprouted all over him, and a scorching aura radiated from his body.
Nan Qiuqiu made the first move. The First Soul Ring beneath her feet flashed as she unleashed her First Soul Skill, Annihilation Light.
A pale-pink beam shot out, speeding straight toward Xing Yan.
Xing Yan let out a loud, clear dragon's roar and unleashed his own First Soul Skill, Crimson Dragon Possession.
The dark-red scales on his body grew thicker.
When Annihilation Light struck his dark-red armor, a force of annihilation erupted. The scales it hit began to dissolve.
Faced with this strange and formidable power, Xing Yan was hard-pressed.
He kicked off powerfully with both legs and charged toward Nan Qiuqiu.
Nan Qiuqiu didn't want to fight him at close range. The Rouge Dragon Martial Soul gave her only a small boost to her physical abilities, and was better suited to ranged attacks.
She unleashed Annihilation Light again, firing it at him.
Xing Yan didn't dare meet it head-on. Instead, he sidestepped and dodged the attack.
Annihilation Light struck the ground and instantly dissolved a large crater.
As expected of a Rouge Dragon with the Annihilation attribute—it was truly formidable. His dragon scales couldn't withstand the erosion of that power at all. If it hit an area not covered by scales, he would likely be defeated on the spot.
Xing Yan was fast, dodging in zigzags across the arena. Nan Qiuqiu's attacks missed him again and again.
Xing Yan had already reached her. His dark-red dragon claws slashed toward her.
Nan Qiuqiu hurriedly retreated, trying to dodge. The two fought at close quarters, and her disadvantage quickly became apparent as she was driven back step by step.
Xing Yan had also noticed her weakness in close combat, and naturally refused to let her go.
Nan Qiuqiu had a decisive temperament. Seeing that she couldn't break away, she ignored the cost in Soul Power and immediately unleashed her Second Soul Skill.
Annihilation Body Protection!
Pink light erupted from her body.
Sensing the danger, Xing Yan swiftly retreated, careful not to touch the pink light.
Nan Qiuqiu couldn't help but feel disappointed. Her Second Soul Skill harnessed the nature of annihilation: any attack that struck it would dissolve, forming a skill capable of defending against any attack.
Xing Yan took a few steps back, his expression grave. He had assumed her close-combat abilities were weak, but he hadn't expected her Second Soul Skill to make up for that weakness perfectly.
Seeing Nan Qiuqiu charge toward him, Xing Yan unleashed his Second Soul Skill, Dragon Meteor.
A pair of dark-red Dragon Wings spread from his back. He gave them a mighty flap and hurled his own body straight at Nan Qiuqiu like a projectile.