Choosing an Opponent, Duel Qin Ze!

In truth, throughout the history of the Martial Soul Academy, students who could join the elite class through the special promotion assessment were absolute rarities! Those capable of attempting this assessment at the age of twelve were rarer still.

This current batch of elite students was particularly exceptional, already boasting several monsters who had entered the elite class at twelve! If Xu Mochen could truly achieve this, then this year's elite class of the Martial Soul Academy would surely go down in history.

The lead teacher gave a light cough, and the crowd of students instantly fell silent. The male teacher then looked at Xu Mochen, who stood beside Hu Liena, and without wasting words, said, "You must be Xu Mochen, the one notified yesterday to participate in the elite class assessment! Let me introduce myself: I am Kutka, a level 83 Soul Douluo with the Thunder-Roar Osprey martial soul. You should be familiar with the rules of the elite class's special promotion assessment, right? Do you need me to introduce these students to you?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Teacher, but that won't be necessary." Xu Mochen gave a slight nod to Kutka, then swept his gaze across all the elite students before him.

Finally, Xu Mochen's gaze landed on Qin Ze, who wore a cold sneer, and he spoke softly: "The person I wish to challenge is him!"

Although the students were startled by this, they were not entirely surprised; after all, even those who weren't present had heard of what happened yesterday. However, Qin Ze was not an easy target!

While Qin Ze had agreed yesterday to suppress his cultivation to the same realm as Xu Mochen for their duel, this was an assessment! Naturally, Qin Ze would not—and could not—suppress his strength as he had in the wager. This was going to be troublesome!

When Kutka saw Xu Mochen's choice, he didn't seem surprised at all, as if he had expected it. He immediately turned to the elite class formation and shouted, "Qin Ze, step forward! I leave Xu Mochen's assessment to you! Remember! This battle is to be stopped at the first sign of injury!"

"Yes!" Qin Ze was overjoyed and responded immediately. He jumped out and stood with Xu Mochen in the empty clearing. He then activated his Martial Soul Possession, and two yellow and two purple soul rings rhythmically pulsed around his body. A cruel smile appeared on his face as he said, "Then this senior will not hold back against Junior Brother Xu! Let me introduce myself: Qin Ze, martial soul Ice Pale Wolf, level 42 assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor! Please advise!"

Xu Mochen seemed not to hear the provocation in Qin Ze's words. He stood calmly on the other side, released his own martial soul and two yellow soul rings, and watched Qin Ze steadily. "Xu Mochen! Martial soul Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon, level 24 assault-type Battle Soul Grand Master! Please advise, Senior!"

As soon as Xu Mochen finished speaking, the students erupted into an even louder gasp than before! Some even rubbed their ears hard, doubting their own hearing! They could no longer maintain discipline and began whispering to one another.

"No way! Am I crazy or having auditory hallucinations? This kid is only a Soul Grand Master and he dares to challenge a Soul Ancestor from the elite class?"

"Damn! I thought even if he wasn't a Soul Ancestor, he'd at least be above level 35. Not only is he challenging someone of a higher rank, he's skipping two whole ranks! How is this any different from seeking death?"

"Is the kid mentally unstable? Sigh, I thought he was a genius, at least a level 37 or 38 Soul Elder, but he's just an idiot!"

"Don't talk nonsense. Maybe he really is that monstrous?"

"Are you joking? A Soul Grand Master beating a Soul Ancestor? An elite class Soul Ancestor at that? To put it bluntly, how many times has this happened in the history of Martial Soul Hall, or even the entire soul master world? Even if we take a step back, do you think someone like that could only be level 24 at twelve years old?"

"That actually makes sense. Level 24 at twelve is a genius in the outside world, but in our elite class, he's just average. Looks like he's going to have a miserable end."

After a heated discussion, almost no one favored Xu Mochen. Even the most optimistic estimate was that he would last ten rounds against Qin Ze at most! And that was assuming Qin Ze held back! But judging by Qin Ze's attitude yesterday, it seemed likely that Xu Mochen would be easily crushed.

"I announce! The challenge officially begins!" Kutka seemed not to hear the students' discussion, focusing entirely on this lopsided match. At his command, Qin Ze took the initiative! He showed no mercy!

His first and second soul rings flared, and Qin Ze transformed into a blur, charging directly at Xu Mochen with a fierce aura! To deal with Xu Mochen, he used his first soul skill, "Snow Wolf Bite," and his second, "Snow Wolf Assault," in quick succession, launching a ferocious attack without hesitation!

The students watching sighed, thinking: It's over, there's not even a shred of suspense left! A Soul Ancestor unleashing his first and second soul skills in succession—if a Soul Grand Master could block that, I'd be a ghost! It looks like Qin Ze is really holding a grudge. Let's just hope there aren't too many casualties.

Of course, not everyone was sighing. A small group was gloating, such as Yan and his lackeys! They were already overjoyed. Yan thought viciously: Serves you right! Who told you to get close to Nana! I hope Qin Ze cripples you completely! Let you know who you shouldn't mess with!

Qin Ze was already certain of his victory, especially when he saw Xu Mochen standing there without any reaction, assuming the boy had been scared witless by his powerful offensive.

With this mindset, Qin Ze reached Xu Mochen in a flash. Xu Mochen only then seemed to react, preparing to use a soul skill. Seeing this, Qin Ze felt even more contemptuous, momentarily wondering if he had been too impulsive with the bet yesterday! Bullying this greenhorn seemed beneath him.

But it didn't matter! He had provoked Brother Yan and insisted on throwing his life away! He had only himself to blame! Hu Liena, watching from the sidelines, felt her heart jump to her throat. She glanced at the focused and composed Kutka, deciding that if things reached a critical point, she would intervene to stop Qin Ze!

Hu Liena recalled her report to her teacher yesterday. When she had anxiously told Bibi Dong about the wager between Xu Mochen and Qin Ze, Bibi Dong hadn't shown any panic. Instead, she had thought about it calmly and decided not to interfere with their bet, only saying she would instruct Kutka to keep an eye on Xu Mochen's safety.

But looking at it now, Kutka didn't seem to have any intention of stopping Qin Ze! If something happened to Xu Mochen, how would Martial Soul Hall face the Sun Moon Empire? Why had her usually wise and shrewd teacher become so uncharacteristically calm?

In stark contrast to the anxious Hu Liena, Xu Mochen on the stage remained as calm as ever, as if the person being targeted by Qin Ze's lethal blow wasn't him. His second soul ring lit up, and he activated his Chaos Dragon Body!

Xu Mochen was enveloped in purple energy, and as the purple light erupted, he allowed Qin Ze's attack to land on him! With a teeth-grinding screech of friction, Qin Ze was horrified to find that his attack was like a clay ox entering the sea, gradually dissolved by the terrifying dragon energy radiating from Xu Mochen.

Instead of weakening as the defense held, the aura around Xu Mochen grew stronger! It even gave Qin Ze the feeling that his own soul power was being drained by Xu Mochen's skill! Worse yet, Xu Mochen seemed prepared to counterattack!

When the surrounding students saw this, a sense of disbelief spread through them! This scene was too bizarre! Even if Xu Mochen were strong enough to take the hit, it should have been a struggle!

How could it be that after taking the hit, Xu Mochen's aura was increasing instead of decreasing? What kind of ability was this second soul skill? Why was the situation so illogical?

"No! I can't let this continue!" Qin Ze, worthy of being an elite student, decided to withdraw his attack immediately. He retreated rapidly and activated his fourth soul ring! With a roar, a phantom of a snow wolf appeared behind him!

This was Qin Ze's fourth soul skill: Snow Wolf Phantom Annihilation! It could hunt down enemies with a condensed phantom of a snow wolf! The most powerful aspect of this skill was its tracking ability; even if the opponent dodged, the phantom would make basic tracking attacks! It was nearly impossible for a soul master of the same level to evade this.

Qin Ze no longer dared to get close to Xu Mochen, nor did he dare to underestimate this seemingly weak opponent. Although he didn't understand how a mere hundred-year soul skill could have such a bizarre ability, he estimated that it couldn't absorb soul power indefinitely! Once the incoming attack reached a certain threshold of power, the seemingly terrifying defense would crumble! Since that was the case, Qin Ze would use his strongest attack to shatter it!

It had to be said that Qin Ze was talented enough to be an elite student. Indeed, if the power of the attack exceeded Xu Mochen's capacity to neutralize it, his defense would be broken. A fourth soul skill from a Soul Ancestor was clearly something a Soul Grand Master like Xu Mochen could not fully neutralize!

Furthermore, with the tracking nature of the skill, Xu Mochen was bound to be severely injured! But one must not forget that Xu Mochen possessed a heaven-defying soul bone!

Xu Mochen continued to pursue the retreating Qin Ze without slowing down. He raised his right arm, which was covered in purple dragon scales. As his arm glowed, a beam of light shot out. Timing it perfectly, he landed a restriction on Qin Ze just as he was about to unleash his fourth soul skill!

Qin Ze was still stunned by the purple light that had struck him when he suddenly realized his fourth soul skill, which he was about to release, had vanished into thin air! It was as if his connection to it had been severed; no matter how he tried to channel his soul power, he couldn't sense it!

The next moment, Xu Mochen arrived before him. His first soul ring flared brightly! Under the effect of the Chaos Dragon Claw, Xu Mochen's right arm, carrying the terrifying might of the Purple Sun Dragon Claw, struck directly toward the head of Qin Ze, who had yet to recover his soul power!