Victorious Xiao Yan

The Buddha Fury Fire Lotus first appeared on the Doupo Continent; its strength is unknown, and its form is treacherous.

However, as that crimson fire lotus gradually took shape in Xiao Yan's palm, the terrifying aura it emitted still made the hearts of everyone watching the battle skip a beat.

This pure power of destruction was more alarming than any powerful soul power fluctuation.

Opposite the fire lotus, Xiao Yulü stared fixedly at the flower.

At this moment, the hair on his body stood on end, and an unprecedented sense of crisis crawled from his spine all the way to his crown. He knew clearly that he could not withstand this strike, yet he still felt a sense of exhilaration.

Invincible among his peers, rarely meeting an opponent, and a genius throughout the entire Xiao Clan and even the entire Heaven Dou Empire, this was the first time he felt his combat instincts pushed to such a limit.

"Well come!"

Xiao Yulü let out a violent roar. The soul power he had suppressed for three full years was released without reservation, pouring entirely into the flaming giant ruler in his hands!

Neither of them had soul rings, soul skills, or any schemes or tactical maneuvers; there was only the purest, clearest battle between Martial Souls!

Martial Skill—Flame Split! Devouring Wave Ruler!!!

The body of the ruler hummed, and the flames surged, nearly swallowing him whole.

Come, Xiao Yan! This strike contains three full years of cultivation—can you withstand it?

Xiao Yan's face was already nearly deathly pale.

Even though the Little Fire Dragon's flames could be controlled according to his will, it consumed a tremendous amount of mental energy.

At the same time, releasing the flames also consumed soul power.

The combination of the two meant that condensing this single fire lotus had exhausted almost all of his soul power, leaving him without even the strength to manipulate it to detonate.

He could only push his arm forward slightly, sending that glass-like, magnificent fire lotus drifting away, just like releasing a prayer lantern.

On one side, an unstoppable momentum like a raging fire burning mountains and boiling seas.

On the other side, a flickering candle in the wind, like a silent, quiet lotus.

Who would win? It was hard to guess.

The moment the fire lotus collided with the ruler's shadow, a violent explosion swept out, swallowing the entire arena.

On the spectator stands, several clan elders' expressions changed drastically. They flew up in haste, using their soul power to support the defensive formation of the arena, and a translucent barrier appeared over the stage.

At this moment, outside the barrier, it was calm; inside the barrier, the winds and clouds were shifting.

When everything settled and a breeze blew across once more, everyone couldn't help but gasp.

In the very center of the arena, a massive crater nearly ten zhang in diameter had been blasted out!

The bottom of the pit was pitch black, its edges as smooth as a mirror, still emitting wisps of blue smoke.

At the edge of the deep pit, Xiao Yulü knelt on one knee, gasping for air.

His brocade robes were now tattered and broken, and a streak of striking bright red hung from the corner of his mouth, making him look incredibly disheveled.

His giant ruler had snapped into two pieces, falling to the ground with a thud before turning into specks of light and dissipating into the air.

Heavens, Young Master Xiao Yulü's Martial Soul... it shattered!

The crowd gasped in unison. Although they knew this was merely the external manifestation of condensed soul power and not a true shattering of the Martial Soul—requiring only a period of rest to recover—they couldn't help but sigh in wonder.

Since ancient times, the Xiao Clan's ancestral Martial Soul, the Heavy Profound Ruler, had been known for being a heavy sword without an edge, relying on raw power and durability.

To see this mutated version of the Heavy Profound Ruler actually destroyed made one have to marvel at what kind of monster this Xiao Yan was.

Thinking of Xiao Yan, many turned their gazes toward him, only to see that his situation on the other side of the pit was no better.

His half-man, half-dragon Martial Soul Possession state had already ended. At this moment, he was supporting himself on his knees, his figure swaying, his face pale without a hint of color. Beside him, the golden Little Fire Dragon had already spread its arms and lay flat in a star shape.

If this had happened in the past, Xiao Yan would surely have been mocked by everyone for being in such a sorry state.

Look at how powerful Young Master Xiao Yulü is, and look at what a waste you are! Look at other soul masters of your age who are already Soul Grand Masters while you still linger at the Soul Master stage! What a waste!

However, no one could say such words now.

The entire arena was deathly silent; one could hear a pin drop.

The clan elders on the stage looked at each other, staring blankly at the aftermath left behind by what looked like a battle between gods.

Good grief, they would usually only see such a scene after a full-scale battle between those who had activated their True Martial Soul bodies, not to mention that the two of them were restricted by the formation, which was the only reason the damage was limited to this extent.

If there had been no formation, wouldn't the collision between that fire lotus and the giant ruler have wiped them out as well?

Was this really the destruction that two level-ten Soul Masters could cause?

After a long while, Xiao Yulü finally raised his head and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Truly... a crushing defeat.

He looked at Xiao Yan opposite him, his face not only devoid of any dejection but even revealing a brilliant, heartfelt smile.

"Ha, I lost."

He spoke frankly, his voice not loud, yet it carried clearly across the silent arena.

"I am truly convinced of my defeat, Xiao Yan."

He patted the dust off his body and looked at Xiao Yan, his gaze burning:

"I shall yield the recommendation letter for Shrek Academy to you."

"However, I will enter by my own merit, fair and square. When that time comes, we shall fight again!"

Having said this, he turned and walked off the martial arts stage with a hearty laugh, never once looking back. Watching his retreating figure, Xiao Yan felt that he did not look like a loser at all, but rather like a triumphant general.

How magnanimous, you fellow, Haji Lu!

Not until his figure vanished into the crowd did the entire martial arts arena seem to come back to life, the sound of discussion erupting like a tsunami!

"Heavens! Heavens! Did I see that right? Xiao Yan actually... won!?"

"My god, what exactly was that move Xiao Yan just used? I've never seen or heard of it before! Was it a Soul Skill, or a martial technique honed like Young Master Xiao Yulü's? Or was it simply his own development of his Martial Soul?"

"It's terrifying. With power like that, I fear even a ten-thousand-year Soul Skill would be nothing more than this."

"Monsters, both of them are monsters!"

The previous mockery and disdain had long since been replaced by shock and awe; there was not a shred of contempt left in the gazes everyone directed at Xiao Yan.

On the viewing platform, several clan elders exchanged glances, their expressions complex.

"This... Xiao Yan actually won..."

"Bu Hao, that was the spot I secured for Yulü!"

"Are we really going to let this brat have it cheap? Let's just fob him off with some scraps..."

Only the elder who had taken Xiao Yan to hunt for his Soul Beast and obtain his Soul Ring wore a smile on his face.

"Heh heh, hahahaha!"

"Haha! Hahahaha!"

"A bunch of blind old fools! I said it long ago: this child, Xiao Yan, is no mere creature of the pond!"

"If you won't say it, I will!"

"This was a match notarized by the clan; the outcome is decided, how could we allow any fraud!"

He stood up abruptly, channeling his soul power, his voice ringing out across the entire arena like a great bell.

"I announce!"

"The winner of this match is—"

"Xiao Yan!"