On the arena stage, Xia Ming and the others seemed utterly oblivious to the uproar around them.
Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with almost gloating amusement.
They understood this sort of situation far too well.
After all, they had initially looked down on Xia Ming for being so young, believing he had only gotten in through the back door.
But after being beaten senseless a few times, who would still dare underestimate him?
Wasn't it nice to let everyone else experience what they had felt back then?
No matter what doubts arose, the match still had to continue.
The referee sent by the Heaven Dou Empire had long been prepared. He gathered the two teams at the center of the field and announced the rules.
"First round, elimination match, team battle."
"Both sides may use most Soul Tools during the match."
"However, if one side concedes during combat, the other side must not continue attacking."
"Soul Engineers may not use high-lethality equipment such as Fixed-Installed Soul Tools. Do you understand?"
"Understood," Zhang Lexuan replied.
Plant Academy's captain answered as well, his face grim.
The referee nodded. "Good. Both sides, retreat to opposite ends of the arena. Begin only upon my command. Before I announce the start, no one may release their Martial Soul in advance. Otherwise, you will be declared defeated."
Very quickly, both sides withdrew to the edges of the arena.
At the same time, the one hundred and eight Heaven Dou Empire Soul Masters who had been waiting below the stage all pressed their hands against the metal pillars before them.
A layer of white light immediately spilled down, enveloping the entire arena.
At the referee's command, "Match start! Both sides, release your Martial Souls!"
The seven members of Plant Academy let out a low shout together as their Soul Power erupted!
Behind their captain, the phantom of a dark brown vine coiled upward, accompanied by four Soul Rings—two yellow and two purple.
The remaining six were all at least Soul Elders, including two Soul Ancestors, and every one of them possessed the optimal Soul Ring configuration.
The vitality and tenacity unique to plant-type Martial Souls filled the arena.
All eyes focused on Shrek's side.
They, too, immediately released their Martial Souls, Soul Rings rising one after another from beneath their feet.
Dai Yueheng, a rank 47 Soul Ancestor, merged with the White Tiger, his aura fierce and imposing.
Chen Zifeng, a rank 42 Soul Ancestor, had the Soul-Chasing Sword hanging at his side, its edge chillingly sharp.
Gongyang Mo, Xixi, Ling Luochen...
The fluctuations of Soul Ancestors and Soul Elders intertwined. Though eye-catching, they did not cause much of a stir.
Until two anomalies appeared.
Zhang Lexuan stepped forward. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black—six Soul Rings circled her like stars.
A rank 69 Soul Emperor!
When the final, profound black ten-thousand-year Soul Ring emerged, the spectators collectively sucked in a breath.
On the other side, Xia Ming raised a hand.
Two purple Soul Rings quietly rose beneath his feet.
Some particularly perceptive people in the crowd immediately discerned his Soul Power cultivation.
Rank 30? Just one Soul Ring away from becoming a Soul Elder?
Yet compared to his cultivation, most people were even more shocked by his Soul Rings.
A thousand-year first ring? How was that possible?
It had to be known that, aside from Evil Soul Masters who could use secret methods to increase the age of their Soul Rings, the optimal Soul Ring configuration was practically the best possible choice.
Although Whale Rubber was known to increase the age of Soul Rings one could withstand, its effects had limits.
Even if one ate Whale Rubber until they vomited, at most they could achieve a thousand-year second ring.
And those who could truly possess a thousand-year second ring were exceedingly rare.
Among the many powerhouses of the current age, even those who possessed multiple hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings—
Such as Dragon God Douluo Mu En and Body Douluo Du Busi—had only managed a hundred-year second ring.
One could imagine just how shocking a thousand-year first ring was!
At the very least, after Xia Ming revealed his Soul Rings, the Plant Academy contestants no longer dared look down on him as much.
This was a monstrous Soul Grandmaster with two thousand-year Soul Rings!
In their eyes, even if his Soul Power cultivation was lacking and his strength did not yet match that of a true Soul Ancestor—
He could at least rival a high-level Soul Elder, making him no weaker than most of their own competitors.
The instant they released their Martial Souls, Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng charged toward the opposing side.
They knew very well that if they did not rush forward quickly enough, once Xia Ming came into contact with the enemy, they would not get even the slightest chance to fight.
However, though the two of them were fast, Xia Ming was faster!
Although his speed was far inferior to his attack and defense, it was still beyond the reach of other Soul Masters of the same rank.
With Gongyang Mo's support, his speed surged even further. In the blink of an eye, he arrived before Plant Academy's captain.
The opponent's Martial Soul was a type of vine. Seeing Xia Ming instantly rush before him, his expression changed.
His first Soul Ring immediately lit up, and a vine coiled around Xia Ming's body.
"First Soul Skill: Entangle!"
Dark brown vines burst from the ground, wrapping around Xia Ming like venomous snakes!
"Got him!" one Plant Academy member shouted in delight.
But their captain's heart sank.
Something about the sensation transmitted through the vines was wrong.
It did not feel like he had bound flesh and blood. It felt more like he had wrapped around a block of refined steel.
Xia Ming glanced down at the vines around his body, then looked up and smiled at him.
Then he gave a light tug.
"Crack, crack—"
The vines, as tough as iron chains, shattered inch by inch!
"What?!"
Plant Academy's captain was greatly shocked and was just about to unleash his other Soul Skills.
However, Xia Ming was already in front of him, throwing a punch.
Xia Ming deliberately held back. He had not even used the "full strength" required for this match—the power limit of an ordinary Soul Ancestor.
Yet even so, Plant Academy's captain felt an unmatched force surge from Xia Ming's fist.
"Boom—!"
The next instant, his entire body was sent flying as though struck by a battering ram. He slammed into the white light barrier with a dull thud that made one's teeth ache.
By the look of it, he had clearly lost his ability to fight.
The expressions of Plant Academy's remaining six members instantly went blank.
They knew their captain's strength better than anyone.
He might not compare to those truly gifted Soul Masters, but he was still undeniably a high-level Soul Ancestor.
And yet he had actually been instantly defeated in a single exchange?
And the one who defeated him was that young-looking Soul Grandmaster on the other side?!
But they had no time to be shocked, because Xia Ming had already turned to look at them.
"Stop him!" a Soul Ancestor roared, his third Soul Ring blazing brightly. "Third Soul Skill: Poison Vine Prison!"
Countless purple-black vines shot out of the ground, weaving into a cage that descended upon Xia Ming.
Xia Ming did not stop walking. He casually swept his left hand.
"Riiip—!"
The vine cage tore apart like papier-mâché.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Flower Shadow Maze!" another Soul Ancestor shouted. Orchid phantoms bloomed as spiritual interference spread through the air.
Xia Ming's eyes remained as clear as ever. With one step, he crushed several orchids and arrived before her.
One punch.
She flew out of the arena.
"Third Soul Skill: Rock Root!"
"Second Soul Skill: Flying Leaf Blade!"
"First Soul Skill..."
Soul Rings flashed wildly. Vines, roots, sharp leaves, poisonous powder, phantoms...
Plant Academy's remaining five members erupted with all their might, unleashing control-type Soul Skills like a raging tide.
Xia Ming walked through them without being hindered in the slightest.
He did not even use a Soul Skill, relying only on the simplest and most direct close-range punches.
"Bang!" "Boom!" "Thud!"
Dull impacts rang out one after another.
Figures were sent flying one after another, crashing into the light barrier and tumbling out of the arena.
When the final Plant Academy member flew beyond the boundary, Xia Ming happened to withdraw his fist and stand at the center of the arena.
From start to finish, less than a breath had passed.
Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng had only just charged forward when their steps froze.
The two exchanged a glance. Dai Yueheng tugged at the corner of his mouth, while Chen Zifeng expressionlessly sheathed his sword.
They had charged for nothing.
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