Is this what it feels like to be injured?

"Wang Dong--!!!"

Huo Yuhao's voice had barely rung out when Wang Dong already moved.

The Radiant Goddess Butterfly wings suddenly unfurled, a brilliant blue-gold radiance carving an arc across the Soul Fighting Platform.

She swept past right in front of Huo Yuhao, her wings crossing to forcefully block the path of that continuously enlarging fist.

Bang--!

The fist's edge collided with the butterfly wings.

A dull thud of impact exploded outward. Wang Dong felt her wings go numb, her entire body sliding half a step backward as her soles left two shallow marks on the platform surface.

Her pupils constricted slightly.

He wasn't... using his Martial Soul?

Long Yaochen, meanwhile, utilized the force of the rebound to retreat lightly, his figure folding in mid-air to evade the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron that crashed down from both sides.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The three cauldrons landed, the heavy suppression force completely sealing off the spot where he had just been standing.

Xiao Xiao's expression was grave, beads of sweat even seeping from her temples.

As expected of Teaching Assistant Long...

Even if Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection could perceive the opponent's movements, she still couldn't keep up.

It was fortunate that Wang Dong had reacted in time; otherwise, Huo Yuhao would have definitely been knocked off the stage by that single punch.

Long Yaochen landed lightly several yards away, shook his wrists, and fixed his gaze on Wang Dong with a chuckle.

"Nice reaction."

Wang Dong had been keeping a straight face, but upon hearing this, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but twitch. "Obviously! Don't you know who this great one is!"

Huo Yuhao's expression instantly darkened.

A match! This was a match!

How could they actually be chatting at a time like this?

Whose team was Wang Dong even on?!

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging anger in his heart as a golden light flickered in the depths of his eyes.

"Xiao Xiao, use the three cauldrons to restrain him. Wang Dong, you take the lead in attacking! Create an opening for me to strike!"

Wang Dong curled her lips; it was that commanding tone again.

But she moved nonetheless.

After all, she really wanted to see this guy, Long Yaochen, get humbled.

Just thinking about it felt interesting...

With a spread of her Radiant Goddess Butterfly wings, Wang Dong's figure instantly transformed into a streak of blue-gold light, charging straight toward Long Yaochen.

At the same time, Xiao Xiao's Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron rose into the air once more. The three cauldrons split into three directions, not aiming to land a direct hit, but merely to seal off Long Yaochen's escape routes.

Long Yaochen tapped his foot, his figure weaving through the shadows of the cauldrons like a swimming dragon.

He hadn't even activated his Martial Soul, yet relying solely on his physical fitness and reflexes, he moved with ease between Wang Dong and the Soul-Suppressing Cauldron.

The more Wang Dong fought, the more alarmed she became.

She certainly knew just how monstrous this guy was.

But standing across from him, the sheer pressure was enough to make her feel suffocated.

Every time she struck, it felt as if she had been seen through in advance.

Every time she changed her tactics, Long Yaochen was able to evade with the smallest of movements.

No way! Who is the one with Spiritual Detection here anyway!

Wang Dong roared in her heart.

It was the same old problem: being able to see it didn't mean being able to keep up.

Yet, Long Yaochen still had the spare energy to speak:

"Your left wing is too impatient."

"Don't loosen your waist."

"The angle of that strike is decent, but the killing intent is insufficient."

Wang Dong gritted her teeth, feeling a mix of shame and annoyance: "Are you competing, or are you teaching me!"

Long Yaochen chuckled: "Is there a difference?"

At that very moment, a cold glint flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes: "Xiao Xiao!"

Xiao Xiao understood immediately.

A long, emerald-green flute appeared in her palm.

Nine Phoenixes Coming Flute!

"First Soul Skill, Slow." Xiao Xiao gave a light shout.

Woo--

A heavy flute melody instantly echoed across the Soul Fighting Zone, like thousands of invisible threads reaching out to entangle Long Yaochen's limbs.

This sudden deceleration caused Long Yaochen's figure to falter slightly.

It was in this very instant.

A purple-gold light suddenly flared in the depths of Huo Yuhao's eyes.

Purple Demon Eye, Spirit Shock!

Invisible spiritual power shot out like a needle, piercing straight toward the center of Long Yaochen's brow.

His gaze wavered for a fleeting moment.

But he recovered immediately, tilting his head slightly.

Because Wang Dong's Butterfly Wing Guillotine had already grazed past his cheek.

A strand of black hair drifted down silently.

Immediately following, a thin red line appeared, marking the first blemish on Long Yaochen's flawless face.

A trace of blood slid gently down his cheek.

The entire arena fell silent in an instant.

"So you like to fight without activating your Martial Soul?" Ma Xiaotao snorted coldly from the spectator stand, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes. "Only knowing how to launch sneak attacks, what kind of man is that..."

Wang Dong was also stunned; she certainly hadn't expected this strike to actually injure him.

The next second, Long Yaochen raised his hand and slammed a fist into the wings Wang Dong had held up to protect her chest.

Bang!

Wang Dong was sent flying backward by the impact, barely stabilizing her figure in mid-air before sliding back several steps upon landing.

Long Yaochen did not pursue. He raised his hand and wiped the bloodstain on his cheek.

Looking at the smear of bright red on his fingertips, he smiled silently.

"So this is what it feels like to be hurt?"

As he spoke, he slowly raised his eyes. Deep within those originally pitch-black pupils, a cold, golden light slowly ignited.

"Since that's the case... then I shall get serious."

Roar--

A dragon's roar resounded throughout the entire Soul Fighting Zone, and immediately after, an inexplicable pressure blanketed the area, overwhelming everything.

The students in the stands all held their breath, and when they clearly saw Long Yaochen's soul rings, they revealed expressions of disbelief.

Three rings? Purple, purple, purple?!

The sound of discussion exploded instantly.

"Holy crap! What kind of monster is this! His soul power must be at the Soul Ancestor level, right?!"

"No wonder the academy dared to let him fight three at once! Is this the foundation of our Shrek?!"

"It's more than that; I even feel like the density of his soul power is catching up to a Soul King!"

"So what? What does it matter? I still feel like he can't block that strike from Huo Yuhao."

Amidst this discussion, the Blazing Golden Sacred Dragon circled around Long Yaochen before coiling behind his head.

A ring of dazzling dragon-patterned light hung silently behind him.

The brilliant, holy light was so intense that even Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao found it difficult to keep their eyes open.

Eternal Blazing Sun Holy Dragon!

"Hoo--"

Long Yaochen let out a long breath, slowly lifting his head to look at the group with those blazing golden eyes.

The next second, his ethereal voice, carrying a hint of majesty, rang out: "First Soul Skill! Prayer Light!"

Swish--!!!

A pillar of light reaching toward the heavens completely enveloped Long Yaochen.

The faint bloodstain on his face vanished in an instant.

At the same time, the aura emanating from his body surged significantly higher in a heartbeat.

The effect of this soul skill was simple: a one hundred percent increase in all attributes! Full recovery of all stamina!

Prayer of Light, for the Light Prayer!

"Three minutes..." Long Yaochen murmured under his breath.

Within the Sea of Spirit, the aged voice of Electrolux resonated: "Little Chen, start the timer from now."

Long Yaochen nodded without a word. However, the deepest purple ring beneath his feet instantly burst into radiance.

Long Yaochen slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers curling into a void grip.

The next instant, a searing white light seeped out from the depths of his palm.

The light was pure to the extreme, yet it carried a chilling sensation that made it difficult to look at directly, causing even the surrounding air to begin to distort.

Even all the shadows in the vicinity seemed to twist slightly, as if they were about to vanish at any moment.

Under the narrowed gazes of countless onlookers.

The orb of light gradually elongated, and a long spear took shape within his palm.

The spear shaft was slender and entirely searing white, devoid of any patterns or the slightest impurity. Strangely, the shadows on the Soul Fighting Platform were pushed away by an invisible hand, retreating one after another away from the spear tip.

Long Yaochen gripped the spear shaft, golden light swirling in the depths of his eyes.

"Third Soul Skill, Spear of No Darkness!"