A few days later, in the Soul Fighting Zone.
Lin Ciyan leaned back lazily on the recliner in the front row of the spectator stands, holding a glass of juice in his hand, with a plate of cut fruit next to him.
He wasn't wearing his school uniform today, but rather a simple white long gown, his golden and white hair casually draped over his shoulders.
The aura of the level 68 Soul Emperor was completely concealed, making him look like an ordinary student who came to watch the battle.
But no one dared to treat him as an ordinary student.
Soul Fighting Zone, all twenty-seven core disciples from the Outer Court had arrived, ranging from second to fifth grade.
Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao stood in the second-year group.
Huo Yuhao's gaze was calm, but Lin Ciyan could sense the lingering coldness deep within his eyes.
The outcome of the investigation into the ambush that occurred a few days ago has been released.
Dai Huabin was severely punished by the college... and was expelled.
It is said that after receiving the message, the Duchess of the White Tiger Duke Mansion came to the academy in person to plead for leniency, but Yan Shaozhe's attitude was adamant.
With irrefutable evidence, one of the six ambushers couldn't withstand the interrogation and confessed to Dai Huabin's name.
Before leaving school yesterday, Dai Huabin came to see Huo Yuhao again.
The young man was pale, his eyes were bloodshot, and he took out a brocade box containing a valuable " White Tiger Blood Ginseng," which he said was a rare treasure of the Dai Family and he hoped it could make up for his mistake.
Huo Yuhao didn't even glance at the brocade box, simply saying, "I don't need your things."
Then he turned and left.
Lin Ciyan watched from a distance, shaking his head inwardly.
"This Dai Huabin is a weirdo. Even after things have come to this, he still wants to make amends with material things? Does he think that he can settle the matter of almost killing someone with a single herb?"
"Typical aristocratic mentality... always thinking everything can be solved with money and resources. Unfortunately, Huo Yuhao may seem gentle, but he's more stubborn than anyone else at heart."
"But this is for the best, it saves us from the possibility that some poison or curse might be hidden in that broken ginseng... Given the character of those people in the White Tiger Duke Mansion, they really are capable of doing such a thing."
Lin Ciyan took a sip of juice and glanced around the room.
Today's chaotic battle is ostensibly a test for core disciples.
In reality, it was a selection process for the reserve team of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament.
Lin Ciyan had already been designated as a regular player and was even the captain.
Mu En personally made the decision, and Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo wholeheartedly agreed.
A level 68 Soul Emperor with Twin Martial Souls, possessing two Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, one 300,000-year soul ring, and one 700,000-year soul ring, plus the Ice Jade Snow Phoenix Wings...
With this kind of lineup, if they don't appoint him as team leader, are they going to let Ma Xiaotao, with her fiery temper, take the position?
"The reserve team..." Lin Ciyan looked at the tense yet excited young faces on the field, a slight smile playing on his lips.
He remembered that in the original novel, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, He Caitou were the seven winners.
It probably won't change now.
Just then, a commotion arose from the sidelines.
A swaying figure walked over, a gourd of wine in his left hand and a chicken leg in his right, his face covered by messy hair, and he reeked of alcohol.
Xuan Zi.
Lin Ciyan raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, "This 'Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult ' is here again."
This old man himself has disliked it since he was a child...
Long ago, a mistake led to the deaths of eight Inner Court disciples.
From then on, the old man became addicted to alcohol, which he euphemistically called "testing the trainees."
"To be honest, the academy's higher-ups are incredibly reckless to let someone in this mental state be in charge of the selection process. What if he gets drunk and accidentally kills one of the students?"
"Never mind, with me here, nothing will happen."
Xuan Zi walked to the center of the arena and, with his eyes glazed with drunkenness, announced the rules, "A free-for-all, with no rules. Those who concede or are rescued are eliminated. The last seven remaining are the winners."
After saying that, he took a sip of his drink, ate a piece of chicken leg, and then suddenly shouted, "Start!"
With a "whoosh," the person vanished.
The twenty-seven trainees were left looking at each other in bewilderment.
Lin Ciyan curled his lip in disapproval. "This old man didn't even say 'ready,' he just went straight to 'start.' What if any trainee is slow to react? Won't they become easy targets right from the start?"
"As expected, Shrek Academy's 'fine tradition'... doesn't treat its students like human beings, euphemistically calling it 'training'."
The field was in complete chaos.
Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao reacted extremely quickly, taking Xiao Xiao with them and rushing straight towards Bei Bei.
Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao placed their palms together, and the Haodong Power naturally flowed... but that was all.
To outsiders, it was simply a matter of mutual support among companions.
Lin Ciyan nodded. "Not bad, knows how to curry favor with powerful figures."
Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan quickly assembled.
He Caitou, on the other hand, resembled a mobile artillery platform, with numerous metal tubular objects protruding from his body and two cannon barrels as thick as his thighs slung over his shoulders.
Four Soul Ring lit up... two yellow and two purple, Soul Ancestor.
" With He Caitou at the fourth level, the Soul Guidance Department should invest in upgrading," Lin Ciyan commented.
The battle erupted instantly.
He Caitou fired a volley of shots, eliminating two unlucky guys... Zhou Sicheng and Cao Jinxuan.
Xuan Zi acted quickly, lifting the two into the air.
Huo Yuhao and the other six quickly formed a formation: Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan in front, He Caitou in the middle, Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong behind, and Huo Yuhao at the rear to provide Spiritual Detection Sharing.
"Clear tactics, excellent teamwork." Lin Ciyan took a sip of juice. "Looks like you've practiced together quite a bit."
The other trainees also realized what was happening and formed groups one after another.
After Dai Huabin was expelled from school, the remaining students found some older students who were alone to join them, barely increasing the size of the group.
Ning Tian served as the core commander among them.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda in her palm lit up, Xie Huanyue, Wu Feng, and Zhu Lu's strength increased significantly as they charged straight at Huo Yuhao and his companions.
But He Caitou's firepower was too intense, and they couldn't break through.
At this moment, a fourth-year defensive-type Soul Elder stepped forward, raising his arms to block in front of him, while the other students hid behind him, forming a line and charging forward.
Lin Ciyan's eyes lit up. "A great opportunity."
As expected, Huo Yuhao seized on this weakness.
He Caitou, and Xiao Xiao's Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron blocked the path of the defensive Soul Elder.
The line of people stood still for a moment, and chaos ensued.
In that instant, Huo Yuhao's Mental Interference was activated.
Everyone was momentarily stunned.
Then, a huge, vertically-eyed phantom appeared at the other end of the group, Light Goddess Butterfly spread its magnificent wings, embracing and merging with it.
Blue, purple, and gold rays burst forth, leaving a dazzling Golden Road on the ground!
The twelve core disciples, lined up in a row, were all dyed gold and turned into statues!
"Beautiful!" Lin Ciyan couldn't help but exclaim.
The Golden Road technique is indeed domineering; it's a 100% Martial Soul Fusion Skill, almost unbeatable at the second and third ring stages.
Xuan Zi descended from the sky, his white light enveloping the students, who collapsed in a flurry.
The man on the Third Ring Road was in a terrible state, while the man on the Second Ring Road was completely unconscious.
"If Xuan Zi hadn't intervened in time, these kids from the second ring would have been in serious trouble," Lin Ciyan shook his head.
"That's why I say this selection method is problematic... it completely ignores the danger of a large gap in ability."
On the other side, Bei Bei and her two companions also defeated six opponents.
Only Huo Yuhao and seven others remained on the field.
Ning Tian was rescued by Xuan Zi with a blank expression, and more than half of his Soul Power evaporated.
She looked at Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao with a complicated expression.
Ning Tian already knew that the two of them had become Lin Ciyan's disciples.
She knew Lin Ciyan's abilities, but without a teaching assistant like him, how could she possibly get close to him?
Xuan Zi reappeared, munching on a chicken leg, and surveyed the eliminated trainees.
"You're not satisfied? You feel it's unfair?"
He said coldly, "The free-for-all is aimed at each and every one of you. On the battlefield, can you decide the number and condition of the enemy?"
"This seemingly unfair free-for-all is actually the best way to test overall strength. Teamwork, individual ability, character... A person with a withdrawn personality can never achieve great things."
Then, Xuan Zi began to recount the cruelty of the Inner Court: life-or-death contracts, the constant threat of death, and the fact that the number of Inner Court disciples rarely exceeded fifty...
The eliminated trainees lowered their heads and left the stage silently.
Lin Ciyan listened, inwardly grumbling, "They're at it again, selling anxiety. Yes, the Inner Court is dangerous, but there's no need to scare every student like this."
"True strength cannot be cultivated through intimidation."
Only Huo Yuhao and seven others remained on the field.
Xuan Zi took a sip of wine and said calmly, "The seven of you are the reserve team members selected this time."
"Three months from now, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament will begin. You will be part of the reserve team, traveling with the main team. Of course, you won't have a chance to play..."
"Now, let's get to know your captain."
Xuan Zi turned his head and looked towards the spectator stands.
All eyes turned to Lin Ciyan.
Lin Ciyan slowly put down the juice, stretched, and stood up from the recliner.
He walked step by step down from the stands and onto the field.
The aura of the level 68 Soul Emperor was no longer concealed; the oppressive power of the Holy Radiance Qilin was naturally revealed, and multicolored radiance flowed subtly around his body.
Huo Yuhao and the other six all stared wide-eyed.
"Let me introduce myself," Lin Ciyan yawned.
" Lin Ciyan, sixteen years old, level sixty-eight Soul Emperor, Twin Martial Souls. A regular member and captain of this tournament."
"Please guide me in the future."
He paused, then added:
"By the way, my teaching philosophy can be summed up in eight words: Relaxation Cultivation, become stronger with joy."
"So, if you follow me, I guarantee you... well, at least you won't have to sign life-or-death contracts like some other people do."
As he said this, he deliberately glanced at Xuan Zi.
Xuan Zi's lips twitched as he took a big gulp of wine.
Huo Yuhao and the other six looked at each other, and then, without prior agreement...
He laughed.