On the arena, Xu Sanshi slammed into the protective soul tool barrier at the edge, making a dull, heavy thud.
The hand gripping the Mystic Turtle Shell Shield trembled slightly. A gash had split the web between his thumb and forefinger, and blood dripped from the shield's edge onto the ground.
His chest roiled with surging blood and qi. The force from that last blow was still rampaging through his body, making even breathing a struggle.
By contrast, Mu Chen stood across from him, holding the Trident with its prongs angled toward the ground. Four Soul Rings revolved slowly beneath his feet, and the black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring looked especially dazzling under the lights.
He wasn't even breathing hard. He simply watched Xu Sanshi calmly, as if waiting for him to get back up on his own.
"Do you want to keep going?"
Mu Chen's voice wasn't loud, but in the silent Arena, every word reached everyone's ears clearly.
In the stands, the students who had come expecting a bit of entertainment were all dumbfounded.
"My god, a first-year freshman, Level 43, with a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?"
"Xu Sanshi's the strongest defensive Soul Elder in the Outer Academy, and he couldn't even take one move?"
"What kind of monster is this kid..."
Tang Ya gripped the railing with both hands, her eyes shining with excitement. "Bei Bei, look, look! Mu Chen is so amazing! He sent that annoying Xu Sanshi flying with just one move!"
Bei Bei folded his arms, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
He'd expected this outcome, but seeing Xu Sanshi sent flying with one move still filled him with a rush of satisfaction.
That guy had spent ages provoking him, relying on his strong defense. Today, he'd finally met his match.
"Three Mysterious Water Pills..." Bei Bei murmured softly, his smile growing even wider. "Xu Sanshi's going to pay dearly for this one."
Huo Yuhao stood beside Bei Bei, his eyes full of shock.
He clenched his fists tightly as he watched the blue figure on the arena, an indescribable feeling rising in his heart.
They were both freshmen, both human, and yet the gap between them was so vast. Mu Chen's strength filled him with a profound sense of helplessness, but at the same time, it kindled a fierce longing and refusal to accept defeat.
Jiang Nannan stood quietly on the other side of the stands, her long golden hair stirring gently in the wind.
Her gaze rested on Mu Chen. A hint of curiosity had entered those eyes, usually touched by a faint melancholy.
Xu Sanshi might be annoying, but his strength was the real deal.
Among the fifth-year students in the Outer Academy, there were hardly any who could surpass him in defense.
Yet this freshman named Mu Chen had broken through his defenses with a single move.
On the arena, Xu Sanshi gritted his teeth and climbed to his feet. His chest heaved violently, and he breathed like a wounded beast.
He glared at Mu Chen, shock and anger flashing in his eyes, along with a trace of fear he didn't want to admit even to himself.
The force behind that last blow was nothing like what a Level 43 Soul Ancestor could unleash.
His Mystic Turtle Shell Shield was considered an absolute defense among those of the same level. Even against Bei Bei's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, he would have the advantage in a direct clash.
But when Mu Chen's Trident thrust at him, he'd felt as though a mountain had crashed into him. The Soul Power defense on his shield had been pierced in an instant, and his body had been sent flying beyond his control.
"I don't believe it!"
Xu Sanshi clenched his teeth and poured Soul Power into the shield in his hand. The patterns on the surface of the Mystic Turtle Shell Shield glowed dark green, and a dense turtle-shell pattern appeared across its face. It was a sign that he'd pushed his defense to the limit.
His purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring lit up, and a dark green barrier formed around him, enveloping his entire body. At the same time, his Second Soul Ring lit up as well.
"Second Soul Skill, Mystic Shield Formation!"
This was Xu Sanshi's signature move. His bloodline power even showed signs of awakening as his Third Soul Ring lit up.
"Come on, kid!" Xu Sanshi roared, planting his feet firmly on the arena and taking up a defensive stance.
Mu Chen looked at Xu Sanshi, who stood ready for him across the arena, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
The defense was decent, but only decent.
He moved.
There were no flashy movements, just one simple step forward.
A ring of shockwaves burst across the arena floor beneath his feet. He shot toward Xu Sanshi like an arrow loosed from its bow.
The Trident spun halfway around in his hand, its prongs trailing behind him and scraping a dazzling shower of sparks across the arena.
"First Soul Skill, Ocean's Fury."
Blue light shone across Mu Chen's body, and a trace of crimson surfaced in his deep blue eyes.
A violent aura erupted from within him, making him seem to transform into a furious deep-sea beast.
The fifty percent boost to all his attributes took effect instantly. His speed, strength, and Soul Power surged to terrifying heights.
Xu Sanshi's pupils contracted sharply.
He could feel Mu Chen's aura soaring by nearly half in an instant.
"How is that possible?"
Before the words had left his mouth, the Trident was already upon him.
Mu Chen used no unnecessary tricks, only the simplest, most straightforward thrust.
The three prongs of the Trident rapidly grew larger in Xu Sanshi's vision, carrying the salty tang of the sea and a suffocating pressure.
The moment the prongs touched the barrier around the Mystic Turtle Shell Shield, a sharp, grating shriek rang out.
Xu Sanshi's eyes widened.
He clearly saw a hairline crack appear in the absolute defense he'd always been so proud of. Then the crack spread like a spiderweb, racing across the entire barrier.
Crack.
The barrier shattered.
Mu Chen didn't even furrow his brow. The Trident's momentum didn't slacken in the slightest as it continued toward Xu Sanshi.
Xu Sanshi gritted his teeth and raised his shield to block the blow.
Boom!
The impact was even more violent than the first.
Xu Sanshi felt as though he'd been hit head-on by a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. His feet carved two deep furrows in the ground, and his whole body was sent flying again.
This time, he flew straight past the edge of the arena and slammed heavily into the ground outside.
The Mystic Turtle Shell Shield flew from his grasp, bounced twice, then landed beside him with a clang.
The whole arena fell silent.
If the first time could be dismissed as carelessness, this time was a complete and utter crushing defeat.
Xu Sanshi had used his strongest defensive technique, yet he'd still been sent flying with one move.
Mu Chen put away the Trident and walked to the edge of the arena, looking down at Xu Sanshi on the ground.
"Want to keep fighting?"
Xu Sanshi lay on the ground, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath.
Both his arms were completely numb, and he didn't even have the strength to lift them. The wound between his thumb and forefinger had split wider, and blood stained his entire palm.
He looked up at Mu Chen, standing at the edge of the arena. His deep blue eyes shone especially bright in the shadows.