Chapter 42

Xiao Yan's pupils constricted to pinpricks, his hand gripping the heavy sword trembling slightly.

This aura... it was at least equivalent to the Spirit King level!

He was only level twenty-five! What was the concept of a Spirit King? That was a height he absolutely could not reach at his current stage!

The Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff Emperor gave Xiao Yan no time to react; with a wave of its giant claws, three dark-gold claw beams tore through the air and whistled toward him!

Xiao Yan dodged with all his might while swinging his heavy sword, the Heaven-Burning Exotic Flame transforming into a wall of fire in an attempt to block!

But—

"Sshhh—!"

The claw beams easily shredded the fire wall, the aftermath grazing his shoulder and leaving a bloody gash!

This was a battle of completely different magnitudes!

The scene that followed left every spectator stunned.

The golden giant beast chased Xiao Yan all over the arena as if toying with its prey. Every swipe of its claws left Xiao Yan in a wretched state.

Xiao Yan's Heaven-Burning Exotic Flame struck the beast, but could only leave shallow scorch marks on its golden fur, failing to inflict any substantial damage.

This wasn't a battle; it was a one-sided crushing!

Xiao Yan pushed himself to the limit, unleashing his strongest spirit skill: Heaven-Burning Exotic Flame!

Cyan flames filled the sky, pouring down like a torrential rain in an attempt to engulf the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff Emperor!

However, the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff Emperor merely roared at the sky, golden light erupting from its body. The Heaven-Burning Exotic Flame, capable of melting steel, was extinguished before the golden light as if it were nothing more than a common fire!

Xiao Yan's heart sank to the bottom of a valley.

He had lost.

Completely lost.

He finally stopped, his heavy sword hanging limply at his side as he gasped for air.

"I... concede."

The three words were spat out with great difficulty.

The spectator stands erupted in an uproar!

Xiao Yan actually conceded?! That Xiao Yan, hailed as the "strongest fire-type genius of Shrek's generation," actually conceded?

The referee stood frozen on the spot, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

He looked at Luo Yang, then at the majestic golden giant beast, his mind a complete blank.

Did this... did this count as cheating?

The competition rules never stated that spirit souls couldn't fight!

But... whose spirit soul could grow like this?! Whose spirit soul could possess such terrifying combat power?! This was clearly a spirit beast wearing the skin of a spirit soul!

He swallowed hard and turned his head toward the VIP viewing platform.

In a situation like this, he had to ask his superiors!

On the viewing platform, Cai Yue'er's eyes were wider than copper bells.

She stood up abruptly from her seat, staring fixedly at the golden giant beast, her lips trembling:

"What... what is this?! Leng Yaozhu, what exactly is that?! Is it a spirit soul or a spirit beast?!"

Leng Yaozhu remained elegantly reclined against her chair, a faint smile playing on her lips as she took a slow, measured sip of tea:

"It's a spirit soul."

"A spirit soul?!" Cai Yue'er's voice went up an octave. "You call that a spirit soul?! Whose spirit soul grows to such a size?! Whose spirit soul has such combat power?! This is clearly a spirit beast!"

"But it is a spirit soul," Leng Yaozhu smiled slightly. "It's just that, perhaps... it's not quite the same as an ordinary spirit soul."

Cai Yue'er nearly lost her breath.

Not quite the same as an ordinary spirit soul? Was "not quite the same" enough to describe this?! This was clearly an entirely different species!

She took a deep breath, struggling to calm herself, but her gaze remained locked on the golden giant beast:

"This spirit soul... its strength is equivalent to the Spirit King level, right?"

"More or less," Leng Yaozhu nodded, her tone light and airy.

Cai Yue'er fell silent.

A Spirit King-level spirit soul... what did this mean? It meant that this boy named Luo Yang could sweep through all opponents of the same level relying solely on his spirit soul! Even challenging those of higher ranks wouldn't be a problem!

The Spirit Pagoda had truly struck gold this time.

Ya Li's gaze also fell upon Luo Yang, and for the first time, a hint of genuine interest flickered in those gentle, water-like eyes.

This boy... was interesting.

The faint, lingering aura of death on him—though well-hidden—was something she could perceive. And that golden giant beast... no matter how she looked at it, it didn't seem like an ordinary spirit soul.

"Interesting," she whispered to herself.

On the competition stage, Xiao Yan kept his head low, his face full of unwillingness.

He did not want to admit defeat, but he had no other choice.

What frustrated him even more was that he had actually lost to a beast.

And this Luo Yang had not lifted a finger from start to finish, simply standing there watching the show!

He suddenly raised his head, glaring at Luo Yang, his eyes burning with the flames of resentment:

"I refuse to accept this!"

Luo Yang raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

"If you have the guts, fight me yourself!" Xiao Yan gritted his teeth. "Don't rely on that beast! Let's have a fair fight!"

A wave of whispers rippled through the spectator stands.

Luo Yang looked at him, silent for two seconds.

Then, he smiled.

But in Xiao Yan's eyes, that smile clearly spelled out two words:

Disdain.

"You are not worthy," Luo Yang said.

The three words were light, yet they exploded in Xiao Yan's mind like a thunderclap!

Xiao Yan stiffened, his expression shifting from resentment to anger, and then from anger to defeat.

He wanted to retort, wanted to say something, but when the words reached his lips, he couldn't utter a single one.

Because what Luo Yang said was the truth.

He couldn't even defeat the opponent's spirit soul; what right did he have to challenge the person himself?

Xiao Yan lowered his head and walked off the competition stage in silence.

In the Shrek Academy rest area, a girl in a pink dress looked toward the corner at the girl who had been resting with her eyes closed since the match began.

"Ye Xinglan."

Ye Xinglan slowly opened her eyes.

They were eyes as cold and sharp as frigid stars, devoid of any emotion, containing only a pure, ultimate edge.

The moment she opened her eyes, the entire viewing platform seemed to be shrouded in an invisible sword intent.

"It's your turn."

Ye Xinglan did not answer; she simply stood up and walked toward the competition stage.

Her footsteps were light and steady, as if every step had been measured. There was not a ripple of soul power around her, yet that innate, piercing aura made everyone along her path instinctively clear a way.

At this moment, on the viewing platform.

"That girl is named Ye Xinglan," Cai Yue'er said, watching her back, her tone carrying undisguised pride. "The most outstanding descendant of the Ye Family in this generation."

"The Ye Family?" Leng Yaozhu's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that the... Ye Family that once fought one of the great beasts, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, and produced a Sword God?"

"That's right." Cai Yue'er nodded, a trace of reminiscence flashing in her eyes. "Three hundred years ago, the ancestor of the Ye Family entered the path of the sword, went alone into the Star Dou Forest, and fought the great beast Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear for three days and three nights, eventually surviving and establishing the title of Sword God. The Ye Family sword path has been passed down to this day, never broken."

Leng Yaozhu fell silent.

A family of Sword Gods... that was true heritage.

Unlike the Spirit Pagoda, which relied on resources and spirit souls to build its power, the Ye Family's sword path was passed down through the blood and fire of generations; they were true practitioners of combat.

Cai Yue'er turned to look at Leng Yaozhu, a meaningful smile curling the corners of her lips:

"Yaozhu, this time, I'm afraid your Spirit Pagoda is going to suffer a heavy loss."

Leng Yaozhu did not speak.

Her gaze fell upon the black-haired, black-eyed figure below the competition stage.

Luo Yang seemed to sense something; he looked up, meeting her gaze from afar.

He smiled, and in that smile, there was no tension, no fear, only composure.

Leng Yaozhu nodded slightly, a smile also touching the corners of her lips.

She believed in him.