"You have entered the Northern Division. Please follow the system's instructions to reach the Northern Division tournament area and select your event: the individual combat tournament or the mecha combat tournament."
After Shen Nanxun and Na'er entered the simulation pods, their consciousnesses appeared simultaneously in this virtual world.
"How realistic!"
Na'er was like a curious little child, her silver eyes roaming ceaselessly over the surroundings.
The streets and city were almost identical to those in reality, except that they had many more high-tech signs and guides.
For instance, a white arrow automatically appeared in front of them, pointing out their route and destination.
The arrow guided them to a huge, round stadium.
"Identity scan complete. Event: Youth Soul Master Tournament."
The two split up there to be matched with opponents and fight.
A flash of white light appeared before Shen Nanxun's eyes, and he found himself on a circular arena platform. He wore a mask that concealed his true face.
Less than ten seconds later, another flash of white light appeared across from him, revealing a figure wearing a white mask as well.
"Youth Soul Master Tournament: Wangzai Qiaoqiao versus Black Tiger."
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"Begin!"
Almost the instant the voice ended, the Soul Master codenamed Black Tiger completed his Martial Soul possession.
A shadowy black tiger emerged behind him. Its entire body was pitch-black, and ghostly green flames burned in its eyes. Its four paws struck the ground with a deep rumble, while two long, razor-sharp, ghostly green fangs extended from its jaws.
It was the Nether Dark-Fang Tiger, a Beast Martial Soul with the dark attribute.
Two yellow Hundred-Year Soul Rings revolved beneath him, and his First Soul Ring abruptly lit up. The Nether Dark-Fang Tiger's shadow merged with his body. A ghostly green glow covered his hands, and ten sharp tiger claws extended from his fingertips. He shot toward Shen Nanxun like a black cannonball.
"Black Tiger Rips Out Its Heart!"
His right claw, wrapped in ghostly blue Soul Power, went straight for Shen Nanxun's chest. There was no probing in that strike; he had held nothing back. It was a standard Legion combat tactic: go all out from the start and decide the match with a single blow.
Star Dou Battle Net was entirely virtual, so there was no need to consider the consequences. Fighters could let loose and fight without restraint. That was why this Black Tiger Soul Master was so ferocious.
Shen Nanxun dodged to the side. The wind from the claw brushed past his chest, leaving a ghostly green streak of light and a blur before his eyes.
Black Tiger's strike missed. His pupils contracted, but his reactions were quick. His left claw swept across in one fluid motion, its ghostly green blades drawing five arcs through the air and sealing off the space where Shen Nanxun might dodge.
But Shen Nanxun didn't try to evade. Golden light suddenly blazed behind him. Two golden wings, formed entirely from light, burst open on either side of his shoulder blades. As they spread, a golden sword appeared in his hand.
He blocked the claw with a single strike. Golden Soul Power and ghostly green Soul Power crashed together.
The Black Tiger Soul Master felt a blazing, domineering force rebound from his claw tips. His arm went numb, and his dark Soul Power was instantly suppressed, scattering slightly.
Before his opponent could recover, Shen Nanxun's golden wings flared behind him. A surge of air erupted, and he shot upward like a streak of light, soaring high above the arena in an instant.
Looking down from above, the golden holy light around him suddenly blazed brighter, shining like a brilliant golden sun hanging in the sky.
Angel's Light!
An overwhelmingly pure divine power descended from Shen Nanxun's Angel Sword.
The Angel Martial Soul commanded holiness and light, naturally possessing an absolute advantage over all dark attributes.
As the light fell, Black Tiger felt his whole body grow heavy. The Nether Dark-Fang Tiger's Soul Power became sluggish and difficult to circulate, and the ghostly green glow on its claws rapidly dimmed.
"How is that possible?!"
Black Tiger looked utterly disbelieving. At this point, forget fighting—even circulating his Soul Power had become a problem.
His Nether Dark-Fang Tiger was a mutated Martial Soul formed from the White Tiger and the Hell Spirit Cat, and it was a top-tier Beast Martial Soul. Yet now, it was being thoroughly suppressed.
Shen Nanxun wielded more than just the power of an angel. He was a Six-Winged Angel, and his power had been bestowed by Qian Renxue, the Angel God. If an opponent's Soul Power was lower than his and their Martial Soul happened to have a dark attribute, they would be clearly suppressed.
That was exactly Black Tiger's situation. His Soul Power was only level twenty-six, and his attribute was perfectly countered.
Shen Nanxun showed no mercy. His golden sword cut through the Black Tiger Soul Master's body, ending the match cleanly.
"Congratulations to Wangzai Qiaoqiao on winning this match."
Meanwhile, on the other side.
A silver spear swept across the arena, its shifting shadows accompanied by bursts of dragon roars. Na'er launched a fierce attack with the Silver Dragon Spear in her hand, cleanly piercing the figure in front of her.
"Phew, all done!"
Na'er put away the Silver Dragon Spear and even clapped her hands lightly, looking completely relaxed.
"Congratulations to Treasure Island Mom on winning this match."
The two met up outside and shared their impressions of their first experience in the virtual world.
"Shen Nanxun, you didn't lose, did you?"
Na'er tipped her face up. Her silver eyes sparkled, and the corners of her mouth lifted in a grin she couldn't suppress.
"No."
Shen Nanxun spread his hands. "Don't worry. I won't lose before I face you."
"Hmph!" Na'er gave a soft snort, clasped her hands behind her back, and leaned forward, bringing her face close to his as she looked up at him.
"If we get matched against each other, you have to forfeit."
"Why?"
"Because if you don't, Na'er will tell Mom on you."
"..."
The Star Dou Battle Net tournament was a long-running competition, divided into eight divisions. The top thirty-two in each division would advance to the final tournament.
After a month and a half of matches, Shen Nanxun and Na'er had both made it into the Northern Division's top thirty-two.
When they came out of the simulation pods, quite a few people had gathered outside. Adolf was among them, and naturally, their eldest sister, who was usually swamped with official duties, stood at the head of the group.
Shen Yue stood straight in her military uniform, smiling as she nodded. "Congratulations to you both on making the top thirty-two."
"Likewise, likewise." Shen Nanxun stepped forward and came up beside his eldest sister. "Sis, is there a reward?"
Shen Yue shot him a sidelong glance and said with a humorless smile, "Don't think I haven't heard. You used this opportunity to squeeze a hefty sum out of the Legion through Major Adolf. I haven't settled that score with you yet."
"Sis, I was joking. Bringing honor to the Legion is my privilege. Talking about rewards would make us sound like strangers."
Shen Nanxun immediately changed his tune, putting on a look of someone ready to share the Legion's fate, for better or worse. Even so, he managed a resentful glance at Adolf, who had tattled from a short distance away.
Adolf gave a light cough, then said, "Deputy Legion Commander, today's class at the academy is an introduction to military weapons and a tour of the exhibits. I should get back to teach."
After Shen Yue nodded, Adolf hurried off.
"Quit your nonsense. Let's go home." Shen Yue rolled her eyes at Shen Nanxun, and they headed out of the Legion.
"Mom said she wants to celebrate with you. We're having a big dinner tonight."
"A big dinner?"
Na'er's eyes lit up.
"Food's all you ever think about."
"Big Sis, my brother's picking on me!"
"Shen Nanxun!"
As they chatted and laughed on their way out, a young male lieutenant in the North Sea Legion uniform passed by them with steady steps.
"Greetings, Deputy Legion Commander!"
He stood ramrod straight, his uniform immaculate, his face bearing the solemn air unique to soldiers. His salute, turn, and steps flowed together seamlessly, without a trace of oddity. He looked like the most ordinary junior officer.
But the instant he passed Shen Nanxun, a faint wisp of scent drifted across the tip of Shen Nanxun's nose.
The scent was so subtle it was almost negligible, mingling with the distinctive metallic smell of the military camp. An ordinary person could never have detected it.
Yet Shen Nanxun's steps stopped at once.
Ever since fusing with the Six-Winged Angel divine power bestowed by Qian Renxue, he had awakened Angel Perception, a sense unique to angels. The Six-Winged Angel commanded the purest and holiest power in the world, making it naturally and exceptionally sensitive to every trace of darkness and evil.
"Sis, what does that man do in the Legion?" Shen Nanxun didn't raise the alarm immediately. Instead, he asked her.
Shen Yue was a little surprised by his sudden question, but answered anyway. "He's responsible for managing part of the warehouses and overseeing the military exhibition area. Why? What made you ask?"
"If I'm not mistaken, there's a strange aura on him. It feels like... an Evil Soul Master!" Shen Nanxun said decisively.
Shen Yue furrowed her brows slightly. "How is that possible? Every officer in the Legion has undergone a strict background check. No Evil Soul Master could have slipped in."
"No." Shen Nanxun shook his head. At that moment, in the Sea of Consciousness, Qian Renxue lounged lazily, though a glint flashed in her eyes.
"He isn't an Evil Soul Master, of course. But he's been in contact with one—within the past day, at the very least."
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