Yu Tianheng instantly felt offended. "Then who exactly are you?"
"Allow me to introduce myself properly."
Tuoba Xuan straightened his collar and said solemnly:
"My real name is Tuoba Xuan. Senior Dugu Yan can vouch for me."
Dugu Yan clearly hadn't expected to be brought into this. When she came to her senses, she immediately nodded.
"Let me explain. His name is Tuoba Xuan. He's the grandson of Sacred Dragon Douluo, and a benefactor of my Dugu Family."
Dugu Yan valued loyalty above all else. She thought Tuoba Xuan had mentioned her because he wanted her to speak up for him.
"Benefactor?"
Yu Tianheng was visibly taken aback, and forced down the resentment in his heart. Since his girlfriend had spoken up, he couldn't very well keep questioning Tuoba Xuan.
The others also looked at Tuoba Xuan curiously.
"I know you all have some misgivings about me joining the Imperial Fighting Team."
"But I want to make one thing clear: I'll only fight in the semifinals. As long as you make it to the final four, I guarantee you'll win this year's Spirit Master Tournament."
Apart from Dugu Yan, the others were all openly skeptical.
They knew Tuoba Xi had advanced to Titled Douluo, but the matter of Tuoba Xuan abducting Hu Liena had been suppressed by Spirit Hall.
What a joke. She was the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall, after all. Letting news like that spread would be a disgrace to Spirit Hall's authority.
"Tuoba Xuan, I know you're strong, but you should know that the Spirit Hall Team has three Soul Kings this year."
Yu Tianheng said with a frown.
Tuoba Xuan nodded. "I know. I'll take on Spirit Hall's three Soul Kings. The rest are yours."
Yu Tianheng's mouth twitched. Just a few months ago, Tuoba Xuan had only been a level 38 Soul Elder.
Even if he'd advanced to Soul Ancestor now, how could he possibly stand against three Soul Kings?
"I know you don't believe me, so I chose the Soul Fighting Arena as the place for our meeting."
Tuoba Xuan finally revealed his purpose.
"I think I can prove with my strength whether I'm just bragging."
The Imperial Fighting Team members exchanged glances. Yu Tianheng's face immediately filled with fighting spirit. "Fine. I'm a level 42 Soul Ancestor. I'll fight you."
Since the others didn't yet know that Dugu Yan's Martial Soul had evolved, they still considered Yu Tianheng the strongest member of the Imperial Fighting Team.
Tuoba Xuan shook his head and slowly raised one finger.
"No need. I'll take on all seven of you by myself."
"Hahaha!" Yu Tianheng immediately felt insulted.
"You mean you're going to fight all seven of us alone?"
"Tuoba Xuan, you're certainly strong, but aren't you being a little too arrogant?"
Dugu Yan narrowed her eyes. She knew how strong Tuoba Xuan was and didn't want him to get beaten too badly.
Besides, Tuoba Xuan had done her a great kindness. She simply couldn't bring herself to fight him.
So Dugu Yan immediately announced that she was dropping out.
"Go ahead and fight. I'm out."
Tuoba Xuan nodded in agreement.
"Then one against six should be fine, right?"
"Fine. You'll pay for your arrogance."
Yu Tianheng ground out the words through clenched teeth.
In the blink of an eye, only seven people remained on the Soul Fighting Arena.
Tuoba Xuan stood casually to one side.
The Imperial Fighting Team members warmed up, rubbing their hands together.
"Yu Tianheng, Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, level 42 Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor."
"Ye Lingling, Martial Soul: Nine Hearts Begonia, level 39 support Tool Soul Elder."
"Shi Mo..."
The Imperial Fighting Team members announced their Soul Power levels and Martial Souls one after another.
Tuoba Xuan rolled his shoulders a little.
"Good. I'll open your eyes."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a mountain came crashing down.
The Soul Power around Tuoba Xuan surged higher and higher.
"Tuoba Xuan, Martial Soul: Mountain Dragon King, level 49 Defense System Battle Soul Ancestor."
"F-forty-nine?"
Yu Tianheng stared at him in shock.
"How is that possible? Weren't you only level 38 before?"
Tuoba Xuan waved a hand. "Ah, brother, I've been pretty lucky lately."
His words left the Imperial Fighting Team members momentarily speechless.
Even Zhang Lian, their team leader, looked utterly incredulous.
He'd thought Tuoba Xuan would be, at most, about as strong as Yu Tianheng.
He hadn't expected Tuoba Xuan's Soul Power Level to be a full level 49.
That was right. Tuoba Xuan had broken through again.
As for why, all he could say was that he'd been in high spirits and advanced overnight.
Last night, Tuoba Xuan had met Shui Bing'er, whom he'd been waiting for so long, at the Skywater Academy hotel.
The two hadn't seen each other in ages, so naturally they had plenty to talk about.
...Ahem, it was too cold outside. Better to go back to bed and talk...
And so Tuoba Xuan had broken through again. He even felt he'd faintly touched the bottleneck of level 50.
"Since none of you are making a move, I'll go first."
Tuoba Xuan gave a low shout.
"First Soul Skill: Ten Thousand Jun Tremor."
Beneath Tuoba Xuan, just two Soul Rings still floated quietly: one purple and one black.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
Yu Tianheng and the others suddenly felt their legs go weak. The ground beneath them had somehow caved in.
They tried to straighten up, but an unbearable pressure pinned them firmly in place.
"Not good, it's a gravity Soul Skill! Yu Feng!"
Lightning snakes coiled around Yu Tianheng, but they did nothing at all.
Yu Feng's Martial Soul was a wind-type Martial Soul, so Yu Tianheng could only pin his hopes on him, trying to get Yu Feng to interrupt Tuoba Xuan as he released his Soul Skill.
But how could Tuoba Xuan let them have their way?
He wanted to suppress them completely.
"Increase gravity!"
Tuoba Xuan clenched both fists, and the unbearable force of gravity grew even stronger.
"Argh!" Yu Feng cried out in pain. The pressure on him was the heaviest, and now he could barely even summon his Martial Soul.
A bead of cold sweat ran down the corner of Yu Tianheng's eye.
He knew that as the team captain, he had to step forward now.
So Yu Tianheng didn't hesitate. All four Soul Rings beneath him flared brightly at once.
"First Soul Skill: Thunder Dragon Claw."
"Second Soul Skill: Thunder Fury."
"Third Soul Skill: Thunder Ten Thousand Jun!"
"Fourth Soul Skill: Thunder Dragon Head!"
Yu Tianheng unleashed all the Soul Skills he had at once.
In an instant, thunder crackled and boomed.
Lightning enveloped Yu Tianheng's whole body, and miraculously, he managed to straighten up.
He stubbornly held back Tuoba Xuan's gravity pressure for his teammates.
"I have to say, you're a pretty good captain. But you're simply too weak."
Tuoba Xuan didn't plan to drag this out. His wife was still waiting outside to go home with him and meet the family.
"Heart of the Mountain Dragon Skill—Might of the Dragon King."
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A thunderous dragon's roar exploded behind Tuoba Xuan.
This terrifying dragon's might sent a shudder through the depths of their souls.
The lightning surrounding Yu Tianheng seemed to have seen something terrifying. It instantly wilted.
"Third Soul Skill: Dark Demon Evil God Rend!"
The Dragon Tiger Hook appeared, and a flash of purple light streaked through the air.
Then came the Imperial Fighting Team's enemies' cries and groans, rising and falling one after another.
When the dust cleared,
all six members of the Imperial Fighting Team were sprawled helplessly on the ground.