The Opening! The Competition Begins!

Early in the morning, sunlight spilled over Spirit City.

Outside the arena, the crowds were immense.

Spectators from all across the continent had gathered here. There were ordinary civilians, children of noble families, and representatives from the major sects. They discussed animatedly, speculating about who would emerge victorious today.

"I heard the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect sent a six-year-old child to compete, and his martial soul is supposedly some kind of Radiant Phoenix."

"Radiant Phoenix? That's a legendary martial soul! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is really planning to make a name for itself in one stroke."

"No matter how talented he is, he's still only six. How strong could he possibly be? I think Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is the favorite to win."

"Not necessarily. Feng Xiaotian from Godwind Academy is said to have already reached level thirty-one. A Soul Elder in his teens—just think about what that means!"

All sorts of voices intertwined, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere outside the arena.

Inside their residence, Zhao Tian got up early, washed up, and changed into his white training outfit embroidered with golden patterns.

He stood before the mirror, looked at his reflection, and took a deep breath.

After three months of grueling cultivation, the day to test the results had finally arrived.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A knock sounded at the door.

"Zhao Tian, are you ready yet? Rongrong has been waiting for you forever!"

Ning Rongrong's voice came from outside.

Zhao Tian opened the door and saw that Ning Rongrong had changed into a new outfit as well.

She wore a light green short skirt paired with white boots, while her hair was tied in a high ponytail, making her look both capable and adorable.

"Wow, you look so handsome today!"

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up as she looked Zhao Tian over from head to toe.

Zhao Tian smiled. "You look beautiful too."

"Of course! Rongrong is always beautiful!"

Ning Rongrong proudly lifted her little chin, then grabbed Zhao Tian's hand.

"Come on, come on! Dad and the others are waiting for us!"

At the entrance to the residence, Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong had already been waiting for quite some time.

When they saw Zhao Tian and Ning Rongrong walking over hand in hand, satisfied smiles appeared on all three of their faces.

"Tian'er, Rongrong, today is the first day of the competition. There will only be individual preliminary matches."

Ning Fengzhi spoke.

"Your matches are scheduled for the afternoon. This morning, go watch the other contestants and familiarize yourselves with the venue and rules."

"Yes!"

The two answered in unison.

The arena was packed to capacity.

More than ten thousand spectators filled the stands, their cheers and shouts rising one after another.

At the center of the arena stood an enormous fighting platform. Defensive barriers surrounded it, personally arranged by Spirit Hall Soul Masters, and were enough to withstand attacks at the Soul Ancestor level.

Zhao Tian and Ning Rongrong sat in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's private viewing area, their gazes fixed on the platform.

At that moment, the first preliminary match was underway.

One contestant came from some small sect and possessed the Iron Arm Ape martial soul, while the other was an independent cultivator with the Gale Wolf martial soul.

Both had Soul Power just above level twenty, and their strengths were evenly matched. The battle was fiercely contested.

"Zhao Tian, who do you think will win?"

Ning Rongrong asked curiously.

After watching for a while, Zhao Tian said, "The Iron Arm Ape. His strength and defense are both greater than his opponent's. As long as he doesn't let the Gale Wolf's speed restrain him, he has a better chance of winning."

The moment he finished speaking, the Iron Arm Ape Soul Master on the platform caught an opening and sent the Gale Wolf Soul Master flying out of the ring with one punch.

"Wow, you were right!"

Ning Rongrong's eyes widened, her face full of admiration.

Zhao Tian remained calm and continued watching the next match.

As the competition progressed, several powerful contestants began to take the stage.

The first to cause a sensation was Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

The moment he stepped onto the platform, deafening cheers erupted throughout the arena.

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon—the top-tier beast martial soul of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects. The name alone was enough to make opponents tremble.

His opponent was a level twenty-three Soul Grandmaster with the Iron Armored Rhinoceros martial soul, whose defense was quite formidable.

But before Yu Tianheng, that amount of defense was simply insignificant.

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, possess me!"

Yu Tianheng shouted. Blue lightning crackled wildly across his body as two yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.

His body swelled noticeably, blue dragon scales covered his arms, and his eyes turned into vertical pupils that gleamed with a beast-like ferocity.

"First Soul Skill—Thunder Dragon Claw!"

Yu Tianheng shot forward like lightning, his right hand forming a claw as crackling electricity accompanied his strike toward his opponent.

The Iron Armored Rhinoceros Soul Master hurriedly activated a defensive soul skill, but his defense was as fragile as paper before Yu Tianheng's attack.

Boom!

The Iron Armored Rhinoceros Soul Master was sent flying, slamming heavily into the defensive barrier. He spat out a mouthful of blood and immediately lost his ability to fight.

One move. Instant defeat.

The entire arena erupted.

"Yu Tianheng! Yu Tianheng! Yu Tianheng!"

The spectators chanted his name in unison as the atmosphere reached its peak.

Yu Tianheng stood on the platform and expressionlessly glanced at the opponent being carried away before turning and walking down.

From beginning to end, he had not spared the audience a single extra glance.

"This guy... he's so strong."

Ning Rongrong swallowed, a grave expression appearing on her little face.

Zhao Tian said nothing, but his gaze became more serious.

Yu Tianheng was stronger than he had imagined.

Not only was his Soul Power Level high, but he also possessed extensive combat experience. He acted decisively and showed no mercy.

If Zhao Tian encountered him, he would have to go all out.

In the following matches, more powerful contenders appeared one after another.

Shui Bing'er of Skywater Academy possessed the Ice Phoenix martial soul. The moment she took the stage, she froze her opponent into an ice sculpture with an ice-element soul skill and won with ease.

Huo Wushuang of Blazing Fire Academy possessed the One-Horned Fire Explosive Dragon martial soul. With the combined suppression of flames and speed, he likewise defeated his opponent in an instant.

Tuoba Xin of the Holy Dragon Sect possessed the White Armored Earth Dragon martial soul, and his defense was astonishing. His opponent's attacks landed on him with less effect than a scratch, and he eventually shoved his opponent effortlessly off the platform.

Feng Xiaotian of Godwind Academy was a level thirty-one Soul Elder and possessed three Soul Rings.

The instant he took the stage, the wave of Soul Power he released silenced the entire arena.

Three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple!

Purple, a Thousand-Year Soul Ring!

"Heavens, he's actually a three-ring Soul Elder!"

"A level thirty-one Soul Elder! What kind of monster is that?"

"What sort of genius has Godwind Academy raised?"

Exclamations rose continuously from the stands.

Feng Xiaotian stood on the platform with a confident smile at the corners of his lips as the phantom of the Gale Twin-Headed Demon Wolf emerged behind him.

His opponent, a level twenty-five Soul Grandmaster, was so suppressed by Feng Xiaotian's aura that he could barely even summon his martial soul.

Less than ten seconds after the match began, Feng Xiaotian used his speed to force his opponent out of the ring and won with ease.

"A level thirty-one Soul Elder, a Thousand-Year Soul Ring..."

Zhao Tian watched Feng Xiaotian's retreating figure as he walked off the platform, a trace of solemnity flashing through his eyes.

This opponent was even harder to deal with than Yu Tianheng.

"Tian'er, did you see that?"

Chen Xin spoke.

"I did."

Zhao Tian nodded.

"These are all opponents you may encounter in the future. Do you have confidence?"

Chen Xin asked.

Zhao Tian fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"I do, but I won't underestimate them."

Chen Xin nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good. That's the right mindset."