Wulin Wins! Ye Xinglan's Rage

"Would both contestants please take the stage and prepare!"

The host's passionate, booming voice rang across the arena through a soul-guided amplification device. Tang Wulin and Ye Xinglan rose from their respective areas at the same time.

As their gazes met, sparks seemed to crackle in the air.

Arriving at their positions, Ye Xinglan wore a fitted dark-green outfit that made her look valiant and dashing. Though she was a girl, she possessed none of the softness one might expect. Instead, she resembled a sharp sword thrusting toward the heavens, her edge so exposed that it was startling.

Compared to her, Tang Wulin appeared rather ordinary. Other than his arms being somewhat thicker than those of boys his age and his exceptionally resolute gaze, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him.

While the host announced the rules, Ye Xinglan carefully sized up Tang Wulin.

According to the information she had received, he was the second weakest in cultivation among Eastsea Academy's Zero Class. He was fairly accomplished in forging, but compared to the other Zero Class members, he seemed utterly unremarkable.

Therefore, her conclusion was to go all out and defeat him in a single strike.

Whether it had been deliberate on the organizers' part or not, aside from the first match, contestants from her academy had almost never encountered those from Eastsea Academy.

Team Leader Yu's inexplicable defeat had already brought shame upon the academy.

So, there was only one thing Ye Xinglan needed to do now.

Defeat the Zero Class member before her with thunderous force and restore the team's morale.

Then...

Ye Xinglan's gaze fell upon Qian Jue in the spectator stands.

After defeating everyone else, she would defeat Qian Jue before the eyes of all and prove Shrek Academy's worth to everyone.

Without further study at Shrek Academy, no matter how great one's talent was, one would ultimately fade into obscurity.

That was also why Elder Long had been willing to personally guide her.

Comprehending Staff Intent at six, was it?

They had a genius here who could achieve unity of sword and body as well!

After careful training from an Ultimate Douluo like herself, combined with Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year educational foundation and physical conditioning through running drills—

She would definitely be able to defeat Qian Jue, a contestant who relied purely on talent.

Tang Wulin also sensed the rising battle intent from her, as well as the fleeting contempt in her eyes.

Looking down on me?

Tang Wulin felt no ripples in his heart. Instead, he was secretly rather pleased.

Arrogance was often the precursor to defeat.

If she refused to take him seriously, then he would have to give it his all.

After all, this was his first battle before Qian Jue.

The Golden Dragon King's bloodline within him was boiling. Tang Wulin could feel that the wild, uncontrollable power inside his body was now entirely under his command.

"Only victory is allowed! Defeat is forbidden!"

Within the Sea of Consciousness, the Golden Dragon King roared.

Tang Wulin assumed a stance, stared at Ye Xinglan before him, and revealed a confident smile.

"I'll win!"

"Match—begin!"

At the referee's command, Tang Wulin was the first to summon his martial soul, Blue Silver Grass.

Then, a purple soul ring rose beneath his feet.

Purple? A thousand-year soul ring?

A hint of surprise appeared in Ye Xinglan's eyes. One soul ring was within her expectations, but she had never expected this fellow's first soul ring to be a thousand-year one.

In that instant, her extensive knowledge immediately led her to a series of conclusions.

Being able to withstand a thousand-year soul ring meant that his physical strength was terrifyingly high. Even his spiritual strength had to be the same; otherwise, there was no way he could contain a purple soul ring and a thousand-year soul spirit.

This Tang Wulin was far more talented than she had imagined!

However, this did nothing to shake Ye Xinglan's battle intent. As someone from Shrek Academy, she possessed an innate confidence.

She raised her right hand. Two soul rings rippled with light beneath her feet—two yellow and one purple, exactly the same soul ring configuration as the three-ringed Soul Elder Xie Xie had defeated earlier.

But when Ye Xinglan's martial soul appeared, Tang Wulin's feeling changed.

A longsword appeared in Ye Xinglan's hand. Its entire body was bright yellow, and countless starlights seemed to flicker across its blade. Its dazzling radiance was exceptionally eye-catching even in broad daylight.

No overwhelming Soul Power erupted, yet the instant the sword appeared, Ye Xinglan herself seemed to vanish. Her aura had completely merged with the sword.

Unity of sword and body!

A ten-year-old girl could already achieve this?

Below the stage, all the truly powerful and observant experts who had noticed this match were shocked.

Qian Jue did not think much of it. After all, in the original story, Ye Xinglan had already mastered unity of sword and body at this point.

Now that she had even reached the three-ringed Soul Elder level, there was no need to think about it—someone had definitely given her special training.

On the arena, the distance between Tang Wulin and Ye Xinglan steadily closed. He did not release his Blue Silver Grass. Instead, he reached out directly, grabbing for Ye Xinglan's shoulder.

Only then did Ye Xinglan move.

Her left foot suddenly stepped diagonally forward.

The step looked casual and ordinary, yet it gave Tang Wulin an extremely intense feeling.

He only felt that Ye Xinglan had stepped into the most awkward position for him. His body was lunging forward, propelled by his momentum, and the timing of Ye Xinglan's dodge—

Was precisely when he could no longer change direction, when his body had already rushed past her position and it was too late even to turn back.

Ye Xinglan swept the sword in her hand, slashing directly toward his ribs.

The movement was elegant and fluid, without the slightest trace of forcefulness.

It was not especially fast, yet the instant she drew her sword, its blade was already about to touch Tang Wulin.

In that split second, Tang Wulin displayed his formidable physical prowess.

His waist twisted sharply, and his entire body forcibly arched to the side. He had no intention of dodging at all. His right arm swept downward, golden scales silently emerging as it struck straight at Ye Xinglan's face.

Was this guy not afraid of dying?

At the critical moment, Ye Xinglan turned offense into defense. After all, she only wanted to win, not take someone's life.

With a crisp "ding," Ye Xinglan felt a tremendous force crash into her. Her delicate body spun in a circle, and she discovered in shock that she simply could not completely dissipate that force.

Ye Xinglan staggered back several steps, the hand gripping the Stargod Sword trembling faintly.

Was that strength for real?

A one-ring Soul Master could actually unleash enough power to make even her, a three-ring Soul Elder, feel fear.

Was Tang Wulin still human?

As the Golden Dragon King bloodline power erupted, Tang Wulin opened his mind and accepted it. Golden-red vapor rose from his entire body, his eyes bloodshot as he panted like a bull.

"Ha, ha, ha..."

"Come!"

With one step forward, Tang Wulin directly abandoned the weak Blue Silver Grass martial soul. The Golden Dragon Claw on his right hand erupted with incomparable blood essence fluctuations as it shot straight toward Ye Xinglan.

Having just experienced Tang Wulin's terrifying strength, Ye Xinglan did not dare be careless. She turned sideways to dodge, only to find herself bound by Blue Silver Grass that had somehow spread beneath her feet.

"You!"

Ye Xinglan's beautiful eyes widened. Tang Wulin's crazed appearance had actually been an act!

Just before the Golden Dragon Claw reached her, the last thing she saw was Tang Wulin's clear eyes and his triumphant grin.

"Damn it!"

A massive force surged from the Golden Dragon Claw. Ye Xinglan, struggling with all her strength to resist, was struck directly off the platform and lost the match.

"Winner: Tang Wulin of Eastsea Academy!"