The First Display of the "Body Forging Method"

In the Training Ground, Kong Ming'an was in no hurry. After confirming that everyone's attention was on him, his gaze slowly fell upon the soldier standing like a pillar in the arena.

As if making an introduction, he spoke steadily:

"Test subject, Number 037. Martial Soul: Wind Breaking Bear. Intermediate Martial Soul. Innate Soul Power Level 5.

"Twenty years old. Soul Power Level 31.

"Has undergone systematic Body Forging Method training for five months and seven days.

"During training, his Soul Power Level broke through to Level 32, and his Third Soul Ring has an age of 2,100 years."

As his words fell, the Alloy Door on the other side of the Training Ground silently slid open.

A young soldier in the same military uniform strode inside, though he had no testing cables or armor on his body.

He was similarly powerfully built, though slightly shorter than 037. His eyes were sharp, carrying undisguised arrogance and fighting intent, while a faint scorching aura radiated from his movements.

Kong Ming'an turned his gaze toward the newcomer, his voice remaining calm and even:

"Control Subject. Reserve Soldier of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Corps. Martial Soul: Crimson Flame Exploding Bear. Advanced Martial Soul. Innate Soul Power Level 7.

"Eighteen years old. Soul Power Level 38.

"Has not undergone Body Forging Method training. Third Soul Ring age: 1,500 years."

Innate Soul Power Level 7 against Innate Soul Power Level 5!

Advanced Martial Soul against Intermediate Martial Soul!

Level 38 against Level 31!

Eighteen years old against twenty!

Judging purely from the numbers, the Reserve Soldier held an overwhelming advantage.

On the Second Floor Platform, every gaze was focused on the two below.

Meng Hongchen unconsciously clutched the corner of Jing Hongchen's robe, her ice-blue eyes unblinking. Beside her, Xiao Hongchen temporarily put away his arrogance as well, his eyes filled with confusion as he failed to understand what this was for.

Kong Ming'an ignored the reactions above. Once he saw that both men were in position, he casually waved a hand.

"Begin."

The instant the command was given...

"Roar—!"

The Reserve Soldier immediately underwent Martial Soul Possession. He had long been holding back his anger over this somewhat "unfair" test.

Dark red fur covered his entire body, his muscles bulged, and his hands transformed into Giant Claws burning with crimson flames. A scorching heat wave instantly spread outward!

Without hesitation, his First Soul Ring shone with yellow light. Like a Cannonball set ablaze, he charged fiercely at 037 amid roaring flames and a piercing Air Breaking Sound!

Speed, strength, and incomparably overwhelming momentum—the advantages of an Advanced Martial Soul wielder were fully displayed.

Yet facing that savage charge, 037 remained exceptionally calm. He neither underwent Martial Soul Possession nor lit up a single Soul Ring.

He merely planted his feet firmly on the ground as though they had taken root, lowered his body slightly, and assumed the most basic defensive stance.

"Is he crazy?" Xiao Hongchen could not help frowning.

No Soul Skill, no Martial Soul—he was going to use nothing but his body to withstand the Soul Skill charge of a Level 38 Power Attack System Soul Master?

Even if he was also a Soul Elder, the gap in Martial Soul quality and Soul Power Level was real! This was practically suicide!

At the instant the Crimson Flame Claw wind reached him, 037 moved.

His movement was minimal, yet precise down to the smallest fraction.

Just before the scorching heat wave and sharp claw shadows struck, he lightly turned his body aside.

Boom!

The Crimson Flame Claws smashed viciously into the spot where 037 had been standing, leaving clearly visible charred claw marks on the sturdy alloy floor.

Having missed, a trace of shock flashed through the Reserve Soldier's eyes, but he did not pause. His Second Soul Ring immediately lit up.

He swept both claws fiercely to either side, causing scorching flames to burst forth in a fan shape and seal off the surrounding space for evasion. At the same time, his Third Soul Ring flashed with purple light, and he opened his mouth to spit out clusters of Crimson Flame Fireballs directly at 037's face.

His Soul Skills linked together smoothly and ruthlessly, experience honed through real combat.

Yet facing the all-encompassing flames attacking from above, below, left, and right, 037 still did not use Soul Power. Moving as swiftly as a ghost, he calmly evaded every fireball.

Every dodge seemed to be a precise prediction of his opponent's attack trajectory. Relying solely on bodily coordination and reaction speed, he avoided attack after attack.

It was as though every muscle and every bone in his body was under his absolute control!

"This..." Xiao Hongchen was somewhat dumbfounded.

Was this really a Soul Elder?! An Intermediate Martial Soul Master who had only just entered the Soul Elder realm was suppressing an Advanced Martial Soul Master who had been a Soul Elder for a long time and was not far from becoming a Soul Ancestor, using nothing but physical strength?

In the Training Ground, the Reserve Soldier grew increasingly alarmed as the battle continued, yet he gradually became more agitated.

The Soul Skills he was so proud of, the strength and flame suppression brought by his Advanced Martial Soul—all of it seemed to have lost its effect before his opponent.

His Soul Power was being consumed frantically, yet every attack felt like it was striking cotton, completely futile!

"Roar!!"

Enraged, the Reserve Soldier poured every last bit of his Soul Power into his Third Soul Ring. Purple light blazed brightly!

The flames across his body surged, and he brought his claws together, condensing a violently burning Crimson Flame Bomb filled with terrifying energy. He was about to launch it at his opponent regardless of the consequences!

This was his final desperate gamble.

However, in that instant of vulnerability—when his old strength had been exhausted, his new strength had yet to arise, and the bomb was just about to fire—

037, who had remained on the defensive the entire time, suddenly moved.

There was no Soul Ring light, only pure physical power taken to the extreme. Fine cracks spread beneath his feet across the hard alloy floor, and his entire body became a blurred afterimage as he instantly closed in!

Then, a plain yet lightning-fast Straight Punch smashed viciously into the Reserve Soldier's face, which had tilted slightly forward from gathering power!

"Bang—!!!"

A dull, teeth-achingly heavy impact rang out.

The light of the Crimson Flame Bomb instantly collapsed. The smug expression on the Reserve Soldier's face froze, transforming into extreme pain and confusion.

His muscular body flew several meters backward off the ground like a kite with its string cut. He crashed heavily onto the floor, rolled twice, and then lay completely still, thoroughly unconscious.

In the arena, 037 slowly withdrew his fist. His breathing was steady, and aside from a light sheen of sweat from the intense exertion, there were not even any obvious injuries on his body.

He glanced at his unconscious opponent, then calmly turned toward Kong Ming'an and respectfully bowed. After the latter casually waved a hand, he went to several Assistant Researchers at the side and began the routine process of recording data.

The entire Second Floor Platform fell into a silence even deeper than when Kong Ming'an had risen earlier.

Every Rank 9 Soul Engineer, along with the Sun Moon High Officials invited to witness these results, had disbelief and horror erupt in their eyes!

They stared fixedly at the soldier below who had defeated a Level 38 Advanced Martial Soul Master using only his body, their gazes burning hot.

And in that deathly silence, Kong Ming'an's figure appeared especially distinct.

He slowly raised his head, his calm gaze sweeping across the frozen faces on the Second Floor Platform, as though everything that had just happened had been entirely within his expectations.

Without any pride or showmanship, he merely spoke slowly in that calm voice which nearly concealed the youthful immaturity brought by his age:

"This is the result of cultivating the Body Forging Method for five months. Gentlemen... are you satisfied?"