Restraint Shows Its Might!

With the boost from her second soul skill, Senior Sister's first soul skill can keep even strength-type soul masters from easily breaking free of Ice Seal. Even if they can break free, it will take a long time. If Senior Sister's Water-Congealing Flying Luan martial soul evolves into an Ice Phoenix with ultimate ice, the power of Ice Seal will probably become even more terrifying. Seeing Shui Bing'er end the battle with a single Ice Seal, Jiang Lan nodded to himself.

Seeing Shui Bing'er jump down from the spirit battle platform, Jiang Lan was just about to head to the rest area to congratulate her on her first victory.

At that moment, the soul tool broadcast in the lounge suddenly rang out.

"Iron Soul Battle contestant Mysterious Masked Man, please proceed to the Eleventh Sub-Arena for your match."

Hearing the summons from the soul tool broadcast, Jiang Lan could only give up on the idea and turn toward the spirit battle passage.

"Junior Brother, do your best!"

After registering her points, Shui Bing'er hurried over to the entrance of the passage upon hearing the announcement to cheer Jiang Lan on.

Seeing Shui Bing'er rush over in such a hurry, Jiang Lan felt warmth stir in his heart. Smiling, he said,

"Don't worry, Senior Sister. Watch me take this win in style."

With that, Jiang Lan entered the spirit battle passage and arrived at the Eleventh Sub-Arena.

Before he had even left the passage, the impassioned voice of the young female host reached Jiang Lan's ears.

"The next two great soul masters to take the stage are the newcomer Mysterious Masked Man, who possesses the beast martial soul Lord of Tides, and Tie Lin, a battle soul master with the beast martial soul Ironclad Rhinoceros, who has already won four consecutive spirit battles! Let us welcome them with thunderous applause!"

"Tie Lin!"

"Tie Lin!"

"Tie Lin!"

The spectators loudly cheered Tie Lin's name from the stands.

Tie Lin's towering figure, like an iron tower, emerged from the spirit battle passage. Wearing a broad grin, he waved toward the audience.

Jiang Lan silently stepped onto the spirit battle platform. Seeing Jiang Lan dressed in the same black robe and mask, the young female host immediately said excitedly,

"Contestant Mysterious Masked Man is dressed just like Ice Phoenix, who competed in the previous spirit battle. It seems they may have come from the same school! Can Mysterious Masked Man bring us another spectacular match? Let us wait and see!"

"Kid, if you know what's good for you, jump off the platform yourself. I don't want to hurt anyone." Tie Lin looked down at Jiang Lan, who was barely one and a half meters tall, with disdain.

Jiang Lan glanced at Tie Lin. The man stood an astonishing two meters tall, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, his muscles as hard as granite. His sheer appearance was overwhelmingly imposing.

"Both sides, release your martial souls!"

"Roar!" Tie Lin slammed his fists against his chest and let out a roar. After possessing his martial soul, his already tall, burly body swelled by another size. A thick layer of armor-like keratin covered his skin, and a half-foot-long horn sprouted from his forehead. One white and one yellow soul ring slowly rose from beneath him.

Jiang Lan likewise possessed his martial soul. His height abruptly rose to one meter seventy, and the muscles all over his body bulged, stretching his loose black robe taut. Two magnificent dark-purple soul rings slowly rose beneath his feet, radiating an immense pressure of soul power.

"My god! Two thousand-year soul rings!"

"How is that possible?!"

Waves of shocked cries erupted from the stands.

"An illusion. This has to be an illusion!" Tie Lin swallowed hard.

"The match begins!" The young female host froze for only a moment before quickly recovering and announcing loudly.

"First soul skill, Lock-On!"

"Second soul skill, Wild Charge!"

The instant the young woman finished speaking, Tie Lin's first and second soul rings flashed. The white ten-year soul ring flew out at once and encircled Jiang Lan.

Immediately afterward, Tie Lin stomped the ground. Black light enveloped his entire body as he charged toward Jiang Lan with terrifying momentum.

As expected, contestants who can win consecutively in the spirit battle arena don't have simple soul skill combinations. Jiang Lan lowered his head to look at the ten-year soul ring encircling him.

A mere ten-year soul ring had actually produced a soul skill similar to Zhao Wuji's fourth soul skill.

Of course, the effect of this Lock-On soul skill was certainly inferior to Zhao Wuji's fourth soul skill, but its general function should have been similar.

For example, it ensured that his charging soul skill would hit without fail!

A guaranteed-hit Lock-On skill paired with a high-power charging skill—wasn't that basically an unstoppable runaway truck?

Unless one was a defense-type or strength-type soul master stronger than Tie Lin, they would be sent flying by his charge.

"It's here! The combined soul skill that gave contestant Tie Lin four consecutive victories! How will contestant Mysterious Masked Man respond?" the young woman flying overhead excitedly commentated.

Jiang Lan stood where he was as his second soul ring flashed. An invisible shield covered his entire body.

Watching Tie Lin charge toward him, Jiang Lan merely raised a hand slowly. An indigo dragon claw extended from beneath his black robe, seemingly intending to receive Tie Lin's charge with one hand.

"Arrogant!" Seeing Jiang Lan's action, Tie Lin's face darkened. He immediately lowered his head, aimed the horn on his forehead at Jiang Lan, and accelerated even further.

"My god! Facing contestant Tie Lin's charge, contestant Mysterious Masked Man actually intends to take it with one hand! What confidence!" the young woman cried out.

"Pfft!"

Tie Lin charged before Jiang Lan, and his horn slammed fiercely into the outstretched dragon claw with a soft sound.

"He caught it! Contestant Mysterious Masked Man actually caught contestant Tie Lin's charging soul skill with one hand!" the young woman exclaimed.

"What?!" Seeing Jiang Lan grab his horn with one hand, Tie Lin's expression changed drastically.

Not only had his charging soul skill failed to send Jiang Lan flying, it could not even force Jiang Lan back a single step.

How was that possible?!

Even a three-ring Soul Elder had to avoid the edge of his charging soul skill.

Was this guy really a two-ring soul master?

The shield covering Jiang Lan's body absorbed all the impact, converting it into a great amount of soul power that filled the meridians within his body.

Feeling the soul power steadily filling his body, Jiang Lan released Tie Lin's horn, then lightly raised his palm and struck toward Tie Lin.

At such close range, there was no time to evade. Tie Lin could only cross his arms over his body and try to block Jiang Lan's attack.

Boom!

All the converted soul power erupted at once. Tie Lin's enormous body was instantly sent flying, smashing into the wall beneath the spectator stands and kicking up a cloud of dust.

When the dust settled, Tie Lin had been embedded in the wall. His arms were slightly deformed, clearly fractured.

"My god! With just one palm strike, contestant Mysterious Masked Man has defeated contestant Tie Lin! The winner of this spirit battle is Mysterious Masked Man!" The young woman descended from the air, grabbed Jiang Lan's wrist, raised it high, and announced.

"Masked Man!"

"Masked Man!"

The spectators in the stands also erupted into wild cheers.

Defeating his opponent with a single strike perfectly fulfilled their imagination of a true powerhouse.