Jiang Yan, Hailed as an Unparalleled Genius! Wu Changkong's Three Soul Skills!

"What difference does a six-ringed Soul Emperor make?"

"To you all...?"

"Would big brother really be afraid?"

While Xie Xie and the others worried, Gu Yuena at Jiang Yan's side merely chuckled. There was not the slightest trace of concern on her exquisite face as she looked at him, her tone utterly relaxed.

Indeed, Soul Emperors were unquestionably high-level Soul Masters in the outside world, not far from seven-ringed Soul Saints.

But before her brother, what could even a seven-ringed Soul Saint using a Martial Soul Avatar do?

"See? Na'er understands me best."

Jiang Yan smiled gently and nodded. His gaze remained fixed on Wu Changkong, with little emotion on his face beyond the faint curl of his lips.

Whether it was a Soul Emperor or a Soul Saint, would he be afraid?

He would not.

Rather than Wu Changkong wanting to test his strength, Jiang Yan had long been looking forward to fighting this icy male idol from the original story.

The prodigy who came after Yun Ming and before Tang Wulin.

At this age, Wu Changkong's talent had unquestionably been T0 in his day. Even if he had let himself go to waste, an old A8 was still an A8. Teacher Wu's abilities had likely not diminished much from his prime.

Such a genius.

Jiang Yan naturally had to test his mettle.

"Boss, Sister Na'er, we understand."

"Then we won't say anything else..."

Xie Xie and the others nodded solemnly. Seeing Wu Changkong already heading toward the arena, they immediately took a deep breath and silently pulled a sign from their Soul Tools.

Eight large words were printed on it:

Holy Dragon King, Unmatched Under Heaven

What else was there to say? As their boss's loyal cheering squad, they naturally would not slack off.

"Boss, good luck!"

"..."

They really were children.

Jiang Yan smiled helplessly and said nothing more. Thankfully, his Na'er was still mature and adorable... Hm?

Looking toward Gu Yuena, Jiang Yan only then noticed that she was pondering thoughtfully, as though she were preparing some kind of mischievous idea.

Forget it.

He should accept the challenge first!

After glancing at Wu Changkong, Jiang Yan stopped overthinking. He cleared his mind and, with only a few steps, arrived not far from his challenger.

At that moment, the system's pleasant voice rang out in his mind once again:

[Ding! Special phased mission: Battle Wu Changkong has begun—facing a powerful Soul Emperor, will you flee or insist on fighting?]

[No answer is needed. You only need to go all out.]

[Current mission rewards: one ice-element Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone! One random heavenly treasure!]

[Wu Changkong (boss): Level 69 Soul Emperor. Martial Soul: Skyfrost Sword. Soul skills as follows: First Soul Skill, Frost Mark; Second Soul Skill, Frost Mist; Third Soul Skill, Skyfrost Slash; Fourth Soul Skill, Frost-Ice Speech; Fifth Soul Skill, Frostspeech Ice Wheel; Sixth Soul Skill, Condensed Frost—]

[Friendly reminder: Wu Changkong is very strong. Do you really wish to accept his challenge?]

"Boss...?"

Looking at Wu Changkong before him, Jiang Yan silently questioned it in his heart. He certainly meant no disrespect toward Teacher Wu, but if the man had not even reached Soul Douluo...

He was indeed far too removed from the word "boss."

Still, that did not matter.

He was only a Soul Emperor for now, not for life. By the finale, this man would already be at the peak of Rank 98, a Super Douluo. Having him make a move was absolutely not a loss.

"Student Jiang Yan, don't put too much pressure on yourself over today's challenge. This time, I'll suppress my power to the level of a three-ringed Soul Elder, and I'll only use my first three Soul Skills. I simply wish to see..."

"To see what kind of talent you possess, you who have been hailed as an unparalleled genius."

"How terrifying you truly are."

On the other side of the platform, Wu Changkong spoke with a smile. There was little emotion on his face, but his gaze was utterly sincere.

He had seen countless geniuses, whether at Shrek Academy or among old friends at the Spirit Pagoda. Geniuses throughout the world were as numerous as carp crossing a river, and every appearance stirred up enormous waves.

The strongest genius of the new era.

It was said that Jiang Yan had once defeated a Soul King, but that was merely hearsay. Only by personally testing him could Wu Changkong know whether it was true.

And as a Soul Emperor, he should be about right!

"If Teacher Wu trusts me, then please do not hold back before me. Even among Soul Saints, few can surpass me in strength. Please enlighten me."

Jiang Yan smiled slightly and shook his head.

If Wu Changkong still intended to hold back before him—

What awaited him...

Would only be a miserable sight.

"Alright, then I'll grant your request."

"Skyfrost."

After Jiang Yan spoke, Wu Changkong smiled and took his words to heart.

As his voice fell, his figure moved.

At that instant, the temperature across the entire training field seemed to drop sharply. At the edge of the arena, a Skyfrost Sword with an imposing aura silently appeared.

Wu Changkong seized it. The moment he took hold of the Skyfrost Sword, a powerful, frigid aura seemed intent on freezing everything around it.

After that, six soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and two black—flashed into view one after another, each carrying a distinct rhythm.

Two yellow, two purple, two black.

This was the optimal soul ring configuration that had endured in the Soul Master world for twenty thousand years. In truth, Wu Changkong's soul rings did not come from soul spirits, but from genuine soul beasts.

"Teacher Wu's soul rings are still traditional soul rings. In this era, absorbing traditional soul rings can't increase their age or anything..."

"That probably held him back."

Jiang Yan watched the scene before him without much reaction.

At the same time, three purple soul rings had already flashed around him. They were now nearly an unfathomable black.

It was a sign that they were approaching ten thousand years.

As long as he wished it, Xiao Ba, the Tyrant Dragon soul spirit, could reach ten thousand years at any time. At that point, he would possess four ten-thousand-year soul rings.

Behind him, a nine-colored dragon phantom appeared in an instant. The Dragon God martial soul immediately possessed him!

Rank 34, assault-type battle Soul Elder.

Though he was merely a Soul Elder, the aura he displayed was not weak in the slightest. It was even considerably stronger than Wu Changkong's. Merely the clash between their martial soul auras had already left Wu Changkong a step behind.

"Feeling the pressure before we've even started?"

Wu Changkong smiled, but the anticipation on his face only grew stronger. This proved that he, Wu Changkong, had not misjudged the boy. As he raised his head, the first soul ring beneath his feet had already begun to shine.

As this thought crossed his mind, his gaze instantly turned cold.

"I'm starting, Jiang Yan."

"First Soul Skill, Frost Mark."

Wu Changkong gripped the Skyfrost Sword. The instant his first Soul Skill activated, countless frost-like marks appeared throughout the space and flew toward Jiang Yan like tiny specks.

This was his first Soul Skill, Frost Mark—an elemental Soul Skill capable of releasing ice-element blades and frost cones to slow and control the opponent.

"Showing off a broadsword before Guan Gong."

Jiang Yan merely gave it a casual glance.

He did not even need to do anything. As the master of the elements and one favored by nature, with Dragon God bloodline, he could be considered completely immune to them.

Of the nine elemental powers in the world—

Which could harm him in the slightest?

"Second Soul Skill, Frost-Ice Speech."

Wu Changkong was not discouraged. There was little change in his eyes as his second Soul Skill activated in tandem. An ice wheel formed from condensed frost materialized before him and shot toward Jiang Yan.

But the outcome remained the same.

The ice wheel had not even fully formed before, under the suppression of a higher elemental rank, it dissipated into heaven and earth the moment it condensed.

"My first and second Soul Skills..."

"Were rendered useless before Jiang Yan just like that...?"

Wu Changkong briefly began to doubt his life.

Of course, he knew how powerful Jiang Yan's elemental abilities were, but his martial soul was fundamentally still a weapon martial soul. Just because it possessed ice-element attributes, it should not be utterly suppressed, should it?

His martial soul was primarily a sword, with ice as a supplement. Ice only made up a small part of it!

If even that was perfectly countered, then...

Wasn't that far too unfair?

Thinking carefully about it.

Knowing that he was only willing to use—

Wu Changkong took a deep breath. With no time to continue dwelling on the issue, he tightly gripped the Skyfrost Sword, his gaze blazing.

Having suppressed his power to Soul Elder level, his final soul ring quietly lit up at that moment.

"Third Soul Skill, Skyfrost Slash!"

With the Skyfrost Sword in hand, a domineering and powerful aura poured into it before finally becoming a crescent-shaped blade of ice that shot forth in an instant.

Skyfrost Slash was one of his strongest Soul Skills.

Back when he carried out special missions for the academy, whether he was slaying evil Soul Masters or undertaking other challenges—

From his youth until now, from Soul Elder to Soul Emperor, this had always been his most frequently used Soul Skill, without exception.

It greatly enhanced both control and power. While inflicting immense damage, it also reduced attack speed and movement speed, with an additional forced-control effect. Hopefully, it would work against Jiang Yan as well.

This was already the strongest of his first three Soul Skills.

Knowing he would only use three Soul Skills, two had been innately countered by Jiang Yan and could not display their full power...

His third Soul Skill—

Was his greatest hope!

"Still, two of my three Soul Skills have already been countered, leaving only the last one barely usable."

"So in the end..."

"Am I the challenger, or is he the challenger?!"

This thought flashed through Wu Changkong's mind without warning. His brow furrowed slightly before he hurriedly shook his head.

The true challenger—

Could only be Jiang Yan, his student!

"..."

Wu Changkong: If I'd known being a teacher would also get me...

Wu Changkong: Mm, I mean get violently beaten up.

Jiang Yan: ? Thanks.