"..."
"My Sky Ice, my Two-Word Battle Armor... No, since when could a three-ring Soul Elder damage a Two-Word Battle Armor Master?"
Wu Changkong coughed several times, lowering his head in dismay as he pressed a hand against the hole in his Battle Armor. He felt utterly miserable.
Two-Word Battle Armor, Sky Ice.
It had been with him for ten years, and he had always cherished and loved it. This was the first time it had suffered such severe damage.
If it had been a Soul Saint or Soul Douluo, that would have been one thing. But the one who'd done all this wasn't some powerful senior. It was...
A child who wasn't even ten years old.
"Could a Soul Elder really inflict this kind of damage?"
"Even a Soul Douluo might not be able to pierce my Battle Armor. Is Jiang Yan really that terrifying?"
Wu Changkong's solemn gaze swept toward Jiang Yan. He looked bewildered, but there was also an irrepressible anticipation in his eyes.
It seemed he really had...
Found a prodigy in this little city of East Sea, someone whose future would make him a force to dominate the world—a talent utterly unsuited to a city this small.
Because his very existence...
Was already beyond all bounds.
"Mm!"
"He really did almost beat Teacher Wu to the ground."
In the stands, Gu Yuena wasn't surprised in the slightest. Watching Wu Changkong tremble, she gave a soft laugh.
What was that line her big brother always used?
Right, Haji Wu, you rascal.
Gu Yuena covered her mouth and giggled to herself.
"Teacher Wu was just handed to him for free?"
Nearby, Zhang Yangzi and the others, Jiang Yan's cheering squad, had stopped waving their signs, utterly at a loss. One of them spoke with uncertainty.
The most numb with shock, of course, was Xie Xie.
There was no doubt about what their boss could do, and Xie Xie was the only one among them who'd ever crossed hands with him.
Thinking back to how he'd once challenged someone like that of his own accord, he couldn't help feeling relieved—
Relieved he'd been weak enough that Jiang Yan hadn't taken him seriously. Otherwise, he might have suffered far worse than just being sent flying!
Even someone as powerful as Teacher Wu had gone flying!
"That person..."
"Did he just knock their homeroom teacher off the stage?"
Near the second ring, the students of Class Five were just as transfixed. They looked from Wu Changkong to Jiang Yan in the distance, their bewilderment and helplessness written all over their faces. Fear and awe kept them rooted in place.
At last, they all took several steps back in unison.
Class Five was the weakest class in the entire intermediate division. Even its strongest student was only a level-fourteen Soul Master.
They were all merely Soul Masters.
To them, a Soul Grandmaster was already an unbeatable powerhouse. Becoming a Soul Elder was enough to bring honor to one's ancestors, while a Soul Ancestor was beyond their wildest dreams.
And now Jiang Yan had sent an academy teacher flying...
It was practically a miracle!
In the crowd, the smile on Tang Wulin's face froze. He'd been feeling pleased with himself after defeating a level-fourteen Soul Master and becoming the strongest in his class. Now he stood rooted to the spot, stunned.
He'd never encountered any real geniuses along the way. At Red Mountain Academy, even though he was only a One-Ring Soul Master and his Martial Soul was merely Blue Silver Grass, he'd been among the strongest.
This was the first time he'd clearly seen just how vast the gap between him and a genius could be. He'd never imagined someone his age could be so incredible...
Incredible enough to take down a homeroom teacher!
At the thought, Tang Wulin glanced at the man farther away. The teacher stood with impeccable posture, his build well-proportioned, his face betraying little emotion.
Teacher Bai...
Tell me, when will I be able to do that?
He wanted to become strong enough to send a teacher flying, too!
"Old Tang, in this lifetime of mine..."
"Do you think I have any chance of getting close to him?"
Tang Wulin couldn't help asking Old Tang in his heart.
He wasn't asking for no reason. Over the years, Old Tang had often taught him about the world. In Tang Wulin's heart, Old Tang had become a trusted living encyclopedia.
He wasn't just a guardian. He was also Tang Wulin's best window onto the outside world.
He'd once considered that without Old Tang, he'd probably be much weaker than he was now. Didn't that just show how extraordinary Old Tang was?
"Get close to him how...?"
"Wulin, I'll be blunt. Maybe you should give up on that idea."
Old Tang's attention had also been drawn to that powerful aura. Hearing Tang Wulin's words, he fell silent for a moment before replying.
How many rounds would Tang Wulin last against Jiang Yan?
Three against nine, maybe. It'd only take three minutes for Tang Wulin to get killed nine times over!
That was more than just getting beaten for free!
As the saying went, you reap what you sow. Whether it was melons or beans, no matter how much you cultivated them, heaven had already decided what they'd become.
The gap between Wulin and that little one...
Was the difference between heaven and earth!
Just look at the gap between Wulin and the other boy. It was probably about the same as the gap between himself and Jixiang. And who was Jixiang?
A disciple he'd taken in before ascending to the Divine Realm, back when his cultivation had only reached the Soul Saint and Soul Emperor levels.
"Give up on it?"
Tang Wulin's face turned cold. Of course he wouldn't give up on the idea. He and Old Tang didn't belong to the same era, after all.
He would become the strongest leader, ruler, and guardian of this age, welcomed and cherished by countless people!
"But the bloodline inside this Jiang Yan feels so familiar. Could it be... Hmm?"
Old Tang's attention remained fixed on Jiang Yan. Now, as if sensing something, his eyes widened, and he hesitated to speak.
That powerful Dragon Clan bloodline was a level of distinction that even a top-tier Martial Soul couldn't possess.
Just how terrifying was this person?
"..."
Jiang Yan paid none of this any mind.
For ever since he'd recalled Wu Changkong rising from the ground and flying into the air, he'd been left speechless with shock.
He was a Soul Elder.
He'd fought a Soul Emperor, a peak expert who'd been stuck at level sixty-nine for a long time.
And the latter had been sent flying?
"Thank you for the guidance, Teacher Wu."
"Still..."
"I'm sorry, Teacher Wu. I hit a little too hard."
Jiang Yan spoke earnestly, then stepped forward a few paces. His tone was calm, and his eyes filled with emotion.
At the same time, he couldn't help sinking into thought. Had he really made a mistake?
His Flame Fist, for example.
It was a move that combined his control over Ultimate Fire with the strength of his powerful body. The attack's force was on point, but...
Each strike might have been no different from a top-tier Soul Skill for an ordinary person. But Wu Changkong was a top Soul Emperor. What if something had gone wrong?
"Um, Jiang Yan."
"You don't need to apologize. You did nothing wrong."
Wu Changkong found the longer he listened, the more humiliating it became. He hurriedly waved his hand, wishing he could put an end to the subject.
He'd seen how formidable Jiang Yan was.
Next up was the beautiful girl beside him, Gu Yuena, who could be sweet or cool as she pleased.
"..."
Jiang Yan noticed his gaze, too. He smiled without saying anything, then headed toward his companions.
At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out:
[Congratulations, Host! Mission complete. You have received: 60,000-Year Frost Breath Left Arm Bone, 10,000-Year Ice Spirit Fruit...]
[Congratulations! You have earned the special achievement "Power Breaks Ten Thousand Laws." With pure offensive moves, you destroyed the top-tier defense of an opponent three major realms above you. After inspection, Host, you defeated the target, Wu Changkong, and his Two-Word Battle Armor this round.]
[Special achievement reward: Precision Force Control. You can perfectly control the strength of each attack, preventing accidental injuries.]
[Congratulations! You have earned the special achievement "Battle Armor Master Equilibrium."]
[Special achievement reward: Battle Armor quality enhancement attempts +1.]
[Host is not currently wearing Battle Armor. This enhancement opportunity will be saved.]
"A Soul Bone, a heavenly treasure, and..."
"Rewards for two achievements?"
Listening to the voice in his mind, Jiang Yan smiled. He was familiar with Soul Bones and heavenly treasures; the system gave him those every time. They might not be worth much, but...
Perhaps this was what people meant by an unexpected windfall?
Thinking of it that way, it seemed even better.
"Congratulations, big brother."
"A three-ring cultivator fought a Soul Emperor and beat Teacher Wu black and blue. You're amazing."
Gu Yuena giggled, stars glimmering in her eyes as she looked at Jiang Yan with a bright smile.
"Mm, I'm not that amazing."
Embarrassed by the praise, Jiang Yan stepped forward and ruffled her hair with a smile.
"Boss, you were absolutely epic."
The little companions around Jiang Yan exclaimed. He'd taken on a Soul Emperor without hesitation and even punched him into the sky!
How many people in the world could do that?
"You can do it too if you work hard."
Jiang Yan smiled at their astonished faces and spoke frankly. Of course, they probably couldn't do what he had.
But with their talent, challenging stronger opponents should be no problem. They might not manage against a level-sixty-nine Soul Emperor as three- or four-ring cultivators, but by the time they reached five rings, who knew?
"Next—"
"Xie Xie versus Gu Yuena."
Wu Changkong, now back on his feet, looked toward Gu Yuena, then glanced toward Wang Jinxi. They were the next pair to fight.
Elemental Dragon King, Gu Yuena!
After Jiang Yan, the Holy Dragon King, he wanted to see just how strong the other two were.
"Big brother, I'm off to fight, too."
Hearing her name finally called, Gu Yuena giggled and waved to Jiang Yan as she headed for the ring.
"Go on. I'll be waiting to hear good news."
Jiang Yan smiled and nodded, his voice gentle.
The siblings here were calm and carefree.
But on the other side...
Her opponent, Xie Xie, wasn't nearly so cheerful.
"Why is this happening..."
"Why do I have to go up again?"
Xie Xie hadn't even stepped onto the ring, but he was already panicking. Na'er might have a lower cultivation level, but she was just as formidable!
How was he supposed to fight this one?
"But I'm already here."
"So I'll fight!"
Xie Xie took a deep breath and headed resolutely for the ring, his face betraying little emotion. Then...
As the same nine rainbow colors that had appeared around Jiang Yan flashed by one after another,
Today,
He'd just randomly teleport into one of them!
"..."
Before you continue