Transition, Zhou Mingyu (sword) Takes the Field

Because the competition platform and soul-conduit protective array had been destroyed, the organizers had no choice but to schedule the next round for the afternoon in order to buy time to repair the venue and reconstruct the soul-conduit formations. The spectators could only leave the stadium one after another.

Yet although the match between Zuo Qiu Lun and Lie Hongchen had ended, the fierce clash between the two young prodigies still left the audience unable to calm down for a long time, stirring wave after wave across Skysea City.

By the roadside, one could see just a few people gathering together at random, discussing Zuo Qiu Lun and Lie Hongchen's match with blazing enthusiasm.

Some said Zuo Qiu Lun had crushed his opponent with sheer strength, while others argued that Lie Hongchen had merely suffered from poor luck. If not for the restrictions on soul-conduit device grades, he would certainly have been the final victor.

First came the verbal debates, then they would pull up recordings of the two men's battle and analyze them frame by frame, trying to find evidence for their own arguments. In the end, perhaps neither side would concede, or perhaps one would be persuaded. Then the two would exchange a smile, sling arms around each other's shoulders, and go eat.

Such scenes were everywhere in Skysea City, too numerous to count.

But in the eyes of knowledgeable soul masters from the major factions, these discussions among ordinary people were nothing more than idle chatter, faintly laughable. They truly understood the gap between Zuo Qiu Lun and Lie Hongchen, and what that gap meant.

"A disciple of mine, being born in the same generation as them, your generation is fortunate—and unfortunate." A Title Douluo who had watched the entire match spoke to his most outstanding young disciple. In eyes once filled with majesty and expectation, there was now only one emotion left—pity.

"A Heng, slap me. Let's see if I'm dreaming right now!" Mu Ye said distractedly.

Slap!

"Ow! You little bastard, you actually dared to hit your master? You've got some nerve!" Mu Ye covered his left cheek, flying into a rage.

As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, ready to properly teach this rebellious disciple a lesson.

"Master, you were the one who told me to hit you. This really isn't a dream." A Ru Heng said helplessly.

By the end of his words, his expression had also become incomparably complicated.

"I'll settle accounts with you properly later." Mu Ye said irritably.

Then the corners of his mouth began to rise uncontrollably. His eyes were full of delight, along with a trace of dazed disbelief.

A body martial soul, coupled with talent beyond compare—the dream disciple he had failed to find for so many years had simply appeared before him. It left him unable to believe it, even somewhat apprehensive.

Would this child truly be willing to join the Body Sect? Would he agree to take me as his master? Could he already have a master?

But the next moment, he cast all those thoughts to the back of his mind, because...

"Master, the disciples on Zuo Qiu Lun's side sent word that people from the Spirit Pagoda are already preparing to recruit him," A Ru Heng said from nearby.

"What? Hurry! We can't let the Spirit Pagoda beat us to it!" Mu Ye instantly came to his senses, then rushed out of the room and flew toward where Zuo Qiu Lun was.

"Huh? Master, I'm still here! At least take me with you!" Left behind where he stood, A Ru Heng watched Mu Ye's retreating back and felt nothing but a chill in his heart.

You were calling me your precious disciple just moments ago. Now that you have a junior disciple, you don't want me anymore.

Over on Mu Ye's side, he ultimately got his wish and took Zuo Qiu Lun in as the disciple of his dreams. Brimming with joy, he was introducing the Body Sect to his newly accepted precious disciple.

"Hm? I feel like I forgot something. Eh? What was it again? Forget it, it's not important!" Mu Ye muttered softly as he stroked his chin.

Meanwhile, A Ru Heng, who had no money and was still walking alone back to the inn, said:

"Sigh, the wind in Skysea City is so cold."

As he spoke, he tightened his clothes around himself, looking just like an abandoned puppy.

The passersby looked at the blazing sun overhead, then at A Ru Heng, and could only say, "So young, and he looks pretty sturdy. Why is he so weak?"

Soon, afternoon arrived. It was still Skysea Stadium. After reaching the venue, Wu Changkong and Long Hengxu temporarily left to handle some matters.

As the captain, Liu Tianran led everyone inside.

Having learned its lesson from the first semifinal match that morning, the stadium had made the arena even more spacious, while the spectator stands were livelier than they had been in the morning.

Since one of the competitors was his own disciple, Thunder Bear Douluo Wang Yupeng, the notary for this Skysea Grand Tournament, had also come to the exclusive viewing room prepared for him by the organizers.

However, if anyone had seen the scene inside the viewing room at that moment, they would certainly have been shocked.

The Spirit Pagoda Master of Skysea City, who had always been imposing, domineering, and revered by countless people, had now completely reined in his former arrogance. He stood respectfully behind a red-haired figure.

"Pagoda Master Wang, that child's opponent in this match is a member of the Qian Gu Family.

"To be able to represent the Qian Gu Family in this competition, he must be one of the outstanding figures of his generation within the family. What's more, he is a five-ring Soul King with a top-tier weapon martial soul like the Coiling Dragon Staff.

"Aren't you worried at all?" The red-haired woman glanced at the competition platform and questioned the man behind her.

"Vice Pagoda Master, with Mingyu's strength, among the competitors in this tournament, aside from that Zuo Qiu Lun whose depth is unknown, I have absolute confidence in him against everyone else," Wang Yupeng said firmly in response to the red-haired woman's question.

That was right. This woman was the current Vice Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda, Vice Speaker of the Spirit Council, four-word battle armor master, rank 99 Limit Douluo, the Sky Phoenix Douluo—Leng Yaozhu.

(P.S. Leng Yaozhu's cultivation level when she first appeared is disputed. Some say 98, others say 99. This book uses the rank 99 setting.)

She was also the person sent by the Spirit Pagoda headquarters to assess Zhou Mingyu (sword). It was said that she had volunteered for the task herself.

Hearing Wang Yupeng's confident words, Leng Yaozhu seemed to have her interest piqued.

"Oh? Is that so? Then I'll have to look forward to it."

As the two spoke, the protagonists of this match had already stepped onto the competition platform.

After the two took the stage, the referee, just as he had yesterday, briefly announced the rules for the individual match and told them to prepare.

"Three, two, one, begin!"

Upon hearing the referee's shout, Zhou Mingyu (sword) released his martial soul, gripped the Mysterious Ice Sword in his hand, and assumed a ready stance.

Two ten-thousand-year soul rings slowly rose from his body, radiating black halos.

Qian Gu Fengjin's pupils contracted. Though he had long known that his opponent possessed peerless talent, seeing those two ten-thousand-year soul rings with his own eyes still shook him to the core.

No wonder someone so young had drawn the attention of the higher-ups. Being able to bear ten-thousand-year soul spirits also proves that his spiritual power and physical constitution are extraordinarily strong.

"A formidable enemy!"

Qian Gu Fengjin put away his calm expression and stared intently at Zhou Mingyu (sword). Five soul rings also emerged from his body—the standard genius configuration of purple, purple, purple, purple, black. Yet compared to Zhou Mingyu (sword)'s, it seemed to amount to nothing.

Although his opponent's cultivation and soul ring configuration were inferior to his own, he absolutely could not let down his guard!

Immediately, a long staff appeared in Qian Gu Fengjin's palm. Unlike an ordinary Coiling Dragon Staff, its shaft was blackish-purple, wrapped in pale-purple relief carvings of purple dragons. The dragon's body was thicker, its luster more rugged and wild. Its head rested at the tip of the staff, its tail curled around the base, lifelike in every detail.

The instant this Coiling Dragon Staff appeared, Qian Gu Fengjin himself seemed to become a different person. His aura was no longer restrained, but far more overbearing.

This was what was known as: "Man and staff as one!"

Zhou Mingyu (sword) watched him. His Coiling Dragon Staff meshed perfectly with his body, and the aura surrounding him ranked among the finest of all the opponents Zhou Mingyu (sword) had faced.

A Coiling Dragon Staff with a dragon soul? It also seems to be a rare mutated Coiling Dragon Staff. He should make for a decent opponent.

As he was thinking this, Qian Gu Fengjin stepped forward and launched an attack with the Demon-Slaying Staff Technique. At the same time, the first soul ring on his body lit up:

First Soul Skill: Body Break!

Qian Gu Fengjin took a step forward with his left foot, then swung the Coiling Dragon Staff in his hand ahead, meeting the Mysterious Ice Sword Zhou Mingyu (sword) had swung with an overbearing aura.

The Coiling Dragon Staff and the Mysterious Ice Sword, staff technique against sword technique—who was stronger between their wielders would be decided one by one in this battle!