Volunteering to Challenge a Higher Rank! Two-Ring Division Matches!

The halftime break was brief.

Li Long had just set down his bowl of water when he saw someone approaching from the edge of the martial arena.

The man wore a dark blue steward's robe, with a gold-trimmed silver badge pinned to his chest. Two clerks followed behind him, carrying registration books.

That attire was uncommon throughout the entire martial arena.

He was a chief scheduling steward, specifically responsible for coordinating the competitors' arrangements.

The man stopped before the One-Ring Division's resting area, his gaze sweeping across the sixteen competitors who had advanced.

Li Long noticed that the man's eyes lingered on him for an extra moment before casually shifting away.

"Everyone." The scheduling officer spoke in a quiet voice, yet soul power carried every word clearly into everyone's ears. "I am Chen Shu, chief steward in charge of scheduling for this tournament. I am here to notify you of something regarding the upcoming arrangements."

All sixteen people fell silent and looked toward him.

Chen Shu did not beat around the bush. He went straight to the point. "According to tournament rules, the One-Ring Division's elimination matches end here. The sixteen of you who advanced have secured places in the top sixteen today. However, if you stop here, you will have no opportunity to compete for higher rankings. No further matches will be arranged for the One-Ring Division."

As soon as those words were spoken, several of the sixteen changed expressions.

One tall youth could not help asking, "So the top sixteen rankings for the One-Ring Division are set directly?"

"They are." Chen Shu nodded. "The top three of the One-Ring Division will be selected from among you sixteen based on your overall performance during the elimination rounds. There will be no separate matches. In other words, your rankings have already been decided today."

Some clenched their fists unwillingly, while others lowered their heads in silence. Several exchanged glances, seeing the same unwillingness in each other's eyes.

Chen Shu took in their reactions. After waiting two breaths, he continued, "However, the rules contain an additional clause. Any competitor who advances through the elimination rounds may voluntarily apply to compete in a higher division. In other words, you may apply to challenge the Two-Ring Division. Of course, this is entirely voluntary; no one is required to do so. Those willing may register now and will be placed directly into the Two-Ring Division's match brackets after the lunch break."

A commotion immediately broke out among the sixteen.

The Two-Ring Division.

Their opponents would all have at least two soul rings, soul power starting at level twenty, and every one of them possessed a second soul skill.

For one-ring Soul Masters to fight two-ring Soul Masters was an obvious disadvantage in the world of Soul Masters.

But then again, if they did not apply, their matches would all be over for the day.

Most of them had traveled thousands of miles to Spirit City. They were unwilling to leave after fighting only a few elimination matches.

The silence lasted only a few breaths.

"I'll apply." The tall youth was the first to speak, his voice carrying a gritted determination. "We came all this way. Might as well fight."

"I'll apply too."

"Count me in."

"Me too."

Voices rang out one after another.

Thirteen of the sixteen quickly stated their intentions. The remaining three hesitated briefly before eventually nodding as well.

Perhaps they felt that since everyone else was going up, it would be embarrassing if word got out that they had not.

The two clerks behind Chen Shu began registering them quickly.

Names, branch hall numbers, soul power levels, martial souls—the information was entered into the register one by one.

When the clerk reached Li Long, Li Long spoke before he could open his mouth. "I'm applying."

His tone was calm, as though he had been waiting to say it all along.

Chen Shu's gaze fell upon him again, lingering longer this time.

He looked Li Long over from head to toe. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he merely told the clerk, "Write him down."

Then he turned and left with his men.

All sixteen had applied to challenge a higher division.

The news quickly spread throughout the martial arena.

The spectator stands became lively again, buzzing with discussion.

The entire One-Ring Division was challenging the Two-Ring Division.

It was not unprecedented in the tournament's history, but it was indeed rare for an entire group of sixteen to apply.

On the high platform, Qian Shengyuan naturally received the news as well.

After an attendant quietly relayed Chen Shu's report, the Pope leaned back in his chair, tapped a finger against the armrest, and let a nearly imperceptible curve touch his lips.

"All sixteen from the One-Ring Division are going up." Qian Shengyuan repeated softly, then asked, "What about Li Long?"

"He's among them as well."

"I knew it." Qian Shengyuan said those four words and spoke no more.

He lifted his teacup and took a sip, his gaze returning to the martial arena.

The lunch break was passing second by second. In another hour, the Two-Ring Division's matches would begin.

By then, those newcomers from the One-Ring Division would face opponents with at least one additional soul ring.

How many matches could they win?

That thought circled through Qian Shengyuan's mind, and then he recalled Li Long's performance that morning.

He had not displayed a soul ring throughout the entire match, nor used a soul skill. He had relied purely on his foundational combat strength and tactics to crush his opponents.

Putting someone like that into the Two-Ring Division meant he would be fighting two-ring competitors who had only recently obtained their second soul rings and possessed far less practical combat experience than him.

"Now this is interesting," he murmured.

When the lunch break ended, the match schedule in the martial arena had already been updated.

The new schedule was posted on the notice boards on both sides of the entrance passage, surrounded by crowds packed three layers deep.

Li Long squeezed in for a look. His first-round opponent in the Two-Ring Division had been listed: a two-ring Great Soul Master from a border branch hall of the Star Luo Empire, level twenty-two, with the Iron Spine Spear martial soul.

Spear against staff.

Li Long silently noted the information and left the crowd.

He returned to the resting area, sat cross-legged, and began meditating.

The Two-Ring Division was completely different from the One-Ring Division that morning. His opponents had an additional soul skill, more accumulated combat experience, and none of those who had made it into the Two-Ring Division eliminations were weak.

Yet he still did not feel particularly nervous.

This was what he had been waiting for.

The Two-Ring Division matches officially began half an hour later.

Two sets of battles were arranged simultaneously in the central arena to speed up the proceedings.

The spectator stands were fuller than they had been that morning, and quite a few people were even standing in the aisles to watch.

The news that the entire One-Ring Division had challenged a higher division had clearly drawn many additional spectators.

Li Long's first match was scheduled for the third round.

Of the four matches in the first two rounds, three One-Ring Division challengers were eliminated.

The opponents they faced were among the stronger competitors in the Two-Ring Division. Although the difference in soul power was only four or five levels, the tactical changes brought by a second soul skill left them completely unable to keep up with the pace.

One of them was immobilized by a control soul skill before being blasted out of the arena by a single offensive skill, losing cleanly.

The group that had challenged a higher division at the edge of the arena began to shrink, and the mood grew several degrees heavier.

When it was Li Long's turn, he rose and walked toward the arena.

As he made his way from the resting area to the center of the arena, he felt many gazes upon him: the curiosity of the spectators, the attention of his fellow One-Ring Division competitors in the resting area, and the scrutinizing assessment of opponents from the Two-Ring Division.

But he did not turn to look at anyone.

His opponent with the Iron Spine Spear martial soul was already standing in the arena.