Three Seconds? Next!

The five people in the VIP stands were collectively stunned. Emperor Xue Ye even slammed a hand onto the table in excitement.

"A second soul ring at a thousand years, a fourth soul ring at ten thousand years, a six-ringed Soul Emperor..."

Emperor Xue Ye wore a dazed expression, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward his own Imperial Dou Team.

He silently sighed.

"The gap is obvious at a glance..."

The others also looked shocked.

Especially Hu Yanzhen, who had just confidently guaranteed victory. At this moment, he could already imagine Elephant Armor Academy suffering a crushing defeat.

The audience stands erupted in cries of astonishment as well.

Anyone with even the slightest knowledge of soul masters knew what those two soul rings represented.

Meng Shenji was equally dumbfounded. No wonder Spirit Hall had the confidence to act so openly.

With such a genius appearing in the world, the continent was probably about to change.

At the very center of the audience stands, Salas, Spirit Hall's Platinum Bishop, had originally been drowsing through the tournament.

But at this moment, a gleam instantly lit up in his half-closed eyes.

Then he nodded in satisfaction.

This was simply an honor that belonged to Spirit Hall.

On the competition stage, Hu Yanshan could not help but freeze when he saw this.

"This..."

The arrogance he had displayed moments ago vanished in an instant, replaced by utter shock and a pale face.

The rules of the exchange match were the same as those of spirit battles: there was one minute to summon one's martial soul.

As soon as the time was up, Meng Shenji said weakly, "The match begins."

However, when Hu Yanshan's gaze fell upon Lin Yichen and he saw those two dazzling soul rings, his pupils shrank sharply.

He could not help but go blank. The opponent was stunned, but Lin Yichen would not be.

"Still standing there in a daze? I'm coming for you!"

Lin Yichen instantly activated Moonshadow Step. In almost the blink of an eye, he crossed to the other end of the arena and arrived behind Hu Yanshan.

The audience had not even seen how he had seemingly teleported.

Alarm bells instantly rang in Hu Yanshan's mind. He immediately activated a soul skill in an attempt to defend himself, but it was already too late...

Lin Yichen's fifth black soul ring lit up brilliantly.

"Moonlight Slash!"

He leaped into the air with his hands crossed and slashed out.

Hu Yanshan's massive body instantly smashed a crater into the ground.

Three seconds.

In merely three seconds, Hu Yanshan had been knocked unconscious and dragged by the assistant referee to Three Armor Academy's rest area.

Before the audience could react, Lin Yichen had already returned to his original position, hands in his pockets, looking utterly smug.

He pointed toward Elephant Armor Academy and shouted loudly.

"Next!"

The entire venue erupted.

This... one opponent every three seconds?

A Soul Emperor fighting a Soul Elder—wasn't that an outright instant kill?

Yet Dugu Bo's figure had already vanished from the VIP stands.

In Heaven Dou Royal Academy's rest area, everyone was slightly stunned by the sight.

Even Yu Tianheng, the captain with abundant practical combat experience, could not help clenching his fists.

At level thirty-four, he was already considered one of the strongest contestants among this batch of teams.

Fight a Soul Emperor?

He did not dare imagine what kind of massacre this Soul Emperor would unleash in a team battle.

He could not help turning to look at Dugu Yan, who was staring dreamily.

A few days ago, he had overheard Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan talking in their room.

He had also guessed that the lecher Dugu Yan mentioned might be a contestant from Spirit Hall.

Now, seeing the lovestruck look in her eyes, he finally understood that the person Dugu Yan liked was this Soul Emperor.

How laughable...

He had even wanted to compete for her before, imagining himself brutally defeating that lecher in front of Dugu Yan and showing off.

But Yu Tianheng was not the only one feeling bitter. Ye Lingling was no better off.

She lightly smacked her lips, then turned to look at her best friend, a faint sourness rising in her heart.

The person she had met at Honey Snow Ice City was the same lecher her best friend had spoken of.

Yesterday, she had even shamelessly and eagerly proclaimed her admiration for him in front of Dugu Yan.

If Dugu Yan found out...

Ye Lingling covered her face, feeling a wave of embarrassment.

Yet behind that shame, a seed of jealousy quietly sprouted, though she was completely unaware of it.

Inside Elephant Armor Academy's rest area, the air had frozen over, and the atmosphere was icy.

The other side had openly declared "next," yet no one from their side had stepped onto the stage.

Even the team leader could not help rubbing his brow.

The first match had already brought out such a ruthless opponent.

Could it be that Elephant Armor Academy would be the first to be eliminated?

Perhaps so. But when he thought of the severe scolding he would receive from the sect master after returning, his heart filled with anxiety and unease.

"Teacher, let me give it a try. You do not need to blame yourself too much. This was not your fault to begin with.

"Even if I lose this match, Grandpa will not say anything to me."

The speaker was Hu Yanli, the captain of Elephant Armor Academy's team.

He was the grandson of the academy president, Hu Yanzhen. Seeing his academy in such an embarrassing state, he naturally could not bear it.

Among the team, he was the strongest and possessed the highest soul power level.

He was also level thirty-four, just like Yu Tianheng, but before a Soul Emperor, he would still be no different from offering himself up as a target.

After saying this, Hu Yanli did not wait for the team leader's response. He had already strode onto the stage and arrived at the other end of the arena, in front of the crater.

"Elephant Armor Academy, Hu Yanli, level thirty-four Defense-Type Battle Soul Elder. Please advise."

Lin Yichen raised an eyebrow slightly and regarded him somewhat more highly.

The last Hu Yan had strutted up arrogantly, but this one first reported his level and martial soul type. His manners were impeccable, and his attitude was proper.

As expected of the captain. He was fundamentally different from an ordinary team member.

What a pity. With the Papal Edict in hand, he had to finish this within ten seconds.

"Spirit Hall Academy, Lin Yichen, level sixty-five Control and Agility-Attack Dual-Type Battle Soul Emperor."

A level sixty-five dual-type Soul Emperor...

Hu Yanli swallowed hard. He did not dare be careless. As the command to release martial souls rang out, he hurriedly possessed his Diamond Mammoth martial soul without relaxing in the slightest.

The command to begin the match was given.

Hu Yanli instantly unleashed his soul skill.

"First Soul Skill, Mammoth Strength!"

This was the fixed first soul skill of the mammoth martial soul. It instantly greatly enhanced his physical strength and basic defense, causing his close-combat explosive power to soar.

Because he had heard that Lin Yichen was not from the Power Attack branch, Hu Yanli had formed a slight countermeasure in his mind.

Hu Yanli attempted to use his first soul skill to neutralize Lin Yichen's assault.

But... it was useless...

Just like before, Lin Yichen still teleported behind him.

Having learned from the previous match, Hu Yanli instantly concentrated most of his soul power around his head and back.

He attempted to withstand the attack of the opponent's fifth soul skill, Moonlight Slash.

How could Lin Yichen be that foolish? With a slight exertion of force, the chill of his right hand's third soul skill, frost, instantly froze Hu Yanli in place, leaving him unable to move.

Hu Yanli was horrified, yet he did not notice that Lin Yichen's left hand had already wrapped around his waist...

"It's over~"

His left arm lit up at once, activating the soul bone skill, Silvermoon Sky-Splitting Claw!

However, because of the frost covering his right hand, the impact was reduced considerably.

So it did not truly kill him. It merely knocked him unconscious.

As Hu Yanli crashed heavily to the ground, the entire venue fell silent. Meng Shenji even drew in a sharp breath.

Then Lin Yichen made his signature gesture again, pointing toward Elephant Armor Academy's rest area.

"Next!"