Five Straight Overwhelming Victories

Xie Xie left with a disgruntled curl of his lips. The discussions in the arena completely exploded, rising and falling in waves that could no longer be suppressed.

"What kind of Soul Skill was that?! It came out of a forging hammer?"

"That's ridiculous! The instant that Ripple swept over me, my Soul Power just stalled. I couldn't move at all!"

"Even Teacher Ye was slowed down for several seconds! That control range is way too absurd!"

Everyone's eyes were fixed firmly on the slight figure in the arena, the shock in their hearts refusing to subside.

Ye Yingluo stood where she was, her eyes filled with surprise. Her fingertips still retained the subtle sensation of her Soul Power being impeded moments earlier.

Having personally endured that golden Ripple, she looked deeply at the calm-faced Chen An and sighed inwardly.

With just level 12 Soul Power—the lowest in the class—he possessed such strange yet tyrannical offensive and defensive methods.

If he were given time to grow, if his Soul Power gradually rose and he broke through to Soul Sage or even higher realms in the future, he would undoubtedly rank among the continent's most outstanding geniuses. His future was limitless.

After two rounds of practical combat assessments, Chen An's ranking had already secured a place near the top of the class.

The only ones still above him were the three Two-Ring Grand Soul Masters he had yet to face—Zhang Yangzi, Wei Xiaofeng, and Wang Jinxi.

The three exchanged glances, disbelief filling their eyes.

None of them had expected that this boy who had just entered the class, looked so slight, and had the lowest recorded Soul Power would be hiding such unfathomable strength.

Of the three, Wang Jinxi, the most composed by nature, was the first to step forward.

His Bone Dragon King Martial Soul was a top-tier darkness-type Martial Soul. Gifted with extraordinary talent and terrifying physical strength, he was nearly invincible among those of the same rank. Even against older students from the second or third year, he had every confidence in holding his own.

After watching the previous two battles, he had long been unable to suppress his urgent desire to personally test the true extent of Chen An's abilities.

Wang Jinxi stopped before Chen An, his posture proper. He bowed slightly, perfectly courteous.

"Chen An."

As he straightened, his expression turned solemn, and he offered a sincere warning.

"My Martial Soul's power is rather tyrannical. Be careful."

As his words fell, two brilliant yellow Century Soul Rings rose beneath his feet, their surfaces flowing with a heavy luster. Level 20—the aura of a Two-Ring Grand Soul Master fully spread out.

Chen An casually put away the Thousandfold-Forged Sunken Silver Hammer and remained standing in place.

The tiny Dragon Scales hidden beneath his chest grew faintly hot, giving off a subtle glow. The primordial power of his Dragonkind Bloodline lay quietly dormant, poised to strike.

"Don't hold back for my sake. Attack as you please."

Chen An's tone was calm.

The next instant, dense dark energy surged outward from Wang Jinxi's body. Strands of black mist wound around him, carrying a faint, decaying pressure.

Bone Dragon King Martial Soul possession.

The bones throughout his body bulged and hardened layer by layer. Fine, tough Dragon Scale patterns emerged across his skin, while his arms transformed into savage, razor-sharp Bone Dragon Claws that gleamed with chilling black light.

Behind him, the vague phantom of a ferocious black dragon seemed to slowly emerge.

An intense pressure swept through the entire arena. Many lower-year students broke out in cold sweat, their breathing catching as they instinctively backed away again and again, not daring to look directly at that black dragon phantom.

Zhang Yangzi and Wei Xiaofeng watched quietly, their expressions grave.

The three had grown up together and knew each other inside out. They understood better than anyone just how terrifying Wang Jinxi's combat power was among those his age.

"Wang Jinxi's Bone Dragon strength far surpasses those at the same rank. Chen An won those two matches just now through technique and strange control skills. He'll definitely be at a disadvantage in a frontal clash."

Wei Xiaofeng spoke with quiet certainty.

Zhang Yangzi nodded slightly and agreed. "There's a full eight-level Soul Power gap, plus the boost from two Soul Rings. His physical strength is an outright crushing advantage too. Wang Jinxi can't possibly lose this battle."

Not far away, Xie Xie, who had just finished bandaging the scrape on his arm, held his head high and watched the battle coldly.

He still had a bitter sense of defiance lodged in his chest. He desperately wanted to see Chen An crushed by overwhelming force, hoping it would ease the humiliation of his own defeat.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Wang Jinxi pushed off with his feet and shot forward. His Bone Dragon Claws carried devastating force as they lunged straight at Chen An, intent on deciding the match in a single move.

A terrifying collision of energy suddenly erupted in the center of the arena!

There were no flashy Soul Skills and no unnecessary movements.

Chen An merely raised his hand and received the attack head-on in one simple collision.

Bang—!!

A dull boom exploded across the arena, and a violent shockwave burst outward from the two of them!

The next second, everyone's pupils contracted sharply, their faces filled with horror.

Wang Jinxi, with his burly frame and tyrannical strength, was actually sent flying by the terrifying force of that collision!

His entire body flew like a kite with its string cut, passing over Xie Xie's stunned head before smashing viciously into the edge of the training ground's soul-guided protective barrier.

His limbs spread wide, he was plastered against the barrier in the shape of a giant "X."

All the arrogance on Xie Xie's face froze solid. He stiffly turned his head to look at Wang Jinxi, who had been instantly defeated, disbelief written all over his eyes.

That strength was several times more terrifying than the force that had sent him flying earlier!

Only then did everyone finally realize what had happened.

Chen An had crushed a level 17 assault-type Soul Master and defeated a level 18 agility-type Soul Master through battlefield control. From beginning to end, he had never used his full strength!

Zhang Yangzi and Wei Xiaofeng's expressions changed at once. They exchanged a glance, their faces incomparably grave, then both stepped forward.

There was no suspense. In the end, Zhang Yangzi and Wei Xiaofeng lost as well.

The afternoon sunlight fell warmly as people streamed in and out of the cafeteria entrance.

Chen An arrived at the meeting place early and quietly waited for Tang Wulin.

Quite a few passing students recognized him. They slowed their steps, deliberately detoured behind him, and whispered among themselves.

"That's him! The new student with level 12 Soul Power who crushed everyone!"

"That's insane. Even Wang Jinxi was taken down in one move. He knocked down all three Soul Grandmasters—I saw it with my own eyes."

"No way... he's that strong? What Martial Soul does he have?"

The scattered discussions continuously entered his ears, but Chen An remained relaxed and calm, completely unaffected by the remarks.

Before long, two familiar figures approached side by side.

Tang Wulin arrived as promised, with Li Chushui walking beside her.

From far away, Chen An could hear Li Chushui quietly complaining that Wu Changkong's teaching was overly strict, his demands incredibly high, and that he showed no mercy at all, leaving the new students under mounting pressure.

"I feel like our training is definitely going to be difficult from now on..."

But when her gaze swept over Chen An standing quietly at the cafeteria entrance, her words abruptly stopped.

Li Chushui's eyes immediately lit up. The complaining look vanished from her face, and she seemed even more delighted than Tang Wulin was at seeing an acquaintance.

She hurried forward, openly curious as she sized up this "little brother" who had become famous in a single battle.

"Chen An! I heard you beat a Two-Ring Grand Soul Master from Class One! That's amazing!"

Chen An returned to his shy demeanor, drawing in his posture as he replied softly, "Just luck."