Shrek Academy, Soul Fighting Arena.
Everyone first looked at Xia Yuan, then at Lin Yan. Clearly, they were all interested in this explicitly named challenge.
"What is it, kid? Don't you dare become my opponent?" Xia Yuan said arrogantly.
Lin Yan smiled and stepped out from the crowd. Calmly, he said, "Then let's fight. What's there to be afraid of? Just hope you won't regret this decision later!"
"Regret? What a joke!"
"I've never had anything to regret in all my life."
"Xia Yuan, Level 21 Assault System Battle Soul Master."
A proud expression appeared on Xia Yuan's face.
Among the hundred new students of Class 2, half had Soul Power above Level 20.
The reason Xia Yuan was proud was precisely because of his age.
Shrek Academy recruited students under the age of twelve, and most applicants were close to turning twelve.
As for Xia Yuan, he still had a month before his eleventh birthday.
In other words, despite being a year younger, he possessed the same Soul Power cultivation as the vast majority of new students. This was one of the reasons for his pride.
Xia Yuan slowly spread his arms. Accompanied by a resounding tiger's roar, his body suddenly grew a foot taller. His shoulders and back became exceptionally broad and thick, while a layer of brownish-yellow tiger fur emerged across his skin.
Several black stripes formed a domineering king character on his forehead.
As his Martial Soul Possession was completed, two bright yellow Century Spirit Rings rose from beneath his feet.
It was not difficult to see from Xia Yuan's physical changes that his Martial Soul was clearly some sort of tiger Martial Soul.
This was another source of Xia Yuan's pride. Tigers stood at the top of nature's food chain, and all tiger-type Soul Beasts possessed exceptionally powerful Martial Souls. What was more, his Earth-Splitting Tiger Martial Soul was among the stronger tiger-type Soul Beasts.
"What's wrong? Did I scare you stupid? Too scared to move?"
Having completed his Martial Soul Possession, Xia Yuan spoke smugly.
Feeling the many gazes gathering on him along with Xia Yuan's words, Lin Yan smiled and stepped forward to introduce himself. "Lin Yan, Level 33 Assault System Battle Soul Elder."
The moment those words came out, everyone froze for a moment.
Yan Hongyu was the same. Her peach blossom eyes immediately turned toward Lin Yan almost instinctively.
"Level 33?"
Before Xia Yuan could even process the number, a sudden crack of thunder made his body tremble.
A one-meter-long black Spiked Club appeared in Lin Yan's right hand.
The dark black Spiked Club carried an oppressive sense of weight.
The dark purple lightning snakes winding between its spikes gave it an additional air of violent ferocity.
One yellow and two purple Spirit Rings, three rings surpassing the limits, pulsed around the Spiked Club.
At this sight, the surroundings suddenly fell silent.
Everyone stared at Lin Yan and his Martial Soul in shock and disbelief.
No one had expected Lin Yan to be a Soul Elder. And one with two Millennium Spirit Rings at that.
Among those present, Jiang Nannan was the only one who was not surprised.
She blinked her beautiful golden eyes. Looking at the confident figure in the arena, who had casually slung the Spiked Club over his shoulder just as he had when they first met, a trace of admiration unconsciously appeared in her eyes.
"A Soul Elder...!"
Looking at Lin Yan, Xia Yuan no longer had the confidence and arrogance from before. Even his voice had become somewhat dry.
The reversal had come too quickly.
Remembering Lin Yan's earlier words telling him not to regret it, Xia Yuan's face could not help but burn.
He had been the one to call Lin Yan out by name. If he lost now, it would be utterly humiliating.
"How about this? I won't bully you either. I won't use any Soul Skills, while you can fight without any restrictions. We'll compete like that. How about it?"
Lin Yan said confidently.
As soon as he said this, before Xia Yuan could respond, cheers and encouragement from the girls among the surrounding students suddenly erupted.
Lin Yan had already been remarkably handsome, and with the boost of his cultivation, his confident and spirited appearance at this moment almost instantly made him an idol admired by every girl in Class 2.
"Fine!"
Xia Yuan agreed.
No matter what, surrendering without fighting was impossible. He had initiated this challenge by name, so even if he had to cry through it, he had to finish the fight. Otherwise, people would look down on him even more...
Besides, Lin Yan had agreed not to use Soul Skills. Xia Yuan might still have a chance.
"Begin!"
Yan Hongyu's delicate hand came down.
Roar—
A powerful tiger's roar rang out as Xia Yuan immediately activated his first Soul Skill.
His first Soul Skill was called Savage Tiger Strength, a boosting Soul Skill that increased his strength and defense. Its enhancement was about forty percent.
Under the effects of Savage Tiger Strength, Xia Yuan's body grew another size larger.
Compared to Xia Yuan's size, Lin Yan, who possessed a weapon Martial Soul, was undoubtedly much smaller. He was not even as tall as Xia Yuan's shoulder.
However, Lin Yan showed no fear whatsoever. He flashed forward, pouring Soul Power into the Black Demon Mace.
Crackle—
Dazzling lightning erupted, accompanied by the buzzing sound of electric currents.
The Spiked Club was covered in brilliant lightning. Lin Yan gripped it tightly and swung it out in a single strike.
His first Soul Skill seemed to have given Xia Yuan confidence. Facing Lin Yan's attack, he did not choose to retreat. Instead, he chose to meet it head-on.
However, in the next moment, he realized just how mistaken and foolish that thought had been.
When the Spiked Club struck and collided with his fist, he felt a terrifying force travel through the point of contact in his palm, causing his entire arm to lose all feeling in an instant!
"How is this possible?"
"What kind of terrifying monstrous strength is this?"
Xia Yuan wore an expression as though he had seen a ghost.
Although Lin Yan was a Soul Elder, he had not used any Soul Skills. How could a weapon Soul Elder without Soul Skill enhancement possess such enormous strength?
He had actually crushed Xia Yuan, an Earth-Splitting Tiger Soul Grandmaster boosted by a Soul Skill!
Dark purple lightning turned into thick lightning snakes that spread across Xia Yuan's body, immediately causing him to convulse as if electrocuted.
Lin Yan struck again, sending Xia Yuan flying without the slightest ability to resist.
Bang—
Xia Yuan crashed heavily to the ground, sprawled flat on his back.
Lin Yan did not pursue him, because the outcome had already been decided.
Just as he had expected, Yan Hongyu, who was acting as referee, directly announced the end of the match.
The new Class 2 students who had been spectators moments ago all wore stunned expressions.
At this moment, they could not understand whether the gap between a Soul Elder and a Soul Grandmaster was simply too great.
Or whether Xia Yuan was too weak.
How had Lin Yan defeated him so easily in two strikes without even using a Soul Skill?
Xia Yuan climbed to his feet, covered in dust and dirt. Lin Yan had held back on the final strike, so his injuries were not serious.
Looking at Lin Yan, Xia Yuan's face turned red with shame. He hurried back to his place and did not dare say another word. The pride in his expression had been utterly shattered by Lin Yan.
"Alright, Lin Yan, return to your place."
Yan Hongyu stared at Lin Yan, her captivating eyes full of interest.
"Yes, Teacher!"
Lin Yan flashed a brilliant smile, then returned to his place beneath the gazes of the crowd.
Perhaps because he had revealed his strength, Lin Yan noticed that the way others looked at him had changed.
The girls had previously looked at him with only fondness and appreciation, but now there was an undisguised admiration added to their gazes.
As for the boys, the jealousy they had felt over his looks quickly vanished, replaced by a sense of awe.
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