Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back.
"This is only the beginning."
"The true goal of the Shrek Seven Monsters is the championship."
"Ordinary academies can't stop them."
Liu Erlong nodded.
"As long as we don't encounter Spirit Hall Academy ahead of schedule, we'll have no problem reaching the final."
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened slightly.
He did not respond.
Inside another Spirit Arena.
Dai Mubai stood at the center of the platform.
A defeated Soul Master lay at his feet.
The White Tiger Martial Soul loomed behind him.
Four Soul Rings slowly revolved.
The referee arranged for guards to carry the defeated contestant off the Soul Battle Platform.
A wave of cheers immediately erupted from the stands.
"Dai Mubai has already won seven matches in a row!"
"Who can stop him now?"
"Shrek Academy is too strong."
Dai Mubai raised his head.
His golden hair fell behind his shoulders.
His evil eyes swept over the contestants in the waiting area one by one.
Seven consecutive victories had pushed his momentum to its peak.
"Who's next?"
The waiting area fell briefly silent.
Several Soul Masters preparing to take the stage exchanged glances, but none of them stepped forward immediately.
A hint of arrogance appeared on Dai Mubai's face.
"You don't even have the courage to take the stage?"
"In that case, this match should be declared my victory as well."
The referee had just begun checking the list of contestants.
The gate on the other side of the Spirit Arena slowly opened.
A figure dressed in black-and-gold battle attire walked out of the passage.
Long black hair fell behind his shoulders.
His feet stepped onto the Soul Battle Platform.
The cheers from the stands quickly grew louder.
"Lin Tian!"
"Spirit Hall Academy's captain!"
The arrogance on Dai Mubai's face froze for a moment.
As he watched Lin Tian walk onto the Soul Battle Platform, surprise first appeared in his eyes.
Then, he suddenly laughed.
"Lin Tian."
"I didn't expect to run into you here."
Lin Tian stopped at the opposite end of the Soul Battle Platform.
"I didn't expect you to last this long, either."
Dai Mubai rolled his arms.
The White Tiger Martial Soul slowly raised its head behind him.
"You joined Spirit Hall and even became their captain."
"But in my eyes, you're still the good-for-nothing who was driven out of Shrek back then."
"Since you came to me on your own, that saves me the trouble."
The four Soul Rings beneath Dai Mubai's feet lit up one after another.
Powerful Soul Power spread in every direction.
He raised his right hand and pointed at Lin Tian.
"Next, I'll clean house for Shrek."
On the Soul Battle Platform.
Dai Mubai stood opposite Lin Tian.
The White Tiger Martial Soul loomed behind him.
Four Soul Rings rose simultaneously.
Two yellow and two purple.
Powerful Soul Power spread outward. The stone slabs beneath their feet could not withstand the pressure, and cracks extended across them.
Discussion broke out among the spectators again.
"Dai Mubai is one of Shrek Academy's main fighters."
"He's already won seven matches in a row. He won't lose easily in this battle."
"Although Lin Tian defeated Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Dai Mubai's close-combat ability is just as formidable."
Dai Mubai ignored the surrounding discussion.
He stared at Lin Tian, his eyes filled with contempt.
"Lin Tian, when you left Shrek back then, you didn't even have a Soul Ring."
"I didn't expect that after two years, you'd become Spirit Hall Academy's captain."
"Unfortunately, a captain's position isn't something you can secure just because you have a body full of black Soul Rings."
Lin Tian stood at the opposite end of the Soul Battle Platform.
He raised his gaze and glanced at the White Tiger behind Dai Mubai.
"Are you finished?"
Dai Mubai's expression darkened.
"You're as arrogant as ever."
"Today, I'll make you understand that after leaving Shrek, you're nothing."
Lin Tian did not answer.
He merely raised his right hand.
Black radiance spread outward from his palm.
The Nine Nether Beast Martial Soul appeared behind him.
The massive beastly shadow stepped through the void, and nine enormous tails slowly unfurled.
The moment its ferocious wolf head lifted, an aura of destruction covered the Soul Battle Platform.
The White Tiger behind Dai Mubai let out a low whimper.
Its body retreated half a step.
Four black Soul Rings rose around the Nine Nether Beast.
The first.
The second.
The third.
The fourth.
The black radiance intertwined, and the entire Spirit Arena quickly fell silent.
The smile vanished from Dai Mubai's face.
Two years ago, when he heard that Lin Tian possessed four Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings, he still hadn't taken it too seriously.
No matter how high the age of the Soul Rings, the Soul Master himself still needed sufficient strength.
But now, the moment the Nine Nether Beast appeared, the White Tiger Martial Soul within him came under suppression.
That power came from the Martial Soul Origin.
Before the Nine Nether Beast, the White Tiger could not even fully unleash its usual ferocity.
At Shrek's rest area.
Tang San's gaze settled on the Nine Nether Beast.
The Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul circulated on its own within him, yet it brought a wave of discomfort.
Yu Xiaogang's palm pressed against the railing.
His expression was extremely grim.
"That Martial Soul again."
Flender looked at him.
"Master, what exactly is this Martial Soul?"
Yu Xiaogang did not answer immediately.
Of course, he could not explain it.
The moment the Nine Nether Beast appeared, he sensed an aura of destruction from that beastly shadow.
That kind of power had already surpassed the limits of ordinary beast-type Martial Souls.
Tang San slowly spoke. "Teacher, Dai Mubai's White Tiger Martial Soul has been suppressed."
Yu Xiaogang's face was solemn.
"There is mutual restraint between Martial Souls, but that doesn't mean there is a difference in strength."
"Dai Mubai's Soul Power has already reached rank forty-three, and his close-combat ability is extremely powerful."
"As long as he doesn't clash head-on with Lin Tian, he still has a chance to win."
On the Soul Battle Platform.
The referee confirmed that both sides were ready.
He raised his arm.
"The match begins!"
The first Soul Ring beneath Dai Mubai's feet lit up first.
"First Soul Skill, White Tiger Protective Barrier!"
White light covered his entire body.
His body expanded again. Thick white fur sprouted along his arms, and his hands transformed into sharp tiger claws.
The next moment, Dai Mubai charged straight at Lin Tian.
The stone slabs on the Soul Battle Platform exploded one after another.
He was much faster than before.
The White Tiger's claws carried powerful Soul Power as they shot toward Lin Tian's chest.
Lin Tian did not dodge.
He raised his right hand and clenched his five fingers forward.
A dark claw shadow condensed before the Nine Nether Beast.
Boom!
The claw shadow collided with the White Tiger's claws.
Dai Mubai's body stopped dead.
A force surged along his arm and into his chest.
The stone slabs beneath his feet collapsed, and both his legs sank into the cracks.
Dai Mubai's expression changed.
In that clash, he had not gained the slightest advantage.
Lin Tian took a step forward.
"This is the strength you were boasting about?"
Dai Mubai clenched his teeth.
His second Soul Ring lit up immediately afterward.
"Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"
The White Tiger opened its enormous mouth.
A white beam of light instantly shot toward Lin Tian's face.
Lin Tian raised his left hand.
The Primordial Chaos Azure Lotus emerged behind him.
Azure Divine Light spread outward.
The moment the white beam drew near, it rapidly weakened within the azure radiance.
By the time the beam reached Lin Tian, only scattered Soul Power remained.
Lin Tian closed his five fingers.
The remaining light vanished on the spot.
Dai Mubai's pupils contracted.
"How is that possible?"
Lin Tian looked at him.
"Your attack is too weak."
Dai Mubai's third Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet.
"Third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"
Golden light covered his body.
His muscles swelled, and his bones crackled continuously.
The White Tiger's aura rose another level.
He drove off with both legs and charged at Lin Tian again.
This time, Dai Mubai did not use a Soul Skill to attack.
He wanted to defeat Lin Tian with close-combat strength.
Tiger claws tore toward Lin Tian's shoulder.
Lin Tian shifted aside and avoided them.
Dai Mubai immediately changed direction, sweeping out with his left claw.
Lin Tian raised an arm to block it.
Clang!
The tiger claw struck his arm without leaving a single mark.
Instead, Dai Mubai's palm was numbed by the recoil.
Lin Tian grabbed his wrist.
"Is this all you learned at Shrek?"
Dai Mubai tried to pull his arm back.
But Lin Tian's five fingers were like an iron clamp. No matter how he circulated his Soul Power, he could not break free.
Lin Tian exerted force with his arm.
Dai Mubai was dragged right in front of him.
The Nine Nether Beast's nine enormous tails spread out behind him at once.
Destructive Power gathered in Lin Tian's right arm.
His black Soul Ring lit up.
"Netherworld Mountain-Splitter."
Lin Tian threw a punch.
Dai Mubai could only raise both arms to block.
The instant the fist landed, the protective Soul Power formed by White Tiger Vajra Transformation exploded on the spot.
Boom!
Dai Mubai's arms were knocked aside.
The fist crashed heavily into his chest.
His body flew into the air, blood spilling from the corner of his lips as he sailed more than ten meters and slammed into the edge of the Soul Battle Platform.
The railing bent backward from the impact.
After landing, Dai Mubai pressed one knee against the stone floor.
He lowered his head and glanced at his chest.
There were no obvious wounds there.
But a surge of Destructive Power had already entered his body.
The next moment, a second force erupted from between his chest and abdomen.
Boom!
Dai Mubai's body bent forward again.
His breastbone gave a soft crack.
His face rapidly turned pale, and blood continuously dripped from his mouth.
A wave of gasps rose from the audience.
"What kind of attack was that?"
"His protective Soul Power clearly wasn't pierced, yet Dai Mubai was seriously injured!"
"That punch can erupt inside the body afterward!"
Lin Tian gave Dai Mubai no chance to catch his breath.
He moved beneath his feet, his body turning into a black shadow.
All forty-five levels of Soul Power surged forth.
The Nine Nether Beast's destructive aura settled over his fist.
Dai Mubai forced himself to stand.
His fourth Soul Ring lit up.
"Fourth Soul Skill, White Tiger Meteor Shower!"
The White Tiger raised its head toward the sky.
A vast number of golden spheres of light condensed in midair and rained down on Lin Tian with overwhelming force.
Every sphere was enough to severely wound an ordinary Soul Ancestor.
Lin Tian raised his right fist.
All nine giant tails swung at once.
Pitch-black blades of light flew from their tips and met the attack in the air.
One.
Two.
Ten.
Dense light blades streaked across the Soul Battle Platform.
The golden spheres shattered one after another.
The final sphere fell before Lin Tian.
He punched upward.
His fist collided head-on with the sphere.
Golden light exploded above the Soul Battle Platform.
Lin Tian walked out of the radiance, his clothes completely undamaged.
Dai Mubai stood where he was, panic finally appearing in his eyes.
His fourth Soul Skill was already his strongest attack.
Yet Lin Tian had not even been injured.
"That's impossible..."
Dai Mubai had barely spoken a few words when Lin Tian was already before him.
One hand pressed down on his shoulder.
Dai Mubai's body suddenly sank.
His knees smashed directly into the Soul Battle Platform.
Crack!
The stone slabs split apart.
Lin Tian tightened his five fingers.
The immense force pressed Dai Mubai down so hard that he could not rise.
The White Tiger Martial Soul struggled continuously behind him.
The Nine Nether Beast raised its wolf head.
A pitch-black aura enveloped the White Tiger.
The White Tiger lowered itself, its limbs trembling without pause.
Dai Mubai raised his head, his face full of humiliation.
"Let go of me!"
Lin Tian looked at him.
"Didn't you say you were going to clean house for Shrek?"
Dai Mubai did not answer.
He braced both arms against the ground, trying to rise through Soul Power.
Lin Tian lifted his knee and drove it directly into his abdomen.
Dai Mubai curled into a ball.
The White Tiger's protective Soul Power shattered again.
The second eruption of Netherworld Mountain-Splitter spread completely through his body.
Dai Mubai's Soul Power circulation came to a halt on the spot.
The White Tiger Martial Soul dissipated along with it.
Below the Soul Battle Platform.
Zhu Zhuqing stood among the Shrek group, her face gradually turning pale.
Watching Dai Mubai being pinned to the ground by Lin Tian, she slowly clenched her hands.
Two years ago, Dai Mubai had stood before everyone and mocked Lin Tian for being unable to obtain a Soul Ring.
Now, the two fought again.
Yet Dai Mubai did not even have the chance to fully unleash his fourth Soul Skill.
Tang San's gaze fell on Lin Tian.
He had already realized that Lin Tian had not used any Soul Skills from the Primordial Chaos Azure Lotus from beginning to end.
With only the Nine Nether Beast and his physical strength, he had completely suppressed Dai Mubai.
Yu Xiaogang's expression was extremely grim.
"Dai Mubai, get up!"
"You are a White Tiger Martial Soul Master. You can't possibly lose to Lin Tian!"
Dai Mubai heard Yu Xiaogang urging him on.
He gritted his teeth and circulated the Soul Power within his body again.
But the moment his Soul Power began to circulate, the Destructive Power in his chest and abdomen suddenly erupted.
Dai Mubai swayed and dropped to his knees again.
"Captain."
Hu Liena stood behind the Soul Battle Platform.
Looking at Dai Mubai's condition, she softly reminded him, "He can no longer continue fighting."
Lin Tian raised a hand and pressed it onto Dai Mubai's shoulder.
"Admit defeat."
Dai Mubai raised his head to look at him.
"I won't lose."
"You've already lost."
"I haven't fallen!"
"Does kneeling on the ground count as not falling?"
As those words fell, the Spirit Arena went silent.
Dai Mubai's face turned bright red.
He wanted to stand, but Lin Tian's palm remained pressed against his shoulder.
That force made his bones creak continuously.
The White Tiger Martial Soul appeared again, but it could only lie prone behind Dai Mubai, unable to advance even half a step.
Lin Tian looked down at him.
"You called me trash."
"You said you would clean house for Shrek."
"Now tell everyone who the real trash is."
Dai Mubai's breathing became ragged.
He looked below the Soul Battle Platform.
Everyone from Shrek was staring at him.
Yu Xiaogang's face was dark.
Tang San remained silent.
Ma Hongjun opened his mouth, but did not say a single word.
Zhu Zhuqing turned her head away, unable to keep looking at him.
Dai Mubai's chest rose and fell.
He remembered the words he had spoken before stepping onto the platform.
He remembered the cheers from the audience.
He also remembered every word Lin Tian had just said.
The pride brought by seven consecutive victories shattered completely at that moment.
The referee came to the side of the Soul Battle Platform.
"Dai Mubai, do you admit defeat?"
Dai Mubai did not answer.
Lin Tian's palm pressed down another fraction.
The stone slabs beneath Dai Mubai's knees cracked apart at the same time.
The Soul Power within his body could no longer circulate at all.
White Tiger Martial Soul turned into specks of light and dissipated behind him.
"I surrender."
The three words came from Dai Mubai's mouth.
The Spirit Arena fell silent for a moment.
Then, discussions spread from all directions.
"Dai Mubai surrendered."
"He was actually forced to kneel on the Soul Battle Platform by Lin Tian."
"A forty-fifth-level Soul Ancestor completely suppressed a forty-third-level Soul Ancestor."
"This wasn't an ordinary difference in Soul Power. Lin Tian's physical body was far too terrifying."
The referee immediately raised his arm.
"The match is over!"
"The winner is Spirit Hall Academy, Lin Tian!"
Before you continue