Battle: Ning Chen vs. Emperor Team

Yu Feng's Soul Power had risen to level thirty-six, and his Wind Chime Bird Martial Soul possessed exceptional advantages in both speed and aerial mobility.

Although his frontal combat ability was inferior to that of the other teammates, he was an indispensable part of the team when it came to reconnaissance, harassment, and battlefield support.

Oslo had likewise reached level thirty-six.

His Ghost Leopard Martial Soul was considered quite formidable among agility-attack types, possessing both speed and explosive power.

Unfortunately, the team already had "Cao Benqi."

With the Starlight Bracer's enhancement, Cao Benqi far surpassed him in speed, explosive power, and combat experience.

Thus, during the roster adjustments for this new tournament, Oslo regrettably became a substitute.

Yu Feng, on the other hand, remained in the main lineup because his Wind Chime Bird Martial Soul possessed a degree of flight capability and played an irreplaceable role in team tactics.

As for Ye Lingling, her cultivation had also reached level thirty-five.

For a Support-type Soul Master, such progress was already no easy feat.

Her Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul was a unique top-tier healing Martial Soul across the entire continent. So long as she remained on the field, her teammates would have an endless supply of endurance.

At that moment, a fierce contest was underway at the training grounds for Heaven Dou Tier students of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

The battle pitted Ning Chen against the other six members of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's team.

Ning Chen stood alone in the arena, facing Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, and Ye Lingling.

Six against one—this was a practical exercise specially arranged by Qin Ming.

The purpose was simple: to let the team members experience firsthand just how strong this usually solitary "Cao Benqi" truly was.

"Begin!" Qin Ming gave the order.

Yu Tianheng moved first. He stomped his right foot hard against the ground, and his right arm suddenly mutated amid an eerie sound of grinding bones.

Blue-violet dragon scales instantly covered his entire right arm, while his five fingers transformed into sharp dragon claws. This was the Dragon Transformation ability unique to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.

Over the past four years, Yu Tianheng had sparred with Ning Chen more than anyone else and understood best just how powerful "Cao Benqi" was. He went all out from the very start.

He leaped into the air, his first soul ring flashing brightly.

"Thunderclap Dragon Claw!"

A lightning dragon claw spanning a full twenty meters tore down from the air with a howl. The air warped violently in its path, erupting with spine-chilling crackles.

Almost at the same moment, Dugu Yan's eyes glowed emerald green, and her third soul ring lit up. Jade-Scale Purple Poison!

She opened her mouth and exhaled a dense cloud of purple mist that spread through the air, carrying a pungent stench as it sealed off Ning Chen's retreat to the left.

If a weak Soul Master was even slightly touched by that purple mist, they would turn into pus and die within moments.

Shi Mo and Shi Mo pressed forward from the left and right. Both activated their second soul rings at once. Shield Transformation!

Heavy earthen-yellow light shields condensed before them. The two temporary barriers merged into one, forming a solid defensive line that created room behind them for Yu Feng and Ye Lingling.

Yu Feng rose into the air as the Wind Chime Bird Martial Soul possessed him. Pale blue light flared around his body, and his first soul ring lit up. Wing Blades!

His wings beat furiously, sending several sharp wind blades slicing out to form a pincer attack alongside Yu Tianheng's Thunderclap Dragon Claw.

Ye Lingling stood at the very rear, her Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul already in bloom. A faint halo covered the entire field as she remained ready to provide group healing for any injured teammates.

The coordination among the six flowed as smoothly as clouds and water, clearly the result of countless drills.

Yet Ning Chen's face did not ripple in the slightest.

Just as the Thunderclap Dragon Claw was about to strike his chest, Ning Chen's feet suddenly moved. Voidstep!

This was an exquisite movement technique from a martial arts world that he had obtained through the Myriad Realms Roulette. It allowed for effortless advance and retreat, elusive and formless.

His body shifted one step diagonally forward to the left like a ghost, his footwork light and ethereal, leaving no trace as though he were walking on water.

Yu Tianheng's claw grazed past his clothing. Fierce lightning crackled through the air, yet it did not even touch the edge of his sleeve.

A brilliant silver starlight shot out from the bracer, transforming into a slender yet tough chain of starlight that precisely wrapped around Yu Tianheng's right arm after his attack missed.

This was a use of the Starlight Bracer that Ning Chen had developed over the past ten years.

The Starlight Bracer contained the power of the stars. Once wielded skillfully, it could naturally change form.

With a flick of his wrist, Ning Chen used a clever force to throw Yu Tianheng off balance. He staggered several steps to the left and happened to stumble into the range of Dugu Yan's poison mist before it had fully dispersed.

"Cough, Yan! Pull it back!" Yu Tianheng shouted hurriedly.

Dugu Yan hastily drew back the poison mist, but in that moment of distraction, Ning Chen vanished from her sight.

"Above!" Yu Feng's voice rang out from the air.

Everyone looked up and saw that Ning Chen had somehow already leaped into midair. He took two steps through the air with Voidstep, his body tracing a graceful arc as he pounced straight toward Yu Feng.

Yu Feng's heart tightened. He beat his wings furiously in an attempt to pull away, but Ning Chen was too fast. The Starlight Bracer lit up again, and a chain of starlight lashed out, accurately wrapping around Yu Feng's ankle.

"Come down."

Ning Chen gave a light tug, and Yu Feng was yanked from the sky by an irresistible force, crashing onto the edge of the field with a bang.

Though his Soul Power protected him from any serious injuries, he was unable to get back up for the moment.

The instant he landed, Ning Chen's figure flickered again. He stepped out with Voidstep and appeared before Shi Mo like a phantom.

Shi Mo reacted swiftly, crossing his arms as the Black Tortoise Shield instantly condensed into shape. The heavy earthen-yellow shield blocked his front.

"Can you stop this?"

Ning Chen murmured, clenching his right fist as starlight blazed from the Starlight Bracer. He directly unleashed Stellar Force Surge, and surging stellar force instantly empowered his entire body.

Then he punched Shi Mo's shield.

Boom!

With a dull thunderous crash, Shi Mo felt a mountain-toppling force surge from the shield's surface.

His feet plowed two long furrows into the ground, and he was shaken back seven or eight steps before barely managing to steady himself.

Though he had not been knocked down, both his arms were trembling slightly, and his palms were numb. A single punch had nearly shattered his defense.

"Brother!" Shi Mo cried out in alarm and hurried forward to fill the gap. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Shi Mo, and their two shields merged into one to form an even sturdier line of defense.

At the same time, Yu Tianheng had already regained his footing. Dragon scales covered his entire body, and his third soul ring lit up. Thunderous Fury!

Blue-violet lightning flickered in his eyes as electricity surged wildly over his entire body. Like a thunder god descending into the world, he lunged at Ning Chen once more.

Dugu Yan also stopped holding back. Her second soul ring lit up, her Jade-Scale Snake Martial Soul appeared, and she opened her mouth to spray out a vast cloud of thick poison mist, forming a pincer attack with Yu Tianheng's lightning.