The Lan Sisters

"Congratulations, Lu Yuan!"

After exchanging pleasantries with Mu Jin, Wang Yan also walked over to Lu Yuan and offered his congratulations.

"Haha, thank you, Teacher Wang!"

Lu Yuan smiled and thanked Wang Yan for his congratulations.

After several interactions, Lu Yuan had found that Wang Yan possessed a high level of research expertise, yet was young, kind, and straightforward. Their acquaintance involved no interests or benefits, having begun purely over academic questions. As such, the two had gotten along quite well, with the makings of an unlikely friendship despite their age difference.

"Teacher Wang, our team is having a dinner gathering tonight. I'm treating—would you like to join us?"

"No need. You young people will feel more at ease gathering together. I came this time to fulfill our wager." Wang Yan smiled as he declined Lu Yuan's invitation, then took a book from his storage Soul Tool and handed it to Lu Yuan.

"Haha, it seems Teacher Wang still couldn't figure out what my Martial Soul is!"

This joking wager had originated from an encounter after their first round-robin match. After Wang Yan had asked Lu Yuan about his Martial Soul, Lu Yuan jokingly bet him that Wang Yan would not be able to guess his Martial Soul before the round-robin stage ended. If he failed, Wang Yan would have to prepare a small gift for Lu Yuan.

"That's right, Lu Yuan. I still couldn't figure it out!" Smiling as he presented one of his treasured theoretical books, Wang Yan adjusted his glasses, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes. "However, once the next elimination match begins, I think I'll be able to see it!"

Wang Yan, who had long predicted that Lu Yuan's team would advance with a perfect record, had already privately reviewed the subsequent match schedule. Thinking of the opponents Lu Yuan would face next, Wang Yan wore a certain expression—

Against those sisters, even Lu Yuan's team would not be able to advance so easily. If they were careless, they might even suffer an upset.

"Although I can't reveal specific match information as a teacher, the elimination stage differs from the round-robin stage. Many academy higher-ups will come to watch. Perform well, Lu Yuan!" Wang Yan reminded him kindly.

"Then let's wait and see, Teacher Wang!"

Elimination stage, top sixty-four to top thirty-two.

Freshman Class Seven versus Freshman Class Nine.

Wang Yan was not the referee for this match, but in order to uncover Lu Yuan's Martial Soul, he had still come to watch from the sidelines.

"Good luck, Brother Yuan!"

Below the stage, Huo Yuhao had already advanced successfully and had specifically come to cheer Lu Yuan on.

The pink-blue-haired boy and petite little girl beside him were naturally his teammates, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao.

They had come partly to accompany Huo Yuhao, but also to see just how strong the "Brother Yuan" he constantly talked about truly was. Judging solely from their previous round-robin results, even without considering Lu Yuan's strength, Ning Tian and Wu Feng's combination alone made them powerful contenders for the championship.

Lu Yuan gave a slight nod in Huo Yuhao's direction, then continued listening as Mu Jin explained the intelligence she had gathered on the opposing team from their previous matches.

Under the elimination-stage rules, the first-place team of a round-robin group would face the second-place team of another group in the first match. For the sake of her senior teacher title, Mu Jin had begun gathering information on Lu Yuan's group's potential opponents long ago.

"...The tall boy in the middle is called Huang Chutian. His Martial Soul is the Powerful Vajra Ape. He has skin of bronze and bones of iron, along with immense strength. He is a strength-type Soul Grandmaster responsible for the team's frontal combat. The girl on the left is Lan Luoluo, and the girl on the right is Lan Susu. Their Martial Souls are Body Martial Souls—hair. Since they are twins, they also possess a telepathic connection. These two control-type Soul Grandmasters work together flawlessly. It is said that they can even contend against control-type battle Soul Elders!"

On the other side, Wang Yan was also introducing Lu Yuan's opponents to Huo Yuhao and the others.

When he was not serving as a referee, Wang Yan would also watch other groups' matches. Just as in the original story, he had become acquainted with Huo Yuhao and the others. After running into them beneath the stage today, he began analyzing this match for them.

"If their team is so strong, then how did they end up second in their group?" Xiao Xiao asked in confusion.

"I remember they ran into opponents whose abilities countered theirs heavily." Wang Yan pushed up his glasses and continued in a deep voice. "Of course, it's also possible that they were concealing their strength!"

Twins, telepathic connection, identical Martial Souls—putting those fragments together, the words "Martial Soul Fusion Skill" were practically about to leap out.

However, Wang Yan came from a research background and was naturally meticulous. Before personally witnessing a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, he would not make any definite claims.

"Then do Lu Yuan and the others have a chance of winning?" Wang Dong asked curiously.

"I believe Brother Yuan will definitely win!" Before Wang Yan could answer, Huo Yuhao spoke first with complete conviction.

"That will depend on Lu Yuan's performance." Seeing how firmly Huo Yuhao supported Lu Yuan, Wang Yan could not help but smile. Still, having never figured out Lu Yuan's Martial Soul, he was also deeply expectant. "Ning Tian on Lu Yuan's team is a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, while Wu Feng's abilities have more or less been exposed during the earlier round-robin matches. Therefore, the one who will truly decide this match's outcome is indeed Lu Yuan!"

Then, Lu Yuan, let me wait and see! Thinking of Lu Yuan's earlier words, Wang Yan revealed an expectant look as well.

"State your names—"

"Freshman Class Seven: Huang Chutian, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo!"

"Freshman Class Nine: Lu Yuan, Ning Tian, Wu Feng."

"The assessment begins!"

With the referee's command, the first elimination match officially began.

"Seven Treasures turn, Glazed Light!"

"Seven Treasures have names. First: Speed!"

As the match began, the magnificent Seven Treasure Glazed Tower appeared before everyone once again. A deep-yellow hundred-year soul ring gleamed around the tower, drawing forth two rays of light that descended upon Wu Feng and Lu Yuan.

At the same time,

"Haah—"

Huang Chutian shouted, and with his Powerful Vajra Ape Martial Soul Possession, he instantly transformed from a one-and-a-half-meter boy into a hulking, muscular man over one point eight meters tall.

"Susu, Luoluo, I'll hold back that red dragon Soul Master. You deal with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tower support-type Soul Elder first!"

Huang Chutian shouted as he activated his Powerful Vajra Ape Martial Soul Possession. At the same time, his first soul ring suddenly lit up, his fists instantly swelling as he charged toward Wu Feng, who stood at the front.

"Seven Treasures have names. Third: Strength!"

Dazzling purple light shone from the exquisite tower, and a ray of radiance landed on Wu Feng before Huang Chutian could reach her.

Second soul skill—Dragon's Wrath!

Compared to three months ago, Wu Feng's cultivation had improved, and the draconic traits in her Martial Soul Possession state had become even more pronounced. Five sharp claws extended from her dragon-scale-covered left hand as she struck directly at Huang Chutian!