Just Sky Academy

Heaven Dou City, Just Sky Academy.

As a long-established Soul Master Academy in the Heavenly Soul Empire, it shared something in common with the Shrek Martial Soul Department: a dislike of Soul Tool systems.

Most of its teachers and students placed great emphasis on improving their own cultivation and practical combat skills, so the students of Just Sky Academy were quite capable.

Of course, much like the Shrek Martial Soul Department, they were also exceedingly proud.

Under Princess Vena's arrangements, the senior staff and academy team of Just Sky Academy said nothing, though they were none too pleased about competitors being added at the last minute.

That afternoon, Song Que, Bei Bei, Tang Ya, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xu Sanshi arrived at Just Sky Academy for the first time, heading inward along its bluestone avenue.

Along the way, the students coming and going kept casting sidelong glances at them.

Some students who had heard the news began whispering among themselves.

"Those are the ones? The outsiders being added to our team?"

"I heard Princess Vena arranged it. The academy had no choice but to accept them."

"Are they royal children here to pad their résumés? Why didn't they go to Dio Academy?"

"Who knows? They look so young. I doubt they're all that strong."

The scattered whispers drifted into their ears.

Even someone as thick-skinned as Xu Sanshi felt a little uncomfortable. Unable to help himself, he muttered, "Hey, hey, hey, this is the school you arranged for us?"

"Didn't anyone tell them we're strong? They're making it sound like we're here to freeload off their team."

Bei Bei smiled. "What can we do? They don't know us."

"Besides, you're only rank forty-five. Don't act like you're some powerhouse."

Xu Sanshi curled his lip. "Tch. Like you're any different."

Beside them, Song Que looked relaxed, a faint smile on his face, utterly unconcerned by the gazes around him.

They walked all the way to the team's training grounds beside the academy's martial practice plaza.

At that moment, seven figures stood quietly in the grounds.

They were Just Sky Academy's starting team for this Continental Soul Master Tournament.

The young man in white at their head stood tall and straight. His bearing was cold, and his features held an aloof pride that warned strangers to keep their distance.

He was Just Sky Academy's captain, Ye Wuqing, a rank fifty-eight power attack system Soul King with the highest Soul Power on the team.

A man and a woman with similarly formidable auras stood side by side next to him.

They were Yu Mengdi, a rank fifty-three power attack system Angel Soul King, and Tang Xiaolei, a rank fifty-two Violet Hua Bow Soul King.

With three Soul Kings anchoring the team, Just Sky Academy's strength was clearly not to be underestimated.

The remaining four were all Soul Ancestors above rank forty.

Ye Wuqing's expression was indifferent as his gaze swept over the six newcomers, finally settling on Song Que.

"You're Song Que?"

"They say you once defeated a Soul Emperor. Is that true?"

Song Que nodded and said casually, "What if it is? What if it isn't?"

Ye Wuqing remained expressionless and said flatly, "We don't approve of you joining us."

"If you want to compete, prove your strength. Even with Princess Vena backing you, you'll have to sit obediently on the bench as substitutes. If you aren't strong enough, don't expect a place in the starting lineup."

Beside him, Yu Mengdi nodded and smiled. "Most of you look far too young to me."

"If you aren't strong enough, don't force it. You can always wait until the next tournament."

Song Que smiled. "There's no point talking so much, especially when we're short on time."

"Let me see what you're capable of first."

As his words fell, Song Que vanished. A second later, he appeared in the center of the nearby arena.

Ye Wuqing and the others' pupils contracted. None of them had seen Song Que move.

"So fast!"

"Was that teleportation?"

They exchanged shocked glances, their expressions turning grave.

Ye Wuqing frowned slightly and stepped forward first, walking onto the arena.

"I'll go first, then."

Song Que gave a faint smile. "No. Let's not waste time. All of you, come at me together."

At those words, their expressions changed, anger flashing in their eyes.

"Arrogant!"

"You think you can fight seven of us alone?"

"Even a Soul Emperor couldn't do that."

Ye Wuqing snorted coldly and looked at the others. "Since he has a death wish, join me."

As his words fell, the others stepped onto the arena.

Ye Wuqing continued, "Since this was your choice, don't blame us for showing no mercy."

"Do as you please." As Song Que spoke, he took his Zanpakutō in hand.

Seeing this, Ye Wuqing and the others lit up their Soul Rings, preparing for battle.

It had to be said that the Just Sky Academy team possessed some rather unusual Martial Souls.

There were Ye Wuqing's Golden Leaf, Tang Xiaolei's Violet Hua Bow, Shangguan Can's Soul-Seizing Bell, and the Angel Martial Soul that had already gained great renown ten thousand years ago, among others.

Several ranged Soul Masters attacked first, sending golden leaves, arrows, and fireballs flying at Song Que simultaneously.

They intended to test him first.

Shangguan Can also shook the sinister Soul-Seizing Bell in his hand, producing an eerie sound in an attempt to disrupt Song Que's mind.

Yet just as the attacks drew near, Song Que vanished again.

Shangguan Can frowned. "I can't see him at all. It really is teleportation!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Three dull impacts rang out in succession.

The three Soul Ancestors at the rear of the seven-person team were sent flying backward, landing outside the arena.

Song Que said lightly, "Don't let your minds wander!"

The next instant, he vanished again.

The remaining four trembled inwardly and stood back to back, scanning their surroundings.

Ye Wuqing's brows knitted tightly as he said in a low voice, "Doesn't his teleportation need any time between uses?"

Song Que's voice drifted down from midair.

"This is called Flash Step. It isn't really teleportation, though there doesn't seem to be much difference."

Their expressions changed, and they turned to look up.

At the sight of Song Que standing in midair, all of them widened their eyes.

"How is that possible? Isn't his Martial Soul a blade? Why can he fly?" Yu Mengdi exclaimed.

His expression grave, Ye Wuqing attacked without a word.

Several golden leaves shot toward Song Que in the air.

Song Que smiled faintly and held his long blade upright.

"Scatter, Senbonzakura!"

As his words fell, the blade instantly blossomed with flowing pink light. A second later, it transformed into a skyful of cherry blossoms that descended from above.

"What?!" Everyone cried out, scrambling to dodge.

The next second, every golden leaf hurtling skyward was cut down by the petals.

Song Que swept the hilt in his hand again and again.

The cherry-pink petals filling the sky became countless fine blades, crisscrossing as they enveloped the four.

Caught off guard, they were all wounded and staggered as they dodged.

Ye Wuqing and Tang Xiaolei exchanged a glance.

The second Soul Ring lit up, and a mass of golden leaves flew out, forming a sword formation in the air to block the attacks and buy the group a few seconds to catch their breath.

The Violet Hua Bow in Tang Xiaolei's hand flashed with light.

A purple arrow tore through the sky like a meteor, aimed straight at Song Que.

But though the arrow was fast, it was still a step too late.

The next second, Song Que vanished without a trace again.

"Damn it! We can't pin him down at all!"

Just then, a figure silently appeared behind Ye Wuqing, and Song Que's teasing voice slowly rang out. "If you can't catch me, you should admit defeat."

"If you keep dragging this out, I'll have to get serious."

As his words fell, the fine cherry-pink blades suspended throughout the air abruptly accelerated severalfold. The scattered petals swiftly gathered and intertwined, forming several swift, sinuous serpents of cherry blossoms that instantly coiled around the four's limbs and torsos.

In an instant, Ye Wuqing and the other three froze on the arena, utterly stripped of any ability to resist.