Eighty, and the Championship Belonged to Shrek

The Full Moon skimmed across the ground, cutting a clean groove through the bluestone in its path.

Yuan Yu did not return the Sun Wheel Blade to the central axis.

That golden axis had borne the strain of seven elements for too long. Every time the Myriad Phenomena Wheel separated from the blade, it relied on the axis for balance. Once the four Artifact Aspects began rotating together, the axis had become a constraint.

Yuan Yu released his right hand.

The Sun Wheel Blade scattered into hundreds of nine-colored sparks in the red mist.

The Full Moon sliced between the sparks. The blade did not reappear, yet the Myriad Phenomena Wheel completed a full rotation behind Yuan Yu.

The tenth breath passed. The wheel's rim held firm.

Soul Power he had built up for so long surged past the peak of Level 79 and broke through the barrier to level eighty. All seven elemental patterns brightened at once, while the empty Moon Pattern took on the faintest silver glow.

Yuan Yu reached forward.

The scattered sparks swept past the Full Moon and gathered in his palm, reforming the Sun Wheel Blade. Its shape was unchanged, but the center of the Wheel no longer needed the blade to hold every pattern steady.

Level eighty. A Quasi-Soul Douluo.

Yuan Yu still had no Eighth Soul Ring and could not call upon its corresponding dark Soul Skill. Even so, the increase in Soul Power was unmistakable. Strength flooded back into his nearly depleted meridians, and the edges of all four Artifact Aspects steadied.

Through the thinning red mist, Tang San saw the nine-colored sparks. Only after confirming that Yuan Yu was unharmed did he resume directing his teammates to dismantle the formation.

Outside the arena, Zhu Zhuqing clenched and released her right hand.