A Sweet Senior Sister to Protect!

"No way. He neutralized Shen Yan's attack that easily?" Yan watched from the sidelines, unable to make sense of it.

"That kid even has a Self-Created Soul Skill. He's not so simple after all." Xie Yue folded his arms, studying Xiao Ran.

"Go, boss! Take out that trash!" a member of the Blazing Flame Team shouted.

Xiao Ran raised two fingers with his right hand. "Take me out? You're twenty thousand years too early!"

"Lend me your power, Senior Taro," Xiao Ran muttered.

System loading...

Taro's skill successfully fused: Ultra Dynamite.

"Come on, let's go all out!" Fire erupted from Xiao Ran's body. Wrapped in roaring flames, he charged straight at Shen Yan.

Shen Yan activated his second Soul Skill, Myriad-Scale Fire Guard. A layer of flowing, flame-wreathed scales covered his body as he charged to meet Xiao Ran head-on.

"Hah!"

Ultra Explosion slammed directly into Shen Yan.

Boom!

A small mushroom cloud erupted. Flames swept across the entire arena, and the shockwave forced everyone's eyes shut. When they opened them again, Shen Yan lay unconscious on the ground, while Xiao Ran waved to the crowd with a grin.

On the hidden observation platform, even Bibi Dong looked surprised. A twelve-year-old boy with level thirty-six Soul Power had defeated a level forty-five seed from Spirit Hall Academy.

Bibi Dong's slender fingers relaxed slightly around her scepter. Her eyes held admiration for the boy. In her mind, Xiao Ran was already the clear choice to become her personal disciple.

But she quickly composed herself and resumed her cool, detached expression.

"Ghost Douluo."

"At your service."

"Look into Xiao Ran's background after the match," Bibi Dong said calmly.

"Yes. I'll see to it at once. His file says he's an orphan from Holy Soul Village in the Heaven Dou Empire, but verifying the details will take some time."

Bibi Dong remained unruffled. "There's no rush. The Elite Tournament still has several rounds to go. Investigate at your own pace. Let's see what else he has up his sleeve."

"Yes." Ghost Douluo stepped aside.

Xiao Ran looked toward Hu Liena, grinning so hard he could barely hold it back. She deliberately turned her head away.

The referee announced, "Angel Class wins! They advance to the quarterfinals!"

Xiao Ran returned to the sidelines in high spirits. Xie Yue and Yan both wore complicated expressions.

Xie Yue folded his arms, his voice full of admiration. "Xiao Ran, how many more tricks are you hiding?"

Xiao Ran put on a crooked grin. "Guess!"

Xie Yue snorted and asked no more.

Yan was more direct. He walked straight up to Xiao Ran and said, "Don't get cocky. If you fought me, I wouldn't let you use a single move."

Xiao Ran looked into Yan's irritated eyes and smiled. "Senior Brother Yan, are you picking on me because I've gotten too close to Hu Liena?"

Yan's face flushed. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Xiao Ran chuckled and walked off without teasing him further.

That night, the system awarded Xiao Ran another prize.

Ding! Congratulations, Host, on defeating the Fire Qilin. You have obtained the space dinosaur Zetton's card skill: Trillion-Degree Fireball.

On the day of the quarterfinals, Angel Class faced Purple Star Class.

Purple Star Class's captain, Lu Fei, was a level forty-six Control System Soul Master. His Martial Soul was the Netherworld Demon Python, a dark-type Beast Martial Soul. His two teammates were both level forty-three. Before the match, Lu Fei had requested a team battle, leaving Xiao Ran no chance to fight alone.

Xiao Ran studied Lu Fei across the arena. He was tall and lean, with dark purple mist drifting around him.

"He's a little like me, but not quite. I'll use this, then."

The referee called for the match to begin.

"Super Fusion, Dark Lugiel." Xiao Ran transformed without fanfare.

People all around the arena shouted, "Why does Xiao Ran look different again?"

Even Bibi Dong was puzzled on the observation platform. Could this boy have Twin Martial Souls, just like me?

Yan struck first, sending a sea of flames surging forward. Lu Fei spread his arms and formed a wall of snake-scale shields, blocking the fire. Xie Yue swept in from the flank, Moon Blade drawn, and went straight for Lu Fei.

The Black Rock Turtle Soul Master stepped in front of Lu Fei. With his turtle shell covering him, he curled into a black ball of stone.

Sparks flew as Moon Blade struck it, leaving only two white marks. The Shadow Mantis lunged in from the side, its arms turning into black sickles aimed at the back of Xie Yue's neck.

Xiao Ran narrowed his eyes. After watching for a while, he finally spotted the flaw in their tactics.

"Senior Brother Yan, take out that turtle first!"

Yan focused his flames on the Black Rock Turtle. It poured everything into its defense and endured the burning.

"Pointless resistance." Xiao Ran grinned.

"First Soul Skill, Falling-Light Rending Blade!" A dark blade of light formed above Xiao Ran's head and slashed down at the shell.

The move was designed to counter defensive Soul Masters, and its penetrating power was immense. The black shell shattered layer by layer. Xie Yue rushed in to finish the job, knocking the Black Rock Turtle out of the arena.

But the Shadow Mantis seized the opening and sprang from the shadows, twin sickles slashing toward Xiao Ran's back. Xiao Ran was ready for it.

"Dark Spark Spear! Rise!"

With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's secret technique, Xiao Ran pushed his mental control of the spear to its limit.

The spear spun like lightning. The Shadow Mantis's twin strikes were no match for the Dark Spark Spear. After several exchanges with the weapon, it went down.

The arena erupted in astonishment.

Lu Fei stared in shock. "You can control a weapon with your mind? You can do that too?"

Xiao Ran couldn't be bothered to answer. He went straight to his third Soul Skill to end the match.

"Nether Lightning Flash!"

Dark purple lightning coiled around his arm, and he fired a beam of electricity at Lu Fei's stinking python.

Lu Fei's Netherworld Demon Python strained to block it by wrapping itself around the attack, but it couldn't fend them all off. After taking a barrage of Soul Skills from Yan and Xie Yue as well, it slowly collapsed.

All three Purple Star Class members were eliminated.

The referee announced, "Angel Class advances to the semifinals!"

Hu Liena handed Xiao Ran some water. He took it and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls.

At the top of the stands, Bibi Dong closed her briefing and rose.

"Ghost Douluo, have them fight the semifinals tomorrow."

"Yes."

That night, back in his room, Xiao Ran heard the reward notification again.

Random draw in progress... Congratulations! You have obtained Gan-Q's card skill: Phantom Eye Devours Light.

"Rewards this often? Hahaha! Looks like hard work really does pay off." Xiao Ran was too excited to sleep.

The next day brought the semifinals: Angel Class against Night Class.

Dark Moon Class's captain, Mo Yuan, was a level forty-eight Power Attack System Soul Master. His Martial Soul was the Dark Prison Demon Halberd, a dark-type weapon Martial Soul. His teammates were a level forty-six Control System Soul Master with the Shadow Demon Spider and a level forty-six Agility Attack System Soul Master with the Netherworld Ghost Shadow.

Angel Class's initial lineup was Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan. Xiao Ran sat on the bench.

Mo Yuan attacked first, the Dark Prison Demon Halberd manifesting in his hands as he charged straight at Hu Liena. She dodged and summoned a short blade, but failed to wound him.

Xie Yue faced the Shadow Demon Spider, but its silk was incredibly tough. He became trapped in it.

The Netherworld Ghost Shadow rushed Yan. Yan unleashed his flames and drove him back for the moment, but he couldn't keep up with the ghostly figure's speed.

Night Class's tactics were clear: Mo Yuan would overpower Hu Liena head-on, the Shadow Demon Spider would tie down Xie Yue, and the Netherworld Ghost Shadow would wear Yan out.

Before long, Hu Liena was driven to the edge of the arena.

"Hu Liena! Surrender!" Mo Yuan raised his halberd high. Dark purple Soul Power formed a massive halberd-shaped shadow that came crashing down.

Hu Liena gritted her teeth and dodged, but the shockwave still caught her. She crumpled to the ground.

"Enough!"