Battling a Soul Emperor (2)

The students watching were stunned by Tian Chen's performance. They had never seen anyone withstand Zhou Yi's attacks so effortlessly, let alone display such strength and composure under a teacher's pressure.

When Zhou Yi saw that Tian Chen had not only blocked her first attack but continued to challenge her authority with his words, her fury reached its peak. She swept both hands outward, her soul power surging again as six soul rings circled her body, radiating even greater pressure.

This time, she directly summoned her martial soul, Fire Dragon.

A crimson fire dragon phantom emerged behind her, its scales shimmering with a searing red glow, as though it could set the air ablaze. The dragon circled above Zhou Yi's head, unleashing powerful waves of heat. The surrounding temperature shot up, and some students even felt their skin sting as if flames were scorching them.

Facing Zhou Yi's powerful assault, Tian Chen showed not the slightest panic. He lightly raised the Emperor-Slaying Ghost Blood Blade as blood-colored lightning began gathering beneath his feet. His gold-and-red eyes narrowed slightly, and three black soul rings slowly rose around him.

At that moment, the entire square fell deathly silent. Everyone held their breath, their gazes fixed on Tian Chen, their eyes filled with indescribable shock. His three black soul rings not only signified strength far beyond his peers but also exuded an unfathomable pressure. Especially as the rings shone alongside his gold-and-red eyes, his aura of supremacy over all things nearly compelled them to submit.

Someone even shouted, "Aren't black soul rings supposed to be ten-thousand-year soul rings? How is this guy's first soul ring already black? How did someone like him suddenly turn up in our class?" The others did not dare answer, but their eyes were filled with awe and curiosity.

Wang Dong, in particular, covered his mouth in astonishment. The instant he saw the three black soul rings around Tian Chen, he understood why Tian Chen possessed such tremendous strength.

Meanwhile, upon seeing this heaven-defying soul ring configuration, Zhou Yi's fury seemed to subside slightly out of fear. She swept a complicated gaze over Tian Chen, wondering, Just where did this brat come from? How could he have a soul ring configuration like this?

After a brief moment of thought, her gaze sharpened like a blade and locked onto Tian Chen. His soul rings may defy all reason, but he's still only a Soul Elder. How could I, a Soul Emperor, possibly be overpowered by him? If I don't teach him a lesson today, how will I ever show my face at Shrek Academy again?

Watching Tian Chen and Zhou Yi's fierce clash from the sidelines, Wang Dong was overwhelmed with worry and unease, yet powerless to help. A battle at this level was far beyond his ability to intervene. He was now not only worried about Tian Chen's safety but also furious at Zhou Yi's extreme behavior.

With a deafening dragon roar, the crimson fire dragon phantom behind Zhou Yi fully took shape. Zhou Yi gave a cold shout and abruptly raised both hands. Her third soul ring, a purple thousand-year ring, lit up, radiating even greater pressure. This time, she held nothing back and directly unleashed her third soul skill—Crimson Flame Dragon Head. It hurtled straight toward Tian Chen with devastating force, as though it would swallow everything in its path.

Tian Chen did not retreat before the powerful assault. The first black soul ring beneath his feet slowly rotated, and a hint of gravity appeared in his gold-and-red eyes. He swung the Emperor-Slaying Ghost Blood Blade, its blood-red edge transforming into countless sharp blood blades that formed a vast crimson net to meet the fire dragon.

As the crimson blade net and the crimson fire dragon collided violently in midair, the entire square seemed to be torn apart by an invisible force. Massive energy fluctuations swept through the surroundings, and the air's temperature soared. Flames and blood blades intertwined in a heart-stopping spectacle. The watching students hurried backward, afraid of being caught in the blast.

Under Tian Chen's control, the crimson blade net displayed astonishing defensive power in midair, successfully blocking Zhou Yi's third soul skill.

The fire dragon phantom roared as it charged toward Tian Chen, as though intent on tearing him apart, but the net of countless blood blades held it firmly at bay. Finally, the two mighty forces clashed violently in midair before dissipating completely.

At the sight, every student watching from the sidelines widened their eyes in disbelief.

Once the dust and smoke cleared, Tian Chen and Zhou Yi stood facing one another, the atmosphere heavy with tension.

Zhou Yi's expression was thunderous. Clearly, she had never expected her third soul skill, Crimson Flame Dragon Head, to be so easily neutralized by a Soul Elder-level student. Yet she did not back down. Instead, her fury drove her to channel still more soul power. The fifth soul ring surrounding her lit up, emitting even stronger pressure. The fire dragon phantom circled above her head, its scales flashing with searing red light, while oppressive heat filled the air.

"Fifth soul skill, Fire Dragon Meteor!" With Zhou Yi's furious shout, the fire dragon phantom behind her transformed into countless blazing meteors. They rained down on Tian Chen like a meteor shower falling from the heavens, igniting the air wherever they passed and sending the temperature soaring.

Yet Tian Chen's expression remained calm. The second black soul ring beneath his feet began rotating, radiating an even more profound aura.

Blood-red lightning flashed continuously around his feet, accompanied by a low hum.

And as his second Soul Ring spun faster and faster, the crimson light on the Emperor-Slaying Ghost Blood Blade grew increasingly intense.

The next instant, Tian Chen abruptly activated Three Thousand Thunder Movement, pouring Soul Power into his legs. With a low hum, his body instantly became a streak of blood-red lightning, moving so fast that the naked eye could no longer track him. Though the blazing meteors surged toward him like a tide, his figure moved like a phantom, weaving freely through the dense barrage and evading every meteor.

After witnessing Tian Chen turn into lightning with Three Thousand Thunder Movement and effortlessly evade Fire Dragon Meteor, Zhou Yi exclaimed in shock, "How is this brat so fast? Is he an Agility-Attack Soul Master?" She had thought her fifth soul skill would be enough to suppress Tian Chen, but his speed and agility far exceeded her expectations.

Meanwhile, Tian Chen used the extreme speed of Three Thousand Thunder Movement to keep dodging the meteors and closing in on Zhou Yi. Blood Lightning flickered constantly beneath his feet with a low hum, and his entire body seemed to become a bolt of lightning, slicing through the air straight toward her.

Once he was close enough, Tian Chen abruptly swung the Emperor-Slaying Ghost Blood Blade. The blazing light along its blood-red edge instantly flared, illuminating the entire square like a blood moon. He moved so fast that the slash was completed almost in an instant.

By the time Zhou Yi finally reacted, Tian Chen had already swung the Emperor-Slaying Ghost Blood Blade, unleashing a blazing slash at her.

Faced with this sudden assault, Zhou Yi hurriedly activated her fourth soul skill, Fierce Flame Dragon Armor. A layer of crimson flame armor instantly enveloped her body, causing her to radiate scorching heat.

But when the Emperor-Slaying Ghost Blood Blade touched Fierce Flame Dragon Armor, a peculiar force erupted from its blood-red edge, tearing Zhou Yi's fourth soul skill apart. This force did not rely solely on brute strength to rend its target; it possessed a special property that ignored defenses.

Zhou Yi's pupils contracted at the sight. She had never imagined that her fourth soul skill would prove so utterly fragile before this blood blade.