Inside the Core Cultivation Courtyard at the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy.
The first rays of morning sunlight spilled down, and rich Life Spiritual Energy swirled around Lin Chen. He sat cross-legged at the center of the Soul Gathering Formation, his eyes closed, pale green soul power flowing slowly around him like water.
After breaking through to rank twenty-three Soul Grandmaster, his Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul had grown increasingly pure. With every breath, he could transform the soul power and spirit grass essence in the air into his own Life Soul Power. The ocean of soul power within his dantian was expanding at a rate visible to the naked eye.
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi stood quietly nearby, each absorbed in cultivation. Their Azure Lotus Martial Soul and Moonlight Spirit Grass Martial Soul slowly unfurled. Under the subtle nourishment of Lin Chen's Life Soul Power, their cultivation was also steadily improving, and the Soul Elder realm was no longer far away.
After crushing the rank forty-two Soul Elder Xue Ming with a single move yesterday, Lin Chen's name had resounded throughout the entire Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Core freshman, exceptional admission, a Soul Grandmaster who defeated a Soul Elder—one label after another had made him the academy's most closely watched figure. Some revered him, some admired him, and others seethed with jealousy, secretly waiting to see him humiliate himself in the New Student Elite Tournament.
After all, the New Student Elite Tournament brought together the academy's finest freshmen and some powerful senior students. Among them were Soul Ancestor experts above rank forty, who would be nowhere near as easy to deal with as Xue Ming.
"Lin Chen, the participant list for the New Student Elite Tournament has been released. The preliminary round is today, and every Soul Master in the academy will be heading to the arena to watch."
Li Ran strode into the courtyard with a Tournament Roster in hand, excitement coloring his voice. "There are over a hundred contestants this time. The preliminaries use a one-on-one elimination format. Your first opponent is Lei Meng, a rank thirty-six Power Attack System Soul Elder with the Thunder Tiger martial soul."
Lei Meng was a noble scion of the Heaven Dou Empire who had already reached the Soul Elder realm upon enrollment. Gifted in cultivation, hot-tempered, and fiercely competitive, he was renowned among the freshmen. He had always held his nose high in the air and had long resented Lin Chen, the core freshman who had appeared out of nowhere.
Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, a green gleam flashing through them before vanishing. He drew in the soul power around him, rose, and said calmly, "Understood. Let's go."
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi stopped cultivating at the same time, rose, and followed him. One figure in azure and the other in silver accompanied him on either side, their graceful forms and outstanding bearing drawing countless students' eyes along the way.
By the time the three reached the Soul Master Arena at the center of the academy, every seat was already filled.
On the elevated platform, the dean of academic affairs sat with the academy's instructors. Members of the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial family and representatives of the nobility had also come to watch. Below, densely packed students buzzed with discussion, their gazes fixed on the center of the arena.
The instant Lin Chen and his companions appeared, every gaze swung toward them. The clamor abruptly stopped, then erupted into even more heated discussion.
"It's Lin Chen! He really came!"
"I heard he's facing Lei Meng in his very first match. Lei Meng is a rank thirty-six Soul Elder, even stronger than Xue Ming. Now this will be a show!"
"I'm betting on Lin Chen. He's a monster who can defeat a Soul Ancestor!"
"Not necessarily. Lei Meng's lightning martial soul counters control types, and its explosive power is incredible. Lin Chen is only a Soul Grandmaster. His soul power reserves are far too lacking!"
Lei Meng had already been waiting in the arena for some time. Dressed in fitted combat clothes, he stood with four soul rings rising around him—three yellow and one purple. Powerful lightning-attribute soul power swept in every direction. Faint thunder rumbled through the air, and his imposing presence surged outward like a tiger's roar.
Seeing Lin Chen enter, Lei Meng curled his lips into a savage grin and shouted, "Lin Chen, don't think you're invincible just because you got lucky and beat Xue Ming! Today, I'll show you the unbridgeable gulf between a Soul Elder and a Soul Grandmaster! My Thunder Tiger martial soul is the perfect counter to your blue silver grass. Surrender now, and you can spare yourself some pain!"
Lightning martial souls possessed formidable explosive power, and their currents could paralyze plant martial souls and interrupt the activation of soul skills. That was why Lei Meng was so confident.
Lin Chen walked slowly into the arena and stopped opposite Lei Meng, his expression perfectly calm. He had not even released his martial soul when he said flatly, "Too much talk. Make your move."
That contempt utterly enraged Lei Meng!
"Arrogant!" Lei Meng roared, instantly unleashing his second soul skill. "Thunder Tiger Roar!"
Golden lightning soul power condensed into a ferocious thunder tiger several dozen feet long. Its roar shook the heavens as it lunged at Lin Chen with air-rending ferocity. Lightning crackled around it, scorching and warping the air wherever it passed.
The lightning moved so swiftly that it reached Lin Chen in an instant. Many students below looked regretful, believing he had been far too arrogant and would likely suffer severe injuries from this single strike.
On the elevated platform, soul power stirred at the dean's fingertips. He was ready to intervene at any moment to prevent a freshman from being killed or injured.
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi, however, showed no trace of panic. They had absolute faith in Lin Chen.
Just as the thunder tiger was about to strike him, Lin Chen finally moved!
Two deep green soul rings surged up beneath his feet. The dazzling light of his three-thousand-eight-hundred-year and five-thousand-year rings filled the arena. Their ages far exceeded conventional limits, instantly suppressing everyone present. Even Lei Meng's purple soul ring trembled, and his lightning soul power faltered for a moment!
"Life Domain!"
A pale green halo instantly enveloped the entire arena. The ultimate Life Force became an invisible pressure that bore directly down on Lei Meng!
[Life Domain triggered: enemy soul power suppressed by 45%, martial soul strength reduced by 40%, lightning resistance increased by 60%!]
Lei Meng's expression changed dramatically. The lightning soul power in his body suddenly felt sluggish and difficult to circulate, while his Thunder Tiger martial soul conveyed an overwhelming sense of weakness. The thunder tiger he had launched lost more than half its power outright!
He had never imagined that Lin Chen's domain could even specifically increase his resistance to lightning!
"Blue silver grass is nothing but a fragile plant, yet you dare use it to block my lightning!" Unwilling to accept this, Lei Meng mobilized all his soul power, trying to force his way through the suppression.
Lin Chen's gaze was icy. Without the slightest hesitation, he called softly, "First soul skill, Life Entanglement!"
Boom!
Countless strands of Life Blue Silver Grass tougher than refined iron burst from the ground. Unlike the withered yellow of ordinary blue silver grass, these strands were emerald green from end to end, flowing with rich spiritual radiance of life. Like enraged green dragons, they swept toward the thunder tiger!
The seemingly supple blue silver grass possessed the power to sweep away rotten wood and dead branches. It instantly wrapped around the thunder tiger, its rich Life Force devouring the lightning energy. In a single moment, the ferocious Thunder Tiger soul skill was completely dismantled!
Then, without losing momentum, the blue silver grass shot toward Lei Meng to bind him!
"Third soul skill, Thunder Tiger Sky-Splitting Claw!"
Scared nearly out of his wits, Lei Meng hurriedly unleashed his strongest soul skill. Lightning claws slashed viciously at the blue silver grass, but under the domain's suppression, his attack power had plummeted. The claws left only a few shallow marks on the grass, utterly unable to sever it!
In the blink of an eye, Lei Meng was tightly bound by blue silver grass. His soul power was completely sealed, leaving him unable to move. He was dragged straight before Lin Chen and slammed hard against the ground!
From Lei Meng's first attack to his complete defeat, only three breaths had passed!
One move. Just one move, and another rank thirty-six Power Attack System Soul Elder had been defeated in an instant by Lin Chen!
The entire arena fell deathly silent!
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the youth in the center of the arena, disbelief written across their faces. Not a sound could be heard.
A rank thirty-six Soul Elder still could not withstand even a single move against him?
With combat power like that, how could he be a mere Soul Grandmaster? He was clearly a monster, invincible within his own rank and capable of crushing opponents above it!
On the elevated platform, the dean stroked his beard, his eyes filled with gratification and wonder. He nodded repeatedly. "This young man's talent and combat strength are truly rare across the ages. To cultivate a control-type martial soul to such heights—his future is boundless!"
The imperial relatives and nobles beside him were also visibly moved. Their gazes toward Lin Chen filled with appreciation. If they could win over a genius like this, he would surely become a tremendous asset.
Below the arena, Xue Ming watched with a deathly pale face. The last trace of defiance in his heart vanished completely. At last, he understood that the difference between himself and Lin Chen was as vast as heaven and earth.
In a corner of the crowd, Tang San stood in the shadows, staring fixedly at Lin Chen in the center of the arena. His fingernails dug into his palms until they turned white, while jealousy and a sense of danger grew ever stronger in his heart.
Lin Chen had grown stronger again! Even cultivating his Dual Martial Souls, he still could not catch up to Lin Chen!
I won't lose. I'll surpass you! Tang San roared inwardly, his soul power quietly beginning to circulate.
In the arena, Lin Chen glanced at the restrained Lei Meng and said indifferently, "You lost."
As his words fell, the blue silver grass slowly withdrew. Lei Meng collapsed to the ground, drenched in cold sweat. Only boundless awe and terror remained in his eyes as he looked at Lin Chen. He no longer had the slightest will to fight.
Only then did the instructor serving as referee recover his senses and announce loudly, "First match of the preliminary round: Lin Chen wins!"
The moment his words fell, thunderous cheers and applause erupted throughout the arena. Everyone was shouting Lin Chen's name.
Lin Chen turned, stepped out of the arena, and returned to Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi. His expression remained calm, as though he had merely done something utterly insignificant.
"Lin Chen, you're incredible!" Yue Huaxi said excitedly, her eyes sparkling like stars.
Su Qingyuan also smiled gently. "You won the preliminaries with ease. In the matches ahead, you'll only grow stronger."
Lin Chen nodded slightly and looked toward the arena's elevated platform, his gaze resolute. "What I care about has never been winning a preliminary match. It's the grand prize—the five-thousand-year Life Spirit Deer Soul Ring."
He could feel his Life Soul Power becoming increasingly refined with each fierce battle. He was drawing ever closer to the barrier separating him from the Soul Elder realm.
As long as he claimed that soul ring, he could immediately break through and enter the Soul Elder realm, gaining the strength to truly establish himself in Heaven Dou City!
Just then, word arrived from the Tournament Organizing Committee. In the next elimination round, Lin Chen's opponent would be a rank forty-one Agility Attack System Soul Ancestor!
A truly formidable enemy had finally appeared!
A cold smile curved Lin Chen's lips, and his fighting spirit surged.
A Soul Ancestor?
Perfect. He could use this opponent to temper his strength and lay the final groundwork for his breakthrough to Soul Elder!
The flames of battle in the New Student Elite Tournament burned ever fiercer, while the shadows lurking beyond the arena quietly drew closer.
Spirit Hall's spies had long since infiltrated the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and were watching Lin Chen's every move. A greater conspiracy was brewing in the dark.
Lin Chen raised his eyes toward the top of the arena. Green light blazed in his eyes, and Life Soul Power surged ceaselessly around him.
Whether a Soul Ancestor or an even stronger opponent stood ahead, no matter how many schemes and plots awaited, he would sweep them all aside, seize the opportunity that belonged to him, break through to Soul Elder, and protect those at his side!
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