Ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and beneath the eager gaze of countless spectators, the Continental Elite Soul Master Academy Tournament finally began!
The Soul Master Arena Plaza in central Heaven Dou City was already packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could have slipped through.
An enormous circular arena towered above the grounds, with room for hundreds of thousands of spectators. Soul power patterns crisscrossed its center, forming a sturdy defensive array capable of withstanding a Soul Ancestor's full-force assault. The stands roared with voices. Relatives of the two empires' royal families, elders from various sects, teachers and students from the major soul master academies, and countless soul masters drawn by the tournament's reputation had gathered there, their eager gazes fixed on the arena.
High overhead, Soul Power Airships hovered as the banners of the great factions fluttered in the wind. Most conspicuous of all was Spirit Hall's golden Six-Winged Angel emblem, flaunting its domineering might.
Hosted by Spirit Hall and jointly witnessed by the two empires, this tournament boasted an unprecedented level of prestige.
That morning, melodious ceremonial music rang throughout the grounds as the competing teams entered one after another.
Over a hundred soul master academy teams from the three great empires marched in formation, dressed in matching uniforms. Every team represented the young elite of its empire, and waves of soul power rose and fell, drawing cheer after cheer from the audience.
When the Shrek Seven Devils appeared, their clothes were plain, but each carried an extraordinary presence. Tang San's composure, Dai Mubai's dominance, and Oscar's nimble bearing drew plenty of attention. Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and the others followed closely beside the team, their expressions grave.
But the instant the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team appeared, the excitement swept to its peak!
Their golden uniforms were dazzling and luxurious, and all seven members stood tall, their momentum surging like a rainbow. At the head of the team walked Lin Chen, upright and handsome. Though his aura remained restrained, he possessed a presence that inspired awe. Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi flanked him, one gentle and the other lively, complementing each other perfectly. The remaining members all had sharp eyes brimming with fighting spirit.
"It's Lin Chen! The genius soul master who killed a Spirit Hall Soul Emperor!"
"The captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Team! He's only a rank thirty-three Soul Elder, yet his heaven-defying strength lets him kill enemies above his level!"
"He has to be the biggest dark horse in this tournament!"
Shouts, discussions, and cheers mingled together as every gaze focused on Lin Chen. Countless young women looked at him with admiration, while experts from the various factions turned to scrutinize the young genius who had stirred up the soul master world.
Lin Chen remained calm. His gaze swept casually across the arena before quickly settling on the Spirit Hall Team at one side.
Led by Xie Yue and Hu Liena, the Spirit Hall Team wore black-and-gold uniforms. Every member looked arrogant and disdainful, and the soul power radiating from them far surpassed that of most competing teams. Xie Yue's cold gaze collided with Lin Chen's across the distance, instantly filling the air with an invisible scent of gunpowder. Hu Liena's alluring eyes lingered on Lin Chen with a hint of amusement and murderous intent.
Besides the Spirit Hall Team, the Star Luo Empire's Star Luo Team and the other leading academy teams from the Heaven Dou Empire also cast appraising looks his way, regarding Lin Chen as their greatest rival.
Lin Chen paid them no mind. He led his team steadily into the competitors' preparation area, white-and-green soul power quietly circulating around him as he maintained his peak condition.
Su Qingyuan lowered her voice. "Spirit Hall's people have been watching us the whole time. Their cultivation is so strong—even the weakest is above rank thirty-six."
Yue Huaxi nodded slightly as well. Her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul quietly appeared in her palm, with two yellow soul rings and one purple revolving steadily around it. "The Spirit Hall Golden Generation truly lives up to its reputation. We must be careful in the matches ahead."
"It's fine. Just follow our planned tactics." Lin Chen's tone was level, his gaze firm. "Let's win our first match before worrying about what comes next."
A moment later, Spirit Hall Bishop Miles walked slowly onto the arena's elevated platform, holding a Soul Guidance Microphone. His rich voice carried throughout the Arena Square. "I hereby announce that the Continental Elite Soul Master Academy Tournament has officially begun! Under the tournament rules, today's matches will be group knockout rounds. The first-round matchups will now be announced!"
A Soul Guidance Light Screen instantly lit up above the arena, clearly displaying the first-round pairings.
When the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team's opponent appeared on the screen, another stir swept through the crowd.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team VS Blackrock Academy Team!
Blackrock Academy was a second-tier academy in the Heaven Dou Empire. Its captain was a rank thirty-eight power attack system Battle Soul Elder, and the team's overall strength far exceeded that of ordinary teams. Before the tournament, they had even boasted that they would defeat Lin Chen and stun everyone with a single brilliant feat.
"Lin Chen, we'll put you in your place in the very first match!" The Blackrock Academy Team entered the arena. Its captain held a Blackrock Great Hammer, two yellow soul rings and one purple lighting up around him. Arrogance filled his face as he shot Lin Chen a provocative look.
Lin Chen could not be bothered to trade words with him. He moved first, striding into the arena with Su Qingyuan, Yue Huaxi, and the others close behind. The seven took their positions and instantly formed an offensive and defensive formation.
"Begin the match!"
At the referee's command, the match officially began!
"Blackrock Team, all members attack! Third soul skill, Blackrock Barrier!" the Blackrock captain roared. His third, purple ring instantly blazed with light. Dense, rocky soul power surged forth, forming an enormous stone barrier before him. At the same time, the entire team unleashed their soul skills and launched a fierce assault on the Heaven Dou Royal Team.
The power attack system soul masters took the front, the control system soul masters occupied the middle, and the support system soul masters stayed at the rear. Their coordination was reasonably practiced; they had clearly come prepared.
For a moment, earth and stone flew across the arena amid the thunder of soul power. The Blackrock Team attacked with tremendous speed and ferocity, hoping to use their superior cultivation to end the fight swiftly.
The spectators held their breath, their eyes fixed on the arena. They all wanted to see just how powerful this genius who had killed a Soul Emperor truly was.
"Yue Huaxi, boost the entire team!" Lin Chen ordered in a low voice.
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile, strength enhancement! Speed enhancement! Soul power enhancement!"
Yue Huaxi did not hesitate. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shone brilliantly, and three enhancement halos instantly enveloped the team. The Heaven Dou Royal Team's soul power, speed, and strength surged, raising their momentum another level.
"Qingyuan, flank them and disrupt their formation!"
"Yes!"
Su Qingyuan darted forward, driving her Soft Bone Martial Soul to its fullest. Like an agile swallow, she evaded the frontal assault and pounced straight toward the Blackrock Team's support system soul master, her Soft Bone Lock Soul Skill poised to strike.
At the same time, Lin Chen finally moved!
He slowly raised his right hand. Within his dantian, his Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul erupted. Two yellow soul rings and one purple aligned neatly around him as green radiance and lustrous white frostlight blazed forth. A vast domain power instantly spread outward!
Life Domain: Ice Heart Binding!
In an instant, a pale-green domain enveloped most of the arena. Countless glittering ice crystals spread across the ground, and the soul power in the air froze at once. Even the currents of air grew sluggish.
The charging Blackrock Team felt bone-piercing cold surround them. The circulation of soul power within their bodies abruptly stalled, their limbs stiffened, and their movements slowed in an instant, as though they had sunk into a mire. Even their soul skills became unstable.
"What's happening? My soul power won't move!"
"Such powerful suppression! What soul skill is this?"
The Blackrock Team's expressions changed drastically, terror filling their faces. Their previously ferocious assault ground to a halt.
The Blackrock captain's pupils contracted sharply, and towering waves of shock surged through his heart. He could clearly feel that his soul power had been completely frozen. Even activating a soul skill had become incredibly difficult. Such terrifying control far exceeded anything he knew!
"This is... domain power?!"
On the elevated platform, many sect experts abruptly rose to their feet. They stared at Lin Chen in the center of the arena, their faces filled with shock and their eyes with disbelief.
A rank thirty-three Soul Elder possessed domain power? Such a thing was simply unheard of!
Lin Chen's gaze remained indifferent. Giving his opponents no chance to react, he stirred his will. "Third soul skill, Myriad Spirit Vine Sea!"
Emerald-green blue silver grass burst from the ground, carrying an icy chill as it swept across the arena like a tsunami. Frost-Patterned Blue Silver Vines spread wildly, instantly winding around every immobilized member of the Blackrock Team and binding them tight!
With Ice Heart Binding's freezing effect combined with the suppression of Myriad Spirit Vine Sea, the Blackrock Team had no power to resist. However desperately they struggled, they could not break free of the blue silver grass. Their soul power was completely sealed, leaving them unable to move.
From the moment Lin Chen activated his domain to the release of the soul skill that restrained the entire opposing team, only three breaths had passed!
The situation in the arena had reversed in an instant!
A deathly silence fell over the grounds. Hundreds of thousands of spectators stared at the scene, dumbfounded. Not even a crow or sparrow could be heard.
No one had imagined that a seemingly evenly matched contest would become such a one-sided crushing. With his strength alone, Lin Chen had seized complete control of the battlefield and frozen the entire enemy team!
Bound tightly by blue silver grass, the Blackrock captain's face flushed red, yet he could not move. The initial provocation in his eyes had turned into profound fear and despair as he looked at Lin Chen.
"You... you actually have a domain..."
Lin Chen walked slowly forward, his eyes cold and without a trace of mercy. "Will you surrender, or continue?"
His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly across the entire arena.
The Blackrock Team's faces were ashen. They had no ability to fight back, and continuing would only invite further humiliation. The Blackrock captain gritted his teeth and shouted in shame, "We surrender!"
The referee snapped out of his daze and immediately announced loudly, "The winner of this match is the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team!"
As his words fell, thunderous cheers erupted throughout the grounds, deafening in their intensity!
"Lin Chen! Lin Chen!"
Shouts rose one after another, echoing throughout the Arena Square.
Lin Chen withdrew his martial soul and domain, and the blue silver grass instantly receded. The Blackrock Team collapsed to the ground, drenched in cold sweat, their gazes full of awe as they looked at him.
Without the slightest sign of smugness, he turned and nodded to Su Qingyuan, Yue Huaxi, and the others. Then he led his team slowly out of the arena, his posture upright and his bearing composed.
On the elevated platform, in the Spirit Hall Team's designated area, Xie Yue's face was dark as stormwater, his fingers clenching tightly. "Domain power. He does have some ability after all, but that's still not enough!"
The smile faded from Hu Liena's lips, and her gaze grew colder. "Interesting. I'm looking forward to facing him more and more. I hope he doesn't get eliminated too early."
Meanwhile, in Shrek's preparation area, Tang San watched Lin Chen's retreating figure, his nails digging deep into his palms. The jealousy and resentment in his heart reached their peak.
Domain power was something he had dreamed of possessing, yet Lin Chen already had it. The gulf between them seemed to be growing wider and wider.
Yu Xiaogang's expression was grave as he murmured, "A control system soul master empowered by a domain is far too terrifying. Lin Chen is destined to stir up the entire arena in this tournament..."
Their first battle had ended in triumph. The Heaven Dou Royal Team had secured victory with an utterly crushing performance, and Lin Chen's name once again resounded throughout the soul master tournament grounds.
But Lin Chen knew this was only the beginning.
The truly powerful enemies still lay ahead. The Spirit Hall Golden Generation were his real opponents.
He sat in the preparation area, closed his eyes, and focused, adjusting his condition as he waited for the next match.
Before you continue