The crowd roared in front of the Soul Fighting arena.
Bibi Dong's personal attendance had drawn unprecedented attention to this tournament.
In the space of a single day, the originally assigned spots had changed hands several times.
Quite a few well-connected parents had pulled strings.
Every one of them wanted their child to show their face before the Pope.
Even becoming a vaguely familiar face would be good enough.
As a result, there had been nowhere near enough time for the planned pre-match rehearsals to build any coordination.
But no one cared.
No one thought there could be any suspense in a seven-on-one fight.
Zheng Qingqing, who had just become a Battle Soul Master, followed behind Bibi Dong as they arrived to watch.
Come to think of it, she had not seen this fellow townsman in four years.
Zheng Qingqing could only conclude that Chen Zhuo had lost his mind.
How did he dare?
Searching her own heart, even a genius like her-a ten-year-old, level twenty-one Power Attack System Battle Soul Master-
Her soul ring configuration strictly followed Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's theory on soul ring limits.
She had absorbed soul rings within the limits of 423 years for her first soul ring and 764 years for her second.
Even she did not believe she had the slightest chance of challenging a team whose members averaged two soul rings.
With one person's strength alone, there was no possibility of victory.
Now, she would watch Chen Zhuo bring humiliation upon himself.
The Soul Master who normally presided over Soul Fighting matches had also been replaced.
Su Rou, the academy dean and a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, personally took the stage to officiate.
After explaining the challenge rules and delivering the customary thanks to the guests-
This irregular, multi-person challenge match officially began.
"Brothers, summon your martial souls!" Sun Chuantao, captain of the seven-person squad, called out.
Soul rings lit up one after another.
Their martial souls appeared behind them in unison.
"Sun Chuantao, fourteen years old, level thirty-one Agility Attack System Battle Soul Elder."
"Martial soul: Ring Greatblade."
The moment Sun Chuantao appeared, a wave of discussion swept through the crowd.
Some marveled at his talent.
Others compared him to Xie Yue, mentioning in passing that the latter had taken a year off from school.
Still others complained under their breath that letting a three-ring Soul Elder compete in a two-ring match was a joke.
Had Bibi Dong not come-
One such spectator would not even have bothered watching this tournament with its foregone conclusion.
"Lin Ying, thirteen years old, level twenty-six Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."
"Martial soul: Shadow Blade Mantis."
"Su Man, twelve years old, level twenty-five Control System Battle Soul Master."
"Martial soul: Ghost King Vine."
"Fang Jian, twelve years old, level twenty-three Defense System Soul Grandmaster."
"Martial soul: Black Iron Greatshield."
"Chen Xingxing, twelve years old, level twenty-two Support System Soul Grandmaster."
"Martial soul: Heavenly Star Disc."
"Ji Xiaoman, twelve years old, level twenty Food System Soul Grandmaster."
"Martial soul: Explosive Chili Pepper."
"Bai Qianqian, twelve years old, level twenty-one Healing System Soul Grandmaster."
"Martial soul: Fragrant White Lotus."
Below the stage, the parents traded flattering compliments, their faces blooming into radiant chrysanthemum smiles.
In the elevated spectator seats, the Golden Generation trio silently cheered Chen Zhuo on.
Watching the young geniuses below, Zheng Qingqing felt considerable pressure.
Spirit Hall really is teeming with talent!
Still, she believed that with her teacher Bibi Dong's guidance-
And Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's authoritative theories-
In a few more years-
She would leave this person down below far behind.
Zheng Qingqing's eyes shifted, her gaze sweeping almost imperceptibly over Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan.
From beginning to end, only those three qualified as her rivals.
In the arena, Chen Zhuo watched his seven opponents announce their martial souls as though reciting a menu.
Even listening to them made him tired.
But out of courtesy, he could only reveal his own martial soul.
"Chen Zhuo, ten years old, level thirty Control System Battle Soul Master."
"Martial soul: Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."
Chen Zhuo's offhand words accompanied the unfurling of two black soul rings beneath his feet, each signifying a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Everyone around the arena, men and women, young and old-
Fell utterly silent.
"You're joking, right?"
"Both soul rings are ten thousand years old... how is that possible?"
"Oh my God, you scared me-"
After a long silence, an uproar surged like mountains roaring and seas crashing.
"Brothers, form up!"
"Prepare for battle!"
As captain, Sun Chuantao issued the combat orders.
Although these seven were a makeshift team hastily thrown together-
Every one of them had received an excellent education.
Chen Zhuo's first soul ring being ten thousand years old was no secret; they all knew that information.
But his second soul ring also being ten thousand years old had indeed caught every one of them off guard.
Soon, a classic formation took shape.
The seven displayed exceptional tactical discipline.
Fang Jian, their defender, stood at the very front to absorb damage.
Su Man, their controller, stood behind him.
Next came Lin Ying, their power attacker, and Sun Chuantao, their agility attacker, sheltered behind him. With the highest soul power level on the field, Sun Chuantao waited for an opening.
Chen Xingxing, their support, provided his teammates with speed and shield boosts.
Behind him was Ji Xiaoman, their food specialist, who had already activated her first soul skill and distributed Explosive Devil Chilis to her teammates.
At the very rear stood Bai Qianqian, a Healing System Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster, ready to cast healing soul skills on the others and respond to any emergency.
The battle began.
"Second soul skill, Immovable as a Mountain!"
Fang Jian struck first, opening with his strongest skill.
An ocher barrier immediately enveloped the entire team.
Su Man's Ghost King Vine moved in response, dozens of vines darting toward Chen Zhuo like living snakes.
This was her first soul skill, Ghost Vine Bind.
Her task was to restrict Chen Zhuo's movements.
And create opportunities for Sun Chuantao and Lin Ying to strike next.
At the rear of the team, the others-especially the support members-had palms slick with nervous sweat.
They stood ready to act at any moment, stacking further enhancements on their teammates.
In their eyes, victory was certain.
But winning beautifully was an art in itself.
The timing of their moves required careful consideration, too.
After all, so many people were watching, both on and off the stage.
An outstanding performance would bring tremendous honor to them and their parents.
As he watched the Ghost King Vines coil toward him-
Chen Zhuo did not move a single step, and the soul rings beneath his feet did not even light up.
That meant he had not used a soul skill at all.
Yet Fang Jian and Su Man felt a pain in their heads as though someone had struck them with a club.
"Aah!"
Both cried out in agony.
"Heart-Cleansing Lotus Fragrance."
Bai Qianqian, the Healing System Soul Grandmaster at the rear, used her second soul skill to heal her two teammates.
A trace of anxiety flashed across her face.
Although her soul skill was a group healing skill rarely found in low-age soul rings, its healing effect was very slow.
Its strength lay in sustained recovery.
"Second soul skill, Starlight Shield."
Chen Xingxing, positioned in the middle of the team, acted, placing a damage-absorbing shield over the two injured members.
This soul skill could reduce their pain and accelerate their recovery.
"Second soul skill, Blade-and-Sickle Combo Slash!"
Lin Ying struck, the Shadow Blade Mantis possessing his body.
As the team's only Power Attack System member, he had to break the deadlock.
At that very moment, Chen Zhuo's black second soul ring slowly rotated.
In the arena, two gleaming blades froze in midair.
At the same time, the entire seven-person team was immobilized.
The next instant, Chen Zhuo used Horse-Form Quickstep and charged into their formation.
Chen Zhuo punched straight through Fang Jian's Black Iron Greatshield.
In an instant, the entire formation scattered.
The teachers and students watching below were left wide-eyed and slack-jawed with shock.
They watched Chen Zhuo knock all seven to the ground, one punch apiece.
Throughout it all, the seven-person team simply stood there blankly, not one of them lifting a hand to resist.
By the time Chen Zhuo withdrew his martial soul, none of the seven could get back up.
Even their strongest member, the three-ring Soul Elder Sun Chuantao, had been defeated without getting a single attack off.
"No doubt about it. That's the old poisoner's signature trick."
The voice was shrill, neither quite masculine nor feminine.
Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke from beside Bibi Dong.
He had once been ordered to hunt down Dugu Bo and knew the old poisoner's soul skills like the back of his hand.
"Who would have thought his grandson would join our Spirit Hall?"
Compared with the relatively composed Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo and Bibi Dong, the Golden Generation trio and Zheng Qingqing could barely conceal the emotions churning across their faces.
"What an interesting child."
"Allow him to graduate early."
After four years without seeing him, Bibi Dong had all but forgotten Chen Zhuo.
She had not expected him to give her such an enormous surprise today.
Ten years old, with spiritual power at the level of a Five-Ring Soul King and physical strength around that of a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor.
She had seen Chen Zhuo's performance clearly.
If that person was excluded...
Chen Zhuo had broken Spirit Hall's centuries-old record for the fastest advancement to a three-ring Soul Elder!
Even with her innate full soul power and twin martial souls, she knew she had been nowhere near a match for this boy at his age.
Even if his martial soul was flawed, and his strength had come through sacrifice, by taking a shortcut-
...It was enough.
He would make a very handy tool.
Of course, that did not mean for her own use, but for the only disciple she acknowledged.
"Na'er, go ahead."
"You can bring him along for your special training from now on."
"Yes, Teacher!" Hu Liena was overjoyed.
She knew this meant her revered teacher had acknowledged Chen Zhuo.
From that moment on, the Golden Generation trio became a thing of the past.
From then on, they would be a team of four.
Hu Liena had imagined that this day would come sooner or later.
She just hadn't expected it to come so soon.
In the arena, the seven who had climbed back to their feet stared at Chen Zhuo as though he were a monster.
Everyone knew.
After this battle, a new star would rise steadily over Spirit City.
Dazzling and unstoppable!
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