Wang Heng rolled his neck. "Fine. Since the dean has spoken, I'll do as he says."
He walked to the center of the arena and crooked a finger at Lu Guan.
"Kid, let's get this straight first. Fists and feet have no eyes, and once I start fighting, I can't hold back. If you're afraid of pain, there's still time to surrender. Otherwise, you might end up missing an arm or breaking a leg, and your master will have to carry you home."
Lu Guan walked unhurriedly into the arena and stopped ten meters across from Wang Heng.
Wang Heng's provocation only made him want to laugh.
Already in his twenties, and still only a Three-Ring Soul Elder. And he was on the championship team in the youth division of the last tournament...
What a bizarre spectacle.
"Done spouting nonsense?" Lu Guan's hands hung naturally at his sides. "If you're done, get on with it."
Wang Heng flew into a rage. Ever since winning the championship, his cultivation had seemed to be suppressed by something. He had been unable to break through for ages and still had a mere three rings.
Over the years, he had swallowed far too much humiliation. He had planned to shine in this exhibition match against Shrek and restore his reputation!
Now someone actually wanted to steal that opportunity?
The fury filling his chest naturally erupted!
"You're asking for death!"
With a savage roar, the soul power within Wang Heng exploded.
The phantom of an enormous Dark Gold Violent Bear appeared behind him.
Yellow, yellow, purple!
Three Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet, undulating around his body.
The formidable pressure of a Three-Ring Soul Elder instantly swept through the entire training hall.
Wang Heng grew taller once more. A thick layer of dark-gold fur appeared over his muscles, and sharp claws sprouted from his ten fingers.
"First Soul Skill, Violent Bear Possession!"
"Third Soul Skill, Indestructible Diamond!"
Wang Heng had no intention of underestimating his opponent. Even a lion used its full strength to hunt a rabbit.
He immediately activated his strongest enhancement skill, turning himself into a heavy armored war machine as he charged straight at Lu Guan amid a savage gale.
He crossed the ten-meter gap in an instant.
Wang Heng's sandbag-sized fist hurtled straight at Lu Guan's face, accompanied by a piercing sonic boom.
Long Huan Tian watched from the sidelines, his heart pounding with alarm.
That brat Wang Heng was far too hotheaded. If that blow landed squarely, the boy would definitely be badly injured!
He instinctively looked toward Mu Ye, only to find him standing with his arms folded, watching as though enjoying a show, with no intention of intervening.
Only when the fist was about to touch Lu Guan's nose-
Did he finally move.
There was no Martial Soul Possession, no flashing Soul Rings.
Lu Guan merely raised his right hand, spread his fingers, and met the enormous bear claw.
Bang!!!
An exceedingly heavy crash exploded through the training hall.
Violent waves of air rolled outward from the two of them, making the hem of Long Huan Tian's clothes snap in the wind.
Long Huan Tian's eyes flew wide open.
At the center of the arena.
Lu Guan stood exactly where he had been, his feet not retreating even half a step.
His seemingly pale, slender hand held Wang Heng's boulder-shattering bear claw firmly in place.
Wang Heng's face flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead. Beastlike growls rose from his throat as he desperately drove the soul power within him, trying to force his fist downward.
It did not budge.
Lu Guan's hand was like an iron clamp, welded fast in midair.
The Body Sect.
The body-its very foundation!
"A Three-Ring Soul Elder?" Lu Guan tilted his head slightly. "And this is all the strength you've got?"
The instant his words fell, a dark-red demon body arm silently emerged from behind Lu Guan.
Bizarre demonic patterns covered the arm, which radiated a terrifying, suffocating aura.
The hand abruptly clenched into a fist and slammed into Wang Heng's chest.
Boom!
Wang Heng's enormous body flew backward.
He traced a parabola through the air and slammed heavily into the alloy wall dozens of meters away.
The wall groaned under the unbearable impact, caving in over a large area.
Wang Heng slid down the wall and hit the ground, opening his mouth to spew a large mouthful of blood. The Dark Gold Violent Bear phantom surrounding him instantly collapsed, and his three Soul Rings vanished with it.
He clutched his chest, panting heavily, without even the strength to stand.
The entire training hall fell so silent that not even a crow or sparrow could be heard.
Long Huan Tian stood with his mouth open, unable to recover for a long while.
An instant defeat.
The training arena was utterly silent.
The smile froze on Zhou Ming's face.
That was a Three-Ring Soul Elder!
And he had been taken out with a single punch?
Mu Ye sat in his chair and leisurely sipped his tea, entirely unsurprised by the outcome.
In the arena, Zhou Ming finally reacted.
He glanced at Wang Heng, who lay unable to get up, and his expression instantly turned extremely ugly.
"You're asking for death!"
Zhou Ming roared in fury, instantly activating Martial Soul Possession.
An Azure Wind Blade appeared in his hand, and three Soul Rings likewise rose beneath his feet.
An Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master.
Zhou Ming was exceptionally fast. His entire figure became an azure afterimage as he circled toward Lu Guan from the side.
He had learned from Wang Heng's mistake. He would never clash head-on with this monster.
First Soul Skill, Wind Shadow Step!
Second Soul Skill, Wind Blade Combo Slash!
More than a dozen sharp azure wind blades sealed off all of Lu Guan's escape routes, filling the air as they swept toward him to shred him.
Lu Guan remained where he stood. He turned his head toward Xu Xiaoyan, who was still standing there in a daze.
"Xu Xiaoyan, time to work."
Xu Xiaoyan jumped and instinctively shrank back. "Oh... okay."
Then she raised the dark-gold Star Wheel Ice Staff in her hand.
Three star wheels spun madly along the staff.
"First Soul Skill! Star Wheel Chain!"
The moment her words fell, a dark-gold chain shot out of the void.
Zhou Ming was moving at high speed, watching as his wind blades were about to strike Lu Guan.
Suddenly, he felt his body tighten.
The chain appeared out of thin air and wrapped around him with unerring precision!
Control that never failed!
Zhou Ming's charging body instantly froze in midair, and the soul power within him stopped circulating.
"What... what the hell is this?!"
Zhou Ming struggled desperately, only to discover that he could not move.
Then came Lu Guan's punch.
Bang!
Zhou Ming flew out along with the chain and tumbled beyond the arena, landing so hard that his senses reeled.
The battle was over.
Lu Guan brushed the dust from his trouser legs and turned toward Long Huan Tian, who had already turned to stone on the sidelines.
"Dean, does that count as our win?"
Long Huan Tian opened his mouth, but no sound came out for a long while.
He looked at the unconscious Wang Heng, then at Zhou Ming groaning on the ground, and felt his entire worldview suffer a tremendous blow.
He could just barely explain Wang Heng's instant defeat as the result of underestimating his opponent.
But what about Zhou Ming?
That little girl had simply raised her hand and completely immobilized an Agility Attack System Soul Elder moving at high speed?
What kind of outrageous Soul Skill was that?!
Mu Ye rose and stretched.
"Dean Long, can you arrange the starting lineup now?"
Long Huan Tian swallowed and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Sect Master Mu... these... these two children, what kind of monsters are they?"
Mu Ye could not be bothered to explain and waved a hand.
"Never mind all that. Just tell me whether it's possible."
Long Huan Tian nodded repeatedly.
"Yes! Absolutely! With strength like that, never mind adding them to the starting lineup-they could even represent Tianhai Academy all by themselves!"
Excitement now filled Long Huan Tian's mind.
He had thought they were pampered young masters here to gild their reputations. Who knew they were two living overlords!
With strength like this, Tianhai Academy might very well steal the limelight in the exhibition match!
As for the two team members who had been beaten, their skills were inferior. What else was there to say?
"Sect Master Mu, rest assured. I'll contact Shrek Academy right away and finalize the exhibition match roster!"
Long Huan Tian turned and strode swiftly outside.
Before you continue