Soul Master Tournament

Time flew like a shuttle. Five years later, at Skywater Academy's training grounds.

Three figures in red, blue, and green moved constantly with strange, subtle footwork, attacking the beautiful middle-aged woman in a water-blue uniform surrounded by them.

"Sixth Soul Skill-Ice Feather Wing Strike!" Chen Xiaoxue, dressed in the water-blue uniform, called out.

A white crane glowing with a water-blue sheen gently swept its wings. Water-blue feathers drifted down like snowflakes, attacking the girl in a water-blue academy uniform not far away.

The girl in blue did not panic at facing a Soul Saint's attack head-on. She merely smiled faintly, and the fifth Soul Ring around her slender figure flashed with blue light.

"Fifth Soul Skill-Phoenix Cry Across the Nine Heavens!"

The ice-blue crystal phoenix let out a piercing cry. Sound waves rippled outward, colliding with the incoming water-blue feathers in an instant.

Boom!

After holding each other at bay for several seconds, the two attacks erupted with a thunderous roar. The sound waves dispersed and the ice feathers shattered, both vanishing in midair.

When that strike failed, the other two young men, dressed in red and green respectively, exchanged a glance. Their fourth Soul Rings blazed with light at the same time.

"Soul Skill Fusion-Wind and Fire Fill the Heavens!"

Wind borrowed the fire's might, and fire borrowed the wind's force. The two complemented each other, their power not merely adding together but multiplying, becoming overwhelmingly fierce.

Green wind and red fire mingled, hurtling through the air. Chen Xiaoxue's expression grew solemn as she thought, A fusion skill from just two Soul Ancestors actually has the power of a low-level Soul Emperor's all-out strike.

Though these thoughts ran through her mind, Chen Xiaoxue's movements did not slow in the slightest. She said softly, "Fifth Soul Skill-Ice Wing Protection!"

Chen Xiaoxue had obtained her fifth Soul Skill from an Ice Steel Duck. It was a defensive Soul Skill that increased her defense by one hundred percent.

As her words fell, the Ice Feather Crane crossed its wings before itself. The green-and-red wind and fire struck the ice wings, which gleamed like steel, in an instant.

Boom!

Sparks burst out, scattering everywhere!

Everyone looked closely and saw a scorch mark on the water-blue ice wings, glaringly conspicuous!

Chen Xiaoxue had not gained an absolute advantage in this exchange, perhaps because of her earlier Soul Power expenditure, or perhaps because she had not used her full strength.

Still, for a strike from two Soul Ancestors to hold its own against a Soul Saint even briefly was enough to be proud of.

"That's enough for today. Everyone, stop."

Suddenly, Shui Rou, who had been standing outside the training grounds all along, called out.

Chen Xiaoxue, Shui Yuewu, Feng Aotian, and Huo Baoshou nodded and walked off the grounds together.

"You're already quite proficient with the Three Talents Formation. Once your cultivation rises a little more, I won't be a match for you," Chen Xiaoxue said first. She felt as though the Yangtze's waves behind were driving the waves ahead forward, pushing those earlier waves to their deaths on-

"You're too kind, Teacher Chen. We still have a long road ahead of us," Shui Yuewu said with a radiant smile.

Feng Aotian and Huo Baoshou also chuckled. After all, being able to put up such a fight against a Soul Saint truly was impressive, and they had reason to be proud.

"Remember to practice more. Your coordination needs to improve further," Shui Rou said sternly, putting on a serious face.

Shui Yuewu, Feng Aotian, and Huo Baoshou were the most talented and hardworking students of Skywater, Godwind, and Blazing Fire Academies respectively. Thus, the three academies had decided to entrust the Three Talents Formation to them to practice.

Only the three of them were truly suitable. A formation was best used by Soul Masters whose attributes complemented one another, allowing its power to reach its greatest potential.

As for where it had come from, Qian Chongling had naturally obtained it through signing in. He had also given Skywater Academy a Seven-Star Sword Formation. Of course, his own Spirit Hall Academy had these as well, and even better ones.

Qian Chongling's aim was to put some pressure on his own Spirit Hall Academy. Otherwise, crushing everyone without any suspense in every Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament would breed complacency.

"Understood," the three replied.

"By the way, why haven't we seen Teacher Qian these past few days?" Chen Xiaoxue suddenly asked.

"The Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament, held once every five years, starts next month. Teacher Qian is already waiting for us in Spirit City," Shui Rou said with a smile.

"Teacher Qian really has confidence in us," Shui Yuewu said, sticking out her tongue.

"If you can't even make it through the preliminaries, don't call yourselves students of Skywater Academy, much less Teacher Qian's students. That would be too embarrassing," Shui Rou said, but no one objected.

Skywater Academy's contestants this year were several elite students selected by Qian Chongling. Their current lineup consisted of six Soul Ancestors and one Soul King. Godwind and Blazing Fire were a little weaker, but their teams were also composed entirely of Soul Ancestors.

Thus, with lineups like these, the three academies had no worthy opponents in the preliminaries. Advancing in the top five was as sure a thing as an old Husky.

More than three months later, at the Papal Palace in Spirit City.

Skywater Academy had overcome every obstacle along the way, charging straight into the finals alongside Blazing Fire Academy. The finals were held at the Papal Palace in Spirit City.

Three days earlier, Qian Chongling had submitted his resignation to Shui Ning, Skywater Academy's dean, who was leading the team. Although Shui Ning repeatedly urged him to stay, she could not sway his decision. Thus, once this Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament ended, Qian Chongling would leave Skywater Academy.

"Now, please welcome Spirit Hall Academy!" The announcer's voice carried powerfully, immediately drawing the eyes of every spectator present.

Following the direction of the announcer's pointing finger, Spirit Hall Academy entered in matching uniforms. There were seven of them in total, all striking in appearance. The men were handsome and the women graceful, drawing more than their share of envious looks from the audience.

Spirit Hall Academy's entrance also set the spectators buzzing. "Unless something unexpected happens this time, the winner will probably still be Spirit Hall Academy!"

"Aren't you just stating the obvious? When has Spirit Hall Academy ever not won? They have the strength for it, so there's nothing to complain about."

The Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament was an exceptionally grand competition, and its prizes were generous. The winning academy could obtain three Soul Bones, and every academy wanted to compete for them.

It was just that Spirit Hall Academy won every time, so the Soul Bones never flowed into outsiders' fields. Though everyone understood Spirit Hall's intentions, there was nothing they could do. Spirit Hall Academy's students were extremely powerful, and their ages fully complied with the rules. They silenced the other academies through sheer strength alone.

The Tianshui Girl Group's subsequent entrance set the atmosphere ablaze. Every lecher in the audience drooled like a waterfall plunging three thousand feet.

"Next, His Holiness the Pope will deliver a speech!"

At the announcer's words, Qian Daoliu, clad in pale-gold ceremonial robes and holding a scepter, arrived at the stands above the Martial Arts Arena.

"I am Pope Qian Daoliu. The Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament is a fair and impartial competitive stage, where you may display your abilities to your heart's content. Now, let your talents bloom. The winners will receive three Soul Bones provided by Spirit Hall."

Qian Daoliu stood with his hands behind his back and spoke calmly.