Xiong Er, Osler

Heaven Dou Second Team still had to fight match after match and win before they could go to Spirit City for the finals. Shi Quan was not that idle. Wouldn't it be better to join the Heaven Dou Battle Team directly and get guaranteed entry into the finals?

This selection competition did not have any cumbersome ceremony. Once the members of the Heaven Dou Battle Team and Heaven Dou Second Team had gathered, the selection challenges quickly began.

Shi Quan was arranged to go first.

As he stepped onto the Spirit Fight Stage and looked at the densely packed crowd nearby, Shi Quan raised a hand and lightly rubbed the tip of his nose. He was somewhat unaccustomed to being watched by so many people.

What surprised him was that Ning Rongrong had come to watch the match too. He had thought she would at least mope around for a day, but she had come to watch him compete that very afternoon.

Shi Quan's opponent was a tall, sturdy young man who looked around seventeen or eighteen. His body was packed with muscle, and at a glance, he was clearly a Power Attack System Spirit Master.

"The selection competition is only a friendly match. Know when to stop." The teacher acting as referee stepped between them and continued, "Introduce yourselves, bow to each other, then release your Spirit Souls."

The sturdy young man introduced himself. "Xiong Er, Mad Bear Spirit Soul, Level 27 Power Attack System Spirit Master."

Shi Quan introduced himself as well. "Shi Quan, Blue Silver Grass Spirit Soul, Level 22 Control System Spirit Master."

"Only Level 22? And his Spirit Soul is actually Blue Silver Grass? Didn't they say the vines he released could control seven people at once?"

Xiong Er's expression showed a little surprise upon hearing that. He had heard of Shi Quan's reputation: two Thousand Year Spirit Rings, crowd-control abilities, one against seven, and a victory over Xue Beng and his seven companions.

Though surprised, Xiong Er was unlike a spoiled rich kid such as Xue Beng. His expression quickly turned serious again.

Roar!

A deep bear's roar rang through the entire Soul Arena. Already tall and burly, Xiong Er's body swelled further. Reddish-brown fur emerged, along with claws gleaming with cold light, followed by a wild aura. Two Light Yellow Spirit Rings rose and fell around him.

Shi Quan, on the other hand, appeared exceptionally calm. Only the purple Spirit Ring beneath him stood out sharply.

It immediately drew everyone's attention. Word of Shi Quan's Thousand Year Spirit Ring had long spread because of Xue Beng, yet seeing it with their own eyes still caused an uproar.

"The match begins." The teacher's voice fell.

Xiong Er moved suddenly, charging toward Shi Quan with a wild Aura like an unstoppable freight truck.

Shi Quan's First Spirit Ring immediately lit up. The Blue Silver Grass in his hand transformed into countless Vines that swept toward the Bear Youth.

Xiong Er stomped with one leg, and his own First Spirit Ring lit up. A barrier appeared around him, blocking all the Blue Silver Grass surrounding his body. He had heard about Shi Quan's formidable control abilities, so naturally, he would not allow Shi Quan's Blue Silver Grass to get close.

Shi Quan flicked his wrist. The Blue Silver Grass that had been spreading along the ground surged up like waves. The Vines that had extended across the floor instantly changed direction, climbing into the air along the barrier released by the Bear Youth. Blue Silver Grass grew at an astonishing rate, and in almost an instant, crisscrossing Blue Silver Vines rapidly formed a Prison Cage around the barrier.

Xiong Er had not expected Shi Quan to use such a method. He immediately prepared to knock the Blue Silver Vines aside, but Shi Quan's Second Spirit Ring had already lit up.

Second Spirit Ability, Blue Silver Hardening.

The soft Vines shone with a dark jade light and instantly became as hard as iron and stone.

Xiong Er's advancing figure abruptly halted as the barrier around him slammed fiercely into the iron cage formed by the hardened Blue Silver Grass.

With a boom, the impact left him utterly dazed.

"Let's see just how hard your Blue Silver Grass really is."

Xiong Er let out an angry roar. His Second Spirit Ring suddenly lit up, and his reddish-brown bear paw rapidly enlarged before crashing down onto the Blue Silver Grass with immense force.

A dull blast rang out, making the enormous Blue Silver Grass cage tremble. Yet where the Bear Youth's claw struck, only a few cracks appeared. Not even a single Vine had been blasted apart. Against such a massive cage, it had no real effect at all.

"How could the Vines of this Blue Silver Grass be so hard? What kind of Spirit Beast Spirit Ring could make a soft plant this tough?"

In the Heaven Dou Battle Team's seating area, Yu Tianheng could not help but reveal a flash of amazement. Then, with a grave expression, he looked toward Osler beside him.

"Osler, if Shi Quan challenges you, you absolutely cannot give his Blue Silver Grass a chance to touch you. You must rely on your speed to win in a single strike. If he traps you, you will definitely lose."

"I understand," Osler said in a low voice. His expression was equally serious. Originally, he had not paid much attention to Shi Quan, especially after learning Shi Quan's Soul Power Level and Spirit Soul.

But his thoughts had changed completely just now. The powerful control ability displayed by the Blue Silver Grass on the field was not something he could break free from. He had to deal with it carefully.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

After several more heavy strikes, Xiong Er panted heavily inside the Blue Silver cage. His thick arms trembled slightly. After repeatedly using his Second Spirit Ability, his Soul Power had been greatly drained, yet the Blue Silver cage before him remained unbreakable. He had been beaten into doubting his own life.

Xiong Er understood that continuing to attack would only make himself suffer. Looking through the gaps in the Blue Silver Grass, he saw that Shi Quan had remained standing in the same spot from beginning to end without moving. Though their Soul Power Levels differed by five levels, the gap in their actual strength was exactly the opposite. Xiong Er immediately conceded. "Teacher, I can't break his control. I surrender."

"He defeated a Level 27 Battle Spirit Master that easily? He didn't even move." Ning Rongrong bit her lip as she watched Shi Quan.

She had come to watch the match specifically to see Shi Quan embarrass himself, yet Shi Quan had won without even moving.

Though Ning Rongrong did not want to admit it, Shi Quan truly was more outstanding than her, and he was more diligent too...

"Xiong Er concedes. Shi Quan wins the selection match. Congratulations to Shi Quan for joining Heaven Dou Second Team." The teacher's voice rang out from the stage.

Shi Quan withdrew his Spirit Soul and asked, "Teacher, since I have joined the second team, can I apply to participate in the Heaven Dou Battle Team's selection?"

"He's challenging the Heaven Dou Battle Team directly?" The many students watching immediately grew excited.

This was the first time such a thing had ever happened.

Ever since the Heaven Dou Battle Team and Heaven Dou Second Team had been initially established, no one had ever gone directly from an outsider, through the second team, and into the first team in one go.

The weakest member of the first team was currently a Level 29 Soul Grandmaster. By next year, even the weakest would be above Level 30.

A Level 22 challenger facing a Level 29 Soul Grandmaster meant a full seven-level gap in Soul Power.

The teacher acting as referee was not surprised. He nodded and said, "You may. Recover your Soul Power first. Once you have recovered, I will arrange the match for you."

"Thank you, Teacher." Shi Quan nodded and stepped down, returning to the resting area to recover.

Blue Silver Grass Spirit Soul itself consumed very little Soul Power. Coupled with the mutual generation and nourishment of yin and yang inherent in his divine technique, he recovered continuously even while expending power. In truth, Shi Quan had not consumed much Soul Power at all.

To avoid seeming too unusual, Shi Quan quietly waited until the other three selection matches had ended. After cultivating for about a Quarter of an Hour, he finally emerged from the resting area again and signaled to the teacher onstage that he had recovered.

After a Quarter of an Hour, the enthusiasm of everyone present had not faded. Instead, they were all heatedly discussing whether Shi Quan could join the Heaven Dou Battle Team.

"Then get on the stage." The teacher nodded toward Shi Quan, then turned his gaze toward the other side of the Spirit Fight Stage, toward Osler.

Osler of the Heaven Dou Battle Team immediately stood and walked toward the Spirit Fight Stage.

"Come back with a win," Yu Tianheng said to Osler.

"Don't worry, Boss." Osler smiled at Yu Tianheng, but the moment he turned toward the Spirit Fight Stage, his expression immediately became serious.

"Both sides, introduce yourselves and release your Spirit Souls."

"Osler, Level 29 Agility Attack System Spirit Master, Ghost Leopard Spirit Soul."

"Shi Quan, Level 22 Control System Spirit Master, Blue Silver Grass Spirit Soul."

It was the same opening again, but this time, Shi Quan's opponent had changed to Osler of the Heaven Dou Battle Team.

Unlike Xiong Er, whose Spirit Soul was Mad Bear, Osler gave off the dangerous feeling of a predator poised to strike after releasing his Spirit Soul. Like Xiong Er, he had two Light Yellow Spirit Rings.

The Blue Silver Grass in Shi Quan's hand hung downward. In this kind of Arena Battle, Control System Spirit Masters were the greatest counter to Agility Attack System Spirit Masters, because their nimble movements could not be fully utilized.

Osler's only advantage was the gap in Soul Power Level, and that was the most crucial point of this battle. Only if Osler could use that gap to catch Shi Quan off guard would he have a chance of winning.

"The match begins."

At the teacher's command.

Shi Quan's First Spirit Ring lit up again. Centered on Shi Quan, long Blue Silver Grass Vines spread continuously across the ground. In the blink of an eye, they covered everything within three meters of him and rapidly expanded outward.

Osler did not pause in the slightest. His crouched body suddenly sprang forward, leaving a string of afterimages as he lunged straight at Shi Quan from the front.

The moment Osler entered the Blue Silver Grass's range, Blue Silver Grass from all directions immediately climbed upward along his legs. Osler's agile figure swayed, and with his speed and strength, he flung the Blue Silver Grass away, never giving it an opportunity to Bind him.

To every spectator, Osler now looked as though he were dancing through an ocean of Vines, his movements swift and graceful.

"Osler is too fast. Shi Quan's Blue Silver Grass can't wrap around him."

Ning Rongrong should have looked delighted when she saw this from the stands, but for some reason, she subconsciously clenched her fists, her eyes fixed tightly on the battle unfolding atop the Spirit Fight Stage.