The following day, between one and three in the afternoon.
The Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena teemed with people.
This internal contest of Heaven Dou Royal Academy had actually drawn quite a few Soul Masters to watch.
"Teacher Tie Zhan and the others are here!"
Someone in the crowd shouted. It was a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Tie Zhan strode over with eight students, their heads held high.
Yu Tianming walked at the very front, dressed in blue, his gaze like lightning. Yu Tianheng followed close behind, his expression steady and his eyes sharp.
Dugu Yan held Ye Lingling's arm.
The Shi Mo brothers flanked them on either side. Yu Feng and Osler brought up the rear, occasionally waving ostentatiously at the spectators.
Across from them, Zhou Yin had already been waiting for quite some time with his seven students.
Ming Yunze stood behind Zhou Yin to his left, at the head of the seven, still wearing an arrogant expression that practically begged for a beating.
"I thought you wouldn't dare come," Zhou Yin said snidely.
Tie Zhan answered without the slightest courtesy, "Zhou Yin, today your students will see what true genius looks like."
After both sides registered their information at the registration desk, a staff member said with a professional smile, "Please confirm your lineups."
Zhou Yin immediately listed seven names. "Ming Yunze, Lin Yao, Wang Yan..."
On Tie Zhan's side, after discussing it the previous night, they had decided to field Yu Tianming, Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, the Shi Mo brothers, and Yu Feng.
Osler would watch for now as a substitute.
"Match rules: deliberately crippling or killing your opponents is prohibited. Leaving the arena or losing the ability to fight counts as defeat!" the beautiful referee announced loudly.
"Both teams, enter the arena!"
As soon as she finished speaking.
The two teams entered and faced off on the platform.
Ming Yunze looked as though he wished he could point his chin at the sky. "There's still time to surrender," he said dismissively.
Yu Tianming narrowed his eyes. "You don't know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth is."
Dugu Yan snorted coldly. "Why waste words on him? Let's see if he can still smile in a moment!"
The referee raised her right hand and announced loudly, "Both sides, prepare! Release your Martial Souls!"
The next instant.
Both sides released their Martial Souls at once.
Two yellow Soul Rings rose beneath each of the other six members of Zhou Yin's team, while the optimal combination of two yellow and one purple appeared around Ming Yunze.
This was perfectly normal.
The students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy were all children of nobility, and their first few Soul Rings would generally have the optimal configuration.
"Martial Soul: Hell Black Tiger. Level 32 Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder!"
Ming Yunze was quite talented, and his Martial Soul was strong enough as well. He was among Heaven Dou Royal Academy's outstanding students, which was why he was so full of arrogance.
The others were also among the best in their class, with even the lowest at level 26 Soul Power.
Yet the next instant, the entire arena erupted in an uproar-
"Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Level 24 Power Attack System Soul Grandmaster!"
Yu Tianheng gave a low shout, and blue lightning suddenly burst forth.
Two Soul Rings slowly rose beneath his feet-the first was a bright yellow, while the second was unmistakably purple!
"What?!"
The spectator stands instantly exploded, countless people rising to their feet in shock.
Immediately afterward.
Dugu Yan cried out, "Martial Soul: Jade Phosphorous Serpent. Level 24 Control System Soul Grandmaster!"
Ye Lingling murmured softly, "Martial Soul: Nine Heart Begonia. Level 22 Support System Soul Grandmaster!"
The Shi Mo brothers and Yu Feng also released their Martial Souls together. They had broken through roughly three months before Ye Lingling, and all had level 23 Soul Power.
The five figures unleashed their Soul Power simultaneously.
Their identical configurations of one yellow and one purple Soul Ring shone against one another in the Soul Fighting Arena.
"Six Soul Grandmasters, all with thousand-year second Soul Rings!"
"How is that possible?"
Zhou Yin's expression changed drastically in an instant, while the students on the platform were so shocked that they repeatedly backed away.
Amid the uproar filling the arena.
"Martial Soul Possession, Valstrax!"
A silver dragon silhouette of overwhelming might soared skyward, and scorching waves of air swept through the entire arena.
Yu Tianming stood proudly in the arena. Behind him, his Valstrax Martial Soul spread its peculiarly shaped lance wings, their tips gleaming with a cold, metallic light.
Crimson Dragon Energy flowed ceaselessly, giving off the heart-rattling presence of an Elder Dragon.
Most shocking of all were the two Soul Rings rising beneath his feet:
The first Soul Ring, a deep purple!
The second Soul Ring, black as ink!
"Black...!"
"A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring! It's actually a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
"This... this is impossible!"
The entire Great Soul Arena fell into an eerie silence. Everyone stared wide-eyed, as though they had seen something that defied all reason.
And that was indeed the case.
Though a thousand-year second Soul Ring was shocking, it was still barely conceivable.
But a ten-thousand-year second Soul Ring defied all reason!
A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, something even many Soul Kings lacked, had actually appeared on a Soul Grandmaster. How could anyone not be shocked?
The three education committee members watching from a private box stood up simultaneously. With a crack, the teacup in Meng Shenji's hand was crushed to pieces.
Zhou Yin staggered back two steps:
"No! This is impossible! This must be an illusion..."
The students behind him were even more ashen-faced, and two actually collapsed to the ground.
Ming Yunze stared fixedly at the figure ahead, beads of sweat the size of beans seeping from his forehead. "It's a lie... a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring? What kind of joke is this!"
Even the referee was so stunned that she forgot to make the announcement.
Seeing this.
Yu Tianming's lips curved upward, and his voice echoed through the Great Soul Arena.
"Referee, you can announce the start now."
"Ah... right!"
The referee abruptly snapped out of her daze, hurriedly composed herself, and announced loudly, "Begin!"
As soon as those words rang out.
Yu Tianheng and the others charged like fierce tigers descending a mountain, while the opposing team seemed scared out of their wits, unable even to channel their Martial Souls smoothly.
"Second Soul Skill, Thunderous Might!"
Yu Tianheng's purple Soul Ring shone, and savage lightning instantly knocked down two opponents.
"Second Soul Skill, Jade Phosphor Purple Poison!"
Dugu Yan's poisonous mist shrouded the area ahead. One opponent failed to dodge and collapsed limply without even unleashing a Soul Skill.
"Second Soul Skill, Raging Flame Impact!"
"Second Soul Skill, Azure Wind Break!"
"Second Soul Skill, Vajra Bear Claw!"
"Second Soul Skill, Black Tortoise Body Protection!" The Shi Mo brothers took two steps forward. Like walls of bronze and iron, they easily blocked every attack.
"Second Soul Skill, Wind Spirit Blade!"
Yu Feng flitted like a phantom behind one of their opponents, taking down another in the blink of an eye.
"Thunder Dragon Claw!"
"Jade Phosphor Purple Poison!"
Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan seized their opportunity, their simultaneous attacks eliminating another two opponents.
In just a few breaths, Ming Yunze was the only member of Zhou Yin's team still standing.
And Yu Tianming had yet to make a move.
Ming Yunze's expression shifted repeatedly as he hurriedly unleashed a Soul Skill. "Second Soul Skill, Phantom Mist!"
Yet the thick mist had only just formed-
"Boring."
The lance wings behind Yu Tianming suddenly spewed crimson Dragon Energy, sending him soaring into the air and streaking past like a comet.
Crimson Dragon Energy struck the platform, and the resulting blast of air scattered all the mist.
Immediately afterward.
The Valstrax Martial Soul's lance wings transformed. Six nozzles gathered crimson Dragon Energy, simultaneously locking onto Ming Yunze below like cannons.
Six Dragon Energy cannon blasts tore through the sky, warping the air in their wake.
"Third Soul Skill, Black Tiger Destruction Strike!"
Ming Yunze roared, releasing an enormous pitch-black tiger claw in a vain attempt to block Yu Tianming's Dragon Energy cannon blasts.
But.
It was ultimately futile.
"An ant thinks it can shake a tree?"
Yu Tianming's voice rang out, reaching Ming Yunze's ears with perfect clarity.
His eyes widened. He only had time to let out a scream before he was blasted away, crashing heavily off the platform and slamming into a pillar.