As the highest-level Soul Master academy in the Heaven Dou Empire, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy boasts extremely spacious and well-equipped training grounds for its teams.
When Qin Ming led Lin Yan and Dugu Yan into the training ground, they saw six figures engaged in intense combat training in the center of the field.
The leader was a young man in blue, tall and handsome with sharp eyes and faint blue arcs of electricity around him. He was the captain Yu Tianheng, Martial Soul the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Beside him, a young man dressed in black, his figure as elusive as Gui Mei, moved silently. He was Osler, the Agility Attack System Battle Soul Elder, Martial Soul Ghost Leopard.
On the other side stood a robust young man with a sturdy build, his skin a yellowish-brown, giving him an extremely imposing presence. This was Shi Mo, a Defense System Battle Soul Elder, Martial Soul was the Black Tortoise. Beside him was his brother, Shi Mo, who also possessed the Black Tortoise Martial Soul.
A little further away, a girl in a light blue dress stood quietly; it was Ye Lingling. When she saw Lin Yan enter, a glint of light flashed in her cool eyes, but she quickly regained her composure, though her gaze would occasionally drift in Lin Yan's direction.
Another team member, Yu Feng ( Wind Chime Bird Soul Master ), appears to be absent from the field.
Upon seeing Qin Ming enter, the group of people who were training stopped and came over.
" Teacher Qin."
" Yanzi, you're back."
Everyone greeted him, and their gazes all fell on Lin Yan, the unfamiliar young man next to Qin Ming.
As the team leader, Yu Tianheng was the first to speak, asking, " Teacher Qin, who is this?"
Qin Ming glanced around at his team members and said in a deep voice, "Let me introduce you all. This is Lin Yan. He is a disciple of Poison Douluo."
"A disciple of Poison Douluo?" Upon hearing this, everyone's faces showed surprise. The identity of a disciple of Titled Douluo was enough to make them put away any contempt.
Dugu Bo's fearsome reputation is known to everyone on the mainland.
Qin Ming continued, " Lin Yan hopes to join our Imperial Fighting Team and compete together in this year's Soul Master Tournament."
These words immediately created a somewhat awkward atmosphere in the training field.
Yu Tianheng frowned slightly, and Osler and the Shi Brothers exchanged glances, all seeing the doubt in each other's eyes. Ye Lingling's eyes flashed with a glint of light, as if she was looking forward to it.
As the team captain, Yu Tianheng needed to consider the entire team. He looked at Qin Ming and said frankly, " Teacher Qin, our team is currently complete and working well together. Suddenly adding a new member might..."
Qin Ming raised his hand to interrupt him, "I understand your concerns. That's why I brought him here, to give him a chance to prove himself. Lin Yan, Soul Power Level 38, Martial Soul Illusory Rainbow Ice Blue Silver Grass."
"Level 38? Illusory Rainbow Ice Blue Silver Grass?"
Even Yu Tianheng looked on in disbelief.
Blue Silver Grass is a notorious useless spirit, and mentioning it always arouses suspicion. Even though Lin Yan added a prefix to his Martial Soul, it still couldn't be avoided. Lin Yan was quite helpless about this.
Osler couldn't help but scoff, " Blue Silver Grass? That kind of Trash Martial Soul? Teacher Qin, you're not joking, are you? Even if he's Poison Douluo's disciple, there are still innate limitations to Martial Soul..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear. Although the others remained silent, their eyes were mostly filled with doubt. A disciple of Titled Douluo might have special abilities, but the essence of their Martial Soul is difficult to change.
Lin Yan remained calm despite the crowd's doubts. He had long anticipated this scene.
He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the members of the Imperial Fighting Team before finally settling on Yu Tianheng: "Captain, everyone, words are meaningless. I know you all have doubts about my abilities. Since Teacher Qin said he needs your approval, then I'm willing to accept any form of test. Letting my strength speak for itself is the most direct way."
His composure and confidence surprised Yu Tianheng. To remain so calm in the face of doubt from these chosen ones was a testament to his remarkable character.
"Good! That's straightforward!" Osler stepped forward, a hint of arrogance on his face. "Then let's settle this using the methods of Soul Master! Kid, don't say we're bullying you. One-on-one, if you can last a stick of incense against me, I, Osler, will acknowledge your qualifications to join!"
As Agility Attack System Soul Elder, Osler is extremely fast and has fierce attacks. In his opinion, dealing with a Blue Silver Grass Soul Master, even if the opponent's Soul Power is slightly higher than his own, is a piece of cake.
How could the fragile Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul possibly restrain this Ghost Leopard?
" Osler!" Yu Tianheng called out in a low voice, feeling that he had been a bit rash. After all, the other party was the disciple of Poison Douluo, and it would be difficult to explain if he were injured.
Qin Ming didn't stop him; he also wanted to see Lin Yan's true skill level. He said to Osler, " Osler, be mindful of your limits, stop when you've reached your limit."
"Don't worry, Teacher Qin, I know what I'm doing." Osler grinned, looking at Lin Yan, "So? Do you dare?"
Lin Yan smiled slightly, a hint of nonchalance in his smile, "Please enlighten me."
The crowd dispersed, giving the two enough space. Ye Lingling's gaze followed Lin Yan closely, filled with concern. Dugu Yan, on the other hand, wore an expression of anticipation, knowing full well Lin Yan's background.
In the center of the arena, Osler cracked his neck, his Soul Power surging, and three Soul Ring— two yellow and one purple—rose from beneath his feet, radiating the aura of Soul Elder. " Osler, Ghost Leopard Martial Soul: Ghost Leopard, Level 35 Agility Attack System Battle Soul Elder!"
Lin Yan also released his Martial Soul, and a Blue Silver Grass with seven-colored leaves and a faint metallic luster appeared in his hand. At the same time, three "standard" best Soul Ring Configuration, two yellow and one purple, slowly rose from beneath his feet.
" Lin Yan, Martial Soul Illusory Rainbow Ice Blue Silver Grass, Level 38 Control System Battle Soul Elder."
" Control System?" Osler was taken aback, then laughed, "Using Blue Silver Grass for control? Interesting! Let me see how you control me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Osler's First Soul Ring lit up instantly. He lowered his body slightly, and his whole body seemed to transform into a black shadow, carrying a gust of bloody wind, rushing towards Lin Yan at an extremely fast speed! It was his First Soul Skill - Leopard Shadow Assault!
The speed of the Ghost Leopard Martial Soul was on full display at this moment. In the blink of an eye, it had already crossed half the field, and its sharp leopard claws were aimed straight at Lin Yan's face!
The rest of the Imperial Fighting Team, including Yu Tianheng, watched intently. They wanted to see how this Blue Silver Grass Soul Master, chosen by Poison Douluo and claiming to be Control System, would deal with Osler's swift and powerful first strike.
Facing Osler's swift attack, Lin Yan stood still, seemingly without any intention of dodging. Just as the leopard's claws were about to strike, the First Soul Ring beneath his feet flashed slightly.
Without any warning, and without any sign of the Blue Silver Grass growing wildly, dozens of thin, cicada-wing-like, yet incredibly sharp, cyan-gold grass leaves suddenly pierced the ground in Osler's path! These grass leaves were not in the form of vines, but rather resembled swords drawn from their sheaths in an instant, precisely blocking all of Osler's possible attack routes and slicing towards his limbs and torso!
The speed and timing were astonishing!