Level 14!
The young clan members below the stage were startled to hear it.
It wasn't that Yu Tianheng's cultivation was so astonishing. In truth, most of those present had a Soul Power Level above 14, so that level of cultivation was nothing remarkable.
But Yu Tianheng was simply too young, only a little over six. And how old were they? Most were around ten.
A full three or four years older than Yu Tianheng!
Why was that?
The main reason was that after their Martial Soul Awakening, their Innate Soul Power Levels hadn't been high. The poorer ones were at level 4 or 5, and the better ones at level 6 or 7. None had reached level 10. They had spent some time cultivating before obtaining their Soul Rings with the help of their clan elders, but they had also wasted considerable time searching for suitable Soul Rings.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was different from other Martial Souls. To bring out its power to the fullest, it was best to choose a Soul Ring produced by a dragon-type or sub-dragon-type Soul Beast. But such Soul Beasts were rare, and finding them took time. All told, the process took quite a while.
That showed just how rare Soul Masters with Innate Full Soul Power were!
On the stage, Yu Tianheng frowned when Yu Feng still refused to make a move. "Are you holding back because you're worried about something?"
Yu Feng readily admitted it. "That's right. Young Master Tianheng, you're a direct descendant, while I'm only from a collateral branch. If I were to hurt you, I..."
Before he could finish, Yu Tianheng said bluntly, "I swear on my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul: if I lose or get hurt on this stage, it will be because my skills are inferior. I will never cause trouble for a challenger or make things difficult for one. If I break this oath, I will willingly be expelled from the clan."
At those words, everyone's hearts tightened.
An oath sworn on one's own Martial Soul was a promise that could be trusted.
Seeing this, Yu Feng wasted no more words. "Please instruct me, Young Master Tianheng."
The match began, and Yu Feng struck first. With a low shout, he summoned a circle of dazzling yellow light around himself.
A Hundred-Year Soul Ring!
Yu Feng was activating his first Soul Skill. The light flashed, and the powerful fluctuations of Soul Power drew cries of surprise from the spectators below.
"First Soul Skill, Thunder..."
In the interval as Yu Feng activated his Soul Skill, Yu Tianheng moved. Without the slightest hesitation, he stomped hard on the ground and shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. His right fist clenched tight, Soul Power gathering around it with the faint sound of wind and thunder. The punch was impossibly fast, and its angle was even more cunning.
Yu Feng was still basking in the confidence that came with preparing to unleash his Soul Skill. He had no time to react. Yu Tianheng's fist, carrying an unstoppable momentum, slammed heavily into Yu Feng's chest. In an instant, Yu Feng felt a force capable of overturning mountains and seas strike him, sending him flying backward like a kite with its string cut.
Bang! Yu Feng's body crashed heavily to the ground below the stage, raising a cloud of dust. The entire venue fell silent for an instant, then erupted in deafening cheers. No one had expected the level 14 Yu Tianheng to seize that fleeting opportunity and take down the level 16 Yu Feng with a single punch.
"Congratulations, host, on defeating Yu Feng. Reward: ten Heavenly Mandate Points!"
Yu Feng struggled to his feet and glared at Yu Tianheng. "That was a sneak attack! This match doesn't count!"
"You were clearly too slow to release your Soul Skill, and I caught the opening. And you call that a sneak attack? How ridiculous!"
"If you were facing a hostile Soul Master, would they have to wait for you to release your Soul Skill before making a move?"
"Isn't that a little too naive?"
Those words left Yu Feng red-faced and embarrassed. In the end, he could only retreat without a word.
"Who's next?" Yu Tianheng asked, looking at the people below.
Bang!
A figure leaped swiftly onto the stage.
"I'll go."
The speaker was a handsome youth who looked a little over ten.
"Yu Liuguang, level 17 Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. Please instruct me, Young Master Tianheng!"
Yu Liuguang was one of the finest among the younger generation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. His Innate Soul Power had been a full level 7. His grandfather was an elder of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, a Soul Douluo-level expert with a high standing in the clan.
"Yu Liuguang, though we belong to the same clan, I won't hold back in this match. I hope you'll give it your all and not disappoint me like Yu Feng did." Yu Tianheng's gaze burned like a torch as he stared at Yu Liuguang across from him, blue lightning crackling around his body.
Yu Liuguang refused to be outdone and snorted. "Hmph, it's still uncertain who will win!" With that, Yu Liuguang stepped back several paces, putting distance between himself and Yu Tianheng to keep Yu Tianheng from closing in while he used his first Soul Skill.
Sure enough, with the previous lesson to guide him, it was no longer easy for Yu Tianheng to close the distance again. Even so, Yu Tianheng wasn't worried in the slightest.
Across from him, Yu Liuguang's dazzling yellow First Soul Ring lit up, and dense Soul Power fluctuations spread in all directions.
As the Soul Ring lit up, Yu Liuguang's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul instantly possessed him. A dragon's head appeared, dragon claws extended, and violent lightning coiled around his body.
"First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Power!"
A whip condensed from blue lightning smashed down at Yu Tianheng.
At the same moment, Tian Heng also completed his Martial Soul Possession, the majesty of his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon in no way inferior to Yu Liuguang's.
"First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!"
The two unleashed their respective Soul Skills almost simultaneously, powerful forces erupting from within them.
A ball of dazzling lightning gathered on Yu Tianheng's dragon claw as he lunged fiercely at Yu Liuguang with unstoppable momentum. Yu Liuguang showed no fear, gathering all his strength in turn and charging to meet Yu Tianheng's attack.
The two attacks, each containing terrifying power, collided violently in midair. A deafening roar erupted in an instant, and blinding lightning spilled in every direction, as if it would illuminate all of heaven and earth. A powerful shock wave swept outward from the point of collision, sending dust flying through the air.
Their forces remained locked in a stalemate, neither willing to yield an inch. Yu Tianheng's expression was calm, while Yu Liuguang's face gradually turned pale and his arms began to tremble slightly. He could clearly feel Yu Tianheng's strength growing constantly, and he was gradually finding himself unequal to the task.
"Impossible! Your level is clearly lower than mine, so why is your Soul Power so abundant? It's even stronger than mine?" Yu Liuguang murmured, his heart full of unwillingness.
Yet reality allowed him no room for the slightest illusion. Under Yu Tianheng's relentless, powerful assault, an opening finally appeared in Yu Liuguang's defense. His attack was gradually suppressed, and his body retreated involuntarily.
Boom! Another tremendous crash rang out. Unable to withstand it any longer, Yu Liuguang was sent flying by the powerful force. He fell heavily from the stage, raising a cloud of dust.
Everyone was stunned.
They hadn't expected Yu Liuguang, with his level 17 Soul Power, to lose to Yu Tianheng, whose level was only 14.