The First Battle

On the morning of the fourth day, the arena was already packed with people, and the atmosphere was completely different from the individual competitions of the previous days.

The stands were packed, with spectators even crowding the aisles on both sides. On the first day of the team competition after 400 people advanced, there were far fewer matches than in the individual competition, but every match was a five-on-five team battle, instantly raising the level of competition by more than one notch.

Two extra chairs were added to the examination hall. In addition to the Soul Douluo elder and the leader of the Spirit Hall Academy, two more people arrived—a middle-aged woman in a dark red robe and a lean man in a gray outfit. Both of them exuded powerful auras, at least at the level of Soul Saint. As soon as they sat down, the surrounding air seemed to tighten.

Ning Buhui and the other three sat in their usual central seats. Yan craned his neck to glance at the examiners' table, then lowered his voice and asked, "Who are those two? I haven't seen them a few days ago."

"From the Spirit Hall's Combat Pavilion," Hu Liena continued, "The one in the red robe is the Vice Combat Pavilion Master, in charge of practical combat assessments; the one in the gray clothes is an instructor within the pavilion, who has trained several graduating classes."

"We've added new proctors." Ning Buhui's gaze swept across the platform as she said calmly, "The team competition is much stricter than the individual competition. It's not just about individual wins and losses, but also about each person's performance within the team."

The opening ceremony was very short. The Soul Douluo Elder stood up, said a few polite words, "Go all out, stop when you've made your point, and no intentional injury is allowed," and then the ceremony began after the rules were explained.

The arena has changed. The original ten arenas have been reduced to four, and each arena is much larger than the ones used for individual matches. Ten people can run and fight inside without feeling crowded, providing ample room to maneuver.

There are four groups: A, B, C, and D. Each group occupies one arena, and each group can only have one match at a time.

The two teams in the first match of Group A entered the No. 1 arena from the left and right sides.

On the left is the red-haired team, composed of two strong attackers, one agile attacker, one controller, and one support. The captain is a burly young man with the Martial Soul- Space-Rending Halberd, a level 47 Power Attack System. He stands at the front of the formation with his arms crossed and his chin slightly raised. Behind him are four people lined up in order: a red-haired strongman with the Martial Soul Martial Soul Crimson Flame Lion, a level 46 Power Attack System; a lean and wiry short man with the martial soul of the Wind-Chasing Harrier, a level 45 Agility Attack System; a young man who looks like a scholar, holding a Purple Bamboo Flute, with the Martial Soul soul of the Bewitching Soul-Bewitching Xiao, a level 46 Control System; and a round-faced girl with the Martial Soul of the Starlight Stone, a level 45 Auxiliary System.

The team on the right is the blue team, with a composition of two strong attackers, two agile attackers, and one support. They weren't assigned to the Control System. The captain is a burly man with the Iron Tower-like build, whose Martial Soul is the Mountain- Mountain-Shaking Hammer Golden-Armored Rhinoceros, a level 48 Power Attack System. Beside him are a stocky young man Martial Soul the Golden Ghost Shadow Snake Martial Soul, a level 46 strong Power Attack System; a tall, thin young man with a gloomy face, whose Martial Soul is the Ghost Lightning Marten, a level 46 Agility Attack System; a short boy with the Lightning Sable martial soul, a level 45 Agility Attack System; and a muscular girl with the Martial Soul Thunder-Sound War Drum soul, a level 46 Auxiliary System.

Ning Buhui glanced at the two teams' configurations and made a judgment in her mind. "The left team has a more complete configuration; the right team lacks Control System Soul Master and has been directly assigned two agility-based attackers. With this configuration, they can either launch a blitzkrieg to eliminate the opponent's key figures, or they will be worn down and killed by the opponent."

"Let's see how they fight." Xie Yue leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the arena.

The referee walked to the center of the ring, confirmed with the two captains that they were ready, and then raised the small flag high. "Five, four, three, two, one—Go!"

The captain on the right was the first to shout, "Everyone, activate your Martial Soul!" His muscles bulged, his skin glowed with an iron-gray sheen, Martial Soul, the Mountain-Shaking Hammer, solidified in his palm. A square, giant hammer appeared in his hand, its head pressing heavily onto the ground. At the same time, four Soul Ring —two yellow and two purple—rose neatly beneath his feet.

Both sides released their Martial Soul almost simultaneously. In an instant, the arena flashed with light. Beast Soul Master directly Martial Soul Possession, while Weapon Soul Master condensed various colored Martial Soul in their palms. The Soul Ring of all ten people rose at the same time, and the audience in the stands let out a low gasp. The Soul Ring Configuration of the five people on the left were also two yellow and two purple, with the colors and arrangement being exactly the same.

"Both sides have roughly the same Soul Power Level," Yan said. "It's hard to say what will happen in this match."

"It depends on teamwork," Ning Buhui said. "Also, can the Control System on the left be effective?"

The right-hand support acted first. The Thunder-Sound War Drum Soul Master's First Soul Ring lit up, activating the Soul Skill "Thunderous Motion." The drumstick struck the drumhead heavily, producing a resounding "thud," and a circle of crimson sound waves rippled outwards. A faint red halo simultaneously appeared on the skin of all five, significantly increasing their Soul Power flow and movement speed. Immediately afterward, the Second Soul Ring lit up, releasing the Soul Skill "Invigoration," which again unleashed a circle of golden-red sound waves, enhancing the strength and power of the five's Soul Skill.

Immediately afterward, the right-hand captain's Third Soul Ring lit up, and he shouted, "Shake Mountains and Quake the Earth!" He slammed the giant hammer into the ground, and a ripple formed by Soul Power spread from the point of impact to the left-hand team. In an instant, gravel flew everywhere, the ground trembled, and people lost their footing.

The Golden-Armored Rhinoceros Soul Master charged forward, his entire body covered in a layer of gray-gold rhinoceros armor after his Martial Soul Possession. With a low roar, "Rhinoceros Armor Charge!" he strode forward and charged straight toward the center of the left-hand formation. At the same time, the two Agility Attack System on the right also followed closely behind him, charging forward together. Clearly, they wanted to break through the enemy formation in one fell swoop so that the agility-based attackers could take down the enemy support first.

Seeing this, the support on the left acted almost simultaneously. The Starlight Stone flashed, and the first Soul Ring lit up—"Power of the Stars." The silvery starlight split into five streams and fell on the teammates, increasing their strength by a factor of 5. The Second Soul Ring followed closely behind—"Speed of the Stars." Another beam of starlight shot out, and the five of them moved with incredible speed. The boosts from both sides arrived almost at the same time, and neither side managed to gain the upper hand.

Seeing the enemy charge immediately, the captain on the left swung his Space-Rending Halberd horizontally in his hand, his First Soul Ring lit up, and shouted, "Space-Rending Horizontal Severance!" The halberd swept out, and a semi-circular silver blade of light cut towards the Golden-Armored Rhinoceros Soul Master.

The Golden-Armored Rhinoceros Soul Master neither dodged nor evaded, taking the blow head-on. Only a white mark remained on his armor. He paused for a moment, but his momentum didn't stop. He continued charging forward, braving the blade's light—his plan was to use his thick armor to break through the left flank of the formation. Seeing that his attack hadn't achieved the desired effect, the left captain's Fourth Soul Ring lit up immediately—"Golden Rainbow Pierces the Sun." He thrust his halberd straight forward, a point of silver light condensing at the tip, aiming directly at the Golden-Armored Rhinoceros Soul Master's abdomen, which wasn't covered by the armor plates. At the same time, the Wind-Chasing Harrier Soul Master rushed forward, blocking the Golden-Armored Rhinoceros Soul Master's advance.

Just then, the Ghost Shadow Snake Soul Master on the right lit up his Second Soul Ring— "Ghost Shadow Snake Bite." He swayed and cut in from the side, two serpentine energy blades flying out. One blade struck the side of the halberd shaft, deflecting the straight thrust slightly, while the other blade grazed the halberd shaft and slashed at the left captain's wrist.

The left captain was forced to sheathe his halberd and take a half step back. The Crimson Flame Lion Soul Master stepped in to fill the gap, and his Fourth Soul Ring lit up—"Lion's Roar Shakes the Heavens the Heavens." With a roar, a circle of crimson fire waves covered the Ghost Shadow Snake and the Lightning Marten that followed.

The Lightning Marten Soul Master swayed, a bolt of lightning flashed, and he slipped through the gaps in the flames, heading straight for the Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Master in the left back row. His goal was clear—to eliminate the opponent's control abilities first.

The Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Master raised the Purple Bamboo Flute to his lips, and at the same time, his First Soul Ring lit up—"Soul-Bewitching Tune." The flute's sound drifted out, the melody extremely slow, like a thin thread drilling into one's ear. The Lightning Marten Soul Master, halfway there, suddenly stopped, his eyes beginning to glaze over.

Seizing the opportunity, the Starlight Stone Soul Master activated his Third Soul Ring – "Starlight Guard," enveloping the Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Master in a silvery-white light. The Lightning Marten Soul Master crashed into the light barrier and was bounced back, tumbling to the ground. His eyes regained their clarity, and he didn't dare linger, turning to retreat back into formation. The Ghost Shadow Snake Soul Master also followed suit, withdrawing to the rear. The first wave of attack from the right was neutralized by the combined efforts of the control and support from the left.

But the right side had no intention of giving the left side a chance to breathe. The right captain's second and third Soul Ring lit up at the same time. First, a layer of earthy yellow light appeared on his body, further enhancing his power. Then he released "Shake Mountains and Quake the Earth", raising his giant hammer high and smashing it down on the ground with earthy yellow Soul Power. This hammer was more than twice as strong as the one at the beginning.

The ground, reinforced by the Soul Tool, cracked open in several places. The three people in the front row on the left were shaken and staggered. The Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Master's flute music even stopped for half a beat. The Ghost Shadow Snake Soul Master seized this opportunity, and his Third Soul Ring lit up - "Gui Mei's Surprise Attack". His figure transformed into a gray shadow and cut in from the side, his snake head heading straight for Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Master.

The Starlight Stone Soul Master's protection was still on cooldown, so he could only grit his teeth and unleash his Fourth Soul Skill, "Sky-Filling Starlight," which consumed a large amount of Soul Power. The arena suddenly darkened as if night had fallen, and countless stars shone. Then, a beam of starlight fell on the Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Master, instantly enhancing all his attributes by 40%. With the added boost of "Speed of the Stars," his speed increased significantly. The Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Master dodged to the side, a snake fang grazing his shoulder and tearing his clothes, but fortunately, he was not injured.

Just as the Ghost Shadow Snake Soul Master was about to deliver a second blow, the Crimson Flame Lion Soul Master returned to reinforce him, his Second Soul Ring lighting up—"Crimson Flame Fire Wall," a crimson Fire Wall blocking Ghost Shadow Snake's path and forcing him back. At this moment, the Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Master also adjusted his state, his Third Soul Ring lighting up—"Hypnotic Tune." The soothing sound of the flute filled the air, making people unable to resist becoming drowsy and losing their fighting spirit.

"The surprise attack failed to achieve its intended purpose; the right flank is about to collapse," Xie Yue whispered.

The right-side captain also saw the problem. They lacked control; the Soul-Bewitching Xiao on the left was constantly dominating the field, and dragging it out would only make things worse for them. He shouted at the Thunder-Sound War Drum Soul Master, gritted his teeth, and activated his Fourth Soul Ring— "Mountain-Shattering Strike." This hammer blow was charged for a full three breaths, the earthen-yellow Soul Power on the hammer surface solidifying. At this moment, the Thunder-Sound War Drum Soul Master's Fourth Soul Skill— "Berserk Transformation"—had already taken effect on the right-side captain. Then, he leaped up and slammed his hammer down towards the center of the left formation. If this hammer blow landed, the left formation would collapse on the spot.

Seeing this, the captain on the left advanced instead of retreating. While calling for his support to boost all his attributes, he risked injury and unleashed his Fourth Soul Skill, "Golden Rainbow Pierces the Sun." He retracted his halberd, its tip gleaming with silver light, and then thrust it out swiftly, directly at the falling giant hammer.

The halberd tip collided with the hammer head with a deafening roar, the shockwave sending surrounding rocks flying. The left captain staggered back, blood seeping from his hand, a tightness in his chest; the right captain was also pushed back three steps, nearly dropping the hammer. Although the left captain couldn't win in a pure brute force contest, this strike fortunately averted the crisis.

The captain on the right showed regret after being pushed back, knowing that time was running out. Once the opposing Soul Master's Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Skill reached its climax, there would be no chance of victory for his side.

He turned and winked at the Lightning Marten Soul Master. The Lightning Marten Soul Master nodded slightly, and his Third Soul Ring lit up—"Rushing Thunder Assault." He transformed into a bolt of lightning and swiftly attacked the Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Master, intending to interrupt his Soul Skill performance.

"Hold off the enemy support," the right-side captain whispered to Ghost Shadow Snake.

The Ghost Shadow Snake Soul Master understood, Fourth Soul Ring lit up—"Twin Snake Strangulation." Two gray snake shadows appeared in mid-air, one blocking the Crimson Flame Lion Soul Master, and the other heading straight for the Starlight Stone Soul Master in the back row.

The Crimson Flame Lion Soul Master was blocked by the first snake for a moment. By the time he finished off the first snake, the second snake had already reached the Starlight Stone Soul Master. The Starlight Stone Soul Master didn't have time to think and immediately activated "Starlight Guard," which had just been deactivated. This time, he used all his strength to cast Starlight Guard on the entire team.

The silvery-white starlight shield enveloped everyone on the left, not only blocking the Ghost Shadow Snake Soul Master's attack but also relieving the Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Master's predicament.

At this moment, the Hypnotic Tune of the Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Master had reached its climax. The Golden-Armored Rhinoceros Soul Master and the Thunder-Sound War Drum Soul Master were the first to give in and fall into a deep sleep, followed by the Lightning Marten Soul Master and the Ghost Shadow Snake Soul Master.

The captain on the right was able to hold on because of his higher Soul Power Level, but seeing the situation of his teammates, he knew that the battle was lost and he couldn't turn the tide alone, so he had no choice but to admit defeat.

The referee raised his flag and shouted throughout the stadium, "Red team wins!"

The Soul-Bewitching Xiao Soul Master stopped playing the Bewitching Flute, and the two captains stepped forward to shake hands amicably. They exchanged a glance, and the captain on the right shook his head with a wry smile, "You have Control System, so your lineup is too comprehensive. If our surprise attack fails, we'll just be controlled to death."

"You guys are pretty annoying too. Those two agile attackers keep targeting our backline, forcing us to come back to defend." The left captain grinned.

After the two teams left the field, the other matches had also ended. The four people in the stands started chatting.

"As expected, when the strength is evenly matched, the team with a complete roster has a better chance of winning," Ning Buhui said slowly. "A wonderful duel."

"That Space-Rending Halberd Soul Master on the left is not bad," Xie Yue chimed in. "He can't beat them in pure brute force, but he still forced his way in. He's very clear-headed; he knows that if he can't block this attack, his side is finished."

"That Starlight Stone support player also has excellent tactical awareness," Hu Liena added. "Many times, it was her timely support that helped the teammates resolve crises."

Yan rubbed his hands together excitedly. "That's great! It would be even better if we could play ourselves. When does the next match start?"

Ning Buhui glanced at the schedule. "The second match starts in ten minutes. Let's go, let's change seats, we can see better from this side."

The four got up and walked diagonally forward. Staff members were already cleaning up the rubble and cracks left from the previous match, and several new teams of contestants were walking from the passage to their respective arenas.