"Alright, now let's welcome Wuji Academy and Thunderclap Academy to the stage!"
"Both of these teams are top contenders, you don't want to underestimate!"
The announcer continued his commentary in a serious tone.
But suddenly, his voice surged with excitement.
"My god! What am I seeing?!"
"Wuji Academy has sent out all of their main team members!"
The announcer rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"Yes, dear audience, you're not seeing things! All seven main members of Wuji Academy are on the field—including their captain, Yun Yibai, who has only appeared once so far, and Ye Lingling, who has never stepped onto the battlefield until now!"
"This is unprecedented! Is Wuji Academy going all-out to secure a decisive victory today?!"
At the same time, the expressions of Thunderclap Academy's team turned grim.
They hadn't expected Wuji Academy to send in such a powerful formation.
"One Soul King… at least five Soul Elders… possibly even six."
"Captain, Yun Yibai's not planning to give us a chance, huh?" said Lei Dong, a 43rd-rank control-type Battle Soul Elder, glancing at the imposing Wuji team entering from the opposite side.
Several members of Thunderclap recognized Yun Yibai—they'd met during the Elemental Academy Fellowship Event.
Their captain, Yu Tianxin, furrowed his brow.
"I wonder… has Yun Yibai's cultivation surpassed mine?"
He clenched his fist as he spoke.
Yu Tianxin: Rank 47, assault-type Battle Soul Elder!
"This match is going to be intense!" the announcer shouted.
"Can Thunderclap Academy withstand the storm-like assault from Wuji Academy? Let's find out together!"
As both teams lined up, Lei Dong, the cheerful type, casually waved:
"Yo! Yun Yibai, Feng Xiaotian—been a while!"
"Still the same old Lei Dong, huh?"
"Hahaha!" Lei Dong scratched his shiny bald head and laughed.
"Go easy on me later, alright?"
"Sure thing," Feng Xiaotian smiled. It's hard to punch someone who's smiling.
"Looks like both teams are on friendly terms. Let's not delay any further—let the match begin!" the announcer declared.
As usual, Yun Yibai stood in the back, unmoving. However, Ye Lingling, standing beside him, finally revealed her Martial Soul and Soul Rings.
Ye Lingling: Rank 41, support-type Battle Soul Elder!
With her spirit and rings on full display, the final piece of Wuji Academy's formation was now clear to the audience.
As for Yun Yibai, everyone assumed he was at least a top-tier Soul Elder, maybe even a Soul King like Dugu Yan.
But many felt that was unlikely—after all, he was only eighteen, far too young.
Battle Assignments:
Feng Xiaotian vs. Yu Tianxin
Dugu Yan solo against Lei Dong and Wu Hao
Yang Tai vs. another Soul Elder
Oscar and Niu Tian hold off the remaining three Soul Experts
During his clash with Feng Xiaotian, Yu Tianxin couldn't help glancing repeatedly at Yun Yibai.
"Tsk! Don't get distracted during a fight!" Feng Xiaotian sneered.
"Hmph!"
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning crashed from the sky, targeting Feng Xiaotian.
But he reacted like he had eyes in the back of his head, evading effortlessly.
"You're gonna need more power than that!"
He launched a wind blade and charged after it, directly at Yu Tianxin.
Having trained countless times against Yun Yibai's lightning, Feng Xiaotian was more than prepared.
Elsewhere, in the battle zone between Dugu Yan, Lei Dong, and Wu Hao…
"Come on, Sister Yan, spare me!" Lei Dong shouted dramatically.
"Lei Dong, you coward! Watch me—"
Before Wu Hao could finish, he collapsed, unconscious.
"..."
Dugu Yan stood calmly not far away and said flatly:
"He talks too much."
Lei Dong was too scared to move. He and Wu Hao were both trapped in a glowing green poison circle.
They had long since fallen into Dugu Yan's venom zone, and their lightning powers were completely ineffective against it.
So, smart guy that he was, Lei Dong wisely surrendered early.
"Know when to fold 'em," he thought to himself. "That's the key to survival."
From his trembling posture, it was clear: he knew he couldn't withstand her poison much longer. And this was Dugu Yan holding back—just look at Wu Hao, already down for the count.
With Wuji Academy's full main squad on the field, Thunderclap Academy barely had a chance to show off.
After Dugu Yan took down Lei Dong and Wu Hao, she moved methodically through the rest, eventually targeting Yu Tianxin.
Yu Tianxin was unwilling to lose, but in the end, he fell mid-charge.
If Dugu Yan had less spirit power, maybe they could've traded blows evenly, but her power was higher than his.
Throughout the entire match, Yun Yibai never lifted a finger.
He was just there, doing absolutely nothing.
But not a single person dared to underestimate him.
Why?
Because in the world of soul masters, strength is everything.
Meanwhile, Shrek Academy had brought Dai Mubai back to the hotel.
Zhu Zhuqing was caring for him, while in the next room, the rest of the team and their teachers gathered.
"Xiaogang, you've seen a lot in your life. Do you know what's happening with Mumbai?"
"Yeah, he's always been tough. He just collapsed out of nowhere… Was it Tianshui Academy's doing?" Zhao Wuji growled.
"Let's not jump to conclusions," Yu Xiaogang replied, frowning.
He had no idea where to even begin.
Just then, Shao Xin entered the room.
"Shao Xin, how is he?" Flender asked quickly.
"Something's wrong. Dai Mubai's spirit power is… unusual."
"And when I was probing his spirit energy… I saw a pair of terrifying eyes." Shao Xin shuddered.
"Really?" Yu Xiaogang stroked his chin, deep in thought.
He left the room and went to Dai Mubai's bedside, Flender and the others following behind.
Reaching out, he used his spirit energy to investigate.
But the moment his consciousness made contact with Dai Mubai's power, three lights suddenly flashed in his mind:
One red. One blue. One white.
Then—
"ROAR!!"
A massive tiger's face appeared in his mind.
Its eyes—one red, one blue, with a third, vertical white pupil on its forehead—glared into his soul.
With a deafening roar, Yu Xiaogang was shocked awake and fell back, collapsing to the floor.
"Xiaogang! Are you alright? What happened?"
Yu Xiaogang's face was pale, and sweat rolled down his face in beads.
"White Tiger… It's the Evil-Eyed White Tiger… but with three eyes!"
Dai Mubai is getting a major power-up! Time for the main characters to shine in battle.