Chapter 67 – Invisible Soul Rings?! A Solo Challenge Against Star Luo Imperial Academy
Gui Mei's overwhelming victory over Thunder Academy shook the entire tournament. With just a single match, his name spread like wildfire.
Everyone now remembered the black-clad youth from Heaven Dou Royal Academy's second team.
Thanks to the finals' bye-round rules, the second team automatically advanced to the third round without fighting in the second.
Today, it was Spirit Hall Academy's turn to compete.
Gui Mei didn't go to watch.
He already knew everything about Xie Yue's group—their martial souls, their soul skills. Nothing was interesting for him to see.
That afternoon, Teacher Lin came looking for him.
"Wuming, Spirit Hall wants to test your bone age and soul power. You're too mysterious, and the other academies have filed a joint complaint."
"Sure. Let them test whatever they want."
Gui Mei replied calmly.
After awakening his second martial soul, his physical age remained around sixteen or seventeen. Two years had passed, and he still hadn't changed.
Gui Mei followed Teacher Lin to Spirit Hall.
The red-robed cardinal in charge of bone age conducted a thorough physical examination.
The result left him disappointed.
Gui Mei's bone age was perfectly normal.
"Then let's test your soul power."
Gui Mei restrained his aura and placed both hands on the blue crystal sphere used for soul power detection.
When he saw the reading, the cardinal's expression froze.
"Th–this… how is this possible?! Your soul power isn't even at rank fifty?!"
Gui Mei withdrew his hands and grinned.
"Nothing is impossible about it. My martial soul is of the true body type—it allows me to bring out the fullest extent of my martial soul's power."
"Then you only have four soul rings? Release them so I can see."
Gui Mei shook his head.
"I do have four, but they're invisible rings. They've fused completely with my martial soul. Even if I summoned them, you wouldn't see anything."
"What? Invisible soul rings?!"
The cardinal was dumbfounded.
He had lived nearly a century, seen countless strange things, yet had never heard of invisible soul rings—much less rings merging entirely into the martial soul.
But the more he thought about it, the more Gui Mei's explanation made sense.
Perhaps that was how this youth displayed power surpassing an ordinary four-ring Soul Ancestor.
Even Teacher Lin was half-skeptical. He had always found Gui Mei's identity and abilities puzzling.
On the way back, he couldn't help asking:
"Wuming… what you told the cardinal—was it all true?"
"Some truth, some lies. It's my secret. I can't tell you more."
"…Fine. You really are too mysterious."
---
Pope's Palace.
After hearing the cardinal's report, Bibi Dong's expression showed clear confusion.
"His bone age is normal, and his soul power hasn't even reached rank fifty. Invisible soul rings… rings fused into the martial soul… does such a miraculous thing really exist?"
"Your Holiness, it's merely his own claim. Whether it's true or false—only he knows."
Bibi Dong hummed softly, then shifted topics.
"How are the other teams performing?"
"Besides Wuming, Godwind Academy, Shrek Academy, and Star Luo Imperial Academy have all been quite strong. How should we arrange the upcoming matchups?"
"Have Wuming fight the Star Luo Imperial Academy. I want to see how he handles the Evil-Eyed White Tiger and Hell Spirit Cat's martial soul fusion skill. And remember—no matter what happens, ensure that Shrek Academy enters the final top three."
"Understood!"
Bibi Dong nodded slightly.
"Good. You may leave. Bring Yu Xiaogang to me."
"Yes."
The red-robed cardinal slowly withdrew from the Pope's Palace.
A strange smile appeared on Bibi Dong's face.
"Xiaogang… as expected of you. Even with a team like Shrek, you've managed such impressive results. But the final championship can only belong to Spirit Hall."
Yu Xiaogang entered the Pope's Palace.
In the vast, empty hall, only he and Bibi Dong stood within.
Bibi Dong relayed the cardinal's test results to him.
"Invisible soul rings… soul rings merging completely with the martial soul—can something like this really exist?"
Yu Xiaogang was baffled. He hadn't expected Wuming's soul power to be below rank fifty, and invisible soul rings were simply beyond imagination.
Bibi Dong sneered.
"Back then, Tang Hao could even blow up his own soul rings. What else is impossible? This might be some extremely rare, special ability."
Yu Xiaogang fell silent.
"…Perhaps. His martial soul is himself, which is already a miracle."
"Himself…"
Something suddenly struck Bibi Dong. Her expression shifted.
"Gui Mei's martial soul is his soul. Wuming's martial soul is his physical body. Could the two of them be connected somehow…?"
"My disciple Tang San had already considered that possibility. But it's likely just a coincidence—they can't be the same person."
"You're right. Gui Mei doesn't dare come to Spirit City, so he can't be Wuming."
Yu Xiaogang abruptly lifted his head, staring at her.
Now that he knew Wuming's soul power hadn't reached rank fifty, and that he had only four rings, his confidence surged.
"Bibi Dong… Thank you for telling me this."
"It was nothing. Don't thank me—just lead your team well."
This time, Bibi Dong didn't get angry at him, addressing her by name. Instead, a faint warmth brushed through her heart.
They shared a common enemy. Naturally, their relationship would begin to ease.
---
The finals continued.
After two rounds of eliminations, only ten teams remained in the third round.
Before long, Teacher Lin returned with the drawing results.
"Kids, today's opponent is the Star Luo Imperial Academy. This is the strongest team in the Star Luo Empire. Their main lineup consists of six Soul Ancestors and one Soul King. Their captain, Dai Weisi, has soul power close to rank fifty—overall, they're quite formidable. Because of the tension between the two empires, if Star Luo Academy meets our Heaven Dou Academy, they will not hold back at all. Consider whether you want to go on stage."
These words were mostly directed at the other team members.
In all previous matches, they had only gone on stage for a show.
Everyone exchanged glances, and their eyes naturally fell on Gui Mei.
The captain spoke up:
"How about letting Wuming go alone? We'd be useless anyway."
"That's a great idea. Wuming could crush them by himself. Time to give Star Luo a proper humiliation and wash away our academy's previous shame!"
"Agreed!"
Everyone voiced their support.
Gui Mei nodded.
"Fine. Let's do that."
The match between Heaven Dou Royal Academy's second team and Star Luo Imperial Academy was scheduled first.
When both sides' participants were announced, the audience erupted in shock.
Star Luo Academy had sent its full main force.
Meanwhile, Heaven Dou Academy… sent only Gui Mei.
"Looks like Wuming is really going to solo the Star Luo Imperial Academy!"
"He's too crazy! Star Luo Academy isn't weak—they even have the Hell White Tiger martial soul fusion skill!"
...
Amid the heated discussions, Gui Mei and the seven members of Star Luo Imperial Academy stepped onto the stage.
For Star Luo Empire's number-one academy to be challenged by just one member of Heaven Dou's second team—
Dai Weisi had never endured such humiliation.
He glared at Gui Mei, murderous intent surging.
"You brat… you're far too arrogant! Today, I'll make sure you pay for it!"
End of Chapter