Not only the audience present, but even people of the status of Xu Tianran, the black-robed State Preceptor, and Jing Hongchen on the high platform had their pupils suddenly contract sharply.
No matter what, they never imagined that a hundred-thousand-year soul ring would appear in this tournament.
After all, even people of the status of Xu Tianran and Jing Hongchen had never possessed a hundred-thousand-year-level soul ring.
The reason was twofold: first, the hundred-thousand-year soul beasts on the continent basically all lived in the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest, making them extremely difficult to hunt. Second, they had once used drugs to forcibly elevate their soul power cultivation. Although they successfully broke through to the Titled Douluo level, their physical quality and mental strength were far inferior to the traditional soul masters of the three original Douluo empires, and they were unable to withstand the impact of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring's power.
That Yu Tianhuang had successfully fused a hundred-thousand-year soul ring at level sixty undoubtedly meant that his physical quality and mental strength had already surpassed theirs.
Moreover, Yu Tianhuang's situation was somewhat different from Tang Wutong's. They had known very early on that Yu Tianhuang possessed twin martial souls, with his main cultivation being the spiritual-attribute body martial soul, the Golden Eyes.
When Yu Tianhuang elevated his first three purple thousand-year soul rings to the ten-thousand-year level, it immediately led them to certain associations.
Although Xu Tianran still wore a smile on his face, a trace of cold, gloomy light clearly appeared deep in his eyes.
"Lord Hongchen, I remember that this student named Yu Tianhuang from Shrek Academy once studied at our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy for a period of time, right? Do you have any understanding of the change in the year limits of his first three soul rings?"
Jing Hongchen found it difficult to shift his gaze away from Xu Zihuang for a long time. He sighed with emotion and said ruefully, "Your Highness. When Yu Tianhuang was studying with us, I had people observe his situation in detail. I can confirm that during the exchange period, his first three soul rings were still only purple thousand-year soul rings. He must have elevated the year limits of his soul rings after returning to Shrek Academy. I recall that the Body Sect seems to have such a secret method. Could it be that Shrek Academy has joined forces with the Body Sect?"
At this point, he couldn't help but furrow his brows tightly.
"Lord Hongchen is overthinking it," the black-robed State Preceptor on the other side shook his head and said in a deep voice, "The reason disciples of the Body Sect can possess soul ring configurations that exceed conventional understanding is because of the second awakening of their body martial souls. The second awakening of body martial souls is divided into innate awakening and acquired awakening. Those who complete the second awakening innately have physical strength far surpassing soul masters of the same level. Combined with the special characteristics of body martial souls, they can absorb soul rings beyond their level. Our sect also possesses similar secret methods. If I am not mistaken, it is possible that Shrek Academy has researched a secret method to elevate soul ring year limits. However, the conditions for using this secret method must be extremely harsh and cannot be popularized on a large scale. This Yu Tianhuang should only be a special case."
"A secret method to elevate soul ring year limits?" Xu Tianran's hands, gripping the armrests of his wheelchair, exerted slight force.
The black-robed State Preceptor beside him was none other than the current leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, Zhong Liwu, a Super Douluo with soul power as high as level ninety-eight. Words from his mouth carried extremely high credibility.
With Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year foundation and its unique research in martial souls, they could have developed such a secret method.
If even soul ring year limits could be elevated, then perhaps his own deficiency in that aspect could also...
Thinking of this, bloodshot lines appeared in Xu Tianran's eyes, and his expression became ferocious. However, this appearance did not last long, and his face soon returned to normal.
But from his continuously trembling fingers, it was clear that his mood at this moment was far from calm.
Once he unified the continent and had Shrek Academy serve him, that would be his final hope.
Noticing some of Xu Tianran's subtle movements, Juzi naturally understood what he was thinking. Back then, Xu Tianran had been plotted against by the second prince, losing both legs and, at the same time, his ability as a man.
On the surface showing no abnormality, a trace of mockery arose in Juzi's heart. However, when her gaze fell upon Xu Zihuang in the arena, all the emptiness in her heart was once again filled with tenderness and affection.
"Tianhuang, in the near future, there will no longer be any obstacles between us."
Over at the rest area, aside from the Shrek representative team and Tang Sect representative team, who had known in advance, as well as Wei Na, Mu Xue, and Xu Jiujiu, the three women, all the other participating teams were equally shocked by Xu Zihuang's soul ring configuration.
In the Haotian Sect rest area, the arrogance and disdain that had been on Tang Wutong's pretty face instantly vanished, replaced by complete astonishment.
She had recovered all her memories, including those belonging to Wang Dong.
Back then, she had felt unforgettable humiliation and defeat from Yu Tianhuang. She had thought she could wash away her previous shame in this tournament, but now she began to doubt herself.
But at that moment, a golden rune appeared on Tang Wutong's forehead. The rune was small, only about an inch long, shaped like a trident. Even though the golden rune only flashed for an instant, it left her with a trace of noble majesty.
Tang Wutong's pair of pink-blue eyes once again regained their former clarity and indifference. She let out a light hum.
As the daughter of a God King, how could she possibly be suppressed by a mere lower realm? So what if it was a hundred-thousand-year soul ring? In terms of origin, there was a heaven-and-earth difference between them.
Over at the Tang Sect representative team, Huo Yuhao was the only one who did not know about Xu Zihuang's soul ring configuration. Sitting at the very back, at some point, he had lowered his head. His black hair covered his eyes, and his lips were tightly bitten.
Having participated in this tournament, he finally realized how laughable his previous thoughts had been. Among the teams that advanced to the second round, more than seventy percent came from various great soul master sects.
The thought in his mind at this moment coincided exactly with Tang Wutong's.
A person's origin really could determine their destiny.
For some unknown reason, Tang Wutong suddenly glanced toward the Tang Sect representative team as if guided by a ghost. Her gaze paused for a moment on Huo Yuhao. Complex emotions surged in her eyes once again: confusion and resentment, as well as disdain and disgust.
"I don't know what Father was thinking, letting me share a room with this kind of trash for an entire year."
However, the most despairing person present was undoubtedly Xu Zihuang's current opponent, the Proud Sword Sect captain Wu Yifan.
His soul power cultivation had reached level sixty-three, and his martial soul, the Azure Steel Sword, was also among the very top tier of tool martial souls. Yet facing Yu Tianhuang, he could see no hope of victory at all. Cold sweat poured down his forehead. His aura had been completely suppressed, and the sharp sword intent could no longer extend even half an inch from the Azure Steel Sword.
The oppressive feeling Yu Tianhuang gave him even surpassed that of an elder in the Proud Sword Sect who had Soul Douluo cultivation. And that elder's soul power had fully exceeded level eighty-five.
That was a difference in level.
It was at this moment that Yu Tianhuang's calm voice rang in his ears.
"I believe you have also felt the gap between us. If you can withstand this one move of mine, then you win."
Although the soul guidance protective barrier around the competition stage could isolate sound, Yu Tianhuang's voice strangely reached the ears of everyone present.
The boiling audience subconsciously held their breath, and the entire venue instantly fell deathly silent.
Under everyone's gaze, the fifth soul ring beside Yu Tianhuang suddenly shone brightly.
Fifth soul skill, Spiritual Storm.
However, this range-attack spiritual-attribute soul skill was now being displayed in an entirely different form.
Yu Tianhuang indifferently looked toward Wu Yifan opposite him. The space behind him was completely dyed in gold and silver colors, as if the brilliance of a golden sun and a silver moon had fused.
Immediately after, in this gold-and-silver world, countless gold-and-silver long swords condensed into form. Each long sword varied in shape and size, and strange gold-and-silver patterns were engraved on its blade.
Standing at the center of the sword shadows, Yu Tianhuang's gaze instantly became sharp. It was as if endless sword intent was contained within, carrying an air of supreme dominance over the heavens.
With a thought, one gold-and-silver long sword after another swept forward, pouring down toward Wu Yifan.
Wu Yifan gripped his Azure Steel Sword in horror, all battle intent gone from his eyes. Because his sword intent had already been completely crushed by Yu Tianhuang.
Driven by an intense survival instinct, he instinctively used his strongest sixth soul skill—
Azure Steel Sword's sixth soul skill, Shedding Shell.
Wu Yifan's figure instantly vanished from its original position, transforming into an unremarkable jade-green light. Azure, clear, verdant, and full of vitality. It appeared to be floating lightly in midair, as gentle as a feather.
Integrating one's body into the tool martial soul, this kind of soul skill was extremely rare. Yet in this state of unity between body and soul, it could often erupt with even greater power.
Through this sixth soul skill, Wu Yifan evaded the first wave of incoming gold-and-silver long swords.
But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, the sword shadows passing near the jade-green light he had become seemed to grow eyes of their own. They turned around and, together with the second wave of sword shadows, formed an encirclement, sealing off all his escape routes.
"Bang—"
One of the gold-and-silver long swords slashed across the middle of the jade-green light, accompanied by a resounding metallic clash.
Wu Yifan's figure shot out of the jade green light and fell to the ground. His entire face was somewhat pale, and the Blue Steel Sword in his hand had returned to its original form: a long sword about three chi long and only two inches wide.
Jade-green radiance rippled like water waves, captivating the eye. Within that jade-green light shimmered dazzling gold-and-silver radiance.
As the gold-and-silver light flashed, terrifying spiritual power carried an overbearing will that continuously invaded Wu Yifan's body. As a result, he had no choice but to fully activate his martial soul's abilities and soul power to resist.
At the same time, the sky was full of sword shadows that filled the space above the competition stage. Under Yu Tianhuang's control, the sword tips all pointed toward Wu Yifan.
Although he was still using his fifth soul skill, Spiritual Storm, he had infused it with the Sovereign's Descent he had occasionally comprehended, along with his own sword intent, supplemented by tangible and corporeal spiritual power condensed into form.
After spiritual power broke through to the tangible and corporeal realm, the most direct benefit in terms of soul skill control was the ability to infuse a trace of soul power into it, truly allowing the soul skill to be wielded like an extension of the arm.
The released soul skill seemed to have been given life, tracking the opponent according to the user's will.
In a certain sense, the way Yu Tianhuang used his fifth soul skill could be considered a self-created soul skill.
Sword Shadow Storm!
Locked onto by the sky full of sword shadows, Wu Yifan's skin felt a stinging pain. His body trembled slightly as he raised his head to look at Yu Tianhuang. With a bitter expression, he said,
"I lose… In the following matches, our Proud Sword Sect will all concede."
If facing Tang Wutong still gave him the confidence to fight with all his strength, then in front of Yu Tianhuang, he felt only powerlessness.
Moreover, Yu Tianhuang hadn't even used his hundred-thousand-year soul skill yet.
Even he did not qualify to clash head-on with Yu Tianhuang, let alone the others.
Yu Tianhuang nodded toward Wu Yifan. Without waiting for the referee to announce the result, he jumped down from the competition stage and returned to the Shrek Academy rest area.
The referee, a step slower, hurriedly announced the match result.
"Personal elimination round, first match: Shrek Academy wins. Since the Proud Sword Sect has voluntarily forfeited the subsequent matches, Shrek Academy successfully advances to the third round and obtains all twelve points."
"Squeak squeak squeak!" The Thunder Beast sitting on Ning Tian's skirt happily jumped onto Yu Tianhuang's shoulder, wagging its tail left and right.
When they first arrived at the Mingyue Hotel, Yu Tianhuang had initially let the Thunder Beast move freely inside Suite No. 1. Later, during the days he stayed at the hotel to cultivate, he had Ning Tian bring it along to watch the matches at the competition venue.
After all, this was the territory of the Sun Moon Empire. Although the Sun Moon Empire should not make any moves during the competition period, bringing the Thunder Beast along could serve as a precaution.
Over these days, the Thunder Beast had also adapted to such a noisy environment and had not made any excessive moves. It now appeared no different from an ordinary fat rat.
Yu Tianhuang naturally sat down beside Ning Tian, with Ye Guyi on the other side. Both girls welcomed his return with smiles full of warmth.
In the VIP rest area, the teams with strong overall power all turned their gazes toward the Shrek Academy rest area following Yu Tianhuang's figure. Their expressions did not look very good.
Shrek Academy was indeed worthy of being the number one academy on the continent, having won the championship of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Competition for thousands of years in a row.
It was just that Shrek Academy's dominance had somewhat exceeded their expectations.
Among them, how many teams had overall strength comparable to the Proud Sword Sect? And who had the confidence to face Yu Tianhuang head-on?
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy rest area and Shrek Academy were both located at the very front. However, considering the relationship between the two sides, the Sun Moon Empire officials had deliberately arranged them on opposite ends.
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, the brother and sister, both had gloomy expressions.
Xiao Hongchen felt wary because of Yu Tianhuang's unfathomable strength, while Meng Hongchen was upset because of the intimate interaction between Yu Tianhuang and the two girls, Ye Guyi and Ning Tian.
The Holy Spirit Team, on the other hand, appeared very calm. They all wore masks, making their facial expressions impossible to see.
Only the Tang Sect representative team sincerely felt happy about Shrek Academy's victory. Tang Ya excitedly waved toward the Shrek team.
On the rostrum, Xu Tianran was conversing with Zhong Liwu and Jing Hongchen beside him.
As if sensing something, Yu Tianhuang looked over. His gaze briefly met Juzi's before he withdrew it.
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