At Grand Martial Academy's battle arena, a biting cold air and a strange poisonous mist had divided the field into two distinct worlds. Overhead, two thin figures clashed at high speed, unleashing soul power and slicing the air with sharp intensity.
Shui Bing'er hovered at the center of the icy, freezing domain. Behind her, wings of condensed ice, over three meters long, spread out with crystal clarity, their edges as sharp as divine weapons. Snowflake ice crystals scattered across the sky wherever her wings flapped, the temperature plummeting, and her aura carried a cold, noble air—like a true queen of ice and snow.
After taking the elixir provided by the sect, her Ice Phoenix Martial Soul had essentially sublimated. Not only was her cold air purer and more intense, but her control over ice elements had also reached a new level.
Her opponent, Dugu Yan, was also fully possessed by her martial soul. Originally a Jade Phosphor Serpent, her soul had evolved under the nourishment of medicinal elixirs into a more powerful Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor. Her legs had transformed into a slender, deep green snake tail, slithering cleverly and oddly, her body surrounded by a toxic mist that not only corroded but also paralyzed the spirit.
At this moment, Dugu Yan's eyes had become cold vertical pupils, flashing with a dangerous light.
"Ice Wing Slash!" Shui Bing'er shouted. Instantly, the ice wings behind her swung forward, sending two enormous crescent-shaped ice blades slicing through the air toward Dugu Yan with sharp, chilling force.
Dugu Yan's snake tail flicked as she ghosted backward, her mouth opening to spew a thick, dark blue poisonous mist like ink, aimed right at the ice blades. The poison met the ice with a corrosive hiss, melting the blades before the naked eye. Yet, the shockwave forced Dugu Yan to retreat further, her snake tail leaving deep grooves in the ground.
Despite her martial soul's evolution, there remained a considerable gap between the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor and top-tier souls like the Ice Phoenix. What's more, Shui Bing'er's strength had greatly increased after refining the elixir.
To the side, Ye Lingling stood quietly in black robes, like an orchid in a secluded valley. Her hands were folded before her, seemingly unconcerned with the fierce battle raging before her. Only her occasionally shifting clear gaze, following the movements of the two fighters, revealed her attentiveness as she monitored their soul power and physical state, ready to heal at any moment.
Further away, on a high platform overlooking the battle, stood Illusion Douluo Hong Yue and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, observing the fight below.
Yue Guan's aura was even deeper and more mysterious than when he'd first visited the Body Sect months ago. A faint, strange soul power shimmered around his body—his strength was clearly advancing.
He gazed at the icy, frozen arena, the poisonous mist, and Dugu Yan's snake tail, a flicker of amazement passing through his peach blossom eyes.
Hong Yue asked with a faint smile, "Yue Guan, how do you think these two girls from the Body Sect compare to the top talents cultivated in the Spirit Hall?"
Yue Guan withdrew his gaze, thought for a moment, and replied fairly, "In terms of talent, martial soul, and resources, they are all outstanding. Especially Shui Bing'er—after refining the immortal herb, she has approached the so-called ultimate ice, not far from the Fifth Worship, Glowing Feather Douluo. Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor is also unique and highly toxic. Both are rare opponents among their peers. Compared to the Spirit Hall's candidates, they're certainly not far behind, and in some ways, they even surpass them."
His tone changed as he continued objectively: "But if they rely solely on their current strength, it would still be a bit difficult for the team supported by the Spirit Hall to be defeated at this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. That team has been selected for a long time, and the three core children they've cultivated are strong, united, and possess many trump cards. They are the sharp weapon the Spirit Hall will use to showcase its power at this tournament."
Hong Yue was not surprised by this and asked with a smile, "But what about the future?"
"The future?" Yue Guan was a bit surprised, then his face became serious. He looked again at Shui Bing'er and Dugu Yan on the field, recalling several outstanding young talents within the Body Sect, and after a moment's silence, replied in a deep voice:
"If we utilize these talents and seedlings hidden within the sect, and let them grow for a few years... the chance to win the next tournament is really not small."
He knew well that the next reserve team of the Spirit Hall would likely consist of three children directly descended from the Pope's bloodline: Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena. In Yue Guan's eyes, those three possessed good talent, but compared to Shui Bing'er, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling, they were a step behind in both spirituality and inheritance.
More importantly, these young girls had now broken into the Soul Ancestor realm. In five years, they would at least be advanced Soul Kings, and might even touch the threshold of Soul Emperors. By then, facing the "Golden Generation" would be like adults playing with children.
What troubled him most was that, based on the tone of Golden Crocodile Douluo, the only one in the Spirit Hall's younger generation who could truly suppress Chen Yi, the young sect master of the Body Sect, was probably the Pope's daughter, Qian Renxue, who was on a secret mission. But unless Chen Yi unleashed overwhelming power at the tournament, the Spirit Hall would not easily deploy their ultimate trump card.
With so many variables, Yue Guan sighed inwardly. "If the Spirit Hall wants to win the championship this time, it'll be really tough!"
At this thought, Yue Guan suppressed his emotions and turned to Hong Yue. "Elder Hong Yue, Old Ghost is temporarily involved with sect matters. I'll return to the Spirit City first."
He had been away for a while, and the Body Sect's shocking "Soul Skills Transformation" proposal had stirred up global debate and tremors. If he did not return soon, the cautious Pope Bibi Dong might send someone to "invite" him.
Hong Yue nodded kindly. "Then, I wish you a smooth journey, Senior Yue Guan."
Yue Guan's handsome face revealed a meaningful smile, and his tone was now calm and full of confidence. "Things are different these days, don't worry."
With that, he wasted no more time. His entire body shone with dazzling chrysanthemum-yellow light, transforming into a radiant apparition that soared skyward toward Spirit City at incredible speed.
Today's Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, thanks to his encounter with the Body Sect, had not only grown stronger but, even more importantly, now enjoyed close and subtle ties with this rising superpower due to Ghost Douluo's official return as an elder. With the Body Sect's giants behind him, his status and voice within the Spirit Hall had quietly changed. Even Pope Bibi Dong had to weigh matters involving him more carefully than before.
Despite some impact on the core of the Pope's direct authority, Yue Guan's overall status had instead risen. And even at the once lofty Spirit Hall, he now felt confident to make decisions on his own.
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