Lan Xuanyu's confidence was not without reason.
First of all, in his past life, he had clashed with the Emotion God King, Huo Yuhao, and was intimately familiar with his combat style. To him, Huo Yuhao was merely a God King who specialized a bit in mental power; to put it bluntly, that guy's attacks back then were about as threatening as a light scratch.
Though the Huo Yuhao of this life was a Soul Elder, so was he! In Lan Xuanyu's eyes, there was no reason he should lose to such a fellow.
During these three months since enrollment, he had focused more on stabilizing the bloodlines within his body to prevent them from conflicting. His soul power hadn't increased significantly, rising only two levels to Level 34 after consuming the Soul Ascension Pill provided as compensation by the academy.
Cultivation levels were mere numbers; just as his Level 99 self in his previous life possessed combat strength rivaling a half-step God King, what truly mattered was always one's raw, hard power!
Looking at his "aunt" Wang Dong—after three months of bitter cultivation and a "tiny" bit of extra resources—her soul power had surged from Level 21 to a staggering Level 26. Five levels in three months.
See? That is the power of "pay-to-win"... and talent.
As for Xiao Xiao, she might seem unremarkable now, but she was destined to be one of the Shrek Seven Monsters of the same generation as Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong. With a rare Twin Martial Soul, she certainly had a few tricks up her sleeve.
This situation could be described in four words: Crushing victory is inevitable.
...
The next afternoon, Shrek Outer Court Assessment Area.
Following the morning's group drawing, the grounds were partitioned into zones. Teachers from every class led their students to the spectator stands. In a secluded corner, a red figure silently watched the field. Naturally, her eyes were fixed on only one person.
Unluckily, Huo Yuhao was placed in Group 1 and was the very first to compete.
As for his opponents...
There was the striking pink-blue long hair and that "dog-ear" hairstyle (Wang Dong), and beside him, a petite girl with a rather low presence (Xiao Xiao). They were the seed team of Class 1, the highly anticipated Lan Xuanyu squad.
The academy attached great importance to this match as it served as Huo Yuhao's trial. Consequently, the referee was changed from Wang Yan to the Director of the Outer Court, the Soul Douluo Du Weilun.
Even though Huo Yuhao stood alone, strangely, no one felt he was the underdog.
The four entered and took their positions on opposite sides of the stage. Lan Xuanyu's gaze toward Huo Yuhao held a hint of disdain; in his mind, he didn't even need teammates to beat Huo Yuhao—one-on-one would have sufficed.
Xiao Xiao: He's so handsome...
Wang Dong's eyes flickered. Looking at Huo Yuhao's handsome, expressionless face, her heart felt unexplainably heavy. It feels... it feels like the person standing by his side should be me...
No, no, then what about Xuanyu...
While Wang Dong's left and right brain were duking it out, Du Weilun's voice rang out: "Without further ado, let the match begin. During the fight, go all out; I will personally control the pace. Anyone I rescue from the stage is considered defeated. Understood?"
The four nodded simultaneously.
"First round, first match. Freshman Class 1: Lan Xuanyu, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao vs. Freshman Class 10: Huo Yuhao. You may only release your martial souls after I signal the start."
Du Weilun raised his right hand and swept it down forcefully.
"Assessment, begin!"
Wang Dong was the first to act. Cerulean wings snapped open behind him, and two soul rings—one yellow, one purple—manifested at his feet. He took to the air, immediately seizing the high ground.
Lan Xuanyu revealed one yellow and two purple soul rings—an extraordinary configuration. A massive sprawl of blue-silver vines erupted; it was easily recognizable as the most common Blue Silver Grass on the continent.
Huo Yuhao's eyes narrowed. Just as he had sensed that "discordance" from Lan Xuanyu before, he now saw strange elemental reactions around him—at least water, fire, and earth.
Using Blue Silver Grass to control elements? What is this guy thinking? Isn't he afraid of losing control and exploding?
Lan Xuanyu stepped into the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step, charging at Huo Yuhao without hesitation. With a flick of his hand, a crystalline ice orb shot forth. This orb was a swirling weave of blue and red, radiating an ominous aura.
"...!"
Huo Yuhao had to admit he had underestimated this Lan Xuanyu. This orb alone required a serious response—he'd either need the soul bone skill Inner Earth or his second martial soul, the Deep Blue Glazed Dragon, to block it.
[Author's Note: I'm not nerfing Little Huo. First, Xuanyu is reincarnated; he was a Supreme God King, so his combat experience and elemental control are maxed out. Little Huo has only trained in the Douluo World for a few years, so his experience is naturally inferior. Second, Little Huo's Spirit Eye is control-oriented and lacks direct offensive means.]
This orb was Lan Xuanyu's self-created soul skill from his past life: the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Pearl. It was essentially a combination of water and fire element control. Relying on the elemental affinity of the Silver Dragon King bloodline, he controlled it perfectly, turning it into a lethal weapon. It was this move that allowed him to breach the defense of a Young Rock Drake in the forest and absorb its bloodline to gain Earth element control.
Xiao Xiao's Thrice-Born Soul-Stunning Tripod was also at full power, immediately using its killing move: Tripod Vibration.
Wang Dong didn't hold back either. Knowing Huo Yuhao had beaten him barehanded before, he knew he wouldn't last a few rounds without going all out. He unleashed his second soul skill: Light of the Butterfly Goddess.
This was Lan Xuanyu's plan: a full-power blitz from the start to cut Huo Yuhao down before he could react!
Watching the trio charge at him in a triangular formation, Huo Yuhao's lip twitched. How much do you guys hate me? Is this necessary?
Fine, time to get serious.
A golden light flashed in his eyes, tinged with faint nine-colored ripples. His Spirit Eye's first soul ring glowed.
Spiritual Detection & Sharing and Spiritual Interference Domain.
The Spiritual Interference Domain blanketed the field. Released with his Spirit Abyss Realm mental power, even Du Weilun—a Soul Douluo—felt a moment of trance, his vision of the four combatants blurring.
If a Soul Douluo was affected, the weaker teachers and students stood no chance.
But in that same instant, Huo Yuhao forced his Spiritual Detection & Sharing onto every member of Lan Xuanyu's team.
Just like anyone else receiving this power for the first time, the trio was momentarily stunned by the overwhelming sensory input of this powerful soul skill.