"Xiao Yan, is there something on my face?"
"Or did I say something wrong earlier?"
Noticing Xu Xiaoyan's gaze fixed on him, Tang Luochuan revealed a gentle smile and spoke softly.
It seemed that his acknowledgment of Xu Xiaoyu's "brother-in-law" remark had made Xiao Yan's emotions fluctuate intensely.
"Ah, no, nothing like that!"
"I am exactly as Luo Chuan described."
A strange light flickered in Xu Xiaoyan's eyes, her inner emotions surging with excitement. Her face flushed red as she whispered softly.
What had Luo Chuan said again? Something about her only paying attention to Mom and Dad but not her brother? Hmm, that makes perfect sense!
Moreover, she officially retracted her previous opinion that her brother was unreliable—at least at this moment, her usually unreliable brother was acting completely out of character—
That "brother-in-law" remark carried immense significance.
"Sigh..."
"Even so, Xiao Yan really cares less and less about me, her brother!"
Looking at Tang Luochuan and then at his younger sister, Xu Xiaoyu clearly hadn't noticed anything unusual and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"Who cares about an unreliable brother like you."
Xu Xiaoyan muttered quietly to herself, her gaze shifting toward Tang Luochuan. She wouldn't waste her concern on such an unreliable brother!
She only needed to care about Luo Chuan.
At this thought, her small face flushed bright red again, her sweet and adorable appearance utterly endearing.
"Hahaha, Xiaoyu has been recording your tournament matches all along, just like a cameraman. It's normal you didn't notice him."
"Xiao Yan's performance on the battlefield is outstanding. According to Luo Chuan, in the field of Control System Soul Masters, our Xiao Yan is practically unmatched in this era, right?"
At this moment, Father Xu and Mother Xu couldn't help but laugh as they watched the two young people before them.
How wonderful! Youth truly is something else. Luo Chuan's candid response spoke volumes, not to mention the blush on Xiao Yan's face. These two, ah...
"Eh?! So Mom and Dad know about this too."
Hearing this, Xu Xiaoyan was momentarily stunned.
"But I'm not that amazing. Luo Chuan was just praising me. Sister Ye Hui and the others all have greater talent than I do."
"It's just that I happen to... well, truly be the best at control techniques, that's all."
As she spoke, a shy smile appeared on her face, and she explained with a light laugh.
Her innate talent and potential were only average. The achievements she had today were solely the result of her hard work to catch up to Luo Chuan—he was her ultimate goal.
A young girl filled with confidence and expectations, driven by love, can often accomplish incredible things!
But admittedly, upon hearing those words, the corners of her mouth instinctively twitched upward.
Please...
This was an evaluation given to her by Luo Chuan himself!
"The number one Control System Soul Master under the starlight, hehe!"
"And the starlight..."
"Will always be by my side."
A trace of laughter sparkled in Xu Xiaoyan's eyes, though...
If only Luo Chuan could always be by her side too!
"Luo Chuan, since Xiao Yan has finished her match now, shall we head to other arenas to wait for the other youngsters?"
At this moment, Father Xu seemed to recall something. He had previously heard from Luo Chuan's parents that this particular competition stage only had his daughter participating.
"Of course, Uncle."
"Let's go to the nearest West Arena."
Tang Luochuan responded with a smile, speaking gently.
"If it's the West Arena, it seems Xinglan, Duoduo, and Ye Hui are all there!"
Na'er and Gu Yue pondered thoughtfully and agreed.
"That's right."
Xu Xiaoyan also chimed in, feeling somewhat expectant.
"Earlier, even my strength managed to shock so many spectators. When they see everyone else..."
"They'll be utterly astonished too."
She couldn't help but feel anticipation.
After all, whether in terms of Soul Power level or combat prowess, she wasn't the strongest among their group.
And just as she thought, at this very moment, in other arena locations, shocks similar to what Xu Xiaoyan had caused earlier were occurring one after another in other matches.
"I am Zhanlang Wu Jing."
"Please advise."
In the West Arena area, a resolute-looking Soul Ancestor gazed at his opponent, four Soul Rings—two yellow and two purple—flashing at his feet as he spoke plainly.
Wu Jing, a top-tier student of Star Luo Royal Academy.
For some reason, when he looked at this girl whose Martial Soul was a sword, he felt various pressures assaulting him. Could it be that she had already comprehended Sword Intent?
Didn't that mean she was another extraordinary genius? Could it be that all members of the Douluo Continent Delegation were freaks?
"Ye Xinglan."
The young girl glanced at him but said nothing more.
Her opponent was at the early Soul Ancestor level, with insufficient strength in all aspects. For her, a level 57 Soul King, she didn't even need to expend much Soul Power, let alone use Soul Skills.
"I wonder how Xiao Yan is doing over there."
"She'll probably be very happy to know her parents are here..."
A flicker of amusement passed through Ye Xinglan's eyes as she thought of something.
But it soon faded into indifference, replaced by a gleam of determination. One day, she would also bring her parents to meet his family!
"..."
"Azure Dragon Wei Xiaofeng, please advise."
At the East Arena, a blue dragon's shadow materialized behind Wei Xiaofeng. He chewed on a strand of Blue Silver Grass, his gaze sharp as he spoke.
"Another dragon..."
"Jiang Buyu, Martial Soul: Mandala Snake."
Opposite him, the Soul Ancestor shuddered, responding similarly. Another dragon-attribute Soul Master—this batch truly had hidden dragons and crouching tigers!
The Mandala Snake was considered a decent Martial Soul among serpent types, not entirely sharing a bloodline with dragons. Please don't tell him he'd still be suppressed!
He...
Had a foreboding feeling!
"Hmm..."
"A snake Martial Soul? Hehehehe—"
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Wei Xiaofeng's eyes instantly gleamed with excitement, a hehehe laugh escaping his lips.
His Martial Soul had once been a snake too.
Thus, he knew full well just how high the probability was that his opponent would retreat without even fighting under his current Martial Soul suppression.
"Now, I'm ready to send you off the stage."
Wei Xiaofeng smiled faintly, brimming with confidence.
"Shadow of Time and Space, Xie Xie."
At the North Arena, Xie Xie wore a trace of pride on his face as he looked at the unfamiliar Soul Ancestor not far away, calmly stating his name.
Space-Time Dragon Xie Xie!
Now, it was time for his debut match!
"My name is Lin San, and also..."
"You're welcome, no need for thanks."
The man across from him seemed rather flustered, speaking with an embarrassed tone.
Xie Xie: "..."
Damn!
"Yuanen Yehui..."
Also in the western arena.
Following Ye Xinglan's turn, when Yuanen Yehui stepped onto the competition stage, her expression remained calm throughout. With her cultivation as a Soul Emperor, it would be impossible for her to lose easily to anyone.
However, when her opponent appeared and she sensed their cultivation level, she couldn't help but mentally question the situation.
"Three..."
"Three-ring Soul Venerable?"
Yuanen Yehui pondered for a moment before speaking in confusion.
Ultimately, she could only choose to send her opponent off the stage with a single punch.
"..."
"The people of Douluo Continent are actually this terrifying! Is Shrek really this powerful?"
"I think it's Tang Luochuan who's impressive, making those around him strong too, isn't that right?"
"Fortunately, Her Highness the Princess and the eldest daughter of the Wu family have talent that surpasses all others. They're not inferior when facing those few!"
"Ahem, brother, you're overlooking something - Her Highness the Princess and the security chief's daughter are also Tang Luochuan's companions."
"Damn--"
Similar to the commotion Xu Xiaoyan had caused earlier, at other competition platforms, the combat abilities of their companions likewise left spectators dumbfounded one after another.
All the Star Luo spectators discovered that these companions of Prince Consort Tang Luochuan were effortlessly achieving instant kills, most likely without even using Soul Skills.
These weren't peers of similar age, but clearly older tournament participants - all geniuses from various factions.
Ultimately, countless words condensed into a single phrase--
"Terrifying to such an extent."
"Tang Luochuan is actually this terrifying!"
"Spread the word, Tang Luochuan is a terrorist!"
"..."
After leaving the Soul Arena, among the group of companions, most remained largely silent.
Perhaps to others, their effortless instant kills - even without using Soul Skills - seemed incredibly impressive, but...
They couldn't have absolutely no experience at all!
Among them, Yuanen Yehui felt this most strongly.
"Luo Chuan, tell me about this..."
"How did I end up fighting..."
"It shouldn't have been against a Battle Soul Venerable, right."
After leaving the Soul Arena, Yuanen Yehui pouted, thought for a moment, and spoke somewhat helplessly.
The Soul Venerable expert indeed had three Soul Rings, and the one she fought had the optimal Soul Ring combination of Yellow-Yellow-Purple, promising great future potential.
While she happened to be a six-ring Soul Emperor, merely having... just three more Soul Rings than a Soul Venerable!
With Titan Giant Ape Soul Rings Black-Black-Black-Red-Red-Red, plus a set of Two-Word Battle Armor, and an even more powerful Second Soul.
"Hmm..."
"All we can say is that contestant had extremely bad luck."
Hearing this, Tang Luochuan also shook his head with a smile. Not just Yehui, even he as a spectator found it equally unexpected.
He never imagined that Yehui's opponent would actually be a powerful three-ring Soul Venerable...
In a tournament of this caliber, this was essentially the ultimate cannon fodder level. For Yehui to draw such an opponent was quite rare.
And for that opponent to draw Yehui...
One should know that in the entire competition venue, aside from himself and Long Yue, only Yehui, Lan Fozi, and the recently breakthrough Si Duo could be considered Soul Emperors - at most three.
For that contestant to draw one of them in the elimination round... one could only say their luck was truly terrible...
"Probably around the same level as Brother Yue Yan."
Recalling that he had drawn his own brother-in-law, Tang Luochuan blinked, unable to suppress an inward chuckle.
He had initially thought landing the Crown Prince as a brother-in-law was already incredibly rare luck, but never expected...
He seemed to actually be a master!
"Ach..."
"Achoo!"
In the distance, a certain Star Luo Crown Prince sneezed in bewilderment.
――――――――――
[The Soul Venerable is very strong. Are you sure you want to challenge him?]
Yuanen Yehui: ()
(End of Chapter)