The golden morning sun gleamed on the stone plaza as teams from every academy arrived and filed into their designated areas. High atop the central stage, Spirit Hall's banners fluttered in the morning breeze.
Led by Chen Yi, Grand Martial Academy's team entered the spectator stands, where he joined the other team leaders, waiting quietly.
A moment later, two Spirit Hall attendants brought an antique-style black wooden chair and placed it firmly across from the Grand Martial Academy area. As soon as Chen Yi sat down, Qian Renxue appeared from the other side, her long white dress shining in the sun, her golden hair sparkling.
After another wait, two waiters brought another seat and placed it beside Chen Yi.
"That must be Her Majesty the Empress arriving," a low but clear laugh came from the second row—it was Dugu Yan. Suppressed laughter rippled through the team members. Qian Renxue realized her posture and blushed faintly. She hastily whispered to a steward, "Please bring more chairs."
Eventually, the entire Grand Martial Academy found their seats. Though this treatment drew others' attention and envy, no one dared to make a fuss—Grand Martial's weight and influence were fully acknowledged by all present.
Meanwhile, in the Star Luo team area, Tang San's gaze was locked on Chen Yi, his eyes as sharp as blades. Sensing the look, Chen Yi merely smiled faintly.
He glanced at Dai Weisi—who, as the eldest of Star Luo, seemed calm and indifferent to everything. Chen Yi had been briefed on the undercurrents within the empire. The deepening alliance between the Clear Sky camp and Star Luo was becoming ever more intriguing.
Chen Yi turned away, raising a wine glass offered by a waiter and subtly raising it toward Tang San. Tang San's eyes were icy, his contempt for Chen Yi's every gesture obvious. The disdain reminded Tang San of many unpleasant memories.
"He's just a clown. What's there to worry about?" Qian Renxue murmured coolly as she sipped her tea.
Chen Yi laughed. "I suddenly feel he might be best as… fertilizer."
"Fertilizer?" Qian Renxue arched her brow slightly, and even the team members seemed a bit puzzled. How had Tang San been reduced to mere fertilizer?
Chen Yi only smiled mysteriously, gazing off at the distant horizon. He remembered the Grand Elder personally erasing the last bits of Ah Yin's spirit and transplanting the true Blue Silver Emperor's form into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well years ago. The seedlings had grown a lot, but were still far from what he hoped for. What nourishment for a young Blue Silver Emperor could be better than the blood of a close relative like Tang San?
Among the audience shadows, Bo Saixi's gaze swept between Chen Yi and Qian Renxue. As her eyes landed on the faint marks on their foreheads, her pupils narrowed suddenly—it was the mark of the Nine Divine Trials!
Both Chen Yi and Qian Renxue had received the blessing of the gods!
Even as Tang San was selected by the Seagod, the loss of the Seagod's Heart had complicated things. Without the full power of sea trials, Tang San could not truly begin the god's path. Now, before them, stood two youths who had already passed their divine inheritance exams.
"Qian Daoliu… Body Sect, you sure kept secrets," Bo Saixi thought inwardly.
…
The drawing of lots finished and results announced, Chen Yi cast a meaningful glance at Qian Renxue. "Did you arrange this?" he asked directly.
Qian Renxue met his gaze without hesitation and nodded. "Don't you want to delve into Tang San's background? Let this new Godwind team test him."
Just like in the original timeline, to advance further, Godwind and Blazing Academies had merged once again to form the new Godwind Academy. This time, due to Chen Yi's influence, Feng Xiaotian was even stronger than the original, boasting spirit power at rank 54, and Huo Wu had also grown, becoming a strong title contender. Still, Tang San had improved by leaps and bounds, especially with Bo Saixi's years of secret support.
"Teams, please prepare to enter the field!" the referee called.
Members of both the new Godwind Academy and Star Luo Royal appeared on opposite sides, stepping out onto the broad granite arena. Each began to take up formation.
On Godwind's side, Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu stood in front, followed by Huo Wushuang and two agile-type soul masters, then two support-types, forming a classic 2-3-2 offensive formation. Clearly, Godwind planned to center their assault on Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu.
Star Luo, meanwhile, had a slightly different arrangement. Tang San stood alone at the very front; behind him to the left and right were two sturdy soul masters wielding the Clear Sky Hammer. Further back, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuyun, and two more members formed a compact formation. This array clearly put Tang San as absolute core and vanguard, flanked by two Clear Sky Hammer soul masters for defense and attack, with the others waiting for opportunities to move and stabilize the rear.
Facing the reconfigured Godwind team, Tang San's eyes glittered coldly. At the moment the lot results were out, he was certain something odd was in play. "Fine then, I'll let you see what I'm capable of," he sneered inwardly.
When both teams set, the referee shouted: "Teams, prepare!"
"Godwind Academy, Feng Xiaotian, rank 54, assault-type battle soul king!"
"Star Luo Royal Academy, Tang San, rank 61 control system battle soul emperor!"
The words "rank 61" echoed through the plaza, and stunned silence fell, then an uproar burst.
"Rank 61? Is that even possible!"
"How old is he? Fifteen? Sixteen?"
"Is he the second soul emperor in history after the Tyrant at age fifteen?"
The arena filled with shocked and envious exclamations. Qian Renxue snorted derisively, "Instead of following the proper path for twin martial souls, he forcibly boosted his levels through external means. What folly."
Others may not know how Tang San broke to level 61, but the Spirit Hall and Body Sect intelligence network already understood the situation.
Chen Yi surveyed the Star Luo team, recognizing several Shrek Academy faces: Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuyun, and others. "Even holding the advantage in soul power, real battle awareness outweighs brute force—they might not have it easy."
At this moment, Feng Xiaotian looked extremely solemn. To face a level 61 emperor-type control soul master—this was pressure for any team. Their original aim was to get the new Godwind team into the top 3, but running into such a powerhouse instantly made their prospects grim.
The referee swept his arm. "Match, begin!"
Dazzling soul rings flared, bathing the arena in radiant light.
Behind Tang San, a blue silver plant imbued with faint golden light appeared—it had been refined by the Seagod's power and was now the evolved Blue Silver Emperor. Two yellows, two purples, two blacks—six rings drifted around him, spreading the aura of a soul emperor.
On Star Luo's side, two sturdy youths simultaneously summoned Clear Sky Hammers, each covered with four soul rings.
A collective gasp drew everyone's gaze toward Qian Renxue, expecting her reaction, but she was as composed as ever.
"Outstanding!" Feng Xiaotian yelled, his five soul rings—two yellow, two purple, one black—flaring as he shot toward Tang San like a gale.
All Godwind team members engaged, with chaos quickly breaking out across the field.
Tang San merely raised his hand, and dozens of blue silver grasses erupted from the arena floor, entwining Feng Xiaotian's legs like venomous snakes. Feng Xiaotian snorted, his first soul ring flashing. "First skill: Wind Blade Array!"
Blue-green wind blades shot from his hands, slicing the encroaching grasses but slightly hampering his own movement. Instantly, more blue silver grass burst out, sealing off every escape route.
Incredible control!
Feng Xiaotian shivered. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass was both tough and clever, every attack perfectly blocking his paths.
"Third soul skill: Swiftwind Wings!" Blue wings unfurled from his back, multiplying his speed. He darted and weaved, barely avoiding entanglement, even as his fourth soul ring lit up.
"Fourth soul skill: Godwind Howl!" Torrents of wind gathered in his hands, whirling into a mini-tornado that shredded the attacking vines. Using the momentum, he charged straight for Tang San.
Tang San looked slightly surprised—Feng Xiaotian's battle sense was stronger than expected.
"Second soul skill: Parasite."
The severed blue grass fragments twitched and transformed into little tendrils, rapidly coiling around Feng Xiaotian's legs. He grimaced, again unleashing the third soul skill, breaking free with a fierce flap of his wings.
At that moment, Tang San's fourth ring flared. "Fourth skill: Blue Silver Prison!"
Four thick blue silver grass pillars rose at the arena's corners, converging overhead to form a massive cage, trapping Feng Xiaotian.
Elsewhere, the battle situation tilted in Godwind's favor. The two Clear Sky Hammer soul masters barely suppressed their opponents with brute force, while Ma Hongjun was drawn into a fierce melee. Dai Mubai was locked up by Huo Wushuang's pressure, the power of White Tiger Martial Soul held in check by Huo Wu's long-range harassment. Zhu Zhuyun and another agility-type soul master couldn't even get close, left unable to unleash their fusion skill, Netherworld White Tiger. Star Luo's remaining members were similarly pinned down.
However, as Tang San increasingly dominated, the morale of the Star Luo team rose. If their core, Tang San, could quickly take care of Feng Xiaotian and free his hands, the outcome could change in an instant.
Feng Xiaotian, clearly aware, gritted his teeth. "I can't delay any longer!"
His eyes blazed. Bracing against Tang San's cage, his fifth soul ring shone suddenly. "Fifth soul skill: Tornado Blade!"
A torrent of blue tornadoes burst around him, dozens of sharp wind blades spinning at high speed, slicing free from the vines and hurtling toward Tang San.
At the same moment, he shouted to Huo Wu, "Huo Wu!"
At his cry, four rings of Huo Wu's soul glowed together, sending waves of blazing soul power and heat across the arena.
"Fusion soul ring!" a knowledgeable spectator cried.
"Fourth soul skill: Scorching Sun Dance!"
Huo Wu lifted her arms high. Instantly, a blazing white fireball—over a meter wide—condensed in her hands, pulsing with dreadful heat.
A heartbeat later, she shoved the burning "mini sun" not at Tang San, but straight into Feng Xiaotian's tornado.
"Wind fuels fire—fire borrows wind to spread!" Feng Xiaotian skillfully merged their powers, steering the flaming tornado toward Tang San.
Tang San's face finally changed, sensing the energy contained in that attack. Even with the Blue Silver Emperor, he might not get away unharmed.
The flaming tornado fully formed, melting the very stones of the arena with residual heat.
At that very moment, Tang San did the unthinkable—he summoned his inherited Clear Sky Hammer, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Next instant, a massive jet-black hammer appeared in his hands—Clear Sky Hammer! Even more shocking, five ten-thousand-year black soul rings slowly revolved around it.
Twin martial souls! With five ten-thousand-year soul rings on his second spirit!
"That's… Clear Sky Hammer?!"
"Five ten-thousand-year soul rings?! How can that be?!"
"It's no wonder he could rise so quickly—twin martial souls—!"
Ignoring the exclamations, Tang San gripped the hammer with both hands and began spinning rapidly, gathering tremendous power.
The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer!
As the flaming tornado closed within three meters, Tang San unleashed his peak force with a roar, slamming the hammer into the tornado's heart.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the entire arena, crimson and black light intertwining amid a shockwave that rattled the fortress walls.
When the smoke cleared, Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu had crashed dozens of meters away. Both looked pale, weak, and badly injured; their spirit power was completely drained.
Tang San, back to the ground, stood with the Clear Sky Hammer angled toward the earth. His clothes were burned full of holes, his face smudged with soot—a mess.
"Cough… cough…" Feng Xiaotian tried in vain to rise, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Huo Wu was in slightly better shape but had clearly spent all her energy. Both looked at Tang San with bitterness; all confidence shattered.
Twin martial souls, with five ten-thousand-year soul rings… such a foe was overwhelming.
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuyun broke free of their own restraints, black and white soul light surging as Netherworld White Tiger began to take shape. But to keep fighting would only invite greater humiliation or possibly casualties.
What's more, Feng Xiaotian realized Tang San was staring at him with a cold, murderous look. There wasn't even a hint of joy over victory—just fierce killing intent.
Seeing that, Feng Xiaotian's heart tightened, and without hesitation, he shouted, "Referee! We… surrender!"
Huo Wu lowered her head, admitting defeat.
The referee immediately declared, "Victory for Star Luo Imperial Academy!"
A moment's silence was shattered by wild applause and cheers.
"Twin martial souls! He really is a twin martial spirit user!"
"No wonder he became a soul emperor at such a young age. So this was the path he chose…"
"A shortcut, but a dangerous one. Training two martial souls together, he'll pay the price later."
Amid the commotion, Tang San slowly put away his hammer, the five soul rings disappearing one by one. He stood in silence; there was neither joy nor pride on his face. If anything, his expression grew even darker as he glanced at the defeated Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu, then at Chen Yi and Qian Renxue on the opposing podium.
Dai Mubai's expression was equally sullen. Throughout the battle, he had been almost entirely suppressed by Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu—a rare humiliation for the renowned young master of Star Luo.
At last, Tang San gave Feng Xiaotian a frosty look, turned, and left the stage.
Above, Qian Renxue set her teacup down and remarked coldly, "To use a second martial soul against a soul king—trash."
To her eyes, Tang San's performance in this battle was nothing but clumsy. In her view, a true champion would never show all their cards so soon, but win at minimal cost.
Unlike Qian Renxue, Chen Yi withheld judgment. Stroking his chin, he watched Tang San's retreating figure keenly.