"Impossible, absolutely impossible! He must've taken some kind of drug!"
"Drugs? Then take them your whole life and see if you can reach level sixty-eight."
"I don't have the money for that!"
"Which idiot just said that? Running your mouth like that... If I find you, you're dead meat."
...
How could it be?
Standing before Gu You, Ye Shihong's body visibly trembled.
He had once been hailed as the number one genius of the Outer Court six years ago. Now, with a new student rising—so absurdly—he couldn't believe for a second that anyone under fourteen could break through to Soul Emperor.
"What's wrong? Not feeling well? Want us to wait until you're better before we fight?" Gu You asked with an expression of sincere concern.
"I'm just fine," Ye Shihong said, forcing his facial muscles to tense.
"Good. Then let's get started—I have a forging competition to attend later."
"Lower-grade student chooses the competition format," the referee turned to Gu You. It was one of the few favorable rules for the lower grade.
"Standard is fine. 7v7," Gu You answered without care.
The referee turned to the sixth-years. "Sixth grade, please also send out seven team members. You each have three minutes to organize and prepare for the match."
Clearly, the three-minute prep was for both teams to plan their tactics according to their lineups.
Two and a half minutes passed in a flash. Both sides had formed their formations.
First-year Class One's participants: Gu You, Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, Ye Xinglan, Xu Lizhi, Xu Xiaoyan, and Xie Xie—seven in total.
Sixth-year lineup: Ye Shihong, Zhou Tian, Bai Hanying, Qian Xingmo, Yong Hunxiao, Bu Jiantian, and He Xiao. Also seven people.
On the judges' platform—
Ya Li smiled and turned to Cai Yue'er beside her. "It's been a few years since I've seen that brat. I wonder how strong he's gotten. I heard you say he's improved quite a bit?"
Cai Yue'er smiled back. "With soul power already at this level, he's more than capable of standing on his own."
Ya Li said nothing, her gaze already fixed on the battlefield below.
Gu You glanced at the sixth-year formation and chuckled. It was clearly an offensive formation with no auxiliary-type soul masters—all pure fighters. That girl Bai Hanying stood in the center and was probably their control-type soul master. The rest were either power attack or agility attack.
But you couldn't really blame their team choice. After all, they were fighting first-years. Why bring an auxiliary-type? Wouldn't that just be overkill?
Yet this time, the sixth-years had made a miscalculation. Since their team had been selected in advance, they couldn't change it after Gu You's soul power level was revealed, which led to this awkward full-offense lineup.
"Last thirty seconds. Final prep." The referee's voice echoed across the arena.
Gu You stepped forward, his aura surging and making the entire platform tremble faintly.
Taking a deep breath, his pupils gleamed with a faint purple-gold glow, and his aura turned increasingly heavy—not just in presence but in spiritual intensity. On his neck, faint purple-gold markings began to appear.
Drawn by the pressure radiating from Gu You, Ye Shihong's aura rose as well. Even before the match began, the two captains were already clashing with sheer presence.
But as Gu You's aura grew, Ye Shihong's shrank.
Elsewhere, the teammates on both sides began releasing pressure, but Gu You's team clearly lacked advantage—it was practically Gu You alone holding the line.
Their auras continued to collide and clash. Already, strong energy ripples were forming across the stage.
"Three, two, one—Begin!"
With the referee's call, the highly anticipated showdown between First-Year Class One and the Sixth-Year team finally began.
Gu You moved instantly—his left foot pounded the ground and he shot forward like a cannonball, heading straight for the enemy's supposed main controller. He hadn't even released his martial soul yet, but three purple-gold soul rings already rose—bloodline soul rings. Purple-Gold Dragon Armor.
His body swelled as he moved, scales covering him, left arm bulging, dragon claw emerging.
Ye Shihong's reaction mirrored Gu You's in speed, but he wasn't so reckless. Six soul rings floated beneath his feet.
Dozens of emerald-gold leaves appeared around him, and his fourth soul ring lit up.
Golden Leaf Fortress!
A massive fortress made from golden leaves formed in front of the sixth-year team, shielding them all.
The other participants acted accordingly.
Gu Yue remained in place. Xu Xiaoyan stepped forward, holding her hand, and Blizzard bloomed from their position—group control!
Xie Xie vanished the moment the blizzard appeared, slipping away. Xu Lizhi mumbled an incantation as he continued conjuring buns.
Ye Xinglan stepped into Gu You's former forward spot to hold the front line.
There was no way they could match this group of Soul Kings and Soul Emperors in direct combat. Their only chance was to keep chipping away with coordinated tactics.
On the sixth-year side, their other members released their martial souls as well.
Yong Hunxiao's was the most unusual—he now held a flute, with five soul rings rising beneath him.
He brought the flute to his lips and played a melancholic tune.
All the first-year team members—except Gu You—felt their minds go foggy.
Group control soul skill, musical martial soul?
'Damn it!' Gu You smacked his head. 'I was too dumb. Why would their control-type soul master be standing so obviously in the center?'
Turns out Yong Hunxiao was the real control-type, and a five-ring group control at that.
Bai Hanying, who had appeared to be the control soul master, simply smiled and stepped aside, giving her position to Yong Hunxiao. A branch appeared in her hand, lined with blooming pink peach blossoms.
She waved it. Petals scattered, blending with the golden leaves. Each falling petal enhanced the golden leaves' brilliance and explosive power.
The blizzard slowed under Yong Hunxiao's influence.
"Take out their back line first. Then we focus on the Soul Emperor," said Qian Xingmo. A long sword appeared in his left hand, and he vanished from the sixth-year ranks.
He reappeared in front of Ye Xinglan.
Sword intent surged in Ye Xinglan's eyes as her three soul rings rose.
She couldn't match a Soul King with just this level of power. But—don't forget what she had achieved!
Her shoulders lit up with starlight. Streams of light poured from her right forearm.
One-word battle armor, Gauntlet Form, deployed!
Silver armor sparkled with celestial radiance. Her presence—
(End of Chapter)
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