Long Aotian, Gu Tong, Wang Yanfeng
"Teacher."
Yuhao stepped forward and greeted respectfully.
"Yuhao is here."
Du Bu Shi nodded lightly, his expression calm and unreadable.
During these three days, although he had not summoned Yuhao even once, Du Bu Shi had been secretly observing him.
Learning that Yuhao had spent the past three days cultivating without rest made Du Bu Shi extremely satisfied.
Outstanding talent alone was never enough. One also needed perseverance, patience, and the ability to endure loneliness far beyond that of ordinary people.
Yuhao possessed all of these qualities.
"Yuhao, I summoned you today because I intend to test your current strength."
Du Bu Shi was already aware that Yuhao had once blocked the gates of Zhengtian Academy and defeated eight opponents consecutively, but he had not witnessed that battle personally.
Moreover, in his view, Zhengtian Academy was merely a second-rate institution. Its disciples could not be compared to those trained by the Noumenon Sect at the same cultivation level.
At the same time, through this battle, Du Bu Shi could observe Yuhao's martial soul characteristics, mental power, physical conditioning, and combat instincts, which would be extremely beneficial for his future guidance.
After hearing Du Bu Shi's words, Yuhao showed no resistance and calmly asked:
"Who is my opponent?"
Seeing that Yuhao's expression remained steady and unflustered, Du Bu Shi grew even more satisfied. He appreciated this kind of composure in the face of both honor and pressure.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Du Bu Shi clapped his hands lightly, and immediately three teenagers walked out from behind him.
All three appeared older than Yuhao, around fourteen or fifteen years old. Among them, the one standing in the middle drew Yuhao's attention the most.
He was tall and straight, with sharp features. Despite his young age, he naturally exuded a faint but undeniable sense of dominance.
The one to his right had ordinary looks, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. When Yuhao looked at him, he felt a vague sense of familiarity.
As for the one on the far left, he was also extremely tall and sturdy, especially his fists, which were noticeably larger than those of an ordinary person.
"Each of you, introduce yourselves."
At Du Bu Shi's instruction, the three spoke in turn.
"Long Aotian."
"Gu Tong."
"Wang Yanfeng."
When Yuhao heard these three names, a flash of realization appeared in his eyes.
"So it's them."
Five years later, during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, the Noumenon Sect would participate under the alias of the Snow Demon Sect, and these three would be among its official competitors.
Among them, Long Aotian would eventually cultivate to the level of a seven-ring Soul Saint, possessing terrifying strength.
Yuhao also understood why Gu Tong had felt familiar—his martial soul was also related to the eyes.
The difference was that Gu Tong had only awakened his eyes, while Yuhao's spiritual martial soul extended to both his eyes and his sea of consciousness.
"Huo Yuhao."
As Yuhao reported his name, he could clearly feel Long Aotian and the other two focus their gazes on him.
Ordinary disciples might not know, but the elders and core disciples of the Noumenon Sect were all aware that three days ago, the Sect Master had appointed a newly joined youth as the Young Sect Master.
And that youth was named Huo Yuhao.
Although Long Aotian and the others did not dare to openly oppose the Sect Master's decision, there was inevitably dissatisfaction in their hearts.
Why should they only be core disciples, while a boy who had just joined the sect be elevated directly to Young Sect Master?
Thus, when Du Bu Shi arranged for them to test Yuhao today, all three harbored their own thoughts, eager to see what qualifications Yuhao truly possessed.
Especially Long Aotian.
In terms of talent, seniority, and strength, he was widely regarded as the most suitable successor among the younger generation.
"Wang Yanfeng, you go first."
Du Bu Shi selected Wang Yanfeng. Among the three, he was the most appropriate to open the match.
Wang Yanfeng acknowledged and stepped forward.
Aside from Du Bu Shi, Long Aotian and Gu Tong retreated, leaving sufficient space between Yuhao and Wang Yanfeng.
"Begin."
Du Bu Shi spoke casually.
In the next instant, the two standing opposite each other released their martial souls simultaneously.
Because both possessed Noumenon Martial Souls, there was no visible manifestation.
However, their soul rings were unmistakably clear.
Two yellow and two purple soul rings rose beneath Wang Yanfeng's feet—he was a four-ring Soul Ancestor.
On Yuhao's side, only two soul rings appeared, yet their colors were shockingly abnormal.
One white.
One black.
This sight caused Wang Yanfeng, as well as Long Aotian and Gu Tong, to freeze in shock.
A ten-year soul ring as the first was understandable, but a ten-thousand-year soul ring as the second?
Even so, Wang Yanfeng quickly suppressed his surprise. He did not forget that he was still in combat.
Boom—
A bronze light flashed across his fists, marking the bronze-level second awakening of his Noumenon Martial Soul.
A bronze awakening increased the combat strength of his martial soul by nearly thirty percent.
Coupled with the Noumenon Sect's formidable close-combat techniques, even as a level-45 Soul Ancestor, Wang Yanfeng dared to challenge opponents two or three levels above him.
Yet just as he prepared to attack, his movements suddenly halted.
His eyes lost focus, and with a dull thud, his body collapsed to the ground.
Yuhao, who stood opposite him, had not moved an inch. Only his eyes had turned a strange blend of purple and gold.
Soul Shock!
Long Aotian and Gu Tong remained silent, but the tremor in their pupils betrayed their shock.
"A spiritual attack!"
They had already guessed the nature of Yuhao's martial soul, yet they were still astonished.
Mental attacks were invisible and difficult to defend against, but their explosive power was generally inferior to other attributes, especially when used against higher-level opponents.
Yet Yuhao's soul power was clearly far below Wang Yanfeng's, and still he had defeated him instantly.
In just a few breaths, Long Aotian and Gu Tong's evaluation of Yuhao rose sharply.
"Next."
Yuhao's dazzling eyes swept toward Long Aotian and Gu Tong.
Although he was only a Great Soul Master, the pressure he exerted made both feel a faint sense of oppression.
Still, neither of them intended to retreat.
After exchanging a glance, Gu Tong stepped forward.
In terms of fighting spirit, he was even more aggressive than Long Aotian, largely because his martial soul was also eye-based.
However, unlike Yuhao, Gu Tong's eyes were capable of releasing direct offensive abilities.
As his martial soul possessed him, four soul rings appeared beneath his feet—two yellow and two purple.
He was also a four-ring Soul Ancestor, though his cultivation stood at level forty-one.
Yuhao did not underestimate him in the slightest. He could clearly sense that Gu Tong's mental power was equally formidable due to his twin-eye martial soul.
The facts quickly proved this point.
The moment the battle began, Yuhao unleashed Soul Shock again without hesitation.
But this time, it only caused Gu Tong's eyes to flicker briefly and failed to break through the combined defense of his mental power and soul power.
Even the Heart Soul Demonic Flame was unable to take effect.
Gu Tong, however, was deeply shaken.
Among the younger generation of the Noumenon Sect, his mental power ranked firmly within the top three.
He had also undergone martial soul awakening and reached the silver level, making him one of the sect's key nurturing targets.
Yet despite defending with his full strength, Yuhao's spiritual attack—delivered across two entire cultivation realms—had nearly broken through.
"How did this kid cultivate his spiritual power to such a level?"
Gu Tong's heart was filled with disbelief.
Kevin, I'm a little annoyed.