"In the Soul Arena, the ownership of a soul stage isn't entirely based on the principle of first come, first served. Instead, it primarily depends on strength."
"If two people simultaneously want the same stage and their strength levels are different, then the stage goes to the one who arrived first."
"However, if their strength levels are the same, they need to fight to determine the ownership of the stage. Only the winner has the right to occupy it."
"But if one's strength is lower, and they occupy the stage first, they can refuse challenges from stronger opponents but must accept challenges from those of equal or lesser strength."
Zhu Zhuqing explained coldly to Lin Yu, who looked on with a composed expression.
"Kid, you look to be about ten years old, so you're probably just a Soul Master. How dare you take a soul stage? I'll fight you. If you can't win, this stage will belong to us!"
A skinny youth stepped forward behind the arrogant young man, sneering at Lin Yu.
"You're not qualified to challenge me!" Lin Yu retorted disdainfully. Despite his youthful appearance, his demeanor was calm. He summoned his Dual Pupils martial soul, and instantly, his eyes turned silver. Two yellow soul rings appeared beneath him, circling his body.
"What! You're a Great Soul Master?!" The skinny youth was shocked, his face changing drastically. A child who seemed no older than ten was already a Great Soul Master?
The other people behind the arrogant young man also looked on in disbelief, feeling that their achievements were insignificant in comparison.
"Impossible! At ten years old, he's already a Great Soul Master?" They couldn't believe it. At that age, they had just become Soul Masters!
However, the arrogant young man's expression remained unchanged. He had prior knowledge of Lin Yu's abilities.
Indeed, he was sent by Zhu Zhuyun to exact revenge on Lin Yu, to prevent him and Zhu Zhuqing from practicing in peace.
"Lu Qi, even if he's a Great Soul Master, he's just a kid. He's probably only at level twenty-one or twenty-two. You're a level nineteen Soul Master. Are you afraid of such a kid?"
Seeing that Lu Qi seemed apprehensive, the arrogant young man sneered, deliberately provoking him.
Lu Qi, unable to tolerate the provocation in front of so many people, couldn't back down.
"I'm not afraid of him!" Lu Qi said, trying to muster his courage.
"Then go for it!" someone urged from behind the arrogant young man.
"Fine, I'll go!" Lu Qi, fueled by the taunts, strode onto the soul stage and jumped up.
"Kid, so you're a Great Soul Master. Let's see if I don't make you regret it!" Lu Qi said, rolling up his sleeves and glaring at Lin Yu.
The arrogant young man smirked, pleased with how things were going. He had brought people to test Lin Yu's soul skills, and everything was going according to plan.
"Zhuqing, get down," Lin Yu said with a cold smile, not concerned about Lu Qi. He knew this was a setup by Zhu Zhuyun, likely orchestrated by the arrogant young man himself.
"Kid, take this!" Lu Qi shouted, activating his martial soul, the Ghost Leopard, and entering martial soul possession mode.
A black Ghost Leopard appeared behind him and merged into Lu Qi, causing his physique to bulk up, his arms covered in dark fur, and ten sharp claws to extend from his fingers. A yellow soul ring surrounded him.
"First Soul Skill: Phantom Blade!" Lu Qi roared, using his first soul skill to transform into a blur and attack Lin Yu, his speed greatly enhanced.
Lin Yu, however, merely smirked.
"First Soul Skill: Purple Spirit Weakness Aura!"
"Second Soul Skill: Mental Reproduction Eye!"
Lin Yu applied the Purple Spirit Weakness Aura to Lu Qi, drastically reducing his abilities by over ninety percent due to Lin Yu's level seventy and the ten thousand-year soul ring's advantage.
Lu Qi, suddenly feeling extremely weak and struggling to move, stumbled and fell hard onto the stage, sliding a considerable distance.
Lin Yu then kicked him off the stage, sending him crashing into the crowd gathered below.
"Lu Qi!" The crowd panicked, rushing to help Lu Qi, who lay weakened and unable to move.
Lin Yu, looking down at the chaotic scene, folded his arms and said, "Whoever is in charge if you want to challenge me, come up now. Or better yet, if you all want to come at me together, that's fine too!"
The crowd erupted into an uproar, glaring at Lin Yu with anger. The arrogant young man then stepped forward.