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At this moment, Qin Ming spoke again:
"Two Soul Kings, six Soul Masters—our Heaven Dou Royal Academy team now has a legitimate shot at competing for the championship. Our only real opponent is the Spirit Hall team."
"Wang Li, Du Gu Yan, both of you are Soul Kings, but you've been away for quite some time. Let's start with a simple training match so that everyone can familiarize themselves with each other's abilities once more."
After a brief pause to consider, Qin Ming continued:
"Wang Li, Du Gu Yan, you two will face off against Yu Tianheng, Ao Si Luo, Yu Feng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Ye Lingling."
"This will give everyone a chance to understand your strengths, allowing for better coordination during future matches."
"I do have one request—please refrain from using your fifth soul abilities. After the match, you can each demonstrate them individually."
The purpose behind Qin Ming's request was to ensure the fight wasn't ended too abruptly due to the overwhelming power of their fifth soul abilities. The point was to let everyone get a feel for their strength and work on coordination.
However, Yu Tianheng had a different opinion. He spoke loudly:
"Teacher Qin, I know they're Soul Kings, but we also have six Soul Masters. Limiting their fifth soul abilities doesn't seem fair."
"Besides, I'd like to witness the power of a Soul King's fifth soul ability. Let them fight without restrictions!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ao Si Luo, Yu Feng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Ye Lingling exchanged urgent glances. Even Ye Lingling, whose face was hidden behind a veil, showed a hint of anxiety.
In the past, they had fought against Wang Li for three months, suffering relentlessly. Now that Wang Li had reached Soul King rank, if he was allowed to use his fifth soul ability, it might be better for them to just surrender rather than fight.
Even Qin Ming's expression became somewhat strange. But after thinking it over, he ultimately agreed with Yu Tianheng's proposal:
"Alright then, if that's what you want, go ahead and fight with full force. But Wang Li, Du Gu Yan, don't use your fifth soul abilities right from the start."
Both Wang Li and Du Gu Yan nodded. In reality, just the two of them could probably win the entire advanced soul master tournament by themselves.
However, since this was a team event, they needed to understand each other's abilities better, and so this match became essential.
Qin Ming gave the command:
"Everyone, spread out and prepare."
Yu Tianheng cracked his knuckles. Even though he knew he was likely to lose, he was eager to fight with all his might, determined to prove himself.
His two years of hard work had definitely not been in vain!
On the other hand, Ao Si Luo, Yu Feng, and the others exchanged reluctant glances before sighing. If Wang Li and Du Gu Yan refrained from using their fifth soul abilities, they still had some confidence in the match. But if those abilities were allowed, they had no confidence at all.
Still, they took their positions. On one side stood Wang Li and Du Gu Yan, and on the other stood Yu Tianheng, Ao Si Luo, Yu Feng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Ye Lingling.
Once everyone was in position, Qin Ming shouted:
"Summon your spirits! The battle begins!"
Yu Tianheng's team summoned their spirits one by one. Their respective soul rings appeared, all of them displaying two yellow rings and two purple rings, indicating that all of them were Soul Masters.
On Wang Li's side, Blue Silver Grass sprouted around him. Of course, this was a disguise; otherwise, the powerful Blue Silver King, with its thick, towering form, translucent appearance, and the red and blue patterns along with a golden halo, would have appeared.
Five soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and one black—appeared in succession. The final black soul ring came from the 28,000-year-old Dream Flower Demon, creating a palpable sense of pressure.
Du Gu Yan's spirit manifested as a humanoid form with a serpent's tail. Her greenish scales interlaced across her body, giving the appearance of wearing armor, and crystalline dragon-like horns emerged from her forehead.
She also had five soul rings: two yellow, two purple, and one black, with the final black soul ring coming from an 18,000-year-old Immortal Heart Red and Crystalline Blood Dragon Ginseng.
The visual impact of their two black soul rings was undeniable. However, Yu Tianheng, undeterred, shouted:
"Attack!"
With himself at the forefront, Ao Si Luo stood on his left and Yu Feng on his right. The three of them immediately launched their attack.
Wang Li waved his hand, activating his first soul skill. The Blue Silver Vines spread out like a vast net, sweeping toward the three attackers.
In an instant, the three were trapped by Wang Li's Blue Silver Vines—unable to advance, unable to retreat. With the immense resilience of his Blue Silver King spirit, the three couldn't break free in such a short time.
At this moment, Du Gu Yan stepped forward and activated her fourth soul skill, Phosphorite Bewilderment Formation. Purple poison smoke filled the air, forming a toxic formation.
Yu Tianheng, Ao Si Luo, Yu Feng, and even Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Ye Lingling—who had not participated in the attack but were still caught—were enveloped by the poisonous fog.
In an instant, it felt as though they were disconnected from the entire world. Their vision and hearing were gone, and they had lost all sensory perception. They were thrown into a state of panic.
Wang Li didn't use his high-damage third soul skill. Instead, he used his fourth soul skill, Soul Power Drain. The Blue Silver Vines wrapped around everyone, and within moments, it felt as though their soul power had been completely drained.
The battle ended just like that!
Wang Li called out:
"Teacher Qin, my fifth soul skill is a control-type hypnosis illusion, and Du Gu Yan's fifth soul skill is a defense-type energy absorption. There's no need to demonstrate them."
Qin Ming stood stunned, completely speechless. Yu Tianheng and the other six were by no means weak, so the only explanation was that Wang Li and Du Gu Yan were simply too strong.
Especially Du Gu Yan—her fourth soul skill was the source of their defeat. The instant loss of the five senses was devastating for anyone.
Qin Ming was about to speak when another voice came from a distance:
"Impressive, impressive, impressive! In just a few minutes, you defeated Yu Tianheng, Ao Si Luo, Yu Feng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Ye Lingling. Your mastery is truly formidable. Not only have you trained two young Soul Kings, but your strength is terrifying."
Dream God Machine, Bai Baoshan, and Zhilin approached, their expressions filled with awe as they looked at the power Wang Li and Du Gu Yan had demonstrated.
Qin Ming saw them and respectfully greeted them:
"Teacher Dream God Machine, Teacher Bai Baoshan, Teacher Zhilin."
Wang Li and Du Gu Yan also responded:
"Teacher Dream God Machine, Teacher Bai Baoshan, Teacher Zhilin."
Afterward, Wang Li spoke again:
"Teachers, I have something to discuss. Du Gu Yan and I are just here to report today."
"From now until the Soul Master Competition, we won't be returning for regular training. Since Grandpa isn't in seclusion, Du Gu Yan and I will be staying at home to accompany him. I hope you'll understand."
Given their level of strength, Wang Li and Du Gu Yan saw little need for further training. It was better to spend time with Du Gu Yan's grandfather, Du Gu Bo.
Dream God Machine, Bai Baoshan, and Zhilin exchanged glances before looking at Qin Ming.
Qin Ming's expression was complex. As the team leader, he felt increasingly irrelevant. After some thought, he finally nodded in agreement:
"Alright. With your strength, Yu Tianheng, Ao Si Luo, Yu Feng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Ye Lingling can't even properly coordinate with you. I will focus on soul power training for them. Before the competition, they should hopefully increase their soul power by another level or two."
Wang Li and Du Gu Yan smiled. Their goal had been achieved.
(End of Chapter)