The next day, as the rising sun bathed Star Lou City in golden light, the entire city had already awakened. Or perhaps, it had never slept. The air was charged with a feverish calm and anticipation, as countless people flocked from all directions toward the same destination—the Star Lou Soul Arena.
Today was the final day of the continent-wide Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, the day when the battle for the true king of the younger generation would be decided!
The vast, circular stands of the Grand Soul Arena were already packed with spectators, with even the corridors and stairs filled to the brim. The noise, debates, and shouts mingled into a massive wave that seemed to pierce the sky. Faces everywhere showed excitement, curiosity, and barely contained anticipation.
When the VIP seats filled with the likes of Star Lou Emperor Dai Liang, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Master Ning Fengzhi, Bone Douluo Gu Rong, and Spirit Hall's Azure Luan Douluo and Dawn Douluo, along with top leaders like Wisdom Brain Douluo and Nine Heart Douluo, the atmosphere reached a climax.
All eyes were fixed on the wide, solid central platform of the main soul battle ring.
The referee took a deep breath, suppressing his own excitement and nerves, and strode to the center of the ring, using his soul power to project his voice across the stands.
"The finals begin—officially!"
"Teams from Grand Martial Academy and Spirit Hall Academy, please take the field!"
Instantly, the audience fell silent—you could hear a pin drop. Countless eyes turned toward the entrance tunnels on both sides.
But the next scene stunned everyone: only one person emerged from the Grand Martial Academy entrance. Likewise, only one person came out from Spirit Hall Academy's entrance.
Chen Yi wore the simple black uniform of Grand Martial Academy. He was tall, walked calmly, his face serene, his eyes deep as an ancient well and cold as a still pool.
Qian Renxue wore her beautiful golden court attire, moving with elegant posture, calm steps, and a natural air of nobility and indifference on her beautiful face.
The two slowly entered the ring under the gaze of millions and faced each other from a distance. After a brief silence, an unprecedented, volcano-like eruption of cheers and screams swept the arena!
"Chen Yi! Chen Yi! Chen Yi!"
"Qian Renxue! Qian Renxue! Qian Renxue!"
The sound waves soared higher than the waves themselves. Everyone understood—the team match was canceled! What remained was a pure duel, a direct clash between the two brightest geniuses of the younger generation, with no fanfare or distractions.
One was only thirteen, had reached level 58, possessed an unprecedented soul ring configuration, and was the future hope of the Body Sect—a record-breaking young tyrant!
The other, at eighteen, was already a level 62 Soul Emperor, possessed the god-tier Seraphim martial soul, the supreme young miss of Spirit Hall, the embodiment of divinity and power!
These two would be forever recorded in the history of soul masters on the Douluo Continent, their clash destined to become legend!
In the VIP seats, Dai Liang's and Ning Fengzhi's gazes froze at the same time, quickly realizing this was a private agreement between Spirit Hall and the Body Sect. Dai Liang's face darkened slightly; he had hoped to sit back and watch the two tigers fight, benefiting either way, expecting Chen Yi to inflict further losses on Spirit Hall. But this sudden one-on-one showdown disrupted his calculations.
Ning Fengzhi's eyes, too, showed a hint of gloom. Whether it was Spirit Hall or the Body Sect, such a dazzling victory for either of their young representatives was not good news for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
They glanced at the Spirit Hall and Body Sect elders. Azure Luan Douluo, Dawn Douluo, and the Grand Elder all looked calm, clearly tacitly agreeing to this arrangement.
Sensing the explosive atmosphere, the referee took another deep breath and addressed the two youths, who stood on the ring radiating a heartbeat-like aura.
"Both sides, salute!"
Qian Renxue's clear, sharp blue eyes first met Chen Yi's. Her red lips parted, her voice clear, carrying a natural sense of superiority.
"Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue. Martial Soul: Seraphim. Level 62 Power Attack Soul Emperor."
Chen Yi looked back calmly, his tone indifferent but firm.
"Body Sect, Chen Yi. Martial Soul: Thunder God. Level 58 Power Attack Soul King."
"Match—begin!"
Almost simultaneously with the referee's shout, he dashed off the ring, leaving the stage entirely to the two protagonists.
However, the expected explosive clash didn't happen immediately. The two simply stood there, locking eyes in silent confrontation.
Qian Renxue stared at Chen Yi's youthful, resolute, and beautiful face, his deep, calm eyes seeming to see through everything. For the first time, a nameless emotion rose in her heart.
She spoke slowly, her voice unconsciously tinged with complex emotions.
"Chen Yi, until I met you, I never thought there was anyone in this world who could stand on the same stage as me, someone truly worthy of being my opponent."
"You're good. Really good."
In Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes, there was an unmistakable respect for a peerless talent. Yet beneath that, there was almost a pathological desire to conquer and dominate.
In her view, Chen Yi was the only one in the world who could understand her loneliness and brilliance. If she could subdue and command him, not only would Spirit Hall become as fierce as a tiger, but her own future would reach new heights!
She yearned to dominate him, just as she wished to rule the world.
Sensing Qian Renxue's admiration and hidden desire to dominate, Chen Yi raised an indifferent eyebrow. He met her oppressive gaze, his tone flat but sharp.
"You are born gifted. But just a little... a little too strong."
"Are you dissatisfied?"
The indifference on Qian Renxue's beautiful face froze instantly, replaced by a flash of shock and a blaze of anger. How dare he... evaluate her like that? Was he looking down on her?
Chen Yi seemed oblivious to the fire in her eyes and muttered to himself, his voice clear to all present.
"You're nearly six years older than me, you've had talent and Spirit Hall's resources for cultivation, and all you've managed is a level 62 Soul Emperor? Honestly, I don't quite understand you these years... Where did all your time go to waste?"
With a slight hint of sarcasm, he added, "Maybe you're too busy in Spirit Hall... or do you think you are still young?"
"Young?!"
These words exploded like thunder in countless hearts! Everyone was dumbfounded, disbelief on their faces. According to Chen Yi's merciless words, Qian Renxue's level was nothing to be proud of, but rather the result of wasting her youth.
In the VIP seats, Azure Luan Douluo and Dawn Douluo's faces darkened instantly, cold light flashing in their eyes. Yet the Grand Elder and Ye Cien's lips curled into barely perceptible smiles.
Qian Renxue's delicate body trembled inexplicably. Chen Yi's words pierced her heart like the sharpest dagger, striking her most painful and unmentionable secret. For years, most of her energy had been spent undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire, hiding as Prince Xue Qinghe, managing power and plotting to seize the throne. If not for Chen Yi's sudden rise, which put huge pressure and stimulation on her, she might still be no more than a high-level Soul King today.
But that secret reason couldn't be spoken aloud.
Shame and anger surged like magma in her chest, her beautiful face frosted over, and her golden eyes burned with fury.
"Chen Yi, whatever I am, it's not your place to point fingers at me!"
Her body radiated a divine aura sharpened by anger, her voice icy.
"Hmph, even if I, Qian Renxue, have wasted my time, I am now a level 62 Soul Emperor! And you, Chen Yi, are still not my match! This difference in rank is not something your freakish soul ring configuration can bridge!"
"Is that so?"
Chen Yi smiled at her anger, his expression full of confidence and fighting spirit.
"Then let's see where your blind confidence comes from!"
"Buzz—!"
"Boom—!"
Almost simultaneously, two completely different yet equally vast and terrifying auras erupted from their bodies, like ancient sleeping beasts awakening!
Behind Qian Renxue, dazzling golden divine light rose into the sky, turning half the ring into a pure golden domain—the Angel Domain. The phantom of the six-winged Seraphim appeared behind her, holding a divine sword, eyes lowered, radiating supreme holy power to purify the world and judge all evil! Her domain was sacred, noble, and awe-inspiring, wrapping the field in divine oppression that made countless spectators almost bow in worship.
On Chen Yi's side, a completely different scene unfolded. Fierce purple-gold lightning poured from his body like a breached dam, turning the other half of the ring into a field of tyrannical thunder and lightning. Ancient, mysterious purple-gold thunder patterns appeared on his skin, his eyes swirling with endless lightning! His aura was dominant, wild, and full of an indomitable will to break rules and command the world.
The divine radiance and destructive thunder each claimed half the sky, fiercely contending with each other.
…
Next bonus chapter at 300 PS