Chapter 23: The Challenge Begins, A Blind Flaw?
Seeing Lin Fan arrive, Liu Erlong said happily, "Xiao Fan, Teacher Yiran has already told us about your participation in the Elite Soul Master Competition. You're amazing! I've always wanted to participate, but my strength, whether in my family or the Haotian Sect, isn't enough to rank in the top seven. Thank you so much, Xiao Fan! Of course, I'm willing to fight alongside you for a spot."
"Okay, thank you, Erlong." Lin Fan nodded, then looked at the other two girls.
Ye Keke quickly said, "Xiao Fan, I'm willing too. I don't have much fighting power, but I'll do my best to heal you."
Lin Fan smiled and said, "Okay, don't worry, Keke, I'll definitely protect you."
Shui Yue'er also said aloofly, "I also want to try to get a spot in the competition. I've represented my family in the Elite Soul Master Competition before, and this time I want to challenge myself again and achieve a higher ranking."
"Okay, Yue'er, we're partners now, let's cheer each other on."
Seeing Shui Yue'er's serious expression, Lin Fan smiled at her. Shui Yue'er glanced at Lin Fan but didn't respond.
The reason Lin Fan wanted these three girls to fight alongside him was because through their trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, he felt that he and these three girls had become true partners, trusting each other. So, in the competition, he wanted to fight side by side with these three girls. After all, in the entire Haotian Sect, besides these three girls and Tang Yiran, Lin Fan didn't have any other friends.
Liu Erlong, Ye Keke, and Shui Yue'er are all quite strong, and since returning from the Star Dou Great Forest, their soul power levels have all increased by one level.
Liu Erlong is now level 42, Ye Keke is level 41, and Shui Yue'er is level 47. While this lineup cannot compare to the Soul King seed teams of the Clear Sky Sect and the Spirit Hall, it has already surpassed the level of most sect teams in the competition.
Tang Yiran said helplessly, "I didn't expect that the three of you would all be willing to accompany Xiaofan to the Elite Soul Master Tournament. Do you know how many Soul Masters are seriously injured and die in the Elite Tournament every year? Although the rules of the tournament prohibit injuring an opponent after they have already surrendered, in many cases, some Soul Masters don't even have time to surrender before being completely restrained and killed by their opponent's Soul Skills. And in such cases, the person who intervenes will not be punished."
"Don't worry, Sister Yiran, I will protect them." Lin Fan said seriously, "Although I know there will indeed be some dangerous opponents, we are not to be trifled with. Besides, it's impossible for anyone to make us not even have time to surrender." Shui Yue'er glanced at Lin Fan but didn't say anything. If it were before the Star Dou Great Forest, she would definitely have been dismissive. But now, she knew that Lin Fan's true combat strength had surpassed hers, so Lin Fan did have the right to say such things.
Tang Yiran looked at Lin Fan, remained silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, Xiao Fan, your performance in the Star Dou Great Forest truly shocked me. The destructive power of your second spirit's ten-thousand-year spirit skill is something even ordinary spirit kings would find difficult to withstand. Alright, since that's the case, I'll take you to the Elder Hall to participate in the competition..."
The four looked at each other, their eyes filled with determination. Facing the original seeded team of the Clear Sky Sect, with two battle spirit masters, one support and one controller, would be a huge challenge for Lin Fan, Liu Erlong, Ye Keke, and Shui Yue'er, and also a test of their trust and cooperation.
Following Tang Yiran, they walked for about twenty minutes before arriving at the Elder Hall. The Clear Sky Sect was truly astonishingly large, and the Elder Hall was even more majestic and magnificent, resplendent in gold and jade, with various metals and luxurious decorations. It looked no less impressive than the Pope's Hall of the Spirit Hall. There were two huge iron stone statues at the entrance, but in the square outside the Elder Hall, there was a huge Clear Sky Hammer, nearly a hundred meters tall, cast from iron stone.
At this moment, five or six hundred people were seated on the stands in the square in front of the Elder Hall. They were mostly high-ranking members of the Haotian Sect and some direct disciples, with only a few inner court disciples. The total number of direct and inner court disciples at the Haotian Sect headquarters was no more than eight hundred, with direct disciples making up more than five hundred. This was enough to demonstrate how difficult it was for outsiders to become inner court disciples of the Haotian Sect.
Even if some Soul Masters did become Inner Court disciples, these direct disciples still looked down on them. They believed the direct disciples had an advantage in their Martial Souls and could easily defeat any outsider disciples.
At this moment, most of the people sitting in the front row were direct disciples, discussing amongst themselves.
"Four outsiders actually dare to challenge our original Clear Sky Sect's seeded players? They're courting death!"
"Isn't that obvious? Our Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul, even at level 40, is comparable in strength to a level 50 Soul King. These four outsiders aren't even as high-level as our seeded players, yet they dare to challenge us!"
"Haha, it's nothing, just watching the show. Our Clear Sky Sect's seeded team has never been afraid of anyone except the Spirit Hall."
"How could they possibly win? If they won, and went to the Elite Tournament, getting a hundredth place would be a disgrace to our Clear Sky Sect!"
...
These voices also reached the ears of the outsiders who had joined the Clear Sky Sect's Inner Court through their own strength, but none of the outsiders present dared to speak. They also didn't have high hopes for these four inner court new disciples who dared to challenge the direct seed team of the Clear Sky Sect.
There was a clear gap in both level and martial soul; it was practically throwing eggs against rocks.
Sitting at the very front were the most important figures of the Clear Sky Sect, including several elders, the current acting sect master Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, and his sister Tang Yuehua.
This challenge determined the spots for the Elite Tournament, the most important competition in the soul master world, and its influence on the sect was immense. Therefore, the Clear Sky Sect's higher-ups attached great importance to this competition. If Tang Yiran hadn't pleaded and begged Tang Xiao, he would never have given them the chance to challenge.
Soon, Lin Fan and his group of four, led by Tang Yiran, arrived at the plaza in front of the Elder Hall.
"Haha, this brat, as expected of the one I brought back, he really can do some amazing things," Tang Hao said, looking at Lin Fan in the plaza with a smile.
An inner court elder standing next to Tang Xiao said in surprise, "Is he the lowest-ranking outsider who joined the inner court? Only level 30. How could he possibly defeat our two Soul King Battle Soul Masters? Isn't that wishful thinking? If it weren't for that girl Tang Yiran, I wouldn't have let him become an inner court disciple. Tang Xiao, you shouldn't have agreed to this challenge."
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(End of Chapter)