No one dared to guess what Li Chang'an had in mind — least of all Salas. Recalling Li Chang'an's antics even at age six, Salas resolved to keep the medicine on hand throughout the competition.
Salas was an old-school Platinum Bishop: traditional, rigid, respectful of power. He admired Li Chang'an's strength and cunning, yet the boy's unpredictable way of thinking made him uneasy.
Even Ning Fengzhi and the Bone Douluo found the sight odd. The Platinum Bishop, who should have appeared confident and composed, was now constantly clutching a bottle of pills.
---
Though the Crimson Rose team had steeled themselves, when they finally saw their opponents in person even Hu Liena and Mu Xi — aside from Li Chang'an — inhaled sharply. Were these really human?
When the seven members of Elephant-Armored Academy stepped onto the central stage, the platform trembled under their steps. It felt less like seven people entering and more like seven mountains approaching.
All dressed in black, the shortest among the Elephant-Armored contenders stood just over two meters tall; the tallest exceeded two and a half. They towered over the Crimson Rose team.
Even more intimidating than their height was their mass: the lightest weighed well over 300 Kg, and the largest probably surpassed 500 kg. Their hair was black, shaved on the sides with a strange topknot in the middle; their dark skin seemed almost the same tone as their clothing.
Standing in a row, they formed a solid wall that blocked the Crimson Rose team's view.
At the front stood the man whose defense Li Chang'an once cleaved with a single axe blow — Huyan Li — and beside him was Huyan Zhuo, the one who had lost his face to Li Chang'an's humiliating soul skill.
'Sigh — after seven or eight years, these two brothers were probably about to endure again what they once could not bear. Why put themselves through it?'
Although Li Chang'an recognized the brothers, the Huyan brothers did not recognize his disguised appearance — and so they were full of confidence.
Huyan Li stepped forward, planted his feet wide; the arena floor trembled twice with heavy thuds.
"Elephant-Armored Academy team, captain: Huyan Li. Rank 43 — defense-type Spirit Ancestor," Huyan Li announced in a muffled voice, his bulk even seeming to quiver with the sound as he glared at Li Chang'an.
Clearly, as a man he envied Li Chang'an's present situation — it was far too enviable.
Although Li Chang'an wasn't as tall as they were — at nearly fifteen he stood about 1.85 m — his frame still fell short of their massive bulk.
Yet he showed no fear. He answered calmly, "Crimson Rose Academy team captain, Li Changsheng. Strength: temporarily undisclosed."
At those words, not only did the Elephant-Armored team bristle, even the referee thought the boy was wildly arrogant — but duty being duty, the referee called:
"Both teams, salute! Release your martial souls and soul rings! The match is about to begin!"
At the referee's signal, Elephant-Armored moved first.
The seven Huyan disciples tore open their jackets at once, exposing thick rolls of flesh that made the Crimson Rose girls cringe — after all, they were more used to seeing Li Chang'an's chiseled abs.
But their transformation made the reason clear. Their already massive bodies swelled as their martial souls manifested: loose fat tightened into grotesque, exaggerated muscles; a dark, horn-like layer formed on their skin and shimmered with a metallic gloss; their noses lengthened, upper lips curled, and two tusks more than a foot long protruded.
Even though Li Chang'an had seen this transformation eight years earlier, he couldn't help grimacing inwardly.
'damn, they were ugly.'
Then all seven slammed their right feet down in unison. The thunderous impact drew every eye and made the crowd wonder whether the stage could withstand such ferocity.
Among the seven, Huyan Li, Huyan Zhuo and another very tall member each bore four soul rings (two yellow, two purple); the other four carried three rings (two yellow, one purple).
From their appearance it was easy to see the Elephant-Armored sect's rule: the larger the body, the greater the strength — you could judge each man's power at a glance.
On Li Chang'an's side, at his command Meng Yiran, Zhu Zhuqing, Mu Xi, Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu released their soul rings — Crimson Rose's first public display of strength.
All five were four-ring Spirit Ancestors. Their auras were steady and long-lasting, showing they'd stood at the Spirit Ancestor level for some time. Most striking were Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.
The symbol of the Seven-Treasure Glazed Pagoda was impossible to miss; Zhu Zhuqing's fourth ring was black, evidence of her remarkable power.
Even more surprising was that the mysterious Li Changsheng also released his martial soul and soul rings.
A pale-cyan longsword silently appeared in his hand, and two jet-black soul rings manifested behind him — a two-ring Spirit Grand Master with a simulated martial soul: the Taibai Sword.
This was the same soul weapon Li Chang'an had often used in the arena before; he had no fear of anyone investigating it. Revealing the Pangu Axe now — even without releasing rings — would expose his identity, which ran counter to his aims.
"Huyan Li and Huyan Zhuo are mine. The rest are yours. Nana, do not release your soul rings or martial soul; act only as external support," Li Chang'an transmitted, twirling the Taibai Sword into a neat flourish.
Hu Liena, already a rank-58 Spirit King, would blow their cover if she released her rings. With Mu Xi and Ning Rongrong supporting Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, their combined power would handle the other five with ease.
Though Hu Liena resented being sidelined, she obediently complied. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were already in motion; as they moved, light streamed down over them and their auras surged again.
Xiao Wu's tactics were simple: teleport, charm, waist-bow, throw.
At her current level, Xiao Wu's charm could immobilize a three-ring Spirit Master for three seconds or longer. With teleportation plus her fourth-ring skill, she could fling a hulking opponent skyward. She did not rely on brute force; when the enemy didn't resist, a small redirection was enough to send them flying.
Zhu Zhuqing's assault was even more terrifying. Backed by Ning Rongrong's support and wielding the top-tier Martial Soul, even a regular Spirit King would struggle against her.
She vanished and reappeared silently above an enemy, unleashing a hundred spectral claws laced with dark-element corrosion.
Li Chang'an, for his part, kept things straightforward. Whether others believed it or not, he presented himself as only a two-ring master, and calmly advanced toward Huyan Li.
Yes — back then Huyan Li's defense had been broken, and Huyan Zhuo had been humiliated. Li Chang'an remembered the order and planned to repeat it.
Seeing Li Chang'an walk forward alone, the Huyan brothers laughed. Huyan Li, without using any soul skill, swung a massive palm toward Li Chang'an's head.
But Li Chang'an, as serene as a monk, raised a hand, caught the giant's palm with a casual grip, and with a little extra force hoisted the nearly-five-hundred-kg behemoth aloft with one hand.
With casual ease he hurled Huyan Li into the air. The Taibai Sword flew from his hand, easily piercing the opponent's martial soul.
As Huyan Zhuo charged forward, Li Chang'an's eyes flashed with cold amusement: Whoever You Stare at Will Shit Themselves!
Huyan Zhuo staggered, the sensation hitting him like a flash of déjà vu: "Th-this feeling… it's…"
_____
T/N:
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