On the Soul Battle Stage, the phoenix cried, the tiger roared, the cat meowed, the lion bellowed, and the azure luan spread its colorful wings. The Golden Crocodile displayed the majesty of a top-tier beast martial soul.
Brilliant soul rings shimmered. With the referee's signal, two massive Nether White Tigers appeared and charged straight at each other.
However, the gap between Davis and Dai Mubai was enormous. The Nether White Tiger formed by him and Zhu Zhuyun was even smaller than the one formed by Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.
After the first clash, Davis was immediately knocked back several meters before being caught by the Flame Lion, who was burning all over, barely stabilizing him.
"I'll help you!" the Flame Lion roared, joining the Nether White Tiger in attacking Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.
Ma Hongjun took to the air and clashed with the Azure Luan. With its strong control over wind, the Azure Luan could temporarily restrain Ma Hongjun. Jin Chen and Zhang Liu, whose martial soul was the Ghost Vine, rushed toward Qin Qiong and Long Wu.
Qin Qiong and Long Wu fought against Jin Chen, while Li Sheng's Celestial Machine Chains shot out, both sides' control-type soul masters displaying their brilliance.
Zhang Liu's Ghost Vine was an area-control ability, but it feared Long Wu's flames and Qin Qiong's powerful attacks, so it could only serve as a limiting force.
Li Sheng's single-target control was strong, but against Jin Chen, who was at level sixty-five, or other Soul Emperors and the Nether White Tiger, its effect was limited.
Ruyi Disk Soul Masters Lin Yi and Zhao Lan, both support-types, simultaneously cast multiple buffs on their teammates, instantly boosting their combat power.
The battle erupted instantly, brilliant soul skills flashing across the arena.
The Ruyi Disk martial soul was special. Lin Yi's fifth soul skill, "Rage," could temporarily multiply his teammates' power severalfold, at the cost of being unable to use soul skills for the next three days.
For the sake of victory, everyone accepted Lin Yi's support without hesitation.
The Flame Lion and Nether White Tiger together could match the larger Nether White Tiger; with the Ruyi Disk's buffs, they even seemed to gain the upper hand.
When the Azure Luan was suppressed by the Fire Phoenix, the Flame Lion provided timely support from below.
Jin Chen, facing two opponents, still held the advantage. If not for the troublesome Celestial Machine Chains, under the Ruyi Disk's "Rage," he might have crushed Qin Qiong and Long Wu.
His soul bone was a torso bone of fifty thousand years. After activating it, Jin Chen transformed into a giant Golden Crocodile King, his power so terrifying that everyone was stunned.
Zhang Liu's Ghost Vine was somewhat restrained, but it was still invaluable for restricting the enemies' movements.
The battle descended into a fierce stalemate. Whoever fell first would doom their team to failure.
Everyone fought with all their might. This was Jin Chen's first major public appearance on such a grand stage, and he wanted to make it unforgettable.
However, Ma Hongjun's power exceeded everyone's expectations, and Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's Nether White Tiger was equally terrifying.
Although Qin Qiong and Long Wu were being suppressed, that was only because Jin Chen had the Ruyi Disk's support and was using his torso soul bone skill.
Otherwise, even as a level sixty-five Soul Emperor, he would have struggled to suppress them.
The War Dragon Spear and Lion King Armor martial souls were powerful, and the two had over ten years of flawless cooperation, able to understand each other with a glance. Their synergy made their combined strength greater than the sum of its parts.
Fortunately, Jin Chen's team also had excellent coordination, providing support as needed even against different opponents.
This was a truly even battle , a test of endurance. Whoever faltered first would lose.
After fifteen minutes of stalemate, both sides realized continuing like this was meaningless.
Ma Hongjun blasted the Azure Luan back, and his six soul rings began to glow brightly.
The Azure Luan cried out, "Be careful! He's going to use that move!"
In the next instant, the Azure Luan turned into a flash of blue light, flying toward Ma Hongjun.
"Apocalyptic Wind Orb!"
Ma Hongjun snorted coldly, and his Phoenix Seal from the Phoenix Nine Forms sent the Azure Luan flying once more.
The Nether White Tiger unleashed its full power, holding back its opponents' Nether White Tiger and the Flame Lion alone.
Ma Hongjun was the key to this battle.
At the same time, Long Wu's fourth purple soul ring lit up , a skill he had never used since the tournament began.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Heart of Beasts!"
With its activation, the Lion King Armor radiated a special aura. Everyone in the arena except the enemies felt a surge of morale and an inexplicable sense of connection.
This soul skill didn't grant defense but rather synergy.
On a battlefield, it could double an army's fighting strength.
Under its effect, everyone's momentum united. The Nether White Tiger turned, the Fire Phoenix circled, forming a special formation centered on Long Wu.
Without a word, except for Ma Hongjun, everyone transferred their power to Long Wu through the skill.
His Lion King Armor shone magnificently, then detached from him and merged with Ma Hongjun, who was fusing his rings.
Seeing this, Jin Chen and the others' expressions changed sharply , they hadn't expected such a hidden ability.
They launched their strongest attacks at once.
"Sixth Soul Skill: Rampaging Golden Crocodile!"
"Sixth Soul Skill: Divine Luan Soaring Strike!"
"Sixth Soul Skill: Molten Flame Spear!"
"Nether White Tiger Slash!"
"Fifth Soul Skill: Ghost King Crushing Kill!"
All the attacks converged instantly toward Ma Hongjun. At this moment, everyone except him had poured their power into Long Wu, who then transferred it all to Ma Hongjun.
Flames roared around Ma Hongjun as a fiery lion manifested as armor around him, shielding him from all harm.
The incoming attacks were blocked by the Lion King Armor. With all their combined power, its defense reached its peak.
Though the armor nearly shattered, Ma Hongjun remained unharmed.
His six soul rings merged into one crimson ten-thousand-year ring, blazing like ultimate fire. Accompanied by a phoenix's cry, he unleashed it.
"Body fused with flame, fire fused with ring, burning rebirth , Phoenix Nirvana. Phoenix Nine Forms , Phoenix Hellfire!"
The two referees at the edge of the arena nearly intervened, but since the Crown Prince hadn't admitted defeat, they could only hold back.
Jin Chen unleashed his torso soul bone to its fullest, pouring out all six of his soul skills.
The Azure Luan's left leg flared: "Gale Avian Left Leg Soul Bone Skill , Skyshatter Talon!"
The Flame Lion raised a fiery barrier: "Fifth Soul Skill , Flame Shield!"
And followed up with: "Flame Lion King Right Arm Soul Bone Skill , Wrath of the Lion King!"
The Nether White Tiger fired a powerful beam, and everyone launched their ultimate attacks. As long as they could withstand Ma Hongjun's strike, victory was theirs.
Unfortunately, Ma Hongjun's move was far too powerful. Though he was only level sixty-seven and couldn't fully unleash the might of a ten-thousand-year skill, no few Soul Emperors could withstand it.
The Phoenix Hellfire burned everything, instantly annihilating all opposing attacks. The raging flames surged forward, threatening to engulf everyone.
At that moment, two powerful ice and water soul skills were cast , the referees finally had to step in.
The infernal flames were contained. Davis and Zhu Zhuyun, their soul power exhausted, collapsed, glancing unwillingly at Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, who were also spent.
Jin Chen's face turned pale from immense soul power loss.
He had known Ma Hongjun was strong, but facing him directly made him realize how terrifyingly strong.
That attack was so powerful that no one at the same level could withstand it. Numbers meant nothing.
Davis glared coldly at Dai Mubai, then turned to leave.
He had lost again , but it wasn't over. The finals awaited.
The finals weren't an arena fight but a personal battleground. Ma Hongjun might be strong, but that only guaranteed him an early spot.
In the hunting grounds, Davis was confident he could defeat Dai Mubai and the others.
"The last match of the promotion tournament is over! The Third Prince's team wins! Let us congratulate them on becoming the champions of the promotion tournament!"
"And they have also achieved the first ever consecutive win record in the tournament's history! All their team members' points are doubled , congratulations once again to the entire Third Prince's team!"
As the referee's voice faded, Ma Hongjun slowly landed. Dai Mubai stepped forward to support him.
Ma Hongjun grinned. "Nothing special. Even with the Spirit Hall's help, they were still weak."
Dai Mubai smiled. "Thanks to you, otherwise this battle would've been much harder."
"One month from now is our true battlefield. The top ten finalists won't just earn the empire's highest rewards , only those who survive will be considered truly powerful soul masters."
Ma Hongjun's expression changed slightly at the thought of Dai Mubai's earlier explanation of the final rules.
He himself wasn't worried , few could match his individual power , but what about his teammates?
The finals would take place in a royal hunting ground surrounded by hundred-meter walls. The area was vast, with five double thrones. The match would last two days and one night, and those who remained on the thrones at the end would be the final victors.
It sounded simple , hundreds of soul masters fighting for ten seats. Since each throne seated two, at most pairs could cooperate.
Some thought to team up early, eliminate everyone else, and choose freely afterward.
But it wouldn't be that easy. The finals had no official teams, and each participant's individual performance would be scored.
Thus, the strongest members of different teams could even join forces.
Moreover, the hunting ground was filled not only with hundreds of contestants but also with soul beasts , some of them even ten-thousand-year level.
There were also traps, mechanisms, and mazes to test everyone.
In short, the finals would be a brutal battlefield. Only those who survived could claim the thrones.
The empire's investment in the finals was unprecedented: one Titled Douluo to preside, five Soul Douluos, ten Soul Saints, and over a hundred level-fifty-plus soul masters for supervision.
Ma Hongjun grinned. "Let's rest well for this month , and give them a surprise in the finals."
Zhu Zhuqing smiled. "I feel I'm close to breaking through to level fifty-seven. A month of closed cultivation should do it."
…
In the Extreme North.
Gai Yue and Xue Qingluan exchanged shocked glances. They had thought Xue Qingluan's gains were already incredible, but Oscar had brought them an even greater surprise.
Looking at the two beautiful sausages before them, Gai Yue could hardly resist trying one. If what Oscar said was true, these sausages could change the entire Soul Master world.
These two sausages were products of Oscar's eighth soul ring , one of the two soul skills granted by Tianmeng's million-year soul ring.
Because Oscar wasn't a spiritual-type soul master, the skills granted by Tianmeng's ring differed slightly from those in the original story.
Of the four skills, one enhanced spiritual power, but although powerful, it couldn't compare to the two sausages before them.
Their names were Overload Leap White Jade Sausage and Bloodline Awakening Amber Sausage.
The Overload Leap White Jade Sausage permanently increased the user's physical limit , its effect comparable to a hundred-thousand-year Whale Glue. After consumption, the soul master's physical attributes were permanently enhanced, and any remaining potential continued to develop until fully absorbed.
Even with the restriction of being consumable only once, its effect was enough to change the limits of the entire Soul Master world.
With one White Jade Sausage, surpassing one's level to absorb higher-ranked soul rings would no longer be a dream.
The Bloodline Awakening Amber Sausage allowed a secondary awakening, its extent depending on the user's potential and cultivation.
For cases like Yu Xiaogang, whose martial soul contained powerful dormant bloodlines, consuming the Amber Sausage would allow full awakening.
It could even let ordinary people evolve their martial souls, granting a chance to possess innate soul power.
Although it could only be used once per person, its value was immeasurable. Combined with Oscar's Clone Sausage, it could even be mass-produced in the future.
Once it spread through the Soul Master world, it would cause a massive upheaval.
For now, though, Oscar wouldn't release it publicly , not until after the continents unified.
Still, letting his close companions test it first was fine.
Oscar smiled and handed over two sausages. "Teacher, Mistress, would you like to try them?"
Gai Yue and Xue Qingluan looked at each other, then gladly took them. "Little Ao, we won't stand on ceremony. Let's see what your sausages can do."
With that, the two excitedly went to a secluded ice chamber. Bloodline awakening and physical enhancement , who wouldn't dream of that?
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