The All-Continent Youth High-Level Soul Master Elite Tournament opened its curtains to the eager anticipation of countless spectators.
Inside the Star Luo Grand Stadium, voices clamored and every seat was filled.
Soul masters from all over the Star Luo Empire gathered together. On the spectator stands, banners waved and cheers rose and fell continuously.
The entire competition venue was enveloped in a fervent and tense atmosphere.
Tang Wulin looked toward Fang Yang beside him, his tone carrying concern: "Fang Yang, you're only participating in the individual competition?"
"Mm."
Fang Yang nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the center of the arena. "Individual competition—somewhat interesting."
His tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable confidence.
Seeing this, Tang Wulin said no more, only patting his shoulder lightly and revealing a faint smile.
Xie Xie, standing nearby, turned to Gu Yue and asked curiously: "Sister Gu Yue, you and Xiaoyan aren't participating in the competition?"
"Mm."
Gu Yue nodded lightly, her expression indifferent.
She stood at Fang Yang's side, her gaze sweeping thoughtfully across the entire arena, as if observing something.
Xu Xiaoyan took over the conversation, her tone relaxed: "Xie Xie, you all participate. We don't need the slots for the Shrek Seven Devils."
"So that's how it is..."
Xie Xie nodded, a flash of understanding passing through his eyes.
Zhang Yangzi walked over to stand between Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, placing one hand on each of their shoulders.
His tone was uncharacteristically serious: "Wulin, Xie Xie, you both have to work hard. Don't lose to Luo Guixing and the others."
"Good luck in the competition!" Wang Jinxi also walked over, speaking in a steady voice.
"Mm."
Tang Wulin and Xie Xie nodded simultaneously, flames of fighting spirit igniting in their eyes.
Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi exchanged glances, wanting to speak yet stopping themselves.
They belonged to the War God Temple. In fact, after this trip to the Star Luo Continent concluded, they would withdraw from Shrek Academy and go to study at the War God Temple.
However, the two of them still didn't know how to broach the subject with everyone...
Shrek Academy's participation was directly arranged by the Star Luo Empire official authorities.
Among the Class Zero team, besides Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, the others had not registered to participate.
Fang Yang and Gu Yue belonged to the Spirit Pagoda. Xu Xiaoyan had no interest in the title of Shrek Seven Devils. Zhang Yangzi and Wang Jinxi belonged to the War God Temple.
As for Na'er, as the direct disciple of Yun Ming, this kind of competition was unnecessary for her.
Thus, among the five, besides Fang Yang choosing to participate in the individual competition, the others decided to participate in this grand event as spectators.
Of course, the Genius Team led by Shen Yi was participating with full membership.
Wu Zhangkong watched all this. Although somewhat regretful in his heart, he respected each person's choice and couldn't say much more.
The Shrek Academy group's matches were not concentrated on a single day. Fang Yang looked at the number he had drawn: 000.
"Hahaha, Fang Yang, you've been set up by the powers that be!" Xie Xie burst into laughter, seemingly having seen through everything long ago.
"It doesn't matter. I will make my move." Fang Yang's voice was indifferent. Such petty tricks were meaningless to him.
Before absolute strength, any scheming was merely futile effort.
On the Star Luo Grand Stadium's presidential platform, Dai Tianling was draped in a bright yellow robe, attending the matches together with the Empress and civil and military officials.
His appearance triggered cheers from the entire audience.
"Have the arrangements been made?"
Dai Tianling spoke indifferently, his gaze sweeping over the bustling arena below.
A minister bowed in response: "Your Majesty, everything has been arranged according to your instructions."
"Mm."
Dai Tianling nodded in satisfaction.
Before long, the stadium's broadcast announced Fang Yang's number.
He simply waved to Gu Yue, Na'er, Xu Xiaoyan, and the others, then turned and slowly walked toward the competition platform.
Numerous competition platforms stood adjacent to one another. Each arena was isolated by dedicated soul guide protective shields, preventing mutual interference and energy leakage.
This design ensured multiple matches could proceed simultaneously and guaranteed the safety of the spectators.
Star Luo Grand Stadium, Arena 000.
"Oh? So they want to test my strength?" The corner of Fang Yang's mouth rose slightly as he slowly ascended the platform.
On the other side, his opponent, contestant 005, also walked onto the arena from the opposite side.
It was a tall and straight young man with eyes sharp as a wolf's, his entire body emanating a wild beast's aura.
"Hua Lantang, martial soul Dragon Wolf, one of the Eight Kings of Monster Academy." Hua Lantang announced himself in a resonant voice.
Fang Yang spoke indifferently: "Fang Yang, martial soul Flame, Shrek Academy."
The air above the competition platform suddenly solidified. All eyes on the spectator stands focused on this special Arena 000.
Anyone could see that this confrontation was by no means an ordinary first-round match.
Wolf King Hua Lantang, a member of the Eight Kings of Monster Academy.
His martial soul was the most powerful existence among wolf types—the Dragon Wolf, a powerful race possessing characteristics of both giant dragons and wolves.
Legend had it that when a giant dragon and the Howling Moon Wolf King united, they gave birth to the unique species of Dragon Wolf.
This martial soul was passed down through a single lineage, unique to the Star Luo Continent.
In those years, Hua Lantang's ancestors had been among the rulers of the Star Luo Continent's indigenous people.
After the referee signaled to both parties, the countdown began.
"Three, two, one! Begin!"
"Dragon Wolf Possession!"
Hua Lantang charged forward, his body also undergoing transformation. Four purple and one black—five soul rings rose from beneath his feet, demonstrating his powerful strength at the Soul King level.
His body rapidly changed during the forward charge. His originally ordinary physique instantly became muscular. His head became somewhat wolf-like in shape, his lips protruding with savage white fangs.
Yet on Hua Lantang's body, no fur grew. Instead, chunks of purple scales emerged.
These scales appeared in strange oval shapes, covering his entire body and filling his already expanded frame of over two meters with powerful strength.
A pair of sharp claws protruded, and his speed suddenly exploded.
He was not only a power attack system but also an agility attack system. The Dragon Wolf martial soul with fully unleashed speed could absolutely compare with any agility attack system martial soul of the present day.
"Oh? A mixed-blood little wolf." Fang Yang evaluated lightly, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
Suddenly, a terrifying pressure erupted from him as the center, spreading outward!
This pressure was almost tangible, making the surrounding air become viscous.
Hua Lantang sensed this terrifying pressure and forcibly halted his forward momentum, standing stunned in place.
His body trembled, filled with fear—an experience he had never had before.
"Bring out your full strength."
Fang Yang still stood in place, only looking at him calmly, "Let me... enjoy myself somewhat."
"You...!"
Hua Lantang was furious. His martial soul was the Dragon Wolf, one of the Star Luo Continent's most peak beast martial souls. When had he ever received such contempt?
In the next moment, chunks of armor flickering with black light emerged from the void, landing on Hua Lantang's body and rapidly assembling, completely protecting his body.
Dark luster flowed across the armor, and the wolf-head-shaped shoulder guards added several degrees of ferocity.
One-word Battle Armor: Wolf!
The instant the battle armor possessed him, Hua Lantang's aura surged again.
The black wolf-shaped battle armor fit his body perfectly. With the battle armor's enhancement, his soul power fluctuations instantly rose several levels.
Fierce light exploded in Hua Lantang's wolf eyes as he locked onto Fang Yang.
"This is more like it." Fang Yang nodded slightly, finally showing a few degrees of interest.
Hua Lantang held nothing back, three major soul skills erupting simultaneously.
Second Soul Skill: "Dragon Wolf Kill!"
Third Soul Skill: "Diamond Dragon Wolf!"
Fifth Soul Skill: "Dragon Wolf Annihilation Claw!"
The second, third, and fifth soul rings behind him flashed consecutively, their dazzling light blinding to the eyes.
Metal luster of a strange kind rose from the scales covering his entire body. Purple light flowed in his eyes, his arms expanded explosively, and cold light flickered on his sharp claws.
Hua Lantang's figure flashed seven times, transforming into seven purple lights. Each one was filled with an oppressive aura of death.
The seven purple lights released separately, and a pair of sharp claws rose with pitch-black blades, carrying a momentum that tore through everything, directly cutting toward Fang Yang's body.
This was his ultimate killing technique. With the battle armor's enhancement, its power reached unprecedented heights.
Exclamations rang out from the spectator stands. Everyone was shaken by this terrifying offensive.
Even Dai Tianling on the presidential platform involuntarily leaned forward, wanting to see clearly how Fang Yang would respond.
Fang Yang only spoke indifferently: "It's over."
A terrifying spiritual power emanated from him as the center, sweeping across the entire arena like an invisible tide.
The seven pitch-black blades, upon contact with this spiritual power, didn't even raise a single ripple.
"How is this possible..." Hua Lantang was dumbstruck, his face full of disbelief.
That terrifying spiritual power had already crashed into his body.
Hua Lantang only felt an irresistible force assaulting him head-on.
His entire person flew backward like a kite with its string cut, heavily crashing into the soul guide protective shield before sliding to the ground and spitting out a large mouthful of blood.
The entire arena fell into dead silence. Everyone was stunned by this shocking scene.
From Hua Lantang's eruption of three major soul skills to Fang Yang's effortless neutralization of the attack and sending him flying, the entire process lasted only an instant.
No one had expected that Hua Lantang, one of the Eight Kings of Monster Academy, would be defeated so thoroughly even while utilizing his battle armor.
Fang Yang didn't even glance at Hua Lantang, turning to walk off the arena.
He left behind one sentence: "The Eight Kings of Monster Academy—nothing special."
These words echoed like thunder through the silent arena above, deeply imprinting themselves in the heart of every spectator.
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