Douluo: In an extraordinary world, with unparallel understanding!

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Zhang Peng's matter was just a minor issue and didn't cause much trouble for Su Yu. 

Now that the Great Soul Arena had essentially been brought under Sun-Moon's jurisdiction, and with Kong Deming ready to take action at any time, Su Yu wasn't worried about what the Evil Soul Masters could do to him. 

After all, besides Kong Deming and Sun-Moon's defensive system, Su Yu himself was incredibly powerful. 

As a Rank 79 Soul Sage with an Ultimate Attribute, he was already capable of battling a Titled Douluo. 

And that was just considering the abilities of a typical Ultimate Attribute Soul Master. 

What made Su Yu even stronger was that he had condensed his Soul Core upon breaking through to Soul Sage. In terms of soul power quality and recovery speed, he was on par with Titled Douluos. 

Because of this, his strength placed him among the strongest even within the ranks of ordinary Titled Douluos. 

And this was without factoring in his Battle Armor. 

With the amplification from his Battle Armor, he might not be able to defeat a Rank 97 Super Douluo, but at the very least, he had the power of a Rank 95 Super Douluo. 

If his spiritual power was also taken into account, he might not be able to defeat a Rank 96 opponent, but he could certainly hold his own against one. 

The battle between the Sun-Moon Royal Team and the Dou Ling Team began with individual matches. 

Xiao Ping's opportunity was right in front of him. 

Unfortunately, after witnessing the Flying Swallow Sect's previous failure, the Dou Ling Team—lacking even a single Soul Emperor—had no confidence in defeating Xiao Ping. 

Thus, after two tentative battles at the start of the individual matches, the Dou Ling Team chose to forfeit. 

Xiao Ping's second attempt ended in failure once again. 

Su Yu couldn't blame him for it. 

After all, this wasn't an issue of lacking strength—it was an issue of being too strong. 

"You two better hope you can complete your tasks soon. Otherwise, your only option will be to repeatedly break through your limits while facing stronger teams." 

In truth, Shi Xing had already pushed his limits multiple times during his match. Of course, since he had his Battle Armor as a safety net, the true moment he challenged his limits was in his sixth match. In that fight, he had to conceal the fact that he wasn't using any soul skills, forcing himself to push his limits entirely. 

That battle was the true turning point—his transformation from a Soul Engineer to a Battle Armor Master. 

Xiao Ping took a deep breath, steadying his mindset. "I understand. There are still four more matches ahead. I should have at least two more chances. I'll do my best to complete the mission." 

Beside him, Zhou Xinghao's expression was also grim. 

He had also failed to complete his mission that morning. 

That meant that, in the next four matches, the two of them had to each accomplish the feat of defeating seven opponents in a row. 

Before the match, this task hadn't seemed too difficult. Experiencing the power of Battle Armor firsthand, they had believed they could absolutely crush their opponents and achieve an easy seven-win streak. 

But now, they realized it wasn't that simple. 

Even with Battle Armor, Jing Hongchen's mission was still to push them to the limits of their abilities during these fights. 

That was the true transition from a Soul Engineer to a Battle Armor Master.

As the first group to experience Battle Armor, the three of them would be able to pass on their knowledge more accurately when teaching future generations. 

Jing Hongchen's goal wasn't for them to achieve a seven-win streak through brute force, recklessly blasting away opponents with soul tools as they had in the past. Instead, he demanded that they accomplish it by pushing themselves to their absolute limits. 

Su Yu had already begun to sense Jing Hongchen's true intentions. 

However, this wasn't something he could openly discuss with Xiao Ping and Zhou Xinghao. 

The pressure from repeated failures would force them to unleash their full potential and redirect their focus toward combat. 

After all, Battle Armor Masters were, at their core, fighters. 

In the past, Soul Engineers had fallen far behind in terms of actual combat ability. Jing Hongchen wasn't just trying to promote the Battle Armor system—he was using this opportunity to reshape the entire cultivation culture of the Sun-Moon Empire. 

No longer could they focus solely on the pursuit of soul tools. Strength itself had to become a priority. 

The proportion of purely academic researchers needed to be adjusted. 

Yes, the foundation of the Sun-Moon Empire was its soul tool technology. But that technology had only become the empire's cornerstone because it provided a significant advantage in terms of strength. 

Strength was the true essence of power. 

Soul tool advancements had fueled the empire's rise, making it a dominant force. However, that foundation had now reached a bottleneck. In terms of increasing overall power, the current path was no longer as effective as this new direction. 

---

After the Sun-Moon Royal Team's match, two more highly anticipated battles were scheduled for the afternoon. 

"The Body Sect versus the Tianlong Gate!" 

"First round: Team Battle!" 

With the drawing of lots complete, the match was about to begin. 

The Body Sect was undoubtedly powerful, but Tianlong Gate was no less formidable. Among the team's known members was Xing Yan, a Soul Emperor-level powerhouse. Yet, surprisingly, he wasn't even the team captain. That title belonged to Yu Tianlong! 

This meant that Tianlong Gate had at least two Soul Emperors—possibly even three. Moreover, their martial souls were almost exclusively true dragon-type martial souls. With such a lineup, even the Body Sect couldn't afford to hold back in the team battle. 

"Oh? Long Aotian isn't participating?" 

Su Yu glanced at the Body Sect's roster, slightly disappointed. 

Long Aotian was one of the few competitors in this tournament who genuinely interested him. 

A Soul Sage with an Ultimate Ice martial soul—Su Tong. 

A Soul Sage who had mastered the Unity of Heaven and Man—Long Aotian. 

And possibly even Xue Di, who might have just been there to spectate. 

Su Yu had expected that, to play it safe, the Body Sect would at least send Long Aotian into battle for this match against Tianlong Gate. 

"But I suppose it makes sense. The Body Sect is so strong that even if they lose the team battle, they are guaranteed to dominate in the individual and two-two-three matches." 

Besides, even without Long Aotian, their lineup was nothing short of elite. 

Three Soul Emperors. Four Soul Kings. 

With the referee's command, the match began. Both sides unleashed their soul rings. 

Although Tianlong Gate wasn't particularly isolationist, most of its disciples still preferred traditional soul master combat. As for the Body Sect, that was their very foundation. 

This match would be a pure clash of soul master strength.

"You three, pay close attention." Su Yu reminded Xiao Ping and the other two before turning his gaze toward the seven members of the reserve team. "And that goes for you seven as well. If nothing unexpected happens, the next Soul Dueling Tournament will be your turn to represent the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy." 

On the battlefield, the Body Sect and Tianlong Gate unleashed their martial souls. 

A dazzling array of soul rings lit up the stage. 

The Body Sect's lineup consisted of three Soul Emperors and four Soul Kings, all boasting optimal soul ring configurations. Strictly speaking, there were actually four Soul Emperors, as Weina had also joined the battle. However, she had released her first martial soul, Snow Lotus, taking on the role of a healing support. 

On the other side, Tianlong Gate was equally formidable, featuring the same lineup—three Soul Emperors and four Soul Kings, all with optimal soul ring ratios. 

Xing Yan, martial soul Crimson Dragon, soul power rank 64. 

Yu Tianlong, martial soul Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, soul power rank 68! 

As the battle began, Yu Tianlong and Xing Yan charged forward. 

Yu Tianlong moved slightly slower, staying back to coordinate with his teammates and act as the team's anchor. 

Xing Yan, on the other hand, fought with sheer aggression. With a thunderous dragon roar, his body doubled in size, his muscular frame covered in gleaming dragon scales. 

Yu Tianlong's transformation was accompanied by the crackling of lightning. His martial soul fusion caused his body to grow taller and more imposing, ultimately reaching 2.5 meters in height. His powerful arms, now reinforced with thick dragon scales, crackled with arcs of blue-purple electricity. 

The third Soul Emperor from Tianlong Gate was even more exaggerated—his body expanded to a towering 3 meters, and dense earth-elemental energy gathered around him, condensing into a formidable defensive shield. 

The Body Sect's martial soul transformations weren't as visually dramatic, but their effects were undeniable. 

The Soul Emperor with the thick legs was even faster than Xing Yan. 

Within just a single second of the match beginning, the two clashed at the center of the arena. 

A claw and a leg collided, sending invisible shockwaves rippling through the air. 

Simultaneously, another muscular Soul Emperor engaged Yu Tianlong in combat. 

Aside from Weina, the remaining six members of the Body Sect faced off against Tianlong Gate's seven fighters. 

The thick-legged Soul Emperor immediately activated his Second Awakening. His martial soul's evolution was at the Bronze level—not overwhelmingly broken, but still incredibly powerful. 

With the Body Sect's unique combat techniques—enhancing their physical energy and coordinating it with their soul skills—he managed to suppress Xing Yan, whose combat style was built on pure ferocity. 

At the same time, he intercepted another Soul King from Tianlong Gate who had been aiming to attack Weina. 

Facing two opponents at once, he wasn't exactly dominating or holding a perfect stalemate, but at the very least, he wasn't at a disadvantage. 

Behind him, Weina's fourth soul ring lit up.

Above the pristine Snow Lotus, clusters of energy gathered, radiating a dense aura of vitality. 

Beams of pure white light shot out, restoring the condition of the Body Sect's fighters. 

When Weina had chosen her Snow Lotus martial soul, it had been specifically to enhance the Body Sect's soul masters. 

At its core, healing was about restoring vital energy—replenishing the life force they consumed during battle. 

Though the battle appeared evenly matched on the surface, the Body Sect's victory was practically assured. 

After all, apart from Weina, all six of her teammates could activate their Second Awakening, essentially granting them an additional ten-thousand-year-level soul skill that provided a comprehensive enhancement—one that strengthened their martial souls at the fundamental level. 

On top of that, their vital energy enhancement boosted both their offense and defense, effectively acting as another ten-thousand-year soul skill. 

This double-layered reinforcement was precisely why the Body Sect's soul masters were overwhelmingly powerful compared to others at the same rank. 

Constantly benefiting from the effects of two ten-thousand-year soul skills—who could possibly withstand that? 

Even among Titled Douluos, the average one typically had only five ten-thousand-year soul rings. And the difference between five and seven was far from negligible. 

Moreover, the Body Sect's seven ten-thousand-year soul skills were far superior in their composition. 

Of the two extra skills, one was vital energy augmentation, which strengthened the user's body and could be considered an enhancement to their martial soul itself. The other was Second Awakening, which was another direct boost to the martial soul's power. 

If they added Martial Soul True Body and various other augmentation-type soul skills in their arsenal… 

They could almost be considered another version of Su Yu. 

Increasing martial soul strength repeatedly and then unleashing devastating attacks through combat techniques— 

The resemblance to Su Yu's own fighting style was striking. 

Despite knowing that the Body Sect would undoubtedly win, the battle itself remained thrilling. 

The pure clash between martial souls was an eye-opening experience for Su Yu. 

"The only real flaw in Tianlong Gate's approach is their over-reliance on soul rings and soul skills." 

The Body Sect relied on combat techniques. While their soul skills were formidable, they were seamlessly integrated with these techniques, extending their practical applications beyond the soul skills themselves. 

Tianlong Gate, on the other hand, was different. Their dependence on soul rings was far too great. While they had various secret techniques, they were ultimately constrained by the abilities granted by their soul rings, without any real expansion or innovation. 

Su Yu's evaluation didn't resonate deeply with Xiao Ping and the others, but Xiao Fan nodded slightly, his eyes flickering with thought. 

From Su Yu's words, Xiao Fan had realized a crucial point—one must not become overly reliant on soul skills. 

"My soul skills are different from those of traditional soul engineers. They aren't purely for soul power amplification. But still, I shouldn't rely on them too much. 

If I follow Senior's advice, I must not only refine my existing soul skills but also find ways to extend and expand their applications…"

Xiao Fan had already begun contemplating how to refine his soul skills. 

Drawing from this battle and the numerous previous matches he had observed, a clearer direction was starting to form in his mind. 

"Next up, Tang Sect versus Sun-Moon Soul Master Academy!" 

"Please send one representative from each team to the front to draw lots and decide the match order." 

Two figures emerged from the waiting area: Wang Dong from Tang Sect and a young man from Sun-Moon Soul Master Academy. 

The results of the draw were quickly announced. 

"First match: Individual Match." 

"Second match: 2v2v3 match." 

"Third match: Team Battle." 

"Both teams have three minutes to prepare and select their first participant." 

"Tang Sect: Dai Huabin." 

"Sun-Moon Soul Master Academy: Lu Jun." 

"The match begins!" 

With a loud roar, Dai Huabin instantly activated his martial soul, his body expanding drastically. Five soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and one black—floated around him. 

"Third Soul Skill: White Tiger King Kong Transformation!" 

His body grew even larger, and with a powerful stomp, visible dents appeared in the metal arena floor. He charged toward his opponent with incredible speed. 

Lu Jun, on the other hand, manifested a pair of soul tool wings from his back, and four beams of energy shot out from behind them. 

Despite Dai Huabin's speed, he still had to cover a distance of one hundred meters. As Dai Huabin neared, however, Lu Jun was already hovering nearly forty meters above the ground. 

Two relatively lightweight soul-guided cannons appeared in Lu Jun's hands. 

Two beams of light flashed and shot toward Dai Huabin. 

"Second Soul Skill: White Tiger Fiery Light Wave!" 

Dai Huabin released a powerful energy wave from his mouth, which collided with the two beams of light. 

Boom! 

A deafening explosion shook the arena. 

Lu Jun had used explosive projectiles, emphasizing high damage output. 

The blast had a long-lasting effect. As Dai Huabin lost sight of Lu Jun amidst the explosion, Lu Jun was already maneuvering his wings around the blast's center, pulling out a soul-guided beam cannon. 

The referee's eyes lit up at the sight of Lu Jun's soul-guided beam cannon, admiring the innovative design. 

The cannon's three barrels alternately fired beams of energy. A single soul-guided beam cannon could release more energy beams in a short period. 

A barrage of rays streaked through the air, heading straight for Dai Huabin. 

"First Soul Skill: White Tiger Protection Shield!" 

"Third Soul Skill: White Tiger King Kong Transformation!" 

Dai Huabin had no choice but to defend with all his might. 

As a soul master engaging in air-to-ground combat, his abilities were severely limited. 

(End of chapter)