Soul Land:The Dragon King's God of Nature

Boom!

The enormous Ground Demon Rhinoceros crashed to the ground with a resounding thud, shaking the entire arena. Seizing the opportunity, the Green Moon Willow, with Xu Xiaoyan and Gu Yue perched on its sturdy trunk, launched its counterattack.

Emerald-hued willow vines lashed out like chains of order, slicing through the air with sharp *whistling sounds*. In mere moments, they coiled around the rhino's thick legs, intent on pinning the beast down.

The Ground Demon Rhinoceros bellowed in rage, its bloodshot eyes gleaming menacingly. The longer of its two horns glowed a dull yellow, causing the ground beneath it to soften and collapse. The beast used this to sink its massive body into the earth, narrowly escaping the binding vines before surging back to its feet. Its short horn then began to emit a dazzling light, and the loosened soil beneath its feet hardened into a stable foundation. 

"Roar!" The rhino let out another thunderous cry, preparing to charge once more. 

Above its head, however, a circle of starlight suddenly materialized. This glowing celestial ring transformed into a starlit wheel that descended onto the rhino's body, freezing it in place. Though its eyes darted about frantically, its body remained paralyzed. 

Xu Xiaoyan lowered her **Star Staff**, a playful grin spreading across her face. She called out to Gu Yue beside her, "Gu Yue, it's your turn now!" 

Gu Yue nodded silently, her expression calm and focused. She extended her hands forward, summoning a massive **Elemental Orb**. The orb shimmered with radiant hues of red, blue, green, and yellow, each representing one of the four core elements—fire, water, wind, and earth. 

Hovering above the Ground Demon Rhinoceros, the orb exuded a terrifying aura. Its surface flickered with roaring flames, cascading streams, howling winds, and compacted boulders. 

Sensing the overwhelming energy above, the rhino's eyes flashed with fear. It struggled desperately against the **Starwheel Shackles** binding it, but Xu Xiaoyan's control was absolute—it couldn't break free. 

The **Elemental Orb** descended steadily, striking the rhino's horns before releasing its devastating power. Fire burned, water surged, wind howled, and earth smothered—all four elements lashed out in chaotic harmony. However, these were merely precursors. The true devastation came from the collision and fusion of the elements, which culminated in a violent explosion.

**Boom!**

The explosion engulfed the rhino's massive head in a cloud of thick, black smoke, obscuring it from view. 

From the creature's body language, it was clear that the attack had been devastating. Its legs buckled beneath it, and its enormous frame collapsed to the ground. The hardened armor-like plates covering its body tensed as if in a final act of defiance. Its tail whipped frantically, betraying its fear and desperation. 

Despite this apparent victory, neither Jing Shaoyu nor the two girls let their guard down. Jing Shaoyu descended slowly, hovering five meters above the rhino's head. His **Star Staff** switched to his left hand as his right fist began to glow with a dark golden light.

As the smoke cleared, the Ground Demon Rhinoceros' battered form came into view. Its once-mighty head was a grotesque sight: one horn shattered at the base, the other cracked and splintered. Blood poured from its mouth, and half of its face was stripped of flesh, exposing stark white bone. Its blood-red eyes were now blurred with blood, and its labored breathing hinted at its waning strength.

Jing Shaoyu's gaze hardened. Without hesitation, he struck downward with his glowing fist. The dark golden energy condensed into a formidable claw that raked across the rhino's skull.

**Shlunk!**

The beast's thick skull yielded to the sharp claw, three deep gashes carved into its brain. 

"Rooaaar!" The Ground Demon Rhinoceros let out one final, defiant bellow, filled with resentment and anguish, before its enormous body collapsed completely. 

Suddenly, the arena's vivid environment dissolved into darkness. The echoes of the crowd's cheers faded into silence, leaving only Jing Shaoyu, Gu Yue, Xu Xiaoyan, and the towering **Green Moon Willow** standing in the void. 

Jing Shaoyu landed softly on the ground, his expression calm. He withdrew the Green Moon Willow and examined his right hand, a trace of satisfaction flickering in his eyes. The **Dark Gold Fear Claw**, though unfamiliar, had proven its devastating potential in its first use. 

The trio blinked as their surroundings shifted again, bringing them back to the circular hall. Unbeknownst to them, more candidates had gathered during their absence. 

Shen Yi approached them, her expression a mix of astonishment and joy. 

The second test, known as the **Beast Arena**, required candidates to face a Ground Demon Rhinoceros with a cultivation level between 3,000 and 5,000 years. To pass, candidates had to survive for one minute, earning a passing score of six points. 

However, the difficulty scaled with the number of candidates. With three participants, Shen Yi had expected a rhino around 4,000 years in cultivation. To her shock, they had been matched against a full 5,000-year rhino. 

"I was so worried!" Shen Yi thought, recalling her initial concerns. Based on her understanding, Jing Shaoyu was a support-type Spirit Master, Xu Xiaoyan a control-type, and only Gu Yue had notable offensive capabilities. Against a 5,000-year Ground Demon Rhinoceros, she had feared they might need to rely on a **Martial Soul Fusion Skill** to survive. 

But their actual performance had far exceeded her expectations. The trio had not only survived but had dispatched the powerful beast with ease. Shen Yi couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and relief. 

"Congratulations on passing the second test," Shen Yi said with a warm smile. "Follow me to register your scores." 

"Teacher Shen, what are our scores?" Xu Xiaoyan asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Shen Yi chuckled. "For the second test, the **Beast Arena**, Jing Shaoyu, ten points. Gu Yue, ten points. Xu Xiaoyan, ten points." 

"Really? That's amazing!" Xu Xiaoyan exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy. Jing Shaoyu and Gu Yue exchanged smiles, pleased with their flawless performance.

Shen Yi explained, "Although the scoring criteria don't explicitly reward killing the rhino, your successful elimination of the beast justifies a perfect score for each of you." 

After registering their scores with the proctor, Shen Yi led them through a corridor to the location of the third test. 

At the end of the corridor stood a large door, in front of which a small group of candidates waited. Two proctors monitored the line, nodding politely when Shen Yi arrived. 

"This is where the third test will take place," Shen Yi said. "Wait here while I register your information." 

"Understood." Jing Shaoyu nodded, leading Xu Xiaoyan and Gu Yue to the back of the queue.

The line wasn't long—only eleven candidates ahead of them, grouped into three small teams. This meant the wait wouldn't be too lengthy.

Like the others, Jing Shaoyu's group began preparing themselves mentally. The third test remained a mystery, with the doors firmly shut. The air was thick with nervous anticipation, and all candidates were focused on maintaining their peak condition.

Though Jing Shaoyu's team had every confidence in their abilities, t

hey knew better than to grow complacent. Overconfidence could lead to regret.