Word Count: 2,711 Words
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Eight students from the two academies gathered at the center of the competition stage. Now that they were close, Ling Bai could clearly see the extremely unsightly expressions on the faces of the seven members of the Tian Ling Advanced Spirit Master Academy.
"Captains, please shake hands."
The referee's dark eyes stayed fixed on Ling Bai, trying to discern what was so special about this sole competitor sent by Shrek Academy.
As the two captains clasped hands, the Tian Ling captain suddenly said, "Even if you're from Shrek Academy, isn't it too arrogant to think you can eliminate the Tian Ling Advanced Spirit Master Academy all on your own?"
The captain practically ground his teeth to dust. Shrek Academy's actions clearly showed they didn't take Tian Ling Advanced Spirit Master Academy seriously at all. The self-proclaimed genius felt a sudden and enormous humiliation. His anger surged like a tidal wave, swallowing his fear of Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year prestige.
"We made a little bet earlier. Only the winners got to compete in the opening match," Ling Bai said casually. "Originally, it was going to be three of us versus your seven, but the other two overslept, so I'm here alone."
"Hah! You've just kicked an iron plate by provoking the Tian Ling Advanced Spirit Master Academy!"
The Tian Ling captain deliberately raised his voice, catching the shocked and envious expressions of the surrounding academies from the corner of his eye. He couldn't help but feel a bit elated; as he walked back to his team, his steps were light and buoyant, his whole body filled with an exceptionally refreshing sense of confidence.
Mom, I've made it big—I dared to talk tough to Shrek Academy!
"Brothers, this is our chance to make a name for ourselves! We have five Spirit Ancestors and two Spirit Elders, and all of us have long-range capabilities. We'll take turns attacking him from afar. Even if we have to wear him down, we'll take him out!"
The Tian Ling captain laid out the plan decisively. His teammates agreed with unanimous resolve. All seven were determined to fight with everything they had. They certainly knew Shrek Academy wouldn't send Ling Bai alone without good reason, but they refused to give up without seeing the Yellow River run clear. They had trained bitterly for over a decade. There was no way they'd be toppled in one poke!
The referee raised his right hand high. Below the stage, 108 Spirit Masters from the Star Luo Empire who had been on standby channeled their spirit power into specially forged metal pillars.
The 108 metal pillars radiated dazzling brilliance instantly as beams of white light shot into the sky, converging overhead. A layer of white radiance descended like a curtain, sealing the competition arena within.
The spirit power protective barrier was complete!
The referee's right hand dropped!
"Match, begin!"
"Brothers, release your Martial Spirits!"
Over twenty yellow and purple spirit rings emerged in a flash of light as the seven members of Tian Ling Academy instantly completed their Martial Spirit Manifestation. They had everything: Power Attack, Control, Agility Attack, Defense, Support—all roles present. Their lineup of five Spirit Ancestors and two Spirit Elders was definitely not weak. Under normal circumstances, entering the group stage would be a breeze. This gave them confidence to face a single Shrek Academy student with seven people!
Those involved may be oblivious, but observers see clearly. From Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei above, to the teachers and students of various academies in the middle, and ordinary civilians in the audience below—surprisingly not a single person paid attention to Tian Ling's Martial Spirits and spirit rings. Their gazes were firmly locked onto Ling Bai alone.
At that moment, a holy radiance illuminated everyone's vision. A hazy six-winged figure stood solemnly and majestically in midair. Ling Bai gripped a crystal-like golden longsword in his hand. The slender blade resembled transparent glass inlaid with a brilliant gold spine. A pair of resplendent golden wings spread behind him and with a single flap, he soared upward into the sky.
Yellow, purple, purple, black, black—circles of spirit rings radiated dazzling light as he ascended, interweaving with the golden glow of the six-winged illusory figure.
A vast, holy aura rained down, giving the onlookers a sense of peace and hope they had never experienced before. Some elderly spectators were already sobbing unknowingly, their eyes reddened as they stared at the radiant golden figure aloft, muttering:
"An angel... It's the Seraphim! The Seraphim has descended to the mortal world again!"
The first Angel God eradicated disasters and saved common people from calamity long ago. After attaining Godhood at Rank 100, she founded the Spirit Hall and passed down the Seraphim Martial Spirit. In later eras, angel descendants consistently slew Evil Spirit Masters to maintain peace on the Douluo Continent, offering free Martial Spirit awakenings for the masses.
Therefore, even after ten thousand years, many commoners on the Douluo Continent remained grateful for the Seraphim's grace. This was especially true for families whose children barely awakened with innate spirit power of Rank 1 or 2 but had to abandon becoming Spirit Masters due to unaffordable tuition and living expenses. They deeply missed the era of Spirit Hall's rule.
Countless ordinary folk were so excited they could hardly contain themselves. The major Spirit Master academies were equally affected, though not from gratitude for the Seraphim's grace, but from recalling how terrifyingly powerful the Seraphim Martial Spirit was!
A God-level Martial Spirit. These four simple words said it all!
"What's this 'Seraphim' thing?"
While the academies of the original three nations on the Douluo Continent were shell-shocked, the Sun Moon Empire's side looked noticeably confused. The Seraphim's last recorded appearance was during the Battle of the Gods ten thousand years ago, while the Sun Moon Continent's collision with the Douluo Continent happened thousands of years after the Battle of Jialing Pass. As a result, most students and teachers from the Sun Moon Empire had no idea why people were so astonished; only a few Martial Spirit researchers understood what the Seraphim meant to Douluo Continent Spirit Masters.
Bathed in that golden light high above, Xiao Hongchen squinted and asked, "Elder Ma, do you recognize that Martial Spirit?"
Elder Ma answered gravely, "The Seraphim—a legendary supreme existence on the Douluo Continent, the only God-level Martial Spirit passed down from generation to generation. It's said the Angel God in the Divine Realm bestows it with innate spirit power of Rank 20, an innate domain, and an Ultimate attribute. It is proclaimed to be invincible in the sky."
"Isn't that a bit exaggerated?"
Xiao Hongchen frowned deeply. "My Hongchen Clan's Three-Legged Golden Toad is an ancient divine beast lineage that naturally controls metals and absorbs rare metals to speed cultivation. Even then, its attribute is just close to Ultimate Gold. It certainly doesn't come with any innate domain or innate Rank 20 spirit power. How could those three 'backward' nations on the Douluo Continent awaken something as heaven-blessed as the Seraphim?"
"Is that so?"
Elder Ma smiled noncommittally. He could see through Xiao Hongchen's outward confidence to the pride beneath. This young man always wore a smile on the surface, but deep down, his arrogance surpassed everyone else's.
Aside from his younger sister Meng Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen looked down on all the students of the Sun Moon Imperial Academy. Now suddenly facing a peer whose Martial Spirit overshadowed his own, he was finding it tough to accept.
"Whether the Seraphim is as powerful as recorded in the ancient texts of the Douluo Continent isn't for us to worry about. You siblings must understand one thing—his age!" Elder Ma emphasized. "He is definitely no older than fifteen, eligible to participate in the next Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament. The three of you... are very likely to become rivals over the next five years!"
"Tch, this brat sure knows how to put on a show..."
An inharmonious voice sounded from a corner of the audience. Two Body Sect Spirit Douluo, Big Head and Qilin Arm, curled their lips in disdain. They had accompanied Tiger Arm Douluo Chen Hu to probe the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and had seen Ling Bai before. But in their eyes, only Body Martial Spirits reigned supreme; even the Seraphim couldn't compare to a Golden-ranked Body Martial Spirit.
On another side, a black-clad figure clenched his fist, his voice icy and piercing:
"The Seraphim has reappeared in the world. This boy will surely become a grave threat to our Holy Spirit Cult!"
A single Martial Spirit that could stir up such a storm—throughout the Douluo Continent, only the Seraphim could achieve that. Hundreds of thousands unconsciously held their breath, eyes wide open, quietly watching as the Seraphim reappeared after ten thousand years, eager to learn if the legends were true!
A heartbeat later, Ling Bai's jet-black fourth spirit ring lit up. Golden radiance flared as his sword blade split the sky. All the clouds above Star Luo Plaza were forcibly scattered in mere moments, vanishing without a trace!
High above in the deepest part of the sky—an azure expanse as distant as the horizon—countless golden blades brimming with sacred and razor-sharp auras flew forth with a thunderous clamor, as if the very heavens were changing color.
Seraphim's Fourth Spirit Skill: Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory!
Sword energies crisscrossed the sky. Myriad sword shadows seemed poised to shred the heavens themselves. Flashing sword light illuminated the ground as sword blades spun in the air like a magnificent symphony, giving everyone an unparalleled sense of shock and awe.
"C-Captain, w-what now?!"
The Tian Ling team members felt like crying. Fighting against a monster like the Seraphim? What kind of international joke was this!
And did anyone even care about their lives or deaths?
That crowd of spectators was frantically cheering for the Seraphim, seemingly wishing they'd be ground into meat paste. Talk about being biased to the extreme!
The Tian Ling captain gulped down a mouthful of saliva. With bloodshot eyes, he said, "We have no choice but to fight him with everything we have!"
He was the brave warrior who dared to talk tough to the Seraphim. If he admitted defeat so quickly, he'd become the laughingstock of the entire continent!
The Tian Ling captain let out a piercing howl. His body erupted with a thick layer of green light as verdant fur covered his skin. His muscles and bones rapidly expanded, making his stature taller and more robust.
Martial Spirit Manifestation: Wind-Chasing Wolf!
He unleashed his full strength without holding anything back, pouring his entire spirit power into his fourth spirit skill. Crossing his arms, he slashed out a massive green wind blade. The wind blade tore through the air, echoing with a teeth-grinding sound.
"Captain, we'll assist you!"
The holy purifying power accompanying Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory enveloped the entire competition arena below. Even the spirit power protective barrier jointly set up by the 108 Spirit Masters was coated in a layer of golden light, with sizzling and melting sounds ringing out one after another. The Tian Ling team members were pushed to desperate straits by this holy power. But precisely because of this, they decided to go all out. Combining the power of six people with their captain, they condensed a colossal wind blade nearly ten meters long!
"Converge into one."
Ling Bai lightly clenched his fist toward the empty air. Golden light flashed abruptly as the sound of ten thousand swords resonating rose from distant to near, rapidly increasing from barely audible to deafening. Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory instantly merged into one. The sword energy transformed into a dazzling golden sword, painting the sky in a sheet of splendor.
Ten Thousand Blades Converge into One—Blazing Emperor Slash!
Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng hadn't guessed wrong. Ling Bai was indeed hiding many things. Ten Thousand Blades Radiant Glory was the Seraphim's most formidable group attack spirit skill, and Blazing Emperor Slash fused the might of ten thousand swords. Its momentum nearly cleaved the competition arena in two!
Even with the spirit power protective barrier, many in the audience couldn't help but reveal expressions of fear. The wind blade desperately unleashed by the seven from Tian Ling couldn't make even a single crack on Blazing Emperor Slash before silently dissipating into a wisp of breeze and vanishing.
BOOM—
Blazing Emperor Slash crashed down, bringing terrifying light and heat to the earth. Waves of golden ripples suddenly swept outward as the Spirit Barrier violently shook. The 108 defensive Spirit Masters clenched their teeth and poured out all their power to maintain the barrier's stability.
"So this is what a true genius is..."
When the brilliant glow receded, the Tian Ling Advanced Spirit Master Academy squad reappeared in view. Their captain knelt on both knees. Less than a meter away from him, a huge golden blade was impaled in the ground, still gleaming sharply in the sunlight.
The other members crouched on the ground, holding their heads. They frantically checked their bodies one by one, delighted to find not a single part missing. Clearly, the Seraphim possessor had shown mercy.
Those who had previously questioned Shrek Academy for sending only Ling Bai now stared wide-eyed at the shattered spirit of the Tian Ling captain on the dueling stage and at the calm-faced Ling Bai. The entire stage seemed to stagnate, as some people were unable to swallow or even breathe properly.
The Seraphim truly lived up to its name as a God-level Martial Spirit; just one blow had been unimaginably terrifying!
The aces of the major academies wore grim expressions as they secretly calculated whether they could block this Ten Thousand Blades Converge into One—Blazing Emperor Slash if it were them. And even if they could block it, then what?
Angelic Domain, fifth spirit skill, an unknown number of spirit bone skills—each and every one made a sense of powerlessness rise in their hearts.
And one simply could not forget that Shrek Academy had only sent Ling Bai. The various academies observed the seven students sitting in the rest area beside the stage and judged them to be merely under-fifteen Reserve Team members brought to gain experience. Shrek Academy's other main team members couldn't even be bothered to spectate. What immense confidence that showed!
The usually arrogant Xiao Hongchen pressed his lips together without a word. He wasn't a fool. There was clearly a massive gulf between the Three-Legged Golden Toad and the Seraphim. The youth's confidence had taken a heavy blow.
Meanwhile, Meng Hongchen quietly applauded, nodding continually. Looks alone were a Joker card, but when paired with talent and combat strength, it became the winning trump card. In every aspect, Ling Bai perfectly matched her fantasy of her future other half.
Ma Rulong, captain of the Sun Moon Imperial Academy's official team, sighed deeply upon seeing the Seraphim's power exceed that of ordinary Spirit Kings and Spirit Emperors. He turned to quietly discuss something with his grandfather, Elder Ma.
On the stage, Ling Bai gazed at the dazed referee and said, "Would you mind announcing the results?"
"Oh! Oh!"
The somewhat unprofessional referee snapped back to reality and immediately proclaimed, "In the first elimination round of this Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament, Shrek Academy is victorious!"
"Shrek! Shrek! Shrek!"
"Seraphim! Seraphim! Seraphim!"
The audience instantly erupted into jubilation, chanting for both Shrek Academy and the Seraphim. This spectacular opening match had pushed their excitement to a fever pitch, setting the whole venue ablaze with energy.
Amid cheers and glory, Ling Bai slowly descended from the competition stage. Countless eyes still refused to leave him. Ning Tian rose quickly to greet him, affectionately taking his arm and teasing, "By provoking the Tian Ling Advanced Spirit Master Academy, you ended up hitting cotton, huh?"
Ling Bai's gaze swept lightly over the other teams as he chuckled. "If this Spirit Master Tournament only offers this level of competition, I have to say I'm a bit disappointed."
"That's going too far. Everyone here is a genius, aren't they?"
"Sure, they're geniuses for making it this far. But being a genius... is just my entry ticket."