Dugu Xianmeng and Zhou Sichen introduced the legendary feats of this Golden Fairy, giving Zhou Sichen a rough understanding of her.
From what Zhou Sichen remembered, this great beauty later ended up with Wang Yan, who was still in the Outer Court at this point. Well... it was hard to judge.
However, this at least proved that Han Ruoruo was not someone who looked down on others. She should be easy to get along with.
Before long, Zhou Sichen was matched with an opponent, and the Soul Tool broadcast echoed through the arena:
"Next match: White Rank Soul Dueling Badge holder Zhou Sichen versus Black Rank Soul Dueling Badge holder Chen Zifeng."
As the announcement fell, the spectators couldn't help but exchange glances.
Who? Chen Zifeng? A White Rank against a Black Rank?
Chen Zifeng? He was a super genius on par with Ma Xiaotao, a confirmed main member of the next generation Shrek Seven Devils. Although he was only at the Soul King level, his terrifying strength made him almost unmatched within the Inner Court.
However, since his opponent was that monster Zhou Sichen, the crowd wasn't too surprised.
After all, Zhou Sichen's heaven-defying performance from yesterday was still fresh in their minds. Even Ma Xiaotao, a Soul Emperor, had been suppressed by him. A Soul King like Chen Zifeng shouldn't be a problem either, right?
Zhou Sichen stood up and made his way toward the preparation area. At the same time, another figure, a handsome young man who had been sitting quietly in the corner, also got up.
He had remained completely silent up until now, with no one beside him. It was as if everything apart from soul dueling was meaningless to him.
However, upon hearing his opponent's name, he couldn't help but glance at Zhou Sichen.
He hadn't witnessed yesterday's battle, but he had heard about it from other Inner Court disciples.
Suppressing Ma Xiaotao with only the strength of a Soul Ancestor? Chen Zifeng wanted to see for himself whether he could perform better than Ma Xiaotao.
To be honest, after finding out his opponent was Zhou Sichen, even with his prideful nature, Chen Zifeng no longer believed he had any chance of winning.
Like Ma Xiaotao, he was a power-type Soul Master. However, unlike her, he didn't have the ability to fly. Against a nearly ten-thousand-year-old Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear, he wanted to have confidence—but reality was cruel.
In fact, when Zhou Sichen first registered for the duel, Chen Zifeng had already suspected it might turn out this way. He just hadn't expected his opponent to really be that monster.
But that was fine too. He could at least experience Zhou Sichen's power firsthand. That alone would serve as valuable training.
As the previous match concluded, Zhou Sichen and Chen Zifeng slowly stepped onto the Soul Dueling Platform.
Their eyes met, and Chen Zifeng spoke softly, "I hope you don't hold back. Let me fully experience your unique abilities."
Zhou Sichen smiled slightly. "Senior, I always give my all in every battle."
Then, with a slight bow, he introduced himself:
"Zhou Sichen. Martial Soul: Book of Contracts. Rank 40 Battle Soul Ancestor. Please guide me well, Senior."
As his words fell, Zhou Sichen slowly raised his right hand. A golden book materialized, seemingly forged from pure gold.
Then, three pitch-black soul rings rose from beneath him, causing the entire crowd to gasp in shock.
The moment everyone heard that Zhou Sichen had reached Rank 40, they were already on edge. After all, just yesterday, he had only been Rank 38!
However, thinking back, Elder Xuan and the others had taken him away after his battle. With their help, this sudden breakthrough made sense.
But—weren't his soul rings all purple yesterday?
How had they turned into black, ten-thousand-year soul rings overnight?
Three purple rings had already been enough to cause a sensation. But three black ones?
Was this even something a normal Soul Master could achieve?
Sure, geniuses existed. Even monstrous talents could appear. But did he really have to pull off something this godlike?
The others had previously thought that he was merely more talented than them. But now, standing before him, they felt like complete nobodies.
Chen Zifeng, who was directly facing those three ten-thousand-year soul rings, instinctively opened his mouth to speak—but the words got stuck in his throat.
Three ten-thousand-year soul rings? That meant three contracted soul beasts, each at the ten-thousand-year level.
And these weren't just any soul beasts. Ice Jade Scorpion, Hell Phoenix, and Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear—three utterly terrifying creatures.
A duel? What duel?!
He was just a mere Soul King. How could he possibly withstand an all-out attack from three such monstrous beings?
One round. He probably wouldn't even last a single round before getting torn to pieces.
In the audience, Dugu Xianmeng's cherry lips parted in shock, wide enough to fit an entire egg. Her eyes were filled with disbelief as she stared at Zhou Sichen.
Even the Golden Fairy, Han Ruoruo, was utterly astonished, staring blankly at his three black soul rings.
She had already reached the Soul Sage level, and in all her years of cultivation, she had never even heard of someone obtaining a ten-thousand-year soul ring as their first ring.
But now—she had seen it with her own eyes.
Her entire worldview felt like it was about to collapse.
Could such an otherworldly existence really be possible?
Just yesterday, he had thousand-year soul rings. And today, they were ten-thousand-year rings?
Did that mean by tomorrow, he would have a hundred-thousand-year ring?!
Han Ruoruo was well aware of how terrifying and unique Zhou Sichen's three contracted soul beasts were. Now that they had all reached the ten-thousand-year level, forget Chen Zifeng or Ma Xiaotao—even she wasn't sure she could win against him.
At first, she had thought he was just an exceptionally talented genius. But now, it felt like a deep-sea predator had come to hunt in a fish pond.
After yesterday's battle against Ma Xiaotao, no one doubted the authenticity of Zhou Sichen's soul rings. But it was still beyond belief.
Some even questioned whether they were hallucinating. Maybe they had cultivated too hard last night and fried their brains.
At that moment, the Soul Tool broadcast echoed through the arena once again. A familiar, deep voice rang out:
"Ahem. This is Qian Duoduo. Due to Zhou Sichen's unique Martial Soul, the academy has decided in today's meeting that from now on, he will serve as the first judge and trainer of the Soul Dueling Arena. Any student who manages to defeat Zhou Sichen will immediately be promoted to Red Rank and receive a special reward from the academy."
The entire arena fell silent for a moment before the crowd erupted in an uproar.
He just entered the Inner Court, and now he's the first judge of the Soul Dueling Arena?!
Defeating him grants an instant promotion to Red Rank? Plus a special academy reward?
The Red Rank Soul Dueling Badge wasn't just about better food—it came with top-tier treatment across all aspects of academy life.
But looking at Zhou Sichen's three ten-thousand-year soul rings and thinking about his terrifying contracted soul beasts, the students could only groan in despair.
Even the Golden Fairy, Han Ruoruo, wouldn't stand a chance against a ten-thousand-year Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear, right?
What kind of joke was this?!
Especially Chen Zifeng. He hadn't even released his Martial Soul yet, and now, with this explosive news, he really wanted to slap himself.
Chen Zifeng, oh Chen Zifeng… of all the times to enter a duel, why did you have to choose now?!
Meanwhile, Zhou Sichen was just as dumbfounded.
When did the academy decide this? He had just left the Sea God's Pavilion!
That meeting must have been held at record speed…
But then again, with this new title, wouldn't his status at Shrek Academy rise even higher?
As the first judge and trainer of the Soul Dueling Arena, he was now not only an Inner Court student—he was half a teacher as well!
****
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