There were twenty contestants in the elite class competition, and the system was a single-elimination tournament, which would proceed with byes until the final winner emerged.
The prize for the victor was a 10,000-year-old head soul bone, held by Bibi Dong herself.
Among the six soul bones of the human body, the trunk bone and head soul bone were considered the most precious, and their value was beyond measure.
The older generation of elders was understandably envious. Many of them had participated in the elite class competitions before, yet they had never encountered such a coveted prize.
The twenty contestants, including Ye Tianxing, stood in the expansive regular fighting soul arena, which could easily hold 10,000 spectators. The arena hummed with the atmosphere of battle, with an unspoken excitement rising among the children. The soul bone reward was too enticing to ignore.
A beam of light suddenly illuminated the centre of the arena, drawing everyone's attention.
The elders present quickly rose from their seats and bowed their heads in respect to the beautiful figure descending from the light.
"Your Majesty, the Pope—"
The roar of reverence echoed through the arena, causing the hearts of all the children to beat faster.
Ye Tianxing raised his eyes, taking in the beautiful figure of Bibi Dong, who stood gracefully in her purple-gold robes, sceptre in hand. Her regal aura was palpable, but her sharp phoenix eyes swept across the crowd. Everyone bowed their heads instinctively. In their view, to look directly at her would be the greatest disrespect. Yet, when Bibi Dong's gaze approached Ye Tianxing, he did not flinch or lower his eyes.
Bibi Dong was momentarily taken aback. Ye Tianxing was a unique child—one who displayed great courage and composure. He was fearless, which was both rare and intriguing.
It was rumoured that he had shot at the stone tablet of Qiandao Liu's ancestral altar upon his arrival, and he had even defeated several classmates who had tried to bully him. His record in the academy was quite impressive, though he had yet to face Hu Yanbo in battle, making their comparison unknown.
After a brief pause, Bibi Dong withdrew her gaze from Ye Tianxing and spoke in a voice both ethereal and commanding:
"You are all the future of my Wuhun Hall. The winner of this competition will receive this wisdom skull, which has been condensed for 60,000 years."
The entire arena fell into stunned silence.
Ye Tianxing, along with the others, could hardly believe what they were hearing.
No one had expected such a prestigious reward to be offered for this small elite class competition. This soul bone had an extraordinary origin, with rumors circulating that it had been slain by the former Pope.
Many had speculated that Bibi Dong intended to gift it to her disciple Hu Liena, but the chief priest had always rejected the idea. No one had anticipated this turn of events.
"I know a little inside information," Golden Crocodile Douluo murmured. "The reason Bibi Dong is offering such a valuable soul bone for the first time is to win favour with the Elephant Armour Sect, one of the Four Great Sects."
Qingluan Douluo, raising an eyebrow, asked, "Isn't it too extravagant to use a 10,000-year-old soul bone for such a purpose?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo shook his head. "This madwoman will do anything. Mark my words—Wuhun Hall will fall under her rule sooner or later."
"Fifth brother, can you tell me what kind of game you and Big Brother set up?" Demon Subduing Douluo interjected, noticing something between Guangling Douluo and the others.
Bibi Dong had long wanted to give this soul bone to Hu Liena, but it had been rejected time and time again in meetings.
Guangling Douluo, now seemingly relaxed, strolled about the room. He was no longer the imposing Titled Douluo but a man who appeared to already have everything in control.
"You suggested this to Big Brother, didn't you?" Lion Douluo asked, sensing something more beneath the surface.
Guangling Douluo grinned as he moved toward the large window. Looking at Ye Tianxing, who was descending from the ring, he remarked, "We archers specialise in long-range output. Our strength doesn't lie in close combat. This wisdom skull will not only enhance spiritual power but will also help detect enemy movements. It is perfect for my disciple with the Deadwood Bow martial spirit."
"Honestly, it's a steal for Bibi Dong. It's better to give it to my disciple."
While Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu represented two opposing camps within Wuhun Hall, their rivalry was well-known. Over the years, most of Bibi Dong's resolutions had been adopted. However, Qian Daoliu rarely raised objections—until now.
Qingluan Douluo glanced at the seats below and saw Hu Yanzhen, the formidable leader of the Elephant Armour Sect, taking up several seats. His presence was enough to make the entire room feel smaller.
Hu Yanzhen looked at the soul bone in Bibi Dong's hand, his eyes practically glowing with hunger. It seemed as though he was already determined to win it.
Guangling Douluo smiled confidently, saying, "It's just a matter of a spear versus a shield. Don't worry, the sharp spear will pierce the solid shield. Even if my disciple can't win, he'll surely surprise everyone."
The atmosphere shifted, with everyone now eagerly awaiting the outcome.
The twenty children began drawing lots, determining who would face whom. Some expressions were grim, while others were filled with excitement.
"It's over! My opponent is Hu Yanbo!" one contestant cried in despair.
Others laughed in relief, "What a perfect draw!"
Li Xin grinned as he drew his lot. Seeing that he was matched against Ye Tianxing, he smiled wide. "Ye Tianxing, I've been looking forward to this day for a long time."
Ye Tianxing paid him no mind, walking calmly to the ring. The first match was to be between him and Li Xin—old rivals at this point.
To everyone's surprise, the referee was none other than Hu Liena, Bibi Dong's disciple.
As Hu Liena watched Ye Tianxing and Li Xin, her curiosity grew. She knew Ye Tianxing's teacher, and there was a mystery surrounding the soul bone. She was beginning to see something odd, something that hinted at deeper politics within Wuhun Hall.
The competition was about to begin.
"The Elite Class Competition of the Spirit Hall Academy, one-on-one elimination system. Ye Tianxing vs. Li Xin. Both sides have one minute to summon their spirits."
Li Xin couldn't wait to summon his spirit, and with a burst of energy, his giant ant spirit appeared. It was a pure power-type spirit, strong but predictable, with black tentacles sprouting from his forehead and large hands appearing from his body. His dark face was covered in a thick exoskeleton, making him look nearly indestructible.
Ye Tianxing, however, simply stood there with his Deadwood Bow in hand, his eyes closed in an aura of calm. He was unbothered by the spectacle unfolding before him.
"Ye Tianxing, you're still as annoying as ever. Watch, I will defeat you and then take down everyone else!" Li Xin boasted.
"First spirit skill, Huge Force!"
With his first spirit ring activated, Li Xin jumped high into the air, his fists clenched and ready to smash down on Ye Tianxing. In his mind, victory was already assured.
However, in an unexpected move, Ye Tianxing merely shifted slightly, then kicked Li Xin in the back. The sudden force sent Li Xin tumbling off the ring in a spectacular fall.
To the onlookers, it was a reminder that even in the elite class, battles could be over in an instant, and the real competition had only just begun.