Li Xin fell headfirst, and Ye Tianxing left without looking back.
"The winner has been decided, Ye Tianxing wins!"
Hu Liena announced with a hint of exasperation. She tugged at the corner of her mouth. This had been a children's fight, and honestly, she couldn't fathom why the teacher had assigned her as the referee.
Looking at Ye Tianxing's retreating figure, Hu Liena couldn't help but think how calm he was. Other children might have been reduced to tears under such pressure from Li Xin, but not Ye Tianxing. He remained unfazed.
In the very next round, a child's martial spirit appeared, terrifying the others, leaving them in tears. The contrast between Ye Tianxing's calmness and the other children's breakdowns was striking. Hu Liena mused, it was quite entertaining to watch these child competitors struggle.
Bibi Dong, sitting in the VIP area, didn't appear to care much about the outcome of the fight. Instead, her attention was entirely on Ye Tianxing.
"If I'm not mistaken, this soul bone should be fought for by the five worshippers for Ye Tianxing. But… what exactly does this child have that could make Qian Daoliu intervene on his behalf, and even oppose me?" Bibi Dong's gaze deepened as she contemplated.
Yes, Qian Daoliu—the Chief Priest of Spirit Hall—had chosen to oppose her and back Ye Tianxing, something that she found perplexing.
Bibi Dong's eyes locked onto Ye Tianxing, who met her gaze directly. It was almost as if he could see through her. The gaze lasted only a moment, but it felt profound.
"Be careful, kid!" Bibi Dong muttered, then closed her eyes, turning her attention back to the ongoing battle. Her thoughts were with Ye Tianxing and what he might be capable of in the final round.
Ye Tianxing, unaware of her attention, scratched his head absentmindedly. A mosquito buzzed past his ear, and for a moment, he wondered aloud, "Strange, are there mosquitoes in the Douluo Continent?"
The first round ended quickly. The twenty remaining contestants were cut down to ten, and after a short rest, they drew lots again, with ten competing in five matches.
Ye Tianxing, unsurprisingly, breezed through his match, while Hu Yanbo, using his Diamond Mammoth Martial Spirit, effortlessly knocked his opponent off the stage with a single blow.
Before leaving the arena, Hu Yanbo snorted derisively. "Boring. If it weren't for this soul bone, I wouldn't even bother with this competition."
In the audience, Hu Yanzhen, the leader of the Lower Four Sects, was unable to sit in the VIP area due to his lack of qualifications. Only Bibi Dong and the six great priests held those seats.
"Sect Master, Hu Yanbo is quite talented. It seems that my Elephant Armour Sect is determined to claim this soul bone!" someone commented with admiration.
Hu Yanzhen's lips curled into a barely restrained smile. He coughed formally before responding, "The game's not over yet. Don't jump to conclusions. The Xiangjia Sect has many talented members. My grandson, Hu Yanli, is a monster in his own right. I plan to give this soul bone to Li'er, while passing down the inheritance soul bone to Bo'er. That way, our sect will truly prosper."
"Xiangjia Sect is bound to be one of the top three sects. Don't forget us when you get rich in the future," the crowd chimed in with praise.
The competition continued.
The remaining matchups included Ye Tianxing, Hu Yanbo, and a veteran student named He Hong, whose martial spirit was a Bone Knife, a weapon-type martial spirit. His soul power was at Level 16.
In this three-way match, the top scorer would claim the soul bone.
Ye Tianxing faced He Hong first.
He Hong smirked. "Ye Tianxing, surrender now. You're only a Level 13 soul master. You don't stand a chance against me."
He Hong had trained under a teacher who specialised in sword techniques. His confidence was well-placed, but Ye Tianxing wasn't so easily intimidated.
Ye Tianxing grinned. "So what? A soul master's level doesn't determine everything."
He Hong, unimpressed, sneered and summoned his Bone Knife by stabbing his own chest. Strangely, there was no blood—only the bone knife emerged from within him.
Ye Tianxing chuckled. "Well, that's a first. Digging out your own heart and lungs, huh? At least the knife's made of bone."
He Hong scowled, "Stop talking and fight!"
In a flash, He Hong charged, the bone knife gleaming with a deadly intent.
Hu Liena, who had been sitting nearby, was finally intrigued. Someone who could actually fight—this would be interesting.
Ye Tianxing, however, was unfazed. He drew his Deadwood Bow, and the moment his soul power flowed into it, three arrows shot out, splitting into six thanks to the Gale Two-Headed Wolf soul ring effect.
The six arrows flew at high speed, but He Hong was quick. He knew that archers relied on long-range attacks, so he immediately took the initiative to close the distance, hoping to prevent Ye Tianxing from kiting him.
"The first soul skill—Cut!"
He Hong's Bone Knife glowed red with his soul skill, becoming as if forged from blood. He aimed and struck downward with devastating force.
Ye Tianxing, however, wasn't fazed. He pulled the bowstring back to the fullest, and the wind around him began to pick up. The gusts intensified, and the arrows collided with the bone knife midair. The strong wind forced He Hong to squint and shield his eyes.
While He Hong struggled against the wind, Ye Tianxing stood firm, utilising the tailwind to his advantage. As the dust settled, He Hong lost sight of his opponent.
Suddenly, Ye Tianxing was behind him.
Before He Hong could react, Ye Tianxing grappled with his knife, pulling it to the ground. The Deadwood Bow grew larger, far bigger than Ye Tianxing himself. Using the bow like a slingshot, he positioned He Hong on the string, pressing his legs into place.
Ignoring He Hong's desperate pleas for mercy, Ye Tianxing released the tension.
"Whoosh!" The sound of the bowstring vibrating echoed, and with a mighty flight, He Hong soared through the air, stabbed into the ceiling, and remained stuck there.
His legs twitched helplessly, but there was a twisted satisfaction in the absurdity of his flight. He wasn't dead—yet.