"It's over!"
Zhu Ziyang whispered. He then leapt into the air, gripping the handle of the Reaper's Judgment Scythe with both hands—blade downward, crescent edge upward, and the point aimed directly at Beibei and Xu Sanshi.
A vast and overwhelming light energy gathered at the blade, making it shine as brilliantly as the sun. Its imposing momentum resembled divine punishment, causing Beibei and Xu Sanshi's expressions to change drastically. Zhu Ziyang's waist twisted—first bending forward, then backward. The scythe followed his movement, and the blade carved a massive, golden crescent arc through the air.
Golden Crescent – Half-Moon Reaper Style!
This move, named Golden Crescent, moved forward with a slow yet inescapable force. In Beibei and Xu Sanshi's eyes, it grew larger and larger, filling their vision. The immense pressure left them with no thought of resisting.
Just as the golden blade arc was about to engulf them, an examiner finally intervened. A pair of eagle wings appeared behind him, seven soul rings glowing behind his back. He dashed onto the platform at high speed, grabbing Beibei and Xu Sanshi and pulling them out of the arena.
The very next second, the golden blade energy completely flooded half of the field. When the light faded, all the watching teachers were shocked to see that a narrow scar—nearly 100 meters long and 3 meters wide—had been carved into the arena floor!
"This… a self-created soul skill!" The teachers were all stunned. Du Weilen was equally amazed. The look he gave Zhu Ziyang grew even more serious. He had reason to believe that Zhu Ziyang would become the most brilliant rising star on the continent!
The rescued Beibei and Xu Sanshi stared in disbelief at the massive scar in the field. After a long moment, they exchanged glances and both revealed bitter smiles.
Back on the field—while Zhu Ziyang had taken on Beibei and Xu Sanshi alone—on the other side, Xue Weiwei was also facing two opponents by herself.
However, unlike Zhu Ziyang's dominance in a one-versus-two situation, Xue Weiwei—being a control-type soul master with a single support skill—was completely outmatched. She had no way of resisting the combined assault from agility-type Jiang Nannan and control-type Tang Ya. Forcing a control/support-type Grandmaster to fight against both an agility and a control-type Grandmaster? That was like asking a bull to give birth—completely unreasonable.
Although Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya were affected by the Slowing Light, and their speed was reduced significantly, without any external interference, they were able to use classic two-on-one tactics to eventually subdue Xue Weiwei. In fact, they finished the fight even faster than Zhu Ziyang did.
So, by the time Beibei and Xu Sanshi were taken off the field, the match was already over.
"Zhu Ziyang's team wins!" the referee announced.
"Yay!" Tang Ya grabbed Jiang Nannan's hand and cheered.
Zhu Ziyang smiled as well. His gaze casually drifted toward the main platform and noticed that Yan Shaozhe was no longer there. Realizing something, the corners of his mouth lifted even more.
"Ziyang, Xiaoya, Nannan—congratulations!" Beibei's team came over. Though they had lost, it was a defeat they accepted wholeheartedly. All three smiled genuinely as Beibei offered his congratulations.
"Thanks!" Zhu Ziyang replied without false modesty, accepting the praise and patting Beibei on the shoulder. "How are you? Not hurt, right?"
"I'm fine," Beibei said with a smile.
"Haha! Guess we really were one step ahead!" Tang Ya ran over and hugged Beibei's arm, her face full of excitement and pride. She looked at Xu Sanshi and said, "Well, Xu Sanshi? Admit defeat?"
"Of course I do!" Xu Sanshi responded immediately, wearing a respectful smile. "It's my first time seeing someone with a second soul ring that's a millennium ring. Absolutely shocking."
"Indeed," Beibei nodded, visibly puzzled. "Ziyang, how did you manage that? And why does your martial soul make mine tremble just being near it?"
"Maybe my martial soul is just stronger," Zhu Ziyang said with a calm smile.
But to Beibei, that answer clearly meant Zhu Ziyang didn't want to explain further. After all, his own Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was a top-tier true dragon martial soul. Martial souls stronger than that were almost nonexistent on the entire continent. Still, Beibei was tactful enough not to press the issue.
Meanwhile, back at the beginning of the match—once Yan Shaozhe realized that Zhu Ziyang possessed a martial soul with the Ultimate Light attribute, he dashed toward Sea God Island at an incredible speed.
By the lakeside of Sea God Lake, an old man with messy hair sat there, his disheveled appearance contrasting sharply with the beautiful scenery. His once-white robe was now stained gray-brown, patched and torn in many places. His hair was a tangled mess, and his bare feet dangled in the cool lake water. In one hand, he held a massive gourd—purple-red in color, its material unknown. Occasionally, he took a swig, and the air filled with the aroma of strong liquor. In the other hand, he clutched a roasted chicken, gnawing away without concern for grease or manners—alternating between bites of meat and gulps of wine, thoroughly enjoying himself.
"Elder Xuan!" Yan Shaozhe spotted the old man. Though in a hurry, he slowed slightly out of respect and called out a greeting. Before the elder could respond, he charged up Sea God Island.
"That Yan Shaozhe—still so impatient! Really now…" the old man muttered, then happily returned to chewing on his chicken leg, as though nothing around him mattered.
Once on Sea God Island, Yan Shaozhe headed straight to the heart of the island—a small three-story pavilion atop a hill. The building, made entirely of wood and weathered with age, stood just ten meters tall. Though not majestic in appearance, a black plaque hung above the entrance of the first floor, with three gilded characters etched onto it:
Sea God Pavilion.
"Teacher, your disciple has urgent matters to report!" Yan Shaozhe stood respectfully outside, his face filled with reverent sincerity.
A long moment passed before an old voice finally sounded from within:
"Come in."
At the same time, the pavilion doors opened on their own.
Though anxious, Yan Shaozhe calmed his steps and entered the building.
"Teacher!" Yan Shaozhe quickly approached the lounge chair inside and greeted respectfully.
"Hmm," Mu En responded faintly without opening his eyes, lying still as if asleep.
"Teacher, do you remember the new student I mentioned yesterday—Zhu Ziyang?" Yan Shaozhe asked, already used to Mu En's demeanor.
"Hmm." Upon hearing the name, Mu En recalled the confident and radiant young man and gave a rare verbal reply.
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe's face lit up with joy and said immediately,
"Teacher, he possesses an Ultimate Martial Soul!"