As the competition progressed to the end of the first week, the city of Mingdu became increasingly lively, with tourists from other places showing no signs of decreasing.
Every day, more than a dozen stadiums of various sizes were filled with spectators. And through live broadcasts, hundreds of millions of people across the continent witnessed the emergence of various geniuses, and they also became household names.
Compared to the relatively low viewership of the sub-professional competitions, the junior and youth groups, whether in individual, three-on-three, or seven-on-seven matches, were exceptionally popular.
And in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy Douluo Arena, in several VIP rooms, the academy's high-ranking officials, several vice-councilors of the Federation, and several awe-inspiring War God Hall powerhouses gathered together.
Among them were Hao Ri Douluo Ao Rui, Emperor Sword Douluo Commander Long Tianwu, and Dark Emperor Douluo Luo Yuhang.
The latter two were the second and third War Gods of the War God Hall, respectively, and were also well-known Super Douluo powerhouses.
The three War Gods came to watch the competition together for a simple reason: in the fourth round, Nan Liujing's opponent was Hao Ri Douluo's disciple, Xu Junlan.
"Old Ao, who do you think will win?"
Luo Yuhang stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the waiting area for contestants, asking without turning his head.
"Hard to say!"
Ao Rui shook his wine glass, and the beautiful agate-like wine swirled within it.
Commander Long Tianwu's voice was very calm, and he said with a chuckle, "It seems you don't have much confidence in your disciple. No matter how powerful Nan Liujing is, he only has four spirit rings after all."
Ao Rui shook his head: "Never underestimate any enemy. This is my principle, and it's also why I was able to earn a third-class meritorious service from the Dark Nether Land when I was still a student."
Commander Long Tianwu and Luo Yuhang's eyes flickered slightly.
The so-called Dark Nether Land is a special space formed after the collision of the Douluo Plane and the Abyss Plane. No one knows how large it is, and everyone can enter it.
Every three days or half a month, Abyssal Creatures will pour into the Dark Nether Land from the Abyss Plane. To prevent them from growing stronger, Spirit Masters need to clear them out regularly.
This is different from the Endless Mountains and the defense line of the Blood God Legion's stationed area; the defense difficulty is generally lower. As long as Abyssal Creatures are not given the opportunity to gather on a large scale, the possibility of an Abyssal Tide occurring is very low.
At this moment, the host's passionate voice resounded throughout the Great Spirit Arena:
"Audience friends, a new day, a new beginning! The fourth round of the Federal Grand Competition Youth Group Individual Competition is about to begin. Let us welcome the thirty-eight contestants who have advanced to the fourth round."
On several giant Spirit-tool screens in the distance, the scene within the waiting area was displayed.
Including Nan Liujing, Xu Zihuang, and others, a total of thirty-eight calm and composed young talents stood quietly.
In an instant, an unparalleled cheer resounded, almost tearing off the dome.
The further into the competition, the more important figures from all walks of life would appear in the audience. Some contestants who had not yet found a backer were already starting to get excited.
"Please welcome the two contestants with the number one draw to the arena!"
The host shouted again.
As the cheers continued, on the competition stage, an eight-ring Spirit Douluo-level referee descended from the air.
Nan Liujing and Xu Junlan moved simultaneously, and in an instant, countless eyes fell upon them.
Xu Junlan, needless to say, was a six-ring Spirit Emperor, a definite hot favorite to win the championship.
Nan Liujing, on the other hand, was fighting across age groups, coupled with a series of events at the opening ceremony, making his reputation equally high.
On the walkway to the competition stage, Xu Junlan said with a smile, "I didn't expect to face you."
Nan Liujing returned the smile, "Perhaps the officials felt I had too easy a time with a bye in the third round, so they arranged a tough opponent for me in the fourth round."
Xu Junlan smiled sweetly and said no more.
Soon, the two entered the competition stage, facing each other ten meters apart.
The referee stood in the middle, looked at the two, and said in a deep voice, "You both know the rules of the competition, so I won't elaborate. Now, both sides retreat a hundred meters and await my command."
Their gazes met, their pupils reflecting each other's retreating figures.
A hundred meters apart, a spirit power barrier rapidly rose, its light contained, making it almost transparent. The roaring cheers of the audience were also blocked.
As the contestants stood firm, the entire venue gradually quieted down.
The referee loudly announced, "The match begins!"
A scorching wave of fire rapidly surged from Xu Junlan's delicate body, causing ripples of golden-red patterns to appear in the surrounding space. In her crimson-gold eyes, a phantom of the sun seemed to emerge, filled with an ancient and majestic sense of time.
Three purple, three black, a total of six spirit rings rose from her body.
Buzz~
Four deep black spirit rings rose.
Nan Liujing made a grasping motion in the air, and the void suddenly erupted with lightning plasma, transforming into a dark green Coiling Dragon Rod. He stood there, seemingly doing nothing, yet in the eyes of Xu Junlan and the audience, it was a completely different scene.
Surging thunderclouds appeared behind Nan Liujing. Amidst lightning and thunder, a lightning dragon coiled within. In the air, a fierce and domineering rod intent almost crushed everything, filling the entire competition stage with a trembling aura. Spiderweb-like fine cracks gradually extended outwards from beneath his feet.
"Invincible in close combat."
Xu Junlan almost instantly came to a conclusion that she found unbelievable. Her first spirit ring lit up, and the golden-red ripples behind her instantly transformed into an incredibly scorching sun.
Her jade finger pointed towards Nan Liujing, and the golden-red sun emitted a low rumbling sound. A beam of golden-red streaking light shot out with formidable force, its internal energy and high temperature sufficient to melt steel.
Nan Liujing lit up his first spirit ring, and violent lightning plasma erupted from his body, his entire being mysteriously vanishing.
Rumble!
The golden-red streaking light landed on the spot where Nan Liujing had originally stood. Terrifying flames incinerated everything, and the air was completely vaporized and distorted. The floor almost melted, and not only that, but accompanied by a series of explosions, the already melted ground revealed a dozen deep pits, each two meters in diameter, with scorching sun fire still boiling within them.
"Where is he?"
The audience tried to find Nan Liujing's trace.
Seeing Nan Liujing disappear, the absolute vigilance developed from fighting Abyssal Creatures made Xu Junlan immediately release her third Spirit Ability.
The golden-red sun fire began to spin, enveloping her body in a sun-wheel-like light shield, its surface adorned with vivid sun patterns.
"Roar."
As countless people searched, a resounding dragon roar appeared.
Above her head!
Above Xu Junlan's head, viscous lightning plasma gathered, and a dragon tail, like a whip of the Thunder God, swept down with formidable force.
The rod intent it carried crushed everything, causing space to emit agonizing cracking sounds.
Xu Junlan's delicate body trembled. She only felt her entire being locked by a fierce and overbearing, terrifying will capable of destroying everything. Her entire spiritual sea churned with monstrous waves, and without a moment's hesitation, she immediately released the second form of her third Spirit Ability.
The Coiling Dragon Rod descended, smashing heavily onto the sun-wheel shield. A spirit power storm of intertwined lightning and fire swept out, instantly causing the incredibly hard ground to cave inwards. The scattered gravel (shattered stones) turned into dust the moment they touched the rod intent.
In the ensuing silence, what appeared before the audience was a completely shattered competition stage, over fifty meters in diameter.
Amidst the raging flames, a strong and powerful figure stood holding the Coiling Dragon Rod, yet not a speck of it touched his body. He swept the rod, and the flames extinguished with a mournful wail. Streaks of exploding electricity expanded outwards, forming a lightning Domain.
Nan Liujing's gaze locked onto the figure that had reappeared from the distant pile of fragmented flames.
It was Xu Junlan!
But her current state was far from good.
Her tall, delicate body trembled uncontrollably, and faint dark blue electric arcs could be seen flickering within her.
"Attribute suppression!"
Outside the arena, Commander Xiao Pojun and Dragon Tianwu's eyes widened, and they almost spoke in unison.
It should be known that although the Sun Spirit is not an ultimate fire attribute Spirit, it is extremely close. Xu Junlan's third Spirit Ability's second form is a divine skill that can completely nullify all types of attacks, yet she was still affected.
Only one possibility could explain this.
Nan Liujing's Thunder Dragon Soul is an ultimate lightning attribute!
Not far away, Xu Zihuang's eyes narrowed, and he murmured to himself, "With the ultimate attribute enhancement, below a Super Douluo, a Spirit Master can fight two ranks higher. Four rings against six rings. If this were an era without Battle Armor, you might truly be able to create a miracle."
In reality, there were quite a few powerhouses who understood Nan Liujing's Spirit attribute. Compared to the audience, who were mostly exclaiming with words like 'awesome' and 'holy crap'.
Any Spirit Master with keen insight could tell that Nan Liujing's attribute strength surpassed anyone else present.
Wait!
Ao Rui and the others suddenly realized.
You have an ultimate attribute, and at the age of eleven and a half, you've already cultivated to the Spirit Ancestor rank?
????
This cheat code really can't be turned off, can it?
Inside the arena.
"Release your Battle Armor." Nan Liujing said calmly.
Xu Junlan expended a lot of spirit power to finally remove the lightning that had been Binding her. She bit her red lips and shook her head, saying, "Using a battle armor would be inappropriate now. From now on, you and I will only use our Spirit's foundations to decide the winner."
Nan Liujing raised an eyebrow slightly, "Then I'll be waiting."
Xu Junlan fell silent again, her hands slightly raised, and the golden-red blazing sun rose into the sky once more, quickly shooting out six beams of fire condensed from sun flames.
It was still her first Spirit Ability, Blazing Sun Arrow!
Once it hit an enemy, the power of the sun would immediately ignite, enough to burn through a ten-thousand-year Spirit Beast. It was extremely difficult to remove, and the amount of energy infused could even determine whether it could explode, truly a unique skill.
The six Blazing Sun Arrows were controlled to attack Nan Liujing simultaneously from several directions. From the internal energy fluctuations, it was clear that their power was not as great as the initial Blazing Sun Arrow, but they had the advantage of numbers.
Nan Liujing suddenly closed his eyes. Under the astonished gaze of hundreds of thousands of spectators, the Coiling Dragon Rod in his hand seemed to come alive, its dragon scales undulating and spewing lightning.
A fierce Rod Intent continuously surged from his body. The surrounding space seemed to bear some heavy object, beginning to hum under the strain.
The Blazing Sun Arrows attacked Nan Liujing's head, abdomen, legs, and hands respectively. Their speed was secondary; their attack frequency and angles were the most crucial.
It could be said that it was very difficult to defend perfectly, at least at the current realm. A slight lapse in attention would result in being hit by a Blazing Sun Arrow.
And once hit, even by just one, a Spirit Emperor of the same cultivation as Xu Junlan would have to expend great effort to deal with the power of the sun.
But Nan Liujing quickly demonstrated to everyone what exquisite footwork truly was.
As the Blazing Sun Arrows came, his figure flickered like lightning, his movement radius not exceeding half a meter. Every Blazing Sun Arrow almost grazed the edge of his clothes, yet it never touched him in the slightest. The scorching high temperature was also blocked by his extreme lightning resistance.
Gasps of surprise continuously erupted from outside the arena; it looked incredibly exciting.
Under Xu Junlan's control, the Blazing Sun Arrows quickly changed direction and reorganized their attack.
But Nan Liujing made his move at just the right moment. Although he still had his eyes closed, he easily perceived the trajectory of the flying objects. The Coiling Dragon Rod in his hand rapidly tapped the void like rain on a banana leaf, lacking its original fierceness but gaining a hint of softness.
Ripples continuously spread around his body, like a calm lake surface being touched.
"Combining hardness and softness. His Rod Intent has already reached a level close to the Spirit."
In the VIP room, the three War Gods showed expressions of shock.
Those ripples, seemingly gentle, actually contained hidden ferocity. They reacted upon contact, undoubtedly a highly refined application of Intent.
The Yun… no, he was stronger than Yun Ming was at the same period in the new era!
The Blazing Sun Arrows turned back and touched the ripples. Even if it was just the edge, they themselves would undulate due to the Rod Intent, and the powerful solar energy was forcefully shattered.
Xu Junlan's expression froze. She recognized that her opponent was using Intent.
First the extreme lightning attribute, then the Rod Intent. Nan Liujing's talent was extraordinary, even more astonishing than she had imagined.
"Again!"
Xu Junlan was not discouraged and immediately increased her spirit power output, causing the golden-red blazing sun behind her to shoot out even more Blazing Sun Arrows.
Their number exceeded twenty. Each one that flew through the air left an indelible fiery mark, like an eternal imprint.
But Nan Liujing had more tricks up his sleeve than people could imagine.
He reopened his eyes, releasing his Golden Dragon Body, his skin faintly radiating a brilliant golden luster. As Rod Intent infused it, the dragon scales on the rod body spewed dazzling lightning snakes. With a swing of his single arm, he instantly unleashed a dense, impenetrable lightning rod-flower.
Where the rod's tip passed, the air was forcefully cleaved into scorched cracks. The space within a three-meter radius violently twisted, as if being bound and torn by countless lightning bolts.
When the Blazing Sun Arrows whistled in, they simply couldn't penetrate the layered defense woven from Rod Intent and extreme lightning. As soon as they touched the edge of the rod-flower, they were torn apart and disintegrated.
Because quantity was prioritized over quality, the Blazing Sun Arrows also lost their astonishing explosive power and simply couldn't break through Nan Liujing's defense.
Xu Junlan's pupils constricted, and a powerful Spirit light erupted from her entire body as her sixth spirit ring lit up.
"Junlan is getting serious."
In the waiting area, Commander Xiao Pojun and Dragon Tianwu's expressions were solemn.
"Sixth Spirit Ability, Eternal Day!"
Amidst the spectators' exclamations, the golden-red blazing sun behind Xu Junlan suddenly expanded. Brilliant light scattered, as if true sunlight was falling upon the earth. The entire competition stage instantly brightened dramatically, and a powerful solar energy permeated it.
The fire elements within the competition stage were instantly activated, becoming extremely active.
It was no exaggeration to say that if an Evil Soul Master of the same Spirit Emperor level were here, their combat power would be instantly suppressed to less than a four-ring level.
Nan Liujing was illuminated by the brilliant light and immediately felt the rate of spirit power loss within his body increase dramatically. He inwardly praised the power of her Domain Spirit Ability but showed no panic.
The extreme lightning transformed into protective aura, and his third Spirit Ability, Indestructible Battle Intent, activated. The erosion of the solar energy was quietly blocked outside.
Outsiders didn't know about this change, but Xu Junlan did. Surprise appeared in her beautiful eyes. Even if Commander Xiao Pojun and Dragon Tianwu had come, they shouldn't have been able to block her Eternal Day.
Her heart sank. Originally intending to win by exhausting Nan Liujing's spirit power, she decisively made a choice, and her second and fifth spirit rings lit up consecutively.
Second Spirit Ability, Corona Body, an amplification Spirit Ability.
Fifth Spirit Ability, Sun God Spear, her strongest single-target burst Spirit Ability.
Xu Junlan's figure flickered. Where the blazing sun's light shone, the temperature surged. The terrifying high temperature completely blurred and distorted the competition stage. Viscous fire elemental liquid dripped down, enough to burn through the earth, and the spirit power shield at the edge of the arena also clearly undulated with intense fluctuations.
"Take this attack!"
As the high temperature began to melt the arena, Xu Junlan suddenly leaped into the air. With a grab of her right arm, all the light contracted, forming a golden-red flame spear. The spear tip pointed directly at Nan Liujing and thrust forward fiercely.
It was like a sun falling to the earth!
"Good!"
Golden dragon scales covered his entire body. Within the lightning aura, another layer of golden dragon aura appeared; this was precisely the Golden Dragon Overlord Body.
Nan Liujing's eyes were like torches. Endless Rod Intent infused the Coiling Dragon Rod. He stomped his foot, and accompanied by the cracking ground, his entire being shot straight into the sky. Then, he thrust out his rod. A Thunder Dragon Soul projection roared fiercely, as if countless rod shadows followed, and the elemental energy of heaven and earth was churned into chaos.
"Boom!!!"
Rod Intent and blazing sun quickly collided fiercely under the gaze of hundreds of thousands of eyes. Space shattered like a mirror, and the terrifying shockwave completely tore apart the entire competition stage.
One side transformed into a lightning prison, violent and profound; the other transformed into a blazing sun, vast and sacred.
In the stands, hundreds of thousands of spectators simultaneously held their breath.
Who won?
Crack!
The next moment, a shattering sound that made people's hearts tremble rang out.
The sacred and vast blazing sun seemed to lose its sustaining power, becoming dim.
Bang.
But suddenly, the blazing sun stubbornly bloomed its last ray of brilliance. The lightning prison was eroded by the light, and the violent lightning somewhat melted away.
"Break!"
However, accompanied by a soft shout, the lightning prison that occupied half the sky suddenly boiled, and rumbling thunder continuously echoed.
The last ray of light receded, the power of the sun dissipated, and the boiling fire elements also quieted down. In a hazy mist, a tall and graceful figure fell to the ground, the golden-red Sun God Spear already shattered.
Blood seeped from Xu Junlan's lips, and her entire body was covered in lightning marks, like a porcelain doll that would shatter with a gentle touch.
Lightning tore through the remaining light in the sky. The young man holding the long rod stepped forward lightly, his gaze falling on the woman lying on the ground.
"Without using your battle armor, you lost."
The young man's voice echoed throughout the Douluo Arena.
Seeing his completely unharmed appearance, Xu Junlan gave a bitter smile, "With my full-power attack, even a Spirit Saint would have to retreat. But you, you're so hard that I couldn't even make a dent. That attribute suppression is truly outrageous. No wonder in the era before battle armors, extreme Spirit Masters were hailed as natural kings."
Nan Liujing didn't speak.
That Sun God Spear was extremely powerful. Not only was its penetration astonishing, but the scorching power of its true sun fire was also quite terrifying. He had to use both his Golden Dragon Body and even his Golden Dragon Overlord Body, essentially maxing out his defense. Without the help of these two abilities, even with the aid of extreme lightning and Rod Intent, it would have been very difficult to achieve a flawless victory given the twenty-level cultivation difference.
Xu Junlan lay there and asked, "Do you think we've become friends from this fight?"
Nan Liujing glanced at her, "I suppose so. If there's a chance in the future, you can wear your battle armor, and we'll fight again."
Xu Junlan smiled, a hint of slyness in her eyes.
"Referee, I lost."
The match results were announced, and as the referee's voice fell, a roar of cheers erupted.
Nan Liujing's tall figure appeared on the giant screen, and through the live broadcast, it spread across the entire continent.
A four-ring cultivation, winning a head-on battle against a six-ring Spirit Emperor!
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Nan Liujing returned to the contestant waiting area, where the leader of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda Youth Group and the other three core disciples who advanced to the fourth round immediately came to greet him.
All four of them had intense admiration on their faces.
As Spirit Masters, they knew how difficult it was for a Four-Ring Spirit Master to defeat a Six-Ring Spirit Master.
Not to mention that his teacher was also the Vice Pagoda Master. If they didn't handle the social niceties now, when would they?
"Are you tired? Do you want some energy drinks?"
"My massage skills are top-notch, Young Master Nan, would you like to try?"
As soon as Nan Liujing sat down, the few of them enthusiastically attended to him.
Nan Liujing waved his hand in refusal: "Don't worry about me. You'll be competing soon too. Get your Spirits and energy to their peak. If you can make it to the fifth round, I'll put in a good word for you."
"Thank you, Young Master Nan."
The eyes of the three core disciples lit up like light bulbs, and they quickly pledged their loyalty.
On the other side, the competition stage was being repaired, and the contestants were chatting amongst themselves, the topic clearly still revolving around the first match. As for the audience, they were on their phones, liking the battle footage that had just concluded and been posted on the official website.
"You, you had a clear opportunity right in front of you and didn't cherish it. That was a complete set of Soul Forging metals crafted by Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua."
In the contestant passage, Commander Xiao Pojun and Dragon Tianwu followed Xu Junlan, who looked well-recovered after treatment.
The two brothers chattered like flies, one after another.
Xu Junlan suddenly stopped, looking at her two comrades with the gaze one would give an idiot, "I ask you, who is Nan Liujing's teacher?"
"Sky Phoenix Douluo," the two brothers hadn't reacted yet.
Xu Junlan stared fixedly at the two of them.
After a brief silence, Commander Xiao Pojun and Dragon Tianwu's eyes suddenly widened.
Seeing that they understood, Xu Junlan snorted lightly: "Soul Forging metals crafted by a Divine Craftsman are indeed good, but they are, after all, only Soul Forging. With our status, it's not difficult to obtain them. But Heaven Forging is different. By the time we grow to need Heaven Forging metals, Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua will have been retired for who knows how long. So, if we build a good relationship with the Divine Craftsman now and in the future, will we lack Heaven Forging metals?"
Commander Xiao Pojun clicked his tongue in wonder: "Junlan, I never realized you were so smart before."
Dragon Tianwu slapped him on the forehead: "How are you talking? Can you call her Junlan? Call her Sister Xu!"
Xu Junlan rolled her eyes at the two of them and said, "Listen to my advice: against Nan Liujing, absolutely do not use Battle Armor. And before and after the match, you must show a sufficiently friendly attitude. When we grow to need Heaven Forging metals, this friendship will definitely benefit us for life."
"Mm-hmm."
"We'll listen to you."
The two brothers nodded like chicks pecking rice.
Suddenly, a ringing sound broke the silence.
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Xu Junlan took it out and looked, instantly breaking into a cold sweat.
"You know the punishment for being eliminated in the fourth round, right?"
As soon as the call connected, Ao Rui's voice rang out.
Xu Junlan's expression stiffened, and she said sheepishly, "Teacher, I did this for the greater good. You can't punish me."
Ao Rui chuckled, "Your Three-Word Battle Armor isn't even complete yet, and you're already thinking about Four-Word Battle Armor."
Xu Junlan tried to appeal to her teacher's kindness: "You understand me best, Teacher."
"Stop talking nonsense, go back to the training camp and receive your punishment yourself," Ao Rui maintained his strict teacher demeanor.
Pfft!
...
Xu Junlan delivered two consecutive kicks, one on Commander Xiao Pojun's foot and one on Dragon Tianwu's, making the two brothers cry out in pain.
After half an hour of stage restoration, a brand new competition stage reappeared. With fewer contestants, the matches resumed one by one.
Nan Liujing remained seated in the waiting area. Commander Xiao Pojun, Dragon Tianwu, and Xu Zihuang were all potential opponents for his championship, and knowing himself and his enemy meant victory in every battle. He wanted to understand more details about his opponents.
In the morning, the three of them competed separately. All their opponents were Spirit Master-level Spirit Masters, but without exception, their One-Word Battle Armors were still missing two or three components to be complete.
Relying on their Spirit Emperor cultivation and formidable combat skills, they managed to overpower their opponents and advance to the fifth round.
During this time, a small interlude occurred: there should have been nineteen people entering the fifth round, and a drawing would determine who would get a bye. However, it turned out that three people were severely injured in the matches, making them unable to participate in the fifth round starting tomorrow. Therefore, only sixteen contestants would compete for the top eight spots.
At noon, at the stadium where the Youth Group was located.
Inside the VIP room, two beautiful young women sat on separate sofas, holding tablets and fully engrossed in Nan Liujing and Xu Junlan's peak showdown.
The clicks for this match on the official website had already exceeded 180 million. It could be said that nearly one-third of the Douluo Continent's population witnessed this spectacular match.
Wu Siduo's fingers restlessly twirled her hair, her proud curves gently rising and falling with her slightly hurried breathing. Her beautiful, exotic eyes were immersed in the young man's exceptionally graceful figure, not moving for a long time. The more she watched, the more a peculiar light flowed in her eyes.
Although she had met Nan Liujing rarely over the years, she had heard too many stories about him.
Starting from the attack in Heaven Dou City, he instantly killed an Evil Soul Master and saved dozens of civilians in a carriage. In the Tianhai Alliance Great Competition, he eliminated a Shrek Academy student, forcing the Shrek Academy, which had dominated the continent for twenty thousand years, to apologize. And now, he defeated a powerful enemy twenty levels above him without injury.
As a peer, his life experience was already incredibly brilliant.
When the video footage froze on Nan Liujing, with lightning exploding around him, tearing through the sky's radiance, standing before the fallen Xu Junlan, Wu Siduo's warm, delicate face suddenly flushed.
Her father had subtly hinted to her that if she was interested, she could try to get closer to Nan Liujing.
After all, their fathers were close friends, and they were quite supportive of them becoming in-laws.
She, who had only ever thought of Nan Liujing as a childhood playmate, gradually had a seed planted in her heart, waiting to take root and sprout.
Compared to Wu Siduo, Ye Xinglan had a different expression entirely.
Her exquisite face was quite serious, her cherry lips tightly pressed, and her pure, ocean-blue eyes followed every detail of the match, occasionally pausing to make notes.
Having grown up with Nan Liujing, their growth paths intertwined; she never denied the special affection in her heart. But as they grew older, she became somewhat anxious.
When they were young, they were evenly matched, but in just a few years, he could already defeat a Six-Ring Spirit Emperor.
The arrogance of a genius made Ye Xinglan feel genuine joy for her childhood friend's power, but at the same time, she was troubled by how much she had been left behind.
With the two girls lost in their own thoughts, Yuanen Yehui was also in the VIP room.
She didn't watch the match. Even though she learned of Nan Liujing's astonishing achievement from Ye Xinglan and Wu Siduo, she remained quite calm.
He was already extraordinary.
Wasn't he?
Thump thump thump!
A knock sounded.
Yuanen Yehui was closest to the door, so she immediately got up.
The door opened.
Nan Liujing stood outside, a gentle smile, as always, playing on his lips.
"You're here." Yuanen Yehui stepped aside, making way.
Nan Liujing walked inside, not forgetting to offer congratulations: "Congratulations on advancing to the top sixteen."
Yuanen Yehui smiled knowingly, her delicate features carrying a hint of elusive charm, "And congratulations to you on advancing to the next round."
After the congratulations, Nan Liujing's gaze fell on Wu Siduo, who was looking at him, "I heard your opponent is Yu Jiutian from Shrek Academy?"
"Yes."
Wu Siduo's eyes slightly darted away. She had just been thinking about some things her father had hinted at, and now the object of her fantasy had arrived, making it a little awkward.
Nan Liujing said, "I know some of Yu Jiutian's abilities. Do you want me to tell you in advance?"
"No."
Wu Siduo quickly calmed herself and immediately shook her head in refusal: "I want to defeat him without outside help. This is also part of my training."
"Outside help?" Nan Liujing raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression clearly displeased.
Wu Siduo paused, her red lips parted, but she was momentarily speechless.
The Nan Liujing in her memories had always worn a warm smile towards her, never gazing at her with such a nearly serious look. This change made her heart inexplicably skip a beat, and an indescribable panic spread from within her.
"I... I didn't mean that, you..." She instinctively wanted to explain, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
However, in the next second, the seriousness on Nan Liujing's face vanished, replaced by a smile, the oppressive feeling from moments ago long gone.
He chuckled teasingly, "Just messing with you, why so nervous?" With that, he turned and walked towards Ye Xinglan, leaving Wu Siduo standing still, her cheeks slightly flushed.
She herself found it strange; her emotions had always been quite stable. Why did she suddenly lose her composure and get nervous today just because of his serious expression?
When did I start caring about him?
Wu Siduo vaguely tried to pinpoint the reason.
Ye Xinglan was completely unaware of the conversation happening in the room, still intently watching the match replay, even playing it frame by frame.
While the intent of a staff and the intent of a sword are different, as forms of weapon intent, they still share many similarities and offer much to learn from.
It wasn't until the sofa beside her sagged, indicating someone had sat down, that Ye Xinglan reacted, frowning slightly and saying, "Wu Siduo, can you stop crowding me? Do I smell that good?"
"???"
Innocently called out, Wu Siduo's eyes widened, and she pulled up her sleeve, revealing a fair, lotus-root-like arm, ready to confront Ye Xinglan on the spot.
At the crucial moment, Yuanen Yehui reacted quickly, forcibly pulling away the 'tigress' to maintain the peaceful atmosphere of their small group.
"It does smell quite good."
A familiar voice sounded, Ye Xinglan froze, turned her head to look, and her pretty face instantly flushed crimson.
Nan Liujing was sniffing her, drawing in her scent.
"You dog!" Ye Xinglan slapped him in embarrassment and anger.
"Hey~ How can you hit someone?" Nan Liujing was quick-witted, grabbing her delicate small hand and playfully holding it in his palm.
"Let go." Ye Xinglan's face was red as she tried to pull away, but his large hand was like a vice, impossible to move.
"No." Nan Liujing chuckled. He had to admit, despite her years of sword practice, Ye Xinglan's palms had no calluses; her skin was incredibly elastic and very delicate.
"If you don't let go, I'll draw my sword." Ye Xinglan threatened. Mainly, with others watching, she couldn't let loose.
"Am I afraid of you drawing your sword?" Nan Liujing's words were tough, but his actions were soft, and he decisively let go.
"Good that you know your place." Regaining her freedom, Ye Xinglan snorted lightly.
While they were flirting, the others nearby remained silent and peaceful.
Wu Siduo watched the scene with a complex expression, a hint of envy inexplicably welling up in her heart.
She was the first to know him!
That night in the garden, when they danced, he stepped on her feet dozens of times.
Yuanen Yehui simply watched Nan Liujing, a hint of a smile in her eyes. This was completely different from the mature and composed demeanor he showed when they were alone, which she found quite interesting.
In the afternoon, the Youth Group matches continued.
Ye Xinglan's opponent was from the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, a contestant who had just entered the Spirit Ancestor realm. Relying on her Sword Intent and the power of her Star God Sword Spirit, she successfully defeated him.
Nan Liujing, as a member of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, became a traitor on the spot, cheering for Ye Xinglan.
As for Wu Siduo, her challenge was much greater.
Under the witness of the audience and a considerable number of contestants, she faced Yu Jiutian, a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit Master.
Yu Jiutian's cultivation reached level forty-six, three years older than Wu Siduo. At fourteen and a half years old, this cultivation was already quite impressive; he would most likely become a Spirit Emperor before turning twenty.
It could be said that Yu Jiutian, a favorite to win the Youth Group individual competition, basically suppressed Wu Siduo from beginning to end. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit's power surpassed that of the White Tiger and Hell Civet.
But just as the audience thought Wu Siduo, one of the three beauties of the Youth Group, was about to be eliminated from the subsequent matches, the moment of counterattack arrived!
Forced into a desperate situation, Wu Siduo resolutely used her ultimate move—Hell White Tiger.
With a surge in offensive and defensive capabilities, Wu Siduo began to turn the tide. Finally, with moderate injuries, she achieved an upset victory over Yu Jiutian, causing a huge surprise.
For a time, public opinion was in an uproar. Not long ago, some people were still boasting that Shrek Academy students would win the Youth Group individual championship, but a few days later, their strongest student fell outside the top sixteen.
The remaining Shrek Academy students who had not been eliminated left with their grim-faced leader. A critical meeting was likely to fall upon Yu Jiutian.
It was just unknown if he would be demoted to a work-study student.
...
The far north.
Cold winds swept across this ancient land, with vast snowfields and icebergs everywhere. The progress of human technology had not disturbed the tranquility of this Spirit Beast sanctuary.
Within an iceberg, there was a base resembling an ant's nest, where powerful Evil Soul Masters could be seen moving about.
Blood-red eerie light filled everything. At the center of the base was a pit thousands of meters deep, with black chains extending from the ground to the bottom of the pit. The chains pulsed with the wails of vengeful Spirits, and a foul stench emanated from the bottom of the pit, making one nauseous.
A cloaked figure slowly approached the edge of the pit, their gaze falling into the black, profound hole, then knelt on one knee, "Demon Emperor."
A hoarse voice came from the bottom of the pit,
"How did your talks with the Spirit Transfer Pagoda go?"
Ghost Emperor Yakesi's eyes were cold: "Shrek Academy suddenly changed its stance and began cooperating with the Federation. This has made some high-ranking officials who supported the Spirit Transfer Pagoda and us somewhat hesitant, and the plan is highly likely to be delayed."
Stop!
In an instant, the foul, gloomy wind pulsating within the cave abruptly ceased, as if everything had solidified. Yet, the hidden pressure was enough to make even a Super Douluo tremble with fear.
After a long while, the hoarse voice sounded again, but filled with rage, "Tell that Qiangu Dongfeng, either force the Federation's high-ranking officials to maintain the plan, or wait for the entire continent to know about his cooperation with Evil Soul Masters."
"But that way, we will completely fall out with the Spirit Transfer Pagoda." The Ghost Emperor said in a deep voice, "And our meticulously planned hidden lines will also be completely exposed."
"For the ultimate goal, everything is worth sacrificing." The Demon Emperor said coldly, "Do as I say, and withdraw."
The Ghost Emperor said no more, stood up, and left.
With his back to the pit, a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes. If it weren't for that ultimate goal, what kind of thing are you, Demon Emperor, to dare command me!