The arena was now buzzing with noise and excitement as students gradually emerged from the back mountains.
Most of them looked weary, some with torn clothes, others bearing injuries—clearly, they had endured a rough night.
Those students who had been "hung" on trees by Su Yu had long been rescued by the teachers.
They now gathered in small groups, their faces still pale with lingering fear.
When their eyes inadvertently swept over Su Yu and Hu Liena, their footsteps halted in unison.
Many instinctively shrank back, their legs feeling somewhat weak.
"That's him…" a tall, lanky student whispered in a tone laced with dread.
"Those vines are downright eerie—not only can't you break free once they bind you, but they also drain your Soul Power!"
"The moment you gather even a bit of Soul Power, the vines suck it all dry. The feeling… it's pure torment!"
His companion nodded in deep agreement, recalling the humiliation of being left hanging helplessly on the tree, forced to watch the sun rise.
Their gazes toward Su Yu now held a mix of reverence—no, more accurately, sheer terror.
Noticing these stares, Su Yu merely smiled faintly and walked with Hu Liena to the registration desk, where they took out all the heavy Command Tokens from their waists.
As the teacher in charge of counting tallied them, his eyes widened more and more, until he couldn't help but gasp sharply:
"T-two hundred and twenty-three?!"
This exclamation instantly drew the attention of the entire arena. All the students looked over in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.
After all, the team in second place had fewer than forty-five tokens.
The students who had been "taken care of" twitched at the corners of their mouths—so the ones they had delivered last night were just the small change?
Xu Ding stepped forward, looked at the pile of Command Tokens, and announced loudly:
"For the first assessment, the team of Su Yu and Hu Liena—first place!"
Scattered applause broke out, as many were still reeling from the shock.
Especially those who had once considered targeting them—their cheeks now burned with embarrassment, and they no longer dared to underestimate the pair in the slightest.
Xu Ding cleared his throat lightly, his aged voice cutting through the murmurs in the arena:
"All students, listen up. This afternoon, return to rest and recuperate, build up your energy."
"Tomorrow morning, the second assessment will begin—the individual Soul Duel Tournament!"
A wave of commotion immediately rippled through the crowd. Individual duels meant more direct confrontations.
Each person would have to face challenges alone, with no companions to rely on.
…
Inside the Papal Hall—
"Teacher!"
Su Yu and Hu Liena stood side by side, bowing respectfully.
Bi Bidong sat regally on the papal throne, her gaze sweeping over the two as she spoke with a note of approval:
"You performed excellently in the first assessment."
She paused, tapping a finger lightly on the armrest.
"For tomorrow's individual Soul Duel, I hope you can maintain this momentum."
"Yes, Teacher!"
They replied in unison, their voices filled with conviction.
Bi Bidong gave a slight nod and waved a hand. "Dismissed. Prepare well."
"Yes, Teacher!"
They turned and exited the grand hall, the heavy doors slowly closing behind them.
Time flew by, and soon it was the next day—
The training grounds in the backyard of the Martial Soul Academy were already packed with people.
Students, containing their excitement and nerves, gathered in small groups, discussing the upcoming individual Soul Duel competition.
On the high platform, Xu Ding, dressed in formal attire, swept his steady gaze across the entire venue. Only when the clamor gradually subsided did he speak clearly:
"Students, today we are holding the second event of the Freshman Competition—the Solo Soul Duel!"
He paused briefly, his voice amplified by Soul Power to reach every corner:
"Unlike yesterday's teamwork, today you will stand alone on the arena."
"There will be no cover from companions, no clever coordination—only your own Soul Power, Spirit Abilities, and willpower can help you go further!"
The students below clenched their fists, their eyes blazing with fervent fighting spirit.
One-on-one duels were the most direct test of strength and the best opportunity to prove oneself.
"Matches will be determined by draw. Winners advance until the final solo champion is decided!"
Xu Ding raised his hand to signal, and staff immediately stepped forward holding a box of lots.
"Now, in the order of yesterday's team competition rankings, draw your lots one by one!"
As the first-place finishers in the first assessment, Su Yu and Hu Liena were at the front of the line.
Hu Liena reached out and drew a lot. Unfolding it, a relaxed smile appeared on her face:
"Number thirty-two. A bye in the first round."
Su Yu followed closely behind. His fingertips touched a bamboo slip, and he pulled it out to take a look:
"Number fifteen. I have a match in the first round."
"It seems Brother Su Yu will warm up first," Hu Liena blinked.
Su Yu nodded, his gaze sweeping over the eager students.
Among them were quite a few whom he had "taken care of" yesterday. Their expressions were complex—a mix of fear and resentment.
Xu Ding's voice rang out once more: "The drawing has concluded. In the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, the Solo Soul Duel will officially begin!"
The time passed in the blink of an eye. As the referee loudly announced the names, Su Yu stepped calmly onto the dueling ground.
A familiar figure appeared opposite him—none other than Zhang Hao, who had faced him before.
Zhang Hao wore a stubborn expression, his eyes fixed intently on Su Yu as he spoke with unyielding determination:
"Su Yu! Last time, I was careless. This time, I will not lose to you again!"
Before his words faded, his Soul Power erupted abruptly. A flash of light appeared behind him as the Blazing Sun Bird Martial Soul emerged, raising its head proudly.
The fiery red bird flapped its wings and cried out, surrounded by orange-red flames like a cloak.
Scorching heat waves spread in all directions, making even the air feel slightly hot.
"Oh? It seems you've made significant progress these past few days."
Su Yu observed the more condensed flames compared to last time, a flicker of approval in his eyes.
Zhang Hao clenched his hands, and the first Soul Ring beneath him suddenly lit up:
"First Spirit Ability—Flame Impact!"
The Blazing Sun Bird opened its mouth wide, releasing a concentrated burst of flame aimed directly at Su Yu's face, carrying an aura intent on incinerating everything.
Su Yu shifted his feet slightly, his body gliding sideways like a phantom, narrowly avoiding the flame attack.
"Little firebird, you're still using the same old tricks! Wood Style: Thorns Kill Technique!"
Su Yu slapped the ground with both hands. Several thick Wooden Vines burst forth from the earth with sharp, whistling sounds.
Twisting like agile snakes, they lunged toward Zhang Hao. The surfaces of the vines were covered in sharp thorns, glinting coldly in the sunlight.
"Hmph, this time, I won't let you entangle me!"
The Blazing Sun Bird behind Zhang Hao continuously spewed streams of fire, forcing back the oncoming Wooden Vines.
"Your Wood Release is still afraid of fire, after all. Your vines can't get close to me!"
"Is that so?" Su Yu's eyes narrowed slightly.
Countless wooden vines surged wildly from all directions, no longer confined to linear assaults but spreading like a vast unfurling net, converging simultaneously from above, below, left, and right.
The thorn-laden vines avoided areas where the flames burned brightest, deliberately targeting gaps to infiltrate.
Some even crept along the ground, snaking around to bypass the frontal defenses of the fire.
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