Though the advancement round was a round-robin tournament—meaning every academy would eventually face one another—meeting Blazing Academy this early still caused both sides to feel a subtle tension.
---
Back at camp, Xiao Wu immediately returned to her room to rest.
Her battles that day had consumed a great deal of soul power, and with another match tomorrow, she needed to recover quickly.
Mu Xi accompanied her. With her support-type Martial Soul, Xiao Wu's recovery speed would be several times faster.
Meanwhile, Li Chang'an gathered the others in the common tent to discuss the next day's strategy.
After a brief discussion, he finalized the lineup—
himself, first to fight—and then… nothing else.
Because honestly, even with only half of his full power, he could solo all seven opponents.
He intended to use the tournament to rack up more points—after all, he was still millions away from advancing to Spirit Douluo. He couldn't afford to slack off.
Just then, Hu Liena's playful voice drifted into his mind through sound transmission:
"Chang'an… if you don't let me go onstage tomorrow, then I won't release my Martial Soul when we… play."
Her tone was light, teasing, but to Li Chang'an it struck like a thunderbolt.
If his dear Nana refused to use her Martial Soul during "certain evening practices," that would mean no more cosplay sessions—no more fox-girl transformation! That was unacceptable.
Thus, for the sake of his future "well-being," he smiled helplessly and said:
"In that case, Nana will also be on standby."
(Nana being Hu Liena's alias—used to conceal her true identity from prying eyes.)
However, he gave her a strict rule:
she could release her Martial Soul, but not her soul rings.
If a five-ring Spirit King suddenly appeared on the battlefield, it would cause far too much trouble.
---
The Next Morning
The advancement matches proceeded at a far quicker pace than the preliminaries.
There were no ordinary spectators—only judges and officials.
Without the cheers and distractions of the crowd, the atmosphere was calmer, allowing Spirit Masters to perform at their best.
Crimson Rose Academy and Blazing Academy were scheduled for the fifth match of the day.
Even before the battle began, Li Chang'an could already feel an intense, burning gaze locked onto him from across the field.
He didn't need to look to know—it was Huo Wu.
Still, he didn't glance back.
He no longer practiced the crude, boastful kind of provocation.
Now his style was subtler—the art of baiting through restraint.
He simply watched the earlier matches in silence, particularly the bout between Godwind Academy and Thunderclap Academy.
Those two teams had not crossed paths with him before, and since they would eventually face Crimson Rose, he studied their tactics carefully to ensure his girls would be safe.
Through observation, he found that aside from the Four Element Academies and Shrek Academy, two other teams were exceptionally strong—
one called Silas Academy, the other, Plant Academy.
Silas Academy was comparable to the Four Elements, boasting three Spirit Ancestors above level forty.
But Plant Academy… that one puzzled even him.
Every member used a plant-type Martial Soul, yet all of them were peculiar species he had never seen before.
So far, only three of their members had even entered the field.
But despite their modest thirty-something ranks, all three were control-type Spirit Masters.
And remarkably, they had achieved two consecutive wins.
Plant Academy's style was understated; their techniques lacked flash or spectacle.
But the more subtle they were, the more Li Chang'an felt that they were dangerous.
Still, he chuckled to himself.
"Interesting… but in the face of absolute strength, everything else is just paper tigers."
---
The Match Begins
Finally, it was Crimson Rose Academy vs. Blazing Academy.
When Li Chang'an stepped onto the battlefield as Crimson Rose's first fighter, the Blazing Academy team collectively froze.
Their first representative was Huo Wushuang,
and their last—the one everyone anticipated—was none other than Huo Wu herself.
The moment Li Chang'an appeared first, Huo Wu shot to her feet, her ample boobs rising and falling rapidly as her eyes blazed with disbelief.
If the lineup order hadn't been fixed beforehand, she would've rushed up herself to fight him immediately.
'Why? Why are you the first to appear?!'
For the past month since the preliminaries, Huo Wu's training had been grueling—almost self-torture.
She had finally broken through another level, improving not just in soul power but in every facet of combat technique.
And all of it—all of it—was to avenge her loss to him.
But now… he was first.
Even if he was strong, there was no way he could last until her turn in the lineup.
Would her long-awaited revenge vanish just like that?
Her fists clenched in frustration.
But the rules were the rules—she couldn't simply demand her teammates forfeit.
She had to think of the team.
---
Huo Wushuang faced Li Chang'an across the field, his expression grim.
He had fully expected Xiao Wu—the girl who'd won five straight matches yesterday—to open for Crimson Rose. He'd even prepared specifically for her.
Yet here stood Li Chang'an—the man who had left him with an unforgettable impression.
For the first time, doubt flickered in his eyes.
He knew that with Li Chang'an's overwhelming power—and that terrifying elemental control—his own fire attribute would be hopelessly suppressed.
Still, he had to fight.
---
Li Chang'an stood calm as ever, his demeanor cool and aloof, like an unshakable mountain.
He always carried himself this way, regardless of the opponent.
At the referee's signal, the battle began.
Li Chang'an merely smiled faintly and gestured politely with his sword hand.
"Please—after you."
Not only the Blazing Academy team,
but nearly every Spirit Master from the kingdoms and duchies fixed their eyes on the arena.
One side was a traditional powerhouse.
The other—the mysterious man who split the ground with a single strike.
Everyone knew this would be a spectacle.
They wanted to see for themselves just how strong this "monster" from Crimson Rose truly was.
---
Scales rippled across Huo Wushuang's skin as crimson flames roared up around him—then abruptly dimmed and condensed.
His entire body turned dark red, a short horn sprouting from his brow.
Martial Soul: One-Horned Fire Tyrant Dragon.
Seeing the transformation, Li Chang'an's eyes narrowed slightly.
The fire burst was expected—but the sudden restraint afterward wasn't.
"He's learned control… not bad."
Clearly, Huo Wushuang had developed a new tactic to counter him.
But Li Chang'an only smiled faintly.
"Fire attribute? Young man, that's merely one of mine."
---
Two black spirit rings rose behind him—
and a gleaming azure-white sword, the Taibai, materialized in his hand.
Though he revealed only two rings, the moment their pitch-black glow spread across the arena, the audience collectively gasped.
"Two black rings?!"
"That's impossible—both are… ten-thousand-year rings?!"
Even those who had seen it before—like Huo Wushuang—couldn't suppress their shock.
The very existence of a Spirit Master with two ten-thousand-year rings defied every law of Soul Land.
Just what level of monster was this man?
---
Li Chang'an, however, wasn't showing off.
He truly intended to fight using only two rings.
Only by constantly testing his limits could he sharpen himself further—and ascend faster.
And just then, a familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[[Ding!] Random mission generated.
Objective: Defeat all seven Blazing Academy members alone.
Task: Display overwhelming dominance in battle and face Huo Wu head-on.
Reward: "Undying Body" skill – 3 uses]
Li Chang'an's lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile.
"One-versus-seven, huh? Perfect timing."