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I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: Seven Kill Shock the World
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"Those are the stored starlight impurities, intercepted by the transparent dome at the top and solidified after combining with soul power."
Li Zhilong explained, "They are wild and cannot be directly absorbed or utilized by soul masters. During the day, under the influence of sunlight, they slowly break down into a milder form, providing our students with additional strength and a simulated cultivation environment."
Bai Yuan narrowed his eyes, staring at the specks of light, his throat unconsciously rolling. Gu Yue keenly noticed his abnormality and quietly moved closer. "Hungry again?"
"No." Bai Yuan's voice was slightly hoarse. "On the contrary, I think I now know how to truly satisfy my hunger."
Just as the Abyss Plane devours other planes to grow stronger, Bai Yuan felt an intense craving emanating from the roots of his martial soul upon seeing the starlight impurities.
The abyssal maw rooted in darkness yearned to devour the stars, assimilating all into itself, plunging light into eternal darkness.
Unaware that a "voracious beast" had entered their midst, Li Zhilong stepped into the center of the arena and announced loudly:
"According to tradition, the exchange match will take the form of a seven-versus-seven team battle. Our side will consist of seven outstanding students personally selected by me, all between four-ringed and five-ringed levels. Considering your smaller numbers, you may choose individual battles or a six-person team fight."
"A team battle will do," Gu La calmly interrupted. "We six are a team; let all seven of you participate—don't disrupt your coordination. We also wish to witness the unique astral martial souls."
The Tian Ding Starry Sky Academy students stirred uneasily at these words, some wearing expressions of discontent. Six versus seven? This was clearly an insult.
Li Zhilong was also somewhat surprised: "Are you sure? Although you are all elites of Shrek Academy, the gap in cultivation levels, combined with the numerical disadvantage..."
Wu Sido snorted coldly, her arrogance evident. "Even six of us are more than enough to handle you."
This statement ignited the fury of the Tian Ding Starry Sky Academy students. A blue-haired youth abruptly stood up: "Director Li, please allow us to teach these elites a lesson!"
Li Zhilong hesitated, glancing at Gu La. Gu La merely nodded calmly: "Please proceed."
"Alright," Li Zhilong knew of Shrek Academy's pride, but it was also good for his students to learn that there were always others stronger than them. Taking a deep breath, he announced, "Both sides, take your positions—the match begins!"
The seven members of Tian Ding Starry Sky Academy quickly formed their array—three power-type fighters in front, two control-type in the middle, and two support-type at the back. It was a standard conservative team formation, clearly intending to first probe their opponents' strength.
Gu La's side, however, adopted a completely different strategy. Only Bai Yuan stepped forward alone, while the others didn't even release their martial souls.
"What's the meaning of this?" The blue-haired youth roared angrily. "There's a limit to disrespect!"
Bai Yuan tilted his head, a dangerous smile curling his lips: "It's not disrespect—it's just that they've allowed me to have a feast first."
Before his words faded, his eyes suddenly turned pitch black, even the whites disappearing.
A terrifying suction force erupted from within him. The starlight impurities stored in the observatory's dome began to tremble, thin streams of yellow energy forcibly pulled out and flowing toward Bai Yuan's outstretched hands.
"What… what kind of martial soul is this?!"
Li Zhilong watched in shock. As the Dean of Teaching, he had seen countless peculiar martial souls, but one capable of directly devouring environmental energy was a first.
Gu La stood at the rear, his eyes flickering with curiosity.
He knew how taboo Bai Yuan's martial soul was, and it wasn't time to fully reveal it yet. One "misunderstanding" had been enough; best to resolve any overt issues once and for all next time.
"Bai Yuan, control the amount," Gu La reminded softly.
Bai Yuan seemed not to hear. He gazed upward at the starlight he had drawn down, his face filled with intoxication.
The Tian Ding Starry Sky Academy students finally snapped out of their shock. The blue-haired youth shouted, "Stop him! Third Soul Skill, Star Rain Arrows!"
Dozens of arrows condensed from starlight shot toward Bai Yuan but mysteriously slowed within a meter of his body, eventually being absorbed entirely as pure energy.
"Delicious…" Bai Yuan murmured softly, his black eyes growing darker. "But still not enough."
Suddenly, he raised his right hand, fingers spread wide, aiming at the seven members of Tian Ding Starry Sky Academy. A crack opened in his palm, resembling a mouth sprouting teeth. A suction force ten times stronger than before erupted, causing the soul rings on the seven individuals to flicker unstably as their soul power uncontrollably drained outward!
"Ling!" The blue-haired youth's face changed drastically as he immediately unleashed his fifth soul skill—his martial soul was called Meteor Bow.
Among his teammates was a girl whose martial soul was called Meteorite. Though their martial souls lacked compatibility for fusion techniques, their second spirit soul had consciously fused to complement each other.
Fifth Soul Skill, Meteor Arrow!
Fifth Soul Skill, Starfall!
Under the guidance of five people, starlight descended. Two of them, with astonishing cooperation, merged their soul skills into a single devastating finishing move!
Fluorescent Hidden Kill Arrow!
The dazzling starlight merged but then vanished, the arrow flickering unpredictably, a faint spark leaping over a hundred meters.
Bai Yuan's eyes were filled with starlight, standing defenselessly in place.
At this moment, Gu Yue flashed behind Bai Yuan and slapped his back.
"Snap out of it! This isn't the time to indulge."
Bai Yuan's body trembled, the blackness in his eyes rapidly receding. He blinked in confusion, looking around: "What happened?"
Ignoring his appetite-driven avatar, Gu La raised his hand, condensing a long sword of Rock. Red sword qi split into thousands of strands, shredding the area ahead.
The arrow, though hidden and disorienting the mind, couldn't achieve true intangibility. Under the relentless shredding of the sword qi, its form revealed itself, inch by inch eroded and annihilated.
The seven members of Tian Ding Starry Sky Academy had collapsed onto the ground, their faces pale, clearly suffering from severe soul power depletion. The essence of starlight in the observatory had thinned significantly, and the points of light on the dome dimmed considerably.
Li Zhilong approached, his expression grim. "This... perhaps we should call the battle here?"
Not only had the observatory suffered greatly, but Bai Yuan's martial soul also seemed rather strange. If not for knowing he was from Shrek Academy, his ravenous absorption of soul power could easily be mistaken for that of an evil soul master.
Gu La stepped forward, apologizing sincerely: "I'm very sorry. Bai Yuan's martial soul is somewhat unique and occasionally loses control. We are willing to fully compensate for the damage to the observatory."
Bai Yuan, now fully lucid, stared at his hands, his brows furrowed. That feeling had returned—the endless hunger, as if a black hole inside him was devouring his sanity.
"I lost control again?" he asked Xu Xiaoyan softly.
Xu Xiaoyan nodded, her eyes filled with fear. "You nearly drained all their soul power, and your expression was terrifying."
Bai Yuan silently returned to the group, saying nothing. Wu Sido, already accustomed to Bai Yuan's abilities, refrained from mocking him further, giving him a deep look: "Truly a monster."
Unexpectedly, Na'er countered, defending Gu La's avatar: "It wasn't intentional. It's just the nature of his martial soul—just like your White Tiger martial soul can scare others too."
Wu Sido wanted to retort but was stopped by a glance from Gu La.
"Thankfully, it's just soul power exhaustion—they'll recover after a few days of rest," Li Zhilong sighed in relief after checking on the students' condition.
He turned to Gu La, his tone serious. "However, the exchange match will have to be postponed. Moreover, the observatory will need at least a week to restore its stored starlight essence."
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