"This is surprising. I thought you'd wait until the later rounds to join the match," said Feng Xiaotian, visibly surprised.
Yun Yibai surveyed the entire arena and replied calmly,
"Since we're a new academy, we need to make a name for ourselves early."
"Besides, just because I'm entering the match doesn't mean I have to reveal my soul rings."
Feng Xiaotian understood. For soul masters, it was entirely possible to hide soul rings. Soul rings only become visible when using soul skills. Most soul masters show their rings when summoning their martial soul, mostly to make a statement or appear impressive.
However, if one simply activates their martial soul in body-enhancement form, the rings can remain hidden — it's a controllable process.
Still, even without relying on soul skills, Yun Yibai's combat power remained formidable. Now a Soul King, he could easily go toe-to-toe with a Soul Elder using just the power of his martial soul.
Yun Yibai entered the field with four alternates — Huang Weiyuan, Qiu Wuji, Li Mengqi, and Ye Qingling — as well as two official members, Oscar and Yang Tai. These seven stepped onto the battlefield with calm confidence.
"All of Auckland Academy's students are Soul Excellents, and their soul power isn't particularly high," Feng Xiaotian observed. "Feels like he's playing the underdog card."
The match between Wuji Academy and Auckland Academy was now fully underway.
"Yun Yibai... He's participating?" muttered Yu Tianheng, watching the arena with a serious expression.
He knew that since he had become a Soul Elder, Yun Yibai likely had too. What he didn't know was what Yun Yibai's fourth soul skill would be — this match would be a perfect chance to observe him.
"In a minor elimination round like this, Yun Yibai chose to participate. What's his motive?" Thunderclap Academy's Yu Tianxin was equally puzzled. Auckland Academy's strength didn't seem high enough to require someone like Yun Yibai.
"It's him!" exclaimed Shui Bing'er of Tianshui Academy with a bit of surprise as she recognized Yun Yibai. She had looked into Wuji Academy and its students the night before.
However, aside from alternates Huang Weiyuan, Qiu Wuji, Li Mengqi, Ye Qingling, and main team members Oscar and Yang Tai, she found no information at all on Feng Xiaotian, Dugu Yan, or Yun Yibai for the past two or three years.
That kind of information gap introduced dangerous uncertainty, not ideal when preparing for future matches.
"Thunder Dragon is on the field!" In the spectator stands, those who recognized Yun Yibai grew visibly excited. It had been years since anyone had seen the Thunder Dragon in action.
"I'm betting on Thunder Dragon!" shouted a fan, clearly a veteran supporter who'd watched Yun Yibai compete in the Great Spirit Arena in the past.
"Hahaha!"
"Right? There should be betting booths, but I haven't seen any."
"Come on, this is your first time watching these kinds of matches? The first-round elimination games have odds so low that no bookmaker even bothers. Wait for round two before betting opens."
"..."
"This kid has that kind of influence?" Ning Fengzhi narrowed his eyes slightly. He'd only had a vague impression of Yun Yibai before, but now it seemed he had underestimated him.
"Contestants ready — match begins!" announced the referee once both teams had taken their positions.
On Auckland Academy's side, all seven students released their martial souls, and their soul rings became visible. Each had the standard configuration of two yellow and one purple ring.
Their formation was tight: power-attack and agility-type soul masters surged forward, defense-types guarded the rear, and support-types had already activated their soul rings.
Meanwhile, on Wuji Academy's side, all seven students released their martial souls. While the others revealed their soul rings, Yun Yibai did not.
Huang Weiyuan, Qiu Wuji, Li Mengqi, and Ye Qingling: two yellow, one purple.
Oscar and Yang Tai: two yellow, two purple.
Just as the audience began to wonder why Yun Yibai hadn't revealed any rings, he suddenly raised his dragon-transformed right hand, now wrapped in golden lightning.
As his soul power surged, the electric aura around him intensified dramatically. The audience couldn't tell his exact strength, but the sheer pressure of his presence left them stunned.
Yun Yibai clenched his fist — and in that moment, a bolt of golden lightning fell from the sky, striking directly above the heads of all seven Auckland Academy students.
BOOM!
The thunderbolt struck without warning. Caught off guard, most of the Auckland students didn't even have time to defend themselves.
Zzzzzzzz!
The powerful lightning attack crippled their ability to fight almost instantly.
Yun Yibai's attack — powered by the soul force of a Soul King — was a crushing blow to opponents who were merely Soul Excellents.
The rest didn't even require further instruction. Oscar, Yang Tai, and the others stepped forward to finish the job.
"As expected of a Soul King," Oscar thought to himself. "Even without using soul skills, just soul-powered lightning alone is too much for Soul Excellents to handle."
That brief moment ignited a wave of excitement among the audience.
"Wuji Academy has two Soul Elders? That's another dark horse!" someone shouted in surprise.
The previous "dark horse" was, of course, Shrek Academy.
"No — make that three Soul Elders," someone with a sharper mind had already estimated Yun Yibai's soul power level based on his display.
"That's Thunder Dragon for you. He didn't even show his soul rings, but I'd bet he's a Soul Elder — and a strong one at that."
"Only a Soul Elder could use elemental energy alone to take down a whole team of Soul Excellents."
"..."
Upon the VIP platform, Emperor Xue Ye's expression changed slightly.
A team with three Soul Elders? This sudden emergence of Wuji Academy piqued his curiosity.
"Sect Master Ning, have you heard of this Wuji Academy?"
"Your Majesty, I too, am seeing them for the first time."
It wasn't just Emperor Xue Ye — Ning Fengzhi was just as intrigued. Especially since Yun Yibai had managed to defeat an entire team of Soul Excellents without even revealing a single soul ring.
"Dean Meng, Dean Bai — do either of you know anything about this Wuji Academy?" the Emperor asked.
Dean Meng stood up and shook his head slightly.
"Wuji Academy seemed to appear out of nowhere. We know very little about them. But judging from what we've seen today, they should not be underestimated."
"Your Majesty, leave this matter to me!" Prince Xue Xing quickly stepped forward to show his loyalty.
"Very well." Emperor Xue Ye nodded approvingly.
Soon after, Prince Xue Xing left the platform to begin gathering intelligence on Wuji Academy and its students.