"Clear Sky Hammer?! Am I seeing this right?"
Tang San swung the Clear Sky Hammer onto his shoulder. There were many hammer-type Item Martial Souls, but that appearance and power could only belong to the Clear Sky Hammer in the entire Douluo Continent!
"No mistake, that's definitely the Clear Sky Hammer, one hundred percent the Clear Sky Hammer. I've seen disciples from the Clear Sky Sect before, and theirs looked exactly like his."
As soon as the Clear Sky Hammer appeared, the surrounding spectators began buzzing with discussion.
"Damn it all, what's a Clear Sky Sect disciple doing at Spirit Academy? The graduation slots from the Main Academy are already scarce enough."
"Did he betray the Clear Sky Sect?"
"Not necessarily. Sects and academies are different by nature. For example, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has disciples who joined the Lightning Element Academy. I've heard core disciples from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Elephant Armor Sect, and others have joined different academies too. It's not strange for a Clear Sky Sect disciple to enter an academy to learn from their strengths."
However, while the audience focused on Tang San's Martial Soul, those standing on the high platform—Yue Guan and the others—noticed something different.
"Purple, yellow-purple-purple. Tsk tsk tsk, Xiao San's Second Soul Ring far exceeds the Soul Enchant limit." Yue Guan's eyes narrowed into crescents like the moon.
Academy Head Zhong Wei's face revealed astonishment. "Isn't he afraid his body would explode?! How dare he attach a thousand-year Soul Ring as his Second Soul Ring?"
A faint, almost imperceptible smile curled at the corners of Qian Renxue's lips. "I suspect his true goal isn't the Second Soul Ring, but the Fourth."
"The Fourth? You mean... ten-thousand-year?!"
Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes lingered on the figure in the arena as she murmured, "No wonder Father asked me to pay attention to him. He must have already known Tang San's Second Soul Ring was a thousand-year one."
The vice-principal frowned skeptically. "Your Highness, while attaching a thousand-year Soul Ring as the Second is somewhat possible—since the Second Soul Ring's limit is close to a thousand years—the Fourth Soul Ring's limit is only five thousand. Attaching a ten-thousand-year one is impossible, isn't it?"
Qian Renxue shook her head. "I don't know if the Clear Sky Sect has any special methods to break Soul Ring limits, but I can tell you this: those so-called Soul Ring limits only apply to ordinary Soul Masters. There exist special methods in this world to surpass them."
Of course, Qian Renxue knew Soul Ring limits weren't absolute—she herself possessed Soul Rings that exceeded conventional limits, rewards granted through the Angel God Trial.
At this moment, Tang San had undoubtedly become the center of attention. The remaining Soul Masters in the arena all turned their gazes toward him.
Ignoring their stares, Tang San looked at the archer Soul Master and said, "Will you step down yourself, or shall I help you?"
The bow-wielding Soul Master glanced at Cai Bao, who had been sent flying by Tang San's hammer strike and now lay unconscious. Even a Diamond Spirit couldn't withstand a single hammer blow—he stood no chance. "I... I surrender."
Without further struggle, he stepped off the platform.
However, Tang San's hammer strike seemed to signal the final sprint. Those who had been conserving their strength now unleashed their full power.
These individuals were naturally gifted and perceptive, vaguely sensing that the promotion slots should be decided now.
It was precisely for this reason that they all began unleashing their Soul Skills.
Clang, clang—immediately, sword-shaped Martial Souls rang out like metal striking stone, their clear cries resounding across the square. Ice-attribute Martial Souls exuded bone-chilling cold, while Soul Masters wielding Serpent Staffs summoned venomous snakes. A female Soul Master held a volcanic Martial Soul in her palm, flames erupting from it.
In an instant, the promotion stage became even more chaotic, with all kinds of Martial Souls and Soul Skills appearing one after another.
Soon, only ten Soul Masters remained on the stage. Under the intimidation of Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer, Tailong naturally became one of the ten.
Tailong was probably a little dazed. As the grandson of the Strength Clan's patriarch and a direct descendant, he was now about to enroll in Spirit Academy!
Seeing only ten people left on the stage, some confused spectators asked curiously, "Now that the ten have been selected, is it over?"
"Of course not. While entering the Main Academy is already quite good, don't forget—above the Main Academy is the Holy Academy. And the Holy Academy's exam isn't something just anyone can take. It's determined by academic credits. Only those who earn enough credits can participate in the Holy Academy's promotion exam. The top two in the Main Academy's promotion exam will receive credits."
Seeing only ten people left in the arena, Zhong Wei, the dean of the Main Academy, struck a large bell, its toll lingering in the air.
Zhong Wei declared, "Now, only the final ten remain in the arena. All ten of you are eligible to enter Spirit Main Academy. As I believe you all know, the Main Academy operates on a credit system. The top two will receive credits. As long as you accumulate enough credits within three years, you can participate in the Holy Academy's promotion exam. Those who wish to compete for credits may choose their opponents freely. Those who do not may leave the stage for now."
Hearing this, Tang San nodded at Tailong, who understood. As a member of the Strength Clan, his mission was to protect Tang San. Now that he had conserved enough Soul Power for Tang San, it was time for him to step down.
Aside from Tang San, a few others had also preserved their Soul Power. Among the ten, four were Soul Ancestors with four Soul Rings.
Before long, Tailong and three other Soul Elders at the 39th rank chose to leave. After all, the gap of a single Soul Ring was too vast—how could three-ringed fighters contend with four-ringed ones?
Apart from Tang San and a female Soul Master who wielded a snake, the remaining four were all four-ringed Soul Ancestors—and without exception, all had optimal Soul Ring configurations.
Though these four Soul Ancestors were stronger than Tang San in terms of raw power, anyone with eyes could see that they had only reached the Soul Ancestor rank due to their age and prolonged cultivation. All four were likely over forty years old, and compared to Tang San and the snake-wielding female Soul Master, their potential was incomparable.
"Hey, you—the one with the Clear Sky Hammer."
Tang San turned toward the voice. It was the female Soul Master who could summon venomous snakes.
"What is it?" Tang San asked.
The female Soul Master smiled and said, "These four uncles may be Soul Ancestors, but their potential is exhausted. At best, they can only stay in the Main Academy—they'll never reach the Holy Academy. In truth, the only ones on this stage with a real chance are you and me."
"So?"
"Fight me one-on-one. Everyone says the Clear Sky Hammer of your Clear Sky Sect is the king of Item Martial Souls, the strongest in the world. I don't think so. It's only because your Clear Sky Sect has so many members that such claims exist. I want to challenge that." With a hum, the snake in the girl's hand seemed to shed its skin, revealing a Serpent Staff.
"35th-rank Item Martial Soul Master, Meng Yiran."
Tang San summoned his Clear Sky Hammer and replied, "37th-rank, Tang San."
When a girl challenged him, how could Tang San refuse?
As the words fell, almost simultaneously, their gazes clashed in midair, piercing through the dense Soul Power enveloping their bodies and intertwining, faint sparks flickering between them.
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