"You all aren't as steady as I am; with my Soul-guided Cannon Platform paired with Battle Armor, I'm already in an undefeated position!"
The three started vying for the qualification to be the first to fight.
In the end, it was Xiao Ping who went out first.
There was no choice, even though Xiao Ping was the youngest, younger even than Su Yu by a year, his strength was the strongest among the three, aside from the four including Su Yu.
His fists were the hardest, so he fought for this spot.
In fact, having the strongest Xiao Ping act was the most secure arrangement.
On the trial grounds, some students with a bit of capital even opened bets, a lot of people placed bets here, but no matter which participating student they chose, no one believed the representative team could win every match.
In fact, there were even a few who were determined to see a show, betting that at least one senior would succeed in a challenge, a string of seven.
Although the odds aren't high, with Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen and the more mysterious Su Yu, they're still more reliable than the representative team winning all matches.
"First match, Xiao Ping vs. Xia Xunchen."
Xia Xunchen, Fifth-level Soul Guide.
"Xiao Ping, Level 55 Soul King, Fifth-level Soul Guide." Xiao Ping confidently announced his level, even under immense pressure, he still had the confidence of showing his cards.
The two stepped onto the stage, and around the arena, a Soul-guided Protective Shield rose, encasing the entire platform.
This Soul-guided Protective Shield could withstand Soul Fighter Level attacks for at least three seconds.
Its power source was even more advanced than the shields used in competitions hosted by the Xingluo Empire. The Core Array had a structure that could autonomously absorb Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi and convert it into energy to transform into a protective shield.
However, this array was exceedingly complex and could only be used in large sports venues.
Su Yu was astonished when he sensed the power source as the shield was activated.
"Absorbing Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, then converting it into the Core Array's power?"
With just the most fundamental Soul Power to activate it, it could work endlessly without pause.
"Wonder if it could be used to replace electrical energy."
Using the omnipresent Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi as energy would certainly make the future development of Soul-guiding Technology more rapid.
Of course, Su Yu didn't dwell on it much, as the battle had already begun on-stage.
Facing Fifth-level Soul Guide Xia Xunchen, Xiao Ping wasn't careless and immediately performed an Armor Fusion.
Anyway, after each battle, there was an hour of rest time. The academy provided devices like bottles to recover Soul Power, and even teachers were designated to restore students' other statuses, including physical strength.
Could say, for this competition, Mirror Hongchen prepared to the utmost.
Even more thorough than the logistic support of the Soul Fighting Competition.
Of course, the Soul Fighting Competition's support only ensured the participants survived, not rest and recovery between each match.
Basic Battle Armor, Fusion!
Flashes of light glowed on fourteen places all over Xiao Ping's body, indicating Storage Soul-guiding Devices.
Before the emergence of Battle Armor, to simplify the wearing of Soul-guiding Armor, Souls guided devices were assisted by Storage Soul-guiding Devices.
Storing armor in advance within Soul Master's body parts for easy activation and donning.
But even so, although activation became convenient, wearing still demanded considerable effort from the Soul Guide for manipulation.
However, Battle Armor, being connected to Soul Master's heart and mind, was much easier to control. Even without spiritual metals, Basic Battle Armor was more convenient in usage.
"Xiao Ping, previously reputed for Soul-guiding Armor, excels in melee combat with High-explosive Bombs and has formidable all-around capabilities."
"Hey, his Soul-guiding Armor seems a bit different."
Battle Armor takes just a second to don, making Xiao Ping's Soul Power fluctuations noticeably different, alerting observing students to the change.
"His Soul Power fluctuations became so strong!"
It's like the effect amplified by over a hundred Soul Power Amplifiers.
And it wasn't just unstable amplification during Soul Skill usage; it stabilized constant Soul Power amplification within the Soul Master's body!
Several Level 4 and Level 5 Soul Guides were present, swiftly analyzing the differences.
A Soul-guided Longsword appeared in Xiao Ping's hand, and his speed abruptly increased, charging toward Xia Xunchen in an instant.
The entire platform had a diameter of 200 meters, and the starting position distance between the two was 150 meters.
However, with Xiao Ping's outburst, this distance was rapidly diminished.
Under Battle Armor's amplification, Xiao Ping configured propulsion Soul-guiding devices on his feet and back, Level 6 Propulsion Soul-guiding Devices that, albeit not made by him, could be used in the match.
It took just a second, and this distance had been reduced by one-third.
Xia Xunchen's arms revealed dark metallic cannon barrels; two beams of different colored light shot from the barrel, the left yellow; the right red. The speed of the two Energy Light Groups was different.
Xiao Ping immediately distinguished the nature of the two light groups.
The faster one was a Fifth-level Vibration Cannon, able to generate intense shockwaves, significantly delaying the opponent's movements.
The slower one was a single-target high-explosive Soul Missile, packed with destructive power and lock-on capability.
Yet faced with the two shots, Xiao Ping wasn't fazed, the left-foot propulsion device activated instantly.
The whole body slightly altered direction upon advancing.
At the same time, the fourteen parts of the Battle Armor flashed light as a connected whole, interlinked subtly.
Xiao Ping's Soul Power transformed a shield through Battle Armor, encircling him.
Swiftly passing through the Vibration Cannon's explosive range, Xiao Ping's speed remained rapid.
He wielded a Sixth-level Soul-guided Longsword, Soul Power pouring into it, a spiral of Sword Qi enveloping the longsword.
Clang!
The high-explosive Soul Missile was divided into two.
Boom!
Instantly, the two divided Soul Missiles also erupted with a terrifying explosion.
Dust scattered across the stage, debris splintered.
Yet a shadow swiftly dashed out of the smoke, arriving before Xia Xunchen.
Xiao Ping's Soul-guided Longsword was withdrawn, replaced by a Sixth-level high-explosive Soul-guided Cannon.
A higher-grade tool than the previously Fifth-level high-explosive Soul-guided Cannon, with even stronger destructive power.
At this moment, Xiao Ping was just thirty meters away from Xia Xunchen, who didn't have time to release other Soul-guiding devices.
Xia Xunchen stared dazedly at the glowing cannon barrel, speechless.
In just under ten seconds, had he lost?
The trial grounds fell silent.
Xiao Ping was merely a Fifth-level Soul Guide, why was he able to so thoroughly crush Xia Xunchen of the same level?
How could he exhibit speed exceeding Soul Emperor, attacks surpassing Soul Emperor, super-strong defenses, resolving Xia Xunchen so swiftly?
Did Xiao Ping just lie about his Soul Power Level?
Impossible.
He's only 17, reaching Soul Emperor level, or even breaking through to Sixth-level Soul Guide?
"It's that set of Soul-guiding Armor!"
Someone saw through it.
His Soul Power was forcibly enhanced to a level beyond ordinary Soul Emperor!
"If you didn't look wrong, this is just a Fifth-level Soul-guiding Armor, right?"
"That's right, just Fifth-level."
This time, it was some academy teachers speaking, two Seventh-level Soul Guides with keen eyes, giving the Battle Armor's Soul-guiding device level, with faces showing aghast expressions.
Could a Fifth-level Soul-guiding Armor's amplification really be so great?
...
Mirror Hongchen watched the effects on stage, nodding slightly.
Xiao Ping fought this match well.
Xia Xunchen left the platform, looking lost and forlorn.
Xiao Ping also returned to the preparation area from the other side.
Shi Xing stepped forward.
"Silence!"
Mirror Hongchen interrupted the trial grounds' noisy atmosphere; under the terrifying Soul Power pressure, the grounds' recent eruption of noise was suppressed again.
"Next." He remarked.
...
Shi Xing against Fifth-level Soul Guide Lu Ren, seven seconds, domination.
Zhou Xinghao against Fifth-level Soul Guide Wang Yuan, merely three seconds, under Soul-guided Cannon coverage, crushed to victory.
...
After three matches, entering the rest period, Xiao Ping, Shi Xing, and Zhou Xinghao were in the preparation area restoring their statuses.
Meanwhile, the trial grounds' teachers and students were in unprecedented commotion.
Even under Mirror Hongchen's Soul Power pressure, whispers continued incessantly.
"One hour later, the match continues."
Mirror Hongchen swept a glance lightly, not further utilizing Soul Power to intimidate or stop anything.