Having scavenged the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue, Huo Yuhao naturally witnessed the scene where Lan Xuanyu used his own quota to exchange a soul bone for Wang Dong.
"He's truly willing to spend a fortune..."
Looking at the pitch-black Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue in his hand, Huo Yuhao pondered asking Ma Xiaotao to help him melt it. Whale glue of the ten-thousand-year level would have a strengthening effect on his physical body even at his current level. If he could boost his stats, he would; mechanics could be figured out anytime.
Three days later, as soon as the day's classes ended, all the core disciples of the Outer Court were gathered at the Soul Dueling Area. This time, the responsibility of leading them wasn't given to Zhang Lexuan, the highest-cultivation student of the Outer Court, but instead to the former Class 1 teacher, Wang Yan. Huo Yuhao instinctively felt something was off—why did it feel like Sister Lexuan was being targeted?
Lan Xuanyu and Wang Dong shared a knowing glance.
It was time!
Quite a few people had arrived at the Soul Dueling Area. It wasn't just second-year students; there were core disciples from higher grades as well, such as Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan. The total number reached twenty-seven, with second-year core disciples making up nearly half. Tang Ya was not among them; after all, as a fifth-year, Tang Ya was only Level 36... she had long since fallen below the standard for a core disciple.
Naturally spotting the tall, dark He Caitou, Huo Yuhao made a hand gesture toward him. He Caitou nodded back, signaling his agreement.
Once everyone had arrived, a man with a flask of wine in his left hand and a chicken leg in his right... oh no, the Taotie Douluo, Elder Xuan, appeared before everyone's eyes. Wang Yan spoke respectfully to Elder Xuan, and then everyone followed him toward the center of the Soul Dueling Arena.
Arriving at the center, Elder Xuan explained the rules in a booming, muffled voice. In short: fight however you want. This left all the students on the field looking at each other in bewilderment. Afterward, Elder Xuan ushered the teachers out of the arena.
Before the students could react, Elder Xuan tossed his wine gourd upward and shouted, "Start!" Then, with a swoosh, he disappeared from the stage.
Lan Xuanyu reacted extremely quickly. He reached out with both hands, grabbing Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao respectively, and rushed toward Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi's side. He had heard about today's battle royale from Elder Xuan beforehand, so he naturally knew to find teammates first to deal with the others together, ensuring his participation as a preparatory team member.
Drinking in mid-air, Elder Xuan watched Lan Xuanyu, who had already organized his team, and couldn't help but nod in approval.
Good! As expected of this old man's disciple—calm in the face of danger and commanding with poise!
Huo Yuhao also revealed his martial soul, though it was disguised via Simulation. Four white soul rings appeared, leaving everyone present stunned.
"Don't be fooled, that soul ring configuration is obviously impossible; it's likely just an optical illusion. He's alone right now, let's go!" a core disciple holding a long spear shouted. He took the lead, the sharp tip of his spear reaching Huo Yuhao first.
Ning Tian's lips twitched. She reached out to summon the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and her speed and strength boosts fell unreservedly onto Huo Yuhao. Wu Feng also released her martial soul, shielding Ning Tian behind her.
Feeling the sudden surge in his power and speed, Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. No wonder they say that if you're looking for a support-type "healer," you look for a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda master.
He didn't draw his sword, instead using it along with the scabbard, swinging horizontally against the spear thrust by the Soul Elder. That Soul Elder felt an unimaginably massive force travel through his hands, and then his world began to spin...
"You are out."
A faint white halo now enveloped his body, accompanied by the pungent smell of alcohol nearby. Huo Yuhao didn't stop; using Spiritual Detection, he relayed something to Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and He Caitou, then charged into the center of the core disciples.
The soul tool thrusters on He Caitou's back flashed as he arrived beside Ning Tian and Wu Feng. Ning Tian's buffs naturally fell on him as well, including a second soul skill.
Sure enough, with Ning Tian's support, the speed at which He Caitou equipped his soul tools was a full 30% faster than usual. His entire person became like a steel hedgehog, with numerous metal tubes appearing from different parts of his body.
Then... he unceremoniously fired a volley toward the most crowded area. At least twenty beams of light erupted from his body. Elder Xuan frowned and tapped the air repeatedly, fishing out several Soul Grandmaster disciples who definitely couldn't withstand the blast. "You three, out."
Using the ingenious footwork of Snow-Dancing Plum Blossoms, Huo Yuhao swung his sword repeatedly, knocking back several Soul Elders blocking his path. In an instant, he crashed in front of Lan Xuanyu and his group.
"Sanshi, Nannan, let's go!"
Bei Bei, the quickest to react among the crowd, shouted to the two. Bei Bei directly possessed his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul. Lightning instantly surged across his body, his first soul ring flashed, and a massive lightning dragon claw reached out to envelop Huo Yuhao.
Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan naturally didn't dare to be careless. Both possessed their martial souls and followed behind Bei Bei in the charge.
Huo Yuhao tossed his Elucidator high into the air and raised his fist, smashing it with force against the giant lightning claw grabbing at him.
Using lightning against him? Sorry, but I have the Ultimate Lightning...
Under Bei Bei's bewildered gaze, Huo Yuhao charged right through his lightning dragon claw and sent him flying with a single punch.
Compared to Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi's intuition was sharper. To hell with holding back—he needed to use whatever moves he had.
Three soul rings flashed in succession. The Mysterious Underworld Turtle Shield in his hand became as heavy as the earth itself, smashing toward Huo Yuhao from a tricky angle.
Sorry, but I have the Ultimate Water...
Catching the falling Elucidator perfectly, Huo Yuhao gripped it with both hands. Using the power from his waist, he swung the sheathed sword down hard against Xu Sanshi's shield.
BOOM!
The one to suffer was naturally Xu Sanshi. Moreover, the distance between the two was too close; even using Mysterious Underworld Displacement was useless. Xu Sanshi also went flying, coincidentally crashing right into Bei Bei...
Then, Huo Yuhao nimbly turned his head, dodging Jiang Nannan's kick and catching her small foot clad in a golden high-heeled shoe.
But immediately, he felt his body weight suddenly increase significantly, interrupting his follow-up counterattack. Huo Yuhao was stunned for a moment before realizing that Jiang Nannan's move was actually Gravity Control!
A Soft-Boned Rabbit martial soul could actually attach a soul skill like this? Interesting...
The resistance from Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and finally Jiang Nannan finally gave the others time to react.
Lan Xuanyu and Wang Dong reacted the fastest because they knew very well just how "broken" a character Huo Yuhao was. The dazzling wings of the Radiant Butterfly Goddess unfolded behind Wang Dong, and a crimson-gold ball of light appeared between his palms. It was his third soul skill: Butterfly Goddess Slash.