"Great Offering, I wish to challenge the Third Offering!"
As Yunshan's words fell, Qian Daoliu was briefly surprised—but upon reflection, he found it perfectly reasonable.
Among the seven enshrined elders, aside from himself and Golden Crocodile Douluo, Azure Phoenix Douluo was the strongest. The other four elders were clearly no match for Qingluan.
Among those present, Qingluan Douluo was also the only one whose soul power level truly approached Yunshan's.
Qian Daoliu naturally had no objections.
If Yunshan defeated Qingluan Douluo, it would only further prove Yunshan's extraordinary strength.
Even if Yunshan lost, they would still gain a clear understanding of his true combat power. Either way, Spirit Hall would not lose.
Qian Daoliu turned his gaze to the Third Elder and asked calmly:
"Third Elder, Elder Yunshan wishes to challenge you. Do you accept?"
Although Yunshan had already joined the Hall of Offerings, his official rank had not yet been determined, so addressing him as "Elder Yunshan" was appropriate.
Qingluan Douluo felt helpless.
As a peak Douluo of the same rank, he could clearly sense the soul power radiating from Yunshan—and that aura felt even stronger than his own.
It was a difficult feeling to describe.
If possible, Qingluan would have preferred to immediately step down and become one of the Four Elders, avoiding this challenge altogether.
But that was impossible.
He would never willingly choose such a path.
Even if he lost to Yunshan, at worst he would only drop one rank, becoming the Fourth Elder. If he refused the challenge outright, it would be tantamount to publicly admitting inferiority.
After a brief pause, Qingluan Douluo nodded.
"Very well. I accept."
Qian Daoliu nodded in approval.
"Since the Third Elder has accepted Elder Yunshan's challenge, there is no need to delay. Let us leave Spirit Hall and witness this battle."
"If Elder Yunshan wins, he will become the Third Elder. The former Third Elder will be demoted by one rank. The Fourth Elder becomes Fifth, the Fifth becomes Sixth, and so on."
"Agreed!"
The other enshrined elders voiced their consent without hesitation.
Nine people departed together.
Eight of them possessed soul power at Rank Ninety-Six or above—
Among them, two were Rank Ninety-Nine Limit Douluos.
Their combined presence alone was enough to terrify any force on the Douluo Continent.
After a rapid flight, the group arrived at a vast open plain more than a thousand meters away from Spirit Hall.
As the main participants of the battle, Yunshan and Qingluan Douluo hovered in midair, facing one another.
The remaining elders watched from a distance.
Qian Daoliu raised his hand.
"Begin!"
With that single word, the clash between Yunshan and Qingluan Douluo officially began.
---
While the battle unfolded, Golden Crocodile Douluo quietly communicated with Yin Zhang through soul transmission.
Jin E felt immense pride.
After all, whose disciple could reach such a level while still in their teens?
Earlier, he had already sensed Yin Zhang's aura above Spirit Hall and was deeply shocked. Yet due to Yin Zhang's unique circumstances, he could not accurately determine his disciple's true cultivation level.
Inside the Hall of Offerings, everyone's attention had been focused on Yunshan, leaving Jin E without a chance to question Yin Zhang properly.
Now, with all eyes on the battle, Jin E finally spoke.
"Xiao Zhang, tell me the truth. What level is your soul power now? And how many soul rings do you have?"
Yin Zhang smiled faintly. Even as he observed Yunshan and Qingluan's fight, handling a conversation like this was effortless.
"Teacher, my soul power has reached Rank Seventy-Five."
"When I first left Spirit Hall, I was only Rank Sixty-Four. In just four months, I advanced eleven levels because I encountered a rare opportunity."
He did not intend to hide this.
The true nature of the system could not be explained, but its results could be attributed to past events.
Yin Zhang continued:
"Teacher, do you remember the operation Spirit Hall carried out a few years ago?"
"At the time, I was participating in the Continental Elite Tournament in Heaven Dou City. Uncle Tang and Serpent Spear Douluo led a team into Hurricane Forest to capture two Tiger Kings."
"The intelligence suggested that one of the Tiger Kings was severely injured or had been forced into human form."
"But in the end, both Tiger Kings escaped."
"Later, Uncle Tang and Uncle Qian Gu discovered the Xuanwu Ruins within Hurricane Forest—the former lair of those Tiger Kings. Inside were water-attribute stone tablets formed from pure elemental essence."
"These natural treasures allowed Uncle Tang, Uncle Qian Gu, and the two enshrined elders, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, to break through."
Golden Crocodile Douluo's shock only deepened as Yin Zhang continued.
"By coincidence, I also obtained an opportunity there, allowing my soul power to break through Rank Seventy."
"Not long after, I encountered one of the Tiger Kings—the one that had already taken human form and was studying at a junior soul master academy."
"At the time, I wasn't fully confident I could absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring."
"But for the sake of the future, and to grow stronger, I chose to take the risk."
Golden Crocodile Douluo's heart jolted.
"So… you killed that Tiger King who had transformed into a human, and absorbed his soul ring and soul bone?"
Though his voice rose unconsciously, it was transmitted telepathically, so none of the other elders heard.
Yin Zhang nodded calmly.
"Yes."
"And I succeeded, Teacher."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't be standing here before you today."