Chapter 38: Golden Awakening vs

On both sides of the competition stage, two large doors suddenly swung open, and the team members entered, walking toward the center.

On the left was Shi Laike Academy: Yu Yuanheng stood like a sharp arrowhead, head held high at the front of the formation, with Ning Qian close behind him. Flame Lord Chu Yan, Golden Wolf King Chen Feng, and Ghost King Vine Yao Yue guarded him from three directions, while Ye Xinglan and Xu Li stood at the rear.

“Shi Laike! Shi Laike! Shi Laike!”

After countless calls, the fully packed Tianhai Sports Arena erupted in waves of screams—eighty thousand voices combined into a thunderous roar that made ordinary eardrums buzz; this was the terrifying popularity of the continent’s top academy!

In contrast to Shi Laike’s perfectly synchronized team, Donghai Academy appeared disheveled: Class Zero’s F4 wore their uniforms, while Zhao Xuanzhen, Na’er, and Jiutian were dressed in casual clothes—clearly a hastily assembled squad.

As Donghai Academy appeared, eighty thousand spectators seemed to ignore them entirely, still cheering for Shi Laike and mingling in jeers against Donghai. At the Tianhai Alliance Grand Tournament, Donghai Academy—born within the Tianhai Alliance—had no home-field advantage; their own ground was turned into an away venue by Shi Laike!

“Your Donghai Academy is useless—even no one’s cheering for you on your own turf.”

Na’er turned her head and teased Gu Yue, her exquisite face smiling mischievously.

Gu Yue snorted: “If you like supporting Shi Laike Academy, then beat them until they shut up!”

The two teams faced each other coldly, eyes locking in fierce collision, their aura rising step by step, battle intent spreading across the field—the arena itself seemed to freeze for a moment!

The referee spoke: “Both teams, pay attention: you have one minute to summon your martial souls and soul rings. Only after I declare the battle begun may you attack—until all seven members of one side lose combat capability or surrender.”

“Hum—”

Both teams released their martial souls simultaneously; in an instant, beast soul masters underwent beast transformation, while weapon soul masters gripped their weapons—the stage became dazzlingly radiant.

Fourteen soul masters had their martial souls activated, thirty-plus soul rings in yellow, purple, and black gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.

People on the Douluo Continent adored watching seven-on-seven soul battles; beyond the thrilling action, even just the opening display of soul rings surpassed anything seen in solo or three-on-three matches!

The one-minute wait served the exhibition’s atmosphere, instantly pushing it to a climax. Both sides knew well: this was not merely an exhibition—it was a battle of dignity and honor!

Yu Yuanheng gazed far at Zhao Xuanzhen—more precisely, his eyes locked onto the three swirling, pitch-black soul rings—and his pupils involuntarily contracted.

Facing Zhao Xuanzhen in the Tianhai Sports Arena, Yu Yuanheng felt pressure—but he never imagined this boy, much younger than himself, possessed three ten-thousand-year soul rings!

Seeing Zhao Xuanzhen’s terrifying soul ring composition, the audience erupted in shock; yet Zhao Xuanzhen was not the only anomaly in Donghai Academy—Na’er and Tang Wulin each bore two purple soul rings beyond the limit!

“At least he’s a Soul Elder—advantage is mine…”

Ranked fifth on the Young Genius List, Yu Yuanheng was no fool—he shed his initial arrogance and regarded Zhao Xuanzhen as a serious rival.

Two yellow, one purple, one black soul rings rose—his Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon martial soul activated; blue-purple lightning coiled around his body, his exposed skin covered in dragon scales, his hands transformed into thick dragon claws, tiny serpentine sparks flickering between his knuckles.

“Battle—begin!”

The minute vanished in an instant; the referee blew the whistle to attack.

“Light and fluffy steamed buns!”

“Seven Treasures, transform into glazed tile!”

The support soul master always moved first: Xu Li tossed out steaming buns, while Ning Qian floated a delicate, foot-tall treasure tower in her palm.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile was famed as the most magnificent support martial soul; its seven-colored tower shimmered, making Ning Qian appear like a goddess, her voice clear and melodious:

“The Seven Treasures bear names: first, Strength; second, Attack; third, Defense!”

Two yellow and one purple soul rings flared; under the Yixinsanyong control of the Threefold Defense Heart, the three attributes—Strength, Attack, Defense—each received a forty percent boost, applied to five combat soul masters.

Combined with Xu Li’s steamed buns enhancing speed, Shi Laike Academy’s already formidable power surged again, their surging soul power creating a crushing pressure that swept toward the enemy!

The air warped from heat; flames consumed Chu Yan’s shirt, his bulging muscles hardened like iron, his height swelling beyond two meters, his frame even broader than Yu Yuanheng’s.

Flame Lord—a top-tier martial soul renowned across the Douluo Continent for two ten thousand years, combining offense and defense with extreme heat!

Chu Yan’s fighting style was brute force—he stomped hard, charging toward Donghai Academy, his second soul ring igniting; his fists collided, superheated air twisting, magma bubbles surging from the ground—the Flame Lord’s second soul skill, Magma Hell!

“Your opponent is me.”

A flash of silver light—Gu Yue appeared above Chu Yan via spatial elements, wind elements lifting her slender, curvaceous frame; her black eyes were cold and indifferent, utterly unmoved by the gap between her twenty-second-level and his thirty-fifth-level soul power!

Elemental forces shifted at Gu Yue’s will—ice covered the magma, cold froze the heat; the Flame Lord’s flames were instantly suppressed by Gu Yue’s ice elements!

Ice spikes pierced the air, their cores pulsing with golden and black light-dark forces; Chu Yan’s expression turned grim. The seven representing Shi Laike Academy were all geniuses among geniuses—he sensed the terrifying power of Gu Yue’s soul skill!

“Multi-element combo skill… Elemental Heart…” Chu Yan muttered inwardly.

Dozens of light-dark ice spikes surrounded the Flame Lord from all sides, each trailing a soul power thread connected to Gu Yue’s hands; as they advanced, their sharp edges sliced through air with a chilling, ear-splitting shriek.

“Hah!”

Chu Yan roared, summoning a curtain of rising magma to clash head-on with Gu Yue!

“Elemental suppression—Chu Yan’s in trouble…”

Yao Yue glanced at the ice-fire battlefield, then sighed bitterly: “Perfect—I’m in trouble too.”

Before him stood two youths: one slender, wielding a dragon-shaped dagger; the other with golden dragon claws, surrounded by endless Blue Silver Grass. A breeze stirred, the Blue Silver Grass swayed, its golden veins dazzlingly brilliant.

“Is there any justice on the Douluo Continent? Ghost King Vine is suppressed by Blue Silver Grass bloodline…”

Yao Yue sniffed; plant-type souls sometimes had stricter hierarchies than beast-type—high-tier plant soul beasts could instantly assimilate lower-tier plant soul beasts. Under the pressure of Golden-veined Blue Silver Grass, Ghost King Vine emitted timid emotions—Yao Yue’s combat power plummeted!

“Forget it!”

To protect Shi Laike’s ten-thousand-year glory, Yao Yue decisively ignited his third soul ring; Ghost King Vine twisted into dark-purple giant serpents, their vine tips splitting into grotesque maws, lunging at Tang Wulin and Xie Xie.

Simultaneously, a streak of dark-green light detached from Yao Yue, hiding among the vines, faintly taking a serpent shape!

Ghost King Vine’s third soul skill: Shaluo Serpent Vine!

Thousand-year soul spirit: Mandrake Serpent!

Tang Wulin smiled faintly; his purple thousand-year soul ring flared, a blue aura spreading—Golden-veined Blue Silver Grass burst from the ground, shredding every incoming Ghost King Vine, and the sneaking Mandrake Serpent was directly thrust skyward!

Golden-veined Blue Silver Grass’ second soul skill: Blue Silver Spike Array!

“Great job, Wulin!”

Xie Xie laughed wildly, swinging his light-dark dragon dagger in tandem, unleashing a Double Dragon Storm that battered the Mandrake Serpent repeatedly!

“Hehehe, Shi Laike… we’re here to beat Shi Laike!”

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie couldn’t suppress their grins, using the Golden-veined Blue Silver Grass’ suppression to execute a fair, righteous two-on-one!

One against two, one of whom was a superior martial soul—luckily, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile and the buns provided four types of boosts; Yao Yue could still barely hold his ground. He dared not retreat—behind him were two support soul masters!

“What the hell is this?!”

Yao Yue ducked low, dodging a sudden ice wheel, furious and shouting.

Xu Xiaoyan sighed, scratching her head; she was only a one-ring soul master, and Shi Laike’s team, excluding Ye Xinglan and Xu Li, all had at least thirty-fifth-level soul power. By day, she couldn’t transform into the Star Wheel Ice Staff—she couldn’t threaten a three-ring Soul Elder.

Her sneak attack on Yao Yue failed; she secretly tossed an ice wheel toward Ning Qian, only for it to be instantly shattered by the Soul Elder’s soul power.

“Aw, so I’m just gonna win by luck…”

Xu Xiaoyan pouted, drawing circles on the spot.

“This martial soul suppression is useless—I need help, crazy one!”

Yao Yue tried to call for help from Golden Wolf King Chen Feng.

“You’re on your own—I’m busy fighting!” Chen Feng bellowed, furious.

Golden Wolf King was the king of the Golden Wolf Clan; his metal affinity granted him an incredibly tough body. Among Shi Laike’s seven, Chen Feng’s close-combat prowess ranked second only to Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Yu Yuanheng—but today he’d hit an insurmountable wall!

Jiutian wielded a pair of Dry Gold Hammers, his mighty frame radiating overwhelming security; the massive hammers crashed down, colliding with Chen Feng’s wolf claws with a resounding clang!

Chen Feng’s bloodline trembled, his whole body wracked with pain—Jiutian embodied Dry Gold, the Emperor of Metal; Chen Feng’s Jingang body was as fragile as paper before the Dry Gold Hammers—each strike brought agonized howls.

“Well done!”

On the podium, Zhen Hua grinned uncontrollably. To become a Divine Artisan, one must break through Titled Douluo—Zhen Hua’s soul power had been boosted by pills, but now it was clear Jiutian needed none—he was terrifyingly strong!

On the other side, two girls’ battlefield—Na’er and Ye Xinglan Moqi ly sought each other out, their eyes locking in instant combat!

Ye Xinglan held a bright yellow longsword, its blade shimmering with starlight, soul power contained—she seemed fused with her martial soul, Star God Sword.

Human and sword as one!

Weapon soul masters cultivate by merging with their martial soul—Ye Xinglan had already walked this path, yet Na’er’s eyes revealed a flicker of disdain.

The Silver Dragon Spear’s edge blazed forth; Na’er’s silver irises blazed with light. A clear, resonant dragon cry rang out—Na’er stepped forward, her aura exploding; the Silver Dragon Spear became a true silver dragon descending, thousands of silver-white spear points engulfing Ye Xinglan!

Watching the incoming Silver Dragon Spear, Ye Xinglan was stunned—the dragon’s roar and Na’er’s embedded will delivered crushing pressure!

Star God Sword shattered on contact with the Silver Dragon Spear, its aura scattering; the spear tip surged forward— Guanjianshike , Ye Xinglan demonstrated Shi Laike’s inner academy’s rapid response, her body arching sharply backward, narrowly avoiding the spear’s thrust!

“Spear Intent?!”

Ye Xinglan realized Na’er’s realm—her face darkened.

Sword Intent was her lifelong goal—yet this silver-haired girl her age had already mastered Spear Intent; how could Ye Xinglan, ever proud, not be crushed?

“That’s all you’ve got?”

Na’er spun a graceful spear flourish, pointing the Silver Dragon Spear forward coldly: “Let me tell you—above genius, there is still genius!”

Her purple thousand-year soul ring exploded—the Silver Dragon Spear’s second soul skill: Silver Dragon Fury!

Battles raged everywhere, yet the entire arena’s focus remained fixed on the clash between the two team captains: Zhao Xuanzhen versus Yu Yuanheng!

True Self’s Shadow appeared tangible; Zhao Xuanzhen’s feet rippled with three deep, black ten-thousand-year soul rings, dazzling at the center of Tianhai Sports Arena. Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon’s dragon aura filled the air, Yu Yuanheng surrounded by thunder and lightning, interwoven with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile’s colored light.

“Secret Technique: Dragon Transformation.”

Yu Yuanheng growled lowly, activating the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon’s two-thousand-year-old secret technique—his arms’ blue-purple scales grew more grotesque and thick, his claws indistinguishable from true dragon claws!

From the third soul ring onward, each time the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon advanced a realm, one part of the body underwent dragon transformation—Yu Yuanheng, at his fourth ring, achieved arm and claw dragonization!

Zhao Xuanzhen’s response was simple and direct: he closed his eyes, exhaled, then opened them again—his golden pupils looked down upon the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon!

In that instant, Yu Yuanheng suddenly felt mountain-like pressure—this monster, younger than himself, was baring cold, bloodthirsty fangs.

Zhao Xuanzhen’s clothes vanished; his body solidified into a dazzling golden armor resembling liquid gold, radiant and glorious, his aura soaring into the clouds—all spectators froze, eyes locked on the golden figure at the center of the stage.

Golden Awakening, Ultimate Form!

A blue-purple figure dashed along the ground, flickering forward several times; his dragonized arms, under sunlight, looked monstrous and terrifying; in midair, wild lightning coalesced into a pair of explosive dragon claws, lunging straight for Zhao Xuanzhen’s chest.

Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon’s first soul skill: Thunder Dragon Claw!

Both used their first soul rings—soul power surged with intent, fists and claws met head-on; neither dodged. Golden fist clashed against blue-purple dragon claw—the first direct confrontation between two geniuses!

Thunder roared; countless blue-purple flames exploded—beauty like blooming fireworks, lightning serpents shattered and scattered in panic.

Yu Yuanheng’s towering frame trembled—his electrified dragon claw was tightly gripped by the fist, desperately struggling to break free, yet utterly futile.

Zhao Xuanzhen stood firm, his body awakened a second time at the Golden grade, granting him speed and strength beyond Yu Yuanheng’s imagination.

He followed through with a shoulder strike against the scaled chest, sending Yu Yuanheng flying backward; before his feet even touched the ground, Zhao Xuanzhen had already closed the distance.

The Tai Chi Fist carved a circular arc—its yang hand fierce and forceful, treating the dragon scales as if they were nothing; its yin hand soft and yielding, sending waves of hidden force surging into Yu Yuanheng’s internal organs!

“Dragon Transformation—expand, expand, expand!”

As the heir to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon lineage, Yu Yuanheng held several trump cards—his arms’ scales hardened into shields, blocking the relentless rain of punches, while his third soul ring blazed brightly, erupting in an intensely brilliant blue lightning.

With a furious dragon roar, the lightning surged outward; Yu Yuanheng’s eyes glowed with chilling radiance, the serpentine lightning expanding as countless bolts of lightning flashed in every direction!

Yet black-and-white qi currents tore through the lightning, and under Yu Yuanheng’s stunned gaze, a golden palm pierced through the raging blue-purple thunder, climbed over his dragon-transformed arm, and clamped onto his shoulder—suddenly, a low crack of bone shattered the air, his entire left arm twisted into a grotesque spiral, too horrific to behold!

Zhao Xuanzhen’s face was cold and stern, his body translucent as jade; his third soul ring continuously radiated light, the Way of Wuji layered atop his Golden Awakening, forcibly shattering the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon’s thunder!

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was once the number one martial soul beast in the world, but in this age, many martial souls surpass it!

Yu Yuanheng screamed as he reeled back, agony overwhelming him—he stared at his twisted arm, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

Zhao Xuanzhen flicked away the blood droplets clinging to his fingertips and said coolly: “Shrek Academy, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, you… are all nothing.”

“If this is your best, go home.”

“The honor of Shrek Academy and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon cannot be defiled!!!”

Yu Yuanheng’s eyes burned crimson, his breath ragged—he had never before lost control in such fury; his entire body’s lightning nearly spiraled out of control, bathing him in thunder as he transformed fully into a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!

“Fourth Soul Skill—Blue Lightning Divine Dragon Annihilation!”

Serpentine lightning descended; the dragon’s scales and claws flared wide, its horns like blades, hurtling toward Zhao Xuanzhen with deafening thunder and lightning—where it passed, the earth was obliterated by lightning!

“Zhen character—Thunder Dragon.”

A dark blue Bagua Qimen formation appeared; the Zhen position blazed brightly as a golden thunder dragon, forged entirely from the essence of lightning, emerged from the void—its scales flowed with liquid lightning plasma, its eyes cold and indifferent, its head looming over the charging Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!

Thunder surged like a tide; the two dragons crashed together—instantly, heaven and earth fell silent, save for blinding lightning explosions—the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon bit with fangs, the Golden Thunder Dragon gripped with claws, their entwined bodies erupting in countless bolts of lightning!

The Thunder Dragon roared, spewing a torrent of lightning; a blazing golden pillar blasted a grotesque, bleeding hole through the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon’s chest and abdomen. Amid the thunder, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon let out a mournful cry and shattered—Yu Yuanheng crashed to the ground, his dragon transformation completely broken, blood oozing in winding trails.

“The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon… defeated by thunder…”

Yu Yuanheng refused Ning Qian’s offer of aid, whispering hoarsely, his eyes filled with bitter defiance.

The Thunder Dragon raised its head and roared, illuminating Zhao Xuanzhen’s face like polished jade.

“Yu Yuanheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, fifth on the Young Genius Rankings—a worthy debut opponent… and…”

“A stepping stone.”

(End of Chapter)