Chapter 168: The Mighty Ma Rulong

Jiang Peng pointed his massive axe at Ma Rulong and said coldly:

"I will definitely defeat you."

Ma Rulong seemed as if he hadn't seen the provocation in Jiang Peng's eyes, and smiled calmly.

"Do you think this will anger me? Your provocation technique is really terrible; it's enough to fool our inexperienced reserve team captain, but if you want to deceive me, I'd advise you to save yourself the trouble."

While they exchanged words, both stepped back toward the edge of the competition platform, ready to start the match at any moment.

Jiang Peng, as if he hadn't heard Ma Rulong, continued:

"Ma Rulong, I'll make you understand that you soul guides who rely on external forces can never compare with us soul masters who work hard to awaken our own strength; you will fall under my axe just like that teammate of yours just now."

Ma Rulong shook his head.

"Mika didn't unleash his full power; your victory over him doesn't prove that soul masters are stronger than soul guides. Mika's soul guide device wasn't one he crafted himself, but an external item specifically designed against you, so his own strength wasn't fully expressed. Only you truly know yourself, so a soul guide is at his strongest when using his own soul guide device. Every soul guide device I use is self‑made, and I'll show you what a real soul guide is."

Jiang Peng let out a cold snort.

"I'd be surprised to believe you; the grade‑7 soul guide device you use is also self‑made?"

Ma Rulong replied calmly:

"I have no need to lie to you."

At this moment they had reached the side of the platform; with the referee's shout of "The match begins," the battle erupted instantly.

Jiang Peng, just like in the previous round, charged straight to his opponent's front, while Ma Rulong deployed several cannons on his body.

The ensuing fight could only be described as a crushing smash.

Ma Rulong proved with action that he wasn't bluffing; facing Jiang Peng's full‑force onslaught, Ma Rulong each time employed the most suitable soul guide device at just the right moment, tilting the situation further toward his side.

In the end, under Ma Rulong's layered strategy, Jiang Peng couldn't even touch his body before being blasted off the platform by the overwhelming cannon fire.

The entire arena fell into sudden silence.

Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong instantly understood why Wang Yan had felt such pressure after watching Ma Rulong's fight yesterday.

Jiang Peng's martial soul is the Thunder Axe, a grade only slightly lower than the Haotian Hammer; in terms of martial soul alone it even surpasses Dai Yaoheng. Even when factoring cultivation and combat skill, his combat power isn't much lower than Dai Yaoheng's, and Dai Yaoheng would still need to be extremely cautious facing him.

But Ma Rulong dealt with him as casually as an adult correcting a child; clearly the two sides' combat powers were no longer on the same level.

Ma Rulong's combat power had already surpassed anyone in Shilake Academy, and the academy, best at duels, lost in its strongest domain to the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Guide Academy.

On the platform, Ma Rulong mimicked Jiang Peng's earlier move, hooking his finger toward the crowd of Dio Academy below, his eyes full of provocation.

Seeing his gesture, the Dio Academy members who had been stunned for over ten seconds finally reacted, and by then Ma Rulong had already restored a dozen seconds of soul power using a Milk Bottle.

Although the previous battle hadn't injured him at all, it had drained nearly thirty percent of his soul power and an invincible shield, so he needed to recover quickly.

Because he was about to perform a feat that hadn't appeared on the platform for decades, the match concluded shortly thereafter.

All remaining members of Dio Academy were defeated single‑handedly by Ma Rulong.

One‑seven! Including six Soul Kings and one Soul Emperor in the one‑seven!

Watching the departing backs of the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Guide Academy's contestants, the crowd in Star Net Plaza seemed to have lost the ability to speak.

Half a month ago they were disappointed that Huo Yutong hadn't delivered a spectacular one‑seven match for them; half a month later, today, they have fulfilled that wish.

Although Ma Rulong was the second to appear, strictly speaking he didn't defeat a fully healthy Jiang Peng but a foe weakened by Mika; however, any observant person can see that Mika barely weakened Jiang Peng at all, and given Ma Rulong's crushing stance, even against a fully healthy Jiang Peng he wouldn't need much effort to win.

There is a reason why a one‑seven hasn't appeared for a long time in the continental Elite Soul Master Academy tournament.

In the early stage of the tournament, strong teams' main squads usually held back cards, sending reserve members to handle weaker opponents.

Later in the tournament, although strong teams no longer hide cards, their opponents are also similarly strong, making a one‑seven even harder to achieve.

Take Shilake Academy and Star Net National Academy as examples; Dai Yaoheng, a Soul Emperor, is undeniably powerful, yet even he would find it hard to single‑handedly slay all seven opponents.

If Star Net National Academy struggles, the even stronger Dio Academy is beyond comparison.

Among the four from Shilake Academy watching the match, Huo Yutong wore the most solemn expression.

Of the four, only she truly understood soul guide devices, so she could naturally see that Ma Rulong was using authentic grade‑7 soul guide devices.

If he wasn't lying, those grade‑7 soul guide devices were also crafted by his own hands; in other words, one who can personally forge and wield grade‑7 soul guide devices is a true grade‑7 soul guide.

It is said that soul guides below the seventh ring are stronger than soul masters, while soul masters above the seventh ring surpass soul guides; however, that's a horizontal comparison. A grade‑7 soul guide indeed can't match a soul saint, but easily surpasses a Soul Emperor.

Moreover, Ma Rulong isn't an ordinary grade‑7 soul guide; as captain of the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Guide Academy's main team and a member of Ming De Hall, he is stronger than ordinary grade‑7 soul guides outside.

Could they truly defeat such a formidable opponent? A few of them couldn't help but doubt.

At that moment Wang Yan suddenly patted their shoulders.

They startled, quickly looking up to see Wang Yan's wry smile.

"Now you understand why I didn't want you to see the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Guide Academy's competition scene, right? If you are like this, others will see even less hope. So, what, you really think there's no chance of victory?"

His question was asked very gently, yet it sparked the fighting spirit of several.

Dai Yaoheng suddenly stood up, his eyes showing resolve.

"Of course there is, don't worry, Teacher Wang, as captain I will give my all to defeat him."

"That determination is good," Wang Yan said with a grateful smile, "I trust you all; let's go back to the hotel."

(End of Chapter)