Douluo: One man returns, Fan Tianyin smashes Tang San to death

"Xiao Wu, look at that student in the yellow school uniform. His soul skills are so special." Ning Rongrong said, pointing at a student on the stage.

"Well, his spirit skills are indeed very special, and seem to have some special effects." Xiao Wu nodded, "However, we can't take it lightly. After all, everyone has their own strengths and advantages."

"That's right." Ning Rongrong took a deep breath, "We must also prepare well and try to perform at our best in the competition."

As time went by, the preliminary rounds finally came to an end. After fierce competition, sixteen students finally stood out and successfully advanced to the semi-finals.

"Congratulations to the students who advanced!" Dean Flanders said with a smile as he stood on the stage, "You have already demonstrated your strength and potential. I hope you can continue to work hard in the next competition and achieve better results!"

"Yes!" The students who advanced responded in unison, their voices firm and powerful.

The sun shines obliquely on the top of the Tiandou Imperial Academy, and the golden light penetrates the mist, covering this ancient land with a mysterious and glorious coat. The annual college competition, as one of the most grand events of the highest institution of learning in the Tiandou Empire, not only attracts the attention of countless teachers and students, but also makes the entire imperial city boil.

At the foot of the mountain, there was a constant stream of people, and all kinds of carriages and horse-drawn animals were passing by. Some were gorgeous, some were simple, but they all carried the expectation and enthusiasm for this grand event. Students, wearing the uniforms of their respective colleges, gathered in groups of three or five, talking a lot, with a mixture of excitement and nervousness on their faces. And those young people from aristocratic families, wearing exquisite dresses and family emblems, undoubtedly added a touch of aristocratic atmosphere to this grand event.

As the crowd slowly ascended, the scene on the top of the mountain gradually appeared before everyone's eyes. This place was already crowded with people, and it was very lively. In the central area, six arenas made of fine iron stood tall, each of which was ten meters high and had a diameter of an astonishing twenty meters, enough to accommodate several soul masters for fierce battles. The surface of the arena was engraved with complex runes, which were said to enhance the flow of soul power, making the competition more fair and full of viewing.

Around the ring, circles of audience seats made of solid rock were built against the mountain, stacked layer upon layer, like a huge honeycomb, which could accommodate tens of thousands of people to watch the fight at the same time. At this moment, the audience seats were already full, and cheers and shouts rose and fell, converging into waves of deafening sound, making the entire mountaintop seem to tremble.

At the highest point of the auditorium, near the entrance to the Academic Council, a temporary platform was particularly eye-catching. On the platform, there was a soft red carpet, and on both sides were exquisitely carved chairs, which were reserved for the senior members of the Academic Council and the imperial nobles. The golden curtains swayed gently in the wind, occasionally revealing the figures sitting inside, who were either wearing gorgeous official uniforms or wearing badges that symbolized their status, and each of them revealed an extraordinary demeanor.

"This year's college competition is really lively." An old man in a purple robe sighed softly. His face was full of traces of time, but his eyes were shining with wisdom. He was the vice president of Tiandou Royal College and one of the chief judges of this competition.

"Indeed, the contestants this year are generally much stronger than last year. It seems that the education level of our Tiandou Royal Academy has been improved again." A middle-aged man next to him responded with a smile. He was tall and handsome, and he was the director of the college's Academic Affairs Office.

“Especially those children from aristocratic families. Not only do they have superior resources, but they are also gifted. We really look forward to their performance.” The old man nodded in agreement, his eyes occasionally scanning certain areas in the audience.

At this moment, a melodious bell sounded from the bell tower on the top of the mountain, clear and solemn, instantly calming the surrounding noise. This was the signal that the competition was about to begin, and everyone's eyes turned to the six arenas in the center.

"Dear teachers and students, distinguished guests, welcome to the annual college competition of Tiandou Royal College!" The Dean of Academic Affairs stood up, and his voice spread throughout the mountaintop through the amplifying soul guide, clear and powerful. "The rules of this year's competition are the same as in previous years. The six best students in each grade will be selected to compete one-on-one. The three winners will represent the college in the upcoming National Soul Master Competition. Now, let us welcome the contestants with the warmest applause!"

As the Dean of Academic Affairs finished speaking, a round of even more enthusiastic applause rang out, and accompanied by cheers and shouts, six students from different grades, led by their respective instructors, stepped onto the stage. They were either handsome or beautiful, but without exception, they all exuded strong confidence and fighting spirit.

"The first match is between Oscar, a freshman, and Davis, a sophomore!" With the referee's order, the two students quickly entered the battle state on the first stage. Oscar, a thin boy with sharp eyes, has a rare food-type soul beast, the sausage soul. Although this does not seem to have an advantage in battle, he has become famous in the academy with his excellent control ability and precise use of soul power. His opponent, Davis, is a sophomore who has a powerful beast soul, the white tiger, and is known for his strength and speed.

"Hmph, first-year boy, are you ready?" Davis curled his lips into a sneer, his muscles tensed instantly, and the White Tiger Martial Spirit condensed and took shape behind him, making a deafening tiger roar.

"Come on, let me see your strength." Oscar's face was solemn. He quickly formed seals with his hands, and strings of colorful sausages appeared out of thin air in his hands. These seemingly ordinary sausages actually contained all kinds of magical effects.

The battle was about to break out. The two men fought back and forth, fists whistling, soul power surging, and the ring was instantly covered in dust. The audience in the stands watched intently, exclaiming from time to time.

At the same time, on another stage, Ning Rongrong from the third grade and Ma Hongjun from the fourth grade also had a fierce duel. Ning Rongrong, as a direct descendant of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, possessed the most precious auxiliary martial spirit on the continent - the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Tower. Every time she assisted, her teammates' strength could make a qualitative leap. Ma Hongjun, on the other hand, was an out-and-out battle maniac. His martial spirit was a mutant fire phoenix, which not only had amazing fire attack power, but also could continuously evolve in battle, with terrifying strength.

"Rongrong, be careful, my flames are no joke!" Ma Hongjun roared, his whole body ablaze with flames, turning into a huge fire phoenix, rushing straight towards Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong's expression remained unchanged. She raised her hands lightly, and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tower slowly rotated above her head. Rays of brilliant light fell on her, instantly improving her defense and agility. She dodged the fire phoenix's attacks lightly, while releasing auxiliary soul skills one after another, trying to weaken Ma Hongjun's offensive.

“Hmph, you think you can beat me by relying on assistance? That’s not that easy!” Ma Hongjun shouted angrily, and the flames became more intense, as if they were going to engulf the entire arena.

The battle continued, and every arena was filled with exciting duels. The audience cheered, marveled, was nervous, or excited. The entire mountaintop seemed to be enveloped by an invisible force, full of passion and enthusiasm. On the temporary platform, the senior members of the Academic Affairs Council and the nobles were also watching with great interest, whispering to each other from time to time and commenting on the performance of the contestants.

"It seems that this year's competition is more exciting than last year." A lady in a gorgeous long dress said softly, her eyes flashing with excitement.

"Indeed, these young people have extraordinary abilities and have a promising future." An old man nearby nodded in agreement, his eyes full of expectations and admiration for the younger generation.

In the spacious and luxurious viewing seats, Lu Yu sat quietly, his eyes as sharp as an eagle, shuttling between the fierce battle on the field and the guests around him. Today is the day of the finals of the annual soul master competition of the Tiandou Empire. All forces gathered here just to witness the rise of a new generation of strong men. And he, as a soul master scholar who traveled all over the world, naturally would not miss such a grand event.

The sun shines through the exquisitely carved window lattices onto the red carpeted viewing platform, adding a bit of warmth to this solemn occasion. Lu Yu's eyes finally settled on an old man in gorgeous clothes sitting at the main seat. The old man was wearing a complicated golden robe embroidered with intricate dragon and phoenix patterns, and a jade crown inlaid with gemstones, which made him look noble and extraordinary. Although his face was old, his eyes still sparkled with wisdom and majesty, as if he could see through all the vanity in the world.

"This person is probably extraordinary." Lu Yu thought to himself. With his many years of experience in the world of soul masters, he could sense the aura of an emperor emanating from this old man that could not be ignored. His eyes inadvertently swept over the guards standing beside the old man. Although those people were silent, the soul power fluctuations emanating from them were all of the standard of high-level soul masters, which further confirmed his guess.

Just as he was about to observe further, a faint whisper came from not far away, interrupting his thoughts.

"Look, that's Prince Xuexing, the younger brother of Emperor Xueye of the Tiandou Empire. He is also one of the rare powerful soul masters in our Tiandou royal family." A young man in gorgeous clothes lowered his voice and said to his friend beside him.

"Prince Xuexing?" Lu Yu's heart moved, and he quietly matched this name with his previous guess. No wonder, who else could sit in such an honorable position and have such a strong aura except for someone from the royal family?
"I heard that he was also a bright new star in the spirit master world when he was young. Later, due to family responsibilities, he gave up further practice and turned to assisting Emperor Xue Ye in governing the country. But even so, his cultivation has never fallen behind. It is said that he has already become a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse." Another listener, who obviously knew a lot about the prince, added incessantly.

Hearing this, Lu Yu couldn't help but feel a little respect in his heart. Titled Douluo is the pinnacle of the spirit master world. It is not easy to reach such a realm at this age. What's more rare is that he can find a balance between power and practice and contribute his strength to the empire.

As everyone was discussing, the game on the field entered a white-hot stage, and a deafening roar broke the whispers on the viewing platform. Lu Yu's eyes also turned back to the field, and saw two young soul masters fighting fiercely. The light of their soul skills complemented each other, illuminating the entire arena like daylight.

However, at this moment, Prince Xuexing, who was sitting in the main seat, suddenly raised his hand and signaled the guard beside him. One of the guards immediately understood, left his seat quietly, and walked towards the edge of the arena.

Lu Yu was curious and didn't know what instructions the prince had, so he continued to watch quietly. After a while, the guard returned with an exquisite scroll in his hand, which he respectfully presented to Prince Xuexing.

Prince Xuexing slowly unfolded the scroll, his eyes swept across it, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was thinking about something. After a moment, he sighed softly, closed the scroll, and scanned the whole place again, finally stopping at the position where Lu Yu was.

"That young man seems to be very interested in the competition." Although Prince Xuexing's voice was soft, it was clearly heard by Lu Yu, as if he had already noticed this foreign soul master scholar.

Lu Yu was startled, then stood up and bowed respectfully, "I am Lu Yu, a soul master scholar, new here, if I have offended you, I hope Your Highness will forgive me."

Prince Xuexing smiled slightly and motioned Lu Yu to come forward. "No problem. The Soul Master Competition is a grand event in the Soul Master world. It is natural that it attracts talents from all sides. I see that you have an extraordinary temperament. I believe you must have unique insights into the way of Soul Masters. Why don't we discuss it together?"

Lu Yu was secretly glad that he could attract the attention of this prince unintentionally. He quickly stepped forward and sat down in the empty seat next to Prince Xuexing, secretly thinking about how to communicate with this powerful man.

"Your Highness, what do you think of the Soul Master Competition?" Lu Yu asked tentatively.

Prince Xue Xing pondered for a moment and slowly spoke, "The Soul Master Competition is not only a test of the strength of young soul masters, but also a grand event for the soul master world of our Tiandou Empire. It can not only inspire the fighting spirit of young soul masters, but also promote exchanges and cooperation among soul masters, and cultivate more powerful people for the future of the empire."

"Your Highness is absolutely right." Lu Yu nodded in agreement, and admired the prince's insight even more.

"However," Prince Xuexing changed the subject, "In recent years, as soul beast resources have become increasingly scarce, competition in the soul master world has become increasingly fierce. How to cultivate more powerful people with these limited resources has become a problem that we need to solve urgently."

Lu Yu was moved when he heard this. This was exactly the question he had been thinking about for many years. He thought about it and said, "Perhaps, we can start with the education and training methods of soul masters, break the shackles of tradition, encourage soul masters to think innovatively, and find new ways of cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Prince Xuexing's eyes flashed with admiration, "Yes, this is exactly what our royal family has been working towards. It seems that you have a deep understanding of the way of a soul master." (End of this chapter)