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Soul Battle Arena
Xu Yuan was disappointed.
Although the Soul Battle Arena simulated various data points of soul masters, it couldn't fully replicate deeper aspects like the meridian structure.
The projection's mastery of ultimate techniques was merely the system's extrapolation of soul power flow characteristics, simulating both the effects and soul power consumption of those techniques.
In essence, it appeared as though the projection truly possessed those skills.
However, a closer look revealed that there was no actual soul power circulation within.
To Xu Yuan's surprise, this assessment was divided into individual evaluations and team evaluations.
The team evaluation would naturally involve three-on-three combat, while the individual evaluations differed slightly for each participant. Xu Yuan and Ye Xinglan were tasked with defeating their six-month-prior selves, while Xu Lizhi had to endure his past self's "attack" for ten minutes.
Facing the purple-eyed projection of himself, Xu Yuan knew he had to take things seriously.
"Let's see how much Tang Sect's ultimate techniques can enhance me."
Xu Yuan made the first move.
The projection's eyes glowed with an intense purple light, clearly indicating that the Purple Extreme Demon Pupil had reached an advanced level.
With the Five-Element Spear Spirit in hand and the Tianyuan Spear form integrated, Xu Yuan thrust forward, releasing a golden spear beam from the tip of his spear.
The projection's feet moved like phantoms, easily dodging the attack.
The long spear danced continuously, unleashing spear beams one after another, all of which were deftly evaded by the projection.
Xu Yuan switched to the Tianyuan Brush.
The projection wielded its own Tianyuan Brush, gathering water and fire elements that collided and rotated before exploding violently.
A gust of wind confined the explosion's damage within a limited space, directing it entirely toward Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan unleashed his full spiritual power, carefully observing the opponent's technique.
Though he couldn't see the soul power flow within the meridians, the elemental manipulation techniques were evident.
Summoning his own Tianyuan Brush, Xu Yuan began wielding it with his left hand.
Under his potent spiritual power, even his seemingly "clumsy" elemental manipulation techniques summoned a thick wall of earth to rise instantly, shielding him.
Was Xu Yuan's technique clumsy?
No. His mastery of elemental forces surpassed not only his peers but even many Soul Ancestors.
However, the projection's elemental manipulation was on another level entirely.
"This assessment also comes with rewards," Xu Yuan realized.
His strength had improved significantly, and even the projection armed with advanced techniques couldn't overpower him.
Moreover, leveraging his immense spiritual power, Xu Yuan continued learning the projection's elemental techniques during the battle.
The fight dragged on.
Xu Lizhi managed to hold out for eleven minutes, barely passing his evaluation.
Ye Xinglan defeated her projection in fifteen minutes.
Yet, half an hour had passed, and Xu Yuan's battle still hadn't ended.
"Will Brother Yuan fail?" Xu Lizhi frowned, his voice tinged with worry.
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Soul Battle Arena
Xu Yuan's soul power was nearly depleted.
The projection's soul power was similarly strained.
It seemed both sides were preparing for the final push. Suddenly, the projection's aura underwent a dramatic transformation.
Spear momentum. Spear intent.
This time, it didn't mimic everything about Xu Yuan.
The spear momentum surged forward relentlessly, but unlike Xu Yuan's fearless aura, this one carried an overwhelming sense of dominance.
One embodied progress and exploration; the other exuded invincibility.
The spear intent severed all possibilities.
It sealed everything!
Xu Yuan felt his trump card—his spiritual power—being targeted. The spear intent locked onto him, stunning him and preventing him from mobilizing.
This strike was fast.
Too abrupt!
Xu Yuan had anticipated that the projection might employ a fully developed spear intent to increase the difficulty, but he hadn't expected this kind of spear intent.
Who the hell was the source of this spear intent?
It resembled the effect of spatial sealing far too closely!
In an instant, Xu Yuan realized whose spear intent this was.
Fortunately, the teachers had miscalculated one thing.
Xu Yuan's blood and qi surged.
My spear is now better suited to being driven by blood and qi!
With his blood and qi surging, Xu Yuan unleashed all of it in an instant, a fiery aura erupting around him.
His blood and qi energy perfectly merged with the Five-Element Spear Spirit.
Though the spear momentum was lost and the heavens and earth no longer supported him, Xu Yuan remained fearless.
This strike was resolute.
"Such potent blood and qi!"
Several elder masters, including Zhuo Shi and Cai Yue'er, were watching the assessment.
Even through the screen, they could almost feel the boiling intensity of Xu Yuan's blood and qi.
"How does this kid have such powerful blood and qi?" Zhuo Shi exclaimed in astonishment.
"Who knows?" Cai Yue'er shrugged.
During the entrance assessment, Xu Yuan hadn't displayed this ability when facing senior students at the high-soul-honored level.
How had he changed so drastically in just half a year?
"Could it be his Great Devouring Heaven and Earth Technique?" Zhuo Shi speculated.
"Even if he ate a lot, could his blood and qi really grow this quickly?"
"Then what other explanation can you think of?" Zhuo Shi shot back. "There are rare treasures that boost blood and qi. Maybe his uncle found some for him."
---
Soul Battle Arena
Without the amplification of spear momentum or a perfected spear intent, Xu Yuan still relied on his strong foundation to withstand the attack.
"Myself from six months ago—my foundation was still too weak," Xu Yuan smirked.
Pathetic.
Once the spear intent's suppression faded, his spiritual power surged, instantly pulling the projection into an illusion.
The second soul skill of his brain martial soul: Dream Realm.
The dream stretched endlessly, but only a moment passed in the outside world. Xu Yuan approached the projection and thrust forward with his spear.
You restricted my spiritual power. Now I'll restrict your movement.
Fair enough.
"What just happened?" Cai Yue'er and the other elders were baffled, unable to comprehend Xu Yuan's actions.
The Soul Battle Arena provided an open virtual space and fabricated bodies for users, but it couldn't detect all data points accurately.
This limitation stemmed from both technical constraints and user preferences.
"It might be some kind of menta shockwave ability," Zhuo Shi suggested. "Shen Yi mentioned earlier that this kid's spiritual power has already reached the Spirit Sea Realm. He even took leave from the academy, likely learning some spiritual power techniques from his uncle while fusing with a spirit soul."
"What techniques? Are you saying even the Purple Extreme Demon Pupil couldn't withstand them?"
"In half a year, Xu Yuan's spiritual power has at least doubled. No matter how profound the Purple Extreme Demon Pupil is, it wouldn't stand a chance."
Xu Yuan vanished from the Soul Battle Arena.
"Teacher Shen, I've passed."
"Mm," Shen Yi replied, her expression unnatural.
He actually won.
She had personally overseen the creation of this projection, designing it specifically to defeat Xu Yuan. Her plan was to evaluate his performance based on how long he could endure and combine that with his team score to barely pass him.
But to her surprise, Xu Yuan outright defeated the projection, securing victory and earning a perfect score in the individual combat evaluation.
Could his foundational stats have improved this much in just half a year?
"Mm, rest for now. In half an hour, the three of you will participate in the team match. Winning the team match earns a perfect score," Shen Yi instructed.
During the break, Xu Lizhi reminded his teammates.
"Brother Yuan, Sister Xinglan, my projection knows how to fight and looks pretty formidable. Keep an eye out for it."
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