Chapter 6: Awakening the Third Martial Soul: Clockwork Rock

After the visitors left,
"One just left and another arrives—what a coincidence," Nian Yun muttered irritably as he looked at the scattered remnants on the ground.
"There's no helping it; we just happened to cross paths," Morris replied with a calm smile, as if he had long anticipated this.

After a short while, the two finally tidied up the lawn.
Having eaten a simple meal to fill their stomachs, they chose to return to their dormitory to rest first.

Lying on the bed, Nian Yun glanced occasionally at Morris, who was lying on his side.
"His Martial Soul must be a defensive type, with defense values rivaling those of Old Master Zhong," he thought.
"Truly deserving of the Martial Soul Hall," he mused.

Afternoon—
Outside the No. 2 Dou Soul Arena of the Martial Soul Academy,
Looking around, everyone’s faces bore signs of exhaustion.
"There are thirty-six left, not bad—slightly more than last year."
"However—"
"The six students with the lowest Dou Soul rankings will immediately leave the class; I do not tolerate uselessness," the instructor declared.

One in the lineup asked, "Excuse me, what are the rules of the Dou Soul competition?"
"One versus many. The more opponents you defeat, the higher your score."
Another asked, "What about support-type Soul Masters?"
"Support Soul Masters don’t need to compete on the field. To earn points, they must challenge multiple opponents alone. Good luck to them."

At this moment, Morris raised a question, "Teacher, is it a single-person match?"
"No, it’s one versus many. Each person must serve as the challenger once, while those off the field can challenge them. Each match can have up to three challengers."

"Three?" Nian Yun muttered, "System, to be honest, do you have some hidden ability?"
System: ...

Luster paid no mind to the puzzled expressions among the crowd and turned to call everyone toward the arena.
"Next, your order of battle will be determined by drawing lots."
With a wave of his hand, tokens flew out from behind him and neatly arranged themselves before the contestants.
"Looking at it this way, the later your number, the more advantageous it is," Nian Yun chuckled lightly as he looked at the tokens.

Following their positions, the thirty-six participants stepped forward one by one to draw their token numbers from Luster.
Nian Yun: 1
Morris: 2
...
“This is a shamelessly rigged draw, a conspiracy. Though there’s no proof, it’s easy to suspect that old man,” someone grumbled.

After a brief moment of disappointment, Nian Yun nodded to Morris beside him and stepped onto the stage.
"Three," he announced.

No sooner had he spoken than three figures leapt onto the field.
Mo Xing: "Level 31 fierce attack-type Battle Soul Lord, Martial Soul: Big-headed Spirit Ape."
Zeng Ping: "Level 29 defensive-type Great Soul Master, Martial Soul: Mad Bull."
Lu Yuan: "Level 29 support-type Great Soul Master, Martial Soul: Tome."

"Looks like you three have already conspired. But three of you won’t be enough," Nian Yun sneered at them coldly.
"Level 31 fierce attack-type Battle Soul Lord, Martial Soul: Dream Unity."

"Hiss, hiss,"

In an instant, the aura emitted from the three just released Martial Souls was completely suppressed by the ‘Dream Unity’ in Nian Yun’s right hand.
"Begin."

Mo Xing charged first, "First Soul Skill: Heavy Fall."
Behind him, a spirit ape manifested.
"Step,"

The heavy gravity stomp soared and fell straight toward Nian Yun.
"First Soul Skill: Recklessness,"
At the same time,
A giant rhinoceros charged forward.
"First Soul Skill,..."

"Whoosh,"
Just as the support-type Soul Master behind prepared to activate a Soul Skill, a figure accelerated to intercept.
"What?"

"Bang—"
The spirit ape smashed down, but only a phantom figure dissipated.
At this moment, Nian Yun had already swiftly slid past the giant rhino using his Wind Wings.
With his left hand, he gathered a wind ball and struck heavily at Lu Yuan’s abdomen.

"Boom—pow,"
The crowd watching saw Lu Yuan blown away instantly by a small whirlwind, flying out of the arena.
"Step, step, step,"

"Martial Soul Switch: Dream Unity."
The Wind Wings behind him vanished, the wind element in his left hand gradually dissipated, and a bolt of violet lightning exploded from his right hand.

"Swish, swish—whoosh,"
His left foot spun, and his right hand swung back.

"Bang,"
The giant rhino collided with ‘Dream Unity’ producing a sharp impact.

Unexpected by all, Nian Yun only took a few steps backward and was not knocked flying as anticipated.
Outside the arena, Luster also noticed something amiss: the place where the rhino struck had actually been mostly neutralized by Nian Yun’s skillful control of force.
This kind of maneuver was clearly the result of accumulated experience from prolonged battles.

"Eternal!"
"Be careful, dodge quickly,"
Mo Xing behind him warned hastily as he saw the blade in Nian Yun’s hand begin to release violet lightning.

Zeng Ping looked up at this and was overcome by a wave of mortal fear.
"Hiss,"
Before he could retreat, his rhino’s horn tingled with paralysis, and his legs were completely immobilized.
"Second Soul Skill: Split Ape."

Seeing Zeng Ping motionless, Mo Xing created three illusions charging from above and both sides.
"Just the kind of brainless teamwork I was waiting for."

The two were taken aback.
Nian Yun rotated his right wrist; due to inertia, the rhino stepped forward a few paces while he slipped sideways behind it.

"Thud,"
Before the two could react, the three spirit ape illusions collided with the giant rhino.

"Ah—"
"Hiss~"
"Sizzle—sizzle~sizzle—"

Thunder rumbled behind as delicate, web-like electric nets flickered before their eyes.
Supporting himself, Nian Yun glanced back.

"First Soul Skill: Thoughtless Blade."
Watching Nian Yun assume a striking pose, the ‘Dream Unity’ was sheathed back into the scabbard on his left hand.

His eyes shot violet lightning; his purple irises locked onto the two challengers.
The two stared at those heterochromatic eyes, their bodies paralyzed by invisible currents, and their minds utterly devoid of resistance.

"Whoosh—"
A purple streak slashed across half the arena.

"Boom,"
"Bang."

The crowd outside watched as the two unconscious challengers collapsed out of the arena, their fear of Nian Yun deepening.
"Ended in just three moves?"
"What kind of monster is he?"

...

With a slight crooked smile toward the three outside the arena, Nian Yun walked off the field.
He and Morris exchanged a glance—one up, one down.
"Good luck."

With that, Nian Yun headed toward the stands. Along the way, though some still harbored resentment toward him, no one questioned his strength.

After taking a seat, back in the arena:
"Three."

Nian Yun showed no surprise and watched the scene with interest.
"Hopefully a few of them are strong. I’m really curious about your Martial Soul," he said.

"Ding,"
System: "System breakthrough task completed. Rewards are being issued."

"Wait, hold on,"
Feeling the change in his soul power, Nian Yun looked toward Luster not far away with a sense of foreboding.
"This was supposed to be my trump card."

He glanced once more at the three who had jumped onto the field before reluctantly stepping back and leaving the stands.

...

"Bang,"
He dashed into the restroom, closing his eyes tightly, feeling the emergence of his third Martial Soul: Zhong Yan.

Around Nian Yun, countless tiny particles swirled in orbit.

"Whoosh—"
A surge of soul power exploded, and ‘Zhong Yan’ gradually manifested on his left hand.

"With Old Master Zhong around, I feel completely secure."