Ye Wuqing's face turned even uglier. His Golden Barrier was as fragile as paper before Lu Jingming's black spear, shattering instantly.

In desperation, Ye Wuqing summoned a shining golden leaf and used his third soul skill: Falling Slash.

A golden slash struck the spear, diverting its path.

Ye Wuqing used the force to retreat, putting distance between them.

He knew close combat with Lu Jingming was suicide.

Lu Jingming pressed forward, swirling his spear and attacking again.

"Fifth soul skill, Purple Sky Thunder Arrow!" Tang Xiaolei shouted, his fifth ring shining.

Purple lightning formed a huge, terrifying thunder arrow.

Tang Xiaolei fired it skyward.

The massive thunder arrow fell like a meteor, and locked onto Lu Jingming.

Crackling sounds filled the air.

"Hey! Am I just a bystander?" March 7th puffed out her cheeks.

She drew her pink bow to full moon, her second soul ring ablaze.

"Take this! Second soul skill: Ice Carved Arrow Rain!"

A frigid arrow shot out, splitting into hundreds of icy arrows, blanketing Tang Xiaolei.

Wherever the arrows passed, the air froze and the temperature plummeted.

Tang Xiaolei's face darkened; he fired arrow after arrow, trying to intercept them.

But he overestimated himself and underestimated March 7th.

The purple arrows froze on contact with the cold.

In a blink, Tang Xiaolei was encased in a massive ice mountain.

His fifth soul skill did, however, buy Ye Wuqing precious time.

Lu Jingming's swirling spear shattered the thunder arrow.

Lightning raged around him, but did no harm.

Ye Wuqing used the chance to activate his second, fourth, and fifth soul rings—preparing to go all out.

"Second soul skill: Golden Leaf Rain! Fourth: Golden Fall! Fifth: Golden Leaf Dance!"

At his shout, countless golden leaves whirled through the air, forming a massive golden tornado.

The tornado twisted the air into a vortex as it swept toward Lu Jingming.

"Come on!" Lu Jingming smiled confidently.

He wanted to try the true power of his Thunder Stigmata.

Thunder boomed across the sky.

Countless bolts gathered from all directions, enveloping Lu Jingming.

Under electromagnetic force, he rose into the air. Behind him, lightning gathered into a thunder giant a hundred meters tall.

The thunder giant gripped a massive lightning spear.

The spear shone so brightly that the audience had to shield their eyes.

"All the world's thunder is mine to command. With thunder, shatter the darkness!"

Lightning flashed in Lu Jingming's eyes as he pressed his hand down.

The thunder giant thrust its spear at the golden tornado.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze.

"Boom!"

The thunder exploded, deafening.

Lightning spread out from the center, filling the arena with ozone.

The golden tornado was instantly swallowed up by the lightning.

The heat from the lightning vaporized the golden leaves, leaving only a few golden sparks before they too vanished.

Everyone stared at the thunder giant in awe.

The golden light vanished, overtaken by the thunder.

Ye Wuqing lay in the rubble, paralyzed, sparks still crackling on him.

He could only stare at Lu Jingming's lightning-wreathed figure floating in the air—like a god!

"Angel, Divine Slash!"

"Holy Spirit Slash!"

High above, Ye Guyi and Yu Mengdi's duel reached its climax.

The divine angelic figures lifted their radiant swords.

Gold and platinum swords clashed, creating a dazzling, sun-like radiance.

In the blazing light, a figure fell from the sky, white feathers drifting down.

As the light faded, the crowd saw Yu Mengdi kneeling, sword in the ground, gasping, her face pale.

Ye Guyi stood tall, sword in hand, still in the air.

Though she was breathing heavily, it was clear she had won this epic angel duel.

Elsewhere, Yan'er was trapped in a huge water ball, helpless and soaked.

Gu Yue snapped her fingers, the ball burst, and the drenched Yan'er collapsed, drawing whistles from the crowd.

Castorice stood quietly, hugging her purple scythe, serene as a fairy.

Nearby, Yang Yifan and Xue Lang lay twitching, completely defeated.

"Round of sixteen, team match, St. Freya Academy wins!" Dan Heng announced.

After this match, the round of sixteen continued smoothly.

The first two days were team matches; the third was individual eliminations.

After a crushing defeat, Zheng Tian Academy gave up hopes of a comeback.

They sent out their three strongest soul kings in the individual matches, lost, and thus ended their run in the top sixteen.

St. Freya Academy, meanwhile, swept all rivals, becoming the favorites to win.

However, Shrek Academy's appearance changed everything.

They fielded Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yaoheng, and Ling Luochen.

Ma Xiaotao's Soul Sage cultivation stunned the crowd.

At that moment, everyone thought Shrek Academy would reclaim the championship.

After all, St. Freya's core members were only Soul Kings, which paled in comparison to a Soul Sage.

Most spectators, unfamiliar with the intricacies of soul rings and ultimate attributes, believed Shrek would win.

With the round of sixteen complete, the quarterfinal draw followed, and St. Freya drew Star Luo Royal Academy.

Lu Jingming shook his head at their bad luck.

Star Luo Royal Academy's chances were slim regardless of their opponent.

Most spectators felt regret; both teams represented the Star Luo Empire, so their quarterfinal clash was an internal battle.

Most of the live audience were Star Luo citizens, with only a few from other countries.