51: Inner Court Selection Finals and Soul Palace Raid

The Inner Academy's semi-final match, Xiao Chen vs. Lin Xiuyai, was undoubtedly the focus of everyone's attention. On one side was the 'talent without Dou Qi' whose Soul power was mysterious and unpredictable, consistently winning against stronger opponents. On the other side was Lin Xiuyai, the Outer Academy's acknowledged top swordsman and a peak five-star Great Dou Master. Everyone wanted to know if Xiao Chen's unpredictable Soul techniques could overcome the huge gap in Dou Qi levels and defeat the extremely powerful Lin Xiuyai.

On the arena, the two stood facing each other.

Lin Xiuyai, dressed in green, stood tall and straight, a long sword on his back, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. His gaze towards Xiao Chen was filled with solemnity, devoid of any trace of contempt. He had carefully watched Xiao Chen's previous matches; the elusive Soul Impact and exquisite movement techniques made him feel extremely troublesome.

"Junior Brother Xiao Chen, please enlighten me," Lin Xiuyai cupped his hands, his tone solemn.

"Senior Brother Lin, please," Xiao Chen returned the gesture, his expression calm, his Spirit Realm Soul already quietly operating, an invisible pressure emanating from his body.

The match began!

Lin Xiuyai, well aware of the strangeness of Soul attacks, dared not be negligent in the slightest. He immediately unleashed his movement Dou Technique, his figure transforming into streaks of afterimages. His long sword was unsheathed, and green Dou Qi swept out like a fierce wind!

"Wind Spirit Splitting Sword!"

Streaks of sharp sword qi, like solid entities, slashed at Xiao Chen from all directions, sealing off all his evasion routes! Lin Xiuyai's strategy was clear: use speed and area attacks to prevent Xiao Chen from having the opportunity to lock onto him for a Soul Impact!

Facing this dense sword net, Xiao Chen utilized the Swimming Fish Steps to its extreme, his body like it had no bones, weaving through the gaps in the sword qi, narrowly avoiding the attacks. At the same time, his eyes flickered with a blue light, his Soul perception fully extended, capturing the position of Lin Xiuyai's true body and the rhythm of his Dou Qi's operation.

"Found you!" Xiao Chen's eyes flashed with a sharp gleam, and an invisible Soul spike instantly condensed, piercing through layers of sword shadows, directly stabbing towards Lin Xiuyai's glabella!

Lin Xiuyai's expression changed slightly. Although he couldn't directly 'see' the Soul attack, his keen perception as a five-star Great Dou Master made him sense a fatal crisis! He unhesitatingly abandoned his offensive, his long sword swirling, creating an airtight sword curtain in front of him, frantically pouring in Dou Qi!

"Greenwood Sword Aura!"

"Sizzle!"

The Soul spike collided with the sword curtain, emitting a faint sound. The sword curtain fluctuated violently, and Lin Xiuyai grunted, feeling a momentary dizziness in his head. Although he blocked most of the Soul Impact, the residual fluctuations still made his blood surge! The penetrative power of the Soul attack far exceeded his expectations!

"Good opportunity!" Seizing the moment of his defense, Xiao Chen moved like lightning, actively closing in! He had no Dou Qi, and close-quarters combat would normally be a disadvantage, but he infused Soul power into his arms, unleashing the Iron Bone Fist with full force, aiming directly at Lin Xiuyai's center!

Lin Xiuyai endured the discomfort, sweeping his long sword horizontally, clashing head-on with Xiao Chen's fist!

"Clang!"

The sound of metal clashing rang out! Xiao Chen was forced back several steps, his arm numb, but Lin Xiuyai's long sword was also parried away, his tiger's mouth cracking! He was inwardly shocked; Xiao Chen's physical strength was actually so formidable?!

"Can't give him a moment to breathe!" Lin Xiuyai gritted his teeth and unleashed an even stronger Dou Technique, "Whirlwind Splitting Wind Sword!" He spun like a whirlwind, sword qi crisscrossing, forming a giant sword qi tornado that crushed towards Xiao Chen! This was one of his trump cards, powerful enough to severely injure an ordinary Great Dou Master!

Facing this violent attack, Xiao Chen's eyes sharpened. He knew that conventional methods would be difficult to withstand. He took a deep breath, his Soul power surging frantically, no longer a simple impact, but beginning to construct an Illusionary Dream Realm!

"Illusionary Dream Realm, rise!"

An invisible fluctuation spread out with Xiao Chen as the center! Lin Xiuyai felt the scene before his eyes blur, as if he had instantly left the arena, finding himself in an boundless green bamboo forest, with howling winds and bamboo leaves like blades! And Xiao Chen's figure disappeared into the depths of the bamboo forest.

"Illusionary Dream Realm?!" Lin Xiuyai's heart pounded. He quickly guarded his mind, but the Illusionary Dream Realm was extremely realistic, even the stinging sensation of bamboo leaves brushing against his skin was clear! His sword qi tornado lost its target, raging wildly in the bamboo forest, but unable to find Xiao Chen's true body!

"Soul attacks, impossible to guard against!" The audience below exclaimed repeatedly. They couldn't see the Illusionary Dream Realm, only Lin Xiuyai suddenly attacking the air frantically, while Xiao Chen stood quietly in a corner of the arena, his eyes closed, seemingly fully controlling something.

On the high platform, Instructor Ruolin and Elder Mu She both showed expressions of admiration. To be able to use Soul power to such an extent, constructing an Illusionary Dream Realm that affected a five-star Great Dou Master, Xiao Chen's talent in the way of the Soul was indeed astonishing.

Within the Illusionary Dream Realm, Lin Xiuyai, relying on his strong willpower and Dou Qi cultivation, forcibly impacted the Illusionary Dream Realm's barrier. The bamboo forest began to shake, showing cracks. But just as he was about to break through the Illusionary Dream Realm, Xiao Chen moved!

He appeared behind Lin Xiuyai like a ghost, his fingers pointed like a sword, highly compressed Soul power condensed at his fingertips, aiming at Lin Xiuyai's back! This strike was not a physical attack, but a Soul Finger directly targeting the Soul's origin!

Lin Xiuyai felt the fatal danger from behind and forcibly twisted his body, but he was still a step too late!

"Puff!"

Xiao Chen's fingertip lightly touched his back. Lin Xiuyai's body violently shook as if struck by lightning, his surrounding Dou Qi instantly dissipated, the sword qi tornado vanished without a trace, and the Illusionary Dream Realm shattered. His face was pale, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, half-kneeling on the ground, clearly having suffered no minor Soul injury.

The entire venue was silent!

Xiao Chen, wins!

With his Spirit Realm Soul combined with illusion techniques and Soul Finger, he had defeated Lin Xiuyai, a peak five-star Great Dou Master, by fighting above his level! This victory was truly significant!

"Thank you for the match, Senior Brother Lin," Xiao Chen withdrew his finger, breathing slightly. Continuously using high-intensity Soul Dou Techniques was also a considerable drain on him.

Lin Xiuyai gave a bitter smile, struggling to stand up: "Junior Brother Xiao Chen's Soul techniques, I, Lin, admire! I am thoroughly convinced of my defeat." He knew that with that last finger, Xiao Chen had already shown mercy, otherwise his Soul would have suffered severe damage.

In the other semi-final, the battle between Liu Qing and Zi Yan was even more earth-shattering. Liu Qing's Gun Tyrant (Overlord Spear) was unparalleled in its sharpness, while Zi Yan's monstrous strength was terrifying. The two fought until the arena shattered. In the end, Zi Yan, relying on her superior physical strength and the mysterious Ancient Void Dragon bloodline talent, narrowly defeated Liu Qing, setting up a final match with Xiao Chen!

The final, Xiao Chen vs. Zi Yan!

One was a genius with mysterious Soul powers, the other a monstrous strength king with invincible power. This showdown was full of suspense.

However, just as the final was about to begin and the atmosphere reached its peak, a sudden change occurred!

Above Jia Nan Academy, the originally clear sky was suddenly enveloped by a cold black mist! A terrifying, heart-palpitating pressure descended like a tide from the sky!

"Hehehe... a genius with a Spirit Realm Soul? What a rare tonic!"

An eerie laugh echoed throughout the entire square. Space twisted, and several figures shrouded in black robes appeared in the air like ghosts! The leader, whose aura was as vast as the sea, far surpassed a Dou Ling, was actually a Dou Huang expert! Behind him followed four Dou Kings whose auras were equally cold and powerful!

The Soul Hall, finally unable to resist, made its move in plain sight!

Their target was directly Xiao Chen on the arena!

"Not good! It's the Soul Hall!" On the high platform, the Outer Academy Head and the elders' expressions changed drastically, and they all erupted with powerful auras, soaring into the sky!

"Protect the students!" Instructor Ruolin shouted, and instantly, she, Hai Bodong, Elder Mu She, and others surrounded Xiao Chen!

The entire venue was in chaos! The students looked in horror at the figures in the air, like reapers.

The Soul Hall Dou Huang overlooked the scene, his gaze fixed on Xiao Chen, and he said hoarsely: "Kid, come back to the Soul Hall with this Emperor, this is your good fortune!" With that, a giant ghostly claw formed by black mist tore through the air, directly grabbing at Xiao Chen!

"Impudent! How dare you act wildly in my Jia Nan Academy!" The Outer Academy Head roared, striking out with a palm. The boundless Dou Qi transformed into a giant palm, meeting the ghostly claw!

"Boom!"

Two Dou Huang-level experts clashed, and a terrifying energy storm swept out, causing the entire square to shake violently!

The great battle erupted instantly!

The experts of Jia Nan Academy and the invaders from the Soul Hall engaged in fierce combat! Dou Qi crisscrossed, and space vibrated!

But the Soul Hall's objective was clear. Two Dou Kings broke through the blockade and charged directly towards Xiao Chen!

"Protect yourself!" Hai Bodong shouted to Xiao Chen, and his body erupted with cold qi, meeting one of the Soul Hall Dou Kings! Elder Mu She also unleashed his Soul power, blocking the other.

But the Soul Hall was clearly prepared. Another Dou King broke free from the entanglement, charging towards Xiao Chen with a sneer: "Kid, surrender obediently!"

Facing the Dou King's assault, Xiao Chen felt an unprecedented sense of mortal danger! His eyes were resolute, his Spirit Realm Soul power erupted without reservation, the faint golden clan mark on his glabella flickering, preparing to fight to the death!

Just then, a small figure, moving even faster, blocked Xiao Chen's path!

It was Zi Yan!

"How dare you touch my opponent for the final? Have you asked my fist first!" Zi Yan shouted, and a primordial beast-like power erupted from her small body. She punched out, causing ripples in space, directly clashing with the Soul Hall Dou King's attack!

"Bang!"

With a loud bang, Zi Yan's figure swayed but she didn't retreat a single step! And that Soul Hall Dou King was shaken, his blood surging, his face filled with shock!

"Ancient Void Dragon?!" The Soul Hall Dou Huang also noticed Zi Yan, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes, "I didn't expect such an unexpected gain! Take them both down!"

The situation instantly became extremely critical! Xiao Chen and Zi Yan simultaneously became the targets of the Soul Hall!

Could Jia Nan Academy withstand the Soul Hall's surprise attack? How would Xiao Chen and Zi Yan respond to this sudden life-and-death crisis? The final had already transformed into a battle for survival!