In the spectator seats, Dugu Xianmeng looked at Zhou Sichen with admiration, like a fangirl gazing at her idol. She couldn't help but think to herself, "That annoying little brother... no matter what form he takes, he's just so charming!"
Feeling the terrifying aura Zhou Sichen was exuding, Dugu Xianmeng found him even more attractive.
Inside the referees' lounge, Teacher Zhou had been lazily sipping tea, but the moment he saw Zhou Sichen stepping onto the stage, he immediately sat upright, eyes fixed through the one-way soul tool glass, completely focused.
Even with a thick pane of soul tool glass between them, Teacher Zhou could sense the fierce, beast-like pressure Zhou Sichen was releasing—as if he had become a humanoid Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear.
Chen Zifeng took a deep breath as the five soul rings around him lit up one by one. He knew he might only have one shot at this, so he poured all his soul power into activating every soul skill he had.
In an instant, he transformed into a sharp, blood-red longsword, his confidence beginning to return bit by bit.
With his soul rings shining brightly, Chen Zifeng charged forward, wielding his Pursuit Sword, turning into a crimson blur aiming directly for Zhou Sichen's face.
Zhou Sichen casually raised his Terrorclaws and slashed out ten terrifying dark-golden blades, each nearly three meters in length.
Boom! Boom! Boom...
Even with all his strength, Chen Zifeng couldn't break through a single one of Zhou Sichen's seemingly casual attacks. After barely shattering seven of the dark-golden energy blades, he was sent flying.
Fortunately, Zhou Sichen dispersed the remaining energy blades in time—otherwise, Chen Zifeng might've been torn to pieces.
Everyone who saw this scene was utterly stunned.
Wasn't he struggling when fighting Ma Xiaotao before? How was he now so effortlessly overpowering Chen Zifeng?
Was he even human anymore?
But this only gave everyone a much clearer idea of Zhou Sichen's current strength.
Having fused with a ten-thousand-year Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear, Zhou Sichen's power spoke for itself.
Chen Zifeng, nearly drained of soul power, lay at the bottom of the arena, his eyes still wide with shock at the sheer force Zhou Sichen had unleashed.
Even with such a simple attack, he had used everything he had—and still failed to block it...
After a long moment, Chen Zifeng slowly stood up.
"Teacher Zhou, next time, I'll be able to block it."
Zhou Sichen smiled gently.
"You will."
Chen Zifeng left the Soul Duel Arena, his understanding of his own strength forever changed.
Facing a true genius, all the hard work he'd put in still wasn't enough. He would have to push even harder.
Watching Chen Zifeng's departing figure, Zhou Sichen softly asked,
"Is there anyone else who wants to challenge me?"
The arena fell completely silent at the sound of his voice. Everyone knew that defeating Zhou Sichen meant a direct promotion to the Red-Level Duel Soul Badge, along with special rewards from the academy.
But if even someone as strong as Chen Zifeng couldn't withstand a single strike, what hope did the rest have?
After a long silence, seeing no one respond, Zhou Sichen shook his head and turned to leave the stage.
Just then, a clear, gentle voice echoed from the entrance of the arena.
"Wait."
Zhou Sichen paused and turned around, only to see a stunningly beautiful figure standing tall at the gate.
He raised an eyebrow. The person who had come was none other than the Golden Fairy—Han Ruoruo.
A graceful smile bloomed on her lovely face.
"Teacher Zhou, I'd like to challenge you."
Even Han Ruoruo, a senior, respectfully addressed him as "Teacher Zhou"—such was the way of the Douluo Continent, where strength commanded respect. Moreover, Zhou Sichen had already been officially recognized as an instructor and referee by the academy.
Upon seeing Han Ruoruo, Dugu Xianmeng couldn't help but twitch her lips.
Ma Xiaotao was one thing... but now even Senior Sister Ruoruo is here?
Zhou Sichen smiled calmly.
"Please."
Han Ruoruo took a single graceful step. Empowered by her strong soul power, she crossed nearly a hundred meters in the blink of an eye and quietly landed on the Soul Duel Platform, standing across from Zhou Sichen.
Looking into his eyes, she spoke softly.
"Teacher Zhou, you're young and exceptionally talented. I'd like to witness your special abilities for myself... it's something I've always wished for."
Zhou Sichen's smile didn't waver.
"Senior sister, your strength is unmatched in the Inner Court. Being your opponent is my honor."
After exchanging some polite flattery, Han Ruoruo cut to the chase. Golden light flickered around her as a long, snake-like golden rope coiled around her body.
This was her martial soul—Shaking Golden Rope, a rare and terrifyingly powerful control-type martial soul. Within the Inner Court, only a handful could escape its grasp.
Bathed in golden light, the shimmering rope coiled around her, making her appear like a fairy descended from the heavens—hence the title "Golden Fairy."
Two yellow, two purple, and three black soul rings rose around her—seven in total. A Soul Sage. The soul pressure she emitted was leagues above Chen Zifeng's.
Unfortunately, even as a Soul Sage, Han Ruoruo might still fall short when facing Zhou Sichen's overwhelming ferocity, amplified by his fusion with the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear.
However, Zhou Sichen himself was only at Rank 40. While the fusion gave him tremendous power, Han Ruoruo had no way of knowing the specifics.
To her, Zhou Sichen was a Rank 40 soul master who, by forming a contract with a soul beast, had gained strength far beyond his level—but his foundation hadn't changed.
Even though she felt suffocated by the fierce aura he emanated, she still wanted to try and see if she had a chance of defeating him.
"Han Ruoruo. Martial soul: Shaking Golden Rope. Rank 74, control-type Battle Soul Sage. Please grant me your guidance."
Zhou Sichen didn't announce his rank—there was no need. Most people already knew he was only at Rank 40, but that his contracted soul beast gave him an absurd advantage.
Right after Han Ruoruo introduced herself, her soul rings began to glow in sequence.
As a yellow and purple ring flared, the golden rope turned into a dragon-like blur, shooting straight at Zhou Sichen.
His expression didn't change. The Terrorclaws crossed in a flash, sending ten dark-golden beams of light bursting outward.
At the same time, he launched himself forward with explosive strength, like a coiled spring, charging directly at Han Ruoruo.
The golden rope was incredibly fast, weaving around his attack with ease. Han Ruoruo activated a flying-type soul tool, lifting into the air to dodge the ten golden blades.
She then controlled the rope to coil directly around the approaching Zhou Sichen.
He swung his Terrorclaws to slice it apart—but the rope was too slippery. It slithered around his arms and began wrapping around his body.
At the same moment, one of Han Ruoruo's black soul rings lit up. The golden rope suddenly split into three, growing massive and forming a gigantic golden cage around Zhou Sichen.
The cage looked like it was forged from steel—that was one of the Shaking Golden Rope's characteristics: it could extend or retract, soften or harden at will.
Meanwhile, Chen Zifeng had just reentered the arena, walking unsteadily. When he saw that Senior Sister Han Ruoruo had arrived, he decided to stay and watch the duel before leaving.
He was curious—did Zhou Sichen truly have what it took to defeat even her?
Just in time, he saw Zhou Sichen trapped inside the golden cage, his body wrapped in the shimmering rope—and couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Yes, Han Ruoruo's abilities were incredibly powerful... but Zhou Sichen had fused with a ten-thousand-year Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear!
And yet... he was already restrained this easily?
****
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