393. Defeat Me

Xiao Fei Die nodded resolutely, holding the Zhuge Divine Crossbow in her hands as she turned to face the "mothers" from the orphanage.

They stood steady, holding up wooden blocks and stone slabs in front of them.

Raising her left arm slowly, the little girl, who hadn’t even awakened her martial soul, became the focus of everyone’s attention.

In the competition teams’ formation, everyone held their breath.

Whoosh!

In the stillness of the square, a faint whistling sound suddenly broke the silence. From the sleeve of Xiao Fei Die's raised arm, three arrows shot out swiftly and precisely, piercing into the wooden block.

Thud—!

The three arrows hit their target in perfect unison.

Teachers and students from the competing academies looked on in shock.

Such power...

It was clear this weapon posed a real threat to ordinary soul masters!

But before they could process what they had just seen, Xiao Fei Die stamped her small foot. A sharp blade extended from the toe of her boot, gleaming with a cold light.

She raised her foot and scraped it against the ground, producing a sharp, grating sound that made the spectators cringe. Then, with a sudden flick, the blade shot forward and embedded itself deep into the wooden block—much deeper than the arrows from the sleeve crossbow.

The sight before them made nearly everyone in the formation stiffen.

Hearts began to race uncontrollably.

It seemed the absurd claims they had scoffed at moments ago were now materializing before their very eyes.

Boom!

In Xiao Fei Die's hands, the Scattershot Hidden Arrow was activated.

A purple mist burst forth, accompanied by 36 steel needles gleaming ominously as they struck the stone slab. The needles sank deep into the stone, vanishing entirely within it.

“Hiss—!”

Gasps rippled through the competition teams. Some younger participants gulped nervously.

The attack’s power left no doubt: anyone below the level of a Soul Elder stood no chance of surviving.

Even a Soul Master over level 30 would struggle if they lacked poison resistance.

Xiao Fei Die continued her demonstration with quiet determination.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Qian Renjue’s calm voice cut through the murmurs.

“The next weapons can kill a Soul Elder outright.”

The crowd went silent, their faces growing serious.

Clang!

The Zhuge Divine Crossbow fired again, releasing 16 arrows in rapid succession. They struck the iron plate with terrifying force, penetrating more than an inch deep.

Some students in the crowd began to pale visibly.

Though they were considered young elites, the majority were still Soul Masters or Soul Elders. A few were Soul Grandmaster at most.

Against such weapons, they realized bitterly, even their so-called "elite" status offered no guarantee of survival.

Xiao Fei Die bent down as rehearsed, activating the Flower Crossbow Backpack strapped to her back.

The massive bolt it launched struck with such force that the students and teachers alike felt their hearts sink.

This wasn’t just a display; it was a declaration of dominance.

The teachers in the crowd, now seeing the weapon’s potential to threaten even Soul Kings, began to feel an immense pressure.

Finally, Xiao Fei Die stepped forward, her waist girded with a wide belt as she hefted the Sky-Grasping Claw, the heaviest weapon of all.

With steady hands, she aimed the claw upward and fired.

Whoosh—!

All eyes followed the claw as it soared through the air.

Bang!

High above, two flying soul masters holding a thick log between them were stunned as the claw pierced straight through the log, despite the 30-meter distance.

Before they could fully comprehend the power of the weapon, Xiao Fei Die activated the claw’s retracting mechanism.

She lifted off the ground and glided gracefully toward the orphanage mothers, supported solely by the weapon’s strength.

The entire square fell silent.

“Ladies and gentlemen, these are the ultimate rewards of this year’s Soul Master Competition.”

Qian Renjue’s voice spread across the square, clear and unshaken.

No one from the competition teams dared to speak.

All eyes turned toward the high platform where the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall stood.

Participants from empires and academies like the Thunder Academy gazed at him with complex expressions.

They all shared the same pressing question:

Can these weapons be mass-produced?

If the answer was yes...



Letting children wield weapons capable of killing Soul Elders—
terrifying indeed!

Bibi Dong’s eyes flickered as she observed the expressions of those below. Every look of shock, awe, and fear was noted and appreciated.

This was the effect she desired.

Her message was clear: to the sects, academies, and family factions—this is what awaits those who refuse to submit.

As the cat girls dispersed, Qian Renjue’s next words erased the lingering doubts among the crowd.

> “In the upcoming competition,”
“the winning team—each student and even their accompanying teachers—will receive a full set of soul tools!”



“...”

“Hiss… Is this for real?!”

Murmurs erupted among the participants. Some students couldn’t believe their ears, whispering to one another.

Teams confident in their strength grew eager, their fighting spirits igniting.

Yet more cautious individuals frowned deeply, their faces heavy with concern.

It seemed the Spirit Hall could mass-produce these weapons.

This revelation carried immense implications. The balance within the soul master world would surely be disrupted—though order would inevitably follow.

Ning Fengzhi watched the Pope and the Holy Son ahead.

For the second time, he felt profound relief for the choice his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had made.

“Rest assured.”



Bibi Dong’s scepter struck the ground, her voice resonating with undeniable authority across the plaza.

“If you can defeat the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall, we will gladly grant you a hundred sets. Spirit Hall always keeps its word.”



“A hundred sets?!”

Her declaration triggered another uproar.

Teachers and students from the two great empires, as well as the various academies, couldn’t hide their excitement.

If these weapons could be reverse-engineered…

The mere thought filled them with wild ambition.

As her words settled, several golden chairs were brought to the Pope’s palace entrance. At her signal, she took the central seat.

To her left sat the senior, middle, and junior members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

To her right, the three Titled Douluo—Ghost, Chrysanthemum, and Poison—took their places.

Qian Renjue, hands tucked into his sleeves, walked forward leisurely. His purple eyes were calm as he approached the plaza’s center.

Facing the eager and restless participants, he began to speak in a steady, clear voice:

“Everyone…”

“The rewards are indeed tempting, but only strength can earn them.”

“Now, I invite you to use any means you wish to defeat me.”



As he stood in the center of the plaza before the Pope’s palace, Qian Renjue’s demeanor remained serene.

“Whether you come at me alone or in groups…”

“Whether it’s one team, two teams, or even all of you together…”

“If you can defeat me, everyone who participates will receive the reward.”



His words sent a wave of outrage through the crowd.

Every soul master who had qualified for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament was proud and brimming with talent.

To be treated with such casual disdain was infuriating.

“Damn it… this is infuriating!”
“Does he think so little of us?!”
“Yeah! Even if he’s a Soul Emperor, we’ll show him what happens when he’s arrogant!”

“Holy Son of the Spirit Hall? Don’t tell me he’s a Soul Sage?!”

“Let’s take him down! He’ll pay for his arrogance!”

The students fumed, their pride stung.

The teachers were split—some scoffing at the Holy Son’s confidence, others growing uneasy.

Even if they doubted Qian Renjue could live up to his words, his calm demeanor was unsettling.

Among the crowd, only Liu Erlong remained silent.

Her eyes were filled with admiration, tenderness, and a trace of nostalgia.

The young man standing before her reminded her of a boy from her dreams—a boy who loved sparring and took her to countless advanced academies and soul battle arenas just to relish the thrill of combat.

Time passed.

Despite their seething indignation, the academy elites were reluctant to put their pride aside and gang up on him.

They fumed for some time but hesitated to step forward.

“Are you all afraid of losing?”



Qian Renjue’s voice remained calm, his expression as indifferent as ever.

But that nonchalant attitude only stoked their anger further.

Finally, a middle-aged man’s voice broke through the tension.

“We, the Beast Academy, are willing to challenge the Holy Son!”