Dai Yun'er's forehead began to sweat as she felt an overwhelming pressure unlike anything she had ever experienced.
Even when facing Long Yue, she hadn't felt such immense pressure.
Of course, Long Yue was several years older than her.
But Xu Yuan was her peer—how could someone of the same age reach such an absurd level?
At this moment, the audience fell into a stunned silence.
Five ten-thousand-year soul rings—this display alone was enough to command respect.
With his spear held in his right hand, Xu Yuan's blood essence surged around him, enveloping his body in a crimson flame.
The flames ignited instantly, causing Xu Yuan's presence to skyrocket.
"What terrifying blood essence!"
Star Luo Emperor Dai Tianling had personally come to watch the match, along with Imperial Tutor En Ci.
As they observed Xu Yuan on the arena, both wore expressions of shock.
En Ci felt it most deeply.
"How can his blood essence be so powerful? How is this possible?"
Fifteen years old?
What fifteen-year-old could achieve such a feat?
En Ci sifted through his knowledge, and all signs pointed to one organization.
The Body Sect!
Only soul masters from the Body Sect specialized in cultivating blood essence, capable of elevating it to levels far beyond ordinary people. For someone as young as Xu Yuan to possess such terrifying blood essence, he must have undergone systematic training.
Thus, only the Body Sect could explain this phenomenon.
Still, even for the Body Sect, this was excessively exaggerated.
His soul power, spiritual power, and now his blood essence—all were far beyond what a fifteen-year-old soul master should possess.
"What a powerful surge of blood essence! It feels even stronger than the oppressive aura of my Mountain Dragon," Long Yue said, his expression grave.
"Even your blood essence can't compare to his," Dai Yueyan added solemnly, offering his assessment.
Long Yue silently nodded, not disputing the claim.
In theory, blood essence was directly tied to one's bloodline. If one possessed a powerful bloodline, their blood essence would naturally be formidable. Long Yue's martial soul was the Mountain Dragon—a top-tier dragon martial soul known for its unparalleled physical enhancement. Aside from the Golden Dragon King, no other dragon species could surpass the Mountain Dragon in terms of physical augmentation.
And yet, even Long Yue's blood essence paled in comparison to Xu Yuan's.
"Truly a monster."
"Seal!"
Xu Yuan moved, pointing his spear at Dai Yun'er and uttering a single word in a calm tone.
Dai Yun'er's pupils contracted.
Her spiritual power was sealed, and her soul power became unusable!
How was this possible?
What kind of soul skill was this?
"Referee, you should announce the result," Xu Yuan said indifferently.
The referee still hadn't realized what had happened. He glanced at Dai Yun'er, who now appeared fearful and offered no resistance.
What had just occurred?
It didn't seem like she had fallen victim to an illusion.
Ten seconds passed, and Dai Yun'er's martial soul deactivation state ended, her soul rings disappearing.
The referee, utterly baffled, announced Xu Yuan's victory.
"What kind of soul skill was that?"
"It's my teacher's Seven Forbidden Techniques."
Xu Yuan had already turned to leave, but his calm voice still reached Dai Yun'er's ears.
Dai Yun'er staggered back to the Heavenly King Team's viewing box, dazed and dispirited.
"Yun'er, what exactly happened?" Dai Yueyan asked urgently, desperate to understand what had transpired.
How could the match end without any resistance?
Dai Yun'er's gaze swept across the group, her eyes clouded with confusion.
The others waited silently, watching her.
Finally, the confusion in her eyes faded, and she spoke slowly: "All my strength—my spiritual power, soul power, and even my physical stamina—was sealed."
"What?"
Forbidden techniques?
Sealing an opponent's soul power, spiritual power, and even stamina—how could anyone fight against that?
For a moment, even Long Yue felt at a loss.
However, he quickly regained his composure, realizing that such techniques must have limitations. A truly strong opponent couldn't be completely sealed.
"It's because Yun'er's gap in foundational strength is too vast compared to his. Otherwise, his forbidden techniques wouldn't have been so effective. If he could casually seal away all of someone's power, he'd already be invincible."
Long Yue's words brought a collective sigh of relief from the remaining six members of the Heavenly King Team.
Yes, Yun'er's soul power and blood essence were significantly weaker.
"Regardless, this Xu Yuan will likely fall to you in the end," Dai Yueyan said calmly. Though he knew Xu Yuan couldn't indiscriminately seal others' soul power, he also wasn't blindly confident.
He understood that if Xu Yuan faced any of the Eight Great Heavenly Kings aside from Dragon King Long Yue, victory was almost guaranteed.
"Brother Yuan, that was incredibly cool," Xu Lizhi chuckled.
Defeating an opponent without moving a muscle—such a technique was truly divine.
Of course, they all understood what had just happened.
The Seven Forbidden Techniques were simply monstrous.
"My next match is in three days. I'll head out for a bit; you all can arrange things as you see fit," Xu Yuan said.
The Shrek group nodded.
---
Tang Sect Headquarters
"Hello? May I ask what brings you here?"
"I'm looking for someone."
"Please show your identification."
"I'm not from the Tang Sect."
Not from the Tang Sect?
"Who are you looking for?"
"Smiling Douluo, Hu Jie."
The guard stationed at the gate of the Tang Sect looked at Xu Yuan with confusion, carefully examining him.
"What's your relationship with Director Hu?"
"Just tell him a junior disciple has come seeking him." After some thought, Xu Yuan replied.
A junior disciple?
Does Director Hu even have junior disciples?
The guard was puzzled but decided to contact Hu Jie anyway.
Xu Yuan didn't appear to be here to cause trouble, and his soul power fluctuations indicated he was at least at the Soul King level.
"The director is very busy; I may not be able to reach him," the guard said as he dialed a soul-guided communication device, glancing at Xu Yuan.
No sooner had he finished speaking than the communication was answered.
The guard gave Xu Yuan a look that said, "You're lucky."
"Hello?" A middle-aged man's voice came through the communicator.
"Director, someone claiming to be your junior disciple is here to see you."
"Oh? Bring him to me."
After hanging up, the guard looked at Xu Yuan and said, "You're lucky today—the director is free. But let me warn you: don't come here looking for trouble. If the director gets angry, you won't be able to handle it."
Xu Yuan smiled and nodded.
This was his first time entering the Tang Sect.
Though it was only the Star Luo City branch, it was still the headquarters of a continental division.
The guard led Xu Yuan into a building brimming with advanced technology. On the relatively underdeveloped Star Luo Continent, such a high-tech structure was unique—even the Spirit Pagoda lacked such obvious technological elements.
Inside, Xu Yuan followed the guard into an elevator, ascending directly to the top floor.
---
Top Floor – Hu Jie's Office
The guard knocked on the office door.
"Come in."
"Director, I've brought the person to you."
"Mm, you may go," a jovial-looking fat man said, waving the guard away.
Hu Jie looked at Xu Yuan, his eyes narrowing.
"What powerful blood essence."
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