The Glazed team and the Blazing Wind team simultaneously released their martial souls.
With all members above the Soul Ancestor level, this match could be considered exceptionally high-caliber.
However, two individuals stood out. Ning Rongrong deliberately revealed a four-ring state, while Gu Yuena didn't release her martial soul at all, sparking curiosity and speculation among the onlookers.
Just as the Blazing Wind team was about to launch their attack:
"You scum from the Blazing Wind team, open your eyes and look over here!"
Though the presence of two Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect members was peculiar, Ning Tian's provocative voice successfully drew the attention of the Blazing Wind team.
"Heh, you fell for it."
"Seven Treasures turn forth with Glazed Tile—Lotus Bloom!"
In an instant, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in Ning Tian's hands emitted a blinding light.
In a flash, a lotus-shaped base appeared at the bottommost layer of the Glazed Tile Pagoda, and the patterns on the pagoda subtly changed.
However, this wasn't the main point.
The light unleashed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda surged directly toward the Blazing Wind team.
"Close your eyes quickly!" Gu Yuena was the first to react.
A few team members reacted in time, but they were still a step too slow.
Almost the moment the blinding light from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda illuminated the arena, the Glazed team's attack arrived.
"Bang—"
"Bang—"
"Bang—"
…
Led by Dugu Yan, the Glazed team launched a full-scale assault on the Blazing Wind team.
The flustered Blazing Wind team had no time to defend, especially since Dugu Yan was a Soul Emperor, nearly at the Soul Sage level.
Moreover, during the attack, the Glazed team deliberately avoided targeting Gu Yuena.
"I've been played!"
Gu Yuena quickly realized, "Well done, this is a field-clearing tactic!"
"Damn it, the inherently wicked Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
Sensing that the entire Blazing Wind team had been knocked out of the arena, Gu Yuena couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.
"Well, well, well, I, the majestic Silver Dragon King!"
To think she was outwitted by mere human brats.
Blinding first, then attacking, huh?
Of course, Gu Yuena wasn't blinded. With her abilities, she easily nullified the attack from this not-so-powerful seventh-level soul tool.
However, in her current state, she couldn't assist her teammates in time.
Not to mention, she was half a beat too slow to react.
The blinding light gradually dissipated.
At this moment, only Gu Yuena remained from the Blazing Wind team on the arena.
"So that's the soul tool developed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Soul Tool Pavilion?"
Gu Yuena couldn't help but feel a trace of apprehension—not toward the soul tool itself, but toward the development trajectory of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. A faint killing intent even stirred in her heart.
But then she reconsidered; now wasn't the time to dwell on this.
If their cooperation with the Martial Soul Hall succeeded, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's growth could be leveraged as an asset. But if it failed…
There was no need to think about failure.
If they failed, the God Realm would likely purge them, the leaders of the soul beasts.
At the same time, waves of cheers erupted from outside the arena.
"That's a soul tool!"
"So impressive! It can actually blind people!"
The soul masters on Giant Sword Mountain were mostly formidable individuals and quickly noticed the trick. The Glazed team had started with a bang, and it seemed there would be no surprises in their advancement to the semifinals.
It was now seven against one, with Dugu Yan, a Soul Emperor, still in play.
With the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as support, how could they possibly lose? Were they even playing seriously?
Compared to the spectator stands, the VIP room offered replay footage and the ability to manipulate the replay process through soul tools.
You get what you pay for.
The view in the VIP room was even clearer.
"Has the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect developed to this extent?" Tang Xiao couldn't help but sigh.
These soul tools were lent to the Martial Soul Hall by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect out of goodwill, and they weren't even combat-oriented. The ones used in the arena below were combat soul tools, capable of being paired with martial souls and even comparable to soul bones.
"Hiss—"
Thinking of this, Tang Chen couldn't help but draw a sharp breath.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, renowned for its wealth and standing as the world's foremost auxiliary sect for so long, was indeed no ordinary force.
Rumors had it that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect was also remarkable, possessing a secret technique to reach level 99. Truly, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse.
Not only Tang Xiao but even Flender and the others nearby were astonished by the soul tool Ning Tian used. However, their focus remained on the match itself.
The scene shifted back to the arena.
"Gu Yuena, surrender!" Ning Rongrong calmly looked at her opponent. "How much strength can you still muster?"
"Interesting!" Gu Yuena replied. "Ning Rongrong, if I recall, this is our first meeting."
As Di Tian had said, Ning Rongrong knew about her.
"Everyone has their secrets, don't they?"
"Fair enough." Gu Yuena didn't argue. "But do you really think they can take me down? Aren't you being a bit naive?"
"Well, I'm just an auxiliary soul master. I can only see how much effort my teammates put in," Ning Rongrong said, seemingly oblivious to the implications in Gu Yuena's words.
"Let's hope so!"
A Silver Dragon Spear appeared in Gu Yuena's hand, a glint of determination in her eyes. "If you want to take me down, show some real skill."
Gu Yuena casually flicked her spear, creating several spear blossoms, then left an afterimage as she charged straight at Ning Tian.
"No way!"
Yu Hairou released her martial soul, and a giant palm descended from the sky, smashing toward Gu Yuena.
"Spear Radiance!"
The soul skill shattered instantly, and Yu Hairou was sent flying, crashing out of the arena.
"Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Ice and Snow Drift!"
"The prelude to a martial soul fusion skill can be interrupted. I hope you remember that."
Gu Yuena appeared behind Shui Yue'er and Shui Bing'er in an instant. Her Silver Dragon Spear emitted a burst of light, sweeping gently.
Shards of broken ice drifted through the air.
Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er were knocked out of the arena.
"Do you think I don't exist?" Dugu Yan released a toxic mist, instantly forming a barrier in front of herself and half the arena. Knowing the terror of the poison, Gu Yuena didn't engage and retreated.
In the blink of an eye, three people were eliminated.
Gu Yuena's strength shocked the unsuspecting spectators.
Especially since she still hadn't revealed her soul rings.
"As expected, Dugu Yan, your poison is quite unique."
"As long as I can defeat you, whether it's unique or not doesn't matter," Dugu Yan replied, fully aware of her own situation. The Misfortune Poison of her Misfortune Poison Body was so potent that even Title Douluo feared it.
Unless absolutely necessary, she didn't dare go all out in the match.
At that moment, Ning Rongrong's voice rang out, echoing across the arena.
"Ning Tian, Lingling, you two step down first!"
"Leave this to me and Sister Yan."
Ning Tian and Ye Lingling exchanged glances.
Seeing Ning Rongrong's serious expression, they nodded to each other:
"Understood."
"Got it."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Ning Tian and Ye Lingling walked to the edge of the arena and jumped off without hesitation.
The red-robed cardinal nearby was stunned.
What are you doing? What is this?
Ning Tian jumping off was understandable since the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had overlapping abilities, and Ning Tian's role was likely to catch opponents off guard with the soul tool.
But Ye Lingling was a healer—did they not need her?
At the Martial Soul Hall's section:
Qian Renxue quietly watched the soul tool broadcast.
"They're all so strong!" Xie Yue remarked with deep emotion.
They were definitely not just Soul Kings.
As members of the Martial Soul Hall, they knew exactly how strong a Soul King could be.
The strength Gu Yuena had just displayed clearly surpassed the limits of a Soul King.
It seemed that if Qian Renxue hadn't been parachuted into their team, they might have actually lost.
The stakes of this tournament were frighteningly high.
He felt like his level 51 Soul King status was somewhat inadequate.
"Watch the upcoming battle closely. Perhaps Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan will be my final opponents," Qian Renxue said calmly.
Qian Renxue mentioned only Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan, omitting Gu Yuena.
This puzzled the others, but they didn't ask.