"Is this all the Elephant Armored Academy, famed for their size, strength, and ultimate defense, has to offer?" Tianlin chuckled lightly. He then exerted his strength and lifted Huyan Li entirely.
At that moment, Huyan Li had already completed his Martial Soul Possession and was using his third soul skill to suppress his opponent. The pressure he was exerting was far more than just a thousand jin, yet Tianlin lifted him effortlessly as if it were nothing.
"A real mammoth weighs no less than six thousand kilograms. Huyan Li, you're still far from that. Now, fly!" Tianlin threw Huyan Li directly out of the arena.
"Big brother!" Huyan Shan quickly wrapped his trunk around Huyan Li. Noticing this, Huyan Li immediately released his Martial Soul Possession, drastically reducing his weight, and making it easy for Huyan Shan to pull him back.
"You're pretty smart at times like these. But honestly, it would've been better if you'd just flown out obediently," Tianlin said, turning to look at Huanyin.
She nodded, signaling that she was ready. Everything just now had been to buy her time for her soul skill.
"Third Soul Skill: Plum Blossoms in the Snow!"
Huanyin's graceful fingers began to play, and beautiful music spread throughout the arena. A light flashed over the members of the Emperor Battle team, but their strength didn't seem to increase at all, causing confusion among the spectators, including Bone Douluo and the other Soul Douluo.
Since the soul skill was used on her team, it was naturally a support skill. But what kind of support skill would show no visible effect after being cast?
"Everyone, finish the battle within thirty seconds. Go!" Yu Tianheng gave the captain's order—defeat the Elephant Armored Academy, famous for their defense, in thirty seconds. This demonstrated his absolute confidence in his teammates.
As a fellow captain, he naturally targeted the opposing captain, Huyan Li. Tianlin, not interested in competing with him, charged at Huyan Shan and Huyan Ba.
At the same time, the Shi brothers, Oslo, and Yu Feng also sprang into action, each targeting their opponents.
Oslo and Yu Feng were the fastest, reaching their targets first.
"First Soul Skill: Wing Blade."
"First Soul Skill: Leopard Shadow Assault."
Both were physical attack skills. Their opponents sneered, thinking these attacks would never break through their defenses.
But the next moment, their hearts trembled in fear. When the sharp wings and leopard claws swept across their chests, their defenses were as flimsy as paper, offering no resistance. A wave of pain followed, leaving their chests a bloody mess.
Although the injuries were just flesh wounds, the two were still shocked. While they were stunned, Oslo moved behind them, kicked them into the air, and Yu Feng finished with a whirlwind, blowing them out of the arena.
Similarly, the Shi brothers used their Xuanwu Quake skill to knock their opponents out. Tianlin, not even using his magic sword, grabbed Huyan Ba and Huyan Shan by their trunks and threw them both out with an over-the-shoulder throw.
"How is this possible? What happened to everyone? Where's our proud defense?" Huyan Li looked at the six eliminated teammates in disbelief. In less than twenty seconds, he was the only one left.
"Now isn't the time to look around. Your opponent is right here." Yu Tianheng charged at him, his lightning-dragon claws grabbing Huyan Li's face and pushing him toward the edge of the arena.
Only now did Huyan Li understand how his teammates lost so quickly. Yu Tianheng could ignore his defenses—surely it was the same for the others.
Without defense, the Elephant Armored Sect was no different from trash.
"Ignore defense... I get it. That zither soul master in Emperor Battle Team—her third soul skill doesn't boost anyone, but grants the team an ignore-defense state," Ning Fengzhi realized, seeing through the truth.
"Fengzhi, what does that mean?" Gu Ran asked.
"It means exactly what it sounds like: it ignores a specific attribute of the opponent. The Emperor Battle team is ignoring the Elephant Armored Academy's defense."
"That's so targeted! Who knew the newly joined girl, despite her low level, would have such a powerful skill?" Gu Ran was shocked. This skill didn't just target the Elephant Armored Sect—if that girl were a Title Douluo, she could instantly weaken Gu Ran's power by seventy percent.
Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "It's not that simple. Though strong, this skill needs time to charge. Without Tianlin and the others holding the front line, she'd never have the chance to use it."
In other words, without powerful teammates, this soul skill would be useless.
But now, with Tianlin and the others supporting her, Huanyin could finally shine in the arena.
"Hmph!" At this moment, seeing Huyan Li about to be pushed out, Huyan Zhen couldn't help but stand up and move his lips slightly.
"Sect Master Huyan, isn't this a bit unfair for the match?" Ning Fengzhi frowned.
"I don't know what you mean, Sect Master Ning. Did I say anything?" Huyan Zhen remained calm. As long as his secret voice transmission wasn't intercepted, no one could prove anything.
On the stage, Yu Tianheng had already pushed Huyan Li to the edge of the arena. Victory was within reach, but at the last moment, a huge force rebounded, sending Yu Tianheng flying and ruining his efforts.
Now, Huyan Li seemed to be wearing a golden helmet—exuding dominance.
"That's... a skull bone!"
The audience was in an uproar. No one expected to see a soul bone in the very first match of the tournament, and from the second most important body part—the head.
Huanyin's soul skill could only ignore a soul master's natural defense, not the enhancement from a soul bone. Unfortunately, Yu Tianheng's attack targeted Huyan Li's head, so he got countered.
"You bastards, watch how I—ugh!" Huyan Li was about to counterattack but didn't notice Tianlin appear in front of him. Using his magic sword, Tianlin struck Huyan Li in the chest, easily knocking him out of the arena.
"You activated your soul bone but didn't counterattack—instead, running your mouth. Got too much free time?" Tianlin had long known Huyan Li had a soul bone and was always on guard.
Poor Huyan Li—he didn't even force Tianlin to show his true strength and ended up exposing his soul bone for nothing.
The soul bone's only real effect was stalling for thirty seconds, causing Yu Tianheng's bold claim to go unfulfilled.
"Xiao Tian, that was my prey! How could you steal my kill?" Yu Tianheng complained.
In this match, Huanyin's contribution was undeniable. Every other teammate had at least knocked out one opponent, and Tianlin even eliminated three Soul Ancestors. Yet as captain, Yu Tianheng hadn't accomplished anything.
Tianlin ignored his complaints and teased, "Let's go, Captain Soy Sauce—leave the arena for the next match."
"Yeah, Captain Soy Sauce. I want soy sauce fried rice tonight!" Oslo laughed, following Tianlin.
"You guys! Who are you calling Captain Soy Sauce? If I hadn't pushed Huyan Li to the edge, would Xiao Tian have knocked him out so easily?"
Yu Tianheng chased after them angrily. These two had no respect for their captain—he'd have to teach them a lesson.