The youth's arrogance and self-importance were unconcealed, the confidence radiating from his brows like a furious tempest, crashing forward with thunderous might.
His former flamboyance and fearlessness resurfaced, not discarded by Wang Zhong, but buried deep within his bones, fused into his very blood.
Twin Martial Souls!
A Soul King at twelve!
Second Soul Ring, fifteen hundred years, third Soul Ring, eighteen thousand years, fourth Soul Ring, sixty-seven thousand years, fifth Soul Ring, a million years!
A direct disciple of Bibi Dong!
Looking at the world, possessing just one of these achievements would be enough to astound the masses!
Yet, Wang Zhong held all of them. He had the capital for his arrogance, and the foundation for his pride!
The figure standing on the arena, at this moment, captured everyone's gaze.
Wang Zhong's appearance was not as handsome or devilishly charming as Xie Yue's; he was merely clean-featured. His build was not as imposing as Yan's or Feng Yuan Sheng's; he was merely tall and straight. In fact, apart from his pair of emerald green eyes, he was an unremarkable presence in a crowd.
But as time passed and Wang Zhong grew, his inherent stubbornness and aloofness transformed into a steadfastness and magnanimity as solid as mountains and as enduring as pine trees.
The confidence and fearlessness brought by strength far exceeding his peers, coupled with four years of direct tutelage from Bibi Dong, caused Wang Zhong's demeanor to undergo a seismic shift.
When calm, he was as majestic and steady as a towering mountain tree; when confident, he was as surging and vast as a raging inferno.
This duality of temperament could instantly seize everyone's attention and captivate their hearts.
"Clap, clap, clap!"
Ying Yanyang applauded, praising Wang Zhong's confidence and marveling at his fearlessness.
"Wang Zhong, I finally understand why Feng Yuan Sheng and Zhang Shuai were so infuriated as your opponents, and why Lu Xiaoshuang and Si Qianyi, among others, felt both admiration and a gnawing frustration towards you. Your arrogance and confidence, emanating from your very core, are truly as scorching and dazzling as the sun!"
"But Wang Zhong, have you forgotten what I once taught you? In this world, no one can guarantee whether they are a lion or a rabbit, nor can anyone guarantee they will always be the victor. There is only one thing that leads to death: overconfidence!"
As he spoke the last words, Ying Yanyang's expression became extremely serious, even bordering on stern.
Everyone in the Soul Master world possessed hidden trump cards and life-saving means. To deem oneself victorious based solely on personal prejudice was to invite death.
"Teacher! You are the one who is overconfident!"
"On what grounds do you believe your strength is definitely superior to mine?"
Wang Zhong still had his hands behind his back, a smile of absolute confidence gracing his face, audacious and domineering.
Ying Yanyang's gaze suddenly narrowed, his expression shifting from sternness to surprise.
The young man before him, though self-assured and arrogant, possessed talent and diligence that no one could question.
Geniuses were not frightening; it was geniuses who worked harder and were more diligent than anyone else that were truly terrifying!
Based on Wang Zhong's previous rate of progress, Ying Yanyang could not truly guess where he would have reached in four years, only make a rough estimate. He had considered Soul Emperor, Soul Ancestor, even Soul Douluo, even though such a possibility might seem utterly foolish to outsiders. But as Wang Zhong's former class instructor, he understood perfectly what kind of monster stood before him!
Theory was useless!
Rules were useless!
Foresight was useless!
Wisdom was useless!
Only when facts were laid bare before one's eyes could everything be definitively judged.
"Hiss! This kid, how has he learned psychological warfare like attacking one's morale and shattering their resolve in just four years?"
Below the arena, Shuang Yue Lian's beautiful eyes were filled with astonishment. Ying Yanyang, standing on the stage, might not have noticed, but his otherwise rock-steady aura had wavered momentarily due to his surprise. In a contest between two powerful individuals, aura was king!
"Indeed, the growth of this lad is astonishing. He is no longer the hot-blooded, impulsive youth who only valued strength and brute force. He has begun to recognize other factors for victory!"
Xia Xuan stood by, hands behind his back, his handsome face alight with admiration. Given Wang Zhong's talent, his strength reaching any level would not overly surprise him, but for him to have recognized the importance of aura, beyond mere strength, at such a young age, was remarkable.
"It can only be said that our Pope truly favors this young man."
"If I'm not mistaken, during these past four years, His Holiness the Pope likely stayed by his side, diligently instructing him, otherwise, he could not have reached this stage."
"Furthermore, you may not have noticed. Wang Zhong's movements now appear ordinary, merely standing with his hands behind his back, but every muscle and bone in his body is in a state of semi-tension. As soon as Yan makes any move, he can respond, or even counterattack, in an instant!"
Yue Shan sighed softly, his tone filled with deep emotion. Confident and arrogant, yet not overconfident or blind—such a mindset was something even some renowned Soul Douluos and Titled Douluos could not achieve.
His gaze shifted slightly, and Ying Yanyang also noticed the change in his own aura. He chuckled, exhaling a breath of stale air.
"A good move, attacking morale and shattering resolve."
"You almost managed to create a flaw in my perfect aura, you brat."
A sharp gleam flickered in his eyes, and his previously slightly diminished aura was restored to its flawless state. Ying Yanyang's Soul Power surged, and a powerful, agile giant eagle spread its wings behind him. Fierce flames, scorching and ferocious, burned intensely on the fiery red eagle feathers, as if capable of igniting the entire world in an instant, with waves of heat washing over them.
The giant eagle soared into the sky, letting out a fierce cry that echoed through the clouds. Its eagle eyes were sharp and merciless, its wings spanning ten meters, resembling a descending fiery cloud that obscured the sky. A formidable and terrifying aura descended from the heavens, sending shivers down the spines of the students and teachers present.
"This is my teacher's Martial Soul, the Blazing Divine Eagle! One of the top-tier beast-type Martial Souls, capable of greatly suppressing Dragon-attribute Martial Souls."
"But teacher, this is not just an eagle! It is a Golden-Winged Great Roc..."
"Or rather, a subspecies with a trace of its bloodline..."
Wang Zhong gazed at the giant eagle soaring and circling above Ying Yanyang, murmuring softly. The giant eagle was majestic and fierce, its massive body and wings proclaiming its status as the overlord of the sky. Its enormous claws were as sharp as daggers, earning it the title of Divine Eagle. However, Wang Zhong noticed something different. On the eagle's body, burning with fierce flames, he observed that beneath the fire, some of its feathers were a dazzling golden hue. This was most prominent on its wings. The Golden-Winged Great Roc, an ancient, exotic creature, preyed on dragons, its wings capable of shaking the heavens, its claws able to shatter mountains and rivers.