Douluo: Martial Soul of Lightning

"How is that possible?"

"No way! A black fourth ring?!"

"Heavens!"

Cries of disbelief echoed from the stands.

Among the Shrek Academy team, Jiang Zhu and the others couldn't help but smile when they heard the shocked voices from the audience.

After all, the first time they saw Lin Jie's fourth Spirit Ring—the pitch-black glow of a ten-thousand-year ring—they had reacted much the same.

Originally, Lin Jie had planned not to reveal his fourth ring. It drew too much attention. But on second thought, with his current strength, he could protect himself. There was no longer a need to hide.

In the VIP section, Prince Xue Xing stared at the dark Spirit Ring in utter disbelief.

"Impossible… How can someone have a ten-thousand-year fourth ring?!"

Even Ning Fengzhi, who had long favored Shrek Academy and knew Lin Jie was a Spirit Ancestor, was visibly surprised. He hadn't expected Lin Jie's fourth ring to be not just ten-thousand-year quality, but such a deep shade of black—it clearly surpassed ordinary ten-thousand-year rings.

Meng Shenji, watching from the stands, sighed bitterly.

"They were supposed to be students of the Royal Academy… And now... sigh."

Salas, the Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City, squinted as that pitch-black Spirit Ring appeared. His eyes were slitted as usual, but the gleam within them and the way his hand tightened revealed his surging emotions.

"A ten-thousand-year fourth ring?" Emperor Xue Ye's eyes gleamed with interest as he turned to Ning Fengzhi.

"Sect Master Ning, I take it this is the team you spoke of earlier?"

Though surprised, Ning Fengzhi quickly recovered. His expression calmed, but waves of astonishment still surged in his heart.

"Your Majesty, actually... my daughter, Rongrong, is part of this team as well—though she isn't currently on the field."

Emperor Xue Ye's eyes lit up with genuine delight.

"Then this Shrek Academy... is backed by your sect?"

Ning Fengzhi smiled and shook his head.

"Not exactly. That young man with the ten-thousand-year ring simply shares a special relationship with my daughter and our sect. Unfortunately, the students of Shrek Academy had originally hoped to enroll in the Royal Academy, but were driven away by Prince Xue Xing."

Emperor Xue Ye's face twitched upon hearing that and he shot a sharp look toward Prince Xue Xing, struggling to suppress his anger.

Salas, who'd felt a chill hearing that Rongrong belonged to this team, relaxed slightly—and even smiled.

He turned his gaze to Lin Jie, that dark ring still glowing around him.

Such a monstrous talent... and they expelled him? he thought. The Heaven Dou Empire truly is decaying. I must find a way to bring this boy into the Spirit Hall. If he refuses—then we can't risk him growing into a threat. Better to eliminate him early.

In a quiet corner of the arena, a young man looked up at Lin Jie with surprise. He appeared around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, dressed in a clean, pale-blue robe that gave him a fresh and modest aura. Long golden hair was tied neatly behind his head with a green cloth band. Though his appearance was unassuming, there was a unique temperament to him. A glint flashed in his eyes as he focused on Lin Jie.

Across the stands, students from various academies were stunned by the sight of a ten-thousand-year ring on someone's fourth Spirit Ring.

Back on the stage, the seven members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Second Team stood with dark expressions. Compared to Shrek's Spirit Rings, theirs were clearly inferior.

Just in terms of aura, the Royal Academy students already felt overwhelmed by the Shrek team.

Lin Jie glanced at the dazed opponents and gave a single command—his voice firm and sharp:

"Attack."

The Shrek team had spent days refining their coordination, and their combat experience was extensive. The moment Lin Jie gave the signal, Dai Mubai charged ahead, and the others followed without hesitation.

As Lin Jie's voice rang out, his purple Spirit Ring lit up. A massive surge of lightning burst forth, arcing toward the stunned Royal Academy team. The bolt exploded midair, transforming into a huge net of lightning that crackled violently as it descended upon the seven.

Though the Royal Academy team was caught off guard, they reacted quickly. Their front line—five power-type Spirit Masters with Martial Souls of Lion, Wolf, Tiger, Leopard, and Bear—instantly activated their Martial Souls in preparation to attack.

But Lin Jie's lightning was simply too fast. In that brief moment of hesitation, the massive lightning net had already enveloped them.

Crackling and buzzing sounds filled the air as the net wrapped around the seven.

Meanwhile, Dai Mubai's muscles bulged as he activated White Tiger Vajra Transformation and charged alongside Tai Long and Huang Yuan. Xiao Wu and Jing Ling flanked the enemy from the sides. Behind Lin Jie, Jiang Zhu raised her unique healing staff. As her Spirit Ring glowed, healing energy radiated outward and spread across the stage.

Dai Mubai, Tai Long, and Huang Yuan were practically trembling with excitement. Seeing the enemy paralyzed by the lightning net, they couldn't wait to strike.

Dai Mubai roared, his third ring glowing brightly.

"White Tiger Meteor Shower!"

Golden light erupted from his body, dozens of fist-sized spheres pelting the immobilized opponents like a meteor storm.

Tai Long barreled into one enemy, swinging his massive fists. Huang Yuan targeted another, launching rapid, heavy strikes.

Lin Jie's lightning didn't just paralyze. As the third Spirit Ability derived from a Thunder Spider, it also carried a neurotoxic paralytic effect. From the moment the net struck, the poison was already invading their nervous systems.

Though the Royal Academy team struggled to move, the outcome had been sealed the moment the net descended.

Elsewhere, Xiao Wu used Waist Bow and Eight Stage Drop, while Jing Ling unleashed his berserker abilities—targeting the two support-type and agility-type opponents in the backline.

Boom! Bang! Crack!

"Ahhh!"

As the five attackers launched wave after wave of brutal strikes, the stage filled with screams, snapping bones, and sprays of blood.

The command "Attack" might have seemed simple, but it was Shrek Academy's battle creed—meaning: go all-out without mercy.

"Stop! Please stop! We surrender!"

The Royal Academy's supervising teacher, watching the savage beatdown, couldn't take it anymore. His students were the precious sons of noble families—if even one suffered permanent injury, his career would be over.

And the Shrek students clearly weren't holding back. If this continued, someone might be crippled… or worse.

Even the referee was stunned. He never imagined Shrek Academy would defeat the Royal Academy's Second Team so swiftly—and with such viciousness. The brutality of the scene made it difficult to even watch.

PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin