Soul Land III: Man and Spear

Skysea Grand Hotel - Eastsea Team Lounge

One side sat Du Qianyao in casual clothes with Eastsea Academy badge on his chest.

On the opposite sat a middle aged man with big forehead, he is Long Hengxu, Dean of Eastsea Academy who's responsible for this year Eastsea Team.

"Hello, my name is Long Hengxu, Dean of Eastsea Academy, this is our first time meeting face to face. Du Qianyao, right?"

"Yes, greetings Dean Long, my apologies for not attending the Academy education programs."

"It's fine, not a big deal at all, your teacher has made an agreement with us and we totally understand it."

'Who dare to displeased your good teacher?'

Long Hengxu complains in his heart and change topic, "Young friend Du, I have heard of your great talent, may I be bold and ask how is your progress?"

Qianyao sips his cup of green tea.

"Not much progress now, i just reached level 42 and dedicated my time to develop a martial arts techniques using what I have."

Long Hengxu eyes lit up and ask eagerly, "Young friend is only 11 this year already achieved outstanding height rarely seen, I am truly blessed and happy on behalf of Eastsea Academy and President Yu. "

"Dean Long, no need to be polite it just luck, I have such a good teacher, of course, I'd advance by leaps and bounds."

Mu Ye who secretly watching in the shadow, nod in satisfaction.

'This boy can be teach.'

"Oh that's right Dean Long, you called me here to tell me about something?"

"OH that's right!" Long Hengxu quickly pull out an document

"President Yu called a board meeting with others and decided to let you to participate in individual matches and win, that's all and your early graduation will be complete."

"Usually easy don't you think?"

"What can I do? I am just a small Dean of an Academy."

Qianyao ignored that part, "So these match begins in a week or so right?"

Long Hengxu confirmed, "Yes, but the day before will be opening ceremony of the tournament, Skysea Alliance representatives will give speech but you don't have to join."

"Understood"

"Well that's all I have to say, rest well and prepare. Best of luck, Young friend." Long Hengxu stand up and left.

Qianyao stand up and go back to his room and sleep through the days, both Shen Yuan and Guang Long came out and hoarding the snacks and store them away.

The day of tournament

The Skysea Alliance Tournament opened with its usual flair. In the heart of the Skysea Stadium, banners fluttered high above the stands, showcasing emblems from various academies. The roars of thousands filled the stadium as the first wave of participants entered the central field and enter their respective rings.

Among them, a tall boy—far taller than most eleven-year-olds—stood quietly near the far right end of the rings, his hands crossed over his chest. Du Qianyao, did not wear armor or carry a weapon just his pair of hands and feets. His black training suit hugged his form.

"Next match, ring four," the announcer's voice boomed, "Du Qianyao of Eastsea Academy versus Lin Zhuanlong of Southcliff Institute!"

The crowd grew quieter as people stared in anticipation at them. Du Qianyao's participation had already drawn eyes during registration from those Vip and officials. Not only for his high soul power rank—there were handful of Soul Elders under 15 in Skysea, Soul Ancestors are practically nonexistent —but because he was simply too young and has not apparently join any force yet.

As he stepped into the ring, the opponent appeared—a slightly older boy with long sleeves and a chain-like pattern tattooed across his arms. Lin Zhuanlong stood upright and lift his chin.

"I don't like flashy things," he said with a confident smile. "I'll end this quickly."

Qianyao arched both eyebrows. "You can try, just don't run around or you are gonna trip face first."

The referee raised his hand. "Match begin!"

A light glow erupted from Lin Zhuanlong as his Martial Soul—Mirror Chain—activated. Twin yellow soul rings rose. His chains shimmered and twisted like flowing mercury, reflecting light and spawning duplicates across the ring. Within seconds, the arena was filled with mirror images of Lin Zhuan, each holding chains that whipped toward Qianyao.

The first ring shine slightly.

"Bind: Illusory Tangle!"

Chains flew from all directions, trying to ensnare Qianyao's limbs.

But Qianyao didn't move. Only raise a hand and press down.

In the next breath, an oppressive pressure flooded the ring. Lin Zhuanlong stumbled.

Qianyao's Gravity Domain expanded in a heartbeat, compressing the entire arena. Spectators gasped as even the air seemed heavier.

"Carefree Sky Step."

Qianyao vanished. His body blurred and curved midair, reappearing behind one illusion and punching directly into it with a sharp strike. Cloud Parting Hand sliced cleanly through the false image. It shimmered, flickered, and collapsed.

More chains flys and try to binds him.

But they were too slow.

Qianyao moved like a storm—Carefree Sky Step carried him forward again, dodging the chains. He swiped his palm sideways and split two more images in half, light trailing from his fingertips.

"Suppress!"

The Standalone Light Domain expands around him like a dome of searing sunlight. The illusions began flickering, unable to hold form under the sweltering aura.

"Impossible!" Lin Zhuanlong gritted his teeth. He summoned real chains this time, trying to wrap them around Qianyao's arms.

But the chains touched only empty air.

Qianyao's Fist landed directly in Lin Zhuanlong's gut. The shockwave of that fist and radiant searing pressure sent the boy flying backward ten meters before he bounced twice and skidded to a stop.

His mirror shattered.

The referee jumped in. "Winner, Du Qianyao!"

The crowd was stunned.

No heating exchanges, no boiling blood struggles, a one side beating. And the one beating didn't even use his martial soul or soul rings.

Just a fist and legs, overwhelming suppression of domain, and three clean moves is all it take.

Qianyao exhaled quietly and stepped off the ring. As he passed Mu Ye in the shadows of the waiting area, the old man simply chuckled.

"First match, and you didn't even break a sweat."

Qianyao replied, "He had spirit but no real power. Chains are useless if they're slower than him."

Mu Ye smirked. "I hope next one won't be as easy."

"I hope not," Qianyao said. "Otherwise I'll get bored."

Qianyao continue to dominate the matches, there are some interesting match but they eventually lost.

The arena buzzed with energy. Du Qianyao walked to the ring under clear sky, his white training robes lightly swaying. The final round of the individual category had begun.

Across from him stood Ba Heng, a 13-year-old Rank 32 Soul Elder with a Martial Soul called Stone Ox—a beast-type with enormous brute strength and explosive charge attacks.

The referee announced, "Match begins!"

Ba Heng didn't hesitate. His feet slammed into the arena floor as the sound of cracked stone echoed across the stage. His entire body turned blown and rock-plated, Soul Rings flaring:

Yellow, Yellow, Purple

With a wild roar, he sprinted like a boulder, his 2nd skill—Ox Trample—causing the entire stage to tremble. Dust and wind spun around like a sandstorm.

But Du Qianyao just look bored.

He exhaled lightly. The air around him changed.

Gravity Domain X Standalone Light Domain –Fusion Activate.

Like invisible oceans crashing down, the entire arena warped. The audience saw the air around Ba Heng shimmer, and the rushing Ox-boy suddenly staggered as if trapped in muddy land.

His legs strained. His charge slowed.

Qianyao took one step forward.

Carefree Sky Step—his form blurred and vanished.

He reappeared at Ba Heng's side with a twist of his waist and shoulder.

"—Cloud Parting Hand."

His right palm, glowing with razor-thin light, slashed upward like a sword. The plate armor of the Stone Ox cracked. Ba Heng growled and tried to grab Qianyao in a clinch, but—

Ever-victorious Mad God Fist.

His fist, wrapped in collapsing light and invisible gravitational force, struck Ba Heng's solar plexus.

BOOM.

A shockwave exploded and shattered half of the ring. Ba Heng was lifted off the ground and thrown across the platform like a broken clay pot, crashing into the arena wall. Cracks webbed along the surface behind him.

Silence.

Ba Heng's third ring flickered faintly, but the boy was unconscious before it could activate.

The referee raised a hand.

"Victory! Du Qianyao wins the final round of the Individual Tournament!"

The crowd, which had grown increasingly quiet across the past weeks, erupted in applause and cheers. Most had no idea what they just witnessed—only that this 11-year-old boy had ended a fight with an older, stronger Soul Elders using no soul skills at all.

Qianyao sigh, hands at his sides. His body radiated light and gravity in perfect balance before the domains faded with a whisper.

"To be invincible, how lonely this is."

"Hehe just joking, there's still too many steps for me to reach the top."

the Skysea Stadium - Award Ceremony

Qianyao sat cross-legged under the canopy with a drowsy expression. He drank a bottle of cold dew water to freshen himself up while the tournament staff arranged the medal podium.

Nearby, Mu Ye stood with arms crossed and a lollipop in his mouth.

"Hmph. Show-off," he muttered. "Could've ended the match without exploding half the stage."

Qianyao didn't look at him. "I didn't punch that hard and you know it."

Mu Ye sneered, "Your low efforts shattered the kid's Soul Skill armor. They're calling you 'Fist Saint Du' now, you know that?"

Qianyao nodded calmly. "At least it sounds much cooler than 'Loli Puncher.' That one from round four was a girl. Who'd have thought."

Mu Ye choked on his lollipop.

A staff member jogged toward them. "Mister Du! Award Ceremony begins in ten minutes. Please stand by!"

Mu Ye grumbled and smacked Qianyao's shoulder, "Go already, brat. They're about to begin."

Qianyao stood up and dusted himself off.

He looked out toward the ceremony hall in the distance—banners flying, crowds gathered.

He smiled.