54 Active and Neutral

Tang Wulin was walking leisurely toward the Star Luo Coliseum, which was packed with people and the reason why many streets were closed.

He heard from Gu Yue that she won't be participating, mostly because she had no interest in soul bone or being a Shrek Seven Devil.

He knew she wasn't giving him the whole story but let it go as he knew she would tell him if it was crucially important.

Elder Cai had to change the teams because of this and his partner was changed to Wu Siduo. Much to the annoyance of everyone else, who wanted to be his partner.

As he steps into the Coliseum, he could feel the excitement radiating through the building as the crowds were going wild.

The rings were adjacent to each other with their own soul barrier to guard against interference with other matches from energy leakage.

Tang Wulin had to admit with the rules of the solo competition. He can really enjoy himself.

With all abilities being allowed to be used and a death waiver too. He leans comfortably against the wall as he waited for his turn.

"Competition stage number 33, contestant number 333." Tang Wulin moved off from the wall and begins making his way up to the stage.

He didn't care to look up his opponent information and only knew their contestant number. As he steps up on the ring, he could hear the thunderous roars and cheering of the crowd.

"You seem excited." Said Zeref as he appeared next to Acnologia and glance at him. Acnologia expression was impassive but his body was trembling as it been a long while since he really fought anyone.

A figure entered the stage from the opposing side looking around seventeen or eighteen. Tang Wulin hope this person would last long enough for him to fully test out some things.

The light barrier rose slowly as the electronic voice said, "The first round of the knockout competition, number 333 versus number 631. Ready! Counting down! Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Begin!"

Tang Wulin with one of his hands used a come-on hand gesture toward his opponent. His opponent who was called Ling Wuxie eyes narrowed in anger as he felt Wulin was looking down on him.

Five soul rings rose from beneath Ling Wuxie feet as they were two yellow and three purple. In his hand appeared a long saber with a blade more than four feet long and sporting nine metal rings, it was the Nine-Ringed Silver Saber.

Ling Wuxie dashed toward Tang Wulin and kept himself alert, in case he tried to do anything. But Tang Wulin didn't even bring out his martial soul let alone made any movement.

'What is he doing?' Thought Ling Wuxie as he came in front of Tang Wulin and his first soul ring lit up as he used its ability.

Swooosh!

Ling Wuxie eyes widen when he saw multi-colored streaks of lights similar to that of luxuriant vines appeared in front of Tang Wulin and block his soul skill.

'What!' Thought Ling Wuxie as he became entranced by the eternal beauty of the luxuriant vines in front of him for a split second. He wasn't the only one as the whole coliseum turned silent at the eye-catching vines and their beauty.

He then gritted his teeth as he started to try and fiercely attack Tang Wulin at different angles but no matter what he did, the luxuriant vines would repeatedly intercept him.

No matter how fast or where he slashed, the vines would always move to sufficiently protect Tang Wulin and reform. It even looked like Tang Wulin didn't even need to move a finger for the vines to protect him.

'Ok, it's similar to my Light Wings in it has a will to automatically protect me from danger.' Thought Tang Wulin as he calmly stays still while Ling Wuxie tried his hardest to attack him, through the massive arrays of thin vines.

'Now, on to the next test.' Thought Tang Wulin as he instantly told his vines to move forward and capture Ling Wuxie.

Ling Wuxie eyes widen as he saw the vines heading toward him and he quickly backs up for some distance. Too bad, that didn't happen as the vine split apart and started to form a sphere around him.

'Is this his soul skill!' Thought Ling Wuxie in panic as he tried cutting apart the vines but no matter how many times they are slashed apart, they easily reformed.

'I see, so in active mode, it has unbelievable mobility and ability to regenerate back together once cut. As long as the other piece of the vine is still intact.' Thought Tang Wulin as he begins using his Blue Silver Genesis.

It seems with his second awakening, his Blue Silver grass gained two types of fighting mode. Tang Wulin watches as the vines overwhelmed Ling Wuxie and wrapped him into a sphere.

A purple soul ring appeared behind him and lits up. Ling Wuxie whole body was wrapped with multi-colored vines and then his eyes widen when he felt himself getting weaker.

'These drain my soul power and life force too!' Thought Ling Wuxie in fright as he frantically tries to escape but no matter how many vines he snaps they get reforming.

'No choice!' Thought Ling Wuxie as his fifth soul ring lit up and the sphere that he was in exploded. Tang Wulin watches as Ling Wuxie dash backward away from his vines and regards them with fear.

Ling Wuxie was trying to come up with a plan to get past those vines and attack Tang Wulin. He then saw Tang Wulin was staring at him and provoking him with his hand.

Ling Wuxie gritted his teeth in anger and evident embarrassment for having trouble with this kid in front of him.

'Damn it! I can't lose this.' Thought Ling Wuxie, as he knew this was his last chance to enter the Continental Young High-Ranking Soul Masters Elite Competition.

'From what I can tell, those vine weakness are continuous attacks that don't give them time to reform or one big attack that blows them away.' Thought Ling Wuxie as he prepares to focus on attacking Tang Wulin on one side.

Ling Wuxie eyes widen when he saw the vines shoot out towards him. He hastily started to run from the vines as he knew slashing them apart wouldn't make any progress.

He had to constantly move his body to navigate the vines that kept on trying to trap him and was terrified at their unbelievable mobility.

But that didn't deter him as he dashed towards Tang Wulin who merely arched a brow.

Ling Wuxie saw the vines instantly try to capture him but his third soul ring lit up and he blew through the entrapment with astonishing speed.

'Alright, next phase.' Thought Tang Wulin as changed his Blue Silver Genesis into its, Neutral mode. Ling Wuxie used his fifth soul ring and a red aura formed around his long sword, as he hacks down at Tang Wulin.

Bang!

Ling Wuxie eyes widen when he saw the vines were able to withstand his fifth soul skill.

'Impossible, I was able to easily slash them apart with a simple slash before.' Thought Ling Wuxie but then he notices the vines in front of him were different than before.

They were vastly thicker and shine with a darker radiance than the one that was chasing him before. They also seem to be vastly fewer vines around Tang Wulin when compared to his lighter ones.

'Is that another soul skill? Or can he switch his martial soul?' Ling Wuxie thought in panic, as he knew he had to get away.

The vines swung at Ling Wuxie, who instantly raised his ceremonial sword to block instead of dodging but his eyes widen as he was sent flying across the arena.

'Neutral mode vines are heavier and thicker, with fewer vines. This caused it to be able to tank hits and use its considerable weight to attack. But the downside is that it very slow and can't regenerate once cut.' Thought Tang Wulin as he keenly watches Ling Wuxie fly across the arena.

Ling Wuxie got up with eyes been covered with his hair. Tang Wulin notices his whole body was trembling and then he shouted out. His whole body was covered in the light as Ling Wuxie was covered with a bright silver armor.

One-word battle armor! A full set of one-word battle armor!

Tang Wulin raised a brow but didn't say anything as he held his hand out and a golden spear appeared in his hand.

Ling Wuxie watched as Tang Wulin begins to twirl it around and then dash toward him with his vines changing.

Ling Wuxie snorted as he slashes down hard with his saber towards Tang Wulin who started to grin.

Bang!

Lang Wuxie watches as his saber made contact with the darker vines but then his widen when he saw then split apart before his saber could cut through it.

'What!' Thought Ling Wuxie as he saw the vines move to wrap around him. He rapidly used his increase speed to slash them apart but then he perceived danger from his side.

Tang Wulin was twisting his body and thrust out his golden spear towards Ling Wuxie, who moved his sword to repel the attack.

Bang!

His eyes widen when he felt the golden spear wasn't breaking even with his battle armor and was still pushing down on him.

'How strong is this guy!' Thought Ling Wuxie in fright.

Ling Wuxie eyes widen when he felt the vines wrap them self around his limbs and drag him down to the ground. Before he could even move his saber to hack them apart, he saw Tang Wulin twirling his sacred spear and then thrusting down toward his neck.

"I Yield!" Shouted Ling Wuxie who wasn't willing to test his ability to cut the vines apart and block the sacred spear in time before it pierces his throat.

His eyes shook in fright when he saw the spear not stopping and was still thrusting down.

'Please no!'

Bang!

Tang Wulin raises a brow at the passed out Ling Wuxie. His spear only nib his neck as it was an inch from his neck.

'A pretty fun martial soul.' Thought Tang Wulin as he begins walking off the stage.

"Nice work," Said Ye Xinglan who was watching is a fight.

"Did your martial soul evolve?" Asked Ye Xinglan as she notices the vast difference with it.

"Yes, It evolved before I reach Star Luo." Said Tang Wulin as he begins heading out of the Coliseum. Ye Xinglan followed behind him as they decided to go out to eat.

While they were talking Tang Wulin had to admit, the control and distinct variety that his evolved martial soul gave him were fun to mess with.

At the end of the match, he was instantly switching between Active and Neutral mode when he was fighting the battle armor Ling Wuxie.

Although he had to be quick with his decision since he can't switch if the vines are cut. He has to wait for them to reform back together to instantly switch on the fly with both of them.

#

Tang Wulin and Ye Xinglan were sitting down at a food stand table, eating after heir match. Tang Wulin was telling her his martial soul new powers and ability.

"So you can switch between two modes, and each gives off different options." Said Ye Xinglan as she was eagerly eating her steam bun.

"Yea." Said Tang Wulin as he munches on his steam bun.

"I see. With the spear and those modes, you could easily suppress and control even those that are stronger than you." Said Ye Xinglan as she still remembers seeing Tang Wulin playing around with Ling Wuxie.

"Hey what you plan to do in the future. Will you stay in Shrek Academy?" Asked Ye Xinglan as she begins to stare at Tang Wulin.

"No, I don't plan to stay in Shrek. As for what I plan to do, it may cause the world to turn over and may not be in a good way." Said Tang Wulin, not even trying to lie to Ye Xinglan.

"You plan to do what?" Asked Ye Xinglan with hers wide in surprise.

"I plan to turn this world upside down." Said Tang Wulin as that will be the consequences of his actions in the future with the whole saving spirit beast and the world.

Ye Xinglan didn't say anything as she went into deep a thought. Tang Wulin moved his hand towards another steam bun.

"What about you? Are you going staying in Shrek?" Asked Tang Wulin, causing Ye Xinglan to furrow her brows.

"...I'm not so sure anymore." Said Ye Xinglan, as she begins realizing that she wasn't so sure on wanting to stay in Shrek.

They didn't say anything after that, as they both just enjoy their food and the silence that followed.

After a while, they went back to the hotel and finding out everyone won their first round except Gu Yue, Xu Lizhi and Na'er who weren't in the tournament.

Na'er told him she had to stay behind and talk with her master, who was contacting her from a long distance. She then promises to come to watch his future matches with fierce determination in her eyes.

After the first round of one-on-one matches ended, it was followed by the first rounds for the pairs, group and mecha categories.