But when Ning Rongrong unleashed her Soul Power and summoned her Soul Rings, everyone was shocked.
"Four Soul Rings..."
"Such powerful Soul Power, she, she's really reached Level 49?"
Jing Ling, Jiang Zhu, and Kizaru were utterly dumbfounded.
Ning Rongrong had once trained with them, so they had some understanding of each other.
Two years ago, Ning Rongrong was just a Grand Soul Master of a little over Level 20.
But now?
Level 49, her Soul Power had surged by over twenty levels...
An increase of over ten levels of Soul Power a year, could a human even achieve that?
They were completely at a loss for words.
At this moment,
Dugu Yan stepped forward, "Dugu Yan, Level 49 control-class Soul Master, please enlighten me!"
"What the heck?"
"You're also Level... 49?"
Jing Ling and the others received yet another significant surprise.
But when Dugu Yan displayed her Soul Rings and Soul Power...
Jiang Zhu's mouth was agape like she had forgotten how to close it.
Kizaru's eyeballs nearly fell to the ground.
Jing Ling rubbed his eyes vigorously, making sure he wasn't seeing things, "This is real, this is actually real!"
Knowing full well, Dugu Yan was around the same age as them, perhaps even younger, yet her strength far surpassed the three of them!
However,
that wasn't all.
Zhu Zhuqing also slowly spoke, her voice cold, causing an involuntary shiver.
"Zhu Zhuqing, Level 59 direct-attack class Battle Soul Master!"
Oh, Level 59, about the same as Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan...
Jing Ling subconsciously thought, but when he repeated it in his mind, he instantly noticed something amiss.
"Wait, no! That's not right!"
"You said you're Level 59!"
He was instantly terrified.
Zhu Zhuqing answered all his doubts with her actions.
"Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple... Black!"
"And a black Soul Ring, this is really true!"
Jing Ling couldn't help exclaiming.
It wasn't surprising he was so shocked, as a Soul King of such a young age was indeed hard to accept.
This fellow, one surprise after another, could they even live like this...
Kizaru and Jiang Zhu didn't even know what to say anymore.
In short, they were stunned.
Subconsciously, they all turned to look at Meng Yiran, who hadn't spoken yet, instinctively thinking that this girl must also be outstanding.
And indeed,
they were not disappointed.
Meng Yiran reached out, and a serpent staff appeared in her hand.
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, the same configuration of Soul Rings as Zhu Zhuqing, appeared one after another.
"No need to say it, you're also Level 59!"
Jing Ling's voice involuntarily rose a few pitches.
Meng Yiran slightly nodded her head, as if in response.
"Two Level 59 Soul Kings, two Level 49 Soul Ancestors... this lineup..."
Jing Ling was entirely at a loss for words.
Not just him, the feelings of Jiang Zhu and Kizaru were also complex.
They now understood why Dean Liu Erlong valued these people so much.
Thinking back, the three of them were quite resistant to the inclusion of Zhu Zhuqing and the others.
Now looking back, what were they being proud of?
What right did they have to be proud in front of these people?
It was already very generous of them to join in, wasn't it?
Utterly ashamed...
If possible, they wished they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into, such was their embarrassment.
However,
just then, Qin Xiao also spoke up faintly, "Oh right, there's also me, Qin Xiao..."
"As for my strength, currently a Titled Douluo of Level 94."
With the fall of his voice, nine Soul Rings emerged.
Thud, thud, thud...
Under the immense pressure of Qin Xiao's Soul Power, Jing Ling, Kizaru, and Jiang Zhu couldn't even stand, all tumbling to the ground.
Dumbstruck!
They were genuinely at a loss.
They thought Zhu Zhuqing and Meng Yiran were already strong enough but Qin Xiao brought them an even bigger surprise...
Without paying any more attention to the three who were dumb as wooden chickens, Qin Xiao said to Zhao Wuji, "Old Zhao, remember to add Ah Yin to the list of competitors when you get back. She should be able to return before the beginning of the competition, and I estimate her strength must be at the Soul King level by now."
Although it had been a year since he had seen her, Qin Xiao believed in Ah Yin's cultivation speed, after all, the Icefire Polarized Eyes was an extremely unique existence. For Ah Yin, cultivating there for one year was equivalent to ten, or even more, outside...
"Your Highness, rest assured, I've remembered," Zhao Wuji replied with a heavy nod.
"Good, it's been hard on you," Qin Xiao patted Zhao Wuji on the shoulder, then added, "Half a month of voyage, utterly exhausting. We'll head back to rest first, if there's anything, come find me at the residence."
Initially excited to leave Sea God's Island, everyone was eager to see the outside world as they hadn't for a long time.
But as time passed, the novelty wore off. Qin Xiao, along with Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran, Ning Rongrong, and Dugu Yan, spent their time huddled in the cabin, doing some interesting things.
Well... overall, it was joyful, just a bit taxing on the waist.
As Qin Xiao left with Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran, and the others, Zhao Wuji glanced at the dejected trio, "If you can still move, go and train. Don't think that just because His Highness is here, you can rest easy."
"Training is doable, but Teacher Zhao, you say His Highness is such a strong fighter, why does he still need to take part in the Continent's Soul Master Competition?"
Jing Ling asked, full of incomprehension.
After hearing Jing Ling's words, Zhao Wuji snorted coldly, "Hmph, you still have the nerve to ask such a question? Isn't it because you lot are incompetent, lacking the strength to win the championship of the Soul Master competition?"
"His Highness had to personally take to the field in order to enhance the academy's reputation."