From Douluo Continent onwards, Glory is invincible.

Chapter 23 The Challenge Begins: A Blind Feat of an Egg Against a Rock?

Upon seeing Lin Fan arrive, Liu Erlong said happily, "Xiao Fan, Teacher Yiran has already told us that you will be participating in the Elite Soul Master Competition. You are amazing! I have always wanted to participate, but my strength is not enough to rank in the top seven in either my family or the Haotian Sect. Thank you so much, Xiao Fan. Of course, I am willing to fight for a spot with you."

"Okay, thank you, Erlong." Lin Fan nodded and then looked at the other two girls.

Ye Keke quickly said, "Xiao Fan, I'm willing too. I don't have much fighting power, but I will do my best to treat you."

Lin Fan smiled and said, "Yeah, don't worry, Coco, I'll definitely protect you."

Shui Yue'er also said in a cool tone, "I also want to compete for a spot in the competition. I have represented my family in the Elite Soul Master Competition before, and this time I want to challenge myself again and achieve a higher ranking."

"Yes, Moon, we're partners now, let's cheer each other on."

Seeing Shuiyue'er's serious expression, Lin Fan smiled at her. Shuiyue'er glanced at Lin Fan but ignored him.

Lin Fan wanted these three girls to fight alongside him because, through their trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, he felt that he and these three girls had become true partners and had developed mutual trust. Therefore, he wanted to fight alongside them in the competition. After all, in the entire Haotian Sect, apart from the three of them and Tang Yiran, Lin Fan didn't have many other friends.

Liu Erlong, Ye Keke, and Shui Yue'er are all quite strong, and their soul power levels have all increased by one level since they returned from the Star Dou Great Forest.

Liu Erlong is currently level 42, Ye Keke is level 41, and Shui Yue'er is level 47. Although this lineup cannot compare to the Soul King seed teams of the Clear Sky Sect and the Spirit Hall, it has already surpassed the level of most sect teams in the competition.

Tang Yiran said helplessly, "I didn't expect that the three of you would all be willing to accompany Xiao Fan to participate in the Elite Soul Master Tournament. Do you know how many Soul Masters are seriously injured and die in the Elite Tournament every year? Although the rules of the tournament do not allow you to injure someone after they have already surrendered, in many cases, some Soul Masters don't even have time to surrender and are completely restrained and killed by their opponent's Soul Skills. In such cases, the person who made the move will not be punished."

"Don't worry, Sister Yiran, I will protect them." Lin Fan said seriously. "Although I know there will be some dangerous opponents, we are not to be trifled with. Besides, no one can make us surrender before we even have a chance to admit defeat."

Shui Yue'er glanced at Lin Fan but didn't say anything. If they were still in the Star Dou Great Forest, she would have definitely been dismissive. But now, she knew that Lin Fan's true combat strength had surpassed hers, so Lin Fan did have the right to say such things.

Tang Yiran looked at Lin Fan, remained silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, Xiao Fan, your performance in the Star Dou Great Forest truly shocked me. The destructive power of your second spirit's ten-thousand-year spirit skill is something even ordinary spirit kings would find difficult to withstand. Alright, since that's the case, I'll take you to the Elder Hall to participate in the competition..."

The four looked at each other, their eyes filled with determination. Facing the original seed team of the Clear Sky Sect, with two battle spirit masters, one support and one controller, was a huge challenge for Lin Fan, Liu Erlong, Ye Keke and Shui Yue'er, and a test of their trust and cooperation.

Following Tang Yiran, the five of them walked for about twenty minutes before arriving at the Elder Hall. The Clear Sky Sect was truly astonishingly large, and the Elder Hall was even more majestic and magnificent, resplendent in gold and jade, with various metals and luxurious decorations. It looked no less impressive than the Pope's Hall of the Spirit Hall. There were two huge iron stone statues at the entrance, but in the square outside the Elder Hall, there was a huge Clear Sky Hammer cast from iron stone, nearly a hundred meters tall.

At this moment, five or six hundred people were sitting on the stands in the square in front of the Elder Hall. They were mostly high-ranking members of the Haotian Sect and some direct disciples, with only a few inner disciples of the Haotian Sect.

The total number of direct disciples and inner court disciples at the Haotian Sect headquarters is no more than eight hundred, with direct disciples accounting for more than five hundred of them. This is enough to prove how difficult it is for outside forces to become inner court disciples of the Haotian Sect.

Even if some Soul Masters do become Inner Court disciples, these direct disciples still look down on them because they believe that Soul Masters have the advantage of having a Martial Soul and can easily defeat outside disciples.

At this moment, most of the people sitting in the front row were direct disciples, and they were all discussing it.

"Four outside disciples actually dared to challenge our original seeded players from the Haotian Sect. They're courting death."

"Isn't that obvious? Our Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul, even at only level 40, is comparable to a level 50 Soul King in terms of strength. These four outside disciples are not even as high-level as our seeded players, yet they dare to challenge us."

"Haha, it's nothing, just watching the show. Our Clear Sky Sect's seed team has never been afraid of anyone except the Spirit Hall."

"How could they possibly win? If they did, and then went to the Elite Tournament and only got 100th place, wouldn't that be a huge disgrace to our Haotian Sect?"

…………

These voices also reached the ears of the outside disciples sitting in the back who had joined the Haotian Sect's inner court based on their own strength, but none of the outside inner court disciples present dared to speak. They, too, did not have high hopes for these four inner court newcomers who dared to challenge the Haotian Sect's direct line seed team.

There is a clear gap in both level and martial spirit; this is simply like throwing an egg against a rock.

Those sitting at the very front were the most important figures of the Haotian Sect, including several elders, as well as the current acting sect leader Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, and his sister Tang Yuehua.

Because this challenge determines the spots for the Elite Tournament, the most important competition in the Soul Master world, it has a huge impact on sects. Therefore, the high-level members of the Clear Sky Sect attach great importance to this competition. If Tang Yiran hadn't begged and pleaded with Tang Xiao, Tang Xiao would never have given them the opportunity to challenge.

Soon, Lin Fan and his companions, led by Tang Yiran, arrived at the plaza in front of the Elder Hall.

"Haha, this kid, as expected of the one I brought back, he really can do some amazing things." Tang Hao looked at Lin Fan in the square and smiled.

An inner court elder standing next to Tang Xiao said in surprise, "Is he the lowest-ranking outsider who joined the inner court? He's only level 30. How could he possibly defeat our two Soul King Battle Soul Masters? Isn't that wishful thinking? If it weren't for that girl Tang Yiran, I wouldn't have let him become an inner court disciple. Tang Xiao, you shouldn't have agreed to this challenge match with them."

(End of this chapter)