Soul Land: Heartbreak Makes Me Stronger

"The first team to take the stage is... Elephant Armored Academy!"

The host's high-pitched voice echoed as the bright white lights dimmed. Beams of earthy yellow light shot toward the entrance, revealing nine towering figures stepping into the arena.

Thud, thud, thud...

The sound of their heavy footsteps on the battle platform was reminiscent of a herd of elephants.

"Woah, woah, woah!"

Loud and rhythmic cheers erupted—solely from the Elephant Armored Academy's section—sounding like a tribal war cry.

The rest of the academies remained silent, exchanging glances.

"The second team to enter is... Thunderclap Academy!"

As the yellow beams dimmed, streaks of electric purple light illuminated the entrance. Seven men and two women strode confidently into the arena.

"Wow!"

Thunderclap Academy was on home turf, with nearly a third of the spectators being their students. The thunderous applause and cheers quickly drowned out the earlier performance.

"The third team to appear is... Blazingfire Academy!"

Similarly composed of seven men and two women, this team was led by Huo Wu and her brother, Huo Wushuang, at the forefront.

The fiery red beams illuminated the arena, drawing gasps of admiration. Under the dazzling light, Huo Wu's golden-red battle dress accentuated her allure, captivating the audience.

At this moment, the host's voice rose again:

"Next up is... Skywater Academy!"

The arena fell into a momentary hush.

Countless expectant gazes followed the light blue beams as they swept across the platform, only to find no focal point. The beams danced aimlessly over the stage.

"Huh? Where's Skywater Academy?"

Even the host froze momentarily, before noticing a figure suddenly appear beside him—Qin Jian.

"Let me take over for a moment."

Qin Jian extended his hand, and the stunned young host handed him the microphone. A spotlight fell on Qin Jian.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for Skywater Academy's special performance."

Plugging a recording soul device into the console, Qin Jian started a lively accompaniment. The entire arena fell silent, confusion and curiosity plastered on every face.

"Eh-eh-eh-eh, eh-eh-eh-eh..."

A sweet, melodious female voice rang out. Seven beams of icy blue light converged on the stage, revealing seven ethereal figures, akin to snow sprites.

"Wow—!"

As expected, gasps and cheers rippled through the arena like waves crashing against the shore.

The seven girls began dancing gracefully to the music. The fiery atmosphere in the arena soared, igniting an uncontrollable frenzy among the male spectators, who howled and cheered in wild abandon.

Skywater Academy's girl group had officially debuted!

In this world, they had yet to witness the unparalleled power of a girl group's performance...

As the seven dancers moved with perfect synchronization, more and more students stood up, waving their glowing light sticks in rhythm. The entire arena transformed into a sea of shimmering lights, surging like a tide.

The teachers exchanged baffled glances.

"Is this still the ranking tournament? It feels more like Skywater Academy's private stage!"

Finally, the music tapered off, and the seven beams of light dimmed.

"Encore! Encore! Encore!"

Before the host could reclaim the microphone, students started shouting, their cries growing louder and more unified.

Qin Jian smiled. "Since everyone's enjoying it so much, Skywater Academy won't let you down."

He swapped the recording soul device for another. "Here's our next performance: 'Day by Day.'"

This song—known as Day by Day in his previous life—was far catchier and addictive than the first.

As the opening melody played, the students, already hyped, couldn't help but sway to the rhythm.

Seven beams of light reappeared, triggering another wave of cheers.

Unlike the earlier academies, Skywater Academy's own students were less fervent in their reactions—perhaps because the majority of their students were female and focused on the performance.

Standing below the stage, Yan Zhining couldn't help but laugh. "I never expected Qin Jian to pull this off. Judging by the crowd, Skywater Academy could thrive solely as performers!"

Xiao Jing, standing beside her, also smiled. "Even if we don't claim the top spot this year, Skywater Academy's fame will undoubtedly overshadow the others."

When the second song ended, Qin Jian ignored the continued calls for another encore. He returned to the stage and bowed alongside the seven girls before stepping down.

The audience, however, remained captivated, unable to pull themselves from the spell cast by Skywater Academy's groundbreaking performance.

Backstage, in the dimly lit waiting area, Shui Bing'er threw herself into Qin Jian's arms.

"Qin Jian... I'm so happy..."

"We're all happy!"

The other six girls, overcome with excitement, joined in, pulling Shui Bing'er away. Qin Jian found himself in an enthusiastic group hug, unsure of who was embracing him amidst the chaos.

Meanwhile, the host tried to regain order.

"As much as I enjoyed Skywater Academy's performance, let us not forget—today is the Five Elemental Academies Ranking Tournament. Let's move on to the main event!"

The Soul Battle Arena lit up with numerous screens, displaying various intersection points where participants from different academies would meet.

Mechanical sounds echoed as five pathways opened around the arena.

"Participants who break through the two mountain intersections will return to the main arena for the final showdown!"

The host's impassioned voice rallied the crowd as the forty-five participants stepped onto the platform.

As the stage began to descend deep into the mountain, Qin Jian released a sigh of relief from the earlier fanfare. Beside him, Shui Yue'er's face burned red, as she hadn't let go before the lights illuminated the area.

When the platform reached the illuminated mountain chamber below, forty-five evenly spaced tunnels awaited them.

"Each of you may choose a tunnel. The pathways are random, so don't overthink it," the host announced through the speakers.

The teams dispersed, each choosing their respective tunnels.

"You all know what to do—do your best, but don't stress too much," Qin Jian said, clapping his hands. "As long as Bing'er and I make it through, we'll have a solid chance."

"Yes, Captain!"

The seven young women, joined by a temporary female teammate, entered their respective tunnels, leaving Qin Jian to face the challenges ahead.

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