Am I a mutant in soul land?

The sun had barely reached its zenith, yet the colossal tournament coliseum at the heart of the Heaven Dou Empire was already roaring with anticipation.

Tens of thousands filled the towering stands—nobles in silk robes, sect representatives in formal garb, and commoners in simple dress, all united by a shared thrill.

Flags bearing the emblems of powerful clans, prestigious academies, and renowned sects fluttered in the breeze. The ground itself seemed to tremble beneath the surging energy of countless gathered soul masters.

Suddenly, a booming voice rang out across the arena, magnified by a powerful soul tool.

"Welcome, Ladies & Gentleman, to the opening ceremony of the Continental Elite Young Soul Master Tournament!"

A wave of excitement surged through the crowd like a tide of thunder.

"Before the battles begin, let us honor the distinguished guests gracing the imperial platform!"

The announcer's voice rose with dramatic flair as he gestured toward the balcony above.

"First, we are humbled by the presence of His Majesty—the wise and noble ruler of the Heaven Dou Empire— Emperor Xue Ye!"

A thunderous cheer erupted. The emperor, draped in a majestic robe embroidered with golden dragons, stood and raised a hand in greeting. His expression was serene, his presence dignified, exuding imperial gravitas.

"Joining His Majesty, representing Spirit Hall, is the esteemed Platinum Bishop Salas!"

Draped in ceremonial golden robes, Bishop Salas gave a slight nod, his sharp gaze sweeping across the crowd. There was no warmth in his expression—only cold scrutiny.

"From the renowned Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, we are honored to welcome its radiant leader— Sect Master Ning Fengzhi!"

Ning Fengzhi rose gracefully and offered a warm, courteous smile to the audience. In return, Emperor Xue Ye gave a modest nod. After all, the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect remained the empire's greatest asset.

Ning Rongrong waved happily at her father, and Tang Yin nodded politely, smiling warmly.

"And lastly, representing the royal family, we acknowledge the presence of His Highness, Prince Xue Xing!"

Tang Yin's eyes narrowed with scrutiny.

"You're on my list, old fox." His cold gaze lingered on Xue Xing a moment too long before shifting away.

The crowd roared in anticipation.

The host's voice boomed through the arena,

"Introducing the 28 elite teams of this year's tournament,

"The first to arrive is Tian Duo Imperial Academy Second Team, the embodiment of Tian Duo Empire's pride. 'stop at nothing, go for everything' is their motto."

The gates opened, and the Second Team marched in with proud, synchronized steps.

"Victory for Tian Duo! The Unbeatable Empire"

"Victory for Tian Duo! The Unbeatable Team!!"

The host's voice surged with excitement, building the momentum further.

"Coming up next—the Five Elemental Academies! The five of the most formidable teams this year, and strong contenders for the championship!"

As the five teams made their way through the cheering crowd, the arena buzzed with excitement and anticipation

"And lastly, The Seven Dragons of Lanba, from Lanba Academy!"

The crowd welcomed them with warm applause and intrigued whispers. Their team uniforms were impeccable—robes of white and gold silk woven from the finest threads, shimmering softly in the sunlight and radiating a noble aura.

Tang Yin stood at the center, his handsome profile perfectly complemented by the elegant garments. Flanked by beautiful female soul masters, the team's refined appearance alone commanded respect and attention.

It was clear Tang Yin had spared no expense. Even some of the female soul masters from Tianshui Academy couldn't help but steal admiring glances his way.

With the introductions complete, the host's voice rang out once more, carrying a tone of respectful solemnity.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, please rise—His Majesty will officially open the competition!"

Emperor Xue Ye rose, holding his ceremonial trident aloft. With a solemn voice that echoed through the coliseum, he declared:

"I, Emperor Xue Ye of the Tian Dou Empire, on behalf of my empire and the organizers of this grand event, hereby announce the Continental Elite Young Soul Master Tournament officially begins!"

At that moment, fireworks exploded in brilliant cascades above the arena, lighting the sky as the crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

Next, Ning Fengzhi gave a spirited speech: "May you all achieve glory for the Tian Dou Empire! Victory shall be ours, no matter what!"

As the applause died down, Platinum Bishop Salas got to his feet and strutted toward the main stage to draw lots for the preliminary rounds. On his way, he shamelessly molested the hostess, an act that didn't escape Tang Yin's sharp gaze.

Tang Yin wasn't surprised. He already knew what kind of man Salas was. Still, he etched this moment into memory. That so-called holy bishop would pay—eventually. Tang Yin was cautious of Martial Soul Hall's ruthlessness, and as a result, planned to keep Dugu Yan hidden until the finals as their secret weapon.

Once the lots were drawn, the first match was set: some forgettable academy versus Cang Hui Academy. Lanba Academy's match was scheduled for the third round, giving Tang Yin ample time for his favorite side quest: gambling.

Knowing Cang Hui Academy's strength from his memories, he headed to the betting area and started placing large bets. His confidence and cash drew attention, but he didn't care—it was time to get rich. Within just two rounds, he raked in 50,000 gold coins.

Soon, it was time.

"Let's welcome Tian Dou Imperial Academy's Second Team and The Seven Dragons of Lanba to the stage!" the announcer boomed.

The crowd erupted. While the Second Team had their own supporters, Lanba Academy's prestige was rising rapidly. Tang Yin wanted to show their strength—but not too much. He instructed the girls to use minimal soul ring abilities, relying more on raw combat skill.

Tai Long took Dugu Yan's place in the lineup for this round. Dugu Yan wasn't disheartened by the strategy—in fact, it made her even more fired up for the finals. She vowed to show the world what she was made of.

As both teams stepped into the ring and released their martial spirits, the audience was dazzled by the sight of colorful soul rings shimmering into existence.

The Second Team's members froze in place as they saw five of their opponents were Soul Ancestors. Meanwhile, they themselves were merely Soul Elders—completely outclassed.

High above in the stands, Emperor Xue Ye and Salas observed with great interest.

Recognizing Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda, the emperor turned to Ning Fengzhi. "Is this the team you're backing, Sect Master Ning?"

Ning Fengzhi beamed with pride."Yes, Your Majesty. My daughter is enrolled in Lanba Academy. I personally believe this team has the potential to win the entire tournament.

They were initially going to join the Imperial Academy… but due to Prince Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing's objections, they were humiliated and forced out."

"What?" Emperor Xue Ye's eyes snapped to Xue Xing with a frosty glare.

Xue Xing flinched. He wanted to explain, but all he could do was silently curse his nephew for dragging him into this mess.

Meanwhile, Salas snorted dismissively. What could a ragtag team do against three Soul Kings and four Soul Ancestors from Martial Soul Hall? He was too busy ogling the hostess again to care.

As the match began, Tang Yin and Zhu Zhuqing shot forward like twin lightning bolts. Behind them, Meng Yiran, Ye Lingling, and Ning Rongrong moved like ghostly shadows.

Before the Second Team could react, the Lanba team was already in front of them. In a synchronized motion, the girls struck with "Mysterious Jade Hand"—aimed precisely at their opponents' stomachs.

Thwack!

The snotty nobles of Second Team members flew backwards like punctured balloons.

Tang Yin dashed toward the two agility-type Soul Elders, striking them so swiftly in the gut that all they could do was gasp for breath.

Just then, Dai Mubai and Tai Long arrived, only to see the noble "elites" of the Second Team crashing out of bounds like broken kites.

Salas, naturally, had no idea how the battle ended so fast. He'd missed the whole thing.

The audience fell into stunned silence. Even Ning Fengzhi was caught mid-conversation, staring in awe and shortly composed himself.

In the crowd, Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er mentally replayed the last three seconds, determined to analyze every move.

Meanwhile, Huo Wu from the Blazing Academy's interest was piqued. She admired the handsome figure of Tang Yin standing triumphantly like a God of war.

Feng Xiaotian, like a true licking dog, clenched his fists in jealousy the moment he saw the spark in Huo Wu's eyes.

The Second Team lay sprawled in the arena in complete humiliation—defeated in less than three seconds.

Up in the royal box, Emperor Xue Ye sighed deeply. "Such monstrous talent… and we expelled them from the Imperial Academy. What a loss." He shook his head regretfully.

The Seven Dragons of Lanba were declared the winners with thunderous applause. Fans screamed their names as they made their way to the viewing area.

Later, as another match began, Tang Yin resumed his favorite hobby—gambling like a possessed man. His predictions were flawless.

Ning Rongrong scolded him for developing a bad habit, but after seeing his insane winning streak, even she was tempted.

Unfortunately, she betted and lost repeatedly, prompting Tang Yin to shake his head in disappointment. "Your luck is just tragic."

By the end of the preliminary round, Tang Yin was feeling good. His earnings were projected to reach 2–3 million gold coins by the end of the tournament.

As he was leaving the betting area, Ning Rongrong arrived with Ning Fengzhi to introduce the team.

The old fox grinned harmlessly. He clearly wanted these talents to join his sect. But aside from Oscar and Fatty, the others gave vague, polite responses—especially the girls, whose glances frequently drifted toward Tang Yin.

Ning Fengzhi caught on instantly—and was even more pleased. After all, Tang Yin and his daughter were in love. Polygamy was the norm, and he himself had more than one wife.

He pulled Tang Yin aside with a knowing smile.

"I didn't know you were this capable, Tang Yin"

Feigning innocence, Tang Yin replied,

"Am I? Thank you, Uncle Ning. I just work hard—that's all."

Ning Fengzhi was momentarily speechless. This kid had completely sidestepped the meaning of his words—but he didn't push further.

Instead, he leaned closer and asked,

"You don't care much about Tang Hao's whereabouts, but… don't you want to know about your mother?"

Tang Yin immediately shifted into actor mode, gritting his teeth. "I don't care about that bastard, but… yes, I want to know about my mother. Do you know who she is?"

Ning Fengzhi nodded slowly & shook his head.

"I don't. But I know someone who might. Why don't I introduce you to him?"

With a mysterious smile, he led Tang Yin to a fancy teahouse adorned with fine art and calligraphy. The atmosphere was elegant, and the servers' etiquette was impeccable.

"Wait here," Ning Fengzhi said, leaving Tang Yin in a private room.

Tang Yin wasn't going to waste time. He intended to impress Qian Renxue from the very beginning—unlike Tang San, who had spent over a year learning noble etiquette.

So, he used his telepathy to scan the minds of the tea masters, calligraphy painters, and even the harpist playing softly in the corner.

As the elegant harper rested between songs, Tang Yin absorbed her memories, learning the fine details of etiquette, posture, and artistic grace.

He immediately began correcting his bad habits. 'No more slouching. No more crude gestures. Time to upgrade from street rat to elegant noble.'

He smiled slightly, adjusting his sitting posture, preparing for what came next.