Bone Flag Douluo Steps into the Ring
Huo Wu had already stepped in front of Li Zhexian. She raised an arm, blocking the straw-hatted man's path.
"A challenger passing through."
"Would someone passing through look at his orb of light so many times?"
"Can you give me that thing?"
"If you want to take it, tell us who you are first."
"I'm asking about the thing, not anyone's identity."
"We'll talk after you step into the ring."
The straw-hatted man pressed his palm against a plank, and cracks crept outward along the seams.
Lu Jun stood beside the ring, his arm still numb, while his heavy-backed saber was already back in its sheath.
"He didn't come here to compete."
"We'll know after we fight."
The straw-hatted man raised his head, the brim covering half his face.
Jin Ling walked around to the other side, keeping her eyes on his hand.
A gray-white shell covered it. Bone-like patterns had grown out of the flesh and lay across the back of his hand.
"Li Zhexian, don't rush up there yet."
"I'm not rushing."
"His Martial Soul is no ordinary thing."
"That's why we need to get to the bottom of this."
The straw-hatted man asked whether they were finished talking.
Huo Wu said to him, "Not yet. If you dare make a move, I'll burn your hat off first."
"First you'll need the chance."
"You can try."
The referee came around the table and pointed at the cracked platform.
"No taking lives is allowed here."
"I'll sign."
"The referee decides what happens to anything that appears in the ring."
"That thing was mine to begin with."
"You haven't even gotten a good look at what it is."
"Not getting a good look won't stop me from taking it."
Li Zhexian stepped out from behind Huo Wu and tapped his chest a few times.
"Get up here."
Huo Wu reached out and grabbed his wrist.
"You haven't even figured out what he's capable of."
"That move just now told me a little."
"What if you got it wrong?"
"Then I'll figure out a little more."
Huo Wu let go, but her fingers lingered on his wrist a moment longer.
"You can take his attacks, but you can't stand there and let him beat you to death."
"I still remember the signal to get out."
"When you hear me shout stop, you come down."
"All right."
Jin Ling pressed a hand to her waist.
"Let's make the limits clear first."
The straw-hatted man gave a laugh.
"I'll leave him one breath."
"Remember those words."
The referee handed over the waiver.
After reading it, the straw-hatted man pressed his handprint onto the paper. Li Zhexian followed suit.
"One question before we start. What will you trade for the orb of light?" Li Zhexian asked.
"Make it drop first."
"I asked what you're offering."
"My life."
"That's not a worthwhile deal."
"Then put your life on the line too."
Huo Wu was about to step forward when Jin Ling reached out and stopped her.
"He's provoking you."
"I heard him."
The straw-hatted man turned his palm, and a gust struck the ropes, whipping dust up from the planks.
His hat flew off his head and landed on the referee's table.
Someone beside the ring had already recognized him.
"Bone Flag Douluo!"
"Bone Banner, the level-seventy Soul Saint!"
The referee's hand, raised with a wooden ruler, froze in midair. Lu Jun also drew his heavy-backed saber halfway out.
Huo Wu stepped into the ring, once again standing in front of Li Zhexian.
"You said you were just passing through."
"I did say that."
"I haven't given my name yet, so I haven't lied."
Li Zhexian raised a hand to stop Huo Wu.
"Let him attack."
"He's a Soul Saint!"
"I heard."
"You heard, and you still want him to attack?"
"It wasn't easy finding someone who could fight."
Gray-white bone patterns appeared on Bone Flag Douluo's palm.
"You really aren't afraid of dying."
"Being afraid wouldn't stop you from attacking."
"I'll strike only once. If you can take it, we'll talk."
"No need to talk. Just keep attacking."
Bone Flag Douluo took a step forward, and the plank beneath his foot immediately broke apart.
He thrust his palm at Li Zhexian's chest.
Huo Wu was about to intervene, but Li Zhexian pushed her half a step aside.
"Get to the side."
The palm strike landed, sending Li Zhexian flying out from the center of the ring and through two wooden planks.
A golden shield shone over his chest, its numerical value ticking steadily downward.
He rolled halfway over on the ground, pushed himself up with one hand, and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.
Bone Flag Douluo looked at him.
"A palm strike from a level-seventy Soul Saint, four hundred and fifty thousand points of damage, and you can still get up."
"You just said you'd only strike once."
"I've changed my mind."
"Good."
"What's good about it?"
"You haven't hit me enough yet."
An orb of purple light fell onto the ring. Inside it was a fingernail-sized bone fragment with a dark silver edge.
The referee reached for it, but the orb swerved around his hand and came to rest by Li Zhexian's feet.
"Don't touch it," Huo Wu said, stopping the referee.
Li Zhexian picked up the bone fragment, and a system notification sounded in his mind.
He put it into his storage bag.
"A Thousand-Year Soul Bone Fragment."
Bone Flag Douluo stared at the bone fragment.
"Something like that can drop from your body?"
"Didn't you just see it?"
"All I saw was light."
"Then your eyes are rather busy."
Bone Flag Douluo looked down at his own hand.
"Do you have a protective treasure on you?"
"I do. Attack a few more times, and you might be able to guess."
"I don't have the patience to guess."
"Then don't. Keep attacking."
Bone Flag Douluo struck out at his side, and the shock sent wooden planks flying upward.
A second orb of purple light fell beside Li Zhexian's shoulder.
He reached out to grab it, but the orb dodged his hand and flew into his arms.
Someone below the ring shouted, "The orbs of light only acknowledge him!"
Bone Flag Douluo withdrew his hand.
"So it has a connection to you."
"In that case, why are you still trying to snatch it?"
"I'll snatch you."
He swept out a hand, releasing a gust that pushed Huo Wu off the ring.
Jin Ling caught Huo Wu, and the two of them crashed into the ropes together.
The smile had vanished from Li Zhexian's face.
"You can attack me, but don't touch my companions."
"What can they offer you?"
"At least they speak more pleasantly than you do."
"The rewards should belong to the strong."
"You didn't get a reward just now."
"Because it only acknowledges you. All the more reason for you to come with me."
Huo Wu pulled free of Jin Ling's grasp, steadied herself, and shouted to Li Zhexian, "Stop wasting words on him."
"I'm not wasting words. I'm considering whether another one might drop."
"Come down, and I'll tell you whether it will."
"Shout stop, and I'll come down."
"I just did."
"I heard you."
He turned to face Bone Flag Douluo.
"You want me to hand over the fragment and the secret I carry?"
"Hand them over."
"I refuse."
Bone Flag Douluo took half a step forward, and the plank beneath his foot cracked again.
While Bone Flag Douluo was looking at him, Li Zhexian reached out, grabbed Huo Wu, then took hold of Jin Ling and vaulted over the edge of the ring.
"Run!"
Huo Wu stumbled as he pulled her along.
"You were just about to let him attack!"
"I'm not anymore."
"You change your mind fast."
The three of them rushed past the gambling tables.
Lu Jun drew his heavy-backed saber and blocked Bone Flag Douluo's path.
"You can't chase people while you're in the ring."
Bone Flag Douluo kicked the broken wood aside.
Lu Jun slashed horizontally, the blade grazing past Bone Flag Douluo's shoulder without leaving a wound.
"Get out of my way."
"I've heard that many times before."
Bone Flag Douluo slammed his shoulder into Lu Jun, knocking him off the ring.
Several guards raised their wooden clubs, but when they saw the bone markings on the back of his hand, they stopped in their tracks.
Li Zhexian pulled the two of them into a narrow alley.
Jin Ling brought up the rear and glanced back. Bone Flag Douluo had already jumped down from the stands and was chasing after them.
Huo Wu looked back and cursed. "He really is coming after us!"
"Do you think he came for the bounty?"
"I just hope he doesn't tear this alley down too."
"You can go back and tell him that."
Bone Flag Douluo blocked the entrance to the alley, grayish-white bone markings having already crept up to the side of his neck.
"Hand over the secret of the treasure drops, and I'll only take you."