The Bone King

"Ten consecutive wins? How was that possible?"

Dugu Yan looked puzzled. "We've been active at the Great Spirit Arena all this time. If someone had won ten matches in a row, there's no way we wouldn't have heard anything about it."

"I did hear that a newcomer has been very active in the regional spirit arena lately." Yu Feng stroked his chin. "The day before yesterday, he only had six consecutive wins. I didn't expect him to reach ten wins today."

"Doesn't that mean this newcomer called Bone King fought four spirit battles in two days? Doesn't the Great Spirit Arena stipulate that only one match can be fought in each type of spirit battle?" Osler looked at the female staff member. "Could it be that, besides individual spirit battles, he also fought other types?"

The female staff member nodded with a smile. "That's right."

"He's maintained a winning streak in every type of spirit battle. Compared to that, his strength doesn't seem weaker than ours. Could he be a disciple of some great sect hiding his identity and deliberately coming to the Great Spirit Arena to gain experience?"

After hearing Osler's analysis, Dugu Yan asked the female staff member, "Since that guy called Bone King is challenging me, you should have information on him, right?"

"Yes." As she spoke, the female staff member handed Dugu Yan the information she had prepared beforehand.

After taking the documents, Dugu Yan put away the jade-green nail polish on the table before spreading the sheets across it.

Everyone gathered around the table, curiously reading the information.

Name: Bone King.

Martial Soul: Skeleton.

Type: Defense-System Battle Spirit Master.

Spirit Battle Rank: Bronze Spirit Fighter.

Soul Power Level: Level 29.

Record: Ten wins, zero losses.

After reading her opponent's information, Dugu Yan felt as though she had been played. "Level 29 Soul Power? This Bone King is only a Two-Ring Great Soul Master? As a three-ring Soul Elder, I've already achieved twenty-five consecutive wins against opponents of the same level. That's why I wanted to challenge four-ring Soul Ancestors above my level. Where did a mere Two-Ring Great Soul Master get the courage to challenge me?"

"Yan, don't you understand yet?" Yu Feng said thoughtfully. "All of us signed up for higher-level spirit battles, yet only you were challenged by a Two-Ring Great Soul Master. Obviously, he thinks you're the weakest among us."

"Birdman, did you just say I'm weak?" Dugu Yan stared at Yu Feng, a cold glint flashing through her eyes. "Do you want me to help you remember what it feels like to be tortured until you wish you were dead by Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison?"

Yu Feng hurriedly waved his hands. "Yan, you misunderstood. I wasn't saying you're weak. That Bone King thinks you're weak—I was just analyzing why he chose to challenge you."

"Analyze my ass. If you dare mock me again, I'll cut you off. Then you'll be a birdman with no bird." As she spoke, Dugu Yan viciously made a scissor-hand gesture to frighten him.

"Yan Yan, calm down." The one who spoke was Yu Tianheng.

Although he had only joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy half a year ago and had become the Imperial Fighting Team's captain only a few months earlier, the moment he spoke, not only Dugu Yan but also Osler and the others visibly restrained themselves, their gazes carrying a little more respect.

The Imperial Fighting Team's captain was not chosen based on age or background, but on strength.

Thus, within the team, Osler and Yu Feng willingly addressed Yu Tianheng as Boss.

"Tianheng, what are you trying to say?" Dugu Yan asked.

"Every member of the Imperial Fighting Team is now quite famous at the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena. If that Two-Ring Great Soul Master called Bone King dared to challenge you, he must have thought it through carefully."

Yu Tianheng looked at Dugu Yan. "Didn't you notice? He actually wants to defeat you across ranks in order to gain greater fame. This is a common tactic used by certain opportunists at the Great Spirit Arena."

"As the Imperial Fighting Team's vice-captain, your strength is beyond question. But why didn't Bone King challenge Osler, the weakest among us, across ranks? Why did he choose you instead? Yan Yan, have you considered the reason?"

After hearing this, Dugu Yan fell into deep thought.

Osler also fell into deep thought.

Dugu Yan suddenly understood. "You mean that Bone King dared to challenge me because he has some method specifically meant to counter me?"

"That's right. Your Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison is certainly formidable, but its weakness is equally obvious." Yu Tianheng reminded her, "If you encounter an opponent immune to serpent poison, your Poison Control ability will be greatly weakened. When that happens, wouldn't he be facing a venomous snake with its fangs pulled out?"

"Hmph. Immune to my serpent poison?" Dugu Yan looked displeased. "Tianheng, I admit that your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, as a top-tier Beast Martial Soul, can offset most of the damage from Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison. But not every Martial Soul is as powerful as yours."

"Even if Bone King's Skeleton Martial Soul is as powerful as your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, there's still a whole Soul Ring between us—and it's a Thousand Year Soul Ring. Let me ask you: if you were missing a Thousand Year Soul Ring, do you think you could defeat me across ranks?"

Yu Tianheng shook his head decisively.

"Exactly!" Much of Dugu Yan's resentment finally faded. "There's no way that guy called Bone King could be my opponent. If he dared to challenge me, he was clearly courting death. If word got out that I slaughtered a Great Soul Master at the Great Spirit Arena, I wouldn't find it embarrassing—but my grandfather certainly would."

"Then, Miss Dugu, what do you mean?" the female staff member asked.

Dugu Yan said with certainty, "Of course I refuse. I won't accept his challenge."

"Understood. I'll go give them the reply right away." The female staff member gave everyone a slight bow and turned to leave the private room.

"Wait. Please tell that newcomer called Bone King that, if he's willing, he can come challenge me."

The one who spoke was Yu Tianheng.

Not only Osler and Dugu Yan—even Ye Lingling, who had been sitting silently in the corner, could not help casting a curious look at Yu Tianheng.

"Boss, you're going to fight someone with one less Soul Ring than you? If the audience sees this, they'll laugh at us." Osler shrugged and shook his head.

Yu Tianheng rolled his eyes at him. "Think carefully. Why did we take part in higher-level spirit battles?"

"Because fighting opponents of the same level can no longer improve our practical combat skills. That's why we wanted to challenge Soul Ancestors stronger than us across ranks."

"This newcomer called Bone King already has a record of ten wins in ten matches. If he isn't doing this for fame, then by daring to challenge us across ranks, he must also be seeking improvement."

"Think about it from another perspective. Isn't Bone King's willingness to challenge a Soul Elder similar to our willingness to challenge Soul Ancestors?"

"If we refuse his challenge, then when we sign up to challenge Soul Ancestors in higher-level spirit battles, we'll likewise be looked down on and rejected. Unfortunately, no Soul Ancestors have signed up for higher-level spirit battles lately, so we don't even have a chance to challenge them."

"Actually, I believe being challenged by someone is an honor. I will respect the opponent who challenges me. At the same time, I will use my strength to tell him that challenging me was the worst decision he has ever made. Miss, I'll have to trouble you."

After hearing Yu Tianheng's words, the other six members of the Imperial Fighting Team were all stunned. Only the female staff member smiled and nodded. "All right. I'll go inform Bone King of the situation now. I'll return shortly with his answer."

As she spoke, she turned to leave the private room.

"Wait." This time, it was Dugu Yan who spoke.