Moonlit Duel

Moonlit Duel

The facts proved that Tang San, once the top disciple of the Tang Sect's Outer Sect, was indeed no slouch when it came to forging!

Looking at the magnificently designed, imposing spear before him, Lu Yuan felt immensely satisfied.

The spear was about two meters long. A Five-Clawed Golden Dragon coiled around its silver-black shaft, looking majestic and imposing. Every dragon scale upon its body had been carved with lifelike detail. The dragon's head extended into the spearhead, which gleamed with silver light and radiated a bone-chilling sharpness.

The spear was not light either, weighing a full three hundred jin. It felt substantial in Lu Yuan's hands, yet fit his grip perfectly.

If he had held this spear that day, dealing with the Sky-Supporting Demon Ape might have been much easier.

"Fine spear!" Lu Yuan casually flicked the spear into a flourish and could not help praising it aloud.

"What incredible strength for such a young fellow!" As the owner of Suotuo City's finest blacksmith shop, he had never seen a child with such strength. The three-hundred-jin spear was as light as nothing in Lu Yuan's hands. Even Tang San, who had been born with great strength, had found it quite difficult to move this spear.

"Mm, it truly is!" Tang San could not help nodding. With the Mysterious Heaven Skill, he could lift this three-hundred-jin spear, but he was still far from being able to wield such a heavy weapon as effortlessly as Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan smiled and took out a money pouch from his Soul Tool, handing it to the blacksmith. "Uncle, this is the remaining balance. Count it and see if the amount is right."

"It's right!" The blacksmith weighed it in his hand, judging its weight. For someone like him who dealt with metal all year round, he could more or less tell how heavy a piece of metal was just by hefting it. Gold Soul Coins were naturally no exception.

"Then I'll be heading back first!" Lu Yuan smiled and nodded at the blacksmith before getting up to leave.

"I'll go back with you!" Over the past seven days, Tang San had been responsible for forging Lu Yuan's spear. Now that it was complete, his task was basically finished, so he could leave work early today.

"Alright!" Lu Yuan carried the World-Shocking Spear on his back while Tang San walked beside him. Amid the astonished gazes of those around them, the two returned to Notting College together.

Tang San was deeply curious about Lu Yuan. The powerful fist technique and graceful movement technique he had used against the Fiery Mountain Boar that day, as well as the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon design on the World-Shocking Spear, all tugged at Tang San's thoughts. Could Lu Yuan be a transmigrator like himself?

These were things that did not exist on Douluo Continent, things that could only have come from Tang San's own world. He wanted to ask Lu Yuan, but he did not know how to begin.

After pondering for a long while, Tang San made up his mind and said to Lu Yuan beside him, "Lu Yuan, can we have a spar?"

"A spar?" Lu Yuan stopped walking, somewhat surprised by Tang San's words. Tang San should know his strength, so why would he take the initiative to challenge him?

It was not that he looked down on Tang San. The gap between them was simply too great at the moment. The Tang Sect's martial techniques and Blue Silver Grass were honestly not worth mentioning in Lu Yuan's eyes now. As for hidden weapons, Tang San could not yet use any of the truly powerful ones, so they posed no threat to him at all.

Still, since Tang San had challenged him on his own initiative, Lu Yuan would not pass up the chance to give the protagonist a good beating.

"Sure!" Lu Yuan nodded.

"Then let's meet at the plaza at nine tonight!" Tang San suggested.

There would be fewer people at night, allowing them to focus completely on their spar.

"I don't mind. Anywhere is fine!" Lu Yuan nodded and turned to return to the small courtyard.

Watching Lu Yuan's back, Tang San's eyes flickered. Lu Yuan, are you the same kind of person as me?

Night descended, and lights flickered throughout Notting College.

Nine o'clock was already quite late. For people of Douluo Continent, who had few forms of entertainment, many were already asleep by then.

Looking at the Work-Study Students in the dormitory, who had mostly fallen asleep, Tang San quietly climbed out of bed, gently pulled open the dormitory door, and slipped outside.

Tang San moved very lightly and did not wake the other students, except for one little rabbit who had not been asleep at all.

"Where is Little San going so late at night?" Xiao Wu scrunched up her cute little face. "Whatever, I'll follow him first and ask later."

Xiao Wu quietly got up and followed far behind Tang San.

Tang San was eager to learn Lu Yuan's true identity, yet he failed to notice Xiao Wu trailing behind him at all.

Apart from the occasional patrolling teacher, the plaza was already deserted at nine o'clock. The vast square seemed especially quiet in the darkness.

Lu Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, listening to the increasingly distinct footsteps. His handsome young face remained calm and unruffled.

At last, the footsteps stopped!

Lu Yuan turned around and spoke softly. "You're here?"

"Yes, I'm here!"

"I'm late."

"No, I arrived early." Lu Yuan gently shook his head.

"Then let's begin!" Tang San said.

"No rush!" Lu Yuan shook his head and turned his gaze behind Tang San. "Little rabbit, how much longer are you going to hide?"

"Someone's behind me?" Tang San was startled and hurriedly turned around. From the corner of a shadowed wall, a small figure emerged.

Moonlight fell across the figure's face, and Tang San could not help crying out, "Xiao Wu, why is it you?"

Xiao Wu put her hands on her hips and said indignantly, "I should be asking you that! Why did you run out alone so late at night?"

Tang San awkwardly scratched his head. "I just came out to spar with Lu Yuan!"

"A spar?" At the mention of sparring, Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. She had always had a bit of a violent streak and loved fighting, especially when the sparring partner was Lu Yuan, someone she had long been curious about. She immediately said, "How about adding me in?"

Seeing Xiao Wu's excitement, Tang San could not help feeling a headache coming on. He turned his gaze toward Lu Yuan.

"I don't mind!" Lu Yuan said calmly.

Tang San shook his head, feeling rather disappointed. He had originally intended to use tonight to learn about Lu Yuan's identity and see whether he was a transmigrator like himself, but Xiao Wu's interruption had completely ruined that plan.

Still, even if he could not learn Lu Yuan's identity, Tang San wanted to fight him. He also wanted to know just how powerful Lu Yuan really was!

"Then I'll go first!" Xiao Wu stepped forward in quick little steps. Red light flickered around her, and a snowy white rabbit appeared behind her. As she activated her Martial Soul Possession, her ears became fluffy rabbit ears. "Xiao Wu, Martial Soul: Soft Bone Rabbit, level twelve Power Attack System War Soul Master!"

A yellow hundred-year soul ring gleamed beneath Xiao Wu.

Lu Yuan smiled. Yellow light flashed around him, and the phantom of a Golden Dragon rose behind him. "Lu Yuan, Martial Soul: Golden Dragon, level fifteen Power Attack System War Soul Master."

There was an unspoken rule among soul masters: when one side announced their Martial Soul and rank before a duel, the other side had to do the same, unless that soul master looked down on their opponent and was unafraid of forming a deadly enmity or facing retaliation.

There was no conflict between Lu Yuan and Xiao Wu. Out of respect for her, he activated his Martial Soul Possession as well, though he might not even need his Martial Soul to deal with Xiao Wu!