Cold. That was the first impression he gave Zhao Xuan.
He stood there quietly, like a lone wolf walking across a wasteland, utterly solitary.
He looked thin and frail, yet he was tall. His back was slightly hunched, and there was no emotion in his gaze as he looked at Zhao Xuan.
"Kid, you shouldn't have come here." He suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse.
"I can sense the tender skin beneath your clothes, your young body, and the hot blood flowing through you. You... are still very young."
"If you were wounded here, or died here, it would be a real pity."
Zhao Xuan remained unmoved. The arena beneath his feet was a deep grayish-blue. Every flagstone bore more or less damage, while many others seemed to have been replaced recently—yet they were covered in countless dark red stains left behind by dried blood.
They represented the slaughter that had once taken place here. Perhaps the souls of the dead still lingered, drifting through the air as they watched them.
Wasn't it laughable to feel pity in a place like this?!
"Is there any point in saying so much?" Zhao Xuan suddenly sneered, his tone full of disdain.
The man paused, then gently shook his head. "What a pity."
Zhao Xuan found it amusing. Did this guy really think he had him beaten?
"Can we begin, host?!" Zhao Xuan asked the host standing by the spectator stands.
The host seemed stunned as well. Was this Soul Elder really in such a hurry to die? Although the Indiscriminate Competition arena allowed surrender, it could only happen after one minute had passed. He certainly didn't believe a Soul Elder could survive that minute against a Soul Ancestor who had won five matches in a row.
But since Zhao Xuan had spoken up, the host naturally had no intention of delaying any longer. Or rather, he was more than happy to proceed.
He secretly nodded toward several figures in a corner of the stands, then declared in an impassioned voice, "Ladies and gentlemen, the competition is about to begin! Where are your screams?!"
The cries that had already begun to die down erupted once more, even louder than before. The frenzied, bloodthirsty shouts were utterly insane!
"Rip him apart, Lone Wolf!"
"Newbie, take him down! Take him down! Hahaha!"
All around the stands, the crazed spectators roared, their eyes gleaming beneath the dim lights.
Four figures stepped into the four corners of the arena, and a curtain of light rose around it.
"Competition! Begin!"
As the host's voice fell, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch!
A smile curved across Crimson Lone Wolf's calm face. The loneliness he had displayed moments ago vanished, replaced by a bloodthirsty and violent aura.
If he had been a lone wolf wandering the wilderness before, he was now a wolf in the midst of the hunt!
"Blood Wolf! Possession!"
Crimson Lone Wolf possessed his martial soul the instant the match began. This was how Beast Soul Masters fought; after possession, their physical abilities would be greatly enhanced.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple!
Four soul rings rose from beneath his feet. Then his First Soul Ring flashed, and Crimson Lone Wolf vanished from where he stood.
"That's Lone Wolf's First Soul Skill, Surprise Attack! It greatly boosts his speed. Back then, even a Soul Ancestor suffered under this move. This little Soul Elder is dead for sure!"
Someone knowledgeable in the stands excitedly explained it to his companion. Judging by his fanatical expression, he was clearly a Lone Wolf fan.
The instant Crimson Lone Wolf disappeared, Zhao Xuan became alert. Surrounded by frenzied screams, he had no way to pinpoint his opponent by sound.
He instantly summoned his martial soul—the phone! Zhao Xuan activated his Third Soul Skill, Telecommunication Fraud, and his true body flashed away in an instant.
After Crimson Lone Wolf possessed the Blood Wolf, sharp claws grew from his hands. Upon using Surprise Attack to reach Zhao Xuan's side, he mercilessly thrust them at Zhao Xuan's face.
Too easy!
As he watched Zhao Xuan, who had yet to react, Crimson Lone Wolf thought to himself.
His claws pierced through Zhao Xuan, and the figure before him instantly shattered. Crimson Lone Wolf's heart lurched. Not good!
The next instant, he heard a sharp gust of wind from his side. A leg viciously slammed into his face.
Thud.
Crimson Lone Wolf's body rolled repeatedly across the ground before he could not help spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Ignoring the intense pain in his chest, emotion appeared in Crimson Lone Wolf's eyes for the first time. He stared at Zhao Xuan in shock.
What was going on?!
"Didn't that kid get stabbed? Why did Lone Wolf get kicked away?!"
"What the hell happened?!"
Muttering spread through the audience, and many people were completely baffled.
At that moment, the experienced host, whose gaze was keen and discerning, seemed to understand. He spoke in an astonished tone.
"The instant Lone Wolf vanished just now, Ink-Black Arcana was unable to determine his position, so he immediately used his Third Soul Skill."
"Ink-Black Arcana's Third Soul Skill appears to be an Illusionary Body-type ability. Lone Wolf only struck one of Ink-Black Arcana's illusionary bodies just now, while his real body appeared more than ten meters away!"
"When Crimson Lone Wolf struck Ink-Black Arcana's illusionary body, Ink-Black Arcana also determined Lone Wolf's position and launched that fierce attack!"
"The two contestants have already given us a thrilling and dangerous clash right from the start! Ink-Black Arcana's reaction speed and terrifying physical speed are truly astonishing!"
The spectators also burst into cries of amazement after hearing that.
"This Ink-Black Arcana is pretty good!"
"What's the use? He'll still get smashed to pieces by Crimson Lone Wolf soon enough." One of Crimson Lone Wolf's fans shouted defiantly.
In the arena, Crimson Lone Wolf finally understood after hearing the host's explanation.
"You're quite good, but it's still a pity," Crimson Lone Wolf muttered before instantly charging at Zhao Xuan.
Zhao Xuan did not continue attacking after kicking Lone Wolf away. He had not used his full strength either, because this was one of the reasons he had come here. He wanted to see more martial souls! More soul skills!
Crimson Lone Wolf rushed toward Zhao Xuan. Though he was still fast, he was much slower than before, yet Zhao Xuan remained completely still.
"Haha, did that newbie get scared stupid?"
"Lone Wolf, kill him!"
Crimson Lone Wolf's fans clamored. The disappointment from his earlier setback vanished in an instant. He was just a lucky brat! The gap between a Soul Ancestor and a Soul Elder was not so easily bridged.
The moment Crimson Lone Wolf entered Zhao Xuan's range, Zhao Xuan moved. His figure drifted like a faint breeze, elusive and unpredictable, slipping aside with the slightest motion.
Crimson Lone Wolf's brow furrowed slightly, but he swiftly launched another attack. His wolf claws slashed through the air—"swish, swish, swish"—sending sharp tearing sounds ringing out.
Yet Zhao Xuan moved like a swimming dragon, and the wolf claws could not touch him in the slightest.
"Lone Wolf! Are you fucking holding back?!"
"What are you doing? Didn't you eat?!"
The spectators supporting Crimson Lone Wolf cursed loudly. When facing experts of the same rank before, Crimson Lone Wolf had always crushed his opponents, leaving them no room to resist! Why was he being so stifled against a mere Soul Elder now?!
They were frustrated, but Crimson Lone Wolf was even more frustrated. The kid before him was as slippery as a loach, and his reaction speed was astonishing! Was he really a Weapon Soul Master?
Zhao Xuan looked at Crimson Lone Wolf before him and could not help frowning. "Can't your strength be as impressive as your words?"
For the first time, anger rose within Crimson Lone Wolf.
Before you continue