Gambit Battle, Trial of Skill

The following evening, the sky was already dim.

After dinner, Lin Tianyang and Shu Manyun brought Fang Ling to the Great Soul Arena.

Registration was quick.

Since he was alone, he naturally signed up for a one-on-one match.

It was Fang Ling's first time fighting in a Soul Arena. He was faintly excited, and his body trembled.

Shu Manyun calmly brushed back the loose strands of hair by her ear. Seeing him like this, she asked gently, "How is it? Are you nervous about participating in a soul duel for the first time?"

"A little," Fang Ling answered honestly.

"Even our combat genius gets nervous?" She smiled lightly.

"They're all too weak. I'm afraid I might accidentally chop them to death."

The words were exceedingly arrogant, and the people nearby could not help glancing over.

Some wanted to mock him, but upon seeing the War King Academy instructor's uniform Lin Tianyang wore, they could only shut their mouths and leave silently.

The Great Soul Arena maintained basic order, but if someone got beaten for running their mouth, that was none of their business.

Everyone who heard it thought this lame kid was outrageously arrogant, but Lin Tianyang heard something entirely different.

He laughed and scolded, "Good boy. Just don't strike vital areas. Deaths in Gambit Battles are a bit of a hassle."

"Compensation isn't a problem—I can help you pay it—but then you'll have to work for me in the future."

"Mm-hm, don't worry, Teacher. I won't attack anyone's vital areas." Fang Ling nodded indifferently.

He would fight a few matches first. Then it would be easier to ask his teacher to let him participate in Life and Death Battles later.

The opponents in one-on-one matches were determined by drawing lots.

While other Soul Masters fought, those waiting could choose to watch or rest.

Fang Ling naturally chose to watch.

He was full of energy and had no need for this last-minute so-called meditation.

Combat was nothing more than attacking with his sickle while dodging the enemy's attacks. There was nothing worth agonizing over.

These matches were slightly better than yesterday's, so Fang Ling watched with great interest.

Before long, he heard someone call his name.

After one soul duel ended, a host in a tailcoat once again stepped into the center of the arena.

"Next is the fourth one-on-one soul duel of our Sixth Soul Arena. Two Soul Masters will take the stage."

"They are Fang Ling, a newcomer to the Soul Arena with the Tool Martial Soul Sickle, versus Tian Wen, who possesses the Beast Martial Soul Exploding Fire Monkey and has won two matches in a row."

"Who will win and who will lose? Let us wait and see."

One-ring Soul Master battles were not especially entertaining, and there were not many spectators in the stands.

Still, Tian Wen's name could be heard clearly as people called out for him.

His battles were relatively explosive, and the scenes were fairly flashy, leaving a certain impression on people.

Amid the cheers, a short red-haired young man quickly stepped onto the Soul Duel Stage.

His skin was wheat-colored, and while he was not particularly burly, the powerful lines of his muscles revealed his impressive combat strength.

With his arms crossed over his chest and a trace of arrogance on his face, he fully embodied the bearing of a powerhouse.

On the other side, Fang Ling tapped twice and easily leaped from beside the Soul Duel Stage onto the platform.

With the help of digestion, his body had already begun growing more quickly.

The contours of his arm muscles were gradually becoming visible. He could not compare to these adults, but he certainly had enough strength to slice open a neck.

"There's even a child in a one-ring soul duel?"

"How old is he? He came to the Great Soul Arena this early?"

"Look at his foot—he's a cripple!"

The spectator stands instantly erupted.

Nothing aroused curiosity more than the appearance of something novel.

A newly arrived Little Cripple facing a young man with two consecutive victories was quite a spectacle.

Lin Tianyang and Shu Manyun, seated in the nearby stands, immediately focused their attention.

This was their disciple's first soul duel. They could not afford to miss it.

"Can he win?" Shu Manyun asked worriedly, one hand pressed to her chest.

"You can tell from that stance alone—he's got this in the bag."

Although he had not seen this man last night, Lin Tianyang still dared to be certain. With Fang Ling's agility and extreme reflexes, this guy would only end up getting completely thrashed.

Red Hair, the young man Tian Wen, was full of surprise when he saw that his opponent was just a child. "Whose kid came to the Soul Arena to play?"

"I heard War King Academy just finished recruiting students."

"He's a student there. Is there a problem?" Fang Ling asked doubtfully.

"Don't tell me you just enrolled and already snuck off to the Great Soul Arena?"

After a moment of astonishment, Red Hair grinned frivolously. "Take your big brother's advice and go back to cultivate properly. You're too young, and you're disabled too. I wouldn't feel right bullying you."

Fang Ling was not affected by his words.

"Once you're defeated by this disabled person, you'll know what humiliation is!"

"Why are you acting so timid? What kind of look is that?"

Red Hair froze. "Heh~ Kid, you!"

Casting him a disdainful glance, Fang Ling gripped his sickle tightly and shouted, "Enough nonsense. Summon your Martial Soul and fight!"

"You won two matches, so what are you acting so high and mighty for? It's like you don't even know who you are anymore."

This was not a Life and Death Battle. He needed his opponent to underestimate him, but in a Gambit Battle, the other side still had to show some real strength.

Only then could he better gauge his own level.

So, provoke him first.

Fire-attribute Soul Masters had fiery tempers, especially someone like this who had put on airs from the moment he arrived to show off how impressive he was. His personality flaws were obvious.

A couple of casual remarks would do.

Sure enough, Red Hair took the bait, his mouth twitching.

"Fine, fine. I'll teach you a proper lesson on behalf of your academy teachers, you little brat!"

A red light flashed between his brows, and crimson monkey fur covered his body.

Flames blazed atop his head. The Exploding Fire Monkey Soul Master bumped his fists together, let out a wild roar, and charged furiously at Fang Ling.

Lin Tianyang held his wife's soft little hand and whispered into her ear.

He wanted to show off a little, so he began explaining the situation in the arena.

"Under normal circumstances, and with the future in mind, Beast Martial Soul Masters usually choose enhancement-type soul skills for their first ring."

"Look, that fire monkey is advancing, which means he's going for close combat."

"Boom—!"

Lin Tianyang had just finished his analysis when a loud explosion rang out.

The Exploding Fire Monkey Soul Master's yellow soul ring lit up, and he directly spat a mouthful of fire at Fang Ling.

In an instant, Fang Ling flashed backward.

Shu Manyun could not hold it in and immediately snickered.

Lin Tianyang's expression stiffened, annoyance creeping into his voice.

"Fine, it's a ranged soul skill. What kind of trash build is this Soul Master using? Just watch how my good disciple teaches him a brutal lesson!"

Fang Ling had already activated his soul ring. Nerve Reflex doubled from its original thirty percent.

He noticed the Exploding Fire Monkey Soul Master opening his mouth.

His innate, sharp battle instincts made Fang Ling instantly realize what the other man was trying to do.

Using a trick just to fight a lame kid proved that provoking him had indeed worked.

Unfortunately, he was still too slow.

Fang Ling's face was cold. Having predicted the attack, he moved in advance.

His body did not even shift. With just a light step, he dodged the seemingly formidable flames.

At the same time as he evaded the fire, he surged forward more than ten meters.

The arena was only twenty meters in diameter.

The Exploding Fire Monkey Soul Master was still breathing fire when he realized that not only had his soul skill failed, but his opponent had somehow rushed right in front of him.

Alarmed, he hastily stopped his soul skill, tensed his muscles, and threw a punch.

Fang Ling sidestepped with precision. As he avoided the punch, his sickle landed against the man's neck.

Achieving the greatest effect with the fewest movements was his fighting habit.

The icy touch pierced straight into his heart, and all his pride and little schemes vanished.

In that instant, the Exploding Fire Monkey Soul Master Tian Wen broke out in a cold sweat.

"Don't swing it. I surrender!"

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