The next evening, the sky was dim.
Having just finished 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.
Shimu Shu Manyun calmly brushed the loose strands of hair by her ear aside. Seeing him like this, she gently asked:
"How is it? Are you nervous about participating in Soul Fighting for the first time?"
"A little," Fang Ling answered honestly.
"Our little battle genius is nervous too?" she said with a light smile.
"They're all too weak. I'm afraid I might accidentally chop them to death."
Those words were extremely arrogant, and the people nearby could not help glancing over.
Some wanted to mock him, but upon seeing the War King Academy teacher's robes 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 recklessly insulting others, it was none of their business.
Everyone who heard him thought this crippled boy was arrogant, but Lin Tianyang took it in a different sense.
He laughed and scolded, "Good boy, don't strike at anyone's vital spots. Deaths in a Gambit Battle are a little troublesome."
"Compensation is no big deal. Your teacher can help with that, but you'll have to work for me afterward."
"Mm-hm, don't worry, Teacher. I won't attack anyone's vital spots." Fang Ling nodded indifferently.
He would fight a few matches first. That would make it easier to ask his teacher later to let him participate in Life and Death Battles.
The opponents in one-on-one matches were determined by drawing lots.
While other Soul Masters were engaged in Soul Fighting, those waiting could choose to watch or rest.
Fang Ling naturally chose to watch.
He was full of energy and had no need for that last-minute so-called meditation.
Combat was nothing more than attacking with his sickle while dodging the enemy's attacks. There was nothing to agonize over.
These few matches were slightly better than yesterday's, so Fang Ling watched with great interest.
Before long, he heard someone call his name.
After a Soul Fighting match ended, a host in a tailcoat once again stepped into the center of the arena.
"Next will be the fourth one-on-one Soul Fighting match in our Sixth Soul Arena. Two Soul Masters will take the stage."
"One is Fang Ling, a newcomer to the Soul Arena with the Tool Martial Soul sickle. His opponent is Tian Wen, who possesses the Beast Martial Soul Exploding Fire Monkey and has won two consecutive matches."
"Who will win and who will lose? Let us wait and see."
A battle between one-ring Soul Masters was not particularly entertaining, so there were not many spectators in the stands.
Still, people could clearly be heard calling Tian Wen's name.
His battles were relatively explosive and visually impressive, 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 especially bulky, the powerful lines of his muscles revealed his extraordinary combat ability.
With his arms crossed over his chest and a trace of arrogance on his face, he fully displayed the bearing of a strong man.
On the other side, Fang Ling tapped twice and easily leaped from below onto the Soul Duel Stage.
With Digestion's help, his body had already begun growing faster.
The muscles in his arms were gradually becoming visible. He could not compare to these adults, but he certainly had enough strength to slice through a neck.
"There's a child in a one-ring Soul Fighting match?"
"How old is he? He already came to the Great Soul Arena?"
"Look at his foot. He's even a cripple!"
The audience instantly erupted.
Nothing stirred curiosity more than the appearance of something novel.
A newly arrived little cripple against a young man with two consecutive victories was certainly worth watching.
Lin Tianyang and Shu Manyun, seated in the stands nearby, immediately focused their attention.
This was their disciple's first Soul Fighting match. They could not miss it.
"Can he win?" Shu Manyun asked worriedly, one hand pressed to her chest.
"You can tell from that guy's stance. He's got this in the bag."
Though he had not seen this person last night, Lin Tianyang still dared to be certain. With Fang Ling's agility and extreme reactions—
That man would only get completely crushed.
When the red-haired youth Tian Wen saw that his opponent was a child, his eyes filled with surprise. "Whose kid came to the Soul Arena to play?"
"I heard War King Academy just finished recruiting students."
"I'm a student there. Is there a problem?" Fang Ling asked doubtfully.
"You didn't just enroll and then sneak off to the Great Soul Arena, did you?"
The red-haired young man was briefly stunned, then grinned frivolously. "Listen to your big brother's advice. Go back and cultivate properly. You're too young, and you're disabled. It wouldn't be right for me to bully 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 hesitating like that? What kind of look is that?"
The red-haired youth froze. "Hey, kid, you—"
Fang Ling gave him a contemptuous glance, gripping his sickle tightly as he shouted, "Enough nonsense. Summon your Martial Soul and fight!"
"You won two matches. What are you putting on airs for? It's like you don't even know who you are anymore."
This was not a Life and Death Battle, so he needed his opponent to look down on him. In a Gambit Battle, his opponent still needed to show some real strength.
Only then could he better gauge his own abilities.
So, provoke him first.
Fire-attribute Soul Masters had hot tempers. Especially someone like this, who put on airs from the start to show how impressive he was—his personality flaws were glaring.
A couple of casual remarks would do.
The red-haired youth indeed took the bait, his mouth twitching.
"Fine, fine. I'll teach you little brat a proper lesson on behalf of your academy teachers!"
A red flash passed through his brow, and crimson monkey fur covered his body.
Flames blazed atop his head. The Exploding Fire Monkey Soul Master bumped his fists together and let out a wild roar before charging furiously at Fang Ling.
Lin Tianyang held his wife's soft little hand and whispered in her ear.
He wanted to show off a little, so he explained the situation on the field.
"Under normal circumstances, and for future development, Beast Martial Soul Soul Masters usually choose enhancement-type Spirit Skills for their first ring."
"Look at that fire monkey advancing now. That means he's going in for close combat."
"Boom—!"
Lin Tianyang had just finished his analysis when a booming sound 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.
Fang Ling instantly flashed backward.
Shu Manyun could not hold it in any longer and immediately burst into laughter.
Lin Tianyang's expression stiffened, and his voice carried a hint of irritation.
"Fine, it's a ranged Spirit Skill. What kind of setup is this trash Soul Master running? Just watch how my good disciple teaches him a brutal lesson!"
Fang Ling had already activated his Soul Ring. His Nerve Reflex doubled on top of its original thirty percent boost.
He noticed the Exploding Fire Monkey Soul Master opening his mouth.
His innate sharp combat instincts made Fang Ling realize the other party's little trick in an instant.
Using tactics even against a crippled boy meant provoking him had truly worked.
Unfortunately, he was still too slow.
Fang Ling's face was cold. Having predicted the attack, he had moved in advance.
His body did not even turn. With only a light step, he dodged the seemingly formidable flames.
As he avoided the fire, he also rushed 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 not only had his Spirit Skill failed, but his opponent had somehow rushed right in front of him.
Startled, he hurriedly stopped his Spirit Skill, tensed his muscles, and threw a punch.
Fang Ling precisely shifted aside, avoiding the fist as his sickle fell onto the man's neck in a single motion.
Achieving the greatest effect with the fewest movements was his fighting habit.
The icy touch pierced straight to his heart, and all his arrogance and cleverness vanished.
The Exploding Fire Monkey Soul Master Tian Wen instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
"Don't swing it. I surrender!"
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