Oscar's Battle

The Moon Blade carried an irresistible sharpness. A metallic clash rang out from Dugu Chen's Dragon Claw, and a faint sting spread across his face.

Dugu Chen released the Moon Blade in his hand, seized the opportunity, and burst out with Soul Power, retreating several meters in a flash.

Although Xie Yue reacted extremely quickly, Dugu Chen's attack still struck him. If Xie Yue had not swiftly retreated at the critical moment—

—the attack against the Moon Blade would have landed solidly, and Xie Yue would likely have already lost his ability to fight.

Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. After just one exchange, Xie Yue had already suffered a minor injury.

"Brother."

Hu Liena, watching from the side, could not help but worry when she saw Xie Yue injured. The siblings had depended on each other since childhood and were each other's most important person.

"What a pity!"

Dugu Chen felt somewhat regretful that his attack had not achieved a solid result. To avoid exposing all his strength and frightening them into canceling the Soul Bone reward for the Soul Master Tournament, he had only displayed power comparable to that of a Soul King.

Otherwise, how could Xie Yue have escaped his grasp so easily? Dugu Chen knew that after this attack, Xie Yue would never give him another chance to seize his Martial Soul.

I can't confront him head-on.

After just one clash, Xie Yue knew that he was weaker than his opponent in strength. Once Dugu Chen got close, given the gap in their Soul Power and physical qualities, a single direct hit would likely leave him seriously injured.

Xie Yue's third Soul Ring lit up, and he swiftly charged toward Dugu Chen. His speed increased by at least fifty percent.

The battle then turned into guerrilla warfare. Xie Yue used his speed to attack Dugu Chen each time, retreating after a single strike, slippery as an eel.

Dugu Chen was somewhat helpless. Speed might indeed be the weakness of other Power Attack System Soul Masters, but with his formidable physical qualities and short-range bursts, he was faster than Agility Attack System Soul Masters of the same level. Furthermore, under his mental lock, he knew Xie Yue's attack patterns inside and out.

Ugh, throwing a match is so hard!

Even though he knew that if this continued, Xie Yue would exhaust his Soul Power too quickly and eventually give him an opening, Dugu Chen did not want to turn this into a battle of attrition.

A purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring rose up, and Xie Yue immediately focused with utmost vigilance. This was the first time Dugu Chen had used a Soul Skill in this battle.

"Third soul skill, Kirin Earth Shaker Roar!"

"Roar—"

As the Soul Ring lit up, a Qilin phantom appeared behind Dugu Chen. The next instant, it raised its head and roared at the sky, and the earthshaking Kirin Roar erupted.

An unparalleled sound wave burst forth, instantly forming an enormous shockwave. Countless fragments of earth beneath their feet were thrown into the air and outward before shattering apart.

"Mental Attack—"

Hu Liena had lost count of how many times she had been astonished. Now even a rare Mental Attack had appeared, shrouding Dugu Chen in yet another layer of mystery.

Because he had not retreated quickly enough, Xie Yue took Dugu Chen's third soul skill head-on. Though Dugu Chen had not gone all out, Xie Yue was still left mentally dazed.

Another yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring lit up around Dugu Chen. Golden-red Soul Power surged across his body as he drove a heavy punch at Xie Yue's chest.

Having endured Dugu Chen's third soul skill head-on, Xie Yue's aura was somewhat listless, and bloodshot veins had appeared in his eyes.

It felt as though invisible fine needles were stabbing into his sea of consciousness. His mind was a mess, and the unceasing pain was truly hard to endure.

Yet he forced himself through it with sheer willpower.

With a shout, rings of intense dark-red light continuously rose from beneath Xie Yue's feet. With every ring of light that rose, his aura swelled further, and a pressure filled with vicious ferocity began to spread outward.

Using the remaining Soul Power in his body, all four of his Soul Rings lit up. The two Moon Blades turned a deep dark red as he swung both blades out, colliding with Dugu Chen's fist.

"Boom—"

After only a brief stalemate, Xie Yue was sent flying. A low muffled groan escaped his lips as his blood and qi churned violently within him.

"Brother—"

Amid Hu Liena's cry of alarm, Chrysanthemum Douluo leaped into the air and caught the flying Xie Yue, helping him regulate the chaotic Soul Power within his body.

Wild Soul Power fluctuations spread out. Dugu Chen took seven or eight small steps back and let out a long sigh inwardly. It was finally over.

Dugu Chen did not notice Dugu Bo behind him, looking at him strangely. Though Dugu Bo did not understand Dugu Chen's intentions, he said nothing. His disciple surely had his reasons.

"Ha ha ha—Ju Hua Guan, Spirit Hall's geniuses aren't much after all! Looks like this old man has come out on top this time." Seeing his disciple defeat Xie Yue, Dugu Bo walked to Dugu Chen's side and inconspicuously positioned himself half a step in front of him.

"Old Poison, you..." Chrysanthemum Douluo glared furiously at Dugu Bo's mockery.

"Elder Ju." Hu Liena displayed the composure expected of the Golden Generation's leader. She quickly calmed her anger and stopped Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Xie Yue also rose to his feet. He had not actually suffered any serious injury; Dugu Chen's punch had merely shaken his blood and qi, and he had overused his Soul Power.

"Dugu Chen, I lost this time, but next time won't be so simple." Though Xie Yue's face was pale, his expression was resolute, as if his recent defeat had not affected him in the slightest.

"You'll be participating in the next Continental Soul Master Tournament, right?" Hu Liena suddenly looked at Dugu Chen and asked.

Dugu Chen looked at the expressionless siblings opposite him and slowly nodded.

Seeing Dugu Chen nod, Hu Liena said nothing more. They were the defeated ones now, and anything the losers said would be meaningless.

Chrysanthemum Douluo said nothing further either. He gave Dugu Chen a regretful look before turning and leaving with the siblings. They still had to find a suitable fourth Soul Ring for Hu Liena.

This exchange also made Hu Liena and Xie Yue realize that there were even greater geniuses than them on the Douluo Continent.

Although they were already the leading figures among Spirit Hall's younger generation, across the entire continent, at least until they defeated Dugu Chen, they were still far behind! This only strengthened their drive to cultivate.

Watching the three leave, Dugu Bo recalled Xie Yue and Hu Liena's performance and sighed.

"Spirit Hall's Golden Generation truly lives up to its reputation."

"Grandpa, Yanyan doesn't agree with that. If I'd made a move, I definitely would have poisoned that Ice Face and Seductive Fox to death." Dugu Yan was somewhat dissatisfied with Dugu Bo's words.

Hearing how Dugu Yan described Hu Liena and her brother, it seemed that Dugu Yan's first impression of them had not been very good!

"That's right. Yanyan and Chen'er are the best!"

Looking at his disciple and granddaughter beside him, Dugu Bo smiled broadly. Spirit Hall's younger generation was indeed impressive, but the children in his own family were even more outstanding.

Since their task in the Star Dou Great Forest had been completed, Dugu Bo immediately took the two of them and left.

Just after they departed, the forest suddenly darkened. A Black Giant Tiger appeared where they had just been standing, its red eyes filled with gloom.

Sensing the lingering Soul Power in the air, greed filled its sinister tiger eyes. Looking in the direction Dugu Bo's group had left, humanlike wariness appeared in its gaze. It memorized their auras, then turned and vanished into the darkness behind it.

As the giant tiger departed, light returned to the forest. The sky was cloudless for thousands of miles, as though everything that had just happened had been an illusion.