Oscar's Battle

The Moon Blade carried an unstoppable sharpness. A clang like metal striking metal rang out from Dugu Chen's Dragon Claw, while a faint sting spread across his face.

Dugu Chen released the Moon Blade in his hand. Seizing the opportunity, Xie Yue's Soul Power erupted as he rapidly retreated several meters.

Although Xie Yue reacted incredibly quickly, Dugu Chen's attack still struck him. Had Xie Yue not retreated at top speed at the critical moment—

—the attack against the Moon Blade would have landed solidly. Xie Yue would likely have already lost his fighting ability.

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

"Brother."

Hu Liena, who had been watching from the side, could not help worrying when she saw Xie Yue injured. The siblings had depended on each other since childhood; each was the other's most important person.

"What a pity!"

Dugu Chen felt somewhat regretful that his attack had not produced a solid result. In order to avoid revealing all his strength and frightening them so badly that the Soul Bone reward for the Soul Master Tournament might be canceled, he had only displayed strength 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 a single clash, Xie Yue knew that he was weaker than his opponent in terms of strength. Once Dugu Chen got close, given the gap in their Soul Power and physical condition, one direct hit would probably leave him seriously injured.

Xie Yue's third soul ring lit up, and he rushed toward Dugu Chen at high speed. 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 immediately after a strike, slippery as an eel.

Dugu Chen was somewhat helpless. For other Power Attack System Soul Masters, speed was indeed a weakness. But with his formidable physique and short-range bursts of speed, Dugu Chen was faster than agility-attack Soul Masters of the same level. Moreover, under his mental lock-on, he could see through every one of Xie Yue's attack patterns.

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 phantom Kirin appeared behind Dugu Chen. The next instant, it threw back its head and roared toward the heavens, and the earth-shaking Kirin Roar thundered out.

An incomparably powerful soundwave erupted, instantly creating an enormous impact. Countless fragments of earth beneath their feet were thrown into the air and outward before shattering apart.

"Mental Attack—"

Hu Liena had lost track of how many times she had been astonished. Even a rare Mental Attack had appeared now, adding another layer of mystery to Dugu Chen.

Because Xie Yue had not retreated in time, he took Dugu Chen's Third Soul Skill head-on. Although Dugu Chen had not used his full strength, Xie Yue's mind still became dazed.

Another yellow hundred-year soul ring lit up around Dugu Chen. Gold-Red Soul Power surged across his body as he drove a heavy punch toward Xie Yue's chest.

Having taken Dugu Chen's Third Soul Skill head-on, Xie Yue's aura was noticeably weakened, and bloodshot veins had appeared in his eyes.

It felt as though invisible fine needles were piercing his Sea of Consciousness. His mind was a mess, and the persistent pain was truly difficult to endure.

Yet he forcibly overcame it through 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 ascended, his aura swelled further, while a pressure filled with ferocious intent began spreading outward.

Drawing upon the remaining Soul Power within him, all four of his soul rings lit up. The two Moon Blades turned a deep dark red, and he slashed out with both blades, colliding with Dugu Chen's fist.

"Boom—"

After only a brief stalemate, Xie Yue was sent flying. At the same time, a low muffled groan escaped his throat as his blood and energy churned within him.

"Brother—"

Amid Hu Liena's startled cry, Chrysanthemum Douluo soared into the air and caught the flying Xie Yue, helping him sort out the chaotic Soul Power within his body.

Violent Soul Power fluctuations spread outward. Dugu Chen took seven or eight small steps back and let out a long breath of relief inwardly. At last, it was over.

Dugu Chen did not notice Dugu Bo's strange gaze behind him. Although Dugu Bo could not figure out Dugu Chen's intentions, he said nothing. His disciple must have had his reasons for doing this.

"Ha ha—Ju Hua Guan, the geniuses of your Spirit Hall aren't all that impressive! 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 subtly positioned himself half a step in front of him.

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

"Elder Ju." At this moment, Hu Liena displayed the qualities of the Golden Generation's leader. She swiftly calmed the anger in her heart and stopped Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Xie Yue also rose to his feet. He had not actually suffered any serious injuries; Dugu Chen's punch had merely left his blood and energy churning, while he had overused his Soul Power.

"Dugu Chen, I lost this time. But next time, it won't be so easy." Although Xie Yue's face was pale, his expression was full of determination, as though the defeat had not affected him in the slightest.

"You'll be taking part 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 losers now, and anything a loser 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 needed to find a suitable fourth soul ring for Hu Liena.

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

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 motivation to cultivate.

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

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

"Grandfather, if you put it that way, Yanyan won't agree. If I had made a move, I definitely would've poisoned that Ice Face and that 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 her 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 wore a broad smile. Although Spirit Hall's younger generation was impressive, the ones in his own family were even more outstanding.

Since their mission in the Star Dou Great Forest had been completed, Dugu Bo immediately led the two away.

Just after they left, the forest suddenly became dim. A Black Giant Tiger appeared where they had just been standing, its red eyes filled with a sinister chill.

Sensing the lingering Soul Power in the air, greed filled its sinister tiger eyes. As it looked in the direction Dugu Bo's group had departed, humanlike wariness appeared in its gaze. After memorizing their auras, it turned and vanished into the darkness behind it.

With the giant tiger's departure, the forest returned to brightness. The sky was cloudless for miles, as though everything that had just happened had been nothing more than an illusion.