Chen Ming of the Body Sect, Fifteenth-Level Soul Master, Body Martial Soul

"No deal."

Du Busi said nothing, but Chen Ming spoke up, curling his lip. "If we lose, we have to hand over Millennium Whale Rubber. If you lose, you don't have to pay anything at all. You've really got the nerve to say that."

Hearing this, Du Busi glanced at Chen Ming without saying anything. He observed Bei Bei for a moment before looking at Lin Huiqun.

He had only been in the Body Sect for a month and had not yet had the chance to learn about Chen Ming's combat ability. Since Chen Ming had only just awakened his Martial Soul and had come from a village, Du Busi had instinctively assumed that he could not fight.

But now that Chen Ming had spoken up on his own, seemingly intending to accept this battle, Du Busi grew curious.

What was his disciple like in battle?

"How about this? Our Treasure Appraisal Pavilion will add a soul bone to the wager. Even if you lose, what I said earlier still stands. We only need to buy back one piece of your Millennium Whale Rubber for fifteen thousand Gold Soul Coins."

Lin Huiqun stepped forward to back Bei Bei up.

Though she had hesitated before, Bei Bei had already issued the challenge, so she no longer wavered.

Tang Ren also felt that things had gotten a little out of hand.

What had begun over a piece of Millennium Whale Rubber had now escalated into a soul bone.

Even the worst soul bone was still a soul bone. It could grant a Soul Master an additional soul skill, greatly strengthen their physique, and might even improve the quality of their Martial Soul!

Clearly, Lin Huiqun believed her side would definitely win.

At the same time, she was using this to protect the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion's reputation, lest their actions this time provoke dissatisfaction among customers and make people think that anything bought from the pavilion could later be chased down and forcibly repurchased.

"Sect Master Du, your Body Sect is filled with geniuses. These two disciples of yours both seem exceptional. Surely you wouldn't be afraid to accept the challenge?"

Upon hearing "Body Sect," Bei Bei's pupils contracted.

But then he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The Body Sect had quite a reputation, and Body Martial Souls were indeed powerful, but that was only in the later stages, after Martial Soul Second Awakening. Before Second Awakening, Soul Masters with Body Martial Souls were nothing to worry about.

"Which of you two will go?"

Du Busi looked at Long Aotian and Chen Ming.

"I will—"

Long Aotian was the first to volunteer.

But Chen Ming was even faster.

"I'll do it."

"You?"

Bei Bei frowned.

He sized Chen Ming up and asked hesitantly, "How old are you?"

"Six."

Six?

Bei Bei's face immediately darkened.

Six years old—hadn't he just awakened his Martial Soul?

A little brat who had just awakened his Martial Soul wanted to challenge a twenty-third-level Soul Grandmaster like him?

Yet Chen Ming maintained a serious expression, leaving Bei Bei somewhat uncertain.

Lin Huiqun said, "Are you sure? Bei Bei is two years older than you and has cultivated for two more years."

Chen Ming assumed a challenging stance and said calmly, "Chen Ming of the Body Sect, fifteenth-level Soul Master, Martial Soul: Body Martial Soul."

Bei Bei took a deep breath.

He was not shocked by this.

After all, six years old could mean he had just turned six, or it could mean he was nearly seven but not quite there yet.

At first, Bei Bei had assumed Chen Ming had only just awakened his Martial Soul. But after hearing Chen Ming's Soul Power Level, he naturally assumed it was the latter.

As long as one had Innate Full Soul Power, raising one's Soul Power by four levels in a year was within an acceptable range.

Though he was not shocked, Bei Bei still became serious.

Chen Ming's Soul Power and level at least proved one thing: he had Innate Full Soul Power. And a Body Martial Soul with Innate Full Soul Power was likely extraordinary in its own right.

"Shrek Academy, Bei Bei, twenty-third-level Soul Grandmaster, Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!"

He announced his own information as well.

"I'm two years older than you. To keep things fair, I won't use my second soul skill," Bei Bei offered.

"As you wish." Chen Ming looked around and asked, "Are we fighting here?"

"We can fight outside," Bei Bei said.

This was a fight between children. Though the stakes were considerable, there was no need to use an arena. Lin Huiqun had someone clear an area outside the Treasure Appraisal Pavilion, opening up a fifty-by-fifty-meter square. It was much smaller than a proper combat arena, but it was still spacious enough for two children to fight.

Chen Ming and Bei Bei stood twenty-five meters apart.

"Get ready. Begin!"

The two immediately released their Martial Souls.

Bei Bei's Martial Soul was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Once he released it, his right arm rapidly swelled. His sleeve burst apart into ashes, his arm lengthened by half a foot and grew thicker, covered in blue-violet scales. His right hand transformed into a dragon claw, while blue-violet lightning like tiny serpents crackled over his body, all of it gathering toward his right arm.

Two bright yellow soul rings emerged from his right arm and settled around it.

At that moment, cries of surprise rang out.

Bei Bei's pupils had shrunk to pinpoints.

Because a noble shade of purple had appeared in his vision.

Chen Ming stood where he was, and a phantom seemed to emerge around his body. After appearing, it quickly overlapped with Chen Ming's body and fused into him.

Then, a soul ring radiating noble purple light emerged.

That purple glow seemed to possess a kind of magic, causing everyone present to unconsciously hold their breath.

A purple soul ring!

A first soul ring of a thousand years!

Even Lin Huiqun's expression changed, her confident look vanishing.

Du Busi crossed his arms over his chest, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

While Long Aotian was excited, he did not forget to secretly observe his teacher. Once again, he came to a conclusion about his teacher's character.

Saying one thing and meaning another.

Chen Ming's first soul ring flashed.

"First soul skill, Fire Lotus Overlord Body!"

Flames burst forth from within his body.

The flames were scorching yet warm, rapidly forming into the shape of a fire lotus around Chen Ming and completely enveloping him.

Red Lotus Protection!

Chen Ming kicked off the ground, leaving behind a charred footprint as he shot forward.

Bei Bei steadied himself and activated his first soul skill.

"First soul skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!"

A dragon claw condensed from blue-violet lightning shot out at once, slamming toward Chen Ming.

Seeing this, Chen Ming neither dodged nor retreated. Relying on Red Lotus Protection, he charged straight ahead.

The fire lotus bathed in lightning. Only a few stray currents reached Chen Ming's Body Martial Soul, unable to inflict any meaningful injury.

The defensive power of a thousand-year soul skill was not something a mere Hundred-Year Soul Skill could hope to rival.

At that moment, a cluster of crimson-gold flames gathered around Chen Ming's right fist.

Red Lotus Protection was a flame of life, fiery red and even carrying a trace of warmth. The flames Chen Ming gathered now, however, were crimson-gold. Even from afar, one could sense the heart-palpitating waves of destruction within them.

Startled, Bei Bei quickly responded.

Lightning gathered around his right claw once more, but this time, it did not fire outward. Instead, it coiled around the dragon claw on his right arm.

The dragon claw thrust forward and collided with Chen Ming's right fist, wreathed in crimson-gold flames.

Boom!

Flames and lightning clashed in their most primal confrontation.

Sparks scattered in every direction, instantly scorching the ground black wherever they landed.

Lightning dispersed through the air, making even breathing feel faintly numb and tingling.