Two vs Two Soul Battle

In the Great Soul Arena, the changes in the stands instantly caught the attention of the Soul Masters preparing to compete in the waiting rooms. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, every seat had somehow filled up.

Even the lower-tier areas were nearly packed with people. This change left the other contestants puzzled.

Was today some special day?

In one waiting room, a team whose members were all above level thirty-five listened to the cheers from the stands, which were far more boisterous than usual. The middle-aged captain raised his brows.

"This Great Soul Arena is really strange today. Not only have all the managers gone to the lobby to wait for someone, but even the audience is acting like they've gone mad. Could some big shot be coming?"

"I heard Crimson Kite has arrived. It seems she's here to compete in the team battle," said a heavily made-up woman in a coy voice.

Dressed revealingly and wearing a seductive expression, she sat elegantly in her chair, radiating boundless charm.

"Crimson Kite? That Crimson Kite who, as a level-thirty Soul Grandmaster, thoroughly defeated a level-thirty-seven Soul Elder? Ha! Didn't they say she was dead?"

"Just rumors. Mad Rhinoceros, you actually believe that?" the seductive woman said. Twisting her waist, she crossed her left leg over her right and changed positions before continuing, "I heard she went off to study. She isn't like us. Who knows what shocking stunt she'll pull now that she's back?"

"Hmph! I don't care what kind of genius she is. Once she gets on the Soul Battle stage, life and death are her own responsibility."

"Hehehe! Mad Rhinoceros, don't underestimate her! I heard she's quite a handsome young man!"

"Spider Woman, go into heat if you want, but don't disgrace our Berserk Team. You're an old cow eating tender grass, and he might not even be willing."

"Who says he's tender grass?"

"You think you can handle him?"

Elsewhere, in the Shrek Team's waiting area.

Aside from the students and teachers of Shrek Academy, Manager Ao from the Great Soul Arena was also there. He wore an ingratiating smile so broad that it made people uncomfortable.

Fu Hua spoke flatly. "Manager Ao, if you have something to say, please say it."

"Lord Crimson Kite, you've come to participate in the Soul Battles this time, correct?"

She nodded.

"One-on-one and team battles?"

She nodded, then shook her head.

"I'll be participating in Two vs Two Soul Battles and team battles."

"Of course, I'll have someone arrange it immediately. As for the team name..."

Manager Ao looked toward Master, the team leader.

"The team battle name will be the Shrek Eight Monsters. As for the two-person battles, they can decide for themselves."

Master had previously said that real names were not allowed to be revealed in Soul Battles, so everyone had their own code name:

Evil Eye White Tiger Dai Mubai, Sausage Specialty Oscar, Thousand Hands Asura Tang San, Evil Fire Phoenix Ma Hongjun, Soft Bone Charm Rabbit Xiao Wu, Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Ning Rongrong, Crimson Kite with Scarlet Feathers Fu Hua, and Hell Spirit Cat Zhu Zhuqing.

Most were named after the characteristics of their respective Martial Souls. Fu Hua was somewhat special. Since she had not used her real name in previous Soul Battles, this time she merely added two words before Crimson Kite.

Crimson Kite with Scarlet Feathers.

It referred to a Crimson Kite bird with crimson plumes, and also to the divine bird that had once remained by her side.

...Jingwei.

From the time she had met her companions to the time they departed, it alone had always stayed with her. Unfortunately... in the end, she had been unable to find it again. Using this name as a memorial was also Fu Hua's way of remembering the past.

The one-on-one and Two vs Two Soul Battles had already begun in the Great Soul Arena. Though the two events proceeded simultaneously, as long as arrangements were made beforehand, the Great Soul Arena would schedule them so they would not conflict.

Aside from the support Soul Masters Ning Rongrong and Oscar, as well as Fu Hua, everyone else would participate in the one-on-one Soul Battles. For Fu Hua, who had already obtained a Silver Soul badge, there was no need to compete one-on-one.

Moreover, she did not think participating now would help her cultivation at all. Unless there were level-forty Soul Ancestors here, she would merely be bullying children, and even Fu Hua herself would feel bad about it.

As for the Two vs Two Soul Battles...

"Manager Ao, there's something I'd like to ask."

In the Great Soul Arena's VIP section, where viewing rooms were generally reserved for members of great clans or nobles, rooms were occasionally granted to powerful teams recognized as VIPs by the Great Soul Arena.

As for Fu Hua—or rather, Crimson Kite, her other name—it had not been just a day or two since it had become well-known within the Great Soul Arena. Ever since that battle three months ago, the name Crimson Kite had completely made its mark.

What was more, the name Crimson Kite had even drawn the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince Xue Qinghe here in person, making Manager Ao treat the matter with even greater caution.

Thus, the moment he saw Fu Hua in the lobby, he had recognized her despite her different mask. That was why this scene was taking place now.

"Lord Crimson Kite, please speak freely."

"In Two vs Two Soul Battles, can one person only form one team?"

"The rules do not explicitly state that one cannot form teams simultaneously, but generally speaking, no one does so. On one hand, a Soul Battle consumes an enormous amount of Soul Power, leaving one unable to support another match. On the other hand, simultaneous matches might occur. In addition, suitable teammates are hard to find. Those with strength too low are not worth it, while those with strength too high are unwilling. Therefore, there has never been a case in the Great Soul Arena where one person formed two teams at once."

Manager Ao pondered briefly before speaking honestly to Fu Hua.

From the Great Soul Arena's perspective, they were actually unwilling to see such a situation arise.

If one person could form two teams, then they could naturally gain double the points, and their promotion speed would not be slow. Furthermore, points could be exchanged for many things through the Great Soul Arena's internal system. Under normal circumstances, they certainly did not wish to see this happen.

That would be like lifting a rock only to smash their own feet!

"So it is still possible."

"...Yes."

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, who had been listening to Fu Hua's conversation with Manager Ao, brightened at once. If that was the case, they could compete at the same time.

"However..."

However?

"If the two teams' Soul Battles happen at the same time, the Great Soul Arena will still handle matters according to the rules."

Fu Hua nodded. That was reasonable. They could not receive lenient treatment merely because they were strong. If both sides had Soul Battles at the same time, or if they were assigned to face each other, the situation would indeed be awkward.

Forfeit! And offend their companions.

Refuse to forfeit! And be unable to split themselves in two.

This was also why such a situation had never occurred in the Great Soul Arena over the years. But today, that rule was about to be broken.

"Manager Ao, could you arrange our Two vs Two Soul Battles?"

"Lord Crimson Kite, you mean..."

"Yes. I will form two teams and compete at the same time. One team's points need not be counted, but if we win..."

"Of course. Lord Crimson Kite's points will still be awarded. With your strength, even if you only competed one-on-one, you would quickly obtain those points."

"Then thank you."

Fu Hua cupped her fists in salute.

"Not at all, not at all. Then may I ask for your team names?"

Fu Hua glanced at Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, then pondered briefly.

"Seven Treasures Xuanyuan and Nether Crimson Kite."

Seven Treasures came from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, while Xuanyuan came from Fu Hua's Martial Soul, the Xuanyuan Sword. A delicate treasure naturally deserved to be paired with Xuanyuan.

Zhu Zhuqing's name came from the Nether-like agility of her movements and Crimson Kite's fire-like nature. One dark and one bright, deeply attuned to the laws of heaven and earth.

It did not seem like much upon first hearing it, but after thinking more deeply, the names had considerable charm. Master nodded inwardly.

Powerful, resolute in temperament, yet possessing the air of scholarship without being rigid or pedantic, advancing with both strength and gentleness—it was truly rare.

Fu Hua's teaming arrangements with Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing came to a temporary end, while the one-on-one Soul Battles had unknowingly concluded amid their conversation.

Dai Mubai and the others had long since returned to the waiting room, awaiting the start of the Two vs Two Soul Battles.

Tang San was still teamed with Xiao Wu as the Three-Five Combination. The original name had been Three-Dance, but it had been confused with Three-Five, so they had no choice but to use this team name.

Dai Mubai teamed with Oscar, calling themselves the Winged White Tiger, symbolizing a tiger gaining wings. Yet the name was still easy to misunderstand. For example, "winged" seemed to describe romantic feelings between a man and a woman; using it for a White Tiger gave it a distinctly gay feel.

Of course, the audience watched the Soul Battles, not the team names. If a team name could raise one's win rate, surely no one would be stingy about it.

While Fu Hua spoke with Manager Ao, Dai Mubai and the others had all won their one-on-one Soul Battles. All they needed to do was wait for their Two vs Two Soul Battle matchups before proceeding directly to the final battle: the team battle.

First, Tang San and Xiao Wu's Three-Five Combination was assigned to the thirteenth division, where they would face the Cat-Mouse Combination, who had won four matches in a row.

From the name alone, one could tell the classification of their opponents' Martial Souls: one was a cat, and one was a mouse.

Seriously, they weren't Tom and Jerry. How did a cat and a mouse even end up together? Wouldn't the cat get hungry and gnaw on that mouse sooner or later?

A joke was a joke, but the Soul Battle still had to proceed. Standing before Tang San and Xiao Wu was a man and a woman. As expected, hunger makes one indiscriminate.

The woman was tall and slender, appearing to be in her twenties. Her short fiery-red hair was exceptionally eye-catching, and her gaze was sharp. The fingers of both hands moved in subtle rhythms, so she was presumably the cat of the Cat-Mouse Combination.

Dai Mubai had once said that for feline Martial Souls, rhythmic finger movements were a common habit among Soul Masters.

Come to think of it, why had Fu Hua never seen Zhu Zhuqing do that?

Back to the point.

The man was short and broad, even more exaggerated than Ma Hongjun. His whole body looked like a large ball. Both his head and body were round, and only his narrow little eyes gave him somewhat of a mouse-like appearance.

This was a mouse that had been fattened up.

On one side stood a thin cat and fat mouse; on the other, Shrek monsters.

When words failed, there was no need for more. The Soul Battle began immediately.

At the host's shout to begin, the Cat-Mouse Combination activated their Soul Power at the same time, their bodies rapidly transforming. After level thirty, Beast Soul Masters experienced much greater bodily changes during Martial Soul Possession than before.

The girl's Martial Soul was a cat. Sharp blades instantly sprang from her fingertips, several streaks of bright silver appearing amid her red hair. Her pupils narrowed into vertical slits, her upper body lowered into a crouch, her ears pricked slightly upward, and a layer of fine silver fur appeared on her arms.

One white, one yellow, and one purple Soul Ring lit up simultaneously. Her third Soul Ring had reached the thousand-year level, so the Soul Skill attached to it was clearly quite formidable.

The fat mouse's transformation looked somewhat comical. His mouth protruded and sharpened, several whiskers appearing on his face. Two enormous buck teeth jutted out beneath his upper lip, while his slit-like eyes became perfectly round. His chubby body likewise lowered into a crouch, his forearms thinning as black claws sprang from his fingertips.

His three Soul Rings were likewise one white, one yellow, and one purple.

Since their opponents had already revealed their Martial Souls, Tang San and Xiao Wu did not delay. Xiao Wu suddenly leaped into the air, planting one foot on Tang San's shoulder to steady herself. The two also activated their Martial Souls at the same time.

Long rabbit ears, white fur, even more slender legs, and bright red eyes appeared. Some fur also grew on Xiao Wu's arms, though it was finer than the thin cat's.

The same two yellow and one purple Soul Rings—six Soul Rings in total—suddenly appeared around the Three-Five Combination, immediately causing an uproar among the spectators.

These audience members, who often watched Soul Battle matches, were naturally extremely familiar with the levels of Soul Masters' Soul Rings.

Two hundred-year rings and one thousand-year ring. In terms of Soul Rings, the Three-Five Combination clearly surpassed the Cat-Mouse Combination. The audience members who had originally cheered for the Cat-Mouse Combination immediately switched sides, and the atmosphere instantly became heated.

Even the audience members who had come to watch Crimson Kite compete could not help cheering for the Three-Five Combination.

"That mask looks like the one Crimson Kite wears. Does that mean these two are Crimson Kite's classmates?"

"Judging from their Soul Ring configurations alone, they have the optimal rings. Crimson Kite's probably aren't bad either. I wonder when she'll compete."

Such conversations in the stands were instantly swallowed by the noisy crowd.

The Soul Battle continued.

The thin cat girl stretched her body, her legs moving rapidly. She was like a whirlwind skimming the ground as she swept toward Tang San and Xiao Wu.

Her first two Soul Rings lit up at once. The claws in her hands slashed in a cross, sending ten streaks of bright silver claw light tearing through the air as they attacked both members of the Three-Five Combination simultaneously.

At the same time, her speed reached a terrifying level, and the pressure brought by her Soul Power rose to its peak in an instant.

One Soul Skill increased speed, while the other was a claw attack.

Tang San did not panic. He shrugged his shoulder, and Xiao Wu used the momentum to leap away.

Soaring into the air, she pounced directly toward the fat mouse behind them.

Tang San, meanwhile, circled his hands before him. His feet stepped into Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, while Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon emerged from his hands.

Light and shadow flashed past. Tang San's body staggered from the force; this thin cat girl's Soul Power was no weaker than Dai Mubai's.

Fortunately, Tang San used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon simultaneously. Not only did he evade the frontal attack, but he also diverted her attack with the internal power of his Mysterious Heaven Skill.

The thin cat girl had not placed all her hopes on the first strike. Just as Tang San deflected her silver claw shadows, she had already closed in on him.

Her third Soul Ring lit up.

On the other side, Xiao Wu dived down from midair toward the fat mouse on the ground. The fat mouse did not panic at her attack. His ball-like body suddenly sprang upward, his first two Soul Rings flashing simultaneously. The claws in his hands shot out as he charged directly at Xiao Wu with speed utterly mismatched with his physique.

He was actually faster than the thin cat had been.

Both of them were Agility Attack System Soul Masters.

The thin cat's First Soul Skill increased her speed, while the fat mouse's Second Soul Skill also increased speed.

But the Amplification Effect of a hundred-year Soul Ring and that of a ten-year Soul Ring were entirely different. Naturally, the fat mouse was much faster than the thin cat.

However, when it came to displaying offensive power with their first two Soul Rings, he was weaker than the thin cat. Both were level-thirty-seven Soul Elders, making them a rather formidable pair among two-person Soul Elder teams.

Both sides clashed at once, and the intensity of the Soul Battle fully erupted at that moment.

The thin cat closed in, releasing her third Soul Skill.

Her goal was clear: defeat Tang San with overwhelming force, then go support the fat mouse.

"Meow—"

A piercing cat cry suddenly rang out. The thin cat girl's body changed in midair, and the claws on both hands abruptly extended tenfold, becoming ten sword-like blades that stabbed toward Tang San.

The Soul Power carried by her claws produced popping sounds in the air, distorting the atmosphere wherever they passed.

Already at close range, she now thrust ten claws toward every part of Tang San's body, instantly doubling her attack power.

Anyone else would naturally have been doomed, but the person she faced was Tang San.

Just as the blades were about to pierce his body, Tang San suddenly leaned his upper body backward, dodging the strike—but also exposing an opening.

The thin cat girl twisted her wrists, intending to alter the trajectory of her attack, only to suddenly discover that she could not move. It was not just her wrists, but her entire body.

Blue Silver Grass Entanglement.

After restraining the thin cat girl, Tang San flipped backward with the momentum, kicking out with both feet and striking her wrists.

The immense force directly knocked her attack aside. Then, stepping into Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, he moved to the thin cat girl's side and flicked his toes upward, sending her body off the Soul Battle stage.

According to the rules of Soul Battles, once one fell from the stage, it meant defeat.

At the same moment the thin cat girl fell from the stage, the fat mouse was also sent flying, thrown off the other side of the Soul Battle stage.

Thus, the Three-Five Combination defeated the Cat-Mouse Combination.

PS: This is an extra update! Don't call it padding; this chapter is nearly four thousand five hundred words! My integrity is overflowing, right?

PS1: Oh! I just remembered—what do the numbers after the book titles mean? There are ones with 10.0, but mine only has 9.3 after the title. Why?