Recognizing Sword Wine as Li Zhixian, Li Zhixian vs. Yu Tianheng

In the second-floor VIP box, seven young men and women watched the arena.

At their head sat a young man with long black hair. His unremarkable face was expressionless, and his fitted blue outfit bore no decorations whatsoever.

Yet this simple attire gave off an extreme sense of danger.

Like the stillness before a thunderstorm.

"Boss, what do you think of this Sword Wine?"

A handsome young man with short golden hair leaned against the wall and asked with a grin.

"Can he make you go all out?"

Another young man dressed in black swirled the wineglass in his hand and said,

"Yufeng, don't underestimate him. This Sword Wine isn't simple."

Looking at the white-clad figure below,

the golden-haired youth named Yufeng curled his lip and said,

"Not simple?"

"I don't think so."

"Osler, you're always boosting others' morale while crushing our own."

At that moment, the tall woman with her arms crossed suddenly chuckled.

Her name was Dugu Yan. She lowered her head and picked at her emerald-green nails. Her short dark-purple hair made her look heroic, while her jade-green eyes lent her a seductive charm.

"Lingling, what do you think of this Sword Wine?"

The tall woman's green eyes shifted as she looked toward the slender figure standing in the corner of the room.

She was the only other girl in the room. Dressed entirely in black, even her face was veiled in black gauze.

A waterfall of blue hair fell to her waist. Within eyes the same color as her hair, there was only deep loneliness.

Hearing the green-eyed woman's question, her pleasant yet hollow voice rang out.

"Very strong."

"Haha, I told you Sword Wine isn't simple. Ye Lingling rarely says that about anyone!"

Osler cast Yufeng a smug glance.

Yufeng looked utterly unconvinced and was about to argue.

"Enough."

The long-haired young man at their head finally spoke.

"Can't you two learn to be as quiet as the Shi Brothers?"

The Shi Brothers he referred to stood there like two massive black towers, giving off a heavy, steady presence.

Yufeng spread his hands and said,

"Boss, then tell us."

"You'll be fighting this Sword Wine in the Soul Arena later."

"How strong do you think he is?"

The long-haired young man was Yu Tianheng, possessor of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit. After a long silence, he said calmly,

"Very strong."

"I can't quite see through him."

"His current opponent is a level thirty-three Battle Soul Master. I hope he can force him to use his second sword."

Hearing their captain say this,

the other six members of the Heaven Dou Royal Team all showed a flash of surprise in their eyes.

No wonder Yu Tianheng had signed up for a Soul Arena match.

Was Sword Wine really that strong?

Their original plan had been to go to the Great Soul Arena in Suotuo City and participate in a seven-man team Soul Arena battle.

They had heard that a very strong seven-man team had appeared in Suotuo City.

But Sword Wine's appearance had stirred Yu Tianheng's competitive spirit.

Their trip to Suotuo City could only be postponed.

Meanwhile,

in the third-floor VIP box,

Xue Qinghe pursed his lips and remained silent for a long while as he watched the white-clad figure on the arena.

"You're saying he's Sword Wine, whose name has resounded throughout the Great Soul Arena?!"

Pufferfish and Snake Lance were utterly stunned.

Even though he wore the Faceless Mask, anyone who saw him regularly could recognize Li Zhixian from that white robe and tall, slender figure.

"That country bumpkin... Li Zhixian is actually Sword Wine?!"

As Titled Douluo,

there were already very few things left that could surprise them.

Yet this unbelievable fact stood right before them—

Li Zhixian, that drunkard who loafed around all day and only knew how to cook and drink, was actually Sword Wine, the man who killed eighteen contestants with only one sword per match and achieved twenty consecutive victories!!!

"Phew..."

Xue Qinghe slowly let out a breath.

He gazed at the white-clad figure on the arena, and a deeply hidden golden glint flashed through his eyes.

"No wonder you refused to go to the Royal Academy..."

As though something had occurred to him, Xue Qinghe suddenly asked,

"Who do you think is stronger, Li... Sword Wine or Yu Tianheng?"

The two frowned and pondered for quite a while.

Pufferfish slowly said,

"If their Soul Power Levels were the same, Sword Wine would undoubtedly win."

"But Sword Wine's Soul Power cannot be above level thirty, while Yu Tianheng is already level thirty-nine."

Snake Lance said thoughtfully,

"I think the outcome is unknown."

"Because no one has seen Sword Wine use a second sword."

"Perhaps he's still concealing his strength."

"Mm. His opponent this time is a Battle Spirit Master, so we should be able to see some clues."

Xue Qinghe said nothing.

He merely watched Sword Wine on the arena in silence... or rather, Li Zhixian.

The audience's cheers rose higher and higher.

The host shouted "Begin" from the edge of the arena, then immediately leaped down.

There was no helping it!

Being slow simply wouldn't do!

Several times, before he had even gotten off the arena, Sword Wine's opponent's blood had already sprayed onto his face!

"Sword Wine, I'll step on your name and become a Silver Badge!"

The man sneered as he tore off his shirt, revealing a muscular upper body covered in scars.

His reputation was no small matter either.

Even though Sword Wine's name was at its peak,

amid the noisy stands, people could still be heard shouting his name.

That represented the glory of his past victories.

"Roar—!"

The muscular man let out a roar nearly like that of a savage beast.

He took a step forward.

Boom—!

The arena trembled three times.

One white, one yellow, and one purple spirit ring rose from beneath his feet at the same time.

Grayish-brown mane exploded from the back of his neck. His spine arched segment by segment like a drawn bowstring, his amber pupils narrowed into slits, and his nails transformed into hooked claws.

A lynx spirit!

A close relative of the tiger!

It was considered a very powerful beast spirit!

The muscular man bent his knees, and the arches of his feet pressed spiderweb-like cracks into the arena.

With an angry roar, he charged toward Li Zhixian like a sharp sword.

First Spirit Skill—Glimmering Keen Sight!

Third Spirit Skill—Lynx Shadow Assault!

Second Spirit Skill—Void Rending Lynx Claw!

All three spirit skills were used at once!

One of them was even a Thousand Year Spirit Skill!

The muscular man moved so fast that he almost became an afterimage!

At that moment,

the audience fell silent.

Pairs of bloodshot eyes stared at the arena, suppressing their excitement.

In the second-floor VIP box, the seven members of the Heaven Dou Royal Team led by Yu Tianheng fixed their gazes on the arena.

In the third-floor VIP box, Xue Qinghe's expression appeared calm, but his hand inside his sleeve unconsciously clenched into a fist.

Under the gaze of the entire crowd,

facing that grayish-brown bolt of lightning,

Li Zhixian's eyes beneath his mask were as cold and indifferent as frost.

The next instant, sword light flashed.

Most of those present did not see how he drew his sword.

They only saw two purple spirit rings empower that three-foot azure blade.

Second Spirit Skill—Three Sword Splendor.

First Spirit Skill—Azure Blade Severance.

A chilling streak of sword light, carrying a thirst for blood, cut through the arena illuminated by dim yellow oil lamps.

Many people instinctively shut their eyes.

The sharpness of that sword light was so terrifying that they did not dare look directly at it.

"Ghk..."

When the audience opened their eyes again,

the muscular man's head had parted ways with his neck.

It rolled across the arena, blood spilling everywhere.