First Soul Duel: White Tiger's Might, Arrows Shatter Enemy Defenses

The bluestone floor of Arena 3 had been baked scorching hot by the sun as Dai Mubai and his opponent stepped onto the field at the same time. The Green Python Spirit Master across from him looked to be around twenty, tall and lean, with pale green Soul Power coiling around his arms. When he released his martial soul, the Green Scaled Python, a two-meter-long phantom of a python appeared behind him, its scales gleaming with a cold sheen beneath the lights.

"A Bronze Spirit Dueling Badge against an Iron Spirit Dueling Badge? This kid is probably going to lose!" someone in the stands remarked, their gaze falling on Dai Mubai. After all, he looked far younger than his opponent, and his Spirit Power Fluctuation had only just reached the Soul Elder level.

Dai Mubai paid no heed. A sharp glint flashed through his golden eyes as the Evil Eyes White Tiger martial soul erupted forth! His bronze muscles swelled, black fur covered his arms, and his hands transformed into sharp tiger claws. An overwhelming pressure of Soul Power spread outward, making the Green Python Spirit Master instinctively retreat half a step.

"Begin!" As the referee's voice fell, the Green Python Spirit Master launched the first attack. His First Spirit Skill, Python Entangle, activated, and pale green Soul Power transformed into a vine-like python body that coiled toward Dai Mubai. This was a typical Control System spirit skill; once trapped, one would be continuously suppressed afterward.

"Trying to tie me up?" Dai Mubai snorted coldly. Soul Power erupted beneath his feet, and he dodged sideways like an arrow loosed from a bow. At the same time, he activated his First Spirit Skill, White Tiger Body Protection Barrier. Pale golden Soul Power covered his entire body, blocking the lingering force of the python body. He seized the chance to close in, his tiger claws carrying Soul Power as they struck toward the Green Python Spirit Master's chest.

The Green Python Spirit Master's expression changed. He hurriedly used the python body to block. With a dull bang, the tiger claws shattered the python body, and he staggered back three steps, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The stands instantly fell silent, and those who had been talking moments ago widened their eyes. No one had expected this young Spirit Master to possess such terrifying strength.

Dai Mubai gave his opponent no chance to catch his breath. His Second Spirit Skill, White Tiger Blazing Light Wave, activated! A golden wave shot from his palm with a howling gust, speeding straight for the Green Python Spirit Master. He hurriedly released his Second Spirit Skill, Python Scale Armor, as pale green Soul Power formed scales over his body. Yet the instant the golden light wave struck, the scales shattered inch by inch. The remaining force sent him flying, and he crashed heavily near the edge of the arena.

"The Green Python Spirit Master has lost his ability to fight. Dai Mubai wins!" The referee raised Dai Mubai's hand and announced the result. Cheers erupted from the stands, while Ma Hongjun excitedly waved his fist. "Boss Dai is amazing! He sent his opponent flying in one move!"

As Dai Mubai stepped down from the arena, Tang San handed him a bottle of water. "Boss Dai, your White Tiger Blazing Light Wave has gotten stronger again. That strike even broke through his defensive spirit skill."

"His strength was just too weak. There's nothing to be proud of." Dai Mubai wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned his gaze toward Arena 5. "You're up next. Your opponent is an Agility Attack System Cat Owl Spirit Master, with Spirit Power at level twenty-eight. Be careful of his speed."

Tang San nodded, tightening his grip around the Iron Spirit Dueling Badge in his hand as he walked toward Arena 5. His opponent was small and nimble. When he released his Cat Owl martial soul, a pair of gray wings grew from his back, and his eyes shone with night-vision-like green light. He was a typical Agility Attack System Spirit Master, skilled at high-speed ambushes.

Once the match began, the Cat Owl Spirit Master immediately spread his wings and turned into a gray blur as he pounced toward Tang San. His claws carried Soul Power as they went straight for Tang San's throat. Tang San, however, remained calm. Blue Silver Grass poured from his palms, pale blue blades spreading like a tide and weaving a dense net before him. This was the Blue Silver Net he had specifically practiced, designed to counter the speed of Agility Attack System Spirit Masters.

The Cat Owl Spirit Master had not expected Tang San's control to be so swift. He hurriedly twisted aside to evade, but the Blue Silver Grass clung to his wings like a festering infection, restricting his flight path. Tang San seized the opportunity to activate his Second Spirit Skill, Parasitize. Tiny seeds traveled along the Blue Silver Grass and burrowed into the Cat Owl Spirit Master's body, and the faint prickling pain made his movements pause.

"It's over," Tang San said softly. He controlled the Blue Silver Grass to suddenly tighten, binding the Cat Owl Spirit Master, then flicked him lightly and threw him to the ground. The entire exchange had taken less than half a minute, clean and decisive. Flender could not help nodding from the stands. "His control is extremely precise. He didn't waste a trace of Soul Power."

Next came Lin Zhixia's match. Her opponent was a level twenty-nine Assault System Spirit Master with the Great Strength Gorilla martial soul. He was powerfully built, with arms twice as thick as those of an ordinary person, and his Spirit Power Fluctuation was formidable.

"Little girl, if you know what's good for you, surrender now. My Gorilla Heavy Punch doesn't know how to go easy!" The Great Strength Gorilla Spirit Master grinned, his tone full of contempt. Lin Zhixia said nothing. She merely raised the Starfall Bow, set the Void Piercing Feather Fletching onto the shaft, and let pale blue Soul Power coil around the arrow. She intended to end this quickly and avoid being suppressed by her opponent's strength.

The instant the match began, the Great Strength Gorilla Spirit Master charged toward Lin Zhixia. Every step made the bluestone floor tremble faintly. His First Spirit Skill, Heavy Punch, activated, and his fist swept forward with a violent gale, smashing straight toward her face. Lin Zhixia's eyes narrowed. As she shifted to the side, the Void Penetration arrow in her hand shot forth!

The arrow tore through the air, ignoring the Great Strength Gorilla Spirit Master's protective Soul Power and striking his left shoulder with precision—the weak point he exposed whenever he exerted force. Pain flashed across his face, and the strength behind his punch instantly weakened. Lin Zhixia took the chance to retreat and condensed another Starlight Arrow. The arrow split into three smaller arrows, each aimed at his knees and wrists.

"How is that possible?!" the Great Strength Gorilla Spirit Master cried, trying to dodge. But the small arrows were incredibly fast and struck their targets in an instant. The pain in his knees and wrists slowed his movements. Lin Zhixia seized the opportunity, firing a third Void Penetration arrow into his chest. It forced him back several steps, and he could no longer remain standing.

"The Great Strength Gorilla Spirit Master has lost his ability to fight. Lin Zhixia wins!" When the referee announced the result, the stands fell silent before erupting in even louder cheers. No one had expected this cool and aloof-looking girl's ranged attacks to be so precise and ruthless.

When Lin Zhixia stepped down from the arena, Xiao Wu immediately ran over and handed her a handkerchief. "Zhi Xia, you were amazing! Those three little arrows hit all his weak points. I was nervous to death just watching!" Lin Zhixia accepted the handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her fingertips. The corner of her lips curved almost imperceptibly. "I only observed the way he exerted force beforehand."

Flender walked over to the three of them, a rare smile appearing on his face. "Not bad. You won all three matches, so each of you gets one point. You can rest for a while now. Later, I'll arrange a team soul duel and let you test the coordination of all eight of you."

Sunlight streamed through the windows of the Soul Dueling Arena, falling upon the Iron Spirit Dueling Badges in their hands. The badges were still black, yet they seemed to carry a touch more warmth because of the victories they had just earned. Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Lin Zhixia exchanged glances, anticipation flickering in their eyes. Individual soul duels were only the beginning. Team soul duels would be the true battlefield for testing their coordination. And the soul dueling legend of Shrek's Eight Monsters had only just written its first stroke.