Soul Duel Begins: Heart Rot Poison Emerges, Meteor Light Breaks Defense

The stands of Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena were roaring with voices. Golden sunlight streamed through gaps in the dome, illuminating the center of the arena and making the bluestone floor gleam. The eight members of Shrek's Eight Monsters stood at the arena entrance, black badges pinned to their chests, their codenames engraved upon them and glinting coldly in the sunlight.

Lin Zhixia's grip on the Starfall Bow tightened slightly. The Star Guidance Bell hung at her waist, while Ye Jin's pale face and bleeding wounds from last night kept flashing through her mind. She took a deep breath and forced the distracting thoughts down—regardless of Ye Jin's intentions, the most important thing now was to win this match and protect her companions.

"Next match, Shrek's Eight Monsters versus the Black Blade Team!" The referee's voice rang across the arena through a soul tool amplifier, and the cheers from the stands instantly surged. The five members of the Black Blade Team emerged from the opposite entrance. Their captain, a tall man with a scar across his face, had three poisoned daggers at his waist. When he released his Poison Blade Spirit, pale green Soul Power coiled around the blades, giving off a pungent odor.

"A bunch of brats think they can enter a team match?" The scarred captain sneered, his gaze sweeping over Lin Zhixia with naked contempt in his eyes. "Especially you, little girl. Don't go crying for your mommy later!"

Dai Mubai stepped forward, releasing his White Tiger Spirit in an instant. Golden Spirit Power forced the Black Blade Team back half a step. "Enough talk. We'll see who's crying once we start!"

"The match begins!" The referee waved his flag, and the Black Blade Team immediately attacked. Two Agility Attack System Soul Masters rushed toward Oscar and Ning Rongrong with Poison Blades in hand. They knew that if they took out the Support System first, Shrek's Eight Monsters' combat strength would drop dramatically. Meanwhile, the scarred captain led the other two Soul Masters in releasing a pale green poisonous mist that swept toward Tang San and Dai Mubai.

"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, Speed Boost, Defense Boost!" Ning Rongrong called out first. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda floated before her, and two beams of light landed on Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai respectively. Zhu Zhuqing's Ghost Cat Spirit activated instantly, turning her into a black shadow as she blocked Oscar. She unleashed Nether Shadow Clone, and three clones charged the Agility Attack System Soul Masters at once, forcing them back again and again.

"Blue Silver Grass, Entanglement!" Tang San followed immediately. Pale blue Blue Silver Grass surged up from the ground, spreading toward the poisonous mist like a tide and trapping it firmly in place, preventing it from reaching his teammates. Dai Mubai seized the opportunity to unleash White Tiger Blazing Light Wave. The golden shockwave pierced through gaps in the Blue Silver Grass and shot straight at the scarred captain.

The scarred captain's expression changed. He hurriedly raised his Poison Blades to block it. With a muffled bang, he staggered back three steps, his arm going slightly numb. He had not expected Dai Mubai's strength to be so overwhelming. A vicious gleam flashed through his eyes as he secretly gave the Soul Master beside him a signal. The man understood, gathering a wisp of black Soul Power at his fingertips before firing it toward Lin Zhixia—it was Heart Rot Poison!

Lin Zhixia had long been watching the Black Blade Team's movements. Ye Jin's warning last night had kept her vigilant against poison attacks. She twisted aside to evade the black Soul Power, and the Starfall Bow formed instantly in her hands. The codename Meteor Light lit up on her badge as an arrow shimmering with pale blue starlight shot forth, accurately piercing through the Soul Master's Soul Power defense and striking his wrist.

"Argh!" The Soul Master screamed, and the Poison Blade in his hand fell to the ground. Black blood seeped from the wound on his wrist—the Soul Shatter trait of the Star River Shattering Bow had taken effect. Not only had it shattered his defense, but it had also temporarily prevented him from gathering Soul Power.

"Great shot!" Cheers erupted from the stands. Ma Hongjun took the opportunity to activate his Evil Fire Phoenix Spirit. Pale red flames poured from his palms and burned toward the Black Blade Team's poisonous mist. The mist vanished the instant it met the flames, leaving behind a scorched smell that made the Black Blade Team cough repeatedly.

The scarred captain flew into a rage and charged at Lin Zhixia himself. His three Poison Blades simultaneously unleashed the skill Poison Blade Dance, countless green flashes of blade light enveloping Lin Zhixia. "Watch out!" Xiao Wu cried. Her Soft Bone Charm Rabbit Spirit activated, and she teleported to Lin Zhixia's side, pulling her away in one motion. At the same time, she unleashed Waist Bow, kicking the scarred captain in the back and sending him stumbling several steps forward.

"Oscar, sausages!" Tang San shouted. Oscar immediately tossed out two Recovery Sausages, handing one each to Xiao Wu and Lin Zhixia. "Straight from Sausage Vendor—restores Soul Power and replenishes stamina!"

Lin Zhixia caught the sausage and quickly ate it, recovering a considerable amount of Soul Power at once. She nocked the Starfall Bow again, this time gathering three Meteor Light Arrows and aiming them at three Black Blade Team Soul Masters. "Tang San, hold them down for me!"

"Got it!" Tang San nodded. The Blue Silver Grass suddenly accelerated its growth, tightly wrapping around the ankles of the Black Blade Team's three Soul Masters and leaving them unable to move. Lin Zhixia seized the moment. Three arrows flew out at once, and amid flickering starlight, they struck the three men's shoulders respectively. Their Soul Power defenses shattered instantly, and their bodies crumpled limply to the ground, losing the ability to fight.

Only the scarred captain and one Agility Attack System Soul Master remained. Seeing the situation turn against them, they tried to flee. But Zhu Zhuqing's Ghost Cat had already circled behind them. She unleashed Hell Stab, her fingertip Soul Power piercing their backs and instantly draining them of their Soul Power. Dai Mubai stepped forward, pressing his tiger claw against the scarred captain's chest. "Still want to fight?"

The scarred captain's face turned deathly pale. Looking at his fallen teammates, he shook his head helplessly. "I surrender..."

"Shrek's Eight Monsters win!" The referee raised his flag and announced the result. The cheers from the stands were deafening. Flender and Master stood in a corner of the stands, smiles of gratification appearing on their faces. The children were cooperating with increasing harmony, and Lin Zhixia in particular had already become proficient with the Star River Shattering Bow's traits. After today's battle, the name Meteor Light had truly made its mark.

Lin Zhixia lowered the Starfall Bow, and the Star Guidance Bell at her waist swayed gently. She instinctively looked toward the woods outside the arena. A familiar Spirit Power Fluctuation was there. Though weak, she recognized it instantly as Ye Jin's. She knew that Ye Jin had indeed been watching the match from the shadows. When she had evaded the Heart Rot Poison just now, she seemed to have felt a faint trace of Soul Power assisting her, helping her dodge faster.

In the woods outside the arena, Ye Jin leaned against a tree trunk, the wound on his left hand still throbbing faintly. He watched Lin Zhixia surrounded by her companions on the field, a complicated emotion flashing through his eyes. When he had seen that Soul Master release Heart Rot Poison, he had been unable to stop himself from releasing a thread of Soul Power to help Lin Zhixia evade more quickly. In the end, he simply could not stop worrying about her, even if she would never know about his help.

"Lin Family... Zhixia..." Ye Jin murmured softly before turning and vanishing into the woods. He knew that this match was only the beginning. Spirit Hall's other forces would not let the matter rest, and more dangers would await Lin Zhixia in the future. All he could do was continue protecting her from the shadows, using his own methods to help her block those unseen schemes.

On the field, the eight members of Shrek's Eight Monsters embraced tightly, every face glowing with the joy of victory. Lin Zhixia looked at her companions, then toward the woods outside the arena. The doubts in her heart remained, but her resolve was even stronger. No matter how many dangers lay ahead, no matter where Ye Jin stood, she would face them together with her companions. With Meteor Light's arrows, she would protect this hard-won unity—and the people she wanted to protect.

The victory in this Soul Dueling Competition not only made the name Shrek's Eight Monsters famous throughout Suotuo City, but also drew the attention of Spirit Hall's forces to this young team. The schemes in the shadows continued, and the challenges belonging to Shrek's Eight Monsters had only just begun.