Making a Name

"Aah!!!!!!"

Blood Wolf dropped to his knees, his left hand clamped tightly over the severed stump of his right shoulder as blood poured from it. His face twisted in agony, and a miserable scream tore from his mouth.

Streams of blood dripped relentlessly, staining the white arena red.

Lin Tianyi, completely unharmed, leisurely turned around. He cast a faint glance at Blood Wolf, who was kneeling on the ground and screaming with his severed arm, then raised his chin at the stunned host above.

"Announce the result."

Looking down at the agonized Blood Wolf, the host swallowed hard and asked whether he wished to continue fighting.

"Fight your mother!"

Enduring the pain, Blood Wolf cursed furiously. He grabbed his severed arm from the ground, cast Lin Tianyi a terrified glance, then hurriedly ran off the arena to find a healing Soul Master. If too much time passed, the arm could not be reattached!

Only after Blood Wolf jumped off the arena and conceded did the host stammer out:

"Th-the winner is Yi Xian!"

Lin Tianyi put away the Dragon's Roar Sword. Looking in the direction Blood Wolf had vanished, he curled his lip.

"So this is the king with six consecutive wins?"

Lin Tianyi had felt no pressure at all. His opponent had not even been worth a second sword strike, and that was hardly enough to help him comprehend sword techniques.

"Looks like I can only choose Soul Elder-level opponents."

For the next month, Lin Tianyi attended classes at the academy during the day and competed at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena at night.

After one month, he had won all fifty-four matches.

Moreover, as a Soul Grandmaster, he had faced Soul Elders and won every match.

By then, the name Yi Xian had resounded throughout Heaven Dou City. Such a stunning and terrifying record caused countless factions to consider recruiting him.

Lin Tianyi had not told anyone about his participation in the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, including his parents and Qian Renxue, lest they worry and try to stop him.

Of course, to avoid exposing his identity, Lin Tianyi had not revealed his two Thousand-Year Soul Rings.

However, Lin Tu and Qin Hui, who had constantly sent people to protect Lin Tianyi in secret, had long since learned of it. They simply did not expose him, though they watched every one of his matches.

They also had Li Fu ready to intervene and rescue him at any time.

The imperial palace, the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.

Disguised as Xue Qinghe, Qian Renxue was seated at her desk, handling official affairs.

At that moment, Snake Lance Douluo instantly appeared in the room.

Sensing the disturbance, Qian Renxue, dressed in male attire, raised her head.

"What is it?"

If it were not something urgent, Snake Lance Douluo would not have appeared without permission.

Snake Lance Douluo respectfully said, "Miss, a prodigy named Yi Xian has recently appeared at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.

"With the strength of a Soul Grandmaster, he has fought Soul Elders and maintained fifty-four consecutive victories.

"Miss, if we can bring such a prodigy under your command, he will be of great help to you in taking control of the Heaven Dou Empire in the future."

Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed sharply as she stared at Snake Lance Douluo, her face turning serious and solemn.

"Does this Yi Xian have a match today?"

Snake Lance Douluo respectfully replied, "He has two matches tonight."

Qian Renxue nodded slightly.

"I must have this man!"

Heaven Dou City, Ning Residence.

Ning Fengzhi set down the letter in his hand and looked at Sword Douluo Chen Xin.

"Uncle Jian, that Yi Xian is a sword-wielding genius. He must possess an intense pursuit of the sword, so recruiting such a talent may require your help."

Sword Douluo Chen Xin chuckled. "A Soul Grandmaster fighting Soul Elders and winning fifty-four consecutive matches—such a genius is exactly what I have been seeking. Don't worry.

"I will make him willingly acknowledge me as his master and join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Sword Douluo spoke with immense confidence.

Ning Fengzhi was overjoyed upon hearing this. "With Uncle Jian here, we will certainly recruit that Yi Xian this time."

Just then, Ning Rongrong entered from outside. She looked at Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo in confusion.

"Father, Grandpa Jian, what are you talking about? Recruiting Yi Xian? Who is he?"

Sword Douluo Chen Xin utterly doted on Ning Rongrong and kindly told her everything.

After learning the details, Ning Rongrong immediately became interested and said excitedly:

"Grandpa Jian, I want to go to the Great Soul Arena tonight too."

Sword Douluo naturally would not refuse such a small request. He nodded with a smile.

"Once Grandpa Jian takes Yi Xian as his disciple, he will become your most capable supporter in the future."

Ning Rongrong happily nodded her little head. Then, as though she had thought of something, she hesitated for a moment before lifting her adorable, delicate face to Sword Douluo and cautiously asking:

"Grandpa Jian, can you take Lin Tianyi as your disciple too?"

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo were both stunned.

They lowered their heads and looked at Ning Rongrong, whose two little fingers were nervously twisting together, her small face filled with hope.

Ning Fengzhi seemed to understand something, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

Sword Douluo looked at the hopeful Ning Rongrong in puzzlement.

"Rongrong, whenever you mentioned Lin Tianyi before, you looked furious. Why do you now want Grandpa Jian to take him as a disciple instead?"

Ning Rongrong lowered her little head. Her ears were bright red as she stammered:

"I... I think Lin Tianyi is... is very suitable to be Grandpa Jian's disciple. He's actually very strong."

Sword Douluo shook his head slightly, his tone firm.

"Rongrong, Grandpa Jian has said it before. Even if Lin Tianyi did not know how formidable I was, he still rejected the chance to become my disciple.

"Grandpa Jian will not accept someone who once rejected becoming my disciple. Even if he kneels before me for the rest of his life one day, it will not happen!"

Sword Douluo's voice was not loud, but it allowed no doubt. It carried the pride and dominance of the foremost swordsman.

Ning Rongrong let out a disappointed cry, her little head drooping helplessly.

"Rongrong understands..."

The crimson sun sank behind the western mountains. Light receded, and darkness shrouded the earth.

Night fell. A bright moon hung high in the sky, casting cold moonlight like white frost over the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.

Inside the Great Soul Arena's highest-class noble box.

Disguised as Xue Qinghe, Qian Renxue gazed down at the two Soul Elders battling below, as well as the spectators in the surrounding stands, whose faces were flushed with excitement as they shouted themselves hoarse.

She said calmly:

"How long until Yi Xian takes the stage?"

Behind her, Snake Lance Douluo and Porpoise Douluo respectfully replied:

"Miss, Yi Xian will be up in the next match."

Qian Renxue nodded slightly, anticipation appearing in her eyes.

She wanted to see exactly what sort of person this prodigy was, one who had defeated dozens of Soul Elders in succession with the strength of a Soul Grandmaster!

In another highest-class noble box, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and Ning Rongrong were likewise looking down through the one-way glass.

Anticipation flickered in Sword Douluo's eyes. Could Yi Xian be the final disciple he had searched decades for without success?

The Great Soul Arena's contestant waiting area.

Wearing a crimson mask, Lin Tianyi sat with his eyes slightly closed and his breathing calm.

Yet, intense simulations of sword techniques were taking place in his mind. Every second, dozens or even hundreds of sword techniques were practiced.

As time passed, the sword techniques in his mind grew fewer and fewer, but their power became greater and greater.

After a long while, every sword technique in his mind vanished.

Lin Tianyi opened his dark eyes and sighed softly.

"Just a little more. I hope I can comprehend a sword path that belongs to me alone tonight..."

At that moment, an impassioned, resounding voice carried over from afar.

"Next, please welcome the contestants for the next match: Yi Xian versus Butcher!"