Night fell, and Qin Ming led everyone to the Heaven Dou Soul Arena.
To the astonishment of the Heaven Dou Team, Lu Chen and Xiao Wu produced their Gold Douluo Badges, while Zhu Zhuqing produced her Silver Douluo Badge.
At Lu Chen's age, they had only managed to earn the most basic Iron Soul Badges.
As Qin Ming had arranged, everyone on the Heaven Dou Team except Ye Lingling signed up for just one individual Soul Fighting Competition.
Soon, it was Lu Chen's turn to take the stage.
"Next up is the tenth one-on-one match in Soul Fighting Arena One.
Both contestants are Gold Douluo Badge holders. One is Sword Maniac Asura, a Battle Soul Sect with the Weapon Spirit Blood Nether Sword. The other is Lei Yan, a Battle Soul Sect with the Weapon Spirit Thunder Flame Sword!
Please welcome the two Soul Ancestors to the arena."
When Lu Chen appeared in front of Lei Yan, Lei Yan looked at his age, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
"Contestants, announce your Martial Souls and levels!"
"Lei Yan! Martial Soul: Thunder Flame Sword. Level 47 Attack Type Battle Soul Ancestor!"
A huge sword, its blade interwoven with blue and red, appeared in Lei Yan's hand. Lightning crackled across its body, and flames danced fiercely.
Two Yellow Two Purple Soul Rings hovered steadily around the sword.
"Sword Maniac Asura. Martial Soul: Blood Nether Sword. Level 45 Attack Type Battle Soul Ancestor! Please instruct me!"
Lu Chen raised his hand, and the Asura Demon Sword appeared with a flash. Strands of bloody light coiled around the blade, and a faint red glow shimmered between its dark gold Demonic Marks.
The "Two Yellow One Purple One Black" Soul Rings circled the sword.
When Lei Yan saw the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, his heart jolted, but he quickly regained his composure.
The host's arm came down. "Begin!" The moment the word left his mouth, the Third Soul Ring on Lei Yan's body blazed to life.
Blue lightning and red flames instantly engulfed the entire Thunder Flame Sword.
With a low shout, he blurred into a streak and thrust at Lu Chen, carrying a surge of savage energy.
Lu Chen turned slightly, dodging the blow, and brought the Asura Demon Sword down toward Lei Yan.
"Clang—!"
The Asura Demon Sword clashed with the Thunder Flame Sword, sending sparks flying.
The light on the Thunder Flame Sword dimmed in an instant, and a tremendous force traveled down its blade.
Lei Yan staggered back ten steps before regaining his footing. His right hand trembled slightly around the hilt.
Lei Yan looked at Lu Chen's calm expression, his gaze growing increasingly grave.
At that moment, on the elevated platform of the VIP Spectator Stand, a middle-aged man with refined features spoke.
He wore a pale moon-white robe and had a gentle, scholarly air about him. It was Ning Fengzhi.
"Qing He, that 'Sword Maniac Asura' must be a genius from Heaven Dou Royal Academy, right? How come I've never heard of him?"
Xue Qinghe looked at Lu Chen on the arena, thought for a moment, and replied, "Teacher, he may be a new student at the academy."
Ning Fengzhi nodded. His gaze settled on Lu Chen's still-youthful face. Lu Chen seemed to be about the same age as his own daughter.
Thinking of Ning Rongrong, that Little Demoness,
Ning Fengzhi couldn't help wondering to himself, I wonder how Rongrong is doing at Shrek Academy.
On the arena, Lu Chen and Lei Yan had already exchanged dozens of blows.
Lei Yan looked at Lu Chen, his expression growing even more solemn.
He realized that no matter where he attacked from, it was as if his opponent had already predicted his moves. He could never truly reach Lu Chen, while Lu Chen effortlessly deflected every attack.
The most terrifying thing was that Lu Chen still hadn't used a single Soul Skill. It was as if the four Soul Rings around the Blood Sword were mere decorations.
"Thunder Fire Divine Edge Slash!"
Lei Yan shouted. The lightning and flames on the Thunder Flame Sword surged, intertwining until they formed a ten-meter-long Thunder Fire Great Sword.
Its blade was broad as a door, with eerie blue lightning and scarlet flames endlessly coursing across it.
The Thunder Fire Great Sword slashed down at Lu Chen.
Blood Fiend Power!
Lu Chen gripped the Asura Demon Sword with both hands, and its first Soul Ring lit up.
Crimson-gold light surfaced across the Asura Demon Sword's patterns, while thick, blood-red killing intent surged over its blade like flames.
Lu Chen slashed, and a streak of bloody light tore through the air, crashing into the Thunder Fire Great Sword.
"Boom—!"
A blinding white light flared. The next moment, the Thunder Fire Great Sword shattered piece by piece and dissolved into countless specks of light.
Lei Yan's face paled. He bowed slightly to Lu Chen and said, "Thank you for showing mercy!"
"The winner is Sword Maniac Asura!"
Lu Chen gave Lei Yan a slight nod, then turned and left the arena.
When he reached the lounge, Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng still hadn't returned.
Yu Feng and the others looked at him with even greater admiration.
As soon as Xiao Wu saw him return, she pounced on him like a little rabbit.
Lu Chen instinctively wrapped an arm around Xiao Wu's slender waist and asked gently,
"Xiao Wu, how did your match go?"
Xiao Wu pouted dejectedly and said, "My opponent was a Level 39 Defense System Soul Elder. I lost."
"You can win next time." Lu Chen gently patted her back.
After comforting Xiao Wu, Lu Chen turned to Zhu Zhuqing and asked, "Zhuqing, how about you?"
"I won!"
Zhu Zhuqing looked up at him. A faint smile, rare on her usually cool face, appeared.
Just then, Dugu Yan walked in. Her expression was troubling: her face was pale, with an unnatural bluish-black tinge.
Ye Lingling went to Dugu Yan's side, wanting to heal her.
Dugu Yan refused. "Ling Ling, I'm fine. My Soul Power is just a little disordered."
Dugu Yan sat on the sofa and began to steady her chaotic Soul Power, but her shoulders still trembled uncontrollably.
"Ugh—"
Suddenly, a muffled groan escaped Dugu Yan's lips. The veins in her neck were visibly swelling.
Emerald-green lines, like tiny living snakes, crawled from her jawline up her cheeks.
The skin along their path bulged slightly and glimmered with an eerie green-blue light.
Ye Lingling's expression changed drastically as she summoned the Nine Heart Begonia.
A pink begonia rested in Ye Lingling's hands, its blossoms vivid and graceful.
The Third Soul Ring on Ye Lingling's body lit up.
She raised her delicate hands, and a faint fragrance filled the air.
White and pink petals drifted down, landing lightly on Dugu Yan before gently dissolving into her body.
The shadow of a green snake appeared behind Dugu Yan. Its eyes glinted with a bloodthirsty red, as if it would swallow her whole the next moment.
"Yan Zi's snake venom is flaring up!"
Ye Lingling panicked, her voice nearly breaking into a sob. "My Nine Heart Begonia... it can't suppress it at all!"
She could clearly feel her healing power vanish without a trace as soon as it entered Dugu Yan's body, like a stone sinking into the sea.
Lu Chen's eyes narrowed. He took an Emerald Green Pill from his Storage Soul Tool.
[Jade Phosphorus Yuan Detoxifying Pill]: Suppresses snake venom coursing through the body, relieves meridian pain caused by the venom's backlash, and steadies disordered Soul Power.
Lu Chen stepped in front of Dugu Yan. As everyone watched, he gently pried open her tightly pressed lips and slipped the pill into her mouth.
The pill dissolved as soon as it entered her mouth, turning into a cool, warm current that slid down her throat and quickly spread throughout her body.
Watching the emerald-green lines on Dugu Yan's face fade at a visible rate,
Lu Chen let out a sigh of relief. Good. One detoxifying pill is enough to suppress the snake venom backlashing inside Dugu Yan.
Seeing Dugu Yan's breathing gradually return to normal, Ye Lingling exclaimed happily, "The snake venom in Yan Zi's body has stabilized!"
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