Jian Tu Combination

As Savage Hammer conceded defeat, cheers erupted.

The host finally came to his senses and hurried onto the Douhun Platform, announcing loudly, "Battle Soul Master Sword Maniac Asura wins! His record is one win and zero losses. Please register your points after leaving the platform."

Xiao Wu's Soul Fighting Competition also ended soon. Her opponent was merely a Soul Master with a White Soul Ring, and she won with almost no effort.

Xiao Wu pinched the ten Gold Soul Coins she had just earned, her eyes shining as she turned to Lu Chen. "If we win a Two on Two match, can we get another ten Gold Soul Coins?"

Lu Chen kindly reminded her, "If we enter Two on Two and one of the Soul Masters is a higher level, we have to compete in the higher-level bracket. I'm already Level Twenty. If you team up with me, we'll have to compete in the Level Twenty Tier!"

"So what?"

Xiao Wu patted her chest and said confidently, "We'll definitely win."

Seeing that, Lu Chen nodded and took Xiao Wu to register for the Two on Two Soul Fighting Zone.

"The registration fee is ten Gold Soul Coins."

Since Lu Chen and Xiao Wu had already registered their levels, all they had to do was show their Iron Soul Badges. They didn't need to fill out any more forms.

"Please choose a name for your combination."

Xiao Wu thought for a moment. "Let's call it the Jian Tu Combination."

"All right, the Jian Tu Combination. Registration is complete."

Their Iron Soul Badges now bore a new four-character engraving: "Cheap Rabbit Duo."

However, the character for "sword" had been engraved as the one meaning "cheap."

"Hey, that's the wrong character!" Xiao Wu immediately frowned and pointed at the badge. "It's the character for sword, not cheap."

The staff member replied coolly, "That's what happens when you don't make yourselves clear. To change your combination's name, you'll have to register your Iron Soul Badges all over again. All your existing results will also be erased."

Xiao Wu said angrily, "Why are you being so unreasonable?"

Lu Chen watched the scene, at a loss for words. Did Xiao Wu have some kind of curse when it came to choosing names?

Lu Chen addressed the staff member calmly. "Sorry for the trouble. Please register us again."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Wu grabbed him. "Lu Chen, we'd lose twenty Gold Soul Coins that way! Forget it, let's just leave it as it is!"

Xiao Wu made a face at the staff member, then pulled Lu Chen toward the Two on Two Soul Fighting Zone.

The Two on Two platform was twice as large as the one-on-one platform.

The host was announcing the Soul Master combinations competing on the platform.

"...Ninth Two on Two match: the Contradiction Combination versus the Jian Tu Combination."

Lu Chen sized up the Contradiction Combination. Both men were tall, and a faintly murderous air hung in their eyes. What caught Lu Chen's attention most was the gruesome scar on each of their faces.

Sensing the killing intent around them, Lu Chen said to Xiao Wu in a low voice, "Xiao Wu, be careful. These two are probably from the army!"

"Both sides, announce your Martial Souls!"

At the host's words, the two men across from them spoke in unison:

"Da Long, Martial Soul: Mysterious Sky Spear, Level Twenty-Eight Assault System Battle Soul Master."

"Er Hu, Martial Soul: Mysterious Iron Heavy Shield, Level Twenty-Five Defense System Battle Soul Master."

Four Yellow Soul Rings appeared beside the two men. Da Long and Er Hu both had the Optimal Soul Ring Configuration!

Lu Chen gripped his Mysterious Iron Greatsword. Two Hundred Year Soul Rings appeared beside him. "Lu Chen, Martial Soul: Blood Nether Sword, Level Twenty-Seven Assault System Battle Soul Master!"

"Xiao Wu, Martial Soul: Soft Bone Rabbit, Level Seventeen Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master!"

As Xiao Wu spoke, a pair of long, pink-white ears sprang up from her hair. Fine white fur covered her hands, and her legs looked even longer under the influence of her Martial Soul.

When the Yellow Soul Ring appeared beneath her feet, everyone except Lu Chen and the host stared at her in astonishment.

"Begin!"

The moment the host's voice fell, Lu Chen swung his Mysterious Iron Greatsword, drove off the ground, and charged straight at Da Long.

Lu Chen circulated his Soul Power. A dark-red glow rose along the blade, and he brought it down toward Da Long's shoulder with Thousand Jin Force.

Before Da Long could move, Er Hu stepped in front of him. A black shield blocked Da Long from view.

"Second Soul Skill: Quake!"

Er Hu roared. His Second Soul Ring lit up, and the heavy Mysterious Iron began to tremble.

Clang! A tremendous force surged through the shield. Er Hu's arms went numb, and then the impact sent him flying backward!

The instant the Mysterious Iron Greatsword struck the shield, the force rebounded. Lu Chen planted a foot on the shield and leaped back, putting distance between himself and the two men.

Almost as soon as he retreated, Xiao Wu appeared behind Da Long. She activated her First Soul Skill, Waist Bow, and kicked straight at him.

Da Long flicked his spear. The Second Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up, and he whipped the weapon backward. A glint of cold light flashed, and Xiao Wu was sent flying.

Before Xiao Wu hit the ground, Lu Chen caught her steadily around the waist. "Keep Er Hu occupied. I'll deal with this one!"

Xiao Wu bit her lip and nodded, then darted toward Er Hu, who was just getting back up.

The two of them charged toward their opponents from opposite sides.

They clashed in an instant. The Mysterious Iron Greatsword and the Mysterious Sky Spear struck again and again, sparks scattering like rain as the deafening clang of metal rang out without pause.

Xiao Wu relied on her incredible speed to keep Er Hu occupied, preventing him from going to Da Long's aid.

Under Lu Chen's powerful, heavy blows, Da Long gradually began to falter.

When Da Long paused to catch his breath, Lu Chen seized his chance. Slaughter Aura coursed through him, and his Greatsword came down with a vicious red glow, smashing into the middle of the spear!

Clang!

Da Long felt his arms jolt violently. He staggered backward through the air and barely managed to stop at the edge of the platform.

Lu Chen seized the opportunity, closed in, and swung his sword.

The back of the Mysterious Iron Greatsword slammed into Da Long's shoulder. Da Long grunted and crashed out of the Soul Fighting Arena, eliminated!

"Da Long!"

Er Hu's attention wavered when he saw Da Long eliminated.

Taking advantage of the opening, Xiao Wu sprang into the air and kicked toward Er Hu's neck.

Her foot didn't bounce away after connecting. Instead, her toes hooked around Er Hu's neck, while her other leg came up and planted against his chest.

A surge of pink light burst forth. Xiao Wu activated her First Soul Ring Skill, Waist Bow.

Er Hu felt tremendous force strike his chest and the back of his neck at the same time. With a sideways handspring, Xiao Wu flung him right off the platform.

"The Jian Tu Combination wins!" the host announced, his voice carrying unmistakable surprise.

That night, Xiao Wu looked at the fifteen Gold Soul Coins in her hand, her face brimming with satisfaction.

Lu Chen smiled faintly. He could clearly feel his Soul Power circulating faster after the two battles.

In the days that followed, the two found a clean hotel near the Soul Fighting Arena and plunged into the repetitive rhythm of fighting match after match.

By day, they faced all kinds of Soul Masters on the platform. At night, they focused on regulating their Soul Power. Their days were simple, but productive.

During that time, Lu Chen deliberately lost a few matches to hide his identity.

Before long, the holiday ended, and the two had made a fortune at the Soul Fighting Arena.