A Narrow Defeat

Under the Short-haired Youth's deliberate guidance, Iron Bear Abu's palm even struck the arm that was holding the youth.

Roar!!!

Iron Bear Abu let out a miserable cry, and the Short-haired Youth twisted his body, taking the chance to break free from his control.

After breaking free, the Short-haired Youth did not use the opportunity to widen the distance. Instead, he pressed his advantage. His body suddenly straightened, and a long leg covered in Dragon Scales kicked Abu squarely beneath the chin.

Abu felt dizzy and disoriented, letting out a heavy muffled groan. Yet this only stirred up his ferocity, and the red glow in his eyes grew brighter.

Iron Bear Abu swept his bear claw back and directly seized the foot pressed beneath his chin, then viciously smashed it toward the ground.

Boom!

Dust flew everywhere. The Short-haired Youth felt the world spin, while a bloody sweetness welled up in his mouth.

The difference in size between them was simply too great. Under such circumstances, he was almost powerless to resist.

Iron Bear Abu gave the Short-haired Youth no chance to turn things around, swinging him about as though he were cracking a whip.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

The billowing dust nearly obscured all vision on the Soul Fighting Arena, leaving the spectators unable to see clearly.

Seeing this, Qin Ming shook his head. He felt that Shrek Dragon was probably going to lose. That youth had fought too rashly!

The Rock Ridge Earth Dragon was a Defense Type Martial Soul, yet he had adopted a fighting style that entirely belonged to Power Attack Type Spirit Masters.

The first time he launched a fierce punch, Iron Bear Abu had already controlled him once. After breaking free, he had not retreated but advanced instead, continuing his fierce assault. Yet his attacks could not break through Abu's defenses in Berserk Bear State, and he had been controlled once again.

Could it only be said that he had misjudged his own strength? Qin Ming found it somewhat regrettable. Neither the Iron Bear Martial Soul nor the Rock Ridge Earth Dragon Martial Soul excelled in speed. If he had widened the distance and stalled until Abu's Berserk Bear State ended, he might not necessarily have lost.

Though the victory might have been ugly, a win was still a win.

Boom!

Another explosive crash rang out from the Soul Fighting Arena. The Short-haired Youth was flung straight out by Iron Bear Abu and embedded in the wall at the edge of the arena.

The once-unrivaled Rock Ridge Earth Dragon now looked utterly miserable. More than half the earth-yellow Dragon Scales covering his body had fallen away, while the light barrier formed by his Second Soul Skill, Earth Dragon Radiance, was badly damaged. Blood streamed all over his body.

Even so, the Short-haired Youth still struggled to rise.

It had to be said that the Rock Ridge Earth Dragon truly deserved to be called a top-tier defensive Beast Martial Soul. After enduring Abu's barrage of attacks in Berserk Bear State, he had suffered only superficial injuries. Though he looked miserable, he was not seriously hurt.

But at this point, there was no room left to salvage the battle.

The Short-haired Youth no longer had the Soul Power to turn things around. The seven-level difference in Soul Power was now on full display.

"Roar!!!" Iron Bear Abu threw back his head and roared wildly. Bracing both hands against the ground, he actually charged toward the Short-haired Youth like a real bear.

The moment the youth raised his head, a bear claw gleaming with cold metallic light was already close at hand.

"Referee! Shrek Dragon concedes!"

A loud shout came from the stands. Qin Ming turned to look and saw Flender!

He held up a surrender sign high in the air. Since he was Shrek Dragon's agent in the Soul Fighting Arena, he had the authority to concede on his behalf.

Upon hearing someone from Shrek Dragon's side call surrender, the referee immediately flashed between the two of them. Two yellow, two purple, and one black Soul Rings emerged around him. He was clearly a Soul King.

The referee condensed Soul Power in his palm and used one hand to block Abu's incoming bear paw.

"I declare that the victor of this Soul Fight is Iron Bear! Abu!" The result of the match was beyond doubt, and the referee immediately announced his judgment.

"Abu!"

"Abu!"

Leaning against the wall, the Short-haired Youth listened as the entire arena cheered his opponent's name. Then he saw his teacher watching him from the stands. A flush crept across his cheeks, while intense unwillingness surged within his heart.

"Looks like I bet wrong," Sha Sha muttered, pouting.

"Although he lost, it was still an exciting Soul Fight for a twelve-year-old Soul Grandmaster. Spending fifty Gold Soul Coins to witness a top-tier defensive Sub-Dragon Martial Soul challenge someone above his level is still acceptable, I suppose," Nuo Si said, expressing his approval of Shrek Dragon.

He had originally felt somewhat displeased after being verbally attacked by Shrek Dragon's fans, but after watching the match, he changed his prejudice against him.

"Let's go. We've finished watching the Soul Fight. Let's get lunch first, then this afternoon we'll accompany little brother Qin Ming to buy some new clothes," Sha Sha suggested, seemingly unwilling to dwell on the subject any longer.

"Alright."

The three got up and left, but Qin Ming was still lowering his head as he reflected on the battle. He placed himself in the Short-haired Youth's position, wondering how he would have fought Abu if he had been that youth.

Qin Ming reached a conclusion: play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses. His strength was the defense of a top-tier Martial Soul, while his weaknesses were the seven-level gap in Soul Power and his attack speed.

He would have relied on the powerful defenses of his Martial Soul to drag things out until Abu's Berserk Bear State ended. He absolutely would not have given Abu an opportunity to control him like the Short-haired Youth had.

Then what were the strengths and weaknesses of his Inferno Grey Wolf? Qin Ming thought. High attack and high speed, but low defense.

After watching today's Soul Fight, Qin Ming's desire to battle grew increasingly restless. He wanted to quickly determine exactly what level his own strength was at.

"Qin Ming, what are you thinking about? Hurry up and catch up, there are so many people here!"

"Okay!"

Meanwhile, on the other side of the stands.

The Short-haired Youth stood listlessly beside Flender. "Teacher, I'm sorry. I lost."

"Roger, remember this: victory and defeat are common in battle. You do not need to care too much about a single loss. Just learn from the experience," Flender said, not blaming the youth but patiently guiding him instead.

With his seasoned insight, how could he fail to see Roger's disappointment and unwillingness?

Roger was the most talented student he had recruited this time. For this gifted and hardworking child, he truly wanted to devote himself to nurturing him.

"Roger, do you know the main reason you lost this time?"

The Short-haired Youth rubbed his cropped hair and thought for a moment. "There was a seven-level gap in Soul Power between us, and there was also a problem with my fighting rhythm."

Flender nodded, then shook his head. "Those were both problems, but your greatest problem was that you were clearly a Defense Type Spirit Master, yet you fought like a Power Attack Type Spirit Master."

"You failed to make use of your greatest advantage!"

Upon hearing those words, Roger lowered his head in shame.

His previous Soul Fights had gone far too smoothly, to the point that he had begun to misjudge his own strength.

But soon, his gaze gradually became resolute. "Teacher, I understand my shortcomings now!"

Seeing that Roger had worked it out, Flender nodded in satisfaction. Sometimes, failure was not necessarily a bad thing.

But then his gaze suddenly sharpened as he spotted Qin Ming and the other two preparing to leave the Soul Fighting Arena. "It's actually that child?"

"Teacher?" Roger followed Flender's line of sight and discovered that it was merely a child lowering his head, seemingly lost in thought.

"He is a little genius I know. He only awakened his Martial Soul two months ago," Flender said calmly. After gaining Roger, his desire for Qin Ming was no longer as strong.

Although Roger's Innate Soul Power was one level lower than Qin Ming's, Flender believed that under his guidance, Roger's future achievements would certainly surpass Qin Ming's!

"A genius?" Roger frowned. This was the first time he had heard his teacher call someone other than himself a genius.

"Yes. Although your Innate Soul Power is slightly inferior to his, it doesn't matter. Under the training of our Shrek Academy, your achievements will surely surpass his."

Roger nodded and stared at Qin Ming's gradually receding figure, as though he wanted to burn that silhouette deeply into his mind.