An Asymmetrical Battle

On the Sparring Platform, Qian Ningshuang looked at Hu Liena across from her.

Perhaps people in Douluo really matured early. This girl, who was probably five years older than Qian Ningshuang, had already begun to develop a figure. She had long black hair. At first glance, she did not seem particularly beautiful, but upon closer inspection, one could sense a unique charm about her.

Hu Liena was also sizing up Qian Ningshuang.

For certain reasons, Bibi Dong had not told Hu Liena what Qian Ningshuang looked like yesterday. She had only said that Qian Ningshuang was stronger than Tian Yao. Her hair was golden like Tian Yao's, but unlike Tian Yao's shoulder-length cut with longer locks by her temples, Qian Ningshuang tied her dazzling golden hair into a high ponytail behind her head.

Her clothing was rather strange as well. She wore a long-sleeved white top that exposed her entire waist. Her lower half was clad in black fitted shorts that also left her thighs bare, giving her an overall crisp, heroic air.

Yet compared to Hu Liena, who wore a battle dress, Qian Ningshuang looked more like she had come out for an outing.

Of course, Hu Liena did not dare truly regard Qian Ningshuang as some Young Lady out on a leisurely trip. She was confident she could win, but underestimating the Second Miss of the Qian Family, whom Bibi Dong had said was far stronger than Tian Yao, would not be confidence. It would be arrogance.

"Both sides, salute. The match begins!"

Without giving the two any more time to observe one another, Tian'e announced the start of the battle.

"Martial Soul Possession!"

With that delicate shout, Hu Liena's entire aura and appearance changed instantly. The unusual charm that had previously required close observation to notice was now magnified until anyone who looked at her would feel their heart stir. She became extraordinarily beautiful, and a fluffy tail grew from behind her.

Her two yellow and one purple Spirit Rings, along with the surging Soul Power, told everyone that she was already a level-thirty-two Soul Elder.

At the same time, gasps rang out across the Martial Practice Arena, save for a few people.

Do not misunderstand—it was not because of Hu Liena. A Spirit Master reaching level thirty-two at her age was rare, but not unheard of.

It was because of Qian Ningshuang standing opposite Hu Liena. Likewise, Hu Liena stared blankly at the two Spirit Rings on Qian Ningshuang's body, even forgetting that this was a match.

Although only two Spirit Rings floated around Qian Ningshuang, their purple and black colors were dazzling beyond measure.

This Spirit Ring configuration was not merely rare. It was unheard of!

Bibi Dong gripped her Scepter tightly. Though Qian Ningshuang was now nothing but a blur of light and shadow in her eyes, she could still tell from the reactions of the people in the stands and Hu Liena's condition that the situation was not looking good for Hu Liena.

"Snap out of it. We're in the middle of a match."

Qian Ningshuang spoke helplessly to Hu Liena. She had known this day would come. In the past, only the High Priests and people she knew were aware of her Martial Soul and Spirit Ring configuration. This was probably the first time she had stunned so many people. There would likely be more in the future, so she had to get used to it.

Having recovered her senses, Hu Liena bit her lip. Faced with that purple-black Spirit Ring configuration, she was no longer so confident.

Fortunately, it was not as though she had no chance of winning. At the very least, the Soul Power fluctuations around Qian Ningshuang showed that she was only a level-twenty-four Soul Grandmaster. An eight-level difference in Soul Power should not be entirely erased by such a vastly superior Spirit Ring configuration.

After comforting herself, Hu Liena took a deep breath. The three Spirit Rings around her lit up in sequence, and her eyes turned red. Charm, activate.

That was it? Qian Ningshuang looked at Hu Liena expressionlessly. She did not feel a thing. If Hu Liena's Spirit Rings had not flashed, she might even have thought Hu Liena was still standing there without moving.

Oh, she did feel something, actually. Hu Liena across from her seemed even sexier and more alluring. But to a transmigrator who had posted risqué pictures in group chats every day in her past life, it was nothing special!

Seeing that Qian Ningshuang had not even swayed, Hu Liena bit her lip again. She had still been too arrogant. How could Qian Ningshuang, who had defeated Tian Yao, possibly fall to her Charm?

But all three of her soul skills had been acquired on Bibi Dong's advice, and all of them were related to Charm.

Still, it was fortunate that she had not spent the past three years merely getting beaten up by Tian Yao every day. She understood that once her Charm failed, she would be subjected to a brutal beating.

Over those three years, she had constantly considered how to handle situations where her Charm did not work. Then, following Bibi Dong's advice, she had fiercely honed her close-combat skills. She did not seek to defeat her opponent through close combat, only to stall until the moment her opponent's mind slipped.

What was more, she still had the hidden trump card Bibi Dong had given her yesterday.

No sooner said than done. Hu Liena rushed toward Qian Ningshuang, grabbing, kicking, and lashing out with her tail, using every close-combat technique at her disposal to engage Qian Ningshuang.

Qian Ningshuang's response was equally simple: retreat, sidestep, and effortlessly evade Hu Liena's attacks every time. Whenever she truly could not avoid one, she casually used the Abyss Flower in her hand to block it before continuing to dodge. Though she was dodging, there was not a trace of disarray in her movements. She was like a golden butterfly dancing among flowers.

"Tsk, that slutty fox is pretty good. She actually reached level thirty-two, and she even figured out how to respond when her own Charm failed. What a shame—her opponent today is Xiaoshuang. But just how bored is Xiaoshuang? Is she getting addicted to playing around?"

Tian Yao clicked her tongue in amazement from the stands. Hu Liena reaching level thirty-two had surprised her a little. At a normal cultivation pace, Tian Yao would probably have suffered a humiliating loss if she had taken the stage today. Unfortunately, her cultivation speed had never been normal while she was around Qian Ningshuang.

The others in the stands also shook their heads. Anyone with eyes could tell that unless Qian Ningshuang made some mistake, Hu Liena could not win today.

"Interesting."

"What is it, Sister Na?"

"Nothing."

Seeing Tian Yao turn toward her, Gu Yuena shook her head. She had just sensed a trace of divine power. It was different from both Angel Divine Power and Qian Chongling's Blood God aura—a completely cold and evil divine presence.

If I sensed it correctly, it was that person, the Black Hand from the God Realm that Mr. Qian Chongling said had reached into Spirit Hall.

You probably used divine power to look at Shuang'er. But it would be strange if you could actually see her.

Gu Yuena narrowed her eyes again and looked toward Bibi Dong in another direction.

Bibi Dong had indeed used Rakshasa Divine Power, though not to kill anyone. She merely wanted to confirm something once more.

As expected, Qian Ningshuang, who normally appeared as a blur of light and shadow in her eyes, vanished from the Sparring Platform entirely after she used Rakshasa Divine Power. In her eyes, the one fighting Hu Liena was Tian Yao.

Moreover, Tian Yao was about to lose, completely unlike the current situation, where everyone else saw Hu Liena at a disadvantage.

"I'll say this: if you're still going to do this, merely trying to get close and stall me, then you may as well step down and concede.

"The Wuhun Research Institute has no shortage of research records on mental-type Spirit Masters, nor does it lack predictions of mental-type Spirit Master combat.

"I know what you're thinking. Really, if you don't have any special methods, you should step down and concede. At least that way, you'll retain some dignity."

After evading another lash of Hu Liena's tail, Qian Ningshuang looked at her seriously and spoke. She bore no ill will. This was truly pointless. In a situation where Hu Liena was bound to lose, preserving a little dignity would be better for everyone.

As for why she had only dodged without counterattacking, it was simply to show Hu Liena that the gap between them was enormous.

Hu Liena did not reply. She merely lowered her head and charged forward again.

Not yet. Endure a little longer. So what if you know what I'm thinking? You surely don't know that I have a Spirit Bone! As long as the timing is right, it'll be your turn to fall!

As she rushed forward, Hu Liena thought to herself.