The Thirtieth Soul Dueling Match, Dugu Yan!

Autumn was deepening, and the night breeze in Heaven Dou City already carried a hint of chill.

The heat within the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, however, was more scorching and intense than the midday sun of midsummer.

A full month had passed since Ling Xiao first stepped into this arena.

Twenty-nine nights, twenty-nine soul fights, and not a single defeat!

Zero, the youth wearing a half-face mask, had swept through the soul master circles of Heaven Dou City like a hurricane.

No one knew his origins, and no one had seen the true face beneath his mask.

All that was known was that he was only ten years old, a level 24 Control-system Soul Grand Master, and his mastery of the long spear was nothing short of divine.

Over the course of twenty-nine fights, he had rarely even used his soul skills; relying solely on his Cold Spear, he had toppled the most renowned Soul Grand Masters in the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.

From the child initially mocked and booed by the entire crowd to the Spear God known to everyone in the arena today.

It had taken him only one month.

Tonight was his thirtieth soul fight.

For this highly anticipated event, the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena had specially arranged the duel to take place on the Central Main Soul Fighting Arena, which could accommodate tens of thousands of spectators.

Tickets had long since been sold out.

Countless spectators had traveled specifically to witness with their own eyes whether this mysterious youth could secure his thirtieth consecutive victory.

As night fell, the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena was packed with a surging tide of people.

Ling Xiao was dressed in his usual simple attire, his spear bag slung over his back, wearing that same half-face mask.

He walked into the Great Soul Arena at a steady, unhurried pace.

Soul masters and attendants along the way stopped in their tracks as they saw him, respectfully stepping aside to clear a path, their eyes filled with awe and curiosity.

He walked straight to the registration desk without glancing aside.

The staff member in charge of registration stood up immediately upon seeing him and handed over the registration form that had been prepared in advance.

"Lord Zero, your registration information has already been entered. This is your voucher for the thirtieth soul fight; please proceed to the Central Waiting Area to wait for a moment."

Ling Xiao took the badge and tucked it into his pocket.

He gave a faint nod, said nothing, and turned to walk toward the Central Waiting Area.

At this moment, those sitting inside were all famous soul fighters of the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, the lowest among them being level 30 Soul Elders.

Seeing Ling Xiao walk in, the previously noisy waiting area quieted down.

Everyone's gaze was fixed upon him.

There was scrutiny, there was awe, and there was fighting spirit.

He had proven his strength with a record of twenty-nine straight wins; no one dared to treat him as an ordinary child anymore.

Ling Xiao turned a blind eye to the surrounding gazes.

He walked straight to a seat in the corner of the waiting area and placed his long spear by his side.

He closed his eyes slightly, resting his mind.

He carried an air of cold detachment that kept strangers at a distance.

The waiting area returned to its hushed whispers.

Everyone was quietly discussing tonight's match, debating whether this mysterious masked youth could truly secure his thirtieth consecutive win.

Just then, the door to the waiting area was pushed open from the outside.

A purple figure walked in.

It was a girl of about fifteen, dressed in tight-fitting combat gear that outlined her budding, graceful figure.

A few stray locks of hair fell against her cheeks, making her skin appear as white as snow.

Most striking of all were her eyes.

A pair of emerald-green eyes, like jade.

As her gaze shifted, it carried a bewitching, soul-snaring charm.

The moment she entered, the attention of the entire waiting area was instantly drawn to her.

Ling Xiao recognized her.

A genius of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the Control-system soul master Dugu Yan.

The only granddaughter of the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.

Dugu Yan ignored the gazes cast her way.

Her emerald eyes swept across the entire waiting area, finally landing on Ling Xiao, who was resting in the corner.

Her red lips curled into a playful smile, and she walked straight toward Ling Xiao.

The people in the waiting area held their breath, craning their necks to watch the scene unfold.

Dugu Yan stopped and stood still right in front of Ling Xiao.

She crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head slightly.

Her eyes swept over the youth before her, her gaze sliding from his mask to the long spear resting at his side, before returning to his face.

The waiting area was so quiet a pin drop could be heard; everyone was waiting for her to speak.

Finally, Dugu Yan's crisp, slightly alluring voice rang out.

"You are Zero?"

Ling Xiao slowly opened his eyes.

The gaze behind his mask was calm and rippleless as it landed on the purple-haired, green-eyed girl before him.

He did not speak, merely giving a slight nod in response.

Such a cold reaction made Dugu Yan raise an eyebrow, the playfulness in her eyes deepening.

She had seen many Soul Masters who fawned over her and tried to curry favor, all of them respectful and deferential out of fear of her grandfather's reputation.

This was the first time she had encountered someone so indifferent in her presence.

"Just as the legends say, mysterious and secretive, not even willing to show your face."

Dugu Yan smiled and took a step forward.

Her emerald eyes held a hint of mockery: "But this cold and aloof temperament is well-deserved; no wonder you drive so many people crazy."

Ling Xiao remained expressionless, speaking indifferently.

"Is there something you need?"

Dugu Yan was amused by his impervious attitude, laughing until her shoulders shook.

Once she had finished laughing, she straightened up and tilted her chin at Ling Xiao, a flash of fighting spirit appearing in her eyes:

"Of course there is. Let me introduce myself; my name is Dugu Yan, and I am your opponent for your thirtieth match tonight."

Who would have thought that the opponent the Great Soul Arena arranged for Zero's thirtieth match would be Dugu Yan!

A genius girl from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the granddaughter of Poison Douluo!

One was a level 24 Soul Grand Master, the other a level 27 Soul Grand Master.

A full three-level gap in soul power!

Ling Xiao merely raised his eyes to look at Dugu Yan, his gaze calm as he flatly spat out three words: "Understood."

Such a bland reaction exceeded Dugu Yan's expectations.

She had originally assumed that upon hearing her name and rank, even if he didn't panic, he would at least show some gravity.

She hadn't expected him to remain so unruffled.

"You certainly know how to keep your cool."

Dugu Yan blinked, her fingertips lightly brushing against the tips of her hair.

"I specifically requested to challenge you through the Great Soul Arena. Don't think that just because you won twenty-nine matches you're invincible; my Martial Soul is the Jade Phosphorous Serpent, and it's poisonous, you know."

She leaned forward slightly, her emerald eyes drawing a few inches closer.

"If you aren't careful, even if you won the previous twenty-nine matches, you'll fall into my hands tonight. Once you're struck by my serpent venom, there's no guarantee you'll be saved in time."

She delivered the threat in a charming and seductive tone.

Those in the waiting area watched the scene, all feeling that this mysterious Zero was likely to fall this time.

The legend of thirty consecutive victories would likely end here.

Yet, looking at Dugu Yan, who was inches away, Ling Xiao only spoke coldly: "On the arena floor, we shall see the truth through our skills. Further words are useless."

The implication was clear: whatever skills you have, show them in the arena; enough with the empty talk.

Dugu Yan was stunned.

In all her years, this was the first time someone had dared to speak to her like this.

Not to mention her classmates at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, even the princes and princesses of the imperial family would yield to her out of respect for her grandfather.

After a few seconds of shock, Dugu Yan burst into laughter instead.

"Interesting, truly very interesting. You really are different from those sycophants; I'm looking forward to tonight's match even more now."

"I hope you don't disappoint me."