(Bai Chenxiang fanart)
Yu Feng and Osler exchanged glances, then smiled at the same time.
As they left the counter, Osler lowered his voice. "This time, we'll show that brat what happens when he crosses us."
Yu Feng folded his arms, an insidious smile playing on his lips. "Six years of old and new grudges—we'll settle them all at once."
"Beating him up in the Soul Fighting Arena is way more fun than doing it outside." Osler rubbed his hands together. "With that many people watching, let's see how he likes making a fool of himself."
"When Dugu Yan finds out, she'll be humiliated too."
"Hahahaha—"
Behind the counter, the staff member counted the Gold Soul Coins and happily hummed a little tune.
Ten o'clock sharp.
No. 5 Sub-Soul Fighting Arena.
A few dozen people were scattered across the stands, most of them casual spectators who had come to watch the excitement.
Several regular gamblers had already pulled out their money pouches, ready to place their bets.
The host stood in the middle of the ring, holding an Amplifying Soul Tool. His voice rang out loud and clear.
"Let's welcome the two sides competing in today's Soul Fighting match—"
"First, we have the newly registered duo—Golden Leaf Duo!"
"Pfft—hahaha!"
A burst of laughter immediately rang through the stands.
"Golden Leaf? What kind of lousy name is that?"
"I might as well call myself Spear Tyrant!"
"Who came up with that name? I'm dying!"
Several sleazy men doubled over laughing, slapping each other on the shoulders.
The spotlight shone on one of the entrances, illuminating Lin Jiang and Ye Lingling.
Lin Jiang walked in front, covering his face with one hand. A helpless pair of eyes peeked through the gaps between his fingers.
Next time, I'm definitely getting a mask. Definitely.
Ye Lingling followed behind him, head lowered. Her face had turned bright red, all the way to her ears, and she twisted the hem of her clothes between her fingers, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"And their opponents—" The host's voice suddenly rose. "The Wind Leopard Duo, who have already racked up twenty-three consecutive victories in the Soul Fighting Arena!"
"Wind Leopard! Wind Leopard! Wind Leopard!"
The stands erupted!
The spotlight swung to the entrance on the opposite side. Yu Feng and Osler strode out side by side, their steps steady and their presence commanding.
The spectators went wild.
"I'm betting on the Wind Leopard Duo! Ten Silver Soul Coins!"
"I'm in too! Twenty!"
"I'm betting ten Gold Soul Coins!"
"Wind Leopard! Beat the stuffing out of that so-called Golden Leaf!"
Money pouches flew through the stands as bets pelted down onto the bookmakers' table like snowflakes.
Yu Feng and Osler stood at the edge of the ring with their arms crossed and chins lifted. Their eyes swept across the ring and settled on Lin Jiang.
They looked at him as if he were already a dead man.
Osler leaped onto the ring first, landing lightly on his toes with a graceful flourish.
He turned and beckoned Lin Jiang over with a finger.
Once.
Twice.
After beckoning, Osler deliberately tilted his head, a punchable grin on his face.
Another round of jeers and shouts rose from the stands.
"This Golden Leaf Duo probably can't even withstand one attack from the Wind Leopard Duo!"
"I know Ye Lingling. She's from the Nine Heart Begonia Ye family! She's a healing-type Soul Master, so she's got decent support abilities, but when it comes to fighting..."
"Doesn't that mean all the pressure to attack falls on that kid? How could he possibly take on both members of the Wind Leopard Duo by himself?"
"Look at that pretty-boy face. I bet he hasn't even reached level thirty. He's just walking in there to get served on a platter!"
"The Wind Leopard Duo have twenty-three consecutive wins! Those two work together like a dream. Fighting rookies like these is child's play!"
The crowd's chatter swelled like wave upon wave.
Gold Soul Coins piled higher and higher on the betting table, with every last one of them placed on the Wind Leopard Duo.
Ye Lingling stood beside Lin Jiang, her palms slick with sweat.
She stole a glance at Lin Jiang. His face was still expressionless, and he even looked a little bored.
Why did we get matched against Osler and Yu Feng?
They've won so many matches in a row. By the rules, shouldn't they be matched against stronger opponents...
She bit her lip.
Lin Jiang... can he really do this?
She remembered what Dugu Yan had said: "He's definitely even stronger than I am."
But Osler and Yu Feng weren't pushovers either.
The two worked together seamlessly, and they were fairly well-known in the Soul Fighting Arena.
And she and Lin Jiang were teaming up for the first time today.
Ye Lingling took a deep breath and clenched her fists.
Whatever. I'll just grit my teeth and do my best!
If things go badly, she could still heal Lin Jiang after they lost...
The two sides took their positions.
Osler and Yu Feng stood opposite them with their arms crossed and chins held high, looking utterly certain of victory.
The host raised his right hand, surveyed the arena, then brought it down sharply.
"Soul Fighting—begin!"
Osler and Yu Feng moved at the same time.
Their teamwork really was seamless.
Twenty-three consecutive victories hadn't come from luck.
Yu Feng's figure blurred as the phantom of a Windbell Bird Martial Soul appeared behind him, and his speed surged!
He became a streak of afterimages, instantly flashing to Lin Jiang's flank and cutting off his escape route.
Osler pressed in from the front. The phantom of his Ghost Leopard Martial Soul appeared as Soul Power surged through him. He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking.
One in front, one behind.
Two Agility Attack System Soul Masters, with speed, explosive power, and teamwork—nothing lacking.
That was the Wind Leopard Duo's secret to winning twenty-three consecutive matches in the Soul Fighting Arena. They always kept control of the fight.
Cheers rose from the stands.
"So fast!"
"The Wind Leopard Duo's teamwork keeps getting better!"
"That kid's finished! He didn't even have time to react!"
Ye Lingling stood beside Lin Jiang, her heart pounding like a drum.
Too fast!
Without thinking, she edged closer to Lin Jiang. Her fingers clenched, her palms slick with sweat.
Lin Jiang stood still, without moving an inch.
He hadn't even blinked.
Osler's grin stretched from ear to ear. Soul Power had gathered to its peak around his fist.
"Die!"
He threw a punch!
At the same time, Yu Feng cut in from the flank, striking with both fists and feet to shut off every avenue of escape.
One from the front, one from behind—they hit at the same time!
Someone in the stands was already getting ready to cheer—
"It's over!"
But then—
"Thud! Thud!"
Two muffled impacts.
They weren't fists striking flesh.
They were fists being caught.
Osler's eyes widened as he stared at his fist, firmly caught in a palm.
That hand was like an iron clamp, not budging an inch.
He looked up and met Lin Jiang's terrifyingly calm eyes.
On the other side, Yu Feng's fist had also been seized by Lin Jiang's other hand. He couldn't move at all.
Both of them exerted all their strength, trying to pull their fists free—
But they didn't budge.
Lin Jiang remained where he was, without taking a single step back.
Not even a crack had appeared in the ring beneath his feet.
"That's it?" he said softly.
Osler's and Yu Feng's pupils contracted at the same time.
The cheers from the stands died away abruptly.
Everyone gaped at the bizarre scene on the ring.
Two powerful Soul Masters had unleashed their full strength, yet a young man had caught both attacks with a single hand, as casually as if he were catching a pair of balls.
Ye Lingling stood behind Lin Jiang, eyes wide, her blue lips parted slightly.
She was closest and saw everything most clearly.
Lin Jiang hadn't used any Soul Skill, let alone his Martial Soul.
He had just grabbed them without a care.
"Are you two done?" Lin Jiang tilted his head. "Then it's my turn."
He let go with both hands.
Before Osler and Yu Feng could react, a fist was already rushing toward them, rapidly growing larger in their field of vision.
"Bang—!"
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