The Second Match, Little Stone's Pride

When he returned to the sidelines, Tang San wore a grave expression. He thought of a few things, then sighed.

Compared to his own methods, which were most effective only when used from the shadows, Meng Yiran's techniques could be shown openly.

With a gaze tinged with regret and complicated beyond words, he looked toward the other team's entrance.

"Little San, are you all right?"

Yu Xiaogang had no mind to come over and ask. He was still fixated on Zhu Zhuqing's Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, lost in his own thoughts.

Tang San shook his head. He wasn't about to lose confidence so quickly. But seeing his teacher like this left him somewhat disappointed. Even so, he went over and offered a few words of comfort.

Then he went to meditate and recover. Using two techniques in succession had nearly drained his inner energy, and the pain from his shattered External Soul Bone only made things worse.

He was holding on by sheer force of will.

Compared to the atmosphere on Shrek's side, things were much livelier over at Phantom Star.

"Yiran's fine. Don't blame yourself."

Zhu Zhuqing was blaming herself, thinking that if she'd stepped in right away, Meng Yiran wouldn't have passed out.

Meng Yiran had forced herself to hold on until Tang San conceded, then fainted. She'd pushed herself to complete her move, and had even thrown those desperate throwing knives. Her Soul Power was now even more thoroughly drained.

"This girl, honestly..."

Chen An had gone back to the waiting area as soon as Zhu Zhuqing and Meng Yiran left the arena, and started treating Meng Yiran.

After giving her a pill, he used a method akin to transferring his power to guide his Soul Power through her body and harmonize it.

He stopped after only a short while. He'd made sure her foundation wasn't damaged, and the girl had already come around.

"Master..."

Meng Yiran wanted to say something, but Chen An cut her off.

"No need to say anything. You did well. Focus on recovering."

There was still some time before the next match. The contestants on the arena were their team members, facing off against another team.

It was unexpectedly easy. Watching the match, Chen An muttered, "Did I overestimate the martial arts of this world?"

The two contestants on the arena were opponents Chen An had chosen at random, but their levels were close.

Yet after closing in with their Soul Skills, their opponents could barely fight back. The match was ugly to watch.

Not only did Chen An find it boring, but even the spectators who'd bought tickets were unimpressed.

It was like a one-sided blowout in football, or garbage time in a basketball game.

"Looks like I'll have to tell Di Ao to arrange stronger opponents. This isn't helping them train at all." Chen An sighed.

"Master."

After two more dull matches, Meng Yiran had recovered fairly well, so she stopped resting.

The match between Luo Xiaoshi and Ning Rongrong was coming up.

"Mm."

Chen An didn't say much. If Meng Yiran wanted to watch, she could. He glanced at her and saw nothing seriously wrong.

She just couldn't fight for the time being. It wasn't a big problem.

He'd make some medicinal food and prepare a medicinal bath later. She'd be back to normal by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.

"Teacher, I'm going up."

Luo Xiaoshi was still as humble as ever. He respectfully informed Chen An, though his eyes were already blazing with fighting spirit.

"Master, I'm going too."

Ning Rongrong imitated him and gave her own announcement, looking forward to the match.

Whether she was a Demon Pill or a Little Witch, Chen An could tell she was about to pull a sneaky trick. He nearly laughed, then began to twitch.

Who had taught this kid to use underhanded tricks? A Soul Master shouldn't learn things like that. Oh, right. He'd taught her. Never mind.

"Stone, don't lose this match. And protect Junior Sister Rongrong," Zhu Zhuqing said quietly before Luo Xiaoshi went up.

They'd joined the sect on the same day. How could they not know each other's strengths and weaknesses? They'd sparred more times than they could count.

During training, Luo Xiaoshi was the only one who could keep up with her without using Soul Skills.

"Don't worry, Senior Sister. Junior Sister won't get hurt. I'll also teach that guy another lesson for you."

Luo Xiaoshi replied with a smile, as if he felt no pressure at all.

He led Ning Rongrong onto the arena, while Dai Mubai brought Oscar up from the opposite side.

"Let's welcome the Seven-Battle Duo!"

The host's voice rang out, and the crowd erupted. Shrek and Phantom Star were facing off again, this time in the main event. Everyone was looking forward to it.

Normally, this sort of matchup wouldn't happen. By the rules, a team with a Soul Elder could only face another team with a Soul Elder.

Luo Xiaoshi and Ning Rongrong were both below level thirty. Under normal circumstances, the two teams wouldn't have been matched against each other at all. This was an exception.

"Now this is interesting."

Luo Xiaoshi found it interesting, but Chen An thought something was strange about the other team.

Dai Mubai was already level thirty-nine, on the verge of breaking through to level forty. And his foundation didn't look like it had been hastily built up. His progress seemed steady.

"Is this because of the gathering of fate again?" Chen An wondered.

Two of the original Shrek Seven Monsters had joined Phantom Star. Could the plane's will have restored that share of fate to the others to keep things balanced?

Chen An thought it over. That seemed the most likely explanation.

"Today, I'm settling the score with you!"

Dai Mubai hadn't forgotten what happened at the recruitment event. He'd been beaten so badly that he'd lost all face, and now Luo Xiaoshi was challenging him across a level gap. His anger flared.

Luo Xiaoshi ignored his opponent's taunts. He spun his Mystic Wood Staff in a flourish, then flicked it aside and stared straight at Dai Mubai.

"What are you supposed to be? A sick tiger daring to bare its fangs?"

He didn't claim he was there to teach Dai Mubai a lesson on Zhu Zhuqing's behalf, lest his opponent accuse him of playing dirty after losing.

As Luo Xiaoshi flicked his staff and took his stance, his aura surged, pressing toward the threshold of level thirty.

His Great Sage Scripture had broken through another minor realm recently, granting him an ability similar to the Heavenly Profound Three Transformations from Battle Through the Heavens.

"Begin!"

At the host's command, Dai Mubai immediately struck first, determined to seize the initiative.

"Seven Treasures Famous: First, Strength; Second, Speed."

When the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda appeared, the arena erupted in chatter. Few had expected to see this Martial Soul in the arena.

After giving Luo Xiaoshi his buffs, Ning Rongrong began to loiter around the arena like Oscar.

She was doing this because Luo Xiaoshi had asked her to let him fight alone for a while.

Otherwise, they'd already have started ganging up on their opponents. She was itching for a fight, too.

"Arhat Golden Body, activate! Take that, you old bastard!"

With his Golden Body active, Luo Xiaoshi charged straight at Dai Mubai. Things weren't as they'd been before. His Arhat Golden Body was now close to complete mastery.

Combined with his other improvements, he could withstand several attacks. So he still took a hit from his opponent in exchange for the initiative.

His staff came crashing down. Unfortunately, the gap between them was too great. The blow only made Dai Mubai ache a little; it didn't break through his defenses.

"??"

When the strike failed, Luo Xiaoshi twisted away from Dai Mubai's counterattack.

He wasn't a reckless brute. Seizing the initiative didn't mean he had to keep dodging around and eating Soul Skills. He thought quickly, met Ning Rongrong's eyes, and they silently agreed. Then he locked Dai Mubai in close combat.

"Damn it, not this again!"

Unable to break free, Dai Mubai grew frustrated. He didn't dare release his skills carelessly.

He missed nine times out of ten. If he used a weaker Soul Skill, it had no effect; if he tried something powerful, Luo Xiaoshi would sometimes interrupt him.

Now he could only follow Luo Xiaoshi's rhythm, struggling at close quarters and occasionally throwing out a skill.

Frustrated, he saw Ning Rongrong using support skills behind Luo Xiaoshi and shouted impatiently, "Oscar, I'm keeping this one occupied! Go attack the other one!"