A Sword Kill!

"Don't hold back in the Soul Duel. Fight however you need to."

"Preferably, use all the sword techniques your master taught you so I can keep a record."

Before the entrance passage, Yue Guan gave Jiang Liang these instructions.

Jiang Liang merely shrugged.

"That depends on how strong my opponent is."

"If they can't even take one strike from me, I can't exactly throw the match, can I?"

Yue Guan was momentarily speechless, then laughed and ruffled his head again.

This brat was really getting more and more cocky.

Those who came to the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena for Soul Duels were all formidable Soul Masters.

Among them were Soul Elders, Soul Ancestors, and even Soul Saints.

Defeat those experts with a single sword strike?

He truly wanted to see whether this brat could pull it off.

"Get in there already. The Soul Duel is about to begin. Don't be late when they call your name."

"Alright, I'm going."

Jiang Liang waved. "Uncle, just watch from the stands while I tear through everyone!"

With that, he stepped into the entrance passage.

Yue Guan watched his retreating back and chuckled before turning toward the spectator entrance.

At that moment, more than a dozen Soul Masters waiting for their Soul Duels had gathered in the entrance passage.

There were men and women among them, ranging from their thirties to their fifties. Every one of them carried the air of a battle-hardened veteran.

When they saw Jiang Liang appear beside them, they were all stunned.

They had not been in the registration hall earlier, so they had no idea what had happened there.

Seeing a six- or seven-year-old child appear here, they assumed he had taken a wrong turn.

"Hey, kid, are you lost? This is the Soul Duel waiting area, not a place for children to play."

Jiang Liang glanced at them and gave an innocent smile.

"I'm not lost. I'm here to participate in a Soul Duel too."

"You're here for a Soul Duel too?"

The corners of everyone's mouths twitched.

No way, this little child was here to duel too?

Ignoring their shocked and curious stares, Jiang Liang found himself a spot and sat down.

He had no idea when it would be his turn, and he was terribly bored, so he simply began chatting with Sword Mother in his Sea of Consciousness.

As time passed,

he watched the Soul Masters take the stage one after another for their Soul Duels.

Yet every one of them returned with injuries of varying severity.

That was the nature of the Great Soul Arena.

Who knew how long he waited.

At last, Jiang Liang heard the host outside call his alias.

"Now! Please welcome, with your warmest applause—Black Tiger!"

In an instant, deafening cheers swept through the entire arena.

"Black Tiger, a level forty-one Soul Ancestor, with the Black Tiger Martial Soul."

"He has already achieved nine consecutive victories in one-on-one Soul Duels."

"If he wins this match, his badge will advance to the Bronze Soul Badge rank."

Jiang Liang looked toward the arena with curiosity.

Standing on the stage was a middle-aged man with thick black hair.

The man was burly, his muscles bulging. Black tiger markings covered his exposed arms, and a fierce beastly aura faintly radiated from his body.

Was this his opponent?

Eager to try, Jiang Liang jumped to his feet, patted the dust from himself, and waited for the host to call his name.

"Next, please welcome Black Tiger's opponent—Cold Sword Immortal!"

"According to his registration information, this Soul Master contestant is very young, yet he possesses the strength of a level thirty-five Soul Elder."

"And this is his first time participating in a Soul Duel at the Great Soul Arena."

"A level thirty-five Soul Elder is indeed impressive."

"However, compared to Black Tiger, he may still be slightly inferior."

"Now, let us look forward to the battle between these two!"

Under the curious gazes of the entire arena, Jiang Liang walked onto the stage step by step.

At that moment, everyone froze.

"What the hell? Why is that little kid getting on the stage?!"

"Are you kidding me? That little runt is a level thirty-five Soul Elder?"

"Black Tiger is going to have an easy win. This opponent is way too young!"

"Damn it, what a loss! I thought Cold Sword Immortal sounded strong, but he's just a little brat!"

"What's wrong with the Great Soul Arena? Why did they let a little kid in?"

"Black Tiger, tear him apart for me! Let this brat know this isn't a place for him!"

Black Tiger on the stage was also stunned for quite a while.

He had originally thought his opponent in this match might be a tough one.

He had not expected a little brat!

Black Tiger thought the Great Soul Arena was going easy on him, and joy immediately filled his heart.

He looked down at Jiang Liang, crooked a finger at him, then made a throat-slitting gesture.

In contrast, Jiang Liang remained calm, without the slightest trace of fear. He possessed a composure entirely unlike someone his age.

After walking onto the stage, he raised his thumb, then slowly pressed it downward.

That gesture instantly enraged Black Tiger.

"Brat! You dare provoke me like that?!"

With the atmosphere so heated,

the host on the elevated platform immediately announced,

"Let the Soul Duel begin!"

"I don't care how old you are. If you dare stand here, you'd better be prepared to die!"

Black Tiger sneered as black Soul Power ignited around his body like flames.

"Black Tiger Martial Soul, Martial Soul Possession!"

With the Black Tiger Martial Soul Possession, his body abruptly swelled by an entire size.

Thick black fur covered his arms, sharp tiger claws sprang from his fingertips, and a ferocious beastly aura instantly swept across the arena.

At the same time, one white, two yellow, and one purple Soul Ring emerged beneath his feet, fully exposing the aura of a high-level Soul Ancestor.

"Roar—!"

He threw back his head and let out a thunderous roar that drowned out the screams and shouts of the audience.

Then, he stomped hard, shattering the stone slabs of the stage. Like a tiger pouncing on its prey, he charged straight at Jiang Liang with unstoppable force!

Seeing this, Yue Guan narrowed his eyes slightly from the spectator stands.

"His momentum is certainly impressive. Brat, how will you deal with this?"

His gaze remained fixed on Jiang Liang, yet Jiang Liang did not move at all. He merely raised a hand and summoned his Martial Soul.

He did not even reveal his Soul Rings?

Was he that confident?

By then, Black Tiger had already pounced in front of him.

Those sharp tiger claws tore toward him on a savage gale, about to rip him apart!

At that very instant!

Jiang Liang suddenly moved.

He lightly flicked his wrist.

The Cold Moon Sword transformed into an extremely thin streak of icy blue light, so fast that only an afterimage remained.

There were no unnecessary techniques, nor any flashy movements.

Only the simplest, fastest sword strike.

"Ssh—!"

Before Black Tiger could even react, intense pain erupted in his chest.

Then, his entire body flew backward like a kite with its string cut.

He finally landed at the edge of the arena, struggled a few times, and fainted.

All he left everyone with was a fine, silvery blood mark across his chest. A layer of cold ice crystals had formed around the wound, and frost continued to spread slowly.

In an instant, the entire arena fell into deathly silence.

Only Jiang Liang's voice echoed through it.

"What? I thought you were supposed to be strong. That was it?"

As he spoke, he twirled his sword in a flourish and coolly turned to walk off the stage.