"Oh my!"
"That golden hair, those wicked eyes..."
"Could this be the legendary Star Luo Prince?"
"The genius who possesses the White Tiger Martial Soul, an ancient divine beast?"
"His Highness Dai Mubai?"
Dai Mubai froze for a moment.
Then he puffed out his chest.
His chin lifted slightly.
Though he had fled, his status as a prince was still his greatest source of pride.
He hadn't expected anyone to recognize him in this desolate wilderness.
It seems this prince's reputation really does ring far and wide.
"Indeed."
"That's me."
"Who are you?"
Though Dai Mubai asked the question, his eyes remained fixed on Hu Liena.
Lin Qiu stepped forward.
He blocked Dai Mubai's line of sight.
His expression grew even more fervent.
"I am Lin Qiu."
"Just a wandering Soul Master."
"I've long heard of Your Highness Dai's great reputation. It rings like thunder in my ears."
"Seeing you today, you truly are distinguished and imposing. Great Emperor... no, I mean, your domineering presence is simply overflowing."
"I've admired Your Highness's Martial Soul for a long time."
"Would you be willing to give me a few pointers?"
"Let me witness the legendary might of the White Tiger?"
Dai Mubai withdrew his gaze.
He looked Lin Qiu up and down.
The boy seemed about his age, and there was no aura of a powerful expert about him.
On top of that, he had such a humble, flattering manner.
Dai Mubai immediately felt a surge of disdain.
Looks like he's some country bumpkin who's never seen the world.
Trying to raise his own standing by challenging a prince?
He'd met plenty of people like that back in the Star Luo Empire.
Perfect.
He could show off his strength in front of the beauty and win her favor, too.
Dai Mubai's lips curled slightly.
A confident smile appeared on his face.
"Fine."
"Since you're so sincere."
"I'll grant your request."
"But fists and feet have no eyes."
"If you get hurt, don't say I didn't warn you."
Hearing Dai Mubai's confident warning, Lin Qiu showed not the slightest anger. Instead, genuine gratitude welled up in his eyes.
What a good person!
He's not only come right to me to help me complete the system mission, he's even thoughtfully offered to go easy on me.
Lin Qiu thought to himself that since the Star Luo Prince was being so considerate, he should show some restraint when he struck, too. It would be quite unlucky if he accidentally punched the prince to death.
Lin Qiu gave a slight nod and said gently:
"Then I thank you, Brother Dai, for going easy on me."
Seeing how sensible this "commoner Soul Master" was, Dai Mubai's vanity was thoroughly satisfied.
He turned to Hu Liena, standing nearby, and glanced at her with a hint of showmanship. Then he puffed out his chest and said loudly:
"You two ladies can watch from the side. If you're worried about getting caught in the crossfire, you can step back a little farther."
Lin Qiu's lips twitched slightly, but he said nothing.
He simply stood where he was, arms hanging naturally at his sides, his body relaxed, with not a hint of tension before the coming battle.
Seeing this, Dai Mubai stopped wasting words and let out a low shout:
"White Tiger, Possession!"
At his booming command, Dai Mubai's bones crackled loudly throughout his body.
His already tall frame swelled even larger in an instant, stretching his clothes until they bulged tight.
His golden hair turned black and white. A clear "王" mark appeared on his forehead, his hands became enormous tiger paws, and claws extended from his fingertips, gleaming coldly.
Most striking of all, two rings of light slowly rose beneath his feet.
Two bright yellow Soul Rings pulsed beneath him, radiating the Soul Power fluctuations of a Soul Grandmaster.
Hu Liena blinked her naturally seductive eyes and let out an admirably timed gasp:
"Oh! It's a Beast Martial Soul, the White Tiger? And he's a two-ring Soul Grandmaster!"
Her voice held just the right touch of surprise. To Dai Mubai, it sounded even sweeter than the most beautiful music in the world.
Dai Mubai smiled proudly, his gaze sweeping over the "scared stiff" boy before him. He felt even more confident.
A twelve-year-old Soul Grandmaster was a genius among geniuses anywhere.
This plainly dressed wandering Soul Master before him probably wasn't even a Soul Master. Even if he'd awakened a Martial Soul, he'd barely be a beginner.
"Kid, since we're sparring, show me your Martial Soul, too."
Dai Mubai folded his arms. Even while maintaining his Martial Soul Possession, he still held himself like a superior.
Lin Qiu looked calm, almost nonchalant.
Hu Liena stood to the side, her beautiful eyes full of anticipation.
She knew how powerful Lin Qiu was. She also knew just how astonishing the Martial Soul of this adopted son of His Holiness the Pope was.
All she wanted was to see the look on the arrogant Star Luo Prince's face when that terrifying Martial Soul appeared before him.
Lin Qiu looked at Dai Mubai and asked quietly:
"Are you sure you want me to show you my Martial Soul?"
Dai Mubai raised an eyebrow and said impatiently:
"If I tell you to show it, then show it. Why are you dragging your feet? I've already said I'll go easy on you, so naturally I won't take advantage of you while you're activating your Martial Soul. Besides, with my top-tier White Tiger Martial Soul, why would I be afraid of you?"
In his eyes, there was no suspense to this fight. He couldn't imagine how he could possibly lose.
Lin Qiu sighed softly and shook his head, helpless.
Since the other man was so insistent, he might as well indulge him.
Lin Qiu slowly raised his right hand, palm facing upward.
Bzz—
A strange buzzing suddenly filled the air. Then a lush, emerald lotus slowly emerged from his palm.
The lotus was a vibrant green, with three leaves. Wisps of chaotic energy curled around it. Though it looked miraculous, it gave off no particularly violent or aggressive aura.
The Chaos Green Lotus.
Seeing the plant, the last trace of wariness in Dai Mubai's heart vanished, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Tch, so it's just a Plant-type Martial Soul. It looks pretty enough, I suppose, but it's probably just for decoration..."
Before Dai Mubai could finish speaking, he suddenly froze in place.
Something was wrong!
His pupils contracted sharply, and he stared fixedly at the ground beneath Lin Qiu's feet.
The instant the Green Lotus appeared, a deep, pitch-black ring radiating a terrifying, oppressive aura rose beneath Lin Qiu's feet without warning, hovering quietly beside him.
Black.
Pure black.
That was the color of a Soul Ring representing ten thousand years of cultivation!
The arrogance on Dai Mubai's face froze instantly, replaced by utter shock and stupefaction.
"A... a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?"
His voice trembled. His mind completely short-circuited.
How was this possible?!
How could his First Soul Ring be black?
According to the ironclad rules of the Soul Master World, the limit for a First Soul Ring was only a little over four hundred years. Even geniuses from great clans could manage, at best, a four-hundred-year Yellow Soul Ring.
Yet this boy, who looked even younger than him, had a First Soul Ring that was ten thousand years old?!
Though Hu Liena had already known, seeing the black ring with her own eyes still made her cover her red lips, her eyes shining with wonder.
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