Confronting the Lion

Early morning, on the plaza in front of the Worship Hall.

Two figures stood facing each other on opposite sides of the plaza, while seven figures sat on the steps in front of the nearby Worship Hall, watching.

"Teacher, do you think Brother Zhen can beat Fourth Granduncle? Fourth Granduncle is really going to get serious this time."

Oscar held a watermelon larger than his own face, watching Su Zhen and Lion confront each other on the plaza, and asked Guang Ling, who was eating melon beside him.

"Oh my, Xiao Zhen's current strength is quite formidable; one could say he can crush any soul master under thirty. But Fourth Brother's hundred-plus years of combat experience is not something an ordinary soul master can handle. Even if Fourth Brother suppresses his Soul Power Level to the Soul King realm, he is no pushover."

Guang Ling swallowed the melon in his mouth and carefully analyzed the potential outcome of the duel for Oscar.

"Xiao Zhen is going to have a rough time of it this time."

"Fifth Elder, Little Ao, say less. The battle between Fourth Elder and Xiao Zhen is about to begin."

Azure Luan spoke up to stop their conversation.

On the plaza, the shirtless Lion revealed his robust, muscular physique, smiling as he stared at the Su Zhen standing opposite him.

"Xiao Zhen, I heard from Big Brother that you want to go out for training. Just because Big Brother agreed doesn't mean we allow you to leave. Today, as long as you can force me to use a soul skill beyond my first five, we won't say another word about your training. If you get beaten to the ground by me, then just obediently stay in the Worship Hall and cultivate until you reach Soul Douluo."

"Understood, Third Granduncle. I will give it my all."

The moment they finished speaking, they completed their Martial Soul Possession. The giant shadows of a Kirin and a Lion stood on either side, roaring at the sky. The spreading thunder and flames formed two fierce waves of air that collided with each other.

Lion's soul power erupted beneath his feet, and in the blink of an eye, he arrived before Su Zhen, swinging a right fist wrapped in flames directly at Su Zhen's chest.

Su Zhen reacted swiftly, thrusting his left fist forward to collide with Lion's right fist. The surging black thunder ground down the scorching flames, failing to cause Su Zhen any harm.

Bang!

A loud noise rang out, and the other hands of the two men collided in the same manner.

"Yo, Xiao Zhen has quite a bit of strength. To think he could remain motionless under Fourth Brother's punch."

Seeing the stalemate between the two, Guang Ling couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Su Zhen and Lion were locked in a stalemate, pitting their strength against each other. The body-tempering Su Zhen had undergone via the Immortal Herb and the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring prevented him from falling into a disadvantage the moment the battle began. However, the body of a Title Douluo like Lion was not something a Soul King like Su Zhen, even with his enhancements, could compare to. Within three minutes, Su Zhen would be blasted off the plaza by Lion's immense power.

"Second Soul Skill, Startling Thunder Flash!"

The second soul ring beneath Su Zhen's feet lit up. He transformed into a bolt of lightning, and the moment he retracted his fists, he appeared on Lion's right side, the Chidori in his palm chirping as it struck toward Lion.

"Hmph, good lad, are you trying to compete with me in speed?"

Lion took a step back, dodging Su Zhen's Chidori, and simultaneously utilized the momentum of Su Zhen's forward attack to kick out with his right leg, aiming for Su Zhen's waist.

The moment Lion's right leg was about to strike, Su Zhen extended his right arm to protect his waist. Lion's powerful attack landed on Su Zhen, sending him flying several meters before he came to a stop.

After rolling on the ground a few times, Su Zhen propped himself up and tore off his dust-covered shirt.

"Fourth Granduncle, that really hurt. Then this grandson will have to retaliate."

"First Soul Skill, Thunderstorm Shocking God Transformation!"

"Third Soul Skill, Thunder Kirin Clone!"

Su Zhen used his first and third soul skills in succession. A clone possessing seventy percent of Su Zhen's original strength appeared beside him.

The clone flashed to the right, appearing ten meters to Su Zhen's side, a Chidori condensing in its left hand.

A Chidori appeared in Su Zhen's right hand once more, and he raised it simultaneously with his clone, facing each other.

"Thunder Transmission!"

The Chidori of Su Zhen and his clone echoed each other at this moment. Two bolts of thunder instantly spread toward one another, intertwining in an instant. Black light flickered across the plaza as the two bolts of thunder formed a ten-meter-long black thunder beam.

The moment the black thunder beam formed, it surged toward Lion under the control of Su Zhen and his clone. In the blink of an eye, it appeared before Lion.

Lion sensed a massive threat from this thunder beam and leaped upward before it could strike his body.

"Thunder Prison Vine Right Arm Bone Skill, Thunder God Imprisonment!"

The moment Lion leaped, Su Zhen's right arm shone brilliantly. A thick, purple vine extended from his palm, instantly binding Lion. The thunder on the vine paralyzed Lion's body for an instant as he tried to break free.

Taking advantage of this moment, Su Zhen pulled Lion toward him with force, rotated his body, and delivered a roundhouse kick, sending Lion flying.

Lion stopped his spinning body in mid-air and landed on the ground, patting the footprint off his body.

"Third Soul Skill, Mad Lion Possession!"

Lion's overall attributes were further enhanced. Red flames surged over his body as he transformed into a red bolt of lightning, charging toward Su Zhen.

Seeing this, Su Zhen intensified his lightning output, transforming into black thunder as he charged forward to collide with Lion. The two bolts of lightning crashed together, stalled for an instant, then quickly separated before colliding again.

"Xiao Zhen is capable; to think he could fight Fourth Brother for so long."

Golden Crocodile watched the two bolts of thunder colliding and chasing each other on the plaza, unable to help but exclaim.

Boom!

After another collision, the two separated and stood on opposite sides.

"Xiao Zhen, I've had enough fun. Let's decide the winner in one move."

"Fifth Soul Skill, Mad Lion Hundred Rends!"

Countless phantom lion heads condensed around Lion. He pulled his fists inward, and all the lion head phantoms converged onto his fists. The scorching high temperature distorted the air around him.

"Fourth Soul Skill: Thunder Spirit Five Bodies!"

"Sorrow of the Thunder Spirit: Wrath of the Thunder God!"

Su Zhen unleashed all his enhancement soul skills, and the External Soul Bone atop his head manifested of its own accord.

The two looked up at one another, and the moment their gazes locked, they charged toward each other simultaneously.

Boom!

Their strongest strikes collided, and a brilliant radiance accompanied by a deafening roar engulfed the entire plaza.

As the light dissipated, the scene on the plaza revealed itself to everyone.

"What!"

"Xiao Zhen!"

"Old Third!"

The titled elders cried out in shock; the scene before them shattered their perceptions.

"Brother Zhen, Brother Zhen actually won against Fourth Granduncle!"

Oscar stared at the scene before him in disbelief.

On the plaza, Lion and Su Zhen stood in a deep crater, both of their fists having struck the other.

Lion looked at Su Zhen, whom he had struck in the chest, his eyes filled with shock. Feeling the fist pressed against his brow, a cold bead of sweat trickled down his temple.

Just now, the moment they struck each other, both had withdrawn their soul power to duel with raw physical strength. Compared to him striking Su Zhen's chest, the spot Su Zhen had struck—his brow—was far more lethal.

Su Zhen closed his eyes tightly and fell backward. The battle just now had pushed his body to its limit. The power contained within the body of a Titled Douluo is truly terrifying, was his final thought before he collapsed.

Lion stepped forward and caught the unconscious Su Zhen. There was no frustration in his eyes over losing the duel; instead, it was replaced by immense pride that Su Zhen had won.

"As expected of the peerless prodigy we raised."

The figures on the steps arrived beside the two, gazing at the unconscious Su Zhen with deep concern.

"Teacher, is Brother Zhen alright?"

Oscar's tone trembled with fear.

"He's fine, just soul power exhaustion, coupled with being knocked out by the full-force physical strike of a Titled Douluo. He'll be fine after a nap."

"Xiao Zhen has already grown to the point where he can go toe-to-toe with us old fellows. It is time for him to go out and gain some experience."

Qian Daoliu delivered the final verdict on the duel.