Xie Yue and Hu Liena? Easily Defeated, Three Matches, Three Wins!

Xie Yue's figure emerged from the void, his Moon Blade slashing horizontally to cleave the flames in two.

However, his position was exposed as a result, and his speed advantage vanished in an instant.

Dugu Ce seized the opportunity and pressed forward.

The brilliant golden soul power of his Radiant Sacred Dragon transformed into a light shield before him, while the dark golden flames of his Calamity Sacred Dragon in his right hand condensed into a fire serpent, coiling toward Xie Yue's feet.

Xie Yue let out a cold snort, his Moon Blade spinning back to sever the fire serpent, but Dugu Ce had already closed the distance to within three paces.

"Close quarters."

Xie Yue's pupils constricted.

His Moon Blade was a long-range weapon; close-quarters combat was his weakness.

Dugu Ce smashed a fist toward Xie Yue's face, dark golden flames dancing upon his knuckles.

Xie Yue had no time to block with his Moon Blade and could only lean backward to dodge.

The fist grazed the tip of his nose, the scorching heat wave turning the skin between his brows red.

"Retreat!"

Xie Yue exerted force through his feet, attempting to widen the gap.

But Dugu Ce was faster.

His fourth soul ring lit up—Petrification Gaze.

Dark golden light erupted from his eyes, shining directly onto Xie Yue.

Xie Yue's movements suddenly stalled, and a layer of grayish-white stone texture appeared on the surface of his skin.

Although he was frozen for less than a second, it was enough.

Dugu Ce reached out with his right hand, grabbed Xie Yue's wrist, and dark golden flames surged from his palm, pouring into Xie Yue's meridians.

Xie Yue let out a muffled groan; his Moon Blade soul was scorched so violently by the flames that he nearly lost his grip.

"You lost."

Dugu Ce released his hand and stepped back.

Xie Yue looked down at the charred marks burned into his wrist, remained silent for a moment, and put away his Moon Blade.

"I lost."

He turned and walked off the Martial Arts Arena, whispering to Yan as he passed by:

"He was right; close quarters is my weakness."

Yan clutched his chest and gave a bitter smile:

"You're fine; I was beaten even worse."

Xie Yue said nothing more and returned to the stands to sit down.

Bibi Dong announced once again:

"Second match, Dugu Ce wins."

The exclamations from the stands had turned into gasps of awe.

"Two consecutive wins, he's already won!"

"Are they still going to fight the last match?"

"Even if Hu Liena goes up, she'll lose, right?"

Hu Liena stood up, her long golden hair shimmering with a soft luster under the sunlight.

She glanced at Dugu Yan and Dugu Xuan sitting in the stands, then looked at Dugu Ce in the center of the Martial Arts Arena, a meaningful smile curling the corners of her lips.

"Interesting."

Hu Liena leaped down, landing in the center of the Martial Arts Arena, face-to-face with Dugu Ce.

"The face of the Golden Generation has been completely lost by Yan and Xie Yue."

Hu Liena spoke, her voice carrying a natural, seductive charm.

"But it doesn't matter; I'll win it back for them in this final match."

Dugu Ce looked at her, his expression unchanged:

"Please."

Hu Liena activated Martial Soul Possession—Demon Fox.

Nine translucent fox tails flickered in and out of existence behind her, and a layer of pink light welled up in her golden pupils.

Two yellow, two purple, and one black soul ring appeared beneath her, confirming she was also at level fifty-one.

"Do you know what my ability is?"

Hu Liena walked slowly toward Dugu Ce, each step carrying a strange, rhythmic cadence.

"Charm."

Dugu Ce replied calmly.

"But it's useless against me."

"Whether it's useful or not, you'll only know after trying."

Hu Liena's third soul ring lit up—Charm Light.

Pink light spread from her eyes, enveloping the entire Martial Arts Arena.

Some young soul masters in the stands were swept by the light, their eyes instantly turning dazed, saliva dripping from the corners of their mouths, looking completely foolish.

But Dugu Ce stood where he was, his eyes remaining clear.

"I said, it's useless."

Dugu Ce spoke indifferently.

"Your charm stirs up desire, and I have no desire."

"No desire?"

Hu Liena did not believe him and continued to increase her soul power output.

The pink light became even more intense, almost condensing into a physical substance.

Countless images flashed through Dugu Ce's mind.

Memories of his past life, the hatred of this life, the future of the Dragon-Serpent Sect...

But these images were like they were behind a layer of glass, unable to touch him in the slightest.

"The Ice and Fire Golden Body tempers the mind as well."

Dugu Ce raised his right hand, dark golden flames dancing in his palm.

"Your charm is ineffective against me."

Hu Liena's expression changed slightly; she withdrew her charm and her fourth soul ring lit up—Demon Fox Clone.

Her figure split into three, and the three silhouettes lunged at Dugu Ce from three directions, making it impossible to distinguish the real from the fake.

Dugu Ce closed his eyes, his spiritual power sweeping across the entire arena.

"The one on the left is real."

He opened his eyes, his right hand condensing a ball of Magma Burst, and blasted it toward the figure on the left.

BOOM—!

That figure was sent flying backward by the explosion, and the other two clones dissipated along with it.

Hu Liena landed on the ground, her long golden hair stained with a bit of dust, yet a smile played on her face.

"Your spiritual power is indeed very strong, but I have found your weakness."

"What weakness?"

"You don't understand women."

Hu Liena stood up and brushed the dust off her skirt.

"You won. But I didn't lose because of my strength; I lost because you are a block of wood."

Dugu Ce was silent for a moment:

"A win is a win."

"Right, a win is a win."

Hu Liena turned and walked toward the stands, then turned back after a few steps:

"Hey, Dugu Ce, what other good things are in that Wishful Treasure Pouch of yours? Can you give me two stalks?"

Dugu Ce was stunned:

"...You aren't even short on herbs."

"Whether I'm short on them is my business; whether you give them to me is yours."

Hu Liena blinked.

"If you give them to me, I won't use charm on you next time we meet."

"You can't charm me anyway."

"I still want them."

Dugu Ce was speechless.

In the stands, Bibi Dong announced with an expressionless face:

"In the third match, Dugu Ce is the victor.

With three wins out of three, this Seat will formally nominate the Dragon-Serpent Sect for a position among the Upper Three Sects at the next Seven Great Sects Ranking Tournament."

Golden Crocodile Douluo laughed heartily, his voice making the stands hum:

"Good! Good! Good! My disciple should have this kind of momentum!"

Dugu Xuan stroked his beard, his eyes crinkling with a smile:

"This lad hasn't brought shame to the Dugu family."

Dugu Yan's eyes turned red with excitement:

"Ce is just too amazing!"

Yue Guan twirled the Companion Flower, in high spirits:

"Not bad, not bad at all. This old man didn't misjudge him."

Gui Mei glanced at him, too lazy to speak.

Dugu Ce stood in the center of the Martial Arts Arena, scanning the surrounding spectator stands.

Though gazes of astonishment, wariness, and fervor fell upon him, his expression remained calm.

"The Dragon-Serpent Sect has finally secured its footing."

He turned and walked off the Martial Arts Arena, heading toward Dugu Xuan and Dugu Yan.

Behind him, Bibi Dong's gaze followed him the entire time, until his figure disappeared into the passageway.

"Elder Golden Crocodile."

Bibi Dong suddenly spoke.

"Hm?"

"This disciple of yours... you chose well."

Golden Crocodile Douluo grinned:

"That goes without saying."

Bibi Dong said nothing more, rising to leave the main spectator stand. Yue Guan and Gui Mei followed closely behind.

As they walked out of the Martial Arts Arena, Yue Guan couldn't help but ask:

"Your Majesty, what is your assessment of that lad?"