Establishing Authority

Since Lin Beiya didn't know what was good for him, the shame Xiong Chumo had felt for picking on someone younger quietly faded away. Now, he just wanted to teach him a lesson.

With a roar like a giant bear's, Xiong Chumo immediately entered Martial Soul Possession. His optimal spirit ring configuration of two yellow rings and one purple ring lived up to his status as the grandson of a Titled Douluo.

"Second Soul Skill: Violent Strength."

After entering Martial Soul Possession, Xiong Chumo had already grown a full size larger. Now, with his Second Soul Skill boosting him, the muscles across his body bulged like granite, brimming with power.

Feeling strength coursing through him after activating the boost, Xiong Chumo's confidence soared. He stepped forward and charged straight at Lin Beiya, who still had his eyes closed.

In his eyes, Lin Beiya was practically asking to die by acting so arrogant.

"Lie down, brat! I'll be the one to inherit your title of invincible among your peers."

"Third Soul Skill: Fury Strike."

His plan was sound: while his opponent underestimated him, he would go all out and take him down in one burst. He didn't hold back his Third Soul Skill in the slightest, nor did he care that people might say he was using his Soul Power advantage to bully someone.

In his eyes, failing to win would be the real disgrace.

His pair of bear paws, shimmering with a reddish-gold glow, went straight for Lin Beiya's face. He imagined that this single strike would leave the kid dead or grievously wounded.

But the scene he'd pictured, with Lin Beiya on his knees, wailing in pain, never came. Just as the bear claws were about to reach him, Lin Beiya appeared at his flank as if he'd teleported, easily dodging the attack.

His strike missed. Xiong Chumo quickly suppressed his surprise, spun around, and lunged at Lin Beiya again. But every one of his attacks came up empty. After several dozen minutes, he was the one panting from having gone all out the entire time.

"Y-you bastard! So much for being invincible among your peers. Are you planning to wear every Soul Master your age down by dodging?"

"Do you have the guts to fight me head-on?"

Before Lin Beiya could respond, his Elite Class classmates below the arena were already fuming.

"Have you no shame? You're old enough to have gone through the Primary Academy twice, and you're still making demands?"

"Exactly! Why not have Bei Ya stand there without moving and let you hit him?"

"You're the one who's clumsy and heavy. Now you're blaming your opponent? Isn't dodging part of fighting?"

"..."

Hearing the curses from below the arena, Xiong Chumo was mortified and enraged.

"Cut the crap! Since this kid accepted my challenge, he should fight me head-on! Otherwise, how can he call himself invincible at the academy? I won't accept it!"

Lin Beiya raised a hand to stop his classmates from arguing back. The Divine Statue of his Martial Soul appeared in his hand, and his purple Soul Ring shot skyward in a golden beam.

The next moment, the Taurus Gold Cloth enveloped him, and he assumed the Iai stance, arms folded across his chest.

"You won't accept it, huh? Then let's change the rules. If you can make me move even one step, you win."

"Are you serious?"

Hearing Lin Beiya's confident declaration, Xiong Chumo was overjoyed. What could feel better than beating up a target that couldn't move?

Unlike Xiong Chumo, Lin Beiya's classmates were hopping with frustration. With his speed advantage, he could wear his opponent down without taking a scratch. Why choose such a stupid approach?

"Bei..."

Ignoring the shouts below, Lin Beiya kept his eyes shut and crooked a finger at Xiong Chumo in a taunting gesture, inviting him to attack.

The fury of being looked down on once again filled Xiong Chumo's mind. I couldn't hit you before, but now that you've trapped yourself, you can't blame me.

"Die! Fury Strike!"

Once again, his claws concealed a reddish-gold glow. The difference was that this time, Lin Beiya wouldn't dodge.

As the pair of bear claws neared Lin Beiya's body, Xiong Chumo's grin turned wild. But before he could enjoy his triumph, his smile froze.

The bear claws struck Lin Beiya's body, yet it was like grabbing at a cloud of air; they veered off to the side. At the same time, Xiong Chumo felt countless fists pummeling him. The blows rained down like drops of water, soon sending him flying. He rolled several dozen meters before finally coming to a stop at the edge of the arena.

"Ugh!"

Flipping onto his back, Xiong Chumo stared in disbelief. He hadn't even seen how Lin Beiya had thrown his punches.

He struggled to his feet and asked through gritted teeth,

"What did you just do?"

"Hmph. You can't even see your opponent's attacks? This is as good as you'll ever get. Go home and train for another two and a half years. Of course, that's assuming I don't train at all during that time."

Seeing Xiong Chumo still able to stand, Lin Beiya thought to himself that bear-type Martial Souls had astonishingly resilient bodies. If Little Angel had taken a hit like that...

Ahem... Hitting your wife is wrong. We should put a stop to that.

With just one sentence, Lin Beiya had taunted Xiong Chumo into a towering rage. And with countless students below clapping and cheering, he felt his old face burning.

"Damn brat, don't get too cocky! You haven't beaten me yet."

Blinded by rage, Xiong Chumo charged at Lin Beiya again, heedless of everything. The result was exactly the same as before: his huge, bloated body went flying once more.

After who knew how many times he'd been knocked down, Xiong Chumo could only get back up through sheer bodily instinct. Defiance still burned in his eyes. He believed Lin Beiya had beaten him with cheap tricks.

"Don't get too pleased with yourself. I'll figure out your little trick!"

Lin Beiya smiled disdainfully. Not only could Xiong Chumo not break through his Iai Barrier now, he wouldn't be able to do it even in another fifty years.

"A frog in a well will forever stare at the patch of sky above it. Let me show you the true gap between us."

As Xiong Chumo watched in shock, Lin Beiya spread his arms for the first time. Behind him, a Golden Bull bellowed with imposing force.

"Great Horn!"

"Stop!"

A booming shout to halt rang out at the same time as the Golden Bull charged, but it was already too late.

Xiong Chumo's Soul Power was nearly exhausted. When the Golden Bull's phantom struck him, he was like a drunk hit by a speeding truck. He flew from the arena like a kite with its string cut, spitting a stream of blood.

An old man also appeared at that moment, catching Xiong Chumo with one hand.

After examining his injuries, the old man fixed Lin Beiya with a furious glare.

"Didn't you hear me tell you to stop? Why did you show my grandson such cruelty?"

From the old man's way of addressing Xiong Chumo, everyone guessed his identity: Demon Bear Douluo of the Elder Hall.

"My apologies. I wasn't able to stop in time. Your grandson came to challenge me for no reason, and he refused to admit defeat throughout the fight. If I hadn't already held back half my strength, he'd probably be dead by now."

"That's right! Xiong Chumo was the one who came to provoke him. He bullied someone younger and forced Bei Ya to fight head-on."

"Exactly! He demanded a head-on fight, and look what happened!"

"You're not going to bully someone younger like your grandson, are you?"

Taunted by a crowd of brats, Demon Bear Douluo's face flushed red, and even the finger he pointed at them trembled.

"You... you lot..."