The Fastest Man!

"Welcome to the Great Soul Arena of Suotuo City!" The host's high-pitched, booming voice rang across the entire arena.

"In the upcoming one-on-one match, we have Battle Soul Elder Ximen Chuixue, who possesses the Tool Martial Soul Yellow Springs, facing Battle Soul Elder Wu Tao, who has already won three matches in a row and possesses the Beast Martial Soul Gale Lynx!"

In the audience, the others who had already finished their matches watched the arena with a pained look, then glanced at Xiao Wu.

Dai Mubai asked, "Why isn't Tian Yu using his real name?"

"He doesn't like using his real name," Xiao Wu said with a shrug. "Besides, there's no rule saying you have to use your real name, right?"

In fact, in the original story, everyone had used their real names when they first competed in Soul Fighting. Nobody had paid attention to anything else.

It wasn't until Yu Xiaogang arrived and assigned everyone numbers, then had them compete together in team matches, that they started paying attention to this.

Then he had everyone put on masks and use codenames in place of their real names.

Zhang Tianyu wanted to keep a low profile. The main reason was that he was so young yet such a high level. Though no one had taken an interest in him in his previous life, what if something happened in this one?

So he'd simply used a codename from the start to avoid trouble.

Applause rang out from the stands, and quite a few people shouted Wu Tao's name.

Clearly, Wu Tao had gained some popularity after winning three matches in a row.

That was great.

Zhang Tianyu loved beating up idols.

Especially in front of their fans!

The two contestants entered the arena.

Wu Tao was a lively-looking man, rather handsome, with regular features.

He looked to be under forty, and wore a black martial outfit. He was tall and well-built.

Zhang Tianyu nodded to himself. No wonder he had some fans; he looked pretty good to start with.

At the very least, he was much better-looking than Tang San.

Looking at Zhang Tianyu, with his long hair hanging over his shoulders and a strange mask on his face,

Wu Tao said nothing, but the audience below started running their mouths:

"What's wrong with this guy? Why's he wearing a mask?"

"Too ugly to show his face, I bet!"

"And Ximen Chuixue? Just hearing that name makes me sick!"

"Wu Tao, go for it! Take him down!"

"Wu Tao, I bet on you to win. Hurry up and make it four in a row!"

"In today's match, will Ximen Chuixue claim his first victory, or will Wu Tao win four matches in a row? Let's wait and see!"

"Contestants, get ready! The match begins!"

As soon as the host's words fell,

a fierce gust of wind swept across the arena.

In that instant, Wu Tao had already completed Martial Soul Possession. His muscles grew even more defined and bulging, his face took on a wild, beastlike cast, and several sharp teeth pushed out past his lips.

"Mm, this possession looks a bit like Zhu Zhuqing's," Zhang Tianyu said. "There's just something cool about cat-type Martial Soul Possession."

"Would you like me to switch yours?" the system asked.

"Never mind." Zhang Tianyu raised a hand. "I prefer my two swords."

Yellow Springs appeared soundlessly behind Zhang Tianyu, hovering quietly.

Wu Tao's First Soul Ring lit up. He leaped into the air and charged at Zhang Tianyu.

At the same time, two identical Wu Taos appeared from two other directions.

The three Wu Taos charged at Zhang Tianyu from three different directions.

This was Wu Tao's first Soul Skill, Triple Pounce.

In midair, the Second Soul Ring on Wu Tao's body lit up. His already incredible speed instantly increased even further.

Right after that, his Third Soul Ring lit up. All three Wu Taos opened their mouths and spat out three small tornadoes that rushed straight toward Zhang Tianyu.

Now Zhang Tianyu had to face attacks from six directions at once.

Watching the attacks close in, Zhang Tianyu still didn't move.

"Hey! Are you even going to fight?"

"Did that bastard get scared stiff?"

"If you're not fighting, hurry up and get lost!"

"Why are you just standing there, acting all tough?"

"Wu Tao, wipe him out!"

Zhang Tianyu acted as if he couldn't hear the garbage from the stands.

These people didn't know a thing. They were just a bunch of brainless idiots barking like mad dogs.

Once Zhang Tianyu took Wu Tao down, they'd immediately become his fans and lapdogs, crawling over to fawn on him.

There was no point taking idiots like these seriously.

Over with Shrek Academy,

"What's that kid doing? Why isn't he moving?" Flender frowned.

"Attacks coming from six directions at once. If he stays still, he'll be in danger," Dai Mubai said.

Xiao Wu and Tang San said nothing.

Of course they knew it was dangerous. Zhang Tianyu wasn't an idiot; he knew it too. There had to be a reason for his reaction.

Zhang Tianyu chuckled to himself. This guy really takes me seriously. He's going all out from the start, planning to take me down in one shot.

It felt good to be taken seriously.

So, in return, Zhang Tianyu raised a hand, and in an instant, black light burst across the arena!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Five consecutive explosions rang out. Wu Tao's two clones and all three tornadoes were shattered!

Wu Tao's original body was so startled that he slammed on the brakes right where he was!

The audience's howling fell silent, too!

Everyone from Shrek Academy stared with their eyes wide open!

H-how did he do that?!

Huh?

What happened?

What was that?

What had just happened?

How had the two clones and three tornadoes all vanished in an instant?

Wu Tao was the most bewildered of all.

As the one facing Zhang Tianyu directly on the arena, the instant his clones and tornadoes vanished, he'd suddenly had the illusion that his head had been severed from his body!

By the time he came to his senses, his clothes were soaked with cold sweat!

Then he noticed the Second Soul Ring glowing on Zhang Tianyu.

Wu Tao understood at once.

This Ximen Chuixue was strong! Incredibly strong!

Although they were the same level, both only Soul Elders, the gap in their strength was like the distance between heaven and earth!

He'd used all three of his Soul Skills, while his opponent had used only one Second Soul Skill.

And just now, that Second Soul Skill had been more than enough to kill him, but his opponent had merely taken out his clones and tornadoes. He'd shown mercy!

Thinking this, he ended Martial Soul Possession and cupped his fist toward Zhang Tianyu. "Thank you for showing mercy. I concede!"

Zhang Tianyu returned the gesture without saying a word, then turned and left.

"Uh! The winner of the first match is Ximen Chuixue!" Only then did the host react, loudly announcing the result.

"Come on! What was that?"

"What happened?"

"How did he lose? How did he win?"

"What just happened?"

"How did all the Soul Skills vanish in an instant?! Was the match fixed?"

"Wu Tao! Did you throw the match?"

Wu Tao didn't even look at the audience.

Though they'd cheered him on earlier, he was thoroughly sick of them.

He took one last, deep look at Zhang Tianyu's retreating figure, then turned and left as well.

"Well? How was my performance?" Zhang Tianyu asked with a smile as he joined the others from Shrek Academy.

"'How was it'?" Xiao Wu laughed. "You were incredible!"

"You broke his Soul Skills in an instant! Fast! That was insanely fast!" Dai Mubai said, full of admiration. "Tianyu, I feel like from now on, you might be the fastest man in Shrek Academy!"

Zhang Tianyu: ...