After finishing the registration at the front desk, they handed over the token. The six characters "Thousand Mechanisms and Hundred Refinements Fu Qin" gleamed on it.
Soon, the Soul Fighting match officially began.
The first to take the stage were Tang San and Xiao Wu's San-Wu Combo. Their opponents were none other than the Iron Hammer Combo from the original story.
Tie Long and Tie Hu, two Level 25 Power Attack System Soul Elders.
Tang San still used Blue Silver Grass for control, while Xiao Wu launched close-range attacks. The two worked together seamlessly.
Although Tie Long and Tie Hu's Martial Souls were powerful, Tang San's control kept them firmly suppressed. It wasn't long before they were defeated.
"The San-Wu Combo wins!" the referee announced. Tang San smiled at Xiao Wu, wanting to share the joy of victory with her, only to find her somewhat distracted. It felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over his heart.
[The Intelligence-Reducing Halo took effect. Tang San concluded, "Xiao Wu is only thinking about her own future, so she feels a little melancholy."]
"Next match: the Qin-Rong Combo versus the Thunder-Fire Combo!"
At the referee's announcement, Fu Qin led Ning Rongrong by the hand onto the Soul Fighting stage.
The two Soul Elders of the Thunder-Fire Combo had already been waiting onstage. One had a Thunder Wolf Martial Soul, the other a Fire Leopard Martial Soul. Both were Level 34 Power Attack System Soul Elders, and their strength was not to be underestimated.
"An auxiliary type and a control type as a team? Are they here to give away points?"
The Thunder Wolf Soul Elder sneered, his eyes sweeping over Ning Rongrong with disdain.
The Fire Leopard Soul Elder chimed in, "That girl looks so delicate, I bet she wouldn't even dare use a Soul Skill. We can just take out the man first."
Ning Rongrong's face went pale with anger when she heard that. She was just about to lash out when Fu Qin gently pressed a hand to her shoulder.
"Don't be angry. Just wait, and we'll show them what we can do."
Fu Qin smiled warmly as he reassured her.
[Fate Origin and Dissipation Max+ took effect. Ning Rongrong's trust in Fu Qin reached its peak.]
[Ning Rongrong's thoughts: Brother Fu Qin must have a way. I need to support him properly and not let him down!]
As soon as the match began, the Thunder Wolf Soul Elder unleashed his first Soul Skill, "Thunder Strike." A bolt of purple lightning came crashing down toward Fu Qin.
The Fire Leopard Soul Elder transformed into a streak of flame and pounced on Ning Rongrong, evidently hoping to take out the support first.
"Rongrong, boost my strength and speed!"
Fu Qin called out in a low voice.
The two Hundred-Year Soul Rings behind him shone with dazzling light.
His first Soul Skill, "Hundred Refinements: Materialization," and his second Soul Skill, "Divine Mechanism: Object Manipulation," activated at the same time.
The nine Mysterious Iron throwing knives at his waist instantly shot out.
Ning Rongrong immediately urged the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda. Two dazzling beams of light shot toward Fu Qin.
"Brother Fu Qin, catch!" His strength and speed instantly surged by twenty percent, and Fu Qin's movements grew even quicker.
Fu Qin controlled the nine throwing knives, instantly blocking Thunder Strike. At the same time, he flashed in front of Ning Rongrong, shielding her and evading the Fire Leopard Soul Elder's attack.
"Heavenly Eye: Construction!"
His third Soul Skill activated. In his state of Unity of Heaven and Man, he clearly picked out both opponents' weaknesses.
"Cheap tricks!" the Thunder Wolf Soul Elder roared.
His second Soul Skill, "Thunder Claw," activated. His sharp claws, crackling with lightning, swiped at Fu Qin.
The Fire Leopard Soul Elder also unleashed his second Soul Skill, "Fire Pounce." Flames wrapped around his claws as he attacked from the side, pinning Fu Qin between them.
Fu Qin didn't panic in the slightest. He controlled the nine throwing knives to form a defensive barrier. At the same time, Soul Power flowed through his fingertips, and he lightly pointed toward the two opponents.
"Hundred Refinements: Materialization" activated again. The fragments of stone on the ground were instantly refined, then controlled by his second Soul Skill, "Divine Mechanism: Object Manipulation," and sent flying toward their joints and acupoints.
The Thunder Wolf Soul Elder and the Fire Leopard Soul Elder hadn't expected Fu Qin's attacks to be so strange. They hurriedly channeled their Soul Power to defend themselves.
But the iron needles were so tiny, and they targeted the gaps in their defenses with such precision that quite a few still broke through and pierced their flesh.
"Ah!" They both screamed at once, their movements instantly slowing.
Fu Qin seized the opportunity, controlling the nine throwing knives as they shot toward the two men's vital points like nine streaks of silver light.
The Thunder Wolf Soul Elder and the Fire Leopard Soul Elder were horrified. In desperation, they unleashed their third Soul Skills, "Thunder Explosion" and "Fire Burn," in a last-ditch attempt to fight back.
Lightning and flames erupted in a massive burst, engulfing the entire Soul Fighting stage.
Ning Rongrong cried out in alarm and instinctively clung to Fu Qin's arm.
Fu Qin shielded her behind him, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. "Love Massage!"
He flashed forward like a phantom, slipping through the flames and lightning before slamming his palm into the vulnerable spot on the Thunder Wolf Soul Elder's back.
Silk-fine internal energy mixed with Soul Power and surged into the Thunder Wolf Soul Elder's body. His whole body stiffened, the ferocity on his face instantly replaced by an overwhelming sense of bliss, and his Soul Power rapidly dwindled.
Fu Qin pressed his advantage, striking the vulnerable spot on the Fire Leopard Soul Elder's back with another palm. The same technique, the same effect.
In mere moments, the Thunder Wolf Soul Elder and the Fire Leopard Soul Elder lay limp on the ground, unable to move, their faces frozen in dazed bliss.
"The Qin-Rong Combo wins!" the referee announced, his voice tinged with disbelief.
No one had expected two Level 35 Power Attack System Soul Elders to be defeated so easily by a team made up of an auxiliary type and a control type.
Ning Rongrong excitedly threw her arms around Fu Qin and cheered.
"Brother Fu Qin, we won! You're amazing!" Her cheek pressed tightly against Fu Qin's chest as she felt his steady heartbeat. Her heart was full of admiration and affection.
[Ning Rongrong's favorability +20, current score: 167]
Below the stage, Xiao Wu watched the two embrace, and the jar of jealousy in her heart shattered completely.
[Xiao Wu's thoughts: Little brother Fu Qin, you're supposed to be mine... Why are you so close to Ning Rongrong? I'm so sad...]
Thinking back on what had happened between them over the past two nights, Xiao Wu couldn't help feeling a surge of unease.
She was afraid that little brother Fu Qin would find her repulsive and turn his attention entirely to Ning Rongrong instead.
Tang San watched Xiao Wu's wounded expression.
His thoughts churned.
After spending these six years together, Tang San knew perfectly well that Xiao Wu truly regarded Fu Qin as her little brother.
Back when their Wutong had been taken advantage of by that brat Huo Yuhao, Xiao Wu had felt the same way.
[The Intelligence-Reducing Halo took effect. Tang San concluded, "Xiao Wu regards Fu Qin as her little brother. After seeing how close Fu Qin and Ning Rongrong are, she thinks Ning Rongrong has taken away the special sibling affection Fu Qin had only for her."]
[Tang San's thoughts: Sigh, she's just too softhearted. Xiao Wu is far too sensitive. I'll comfort her properly when we get back. But I can't let Fu Qin and Ning Rongrong grow closer, either. Ning Rongrong can only end up with Oscar.]
Standing to one side, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were both stunned.
Dai Mubai couldn't help saying, "Fu Qin's strength is terrifying! He took out two Level 35 Soul Elders with just two palm strikes."
Ma Hongjun looked even more envious. "Not only is he strong, but that handsome face of his is even more outrageous than Oscar's. He hasn't left us any way to survive!"
Oscar sighed when he saw this, the grievance in his heart growing heavier.
He felt that he had treated Ning Rongrong so well, yet she only had eyes for Fu Qin. He was nothing but a joke.