The stands.
"Dream, who do you think will win?"
Ye Guyi leaned close to Meng Hongchen's ear and asked.
"In terms of overall strength, Ji Juechen can't compare to my brother. But if Xiao goes head-to-head with Ji Juechen and they pit their 'will' against each other..."
Meng Hongchen paused, then slowly pushed up a pair of nonexistent glasses on the bridge of her nose.
"Either of them could win... That's my answer."
The students around them weren't nearly so calm.
A sharp-eyed male student sprang to his feet. Pointing at the five Soul Rings slowly revolving beneath Xiao Hongchen's feet, he blurted out, his voice cracking, "Five Soul Rings! When did Xiao Hongchen become a Soul King?!"
The stands erupted.
"Five rings?! He's only thirteen, isn't he? That's ridiculous..."
"How did he become a Soul King in such a short time?"
A senior student beside him clutched his head, his face full of despair.
"That's it, I'm done for. I thought the Sword Fanatic had it in the bag, so I bet my entire half-month quota of rare metals."
"Serves you right. Who told you to gamble?"
His companion showed no mercy.
A few female students couldn't help whispering among themselves.
A short-haired girl's eyes shone as she murmured, "A Soul King at thirteen... And he's so handsome, too. I'm dead."
Another girl quietly agreed, her cheeks faintly flushed.
"I thought he'd gotten into Mingde Hall through family connections... But it turns out he really is strong. And his presence is incredible. That cold, confident air of his—you can't take your eyes off him..."
The girls were quietly praising him and swooning, while the boys were having a very different reaction.
Several of the boys looked rather unhappy. One clutched his head and grumbled under his breath, "Tch... Five rings at thirteen is impressive, sure. But isn't this guy way too arrogant? He walks around without even looking people in the eye."
Another boy snorted.
"Exactly. He gets into Mingde Hall and thinks he's the best in the world? That superior look of his really pisses me off. So what if he's a genius? He'll trip up sooner or later."
"Hope Ji Juechen puts him in his place," someone nearby chimed in. "Otherwise, he'll be even more insufferable around the academy."
The girls heard the boys' complaints and collectively rolled their eyes. One short-haired girl shot back under her breath, "You're just jealous. Of course he can afford to be a little arrogant when he's got the talent to back it up... Which of you could say the same?"
The boys were instantly left speechless. They could only continue scowling at the arena.
The Soul Fighting Arena.
Ji Juechen had finally finished building up his strength. His sword intent had reached its peak, and even from this distance, its sharpness made Xiao Hongchen feel as though his face were being pricked by a sword.
Without the slightest warning, Ji Juechen abruptly lifted his head. Two streaks of lightning seemed to flash in his eyes as he stared at Xiao Hongchen in the distance.
In the next instant, his whole body became a strange streak of light, skimming low over the ground as he shot toward Xiao Hongchen.
It was a gliding streak of light, moving so fast that it could only be described as lightning-fast.
Without any Soul Tools to assist him, this was the limit of a Soul King's speed. Even an agility-type Soul Master of the same level couldn't match that explosive burst.
With both hands gripping his sword, Xiao Hongchen slowly turned his body and swept the blade across.
The moment Ji Juechen darted forward, as if drawn by the same force, Xiao Hongchen moved too.
He planted his left foot forward, lowering his body slightly, his right fist tucked behind his chest and his left palm covering it.
Metal elements gathered over his knuckles, forming a nearly solid sheen. The space around his fist compressed to the utmost.
Then, with the help of the four Level Five Soul Tool Thrusters on his back, he flew toward Ji Juechen and threw a punch at the oncoming sword point.
"Black Flash!"
Luvme,luvme;hateme,hateme...
Xiao Hongchen had named this Self-Created Soul Skill "Black Flash." It had nothing to do with the real Black Flash, of course; it was just a tribute to Jujutsu Kaisen. He was going to become the Laughing Heavenly Emperor on Douluo Continent!
His golden right fist collided with the point of the Extraterrestrial Meteorite Sword.
The air across several dozen square meters seemed to collapse. Everything twisted and turned unreal.
The fist and sword remained locked together for about a second after the collision. Then, in the next instant, a thunderous explosion rang out.
"BOOM—"
The ground cracked and caved in around the point of impact, the damage spreading outward until it stretched thirty meters across before gradually stopping.
Xiao Hongchen and Ji Juechen were both thrown backward. Ji Juechen clutched the hilt of the Extraterrestrial Meteorite Sword with both hands. Blood poured from the web between his thumb and forefinger.
The sleeve of Xiao Hongchen's right arm had been completely blown apart. The metal coating he'd built up on his arm was slashed with countless fine cuts. A gash had opened across the back of his right hand, which had faced the sword point, and blood dripped from his fingers. Blood also trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Ji Juechen landed without moving. But the sharpness in his eyes had faded, replaced by a dazed look.
He didn't even seem to notice the blood running from the web of his hand and sliding down the Extraterrestrial Meteorite Sword.
The two of them stood facing each other. Neither seemed inclined to attack again.
"I lost."
Ji Juechen's face was deathly pale, but his eyes shone with excitement unlike anything he'd ever felt before.
Then he sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes. He sat there utterly motionless, like a statue. Clearly, he had entered a state of enlightened Deep Meditation.
"Thanks. I'm full," Xiao Hongchen said to Ji Juechen, who was already in Deep Meditation.
Hm? Why was it so quiet all around him? Weren't they supposed to cheer for him?
Xiao Hongchen glanced around. Every spectator was staring at him, waiting.
Wait, wait, wait.
What was going on?
He'd wanted to be like Huo Yuhao in the original story, entering Deep Meditation right after a hard-fought battle, but he just didn't feel it.
There was no flash of inspiration, no sudden sense of enlightenment that opened up the whole world before him. He couldn't exactly pretend to be meditating, could he?
Xiao Hongchen could only wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth with his left hand and turn toward the edge of the arena as if nothing had happened.
Meng Hongchen was the first to rush over.
"Brother! Are you okay? Your hand—"
"I'm fine." Xiao Hongchen took the handkerchief Ye Guyi offered and pressed it to the wound on his right hand. He lowered his eyes to look at it.
"It's just a flesh wound. If I don't get it treated, it'll heal on its own."
"That won't do." Meng Hongchen grabbed Ye Guyi by the arm and gently nudged her toward Xiao Hongchen.
"Guyi, take my brother to the infirmary and get him bandaged up. I'll go find Grandpa and deal with the aftermath. We can't just leave the arena wrecked like this."
She paused and held up one finger. "One hour. I won't come see you until an hour from now."
She gave Xiao Hongchen a wink, tossed her silvery hair, and turned to leave.
Xiao Hongchen stood where he was, watching her retreating figure.
Deal with the arena? Find Grandpa? Had Meng Hongchen ever voluntarily gone to Grandpa to report anything in her life? Unless she blew up Red Dust Manor, Grandpa wouldn't interfere.
The look on her face had clearly said, Brother, an hour should be enough time to apply some medicine and do a little something else, right?
Of course he understood the meaning behind his younger sister's words.
But... she was way too direct! And besides, don't underestimate me.
Ye Guyi stood beside him, her body visibly stiffening for a moment.
She'd clearly understood too. Her pale golden eyes lowered slightly, and her long lashes quivered.
Xiao Hongchen drew back his gaze and pressed the handkerchief against his right hand.
"Let's go. The infirmary."
Ye Guyi didn't answer. She simply turned and walked out, her steps half a beat faster than usual.
Before you continue