"You can rest assured about that. Xiao Yuan, release your Martial Soul."
At that, Lin Yuan nodded and immediately began his Martial Soul Possession.
"A Thousand-Year Soul Ring." Nan Shuishui drew in a sharp breath, her eyes widening.
Could this Thousand-Year Soul Ring belong to another Tyrant Dragon with a much higher cultivation?
If so, Nan Qiuqiu would have no chance of winning.
"Don't worry. My good-for-nothing disciple is all show and no substance."
"His Martial Soul is low quality. He risked his life to absorb a very weak Thousand-Year Soul Ring. Don't believe me? Feel it carefully."
Hearing Cao Xin's words, Nan Shuishui looked closely.
Though Lin Yuan's Martial Soul Possession took the form of a rare purple-black dragon, the strength of its dragon bloodline was indeed low.
That meant that once the fight began, Nan Qiuqiu's Martial Soul would have a strong advantage over his, enough to make up for the gap of one Hundred-Year Soul Ring.
"Xiao Yuan, show us your Soul Skill."
Cao Xin had barely finished speaking when Lin Yuan activated his Will of the Dragon on the spot.
In Nan Shuishui's experience, this child's Thousand-Year Soul Ring ought to have granted him a Soul Skill that enhanced his attributes.
But how could it...
"How could it be so weak? It's not even as good as some Ten-Year Soul Rings." Nan Shuishui frowned in surprise.
This was the weakest Thousand-Year Soul Skill Nan Shuishui had ever seen.
It was almost as if he hadn't gotten stronger at all. In her estimation, Lin Yuan's increase was around five percent.
"You saw it for yourself." Cao Xin put on a pained expression.
"My disciple was too eager for quick results. For the sake of some empty title, he forcibly absorbed a Thousand-Year Soul Ring from an insect-type Soul Beast. As a result, his Soul Skill regressed and became this weak."
"As his master, I'm heartbroken. His future is ruined."
Nan Shuishui couldn't help mulling it over. If that was the kind of opponent he was, Nan Qiuqiu could certainly fight him.
If Lin Yuan really were a Soul Master with a well-matched first Thousand-Year Soul Ring, Nan Qiuqiu would undoubtedly lose.
Such a crushing defeat would surely damage her confidence and leave her dispirited for a long time.
But Lin Yuan was different.
He was a Soul Master, but weak enough.
He had a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, but his Soul Skill was useless.
Whether she won or lost, the fight would be good training for Nan Qiuqiu.
If she won, she could use the fight to build her confidence. The Rouge Dragon Martial Soul was powerful, and she would inevitably face opponents above her level in the future.
If she lost, she'd gain some experience and learn what combat between Soul Masters was really like.
But... Nan Shuishui looked at Cao Xin suspiciously.
Could things really be this simple?
Apart from the handful of brainless fools, every Titled Douluo was shrewd.
Even if his disciple was hopeless and had absorbed a Soul Ring that didn't suit his Martial Soul, Cao Xin had no reason to let him become a stepping stone for someone else's child.
But she couldn't refuse.
It was against the rules for adults to intervene in a fight between the younger generation. But if she refused the challenge, she would be in a difficult position as an adult facing this mysterious Titled Douluo.
"Whoa! Seriously? You have a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, and its Soul Skill is that useless?" Nan Qiuqiu cried.
Lin Yuan scratched his head helplessly and glanced at Nan Shuishui.
He saw her expression darken noticeably. Perhaps he could recommend a few leather whips with a nice feel to them.
It was only because Cao Xin had been so pleasant that she hadn't lost her temper in front of this Titled Douluo.
"So, young lady, my disciple is pitiful, weak, and helpless. Would you like to challenge him?" Cao Xin egged her on.
"Fine! You, Soul Ring thief! Do you dare accept my challenge?" Nan Qiuqiu pointed at Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan helplessly glanced at Ning Tian, who was absorbing her Soul Ring nearby. He could only take the fall for the person this was really about.
"Young lady, what's the point of a match without something at stake?" Cao Xin continued to egg her on with a cheerful smile.
Nan Qiuqiu thought it over and realized he was right. She looked up at Lin Yuan and asked, "Then what do you want to wager?"
Lin Yuan spread his hands and turned to Cao Xin.
Since his cheap master was the one who'd stirred all this up, he must have something in mind.
"How about letting my disciple visit that forbidden ground of the Earth Dragon Sect once he reaches level thirty?"
Nan Shuishui furrowed her brows. She hadn't expected this mysterious Titled Douluo to know the secret of the Earth Dragon Sect.
Lin Yuan thought about it. This was indeed an opportunity. Once he went there, he could make plans to obtain the Ten Thousand Year Cold Marrow.
"Fine," Nan Qiuqiu agreed without asking Nan Shuishui.
She hadn't yet reached the level required to cultivate there, so she had no idea what her clan's hidden treasure was worth.
"If I win, you have to apologize to me. Then get down on your knees and lick my feet!"
"Huh?" Lin Yuan looked stunned.
Was that supposed to be a punishment?
Wasn't that a reward?
"You little brat! If you want to fight, then fight. Why come up with such a humiliating condition?" Nan Shuishui angrily grabbed Nan Qiuqiu's cheeks, making her cry out in pain.
"Senior, I'll take this girl back and make sure she learns her lesson. That condition isn't out of the question, but since we're wagering something, you should offer something of equal value, right?"
She didn't mind Lin Yuan going there to cultivate for a while, but the wager between them was far too uneven.
"Fair point." Cao Xin waved his hand, and a piece of Whale Rubber with a section cut off appeared in his palm.
"Then I'll wager this piece of Millennium Whale Glue. That's not shortchanging you, is it?"
Nan Shuishui nodded, accepting the wager.
Only then did Lin Yuan realize this really was a Pokémon battle between old-timers.
Throughout the whole thing, Nan Qiuqiu had been led around by Cao Xin, and in the end, the wager had nothing to do with the two of them anyway.
Cao Xin genuinely thought Nan Qiuqiu was cute. She and Wu Feng were the way six-year-olds ought to be.
Lin Yuan and Ning Tian were both far too composed for children, which made them less fun.
Lin Yuan and Nan Qiuqiu took their places on opposite sides, ready to fight.
Since it was a spar, the match would continue until one of them surrendered or was no longer able to fight.
Lin Yuan could understand the first rule. But if the fight went on until someone was incapacitated, was that really still a spar?
Cao Xin had forbidden Lin Yuan from using swordsmanship. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been a fight at all.
Lin Yuan would have relied on his weapon's advantage to avoid fighting Nan Qiuqiu head-on, kiting her until she went down.
"All right, both sides, get ready!" Nan Shuishui stood in the middle of the field, acting as referee.
Her eyes moved from side to side as she confirmed that both children were ready.
"Begin!"
At Nan Shuishui's command, Lin Yuan and Nan Qiuqiu immediately entered Martial Soul Possession.
As Lin Yuan's purple Soul Ring lit up, his right arm underwent Dragon Transformation.
"Dragon Transformation?" Nan Shuishui exclaimed, then looked at Cao Xin, who had spread his hands.
"So this is your trump card, Senior? Judging by the Dragon Transformation, absorbing this Thousand-Year Soul Ring wasn't such a bad deal after all."
There wasn't a trace of worry on Nan Shuishui's face. Dragon Transformation wasn't invincible.
A few illusory pink dragon scales appeared on Nan Qiuqiu's body as her Martial Soul Possession took hold. Her eyes turned into vertical pupils, and she charged at Lin Yuan with a punch.