Battle Against Zhu Zhuqing

Over the next few days, Qingxi continued competing as usual, still defeating her opponents with a single move.

The only interesting thing was that after the Shrek Team had suffered a setback in the mixed arena that day, they actually started lying in wait for her outside. Unfortunately for them, she looked different on and off the arena, so they couldn't recognize her at all.

As dusk approached, the Grand Soul Arena grew lively again, its lights drawing in crowds of spectators.

Qingxi had arrived early today. She was competing in the first match of the Eleventh District.

"Welcome to the Eleventh Division of the Soto City Grand Arena! Let's welcome today's first pair of Soul Fighting contestants. Take a guess, everyone—they're both formidable fighters on eleven-win streaks, and they're both girls!" The female Soul Master in the golden miniskirt hovered in midair and gave a playful wink.

The stands buzzed with excitement.

"Qiankun! It's definitely Qiankun! I just saw her!" someone shouted from below.

"That's right! One of them is Qiankun Mingxin, who has already advanced to the Bronze Soul Fighter badge. The other is the Hell Spirit Cat, who's also maintained an eleven-win streak! Neither of these two has ever lost a match below level thirty, and today they'll face off against each other! Who is the strongest below level thirty? Let's wait and see!"

"Let's welcome both Soul Masters to the arena!"

In the Resting Room, Qingxi heard her alias, put down her snacks, took out her mask and put it on, then strolled out at an unhurried pace.

Meanwhile, in the Shrek Team's Resting Room.

All six members of the Shrek Team had already gone out for their one-on-one matches. The enormous room held only Yu Xiaogang and Zhu Zhuqing.

"Do you know why I asked you to stay?" Yu Xiaogang asked, flipping through the book in his hands. His expression was calm, not betraying a trace of emotion.

"Because my opponent is Qiankun." Zhu Zhuqing's expression was cool, but a hint of exhaustion showed between her brows.

The high-intensity training over the past few days had already begun to wear her down.

To prevent another defeat at Qiankun's hands, Grandmaster had put her and Ma Hongjun through even stricter training. They trained during the day and fought in matches at night. Even Oscar's Recovery Big Sausage couldn't make it easy to bear.

Yu Xiaogang glanced up at Zhu Zhuqing, then lowered his eyes to the book again. "You're an agility-type Soul Master. After the special training you've had these past few days, you should be able to match her speed. But don't underestimate her. She's a Power Attack System Battle Soul Master, with astonishing strength. Keep your distance in battle and attack with the Hidden Weapons Xiao San gave you. Xiao San said the Godly Zhuge Crossbow could inflict fatal wounds even on Soul Ancestors above level forty." Yu Xiaogang paused. He had complete faith in what Xiao San said, and he had seen the Godly Zhuge Crossbow's lethality himself. The reason he hadn't let Xiao San and the others use it was that he feared they might take someone's life.

"Remember, don't kill her. Go get ready." Yu Xiaogang closed the book, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked to the window. His gaze settled coldly on the masked figure in the arena.

At last, the day he'd been waiting for had come. He hoped that after today, you wouldn't be left utterly crushed.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the broad-shouldered figure before her in surprise. She'd thought Grandmaster would tell her to fight to the death and avenge Fourth Brother. Instead, he wanted her to show mercy.

"Yes, Grandmaster." Zhu Zhuqing was clearly more respectful now. She bowed and left in her high heels.

To take things in stride and let them go just as easily—being able to follow a teacher like this was her good fortune.

"How did it go?" Flender and the others entered through the door. They had been in the room next door just now.

"Mm. It's time for the Little Monsters to wipe away their humiliation." Yu Xiaogang turned back and nodded indifferently, a hint of a smile in his eyes. He had absolute confidence in the Godly Zhuge Crossbow.

In the arena.

Holding the Universe Staff, Qingxi watched the little cat who had arrived late and narrowed her eyes. "Oh, it's a pretty young lady?"

The comical mask added an absurd touch to her appearance, but after her winning streak these past few days, no one dared look down on the clown-masked fighter.

"Make your move." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was cool, but fighting spirit had already kindled in her eyes. She leaned forward into an attacking stance, her hands seemingly transformed into claws that gleamed with a chilling light.

She would defeat the person before her fair and square!

Striving for greater strength and breaking free of her predetermined fate was the path Zhu Zhuqing had chosen long ago.

Only strength of her own was worth anything. External aids were, in the end, just external aids.

"You should invite me first." Qingxi raised a hand slightly in a gesture of invitation. After all, her opponent's Soul Power was only level twenty-seven.

Though she had her doubts about the Shrek members' character, she wouldn't interfere as long as they didn't cross her.

Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly. "Are you looking down on me?"

"Not at all. It's just boring." Qingxi shrugged. "I came here to see what these Soul Masters were made of and pass the time. But so far..." She shook her head.

What she did most at the Grand Soul Arena was win or lose money on bets.

One minute on the arena, then gambling through the night.

Zhu Zhuqing stopped wasting words. Her figure vanished in an instant, leaving only the occasional glimpse of a cloud of black mist. She didn't rush to attack; instead, she watched and searched for an opening.

"Huh? Where'd they go?" The spectators stared at the arena in surprise. Of the two fighters who had been there a moment ago, only one remained.

The longer Zhu Zhuqing watched, the more astonished she became. Wherever she moved, the other fighter's gaze followed.

It was as if... she could clearly see the path of Zhu Zhuqing's movements.

"Hell Stab!" Zhu Zhuqing launched her attack in an instant.

A faint golden light glimmered in Qingxi's eyes. As the oncoming attack seemed to slow before her, she dodged to the side. Her opponent reacted quickly, shifting straight into a horizontal strike. Those sharp claws came at her again.

Qingxi reached out and caught Zhu Zhuqing by the metal-braced wrist, yanked her forward, then used the momentum to flip behind her.

Zhu Zhuqing stumbled two steps, then kicked backward again. When the blow missed, she slipped back into the darkness and disappeared from everyone's sight.

"This..." The crowd stared in astonishment as once again only one fighter remained in the arena.

In the Resting Room, Yu Xiaogang watched the fight, his brows drawn tight and his expression growing uglier by the second.

"Why isn't Zhuqing using the Godly Zhuge Crossbow?" Flender scratched his head and asked, puzzled.

Qingxi glanced up at the clock at the highest point of the Grand Soul Arena. "Time to end this..."

The next second, Qingxi vanished from where she stood.

Sensing a rush of wind behind her, Zhu Zhuqing reacted instantly and raised both arms to block the Universe Staff.

"Nice reaction." Qingxi's tone was light as she remarked, and she pressed down slightly with the Universe Staff in her hand. In an instant, the floor beneath Zhu Zhuqing's feet shattered.

What terrifying strength!

Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth slightly and used her Soul Skill to vanish from the arena again.

The Universe Staff slammed into the ground, sending broken stone flying.

"But I have something important to do today, so I won't play with you anymore." As Qingxi's words fell, Zhu Zhuqing clearly saw her still standing where she was. The next moment, someone had already grabbed her hand and thrown her out of the arena.

"How is that possible?!" She steadied herself. She had been extremely careful—so how had Qingxi still managed to catch her?

She stared in shock at the two figures on the arena. Only when the afterimage vanished did she realize just how fast Qingxi had been.

With the Universe Staff slung over her shoulder, Qingxi jumped down from the arena and called to the host, "You can announce the result now."

"Let's congratulate Qiankun Mingxin on her twelfth consecutive victory!!!"

Thunderous applause broke out behind her. Zhu Zhuqing watched Qingxi's retreating back, deep unwillingness showing in her eyes.

But a loss was a loss.

Zhu Zhuqing slowly closed her eyes. She had no wounds on her body. There had been no brutal battle or overwhelming strength—only a victory won through pure technique and a crushing advantage in speed.

How had she done it?

When Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes again, only coldness remained in them.

"Qiankun Mingxin..."

She knew Grandmaster would reprimand her, but she still headed toward the Resting Room.