Battle Against Zhu Zhuqing

Over the next few days, Qingxi continued her matches in a routine, methodical fashion, maintaining her signature style of defeating opponents with a single strike.

The only interesting development was that after the Shrek Team suffered a setback in the mixed-match arena that day, they actually started staking her out outside. It was a pity that she changed her disguise between the arena and the outside world, so they couldn't recognize her at all.

As evening approached, the Soto City Grand Arena grew lively once more, its lights drawing in a crowd of spectators.

Qingxi arrived relatively early today, as she was scheduled for the first match in the eleventh division.

"Welcome to the eleventh division of the Soto City Grand Arena! Let us welcome our first pair of soul fighting contestants today. Everyone, take a guess—they are both powerhouses with eleven-game winning streaks, and they're both girls!" A female Battle Soul Master dressed in a short gold skirt hovered in mid-air, winking playfully.

The spectator stands were buzzing with excitement.

"Qiankun! It has to be Qiankun! I saw her just a moment ago!" someone shouted from the stands.

"That's right! One of them is indeed Qiankun Mingxin, who has already advanced to the rank of Bronze Soul Fighter, and the other is the Nether Spirit Cat, who also maintains an eleven-game winning streak! Neither of these two has ever tasted defeat under level 30, and today, they shall face each other as opponents! Who is truly the strongest under level 30? Let us wait and see!"

"Will both soul masters please take the stage!"

In the Resting Room, Qingxi heard her code name, set aside her snacks, pulled out her mask to put it on, and strolled leisurely toward the exit.

On the other side, in the Shrek Team's Resting Room.

At this moment, the six members of Shrek had already gone out for their 1v1 matches, leaving only Yu Xiaogang and Zhu Zhuqing in the spacious room.

"Do you know why I asked you to stay behind?" Yu Xiaogang flipped through the book in his hands, his expression calm and devoid of emotion.

"Because my opponent is Qiankun." Zhu Zhuqing's expression was cold, though a trace of exhaustion lingered in her brow.

The high-intensity training over the past few days had left her feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

To prevent another defeat at the hands of Qiankun, Grandmaster had put her and Ma Hongjun through even stricter training—training during the day and competing at night. Even with Oscar's Recovery Big Sausage, it was still grueling.

Yu Xiaogang lifted his gaze to look at Zhu Zhuqing before returning his attention to his book. "You are an agility-type soul master. With the special training you've had these days, your speed should be able to keep up with her. But do not be careless; she is a power-attack Battle Soul Master with astonishing strength. Maintain your distance during the fight and use the hidden weapons Xiao San gave you. Xiao San said that the Zhuge Crossbow can inflict fatal damage even on Soul Sects above level 40." Yu Xiaogang paused for a moment. He trusted Xiao San's words implicitly, and he had seen the lethality of the Zhuge Crossbow himself; the only reason he hadn't let Xiao San and the others use it was for fear of taking lives.

"Remember, do not go for the kill. Go and prepare yourself." Yu Xiaogang closed his book, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked to the window, his gaze fixed coldly on the masked figure on the stage.

He had finally waited for this day. He hoped that after today, she wouldn't be left completely shattered.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the imposing back before her with some surprise. She had originally thought Grandmaster would tell her to go for the kill to avenge the Fourth Brother, but it turned out he wanted her to show mercy.

"Yes, Grandmaster." At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing's attitude was noticeably more respectful. She bowed and left, her heels clicking against the floor.

To be able to hold on and let go—it was her honor to follow such a teacher.

"How is it?" Flender and the others pushed the door open; they had been in the room next door.

"Hmm, it is time for the little monsters to wash away their shame." Yu Xiaogang turned back and nodded indifferently, a hint of a smile in his eyes. He had absolute confidence in the Zhuge Crossbow.

On the soul fighting stage.

Qingxi held her Universe Staff, looked at the late-arriving little cat, and narrowed her eyes. "It's a young lady, is it?"

The comical mask gave her an air of absurdity, but after these few days of winning streaks, no one dared to underestimate the clown mask before them.

"Make your move." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was cold, but her eyes were already burning with fighting spirit. She crouched into an attack stance, her hands seemingly transforming into sharp claws that glinted with a chilling light.

She would defeat the person before her fair and square!

Pursuing powerful strength and breaking free from a predetermined fate was a path Zhu Zhuqing had chosen long ago.

Only one's own strength was the absolute truth; external objects were, in the end, just external objects.

"You should be the one to go first." Qingxi raised her hand slightly in a gesture of invitation; after all, the opponent's soul power was only level 27.

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

Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly. "Do you look down on me?"

"Not at all, it's just boring." Qingxi shrugged. "I came here just to test the caliber of these soul masters and pass the time, but so far..." She shook her head.

The thing she did most at the Grand Arena was placing bets to win or lose money.

One minute on stage, gambling all night after getting off.

Zhu Zhuqing stopped wasting words with her and instantly vanished, leaving only the occasional glimpse of a black mist. She didn't rush to attack, choosing instead to observe and look for openings.

"Huh? Where did she go?" The spectators in the arena watched the stage in surprise, seeing that only one person remained on the stage where there had been two.

The more Zhu Zhuqing observed, the more surprised she became. As she moved, the other person's gaze followed her.

It was as if... she could clearly see her movement trajectory.

"Nether Thrust!" Zhu Zhuqing launched her attack instantly.

Qingxi's eyes emitted a faint golden light. Watching the attack slow down before her, she dodged to the side. The opponent reacted quickly, shifting horizontally, and the sharp claws struck out again.

Qingxi reached out and grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's metal-clad wrist, pulling her forward while using the momentum to vault behind her.

Zhu Zhuqing stumbled twice and kicked backward, but failing to land the hit, she vanished back into the darkness, disappearing from everyone's sight.

"This..." The crowd watched the battlefield, surprised to see only one person left again.

In the Resting Room, Yu Xiaogang watched the battle on stage, his brows locked in a frown, his expression growing increasingly ugly.

"Why isn't Zhuqing using the Zhuge Crossbow?" Flender scratched his head, asking in confusion.

Qingxi looked up at the clock at the highest point of the arena. "It's time to end this..."

In the next second, Qingxi also vanished from where she stood.

Sensing a gust of wind approaching from behind, Zhu Zhuqing reacted instantly, crossing her arms to block the Universe Staff.

"Not bad reflexes," Qingxi commented indifferently. Her tone was relaxed, but as she applied a slight force to the Universe Staff in her hand, the floor beneath Zhu Zhuqing's feet shattered instantly.

What heavy force!

Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth slightly and activated her soul skill, vanishing from the stage once more.

The Universe Staff slammed heavily into the ground, sending gravel flying.

"However, I have important matters to attend to today, so I won't play with you anymore." As her words fell, even though Zhu Zhuqing clearly saw her still standing in place, the next second her own hand was grabbed, and she was tossed off the soul fighting stage.

"How is that possible!!" She steadied her figure, wondering why she had been caught despite being so extremely careful.

She stared in shock at the two figures on the stage, only realizing how fast that speed was once the afterimage vanished.

Qingxi jumped off the soul fighting stage with the Universe Staff slung over her shoulder, not forgetting to shout to the host, "You can announce the result now."

"Let us congratulate Qiankun Mingxin on achieving her twelfth consecutive victory!!!"

Applause crackled behind her, and as Zhu Zhuqing watched the figure gradually walk away, her eyes revealed a deep sense of unwillingness.

But, a loss was a loss.

Zhu Zhuqing slowly closed her eyes. She had no wounds on her body; there had been no brutal combat, no overwhelming power—it was a victory of pure technique, a crushing defeat through speed.

How did she do it?

When Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes again, only cold emotions remained within them.

"Qiankun Mingxin..."

She knew she would face the Grandmaster's reprimand, yet she still headed toward the direction of the Resting Room.