Defeating Zhang Geyang

The moment Qiangu Dieting finished speaking, the atmosphere in the training room suddenly grew tense.

The seven exchanged glances, but no one spoke first. The position of captain might not seem particularly important, but everyone present was a favored child of heaven. None of them wanted to lower themselves for no reason.

"Since everyone is too embarrassed to speak first, allow me to cast out a brick to attract jade."

A resonant voice broke the silence.

Zhang Geyang strode forward with a confident smile on his face. His gaze swept across the group before finally landing on Xiao Cheng. "Brother Xiao Cheng, I've long heard that you're a genius with Twin Martial Souls. Now that we have the honor of being teammates, why don't we spar first? That way, everyone can get a better understanding of each other's strength."

His words were polite, but the battle intent in his eyes was completely undisguised.

Xiao Cheng raised an eyebrow slightly, not surprised in the least.

Of the seven, Qiangu Dongfeng and Qiangu Qingfeng were clearly people Zhang Geyang couldn't defeat. Leng Yaozhu was one rank higher than him in cultivation, and he had no advantage in terms of Martial Souls either. At best, he could go thirty-seven against her.

Leng Yulai was clearly a little weaker than him, while Xia Zhengleng had no real ability in frontal combat. With so many big shots present, he couldn't afford to act against them and risk losing face. After considering everything, Xiao Cheng was the most suitable choice.

Besides, in his view, although Xiao Cheng possessed Twin Martial Souls, his Body Martial Soul had yet to be equipped with a Soul Ring, leaving only the Azure Sky Snake Martial Soul usable. In terms of Martial Soul quality, his Nether Flame Beast was a top-tier Martial Soul fully capable of matching the Azure Sky Snake Emperor. Xiao Cheng's Martial Soul was still only the Azure Sky Snake, so he had the advantage there.

In terms of Soul Power, he was rank 23 while Xiao Cheng was rank 22, giving him another advantage. As for combat experience, he had been carefully trained by his father since childhood and had undergone plenty of actual combat training. How could he possibly lose?

I'll win. Zhang Geyang was utterly certain.

What he didn't know was that Xiao Cheng had spent more than a year fighting his way through the Spirit Ascension Platform. In his previous life, he had also been a Martial Dao grandmaster who had witnessed countless schemes, treachery, blood, and violence. That so-called "combat experience" of Zhang Geyang's was nothing compared to Xiao Cheng's.

"Sure. Then I'll ask Brother Zhang for your guidance." Xiao Cheng smiled slightly without refusing and strode onto the arena in the center of the training room.

The two stood facing each other, ten meters apart.

Below the arena, Leng Yaozhu folded her arms across her chest, looking as though she were waiting for a good show. "Tsk, tsk. What an unlucky kid, picking anyone but Xiao Cheng. He's going to cry later."

"Sis, can Xiao Cheng win?" Leng Yulai asked worriedly.

"Don't worry. Xiao Cheng isn't exactly a pushover." The corner of Leng Yaozhu's lips curled upward. "Even I wouldn't be confident of winning against him unless I relied on my aerial advantage and fought him from a distance."

On the other side, Qiangu Dongfeng frowned slightly, feeling vaguely uneasy. He had witnessed Xiao Cheng's strength in the Spirit Ascension Platform before. Although Xiao Cheng had only been rank 21 at the time, his ruthlessness and combat awareness had left a deep impression on him. Zhang Geyang's cultivation was higher, but his combat experience might not surpass Xiao Cheng's.

It doesn't matter. If Zhang Geyang loses, so be it. It won't affect the overall situation in the face of absolute strength. Qiangu Dongfeng thought to himself.

On the arena, the referee gave the order: "Begin!"

Zhang Geyang struck first!

He shouted loudly, and a layer of dark blue flames suddenly ignited around his body! The flames were not scorching, but they radiated a sinister chill, as though they could burn the soul. Behind him, a huge phantom of the Nether Flame Beast emerged—a lion's head, a baboon's body, tiger claws, and a body covered entirely in bluish-green fur. A pair of icy eyes locked firmly onto Xiao Cheng.

"First Soul Skill—Nether Flame Impact!"

Zhang Geyang suddenly leaped high into the air, merging with the luminous image of the Nether Flame Beast behind him. He transformed into a dark blue flaming beast five meters in diameter and charged straight at Xiao Cheng at terrifying speed! The flaming beast suddenly expanded in midair, opening its bloody maw as though it intended to swallow Xiao Cheng whole!

The might of this attack was astonishing!

At the same time, Xiao Cheng moved.

He did not choose to withstand the attack head-on, nor did he choose to dodge. Instead, in the instant before Zhang Geyang was about to collide with him, his figure suddenly vanished!

Teleportation!

The next second, Xiao Cheng appeared at Zhang Geyang's side. The Azure Sky Divine Spear was already in his hand, and two purple Soul Rings pulsed along its shaft. First Soul Skill—Power of Empty Green, activate!

"Flood Dragon Exits the Sea!"

It was a plain, straightforward thrust, yet it carried an unstoppable momentum. The spearhead tore through the air with a sharp whistle and shot straight toward Zhang Geyang's ribs!

"What?!" Zhang Geyang's pupils contracted sharply. He had never expected Xiao Cheng to be this fast, much less that he could instantly move to his side!

He had just finished using Nether Flame Impact. His old strength was spent and his new strength had yet to gather, leaving him no time to adjust his posture. In his panic, he could only forcibly divert the direction of Nether Flame Impact. Borrowing the recoil from the impact, he barely managed to roll aside and narrowly avoid the thrust!

"That was close!" Zhang Geyang broke into a cold sweat and was just about to regroup—

"It's not over yet."

Xiao Cheng's voice rang out beside his ear like a ghost.

After the Azure Sky Divine Spear in Xiao Cheng's hand missed its target, it did not pause in the slightest. Following through, he unleashed a heavy Sweep Across the Army. The shaft of the spear was like a huge green python, carrying terrifying force as it lashed viciously toward Zhang Geyang, who had only just regained his footing!

"Sweep Across the Army!"

Back when Xiao Cheng's Martial Soul had still been the Azure Sky Snake, the Azure Sky Divine Spear could only be considered a light spear. It weighed just several dozen kilograms, which was not particularly suitable for Xiao Cheng, whose strength was considerable. After evolving into a Flood Dragon, the Azure Sky Divine Spear had also evolved toward becoming a heavy spear. It now weighed a full three hundred kilograms.

Zhang Geyang had no time to make any defensive move. He could only watch helplessly as the green spear grew larger and larger in his vision—

"Bang!"

A muffled impact rang out.

Zhang Geyang was sent flying as if he had been struck by a high-speed Soul Guidance Train. He traced a graceful arc through the air before crashing heavily into the protective barrier at the edge of the arena and bouncing to the ground.

He struggled to get up, but his chest churned with blood and qi. He spat out a mouthful of blood and no longer had the strength to stand.

The entire venue fell silent.

From beginning to end, the battle had lasted no more than ten seconds.

Zhang Geyang had lost. And he had lost cleanly, without the slightest ability to fight back.

"This..." The smile on Qiangu Dongfeng's face froze. He knew Zhang Geyang might not be able to defeat Xiao Cheng, but he had never expected him to lose so miserably! It had been a complete crushing defeat!

His subordinate had been beaten so badly. As the leader, he had lost a great deal of face!

Leng Yaozhu, however, was not surprised in the least. She clapped her hands and said with a giggle, "See? What did I tell you? That unlucky kid could have picked anyone, but he just had to pick Xiao Cheng."

Leng Yulai's eyes shone brightly as she gazed at the tall figure on the arena, her small face filled with admiration.

Xia Zhengleng also raised her head. A hint of surprise and curiosity appeared in her gaze as she looked at Xiao Cheng.

Qiangu Qingfeng remained expressionless, but a flash of sharpness passed through the depths of his eyes. It seemed he had reassessed Xiao Cheng's strength.

"Stop! Xiao Cheng wins this match!"

Below the arena, Zhang Hongwen hurriedly called for the match to end, his expression somewhat ugly. He quickly stepped onto the arena. After the accompanying healing Soul Master treated Zhang Geyang's injuries, he grabbed Zhang Geyang by the ear and pulled him up from the ground. "You little brat! You never listened when I told you to work harder! Now you know what it means to embarrass yourself, don't you? You're going back for three months of extra training!"

"Ow, ow, ow! Dad! Take it easy, take it easy! I know I was wrong!" Zhang Geyang covered his ear, grimacing in pain as Zhang Hongwen carried him off the arena like a chick.

It was easy to imagine that after returning home, Zhang Geyang would inevitably undergo a brutal devilish training regimen.

Qiangu Dieting watched this scene with a meaningful smile on his face. He turned to Xiao Ran and praised him, "Xiao Ran, you raised a fine son. His spear technique has already reached the realm of Unity of Body and Spear, and he can even make use of the power of momentum. He's only one step away from condensing Spear Intent. Such comprehension is truly extraordinary!"

Xiao Ran smiled slightly and humbly replied, "Master of the Tower, you flatter him. Cheng'er was merely lucky."

"Lucky?" Qiangu Dieting shook his head. "Luck alone can't produce spear technique like that. How old is he this year? Seven and a half, right? To reach such a level at just over seven years old is a peerless rarity across the entire Douluo Continent. It's just a pity that he doesn't possess a Tool Martial Soul. Otherwise, with his comprehension of spear techniques alone, he might have had a chance of reaching the limit."

Xiao Ran said nothing more, but the pride in his eyes could not be concealed.

On the arena, Xiao Cheng had accepted Zhang Geyang's challenge, but he did not show much excitement. To him, defeating Zhang Geyang had been completely within expectations. There was nothing worth feeling proud about.

He was just preparing to leave the arena when a clear voice rang out:

"Qiangu Dongfeng, I challenge you!"

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Leng Yaozhu stride out, fierce battle intent burning in her eyes. She had long been displeased with Qiangu Dongfeng's pretentious face, and today was the perfect opportunity to teach him a lesson!

Although she knew that Qiangu Dongfeng had just absorbed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone and that his cultivation had surged to rank 28, making it highly likely that she was no match for him, Leng Yaozhu had never been someone who retreated simply because her opponent was powerful!

Qiangu Dongfeng was slightly taken aback, then smiled. "If little sister Yao Zhu wants to spar, I'll naturally oblige..."

"Wait."

A cold voice interrupted him.

Qiangu Qingfeng slowly stepped forward and stared directly at Qiangu Dongfeng. Word by word, he said, "Let me take this match."

His voice was not loud, but it carried an unshakable resolve.

The atmosphere in the training room instantly grew subtle.

Qiangu Dongfeng looked at his elder brother. The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression. "Big brother, what are you..."

"I want to see just how powerful a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone truly is." Qiangu Qingfeng's voice was cold, and his eyes flashed with a light called unwillingness. "Or are you afraid?"

As soon as he said this, the entire venue erupted!

The Qiangu Brothers were actually going to stage a fraternal conflict in front of everyone!

Leng Yaozhu blinked and tactfully stepped aside. "All right, all right. Since you brothers want to spar first, I won't steal the limelight."

She walked over to Xiao Cheng's side and muttered softly, "Now this is going to be interesting."

Xiao Cheng nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the Qiangu Brothers. Qiangu Qingfeng has been bottling up quite a bit of anger. Qiangu Dieting gave the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone to Qiangu Dongfeng, so he must feel unbalanced. This battle probably won't be simple.

Qiangu Dongfeng was silent for a moment before slowly nodding. "All right. Since big brother is in the mood, I'll accompany you to the end."

He stepped onto the arena and stood facing Qiangu Qingfeng.

Qiangu Dieting sat in the seat of honor, watching the scene expressionlessly. No one knew what he was thinking.

The two brothers stood with weapons in hand—one wielding the Coiling Dragon Staff, the other gripping the Purgatory Halberd.

The same bloodline, but different Martial Souls.

A battle over dignity and recognition was about to begin.