The Fierce Tiger Becomes a Sickly Cat!

"Dai, are you all right?"

Seeing Dai Mubai get viciously kicked away, his two flamboyantly dressed female companions hurried over in a panic, crouching beside him to inspect his injuries with concern.

Such a generous, free-spending long-term patron absolutely could not come to harm. If Dai Mubai suffered serious injuries, their carefree days ahead would all go up in smoke.

"You overestimated yourself, daring to molest the female companions traveling with me in public."

"You dared to set your sights on those by my side, right under my nose."

"You truly have the nerve of a madman, completely ignorant of how the words 'life' and 'death' are written."

"Do you really think I'm some soft persimmon for anyone to knead as they please?"

"You dared to provoke me and offend my companions. This is the consequence you brought upon yourself."

Zhou Tao slowly lowered his right leg, still carrying a fierce gust of wind. His tone was calm, yet his eyes were covered in piercing coldness.

"Hiss—my whole body feels like it's falling apart. It hurts like hell."

"Kid, do you know who I am?"

"I am a genius student specially cultivated by Shrek Academy, a level thirty-seven Soul Elder!"

"Who the hell are you, to dare attack me so rashly?"

"You've gotten yourself into serious trouble, kid. This matter won't end just like that!"

Dai Mubai gritted his teeth and forced his numb, aching body to move. Rage nearly burst from his chest as he struggled to push himself up from the ground.

His evil eyes brimmed with icy savagery as they locked onto Zhou Tao in the distance, and he spoke in a low voice.

"Kid, do you understand how much trouble you've caused yourself? State your name!"

Dai Mubai was calculating inwardly. Once he learned the other party's background, he planned to reveal his identity as a prince of the Star Luo Empire and intimidate him.

But things did not go as he wished.

Zhou Tao had no intention whatsoever of revealing his name, and his tone was full of mockery.

"A piece of trash as weak as you isn't worthy of knowing my name."

The moment those words reached his ears, Dai Mubai's face darkened. Such contempt ruthlessly stabbed at his proud self-esteem.

"Good, kid. You've completely enraged me."

"Judging from the Soul Power fluctuations around you, you must be a Soul Master as well."

"Perhaps you think yourself gifted and are feeling quite pleased with yourself."

"But in my eyes, you're nothing more than an insignificant ant I can crush at will."

"I was merely careless just now, which is why you managed to land a sneak attack."

"Now, I'll show you with your own eyes what a true top-tier genius is."

Dai Mubai completely ignored the vast disparity in strength between them as he arrogantly delivered his cold threat.

In truth, that kick had been tremendously powerful and had nearly knocked him unconscious on the spot.

But Dai Mubai had always cared deeply about saving face, his vanity engraved into his bones.

With his two female companions watching from the side, he could not reveal even the slightest trace of weakness.

No matter what happened today, he had to win back every shred of face he had lost.

"Kid, prepare to tremble and beg for mercy!"

With a deafening roar, Dai Mubai activated his Soul Power without hesitation and fully unleashed his Martial Soul.

"Dai Mubai, Martial Soul: Evil-Eyed White Tiger, level thirty-seven Soul Elder!"

As his voice fell, the phantom of a majestic white tiger emerged behind him, its low roar echoing through the hall.

Three distinct Spirit Rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—rose from beneath his feet and quietly circled around his body.

He raised his hand and pointed at Zhou Tao, shouting with an arrogant bearing.

"Kid, don't say I'm bullying the weak. I'll give you the chance to release your Martial Soul."

"Bring out all your strength and fight me fairly, face-to-face!"

Faced with Dai Mubai's aggressive provocation, Zhou Tao remained entirely unruffled. A faint, disdainful smile slowly appeared at the corner of his lips.

He was merely a defeated opponent.

Yet he still could not see the situation clearly and did not know his own limits.

It seemed Zhou Tao could only teach him another harsh lesson and make him face reality.

"Since you rely on your White Tiger Martial Soul in battle, then take a good look at the power of my giant bear."

The next moment.

Countless thick, full vines shimmering with dazzling golden light burst forth from every part of Zhou Tao's body.

The vines rapidly wound around and clung to every corner of his body, tightly armoring him from head to toe.

At that moment, Zhou Tao was covered in heavy, hard golden vines. His body rose to over two meters tall, and from afar, he resembled a golden giant bear standing in place.

He looked mighty and imposing, his aura utterly intimidating.

Every movement radiated a natural sense of unyielding ferocity and dominance.

Zhou Tao had used his Martial Soul this way because he wanted to test the offensive power and defensive toughness of his fourth soul skill, Mighty Vajra Vine, through close combat.

Using a beast-type Soul Master like Dai Mubai, who specialized in close-range fighting, as his test opponent could not have been more fitting.

But upon seeing this strange sight, Dai Mubai's heart was suddenly thrown into turmoil.

What was going on?

A Martial Soul could actually be used like this?

This man's Martial Soul was clearly made of vines, yet he had forcibly merged countless vines into one, turning them into close-fitting armor.

With such a transformation, his close-range combat ability was bound to increase several times over.

After living for so many years, this was Dai Mubai's first time seeing such a novel and unique way of using a Martial Soul.

But in the next instant, he regained complete confidence in his own strength.

His Martial Soul was the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, a top-tier beast Martial Soul with an incomparably powerful foundation.

How much strength could the other party possibly possess by relying on nothing more than a pile of vines for defense?

The advantage in this duel is destined to be mine.

Zhou Tao found Dai Mubai's ignorant provocation laughable and beneath contempt.

Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, who were watching from the side, could no longer suppress the laughter in their hearts.

A mere level thirty-seven Soul Elder actually dared to take the initiative and challenge an opponent far stronger than himself. He was simply courting death.

Zhou Tao grinned lightly, looking at Dai Mubai with deep scorn as he slowly spoke.

"There's no need for me to fully unleash my Martial Soul. That would simply be bullying you."

"I can fight you with just the Martial Soul itself."

"At most, you're a sickly tiger, weak and feeble. In my ordinary state, dealing with you is more than enough."

Those words were like sharp blades, instantly shattering all of Dai Mubai's confidence.

"Kid, you actually dare look down on me like this!"

"Today, I will make you pay a painful price for your arrogant words!"

Rage completely devoured his reason, and Dai Mubai flew into a fury on the spot.

As a prince of the Star Luo Empire and a publicly acknowledged genius student of Shrek Academy,

he had been showered with praise and flattery since childhood. When had he ever suffered such naked contempt and humiliation?

Sharp tiger claws formed over his palms as he charged straight at Zhou Tao's face, carrying a violent gust of wind.

The hotel manager, servers, and everyone else in the hall had long since scattered in terror to hide.

How could ordinary people like them possibly dare interfere in a fight between Soul Masters?

Facing Dai Mubai's all-out strike, into which he had poured all his Soul Power, Zhou Tao merely raised his left hand calmly and caught that heavy punch with ease.

Dai Mubai, who had been boiling with fury just moments before, suddenly found his mind blank, his eyes filled with disbelief.

What kind of monster was this man?

He had stopped Dai Mubai's full-force attack with just one hand?

That was simply impossible!

Something's wrong. I must not have performed properly!

Again!

Dai Mubai instinctively exerted force, trying to pull back his restrained fist.

Yet no matter how desperately he struggled, his arm did not budge in the slightest.

He had already activated his Martial Soul, greatly enhancing every aspect of his physical abilities.

Yet the other party had merely activated the Martial Soul itself and completely suppressed him with one hand.

At that moment, he finally realized that he had indeed underestimated his opponent too much.

This time, he had run into someone truly formidable.

The thought of retreating quietly began to take root in his heart.

But his two female companions were still watching from the side, and he absolutely could not show weakness in public and lose all face.

Dai Mubai could only force himself to remain stubborn and speak bravely.

"Kid, I didn't expect your strength to be passable."

"I only used ten percent of my Soul Power just now. Now, I'll let you experience my truly terrifying strength."