First Clash with Dai Mubai, Dragon Versus Tiger!

With a series of violent collisions exploding one after another, Dai Mubai's expression gradually darkened.

His heart was filled with shock, and he could not help roaring, "Is that even a soul skill he's using? Why does every full-force punch I throw, every burst of violent power, feel like it's sinking into a ball of cotton? I can't exert any force at all!"

Passive defense had never been Ao Yin's style. Returning tooth for tooth was how he fought!

"Mist Step! Dragon Claw Hand!"

The moment his words fell, Ao Yin's figure suddenly flickered.

Dai Mubai had only just pulled back to catch his breath when Ao Yin had already rushed in close.

A dragon claw shot out with a howl, precisely gripping toward Dai Mubai's right shoulder.

The seemingly light palm touched his shoulder, and at that instant, terrifying force erupted!

Boom!

It was as though Dai Mubai had been slammed by a giant beast. Unable to control himself, he staggered backward again and again.

Before he could steady himself, Ao Yin moved with mysterious footwork, leaving layers of afterimages as he instantly circled behind Dai Mubai.

A vicious side kick lashed straight at his back!

Alarm bells rang wildly in Dai Mubai's heart. He sensed the danger behind him and tried to dodge, but it was already too late.

The enormous impact smashed into his back, sending him lunging forward. He nearly fell flat on his face.

Only after staggering four or five steps did Dai Mubai barely stabilize himself, his face turning livid.

"Damn it! How can he be this strong?!"

Dai Mubai was both shocked and stifled.

He could clearly feel that he had been led around by the other's rhythm from beginning to end, toyed with at will.

He was a dignified three-ring Battle Soul Elder! Among his peers, he had rarely encountered an opponent. How had he ended up in such a miserable state?

An uncontrollable rage surged into his heart.

"Looks like if I don't get serious, you'll really think a tiger is a sick cat?!"

"Soul Rings, appear!"

Rumble!

A powerful surge of Soul Power burst wildly from Dai Mubai's body, and the strength he had deliberately suppressed was no longer hidden.

Three soul rings slowly rose from beneath his feet, their yellow, yellow, and purple halos slowly rotating.

The strength of a three-ring Battle Soul Elder was fully revealed before everyone.

The guests watching in the hall all sucked in cold breaths.

A level thirty-seven Battle Soul Elder was absolutely among the top young powerhouses in Suotuo City.

Ao Yin raised his eyes and gave him a faint glance, silently evaluating him. So he's finally planning to use his full strength. Dai Mubai truly does have exceptional talent. He cultivated to three rings through hard work without relying on any shortcuts. No wonder he's Shrek Academy's number one monster student.

"I had originally intended to spar with you casually for a while, but it seems I underestimated you."

Dai Mubai spoke in a deep voice. His entire aura had changed dramatically, completely unlike his arrogant manner from before.

He was serious!

The next moment, Dai Mubai threw his head back and let out a long roar.

"Evil-Eyed White Tiger, Martial Soul Possession!"

Whoosh!

Dai Mubai's pupils transformed into wild, evil eyes. A snow-white tiger phantom slowly solidified behind him, and a deafening tiger roar swept through the entire Rose Hotel lobby as fierce winds howled in all directions.

"Dai Mubai, level thirty-seven assault-type Battle Soul Elder, martial soul Evil-Eyed White Tiger. Please enlighten me!"

At this moment, Dai Mubai no longer held even a trace of contempt.

Anyone who could casually receive his full-force heavy punch and possessed such bizarre movement techniques was no ordinary youth.

Declaring one's martial soul and level was the most basic respect between soul masters in a duel. He intended to fight this match seriously.

Before his words had even faded, Dai Mubai, having completed his Martial Soul Possession, stomped hard against the ground. His body became a streak of white lightning as he charged fiercely at Ao Yin!

"Good! Since you want to spar, I'll play along!"

Ao Yin answered brightly.

"Ao Yin, level thirty-nine, three-ring Battle Soul Elder, martial soul Coiling Dragon Staff. Please enlighten me!"

Rumble, rumble!

Vast Soul Power spread outward without restraint as three soul rings slowly emerged beneath Ao Yin's feet.

Pale white, pale yellow, pale white.

Seeing this arrangement of soul rings, Dai Mubai froze abruptly, his brows knitting tightly.

The colors of those soul rings were absurdly strange. No matter how he looked at them, they resembled the rings of a novice soul master who had only recently awakened.

He instinctively sensed the fluctuations of Ao Yin's Soul Power, doubt rising in his heart as he shook his head. "No. This foundation of Soul Power is anything but ordinary."

A teasing smile curled across Ao Yin's lips.

"Appearance-Shifting Art, switch soul ring colors—thousand-year form!"

In an instant, the three soul rings beneath his feet flickered with hazy light.

When the glow faded, the originally unremarkable pale white and yellow colors had all vanished, replaced by three deep, rich purple halos!

Three purple thousand-year soul rings quietly revolved, dazzling yet filled with oppressive force.

"Th-three thousand-year soul rings! How is that possible?!"

Dai Mubai's eyes went wide, his mouth slightly open, his face full of disbelief as his mind went blank.

Heavy, majestic waves of Soul Power swept across the hall alongside the purple soul rings.

The weak, bland aura from before was completely gone, and his overall presence instantly rose several levels.

The aura emitted by soul rings could not be faked. That was undeniably the aura of thousand-year soul beasts, perhaps even nearing ten thousand years!

Dai Mubai could not help swallowing, stormy waves churning in his heart.

What kind of terrifying monster have I provoked?

All along, Dai Mubai had considered himself one of the outstanding figures of the younger generation.

Yet compared to the youth before him, the gap was exposed in an instant.

He could not help secretly wondering whether Ao Yin was the descendant of some top great sect.

He might be from one of the Upper Three Sects, perhaps even a genius cultivated within Spirit Hall. At worst, he could be the personal disciple of some Title Douluo.

At that thought, the desire to retreat immediately arose in Dai Mubai's heart.

Offending a genius with such unfathomable backing over nothing more than a guest room simply was not worth it.

If he could befriend him, it would only benefit his future.

He immediately withdrew his battle intent and softened his tone. "Little brother, I was too overbearing and reckless just now. I apologize to you here! Let us end this match now. I won't fight you over the guest room."

Ao Yin was slightly taken aback.

Well, Dai Mubai's change in attitude was ridiculously fast.

Dai Mubai had calculated everything clearly.

First, there was no need to needlessly provoke a powerful person of unknown origins. Second, the other party possessed three purple soul rings close to ten thousand years old, and his Soul Power far surpassed Dai Mubai's own.

If they truly fought to the death, his odds of victory were extremely low.

Moreover, his two female companions were watching. If he lost, he would lose all face and find it difficult to remain in Suotuo City afterward.

Xiao Wu could no longer hold it in. With a snort, she burst into laughter.

Her clear laughter stood out sharply in the hall.

Xiao Wu had long known Ao Yin's strength. Right now, Ao Yin had merely revealed three thousand-year purple rings and had not even displayed his true ten-thousand-year black rings.

She was very curious whether Dai Mubai would be scared witless if Ao Yin revealed three black ten-thousand-year soul rings.

"Heh, so now you know fear?"

Ao Yin took a step forward, looking straight at Dai Mubai. His tone carried a touch of sharpness. "Don't think you can just bully anyone as you please. I, Ao Yin, am no soft target."

Those words put Dai Mubai in a difficult position.

They clearly sounded like mockery, accusing him of bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

Dai Mubai's face alternated between green and white.

He was a prince of the Star Luo Empire and Shrek Academy's current leader. He had his own pride.

Being mocked so openly made his self-respect hard to bear.

Even if the other party was powerful, he could not simply admit defeat!

Rumble!

The aura of the Evil-Eyed White Tiger phantom behind him surged again, violent tiger might rolling forth continuously.

"Since you insist, then I'll properly spar with you!"

Ao Yin shook his arm, and the incomparably heavy Ice-Fire Coiling Dragon Staff instantly appeared in his hand.

Streams of light flowed across the staff, its imposing might terrifying.

"As long as you can receive three strikes from my staff, I'll count this match as my defeat."

"What a boast!"

Dai Mubai sneered, his battle intent reigniting. "If you can defeat me, Boss Dai, then from now on, I'll call you Boss!"

"But do you dare accept?"

In Dai Mubai's eyes, though the other's Soul Power was higher, he was still very young.

When it came to practical combat experience forged through years of fighting, there was no way Dai Mubai could lose.

He was confident that he could steadily withstand three mere staff strikes.

"Dark Sacred Dragon, possess me!"

Roar—

A pitch-black dragon shadow rose behind Ao Yin, vast dragon might sweeping in every direction.

Southern Bright Lihuo blazed fiercely, black-red flames winding around the entire Coiling Dragon Staff as the firelight surged.

Rolling heat rushed at him head-on. Fine beads of sweat quickly formed on Dai Mubai's forehead, and a wave of scorching heat spread across his skin.

In midair, Ao Yin held the Ice-Fire Coiling Dragon Staff, standing like a war god suspended in the sky.

A hazy dragon shadow slowly emerged behind him, its dragon might heavy and oppressive, tightening everyone's hearts.

On the ground, Dai Mubai bent his knees and lowered his body to gather strength. Behind him, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger phantom crouched on all fours, low tiger roars echoing without end.

Dragon and tiger faced each other head-on.

Everyone in the hall held their breath, their eyes fixed tightly on the two of them.

This was truly... a battle between dragon and tiger?

Compared to the composed Ao Yin, Dai Mubai's heart was tightly strung.

A pressure from a peer powerhouse enveloped his whole body. He had only ever felt such heavy pressure from the teachers at Shrek Academy.

Ao Yin lowered his head, calmly looking down at Dai Mubai below, his long staff lightly held across his front.

"I'll only use three strikes. I'm afraid you won't even be able to endure the first. I'll give you the chance—you attack first."

"Utterly arrogant!"

Dai Mubai gritted his teeth and roared.

Their Soul Power differed by only two levels, yet this fellow dared to spout such wild claims, saying he would defeat him in a single staff strike. He clearly did not take Dai Mubai seriously at all!

"Just wait! I'll blast you out of the sky right now!"

As his words fell, Dai Mubai suddenly stepped forward.

A cold gleam flashed through his evil-eyed pupils. He spread his arms, and the muscles across his body bulged high.

He opened his mouth wide as milky-white Soul Power rapidly gathered within, continuously compressing into a massive ball of light. A destructive aura slowly spread outward.

Even though Ao Yin had provoked him, Dai Mubai did not underestimate him in the slightest.

He was fully aware that when one was at a disadvantage in strength, striking first was the best way to win. This was also the combat principle Shrek Academy's teachers had repeatedly drilled into him.

"Get down here!"

"Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"

Buzz!

The accumulated white sphere of light exploded, transforming into a dazzling white beam that tore through the air and shot toward Ao Yin hanging in midair!