Bibi Dong brought over a cold drink.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing. Someone's back just looked familiar."
Jiang Qingyu took the drink and had a sip. It tasted pretty good.
Three flavors?
That was unusual.
Meanwhile, on the level below, the people Shen Yifeng had found familiar were the Clear Sky Twin Stars, Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, along with their grandfather Tang Chen, one of the three Peerless Douluo alongside Qian Daoliu.
Tang Hao was waiting for word that he could board the ship when a staff member hurried over.
"Sect Master Tang, all the Soul Emperor contestants are already preparing for their matches. There are none left to pair him with. We can offer you two options. Would you like to hear them?"
The staff member explained nervously.
That's Tang Chen standing in front of me. Who the hell sent me here?
When I get back, I'll wring your neck.
Tang Chen stood straight and tall. Hearing this, he looked displeased and fixed his gaze on the staff member, who broke out in a cold sweat and dared not raise his head.
"What options? Speak."
The staff member swallowed and hurriedly answered, "First, I can arrange a Soul Saint opponent for your grandson. Second, you can transfer to another Soul Fighting Arena."
Tang Chen turned to Tang Hao, who stood beside Tang Xiao. The young man had a defiant air and a fierce unwillingness to lose.
"Hao'er, what do you think?"
"Grandfather, I choose the Soul Saint." Tang Hao lifted his chin, his voice firm. "The Clear Sky Hammer is the world's greatest Martial Soul. So what if I fight someone above my level?"
Tang Chen laughed heartily, approval filling his eyes. "Good. That's my grandson."
He turned to the staff member. "Who is this Soul Saint?"
"Jiang Qingyu. His Martial Soul is the Flame Phoenix Sword, and he only recently became a Soul Saint," the staff member replied at once.
"Good. He'll do," Tang Chen decided.
Tang Hao paused. Hadn't he heard the name Jiang Qingyu somewhere before?
It sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember where.
Elsewhere, Jiang Qingyu received word in the waiting area that it was his turn.
"Here we go! Off you go, Little Qingyu. Grandpa Guang Ling will cheer you on!"
Guang Ling Douluo called out his encouragement.
"Come on, Grandpa Guang Ling. Stop acting like a child." Jiang Qingyu shook his head helplessly and headed for the passageway.
Leaving Guang Ling Douluo behind, he entered the dark passage leading to the Soul Arena. Ahead, lights shone and cheers rose one after another.
As he emerged, the crowd erupted in astonishment, then excitement.
"Oh my god, who is that?"
"So beautiful! More beautiful than my wife."
Screams rang out as Jiang Qingyu stepped onto the Soul Arena and into the spotlight.
Jiang Qingyu stood at the center of the ring, white hair falling over his shoulders and down his back. His cold red eyes swept across the crowd. His skin was exceptionally pale, and his breathtaking looks left more than half the spectators staring at his face in a daze.
Jiang Qingyu was long used to such reactions. He looked straight toward the passage opposite him.
Who would he face this time?
A moment later, Tang Hao strode onto the ring. The young man wore close-fitting clothes, his features rugged and proud, his steps steady and powerful.
At the sight of Jiang Qingyu, he stopped short and frowned. The name had sounded familiar, but he had never expected his opponent to look like this. So young, yet already a Soul Saint.
A striking hostess in a cheongsam came to the edge of the stage and announced loudly:
"Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect versus Jiang Qingyu."
"One is a Soul Emperor, the other a Soul Saint. Both sides have agreed to the match."
With that, the hostess stepped off the stage.
Six Soul Rings lit up beneath Tang Hao's feet: two yellow, two purple, and two black. He released the full force of his Soul Emperor-level Soul Power.
His dark iron Clear Sky Hammer appeared and slammed heavily onto the ring's flagstones.
"I won't take advantage of you. You make the first move. I don't want anyone saying Tang Hao bullies girls."
Tang Hao held his chin high, his voice carrying an inborn arrogance.
Away from home, he represented the Clear Sky Sect. Naturally, he ought to give a girl the first move.
Jiang Qingyu raised an eyebrow, amused.
With a turn of his wrist, he drew the Flame Phoenix Sword. Crimson light swept above the ring as seven Soul Rings rose beneath his feet, one yellow, one purple, and five black.
Tang Hao's pupils contracted at the sight of Jiang Qingyu's Soul Ring Configuration. He nearly choked with outrage.
A thousand-year Second Soul Ring, and a ten-thousand-year third?
"In that case, I won't hold back."
Jiang Qingyu's voice was calm, without a hint of provocation.
Below the stage, Guang Ling Douluo folded his arms and laughed. He said to Bibi Dong beside him:
"Just watch Little Qingyu teach Tang Hao a lesson."
Tang Hao's face tightened. Could he take back what he'd said?
"First Soul Skill: Phoenix Flame Slash!"
Jiang Qingyu gripped his sword, leaped into the air, and sent out a crescent of flaming sword energy.
"A petty trick!"
Tang Hao snorted. That's all?
He swung the Clear Sky Hammer at the sword energy.
Instead, the strike sent Tang Hao flying. His arms burned and trembled.
"How is that possible?"
Tang Hao was stunned.
An ordinary Soul Skill had dealt such scorching damage.
How could the world's greatest tool Martial Soul lose to the Flame Phoenix Sword? He wouldn't let that happen again!
Tang Hao staggered to his feet and drew a deep breath. The muscles in his arms bulged, while the flames continued to sear his palms.
"Third Soul Skill: Clear Sky Body Protection!"
"Second Soul Skill: Clear Sky Might Enhancement!"
With a low shout, Tang Hao pushed off the ground and charged. His second and third Soul Rings flashed in succession as his hammer tore toward Jiang Qingyu, trailing a fierce wind.
He launched the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer at the same time. Each blow built on the rebound from the last. Hammer shadows multiplied, and the wind howled.
Jiang Qingyu stood with sword in hand, shifting his feet lightly. Each time the Flame Phoenix Sword touched the hammer, it precisely bled away its force.
Flames spread along the sword, forcing Tang Hao to pull back and evade again and again.
Every time the hammer met the Flame Phoenix Sword, heat coursed into Tang Hao's body. No matter how much force he built up, he might be roasted before he could bring it to its peak.
Jiang Qingyu had to admit the hammer technique was ingenious. If he were still a Soul Emperor, if his attributes had not fully evolved to their peak, and if he had not absorbed the Icefire Dragon Bones,
he might not have handled it so easily.
As Tang Hao reached his twenty-seventh swing, he let out a roar.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Clear Sky Blood Detonation!"
All the force he had built up gathered in the Clear Sky Hammer. He drove a Sky-Piercing Strike at Jiang Qingyu, its piercing force tearing a shrill whistle from the air.
Sky-Piercing Strike was a burst of explosive power.
"Second Soul Skill: Bloodburn."
Jiang Qingyu spoke softly. His aura surged. At the cost of burning his own blood, the Soul Skill would make his next three attacks fifty percent stronger.
Jiang Qingyu swept his sword across. Phoenix Flame Slash met Sky-Piercing Strike with flames that swelled in power.
Boom! A shock wave spread in every direction, shattering the ring's flagstones layer by layer.
Tang Hao grunted. His Clear Sky Body Protection cracked apart, and he was thrown back again, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
"Damn, you're one fierce woman."
Tang Hao realized his arms—and even the rest of his body—were on the verge of being cooked through.
Below the stage, Tang Chen abruptly sat up straight. This young man's Soul Skill had far more explosive power than an ordinary Soul Saint's.
"Who exactly is he?"
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