Arena Challenge

The arena was a square bluestone platform raised five feet above the ground.

Zhang Fei and Zhao Qiang each took a position at opposite ends of the arena, facing one another.

The disciples in the training grounds had already packed the area around the arena, their discussions buzzing incessantly.

Standing across from him, Zhao Qiang clasped his fists in greeting, his tone arrogant. "Zhao Qiang, martial soul: Iron-Spined Mad Lion. Level seventeen assault-type soul master. Please instruct me!"

Zhang Fei silently assessed him. At nine years old, having soul power at level seventeen was already quite impressive. His innate soul power had to have been at least level eight. No wonder he had his eyes on Ning Rongrong. He really did have some confidence to back it up.

As soon as Zhao Qiang finished speaking, he abruptly spread his arms. A phantom of a male lion with its mane bristling furiously appeared behind him.

The lion's body was dark and dull, as though forged from iron. Its jaws gaped wide, revealing gleaming white fangs, and an invisible roar swept toward Zhang Fei, carrying a biting gale with it.

At the same time, a yellow soul ring slowly pulsed beneath his feet.

Unhurried, Zhang Fei returned the salute with clasped fists, his voice as calm as ever. "Zhang Fei, martial soul: Golden Dragon. Level thirteen assault-type soul master. Please instruct me."

The moment he said that, Ning Rongrong below the stage grew unsettled. Zhang Fei was clearly about the same age as her, so how was he already level thirteen?

She had turned six two months ago and awakened with innate level-nine soul power. The entire sect had praised her as the most gifted Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda soul master, yet she still had not broken through level ten.

Why him? Could his talent be even greater than mine?

For the first time, Ning Rongrong studied Zhang Fei seriously, silently beginning to compete with him in her heart.

Meanwhile, a relaxed smile appeared on Zhao Qiang's face.

Level thirteen against level seventeen—the difference was a full four levels. He clearly believed he had this match in the bag.

But the smile on his face quickly froze.

A pillar of golden light shot into the sky from beneath Zhang Fei's feet. A golden dragon phantom over thirty meters long unfurled behind him, its body coiled and its head held high.

Its pale golden vertical pupils looked down upon the entire field, and a sacred dragon's might burst outward, sweeping across the whole training ground.

The clamor below the stage vanished in an instant.

Everyone stared fixedly at that golden dragon phantom, their expressions changing from curiosity to shock.

The phantom of the Iron-Spined Mad Lion behind Zhao Qiang shuddered violently.

Its once ferocious, clawing aura was utterly suppressed. The lion lowered its head, its limbs drawing in slightly.

It was instinctive fear—the innate bloodline suppression that dragons held over beasts.

Even though Zhang Fei's soul power was four levels lower, the pressure originating from the very source of his martial soul still made Zhao Qiang's martial soul tremble uncontrollably.

At the same time, a deep yellow soul ring slowly pulsed beneath Zhang Fei's feet, its color noticeably darker than Zhao Qiang's yellow soul ring.

Zhao Qiang clenched his teeth tightly, a fine sheen of sweat beading on his forehead.

"Martial soul possession!"

He let out a low roar and forcibly steadied himself as grayish-brown soul power abruptly enveloped his entire body.

Zhao Qiang's figure instantly grew taller, his shoulders and back broadened outward, and a layer of coarse dark-gray mane emerged across his skin. Sharp claws extended from the tips of his fingers.

On the other side, Zhang Fei also activated his Golden Dragon martial soul possession, golden light surging from within his body.

A pair of golden dragon horns about two inches long slowly emerged from his forehead, while his pupils abruptly narrowed into golden slits.

Golden dragon scales emerged from beneath his skin, densely covering his arms, shoulders, and back like a thin yet resilient suit of golden armor.

A vast force surged through every limb and bone. With a clench of his right hand, it felt as though he could crush stone. The Golden Dragon's strength was truly terrifying.

It was only that Zhang Fei still could not fully dragonize all four limbs. Otherwise, with the Golden Dragon's terrifying power and sharp five claws, he could easily tear apart every obstacle before him.

Zhao Qiang forcibly suppressed the trembling that rose from deep within his bloodline.

He explosively pushed off with both legs, lunging at Zhang Fei in a fierce gale, swift and savage.

Zhang Fei refused to yield, throwing both fists forward to meet him head-on.

The fist covered in golden dragon scales collided brutally in midair with the dark-gray Iron-Spined Lion claws.

Clang!

A crisp metallic crash exploded over the training ground, sparks flying in every direction.

Zhao Qiang was driven back several steps by the tremendous force, his right arm going slightly numb.

Zhang Fei, however, remained firmly where he stood, his feet utterly unmoving.

His body had already been far beyond ordinary people after being tempered by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Coupled with three months of brutal training under She Long and Porcupinefish's alternating beatings, Zhang Fei's physical strength had long surpassed what his appearance could reveal.

Zhao Qiang's pupils contracted for an instant. He had not expected Zhang Fei's strength to withstand his full-powered punch head-on, and the unwillingness in his heart surged wildly.

He suddenly stamped the ground, his dark-gray figure charging forward once more.

Zhang Fei neither dodged nor retreated, raising his fists like iron hammers to strike back.

Golden fist shadows and dark-gray claws flashed and crossed across the arena. Every collision erupted with a piercing metallic ring.

Both were assault-type soul masters, and their battle was violently ferocious.

Though Zhao Qiang appeared tall and powerful, his muscles bulging, every one of his attacks was forced back by Zhang Fei.

After several exchanges, the ease Zhao Qiang had felt from believing victory was assured had completely vanished, replaced by an indescribable agitation churning in his heart.

Their soul power differed by a full four levels, yet his opponent's strength was nothing like what a level-thirteen soul master should possess.

He suddenly roared, and the yellow soul ring beneath his feet lit up.

"First soul skill, Lion's Roar Tremor!"

A heavy sense of pressure exploded from Zhao Qiang. His chest abruptly swelled, and then a violent, deafening roar burst from the depths of his throat.

Ripples spread visibly through the air, wave after wave crushing toward Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei did not dodge.

He shouted, "First soul skill, Golden Armor Body."

The deep yellow soul ring beneath his feet suddenly lit up, and the golden sheen over his dragon scales deepened further.

A surging power coursed through his limbs, instantly doubling both his defense and strength.

The sound waves slammed into him like waves crashing against a reef. Shattered by his enhanced defense, they broke apart and scattered to either side.

A wave of low gasps arose below the stage.

Unwillingness welled up in Zhao Qiang's heart.

Throwing caution aside, he charged forward once again. His claws lifted high, wrapped in all the soul power in his body as they slashed down toward Zhang Fei's shoulder. This strike used nearly all his strength, leaving him no room to care about defense.

Zhang Fei did not evade. He merely tilted his head slightly, allowing Zhao Qiang's full-force claw strike to fall upon his shoulder.

Clang!

An even louder metallic crash erupted.

The claw struck the dragon scales on Zhang Fei's shoulder, sending sparks flying.

Yet the claws merely slid off the surface of the golden scale armor, unable to shake it in the slightest.

Zhao Qiang's pupils abruptly shrank, disbelief filling his face.

How was that possible? He had used his full strength in that strike, yet he could not even leave a mark?

Zhang Fei gave him no time to think.

The overflowing sensation of his strength increasing by a full twofold set all the blood in his body boiling.

He flipped his left hand, his fingers hooking like claws as he seized Zhao Qiang's right wrist before it could be withdrawn.

Zhao Qiang's heart jolted. He tried to wrench himself free with all his strength, only to discover that Zhang Fei's hand, covered in golden scales, held him fast like an iron vise.