Whose General Is This?

Zhang Fei heard his name and slowly walked out from the passage.

Light poured down from the dome, falling over his dark-blue fitted combat uniform.

The youth had refined features, broad, straight shoulders, and steady steps. Compared to Iron Mountain's mountain-like build, he did seem somewhat slight.

Whispers rose from the stands, most of them filled with doubt and disdain.

"Where did this brat come from? Is he even an adult?"

"Probably some noble kid here to experience life. Look at that delicate skin."

"This kid will probably fall apart with one punch."

"This match is in the bag!"

Zhang Fei stopped at one side of the arena, his expression calm.

"Both sides, summon your martial souls!" the host called loudly.

"Iron Mountain, Ironback Ape martial soul, level twenty-six Soul Grandmaster!"

Iron Mountain grinned. After introducing his strength according to the Spirit Arena rules, he gave a scornful laugh. "Hehe, little brat, Big Brother will teach you what real strength is today. Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

Before he finished speaking, he stomped his foot, and two yellow Soul Rings rose beneath him, blazing with light.

His body swelled another size, brown-black fur covering him from head to toe. His ape arms were as thick as an adult's thighs. His presence was indeed intimidating.

"Dragon Travels the World, Golden Dragon martial soul, level twenty-two Soul Grandmaster."

Zhang Fei followed the rules and introduced himself as well. Then he smiled provocatively. "Brother Iron, don't talk too big and bite your tongue."

The moment he finished speaking, a dazzling pillar of golden light shot into the sky from beneath his feet!

"Roar!!!"

A deafening dragon roar resounded throughout the arena!

A golden dragon phantom over thirty meters long suddenly unfurled behind Zhang Fei. Its body coiled, its head raised high, and its pale golden vertical pupils overlooked the entire arena.

The pressure of a sacred dragon erupted like something tangible, sweeping through the entire Great Soul Arena!

One yellow and one purple Soul Ring slowly pulsed beneath Zhang Fei's feet.

The entire arena fell silent.

The host stood there with her mouth open, her microphone nearly falling from her hand, her beautiful eyes wide as saucers.

The Ironback Ape phantom behind Iron Mountain trembled violently and let out a terrified whimper. It involuntarily lowered itself, as though it had encountered its bloodline's natural enemy.

"A thousand-year second ring?! How is that possible?"

"A dr-dragon martial soul?!"

"Damn! Whose general is this?!"

"Am I seeing things?!"

"Where the hell did this monster come from?!"

The stands were like a bomb had been dropped into them, instantly exploding into uproar! Cries of shock and heated discussion rose one after another as the entire Great Soul Arena boiled over.

Iron Mountain's face turned deathly pale, and his legs weakened uncontrollably.

Under that dragon's pressure, he felt as though even his martial soul was wailing. The circulation of his Soul Power had become sluggish as well.

Zhang Fei slowly raised his head. His pupils had already turned into golden slits, a pair of dragon horns several inches long sprouting from his forehead, while fine golden dragon scales covered his arms.

He looked at the host, his voice indifferent. "Can the match begin now?"

The host suddenly snapped back to her senses, her voice cracking. "Th-the match begins!"

"Roar!" Iron Mountain let out a roar despite himself, forcibly suppressing the fear in his heart as his first Soul Ring suddenly lit up.

"First Soul Skill, Iron Arm Smash!"

His pillar-like ape arms swept down with howling force, smashing toward Zhang Fei's head!

This blow was immensely powerful, enough to smash a huge boulder to pieces.

Zhang Fei stomped his foot, and his first Soul Ring lit up.

"First Soul Skill, Golden Armor Body!"

Golden light instantly covered his entire body. The sheen over his dragon scales became so dense it seemed almost solid, increasing both his strength and defense by one hundred percent!

"Boom!"

Iron Mountain's fists slammed viciously into Zhang Fei's crossed arms, producing a dull, thunderous impact.

Iron Mountain felt as if he had struck a mountain forged from refined steel. The rebounding force surged back through his arms, numbing the webbing between his fingers and forcing him to stagger back several steps!

Yet Zhang Fei did not move an inch, his feet seeming to have been nailed to the ground.

"Brother Iron, is that all the strength you have?" Zhang Fei lowered his arms, sounding utterly relaxed.

Iron Mountain was shocked. This youth did not look particularly large, so how could his strength be so terrifying?

Unwilling to accept this, a trace of ruthlessness flashed through his eyes as his second Soul Ring lit up.

"Second Soul Skill, Hundred-Forged Steel!"

His muscles swelled again. It was a pure strength-enhancing Soul Skill, boosting his strength by one hundred percent.

"Get down!" Iron Mountain roared as he charged forward, his fists like two siege hammers raining down wildly on Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei met him head-on.

He did not activate his second Soul Skill. He wanted to see just how far he could go relying only on Golden Armor Body and the physique tempered by ice and fire.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Dull impacts of fist striking flesh exploded repeatedly across the Spirit Arena.

The two exchanged more than a dozen blows head-on, each strike stirring visible shockwaves.

Iron Mountain's punches were heavy and powerful, but Zhang Fei discovered that although his opponent's strength had risen, his speed and reactions could not keep up with that increase at all.

Every punch had an obvious windup, its trajectory direct and straightforward, without any variation.

Meanwhile, after surviving She Long's abuse year after year, Zhang Fei's reactions and agility had improved in step with his strength.

You're too slow, Zhang Fei thought.

In another exchange, Iron Mountain threw both fists at once, leaving his chest and abdomen completely exposed.

Zhang Fei's gaze sharpened as he seized that opening.

He twisted aside to evade the incoming fists, then sent his right fist shooting out like a dragon emerging from the sea, driving an uppercut into Iron Mountain's chest and abdomen.

"Bang!!!"

The punch appeared casual, yet it struck precisely at the point where Iron Mountain's strength was being channeled.

That massive body was sent flying straight off the ground, soaring more than ten meters before crashing heavily beyond the edge of the Spirit Arena with a dull thud.

Iron Mountain struggled to get back up, but a violent twisting pain tore through his abdomen. His teeth bared in agony, and his face turned the color of liver.

Though his Soul Power was not exhausted and he still had the strength to fight, the Great Soul Arena's rules stated that leaving the ring's boundary meant defeat.

The entire arena went quiet for a moment.

The host's voice quickly rang out. "The winner of the seventh gambling match is Dragon Travels the World! Congratulations to Dragon Travels the World on winning his first Spirit Arena match!"

Zhang Fei stood in the center of the arena as the golden dragon scales slowly faded, his vertical pupils returning to normal and his Soul Rings withdrawing.

He waved to the roaring audience, a faint smile on his lips, then turned and headed toward the contestants' passage.

Zhang Fei went to the front desk to settle his winnings. It was still the same female attendant from before.

The way she looked at Zhang Fei had completely changed. There was a hint of shyness amid her respect, and she even secretly glanced at him a few more times.

"Mr. Dragon Travels the World, congratulations on your first victory." The female attendant handed him a small pouch of Gold Soul Coins with both hands, her voice exceedingly gentle. "According to the gambling match rules, the winner receives one point, along with a reward of ten Gold Soul Coins."

"Thanks."

Zhang Fei took the pouch of Gold Soul Coins and strode out of the Great Soul Arena.

By the time he returned to the Crown Prince's Residence, the sun was already setting.

Zhang Fei first briefly reported his Spirit Arena match to She Long, then headed to Xue Qinghe's study to amuse the little angel.

He massaged the little angel's hands, kneaded her shoulders, pounded her legs, and incidentally mooched a lavish dinner.