A Hundred Consecutive Victories

The battle lasted only a moment.

The Destruction Scepter snapped the first man's Martial Soul, then shattered the second man's protective Soul Power.

Tang Chen achieved ten consecutive victories.

Hu Liena waited for him at the exit.

She handed him a waterskin.

"Today was slower than yesterday."

"They learned to cooperate."

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

Hu Liena raised her hand and wiped the blood from the side of his face.

Her movement paused for a moment when her fingertips touched his cheek.

Tang Chen looked at her.

"Didn't you say you were only checking my injuries?"

"Something was stuck here."

She withdrew her hand.

"Now it's clean."

The twentieth match.

Tang Chen's residence was attacked.

More than a dozen Fallen Ones blocked the street outside the stone house.

Hu Liena rose from the bed.

She wore only a black undershirt, her fair shoulders and neck exposed beyond the collar.

Her Long Hair fell to her waist.

Tang Chen draped his outer robe over her shoulders.

"Stay inside."

"I'll go with you."

"Put your clothes on properly."

Hu Liena lowered her head and glanced at the black undershirt she wore.

She tied the outer robe tight.

"That's better now."

The two walked out of the stone house side by side.

The street quickly fell silent again.

After returning to the room, Hu Liena took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from Tang Chen's scepter.

"Why do they always come after you?"

"Killing me can end my winning streak."

"We'll change residences tomorrow."

"No need."

Tang Chen took back the Destruction Scepter.

"If they keep coming, we'll keep dealing with them."

Hu Liena stepped before him.

She reached out and straightened Tang Chen's collar, which had been torn open during the fight.

"Aren't you tired?"

"No."

"You answer like that every day."

She lifted her face.

Only half a step remained between them.

"I'll keep watch tonight."

"You sleep."

Tang Chen looked at her.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Late at night.

Tang Chen opened his eyes.

Hu Liena leaned against the bedside, already asleep.

She still held a short blade in her hand.

Her fair profile rested against Tang Chen's shoulder, her Long Hair falling over his chest.

Tang Chen removed the short blade from her hand.

Hu Liena opened her eyes.

"Did someone come?"

"No."

"Then why are you awake?"

"You're leaning on me."

She did not immediately move away.

"Let me borrow your shoulder."

"Weren't you keeping watch?"

"Now it's your turn."

Hu Liena closed her eyes again.

"I'll rest for a while."

Tang Chen did not push her away.

The thirtieth match.

The fortieth match.

The fiftieth match.

The contestants in the Hell Slaughter Arena grew stronger and stronger.

Tang Chen continued to maintain a perfect record.

His fighting style gradually changed.

At first, he relied on the Destruction Scepter to crush all opponents head-on.

Later, he began restraining his Destruction Soul Power.

Every dodge, block, and counterattack was kept within the smallest possible range.

Without soul skills, his use of power became even more precise instead.

Hu Liena's victories also reached forty-seven.

Her spiritual perception grew stronger and stronger.

The Charm granted by her Demon Fox Martial Soul was woven into her footwork and gaze.

After the battle ended, the two returned to their residence together.

Hu Liena sat beside the bed and removed her short boots.

A new wound had appeared on her calf.

The black fabric had been cut open, and blood slowly ran down her fair skin.

Tang Chen crouched before her.

"Raise your leg."

Hu Liena placed her calf on his knee.

"There was poison on my opponent's blade."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I can suppress it."

Tang Chen took out the antidote Dugu Yan had prepared.

He crushed the pill and sprinkled the powder over the wound.

Hu Liena's leg drew back slightly.

Tang Chen held her ankle.

"Don't move."

"The medicine hurts."

"You have to endure it even if it hurts."

She lowered her head and looked at Tang Chen.

"Does Dugu Yan usually take care of you like this too?"

"More or less."

"What about Zhu Zhuqing?"

"She checks my clothes and wounds."

Hu Liena's toes lightly touched his arm.

"You're quite used to being taken care of."

"I'm taking care of you too."

Tang Chen wrapped the wound with a clean strip of cloth.

Her leg remained on his knee.

"It's bandaged."

"Check it again."

"The poison is already gone."

"I meant the wound."

Tang Chen raised his eyes to look at her.

Hu Liena did not withdraw her calf.

"Don't you always make sure every time?"

Tang Chen checked the bandage again.

"There's no problem."

Only then did she withdraw her leg.

The black hem of her clothes fell, covering the side of her knee.

"You sleep on the inside tonight."

"Why?"

"My leg is injured."

Hu Liena raised her hand and patted the inner side of the bed.

"If someone attacks tonight, you stand on the outside."

Tang Chen lay down on the outer side.

She quickly moved close to him.

Her fair arm rested across Tang Chen's chest.

"Isn't your leg injured?"

"My hand isn't."

Hu Liena closed her eyes.

"This makes it easier to wake you."

Tang Chen did not expose her.

The sixtieth match.

The Hell Slaughter Arena began deliberately extending the interval between Tang Chen's and Hu Liena's matches.

The two could not participate in the same match.

Whenever Tang Chen took the stage, Hu Liena would wait at the entrance.

Whenever Hu Liena appeared, Tang Chen would remain in the same spot.

Within Slaughter City, more and more people remembered their numbers.

One zero zero one.

One zero zero two.

Some also tried to exploit their relationship.

After the sixty-seventh match, three Fallen Ones took Hu Liena away.

They wanted to use her to force Tang Chen to voluntarily end his winning streak.

Tang Chen found the place where she was held in only half an hour.

The stone door shattered.

The Destruction Scepter came down.

The three Fallen Ones failed to block even a single attack.

Hu Liena sat in a stone chair.

Her hands were bound by iron chains, and her sleeves were stained with blood.

Tang Chen walked up to her.

The scepter severed the iron chains.

"Can you walk?"

"Yes."

Hu Liena had barely stood up when her body pitched forward.

Tang Chen caught her.

She leaned against Tang Chen's chest, her fingers clutching his lapel.

"My Soul Power has been suppressed by the medicine."

"I'll take you back."

Tang Chen bent down and lifted her into his arms.

Hu Liena wrapped her arms around his neck.

The black hem of her skirt draped along her legs.

Her cheek rested against Tang Chen's shoulder.

"You came quickly."

"They shouldn't have taken you."

"Were you worried about me?"

"Yes."

Hu Liena raised her face.

"This time, it wasn't because of Teacher?"

"No."

She leaned back against his shoulder.

"Then I'll remember that."

After returning to their residence, Tang Chen placed her on the bed.

Hu Liena still did not loosen her arms.

"We're here."

"The medicine hasn't worn off yet."

"So?"

"Sit here."

Tang Chen sat by the bedside.

She rested her head on his lap.

Long Hair spread across the bedding.

A faint blush colored her fair cheeks.

"Wait until I recover."

"Alright."

Hu Liena closed her eyes.

"Tang Chen."

"Yes."

"If you had been the one captured today, I would have gone to save you too."

"I know."

"You know everything."

She opened her eyes and looked at Tang Chen.

"Can't you say something else?"

Tang Chen raised a hand and brushed the Long Hair away from the side of her face.

"I'm very happy."

Hu Liena fell silent.

A moment later, she reached out and took Tang Chen's hand.

"That answer was acceptable."

The Eightieth Match.

Tang Chen's control over his Soul Power and body had reached a new level.

In his hands, the Destruction Scepter was no longer merely a weapon of direct destruction.

With every swing, he could precisely cut off the flow of his opponents' Soul Power.

The ten contestants could not hold out against him for even half an hour.

The Ninetieth Match.

The Hell Slaughter Arena sent out nine fallen ones with over forty consecutive victories each.

The battle lasted for two hours.

For the first time, Tang Chen was injured on the Soul Arena Platform.

A short blade slashed across his shoulder.

Blood stained his black clothing red.

Hu Liena stood at the exit of the passageway.

The moment she saw the wound, she immediately walked up to Tang Chen.

"Sit down."

"Let's go back first."

"Treat it now."

She pulled Tang Chen down onto the stone steps.

The black fabric was carefully undone.

A wound was exposed on Tang Chen's shoulder.

Hu Liena took out the Jade Bottle and poured the Medicinal Liquid onto a handkerchief.

"Is this the last bottle?"

"There are still three bottles of Medicinal Liquid Dugu Yan prepared."

"Then use hers."

Hu Liena wiped away the blood for him.

Her fingertips gently pressed around the wound.

"Does it hurt?"

"No."

"That's all you ever say when you're hurt."

She lowered her head and bandaged Tang Chen's shoulder.

Her Long Hair slipped from her shoulder and brushed across Tang Chen's chest.

Tang Chen raised a hand and tucked it behind her ear.

Hu Liena's movements stopped.

The two were very close.

Her breath fell against Tang Chen's neck.

"It's bandaged."

Hu Liena did not immediately pull away.

Tang Chen looked at her.

"Is there anything else?"

"Why didn't you dodge that blade on the platform just now?"

"If I had dodged it, the attacks of the other three would have landed at the same time."

"So you chose to take the lightest attack."

"Yes."

Hu Liena raised a hand and pressed it against his chest.

"Don't do that next time."

"I can't guarantee that in battle."

"Then promise me you'll try to avoid it."

Tang Chen looked at her.

"Alright."

Only then did she pull away.

"I'll check the wound tonight."

"Check it tomorrow."

"Tonight."

Hu Liena draped his outer robe over him again.

"You promised to listen to my reminders."

That night.

She sat behind Tang Chen and untied the bandage around his shoulder.

The wound had already begun to heal.

Hu Liena dipped her fingertips in Medicinal Liquid and gently applied it along the edge of the wound.

"You recover very quickly."

"The Life Ancient Tree Martial Soul can heal injuries on its own."

"Then why did you still let me treat you?"

Tang Chen turned his face slightly.

"You had already taken out the medicine."

She wrapped a fresh bandage around his shoulder.

As she leaned close, her Long Hair fell across Tang Chen's back.

"Only because I took out the medicine?"

"And because you wanted to treat me."

Hu Liena tied the bandage.

She leaned against Tang Chen's shoulder from behind.

"That was a better answer."

The Ninety-Ninth Match.

Hu Liena completed her match first.

Her victories had reached ninety-eight.

Tang Chen, meanwhile, completed his ninety-ninth consecutive victory.

All of Slaughter City was waiting for his final match.

Inside the stone house.

Hu Liena sat on the edge of the bed.

She tied up Tang Chen's Long Hair for him.

The black hair clasp Zhu Zhuqing had given him still held his hair in place.

Dugu Yan's emerald-green ribbon was still tied around his wrist as well.

Hu Liena lowered her head and looked at that ribbon.

"Tomorrow is your hundredth match."

"Yes."

"The Slaughter King won't let you win easily."

"I know."

She pressed the hair clasp tighter.

"If you win, you'll be able to open Hell Road."

"You still need two matches."

"I'll catch up to you soon."

Hu Liena sat beside Tang Chen.

Today, she had changed into a dark red long dress.

Its hem fell to her calves, revealing her slender ankles.

"Will you wait for me?"

"Yes."

"What if the Slaughter King opens Hell Road early?"

"I won't enter."

Tang Chen looked at her.

"I'll wait until you have a hundred victories."

Hu Liena raised her eyes.

"Aren't you afraid of missing the chance to leave?"

"Hell Road will always be there."

"But I may not be able to finish those two matches in a short time."

"I can wait."

Her fingers settled in Tang Chen's palm.

"Why?"

"We came in together."

Tang Chen took her hand.

"Of course we'll leave together."

Hu Liena did not pull away.

Their fingers gradually intertwined.

She moved a little closer to Tang Chen's side.

"Tang Chen."

"Mm."

"You said before that you protected me because of Teacher."

"Not anymore."

Hu Liena rested her cheek against his shoulder.

"Then why now?"

Tang Chen lowered his head to look at her.

"Because you are Hu Liena."

She was silent for a long time.

Blood-red moonlight streamed through the window, falling over their clasped hands.

Hu Liena raised her face.

She was very close to Tang Chen.

Their foreheads gently touched.

"You're not allowed to get hurt tomorrow."

"Alright."

"After one hundred wins, you have to wait for me too."

"Alright."

She closed her eyes.

"Stay with me tonight."

Tang Chen held her by the shoulders.

"Just sleep."

"I know."

Hu Liena leaned into his arms.

"You always have to remind me of that."

"I'm afraid you'll misunderstand."

She raised a hand and pinched Tang Chen's waist.

"I didn't misunderstand."

The next day.

The Hell Slaughter Arena was packed with spectators.

Tang Chen stood at the center of the Soul Arena Platform.

The other nine contestants had all entered the arena.

Every one of them had achieved over fifty consecutive victories.

Three of them had reached the Soul Emperor realm.

Hu Liena stood at the entrance of the passageway.

She wore a black gown, her Long Hair tied behind her head.

The instant the match began, all nine released their Martial Souls.

Long blades, massive axes, iron chains, and beast Martial Souls closed in from different directions.

Tang Chen raised his right hand.

The Destruction Scepter appeared in his palm.

No Soul Rings rose.

Yet the purple-black Soul Power rapidly cracked the surface of the Soul Arena Platform.

The first opponent charged straight at him.

A massive axe came crashing down with tremendous force.

Tang Chen raised the scepter horizontally.

Boom!

The massive axe collided with the scepter.

The man's arms went numb, and his weapon flew from his grasp on the spot.

Tang Chen raised his palm and struck his chest.

Black-and-white radiance erupted abruptly.

The man's body was sent flying off the Soul Arena Platform.

Two iron chains coiled toward him from the left and right.

Tang Chen stepped forward.

Destruction Soul Power rapidly spread along the chains.

Large cracks appeared across the metal surfaces.

The two iron chains snapped at the same time.

Tang Chen turned and swung the scepter.

Two opponents fell one after another.

The remaining six had no path of retreat.

They gathered their Soul Power in one place.

Six Martial Souls attacked Tang Chen at once.

The center of the Soul Arena Platform was completely engulfed by Soul Power.

Hu Liena stepped forward.

Her fingers pressed against the short blade.

Purple-black light suddenly burst from the chaotic Soul Power.

Tang Chen walked out from the front.

His black outer robe had already been torn.

Yet there were no wounds on his body.

The Destruction Scepter came down before him.

The six men's protective Soul Power collapsed from the center.

Tang Chen passed through the shattered Soul Power.

The scepter swung repeatedly.

The first man fell.

The second was sent flying off the Soul Arena Platform.

The third man's Martial Soul was struck apart head-on.

The final three tried to scatter and flee.

Tang Chen's figure vanished from where he stood.

The power of the Shadow Demon Spirit Left Leg Bone could still be used.

The next moment.

He was already blocking them at the edge of the Soul Arena Platform.

The Destruction Scepter stretched across before the three men.

Purple-black Soul Power erupted outward.

Three figures fell from the Soul Arena Platform at the same time.

The entire Hell Slaughter Arena fell silent.

Tang Chen stood at the center of the Soul Arena Platform.

Only vast stretches of shattered stone slabs remained beneath his feet.

The woman in black gauze walked to the Field Side.

"Number one thousand and one."

"One hundred victories."

"The hundred-win streak is complete."