Mingdu Soul Duel

"Three guests, this way, please."

The shopkeeper led Lu Yuan and the other two to a shelf, pointing at the Soul Tools displayed there. "These are the Milk Bottles our shop carries. The ones on top are the highest-grade Level 5 Milk Bottles, while those below are the lowest-grade Level 3 Milk Bottles."

Seeing that there were only two Level 5 Milk Bottles on the shelf, Xiao Xiao asked doubtfully, "Shopkeeper, why are there only two Level 5 ones?"

"Miss, charging Soul Tools like Milk Bottles are far more difficult to make than ordinary Soul Tools of the same grade, and their material requirements are much higher. The standards for stable energy storage are strict as well. The slightest flaw can cause an explosion, and only a Level 3 Soul Engineer or above can make them."

"High-grade Milk Bottles are not only difficult to manufacture, but also regulated. You three are from Douluo Continent, aren't you?"

The shopkeeper sized up Lu Yuan and the others' clothing.

The three of them nodded.

"Then that explains it. High-grade Milk Bottles are especially restricted when sold to people from Douluo Continent. It's already quite good that I have Level 5 Milk Bottles to sell you!"

"And these are products of Mingde Hall, too. Their quality is absolutely guaranteed!"

Lu Yuan picked up a Level 5 Milk Bottle and examined it in his hand.

"We'll take all three. How much?"

The shopkeeper immediately beamed. "Ninety thousand Gold Soul Coins each, for a total of two hundred and seventy thousand Gold Soul Coins!"

Lu Yuan took out a Gold Soul Coin card and paid without hesitation.

After receiving the payment, the shopkeeper's smile became even brighter. "Hehehe... Is there anything else you need?"

"You really don't have any higher-grade Milk Bottles? Any Level 6 ones?"

The shopkeeper shook his head with a bitter smile. "Young master, it's not that I refuse to sell them to you. I truly don't have any!"

"Level 6 Milk Bottles correspond to the Soul Emperor level. They're not only difficult to make and expensive, but shops like ours aren't even qualified to sell them!"

Lu Yuan gave one Milk Bottle each to Xiao Xiao and Gu Qiu'er, then put his away. "Fine. Take us to see some defensive Soul Tools."

The shopkeeper sighed in relief. He had thought Lu Yuan would insist on getting one.

"Certainly, please follow me!"

The shopkeeper led the three of them to another shelf.

"This is the Level 5 Soul Tool, the Invincible Shield. It's a one-use lifesaving Soul Tool. Once infused with Soul Power, it instantly produces a high-strength shield capable of blocking a Soul King's full-force strike."

"These are a pair of Softening Bracers. They can weaken physical impacts and reduce injuries from close-combat punches and kicks, as well as glancing blows from low-level Soul Skills..."

"..."

Lu Yuan swept out his hand. "We'll take them all!"

After paying, Lu Yuan, Gu Qiu'er, and Xiao Xiao divided up the items themselves without needing the shopkeeper to pack them.

The three left the shop and walked down the street.

Gu Qiu'er held the Invincible Shield in her hand, turning it over as she examined it. It was the size of a round disc and entirely silver-white.

Gu Qiu'er clicked her tongue in wonder. "This little thing can really block a Soul King's full-force attack?"

Lu Yuan smiled. "Why not try it and find out?"

"How do we try it?"

Gu Qiu'er seemed to think of something. She glared at Lu Yuan and said, "You aren't planning to test it yourself, are you? Are you trying to use this as an excuse to hit me?"

Lu Yuan rolled his eyes at Gu Qiu'er. "What kind of intentions are those? Do you think I'm that sort of person?"

Gu Qiu'er blinked, then nodded solemnly.

Lu Yuan: "..."

"Hahaha!"

Xiao Xiao continued laughing behind them.

Helplessly, Lu Yuan said, "I meant we should try it at the Soul Duel Arena!"

"The Soul Duel Arena?"

Gu Qiu'er was taken aback.

Xiao Xiao explained, "Sister Qiu'er, the Soul Duel Arena is a place where people fight using Martial Souls. It's specifically for Soul Masters to battle."

Gu Qiu'er suddenly understood and asked, "Then if I duel there, can I finally fight without holding back?"

Lu Yuan said, "Yes and no. The Soul Duel Arena does let Soul Masters fight to their hearts' content, but it still has rules—unless you're fighting a deathmatch, of course."

Confidence flashed through Gu Qiu'er's crimson eyes. "A mere soul duel? I'm afraid it won't be enough to test anything. With my strength, wouldn't that be easy? Even if I faced a Soul Emperor, I could still fight!"

Lu Yuan put an arm around each of their shoulders and pulled them closer. "So? Want to play a couple of rounds?"

As he spoke, he lifted his head and looked toward a large building in the distance.

Following Lu Yuan's gaze, Gu Qiu'er and Xiao Xiao saw that the large building glittered with multicolored lights. Plenty of people were entering and leaving, making it exceptionally lively.

"Then... let's play a couple of casual rounds?"

"It'll be dark soon anyway. Let's fight a few matches before finding somewhere to stay!"

The three immediately agreed and headed toward the large building.

At the front desk, Lu Yuan and the others registered.

However, after the receptionist noticed that they seemed to have come from Douluo Continent, the look in the receptionist's eyes became somewhat strange.

After registering, it was time to arrange their soul duels. They entered the sparring and competitive dueling area.

After some time, the arrangements for Lu Yuan and the others were complete. Since they had come together, all of them were assigned to Soul Duel Arena No. 91.

However, Lu Yuan's opponent was at the Soul Emperor level, while Tang San and the other three were only facing Soul King-level opponents.

The cultivations of opponents at both levels were already quite high, and there were not many of them, so the matchmaking took some time.

Unless they were exceptional geniuses, Soul Kings and Soul Emperors were generally middle-aged. Other than those passionate about battle or gambling matches, few came to the Soul Duel Arena.

Inside Soul Duel Arena No. 91, quite a few spectators sat scattered across the circular stands.

Soul King and Soul Emperor matches naturally held more appeal than low-level soul duels, but most participants at this rank were middle-aged Soul Masters who had frequented the Soul Duel Arena for years. Young faces were few and far between.

When Lu Yuan slowly stepped onto the dueling platform, several more pairs of eyes instinctively turned toward him.

He was too young.

Dressed in simple black robes, he stood tall and straight, his features still youthful. He looked no more than twelve or thirteen.

Across from him, Lu Yuan's opponent had been waiting for quite some time.

It was Zhang San, whose expression was calm and steady. His Soul Power fluctuations were around Rank 68.

He was a genuine high-level Soul Emperor, already considered top-tier combat power in a civilian Soul Duel Arena.

The moment Zhang San saw Lu Yuan, surprise first appeared in his eyes before turning into deep disdain and contempt.

"At such a young age, his cultivation is this unsteady."

He secretly shook his head, already reaching a conclusion.

To break through to Soul Emperor at such an age, even if Lu Yuan was extraordinarily gifted, he had probably taken plenty of pills.

Of course, taking pills was nothing new in the Sun Moon Empire. After all, everyone took them!

But this was the first time he had seen someone take enough pills to reach the Soul Emperor level at such a young age.

Youngsters like this only had an impressive cultivation rank. Their actual combat ability was terrible. They knew nothing of fighting, nothing of controlling their strength, nothing of enduring pressure.

He had most likely taken too many pills and come to the Soul Duel Arena to test the waters.

This was practically free points!

Zhang San curled his lips into a smile and released his Martial Soul.

Lu Yuan loosely clenched both hands, and two completely different sword lights instantly appeared.

The Abyss-Eroding Profound Blade in his left hand, the Sun-Chopping Flame in his right.

With both swords in hand, Lu Yuan still did not reveal his Soul Rings.

He simply stood quietly in the middle of the arena, relying solely on his pair of Martial Soul swords.

Every spectator was stunned.

No Soul Rings? No Soul Skills?

He was relying entirely on swordsmanship for close-range combat?

Zhang San's pupils contracted slightly before he sneered. "Arrogant! You have the cultivation of a Soul Emperor, yet you refuse to use Soul Skills and rely on nothing but two swords?"

In his eyes, this was sheer suicidal arrogance.

In a battle between Soul Masters, Soul Skills were the foundation of combat strength. The physical body and swordsmanship were merely secondary. Fighting without Soul Skills was equivalent to crippling ninety percent of one's own strength.