Shi Po Unleashes His Strength, Chance Encounter with the Sword Fool

"Since you insist on courting death, then I'll end this quickly!"

As soon as he spoke, Zhang San stopped holding back. Six Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black—rose and fell around him.

"Fifth Soul Skill! Gale-Splitting Frenzied Slash!"

Sharp cyan Soul Power condensed into wind blades several zhang long, tearing through the air with piercing howls as they slashed down at Lu Yuan's head!

Faced with the violent wind blades covering his entire body, Lu Yuan moved lightly and unpredictably. His figure slid half a step sideways like a ghost, evading the attack.

At the same time, both swords moved!

The Abyss-Eroding Profound Blade collided with the wind blade. With a sharp hiss, the fierce wind-element Soul Power was instantly eroded and dissolved by the sword light.

The crimson Sun-Chopping Flame swept out in a horizontal slash. The fiery sword light tore through the air, moving too quickly for the naked eye to follow as it shot straight for Zhang San's face!

Zhang San's expression changed drastically, and he hastily raised a Soul Tool shield.

Clang!!

The crisp, grating sound of blade striking shield exploded through the arena.

That seemingly indestructible Soul Tool shield instantly became covered in dense gray-black cracks the moment the two swords crossed!

Crash!

The shield shattered. Zhang San retreated in shock, but he was still grazed by the blade.

An invisible force of erosion crazily burrowed into his body along the blade!

Erosion Break!

Every few seconds, it drained away a portion of his Soul Power.

After retreating and steadying himself, Zhang San realized something was wrong. This kid was no ordinary opponent.

He pulled out a Soul Cannon and was just about to inject Soul Power into it and fire.

But then he felt the Soul Power within him suddenly empty out. His meridians faintly stiffened, and the Soul Cannon, which had just finished charging, became stuck and impossible to activate!

"What's going on?!"

His heart shook violently, and his face was filled with disbelief.

Why had some of his Soul Power suddenly vanished?!

Before he could think further, Lu Yuan's attacks came in an unbroken stream.

His twin swords danced, black and red sword lights interweaving into an impenetrable net of blades. His offense and defense were both flawless, and he advanced and retreated with perfect control.

Abyss-Erosion Power Devour, Sun-Chopping Defense Break.

Every collision of their blades left another bloody mark on Zhang San's body. Every close-range clash deepened Erosion Break another layer.

Zhang San had been forced from his initially overwhelming stance into passive defense. His limbs grew heavier and heavier, while his Soul Power became increasingly weak.

In barely a dozen breaths, this rank-sixty-eight Soul Emperor was being mercilessly beaten across the entire arena by Lu Yuan, who had not even used a Soul Skill!

On the spectator stands, the previously relaxed audience sat up straight, their faces filled with shock.

"He's suppressing a Soul Emperor with pure swordsmanship, without using Soul Skills?!"

"What kind of monster is this boy?!"

"Look at Zhang San! He can't even properly unleash his Soul Skills. What's happening?!"

In the arena, Zhang San's expression had long changed from arrogance to solemnity, and finally into terrified pallor.

The longer he fought, the more panicked he became. The longer he fought, the more frightened he grew.

He could clearly sense the Soul Power within his body slowly dissipating beyond his control.

His opponent clearly had not used any bizarre techniques, yet his Soul Power was silently draining away.

This strange ability was something he had never heard of or seen before!

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

He gritted his teeth and roared, completely drawing upon every bit of his strength. His sixth Soul Ring suddenly lit up as he erupted with all his might. Thick Soul Power swept through the entire arena, trying to break through the suppression in one stroke and turn the battle around!

His sixty-thousand-year Soul Skill was his strongest killing move, enough to crush the vast majority of Soul Emperors at the same rank!

But in the next instant.

Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly and crossed his twin swords before him.

Black and white sword light crashed head-on into Zhang San.

Zhang San was sent flying. His blood and qi churned as he staggered back several steps, and a metallic sweetness rose in his throat.

He stared fixedly at the young man standing calmly in the arena, his twin swords lowered and his aura as steady as before. His eyes were filled with shock and fear.

He could no longer keep fighting.

If this continued, he would only exhaust all his Soul Power and suffer severe injuries.

"I... I surrender!!"

Zhang San almost had to grit his teeth to force out those three words.

As soon as he spoke, the Soul Arena Stage referee immediately raised a hand. "Contestant number ninety-one, Wind Title Douluo, has surrendered! Gustot wins!"

Cheers and cries of amazement instantly rang throughout the stands.

A battle that overturned everyone's understanding had come to an end.

In the eyes of the Sun Moon people, winning without Soul Rings or Soul Skills, relying on Soul Tools alone, already made one a genius.

But winning through nothing but the pure power of twin swords was something they had never seen before.

The Soul Arena Stage gradually returned to silence.

Only after a long while did Zhang San calm the fear in his heart. He quickly walked up to Lu Yuan, his gaze complicated and wary as he stared at him. "Little brother, you... what exactly is your Martial Soul?"

"Why did my Soul Power inexplicably drain away during our battle, and why did my Soul Skills repeatedly fail?"

An incomparably terrifying guess had already surfaced in his heart.

This was not an ability an ordinary Martial Soul should possess!

"Are you... an Evil Soul Master?!"

This bizarre method of silently draining Soul Power fit the characteristics of an Evil Soul Master far too well.

Lu Yuan put away the Abyss-Eroding Profound Blade and the Sun-Chopping Flame in his hands, then explained with a smile, "I am not an Evil Soul Master."

"This is merely one of my Martial Soul's traits: Erosion Break."

"The Soul Power that drained from your body was only the Soul Power you used. It did not damage your foundation. Return and regulate your breathing for a while, and you will recover. There is no need to worry."

After hearing this explanation, Zhang San's tense body abruptly relaxed. His back was already drenched in cold sweat, and he let out a long breath of stale air.

So he was not an Evil Soul Master...

If he had truly provoked an Evil Soul Master capable of silently eroding souls, it was uncertain whether he would even be able to cultivate after today!

"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, little brother. I was presumptuous."

After saying that, he solemnly cupped his hands toward Lu Yuan. Filled with shock and mixed emotions, he turned and walked down from the Soul Arena Stage.

The stands remained as noisy as ever.

At the same time, a man who looked to be in his twenties, with long black hair simply tied behind his head with a hairband, looked toward Lu Yuan with shining eyes.

His complexion was an unhealthy shade of pale, yet he was so handsome that even men would sigh in admiration.

Ji Juechen had only come to the Soul Duel Arena to watch the excitement because he found the sparring matches at Mingde Hall boring. When he heard that Soul Emperors were fighting, he had curiously come over.

He had not expected to see something that interested him.

Jing Ziyan, sitting beside him, helplessly covered her face.

Here he goes again...

Lu Yuan returned to Xiao Xiao and Gu Qiu'er.

Xiao Xiao immediately showered him with praise, filling him with emotional validation.

"Brother Lu Yuan! You're amazing! You actually won using only swordsmanship!"

Gu Qiu'er curled her lips, snorted, and said, "What's so impressive about that? Xiao Xiao, you've just seen too little. Isn't it just defeating a Soul Emperor? I can do that too!"

Xiao Xiao hugged Gu Qiu'er's arm and said coquettishly, "Oh, Sister Qiu'er is amazing too! I believe in your strength!"

Gu Qiu'er smiled smugly.

"Of course, of course!"

After her excitement faded, Gu Qiu'er looked at her own hand again.

She flexed her fingers.

Gu Qiu'er could not help feeling troubled. Should she also find a weapon that suited her?

"Ah! It's my turn!"

Seeing the notification, Xiao Xiao greeted Gu Qiu'er and Lu Yuan before heading off to prepare on her little legs.

"Be careful!"

Gu Qiu'er and Lu Yuan said in unison.

Xiao Xiao's opponent was a Soul King named Li Yu, who was also a fifth-rank Soul Engineer.

Just as the two of them were seriously watching Xiao Xiao's duel, a man and a woman suddenly approached them.

Lu Yuan turned his head and asked, "You are?"

Damn it! He almost looks more handsome than me!

Ji Juechen spoke. "Hello, Gustot? That should only be your codename, right?"

"My name is Ji Juechen. May I get to know you?"

Jing Ziyan followed up, "My name is Jing Ziyan."

"Lu Yuan."

Seeing that Lu Yuan did not seem opposed, Ji Juechen continued, "Brother Lu, to be honest, I greatly admire your swordsmanship. I wonder if I might have the chance to spar with you?"

"Ah?"

Lu Yuan froze. Wasn't this a little too fast?