A Trifling Injury

"How could this be?!"

"Someone like you wants to crush Sun Moon's number one genius? What wishful thinking!"

The liquid metal swiftly re-formed into a humanoid shape. Xiao Hongchen's face turned livid as he roared in humiliation and rage.

He had never been crushed head-on by an opponent of the same rank in his life. The pride in his bones would not allow him to accept defeat.

His Second Soul Skill, Golden Frenzy, was activated again. The scattered metal powder around him was all drawn before him, golden elements churning and boiling as they continuously replenished his losses.

Fourth Soul Skill, Golden Sacrifice!

The remaining golden powder condensed frantically, and dozens of even larger, sturdier metal cannon barrels rose from the ground.

This time, he abandoned wide-range bombardment. All the Soul Tool cannons gathered together, their barrels stacked layer upon layer to form a massive composite Soul Tool main cannon. The terrifying energy fluctuations made the arena's isolation barrier hum and tremble continuously.

"Take this attack of mine! Let's see how much longer your dragon body can hold out!"

A thick golden beam blasted toward Gu Qiu'er.

Gu Qiu'er's First Soul Ring lit up, and the golden dragon scales covering her body shone even brighter.

The Golden Dragon floating in midair raised its head and dove down, its enormous body meeting the golden cannon blast head-on.

The dragon's roar collided with the cannon's thunderous blast. A golden shockwave spread wildly in every direction, and the spectators in the front rows instinctively raised their hands to shield themselves from the blinding light.

The dragon phantom and metal beam remained locked in a stalemate for a moment. Then the Golden Dragon suddenly exerted force, its sharp claws viciously tearing apart the golden blast. The remaining impact rebounded and slammed heavily into Xiao Hongchen.

Xiao Hongchen let out a muffled grunt and slid several meters backward. Blood stained his white clothes, his Soul Power churned chaotically within him, and his control over the metal weakened by more than half.

The massive main cannon he had assembled collapsed with a boom, turning back into scattered golden powder.

Meng Hongchen beneath the stage could no longer remain seated. Her silver-white ponytail swayed as she stood, and her aqua-blue eyes were filled with gravity as she prepared to leap onto the stage and save her brother at any moment.

The cheers from the stands were deafening. Countless gamblers shouted the Golden Dragon Princess's name, while the faces of those who had bet on Xiao Hongchen's victory turned deathly pale.

The owner of the Soul Duel Arena sat in his private box, his expression so dark it could drip water. The Sun Moon prodigy he had spent a fortune hiring had actually lost!

Gu Qiu'er gave her opponent no chance to catch his breath. Soul Power surged around her as the Golden Dragon dove once more, its colossal body sealing off every direction Xiao Hongchen could dodge.

Xiao Hongchen gritted his teeth and used all his strength to stack layers of shields before himself, hoping to withstand the Golden Dragon's impact.

But the shields shattered one after another the instant they came into contact with the Golden Dragon. The enormous dragon head slammed directly into Xiao Hongchen's chest.

Bang!

With a muffled impact, the golden light around Xiao Hongchen's body went into chaos. He could no longer maintain Martial Soul Possession and was sent flying, crashing heavily near the edge of the stage.

The Golden Dragon phantom slowly dissipated. Gu Qiu'er stood in the center of the arena, her dragon scales gradually fading as she panted heavily.

Yet her valiant figure, surrounded by five black Soul Rings, radiated a pressure that intimidated the entire arena.

The host stood frozen for a moment before abruptly raising his voice so it resounded throughout the venue. "The match at Arena Ninety-One has ended! The winner is the Golden Dragon Princess!"

The entire venue instantly erupted into thunderous cheers. Countless chips clattered together, and shouts intertwined as the winning streak record was reset once again.

Meng Hongchen leaped onto the stage and hurried to Xiao Hongchen's side, reaching out to help him up. The contempt in her gaze toward Gu Qiu'er was gone, replaced by intense wariness and a trace of unwillingness.

"You're very strong."

Xiao Hongchen wiped the blood from the corner of his lips. Though defeated, he refused to lower his head.

"Today, I underestimated you. The next time we meet, I will definitely defeat you."

Gu Qiu'er nodded. "I'll be waiting anytime."

"Oh, and you're very strong too."

Xiao Hongchen's body jolted as he turned back to glance at Gu Qiu'er.

He had thought that a proud daughter of heaven like Gu Qiu'er would be as arrogant as he was and would never acknowledge another person's strength.

Xiao Hongchen knew his own temperament very well. He simply refused to admit it.

He could recognize his mistakes and correct them, but he would never admit he was wrong.

Xiao Hongchen opened his mouth, but in the end, he merely said softly, "Thank you..."

Meng Hongchen helped him back to the lounge and used an instrument to examine his body.

"Brother, are you alright?"

Xiao Hongchen shook his head. "I'm fine. It's just a small injury..."

Meng Hongchen looked at his injuries and lightly pressed a finger against them.

"Hiss—ah—"

Xiao Hongchen sucked in a breath of cold air and cried out in pain.

"Meng! What are you doing?!"

Meng Hongchen rolled her eyes at him. "Hmph, serves you right for acting tough!"

She clapped her hands, put them on her hips, and said, "Just wait. Watch me in the next match!"

"According to the information the Soul Duel Arena gave us, that Abyssal Bard seems to be nothing but a brute who swings a cauldron around to smash people. I shouldn't have any problem dealing with her."

Xiao Hongchen lay facedown on the sofa and said, "Meng, I have a feeling all three of them are extraordinary. Just like this Golden Dragon Princess, we can't judge them by common sense."

"Brother, are you saying this Abyssal Bard might also have five Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings...?"

"The three of them appeared together. They're a group, so we can't rule out that possibility."

Xiao Hongchen nodded.

Meng Hongchen stroked the Soul Tool at her waist and said thoughtfully, "No matter... I'd like to see whether her cauldron is stronger, or whether my poison is better!"

"She's a power-attack Soul Master, and my poison happens to counter her! As long as I keep my distance for a while, she'll definitely lose!"

Xiao Hongchen nodded. "Alright, it's up to you!"

Meng Hongchen left the lounge and headed toward the Soul Arena Stage, while Xiao Hongchen watched the upcoming match through the broadcast screen in the lounge.

"At Grand Soul Arena Stage Ninety-One, the incomparably strong Abyssal Bard will face the Ice Toad!"

Xiao Xiao entered from one side of the Soul Arena Stage.

She wore a plain green dress untouched by dust. Her body was petite and delicate, and her face was cute and playful.

Yet this adorable little girl had already won dozens of consecutive matches in the Soul Duel Arena by swinging a massive cauldron.

Meng Hongchen slowly approached from the entrance on the other side.

Her uniform made her look neat and capable. Her large blue eyes sized Xiao Xiao up from head to toe, and the corners of her lips curved slightly.

"Hello, I'm Meng Hongchen. How should I address the Abyssal Bard?"

"Xiao Xiao."

Xiao Xiao looked at Meng Hongchen with admiration and longing in her eyes, then said sweetly, "Big sister, you're so pretty!"

Meng Hongchen was caught off guard by Xiao Xiao's sudden compliment. She paused, then smiled radiantly. "Thank you. You're very cute too!"

"Hehe~ Everyone says that!"

"It's just a pity... swinging around such a huge cauldron all the time doesn't look very pretty."

"No hehe!"

Xiao Xiao's cute face hardened. She took out the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron and set it on the ground, instantly cracking the floor.

Meng Hongchen: "..."

She took a deep breath, then activated the Soul Tool on her body.

A close-fitting, streamlined suit of ice-blue Soul Tool armor covered her entire body, and three pairs of short wings unfolded along its back.

She held a long, translucent blue Soul Tool sword in each hand.

Five Soul Rings rose around her—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black.

The host lowered his hand, and his clear shout rang through the entire venue!

"Begin!"

Before his words had even faded, Meng Hongchen made the first move.

First Soul Skill, Ice Toad's Poison!

Second Soul Skill, Ice Poison Ring!

A circle of glowing blue ice crystals instantly spread out from Meng Hongchen, enveloping more than half the stage.

Within the ice ring, the peculiar icy poison intertwined with fire was amplified several times over. The previously faint poisonous mist suddenly thickened, transforming into countless fine poisonous ice crystals that drifted through the air.

Standing within the poisonous ring's domain, Xiao Xiao's expression did not change, her gaze calm and steady.

She knew full well how strange Meng Hongchen's venom was. Without panic, her Third Soul Ring suddenly lit up!

Third Soul Skill, Cauldron's Might!

This Soul Skill instantly boosted Xiao Xiao's own defense to its peak, strengthening her body like a beast Martial Soul and enhancing every attribute of both herself and her Martial Soul.

At the same time, Cauldron's Might could also increase the power of her Soul Skills!

The strange icy poison swept toward her, yet it could not penetrate the defenses around Xiao Xiao's body.

Meng Hongchen's eyes narrowed slightly. She clearly had not expected Xiao Xiao's defense to be so formidable.

Wherever her Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad passed, it left behind potent poison that lingered for a long time. How could it be ineffective against Xiao Xiao?

Third Soul Skill, Ice Refraction!

Countless identical ice-blue figures instantly filled the stage, impossible to distinguish between real and false as light and shadows twisted chaotically.

Every figure held a blue crystal longsword and carried icy, fiery poisonous force. No one could possibly lock onto her true position.

The next moment, all the phantoms thrust out their swords at once, filling the sky with poisonous ice sword energy that sealed off every space Xiao Xiao could use to evade!