How Long Would He Fight? Keep Fighting

Inside the contestants' lounge.

Zhu Zhuqing lay sprawled over the table, her head tilted to one side. A rare trace of sorrow showed in her cool eyes.

She could not even defeat an opponent of the same level. How was she supposed to catch up to him...

At that moment, she was like a fragile kitten, curled up alone in her chair, lost and helpless.

A light knock came at the lounge door. Zhu Zhuqing immediately shook off her earlier uncertainty, rose to her feet, and slowly walked toward the door in her clicking heels.

With a click, the door opened, revealing a masked man outside.

Zhu Zhuqing froze on the spot.

"What? You can't recognize me once I put on a mask?"

A familiar, gentle voice came from beneath the mask, knocking open her heart.

The mask was slowly removed, revealing a handsome and striking face before her eyes.

Seeing the indulgent, accepting look in Xu Peinian's eyes, Zhu Zhuqing felt her nose sting, and tears nearly spilled from the corners of her eyes.

Without hesitation, Xu Peinian pulled the caught-off-guard Zhu Zhuqing into his arms. Then, as one hand gently stroked the top of her head, he murmured softly:

"Zhuqing, don't rush. Take it slowly. You're still young. He has only trained a few more years than you. With your talent and hard work, it won't be long before you crush him."

Zhu Zhuqing buried her face in his chest. Rarely, she did not resist, merely giving a muffled "Mm."

"It's fine. Tomorrow, I'll teach him a lesson first. Then you can beat him yourself someday."

Xu Peinian's other hand gently patted her back as though soothing a baby, showing not the slightest disgust at the charred marks on Zhu Zhuqing's body.

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing's reply carried a slight nasal tone.

The two embraced quietly, as though time had stopped at that moment.

After an unknown length of time, Zhu Zhuqing, her cheeks flushed crimson, broke free from Xu Peinian's embrace. She hurried in small steps to a sofa nearby and sat down, turning her head away, too embarrassed to look at him.

At first, Xu Peinian did not understand why Zhu Zhuqing had run so far away. Only when he lowered his head and saw the two tear streaks on the front of his clothes did he smile.

"The medicine is on the table. Remember to apply it, then get some proper rest. I'm heading out first."

Knowing this little spirit cat was thin-skinned, Xu Peinian closed the door behind him after speaking and left.

He already has Hu Liena, so why did he pull me into his arms? And I... I actually did something so embarrassing in his embrace.

Pink crept all the way to Zhu Zhuqing's ears, and the young girl's thoughts became a tangled mess.

After leaving the lounge, Xu Peinian went straight to the registration counter.

The receptionist did not show any surprise at the man concealing his true appearance. She still asked politely and professionally:

"Hello. What can I help you with?"

"Arrange another one-on-one Soul Battle for me."

Xu Peinian handed over his Iron Soul Battle Badge for the receptionist to verify his identity information.

"Certainly, Mr. Xu."

Xu Peinian used a special method unique to Spirit Hall to suppress his Soul Power Level to exactly level thirty.

Therefore, he was competing in the Soul Elder division.

First match.

Xu Peinian VS Yang Zhi, the Azure Feather Eagle

His opponent, relying on his higher Soul Power Level, underestimated him.

Xu Peinian cut off a lock of hair by his neck with a single slash.

Terrified out of his wits, he collapsed to the ground.

Xu Peinian claimed his third consecutive victory.

Second match.

Xu Peinian VS Yuan Hua, the Demonback Gorilla

Yuan Hua was also a power-type fighter with three consecutive victories.

Xu Peinian used only two strikes.

The first broke through his defense.

The second sealed his throat.

Xu Peinian secured his fourth consecutive victory.

Third match.

Xu Peinian still won with ease.

Sixth match.

Xu Peinian used a soul skill for the first time.

Netherworld Demon Slash appeared, and his opponent was scared out of his wits.

After ten straight victories.

A staff member came forward and asked how much longer he intended to fight that day.

Xu Peinian merely said coldly:

"Keep fighting until Yu Tianheng stands before me."

Word spread nearby that a demon king had arrived at Suotuo Great Soul Arena.

He sped through the Silver Soul Fighter rank in a single day and declared that he would fight Yu Tianheng.

If they had been able to gather enough contestants in such a short time, he might even have earned a Gold Soul Badge in one day.

No one knew his real name. They only knew the demon king's title: Netherworld.

The organizers had also been frightened by the commotion of the past few days. These ruthless people had recently been emerging in droves, like radishes everywhere by the roadside.

So they directly arranged a match between Xu Peinian, who had twenty consecutive victories, and Yu Tianheng, who was already a Silver Soul Fighter and had never lost.

Let these vicious wolves tear into each other. It would conveniently reduce the arena's losses.

The main Soul Battle Arena.

Not a single seat in the stands was empty.

Zhu Zhuqing watched the center of the arena below from the VIP room Xu Peinian had arranged for her.

Her expression was cool and calm, but her slightly clenched fists exposed how unsettled she truly was.

On the main Soul Battle platform.

This venue was generally reserved for team battles involving Silver Soul Fighters and above.

Yet today, only two contestants stood upon it.

One was an aloof young man with long black hair and a tall, slender build.

The other was a straight-backed youth wearing a ghost mask, his entire body giving off an icy, dark aura.

"So you're the one who claimed you wanted to challenge me? Wearing some lousy mask and playing mysterious here—what right do you have to stand before me?"

The young man's facial muscles seemed stiff from his long-standing expressionlessness, but the arrogant words from his mouth were even more unpleasant.

"Is that so? We'll find out soon enough whether I have the right to stand before you."

You like acting tough, huh? Perfect. I happen to love slapping people in the face... Xu Peinian retorted coldly without the slightest courtesy.

"Heh. You'd better still be standing when you say that later."

Yu Tianheng's gaze sharpened, though his tone remained arrogant.

Xu Peinian did not reply. He merely raised his right hand, spread his fingers, and curled his palm upward into a loose fist. Then he extended his index finger and lightly beckoned at Yu Tianheng.

Yu Tianheng's poker face abruptly reddened, and he nearly failed to maintain his cold, aloof image.

Seeing that things were going awry, Doudou, Suotuo Great Soul Arena's gold-medal host, immediately interrupted:

"Welcome, everyone, to Suotuo Great Soul Arena! Next is the highly anticipated clash between two powerhouses! On one side, we have our ever-victorious general, Yu Tianheng, wielder of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul! On the other, we have the newly risen dark horse who emerged only yesterday, a master of the Netherworld Blade—Ghost-Masked Netherworld!"

"Tianheng, I love you! Ohohoho!"

"Make sure you crush that guy, Yu Tianheng!"

"Go, Netherworld! Break his undefeated legend!"

Zhu Zhuqing stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, watching that man's back anxiously.

If Xu Peinian were fighting at full strength, she certainly would not worry about whether he could win. But Xu Peinian had said he would compete using only Soul Elder-level strength, and would only use the Netherworld Blade equipped with just two soul rings.

His opponent was a young genius of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects, with a Soul Power Level as high as thirty-nine.

This Xu Peinian always likes challenging things that defy common sense. Still, every time, the outcome somehow puts people at ease.

As Zhu Zhuqing consoled herself inwardly, Doudou, the host in the arena, announced at that very moment:

"This Soul Battle officially begins!"

As her words fell,

A dazzling burst of blue light abruptly lit up from between Yu Tianheng's brows before spreading across his entire body. Strands of tiny blue lightning snakes erupted and slithered around him.

On the other side, Xu Peinian merely tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade. There were no flashy effects, but the aura around him grew several degrees more profound and sinister, as though one stood before the Netherworld itself.