Rookie Ning Rongrong
A sharp light flashed in Dai Mubai's eyes, and a low tiger's roar erupted from within him!
"Roar!"
The White Tiger Martial Soul possessed him in an instant. Dai Mubai's body swelled, white fur covered him from head to toe, and the character for "king" on his forehead looked fierce and commanding.
Four soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, and purple—rose beneath his feet. The fourth ring's purple was especially deep.
Ning Rongrong gave a soft cry. The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda appeared above her palm, light flowing across it as two yellow soul rings pulsed gently.
Across from them, Sun Lie and Sun Yan shouted at the same time. A Black Iron Heavy Shield and an Earth-Splitting Battle Axe appeared in their respective right hands. Four soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, and purple—rose around each of them, their auras formidable!
Sun Yan sneered. "You brought a support Soul Grandmaster with only two soul rings onto a doubles Soul Battle stage? White Tiger, you're far too arrogant!"
Dai Mubai rolled his neck, drawing a series of sharp cracks. "So what? I'll still knock you both flat."
"Soul Battle, begin!"
The host swept his right hand down, officially starting the Soul Battle!
At that very instant, Sun Yan let out a shout.
"First soul skill: Heavy Shield Charge!"
The Black Iron Heavy Shield in his hand expanded, its weight surging. He accelerated toward Dai Mubai like an armored chariot!
Sun Lie followed close behind, gripping the Earth-Splitting Battle Axe with both hands. He crouched low, ready to spring into attack at any moment.
The brothers had fought together for years, one attacking and the other defending, until they could anticipate each other's every move. Sun Yan's shield handled the charge and defense; Sun Lie's axe delivered the killing blow!
"They're coming!" Ning Rongrong cried. This was her first time facing a battle like this, and panic showed plainly on her face.
"Don't panic. Stay close behind me."
Dai Mubai's steady voice rang out. He put himself squarely between Ning Rongrong and their opponents, and soul power burst from his body!
"First soul skill: White Tiger Body Barrier!"
A pale golden barrier appeared around him, enveloping his entire body and boosting his strength and defense by fifty percent.
Dai Mubai filled his right fist with soul power and met the charging shield head-on.
"Third soul skill: Earthsplit Slash!"
The instant Dai Mubai clashed with Sun Yan, Sun Lie leaped onto his brother's shoulder and launched himself high into the air. He raised the Earth-Splitting Battle Axe overhead with both hands.
He meant to clear Dai Mubai and bring the axe straight down on Ning Rongrong behind him!
Dai Mubai showed no alarm.
Clang!
Fist met shield with a deafening crash.
A tremendous force traveled through Sun Yan's shield, numbing both his arms. He staggered back four or five steps before stopping, his eyes full of shock!
Dai Mubai used the recoil from his blow against the Black Iron Heavy Shield to spring back beside Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong stared at the enormous axe blade descending toward her. Her face went pale, and she was so frightened that she shut her eyes without even trying to dodge.
She was a complete rookie!
Dai Mubai caught Ning Rongrong around her slender waist, pulled her clear, and darted sideways at top speed.
Boom!
The Earth-Splitting Battle Axe struck the hard stage, carving a crack through it and sending stone chips flying!
Dai Mubai carried Ning Rongrong several meters away, set her firmly on her feet, and shielded her behind him. "Rongrong, activate your boosts!"
Ning Rongrong recovered from her fright. As she looked at Dai Mubai's broad back, much of her fear faded.
She took a deep breath and raised the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda.
"Seven Treasures Famous—first: strength! Second: speed!"
Two brilliant streams of light shot out and struck Dai Mubai precisely.
In an instant, warmth flowed through Dai Mubai, and both his strength and speed rose by thirty percent!
"Good! Watch out and dodge!"
Dai Mubai could have sent Ning Rongrong off the stage right then, but she had come to experience the fight. Sending her down now would take all the fun out of it.
On the other side, the Rocksplitter Brothers did not let their failed first attack frustrate them. They immediately regrouped for another assault.
"Third soul skill: Black Iron Shield Wall!"
The Black Iron Heavy Shield in Sun Yan's hand expanded again, becoming a massive wall three meters high and five meters wide. It bore down on Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong, cutting off their escape routes!
"Fourth soul skill: Battle Axe Tornado!"
At the same time, Sun Lie gripped his axe with both hands and spun at high speed. The Earth-Splitting Battle Axe became a whirlwind that swept in from the other side!
A shield blocked the way; an axe closed in for the kill!
The two attacked from either side, leaving no room to evade!
Cries of alarm rose from the audience, and many spectators stood up.
Yet Dai Mubai did not panic.
"Third soul skill: White Tiger Darkgold Transformation!"
The third purple soul ring beneath Dai Mubai's feet blazed. His body swelled again, his white fur bristled, and a faint dark-gold sheen spread across it. His attack, defense, and strength surged by another two hundred percent!
An overwhelming, savage aura erupted from him!
"Break!"
Dai Mubai neither dodged nor retreated. He chose to meet Sun Lie's Battle Axe Tornado head-on!
His tiger claw darted into the spinning blur of axe strikes and struck the side of the blade with pinpoint accuracy!
Clang!
With a tremendous crash, Sun Lie felt an irresistible force surge through the axe handle. The skin between his thumb and forefinger split open instantly.
The blow sent him and his axe flying backward. He tumbled through the air more than a dozen times before barely managing to land.
Dai Mubai followed with a punch to Sun Yan's Black Iron Shield Wall!
Boom!
The massive shield wall buckled inward under the blow. Sun Yan's feet slid backward, his arms trembled, and horror filled his eyes.
They traded blows for several more rounds.
Dai Mubai gradually felt the strain on his soul power.
He had to divide his attention to protect Ning Rongrong behind him. That constraint let the Rocksplitter Brothers' seamless teamwork drag him into a battle of attrition.
Otherwise, Dai Mubai would have flattened them long ago!
I can't let this drag on... Dai Mubai thought.
His opponents fought steadily and worked together flawlessly, and their soul power reserves were deep. If this continued, victory would be uncertain.
He had to eliminate one of them first!
In the next exchange, Dai Mubai spotted a narrow opening as Sun Yan shifted the angle of his shield wall. He wrapped an arm around Ning Rongrong's waist again, leaped out of their encirclement, and landed on the far side of the Soul Battle stage.
Held tightly against him, Ning Rongrong felt the strength in his arm. Her cheeks flushed, and her heart fluttered as she lost herself for a moment in the feeling of being protected so fiercely by Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai had no time to get caught up in that with her. He released Ning Rongrong, and his second soul ring lit up.
"Second soul skill: White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"
A blazing platinum beam shot from his tiger's maw toward Sun Yan!
Sun Yan dared not take it lightly. He hurriedly raised his Black Iron Heavy Shield and blocked with all his strength.
That moment of distraction was exactly what Dai Mubai wanted!
"Fourth soul skill: White Tiger Vajra Break!"
The fourth soul ring beneath Dai Mubai's feet lit up. His soul power compressed furiously, gathering in his right fist.
In the next instant, he became a straight streak of golden light and shot forward at terrifying speed, heading directly for Sun Lie!
Sun Lie roared and swung the Earth-Splitting Battle Axe with all his strength to meet Dai Mubai's blow!
But how could he withstand a fourth soul skill from a nine-thousand-year soul ring?
Boom!!!
The instant fist met axe, the Earth-Splitting Battle Axe flew from Sun Lie's hands. The terrifying force shattered his soul power defenses and slammed into his chest.