Fighting Through the Ranks with Nothing but Dou Techniques

"Ptooey."

Xue Beng spat out several white teeth and clutched his face in disbelief.

He had actually been hit?

Lu Chuan rubbed his wrist and crouched in front of him.

"If you're going to play the fool, then play the fool. Why did you have to come and mess with me?"

Xue Beng's pupils shrank. Scrambling backward on hands and feet, he put distance between himself and Lu Chuan while panic made his heart tremble. Did my elder brother send this man to test me?

No. I can't admit to anything!

He pressed a hand to his burning cheek. Though terrified, he forced himself to roar through his swollen mouth:

"You're the fool! I'm a prince! My father is the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire! He won't let you get away with this!"

"You're still insulting me?"

Lu Chuan backhanded him again.

Smack!

"Ah—!"

Xue Beng cried out as the force sent him flying through the wooden door behind him. It shattered, and he crashed onto the street outside.

Everyone on the street knew Xue Beng. Seeing his face beaten to a pulp, they froze.

"Whoa, is that the Second Prince? I bet even his own mother wouldn't recognize him!"

"Gotta be. I'd know those clothes anywhere! Thank heavens—someone finally taught him a lesson!"

"Why are you still watching? Run! A prince getting beaten is serious business!"

"Right, right! Let's go!"

The onlookers scattered, afraid of getting dragged into it.

Lu Chuan strolled to the counter and set several thick stacks of paper, an inkstone, brushes, and ink on it.

"Boss, how much for all this?"

The shopkeeper flinched and waved both hands. "N-no charge! Young man, take your things and leave Heaven Dou City. Go as far as you can!"

Lu Chuan said nothing more. He swept the writing supplies into his System Space, dropped a handful of gleaming Gold Coins on the wooden counter, and walked calmly out of the shop.

Clang, clang, clang!

The urgent clatter of heavy armor rang out as imperial guards converged on the commotion.

Their eyes fell on Xue Beng, sprawled miserably on the ground. Disgust crossed every face.

But Xue Beng was still the Second Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. The imperial family's reputation was at stake, and none of them dared ignore it.

At the sight of them, Xue Beng scrambled up and hid behind the guards.

"Get him! Seize him!"

The guards leveled their spears at Lu Chuan. Three Spirit Rings appeared around each of them.

Every one of them was a Soul Elder!

Lu Chuan's lips curled. Perfect. The bigger the commotion, the better!

With any luck, it'll draw Qian Renxue here. The Young Master of Spirit Hall must be loaded.

He had no intention of using his Martial Soul to crush them.

If he wanted to sell Dou Techniques, he needed to show what they could do.

Lu Chuan crooked a finger.

"Come on."

Xue Beng endured the searing pain in his face and roared through gritted teeth:

"The nerve of him! All of you, attack together!"

Excitement surged through Lu Chuan. He launched into Gale Step.

Leaving a blue-green afterimage behind, he charged into the guards.

"Stone Shattering Fist!"

He poured both Dou Qi and Soul Power into his right hand. An earthy-yellow glow wrapped around his fist as he drove it forward.

Bang!

His fist slammed into a guard's forged-iron breastplate.

With a sharp crack, a distinct fist-shaped dent appeared in the hard armor. The guard coughed up blood and flew backward.

"There's something strange about him! Attack together!"

"Second Soul Skill: Bull Charge!"

The surrounding guards worked together seamlessly, leaving a lane for the guard using the Spirit Skill to build up speed even as they encircled Lu Chuan.

Lu Chuan smiled as the phantom of a rhinoceros charged toward him.

You couldn't even scratch me if you hit me.

But if I hit you, either fist will do plenty of damage!

"Iron Mountain Shoulder!"

Lu Chuan planted his feet and lowered his shoulders. Just before the attack reached him, he lunged forward and struck first.

Bang!

Lu Chuan's feet stayed rooted to the ground, his body unmoving. The guard, on the other hand, was hurled backward by the impact, bowling over several companions behind him.

"Heh, heh, heh! Now this is a fight!"

"Cloak Leg!"

Blue-green Dou Qi wrapped around his right leg. With a sweeping kick, he sent a lightly armored guard flying into a nearby shop.

Lu Chuan followed up with one Dou Technique after another, testing almost every technique he had acquired.

Xue Beng, who had long since retreated to a safe distance, watched Lu Chuan carve through wave after wave of Soul Elder guards without losing so much as a hair.

He began to shake.

It's over... He dared attack imperial guards. He can't be one of my elder brother's men. I've offended a genius...

Xue Beng felt as though his future had gone dark.

The man had not even released his Martial Soul. A whole array of Self-Created Soul Skills was enough to make him this powerful.

No!!

Heavens above! Earth below! Why are you doing this to me?

Meanwhile, Lu Chuan kicked away a guard who came too close.

He prepared to use the High Black Rank Dou Technique Ya Fei had traded him: Windroll Art.

Pale blue-green light shimmered around him. His hands circled swiftly, drawing in Dou Qi, and small vortices of wind formed one after another at his sides.

As his opponents attacked, he thrust both arms forward. The vortices twisted into a huge tornado and roared toward them with a piercing rush of air.

The guards nearby were dragged in by its powerful pull. Fierce Wind Blades slashed relentlessly through their flesh and armor.

"Ah!!"

They screamed in pain, unable to break free.

"Burst!"

Lu Chuan closed his hand. The tornado collapsed inward, then exploded.

The guards rained down from the air and slammed into the ground, their groans rising all around him.

After using so many Dou Techniques, he had drained his Dou Qi and Soul Power dry. Even if Lu Chuan wanted to force out more, he could not.

More and more imperial guards were pouring into the surrounding streets.

Their ranks had risen from Soul Elders to Soul Ancestors.

It seemed the guards protecting the palace had been sent out.

"Tch. That wasn't enough."

Lu Chuan rolled his neck, then flicked up a spear lying on the ground with the tip of his foot and caught it firmly.

If he could no longer use Dou Techniques, he would use the spear techniques that went with them.

Holding the spear diagonally in one hand, he advanced on the guards with steady steps.

The guards raised their heavy iron shields, fear filling their hearts as they backed away. Each step Lu Chuan took forward sent them retreating another. None dared engage him.

Clap—clap—clap—

Crisp applause suddenly came from behind the crowd.

The retreating guards immediately straightened their formation and parted to make a path.

A young man with short golden hair and a luxurious brocade robe walked out slowly, still clapping.

"Impressive. Truly impressive. Even the Heavy Armor Army couldn't take you down. Would you tell this crown prince your name?"

The newcomer was Xue Qinghe, played by Qian Renxue.

Her eyes burned with interest. She looked at Lu Chuan as though he were a whole roasted lamb, skinned and covered in spices.