Blood Scythe Takes the Stage

The moment Blood Scythe unleashed his martial soul, the air over the Dueling Platform changed.

A long, dark-red scythe appeared in his hand.

Five Spirit Rings rose around him.

Two yellow, two purple, and one black.

The final black ring glowed with a heavy light.

The crowd quieted considerably.

Blood Scythe had a bad reputation at the Great Soul Arena of Suotuo City.

He won often.

He injured people often, too.

Many Soul Masters could not return to the platform for months after fighting him.

Dai Mubai had heard his name back when he fought in Suotuo City.

He had never faced Blood Scythe then.

Not because he was afraid.

The arena simply refused to arrange such a match lightly.

Spectators loved watching Blood Scythe fight, and the betting was fierce.

But after every match, another fighter or two ended up unable to take the stage again.

When a man like that stepped onto the platform, he was not there to spar. He was there to terrify.

"The worst thing about Blood Scythe isn't his strength," Zhao Wuji said quietly. "It's how dirty he fights."

Tang San looked at him.

"He'll make you think you've won, then strike again from his sleeve. Don't trust him when he retreats, and don't trust him when he surrenders."

Tang San took that to heart.

Yuan Yu heard it too.

He glanced down at Blood Scythe's left sleeve.

His gaze was cold.

Blood Scythe noticed.

Flender sat in the waiting area, his expression icy.

"The arena's gone too far."

Zhao Wuji flexed his wrist.

"If he really tries to kill him, I'm going up there."

Tang San said nothing.

His hand rested near his cuff.

Xiao Wu stared at Blood Scythe, anger already burning in her eyes.

On the Dueling Platform, the host dropped his hand.

"Begin!"

Blood Scythe moved fast.

He did not charge head-on.

His foot slid, and he cut diagonally toward Yuan Yu's flank.

The long scythe swept in, its blade aimed straight at Yuan Yu's wrist.

His first move was meant to cripple Yuan Yu's hand.

Yuan Yu's eyes turned cold.

The Wind Pattern lit up.

He turned aside and raised his scabbard to block.

Clang!

The scythe blade scraped across the scabbard, throwing off a shower of sparks.

Blood Scythe did not pull back. His left sleeve suddenly flicked.

A Short Blade sprang from it and stabbed toward Yuan Yu's ribs.

In the waiting area, Tang San's gaze darkened.

He had guessed right.

Yuan Yu raised his left hand.

The Water Pattern glowed.

Waterlight curled around the Short Blade and knocked the thrust off course.

The blade struck empty air.

Blood Scythe smiled anyway.

"Not bad reflexes."

His second Spirit Ring lit up, and his long scythe hooked upward from below.

The strike came at a vicious angle, straight for the side of Yuan Yu's knee.

Yuan Yu did not jump.

The Rock Pattern sank beneath his feet.

He planted himself firmly and brought his Sun Wheel Blade down to intercept.

"Stone Breathing: First Form."

"Serpent Rock: Twin Poles."

Two dark-gold slashes crossed.

They stopped the long scythe dead.

Blood Scythe's arm went numb, and his expression shifted.

He had not expected someone so young to wield such steady strength.

Yuan Yu looked up.

"A duel is fine."

"Crippling hands isn't."

Blood Scythe sneered.

"You're talking about rules after stepping up here?"

His figure blurred, and his third Spirit Ring lit up.

Three scythe shadows appeared on the Dueling Platform.

Each carried a dark-red streak, cutting toward Yuan Yu's shoulder, wrist, or leg.

Yuan Yu's sixth Rosy Cloud Pattern glimmered faintly.

Two of the three scythe shadows carried a hollow killing intent.

Only the one at the lower right skimmed the ground, far too quiet.

Lightning flashed beneath Yuan Yu's feet.

"Thunder Breathing: First Form."

"Thunderclap and Flash."

Purple-white lightning pierced the two illusions and shot straight toward Blood Scythe himself.

Blood Scythe's pupils contracted.

He had not expected Yuan Yu to see through his move so quickly.

He was too late to bring his scythe back.

The back of Yuan Yu's blade struck his chest.

Thud!

Blood Scythe stumbled back several steps, his chest tight.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Yuan Yu did not pursue him.

"Can you keep fighting?"

Blood Scythe glanced down at his chest. His smile twisted.

"Of course."

His fifth Spirit Ring lit up.

Dark-red light crawled over the long scythe.

Below the platform, Zhao Wuji rose to his feet.

"That bastard's about to pull something dirty."

Blood Scythe's presence changed.

It was more than a simple surge in power.

Fine red lines now ran along the scythe's cutting edge.

"There's something on the blade," Tang San said quietly.

Ning Rongrong went pale.

"Poison?"

"Maybe not," Tang San said. "But it's definitely no ordinary soul skill."

On the platform, Blood Scythe charged.

"Blood Scythe Bonebreaker!"

The long scythe came down.

Yuan Yu did not retreat again.

The Flame Pattern lit up.

A red-gold thread of fire rose from his blade and burned along the scythe's edge.

Blood Scythe's expression changed.

As the fire scorched the red lines, a pungent smell rose from them.

Yuan Yu caught the scent, and his gaze grew colder.

He really did poison it.

He did not call it out immediately.

Calling it out on the Dueling Platform would accomplish nothing.

Everyone needed to see it for themselves.

Yuan Yu pivoted, deliberately letting the scythe blade graze his scabbard.

When the red-gold flames touched the red lines, the stench grew stronger.

Even the spectators in the front row smelled it.

Someone covered their nose.

"What's that smell?"

"There's something on his scythe, isn't there?"

As word spread, Blood Scythe's expression darkened further.

He tried to pull his scythe back.

Yuan Yu gave him no chance.

He turned his wrist.

"Flame Breathing: Fourth Form."

"Blazing Flame Vortex."

Red-gold flames spiraled around the long scythe.

Blood Scythe tried to withdraw his martial soul, only to find its blade tangled in threads of fire.

Yuan Yu stepped forward.

The Water Pattern circled his blade.

The fire did not spread unchecked, and the water did not extinguish it.

Working together, the two forces stripped away most of the red lines on the scythe.

Blood Scythe's expression changed completely.

He suddenly let go of the scythe and raised both hands.

"I surren—"

Before he could finish, his left sleeve twitched again.

The Rosy Cloud Pattern flashed.

Yuan Yu's eyes hardened.

He brought the Sun Wheel Blade down in a backhand strike.

The back of the blade slammed into Blood Scythe's left arm.

Crack!

The Short Blade fell to the floor.

Blood Scythe screamed and dropped to his knees on the platform.

Yuan Yu stopped his blade at Blood Scythe's throat.

"If you surrender, then surrender."

"Don't use it as cover for a sneak attack."

The entire arena fell silent.

It took the host two breaths to find his voice.

"Myriad Phenomena wins!"

Cheers erupted.

Arena staff dragged Blood Scythe away.

As they passed Yuan Yu, he gritted his teeth against the pain and muttered, "You can't afford to offend the VIP box."

Yuan Yu looked down at him.

"Get your arm put back on first."

Blood Scythe's face turned livid.

An arena worker reached for the Short Blade.

Tang San stepped onto the platform first.

He bent down, picked up the Short Blade, and wrapped it in cloth.

The manager's expression changed.

"Young man, that belongs to the arena."

Tang San looked up.

"It's evidence."

The manager had no answer.

Ning Rongrong came over too.

"If the arena has nothing to hide, it shouldn't be afraid of an inspection."

Flender stood behind her, his voice level.

"Right. We'll discuss compensation after it's been examined."

At the word "compensation," the manager's cheeks twitched.

In the VIP box, the chips in Mr. Xu's hand clicked under his tightening grip.

In the waiting area, Xiao Wu was the first to leap to her feet.

"Nice hit!"

Ma Hongjun pumped his fist too.

"People like him deserve a beating!"

Tang San looked at the Short Blade on the platform.

"There's poison on it."

Ning Rongrong's expression turned cold.

"The arena owes us an explanation."

Flender rose to his feet.

He was usually greedy.

But this time, there was no trace of a smile on his face.

"Come on."

"Let's get our money."

Zhao Wuji looked at him.

Flender added,

"And an explanation."

Yuan Yu sheathed his blade and stepped down from the Dueling Platform.

The Rosy Cloud Pattern on his Sun Wheel Blade glowed a shade brighter than it had before the match.