Yu Shuo Severely Wounded! The Black-Class Guest Card

As Ning Chengyi finished speaking, he lunged like a hunting leopard, fists clenched, whipping up a terrifying gust as he struck at the two men.

"You've got some nerve!"

The two exchanged a glance. Realizing they faced a tough opponent, they immediately stopped holding back.

Four yellow soul rings appeared. Both men had the standard Soul Grandmaster configuration, and both were rank twenty-seven.

The moment they activated Martial Soul Possession, arcs of lightning coiled around them, and a lightning-shaped mark appeared on each man's forehead.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?!"

Even after learning their origins, Ning Chengyi showed not a trace of fear. Instead, his fists struck even harder, blasting forward like cannonballs!

Bang!

Standing on either side, the two men each blocked a punch.

The force behind those blows startled them. It was no weaker than that of someone who had just become a Soul Grandmaster.

"Let's finish this quickly," one said. The other nodded.

"Desolation-Suppressing God-Breaking Spear!"

Ning Chengyi withdrew his strength and retreated several steps, summoning his martial soul in an instant. With the spear in hand, he cut a valiant figure.

"A rank-fourteen Soul Master?"

Both men were startled. They had assumed he was on the verge of rank twenty, never imagining he was only rank fourteen.

"Take this!" Ning Chengyi gave them little time to react. Spear in hand, he roared and charged.

Both men stepped forward at once. Yellow soul rings rose beneath their feet, and lightning crackled around their bodies.

They had no intention of meeting Ning Chengyi's attack head-on. That brief exchange of punches had already shown them his extraordinary strength. With a tool martial soul in hand, he would be even more formidable, and a direct clash would put them at a disadvantage. Instead, they moved to flank him.

The taller man unleashed his first soul skill first. Lightning crackled in his palm before forming a sharp claw that lunged forward. Even the air distorted beneath his attack.

Seeing his partner make a move, the shorter man unleashed his own soul skill in the same instant. A lightning snake lashed toward Ning Chengyi's vital points like a whip.

Their coordination was remarkably seamless.

"Hmph! You dared offend me, Yu Shuo? Count yourself lucky to lose to the Tall-and-Short Brothers!"

Yet Ning Chengyi showed no sign of panic. Instead of retreating, he advanced. A chilling gleam flashed along his spear as his first soul skill erupted in a sweeping strike!

Their attacks burst apart in an instant. As flimsy as paper, they were crushed beneath the sweep of his spear.

While the sweep left both men struggling to recover, Ning Chengyi's soul power surged again. His spear dipped like a dragon's head, then stabbed out in rapid succession, as though Zhao Yun's Phoenix Nods Thrice had possessed him. Swift, fierce, and precise, the thrusts struck their protective soul power.

"Urgh!"

Two muffled sounds rang out in succession. The tall and short Soul Masters seemed to deflate, their eyes filled with shock and fear. The lightning around them shattered instantly, and they staggered backward, on the verge of falling.

"Useless fools! Watch me!"

Yu Shuo cursed as soul rings rose beneath his feet—two yellow rings, marking him as rank twenty-nine.

He caught the two men and steadied them, then unleashed an arc of lightning resembling palm lightning, meeting Ning Chengyi just as he pursued them.

"You're courting death!" Ning Chengyi had been waiting for him. The force coursing through his spear intensified. This time, he did not sweep it across—he smashed it down!

At that moment, Ning Chengyi looked at Yu Shuo as though he were already a dead man.

Idiot! the Tall-and-Short Brothers cursed inwardly. Yu Shuo had spent years frequenting brothels, leaving his body utterly depleted. If a wastrel like him could block an attack that neither of them could withstand, where would that leave their pride?

"Please show mercy, young master!" they hurriedly shouted. Ning Chengyi ignored them and brought his spear crashing down, though he did withdraw a little of its force.

Bang!

The instant Yu Shuo touched the spear shaft, his face darkened. A moment later, he was hurled backward, vomiting blood and letting out low groans of agony. It was not that he did not want to cry out louder; his bones had shattered, and the louder he cried, the more unbearable the pain became.

"Carry him out. He's an eyesore!"

These private courtyards had excellent soundproofing to ensure the guests' privacy.

Ning Chengyi had assumed no one would be foolish enough to intrude, so he had left the entrance open. Yet today, Yu Shuo had proved himself that very fool.

What struck him as odd, however, was that no one from Nightglow Tower had come despite such a serious incident.

"Something seems off, but I can't put my finger on it," Ning Chengyi murmured, watching the Tall-and-Short Brothers carry Yu Shuo away with fear in their eyes beneath his gaze.

As they left, a clamor rose outside once more.

Ning Chengyi lay on his reclining chair, ignoring the footsteps drawing closer until a voice sounded nearby.

"Honored guest, our apologies. We were unaware that Yu Shuo had intruded and disturbed your rest..."

"Compensation!" Ning Chengyi dispensed with pleasantries and spoke bluntly, his eyes still closed.

The steward was visibly taken aback. But years of dealing with guests from far and wide had given him exceptional composure, and he recovered immediately.

"Honored guest, we will cover all your expenses here and present you with a Black-Class Guest Card for Nightglow Tower. Would that be satisfactory?"

Hearing this, Ning Chengyi removed the cloth shielding his eyes from the light. He narrowed his eyes slightly, turned, and sized up the newcomer.

The man looked nearly forty and wore a neat gray cloth robe. His gaze was steady and sharp, and everything about him conveyed the practiced ease of someone well versed in worldly affairs.

He was generous, too. Ning Chengyi had beaten Yu Shuo, a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, yet this steward was still offering him a Black-Class Guest Card. Clearly, Nightglow Tower had a powerful backer.

At the very least, there was more to it than met the eye. Otherwise, it could never have occupied such expansive grounds.

Nightglow Tower's guests were broadly divided into four classes: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow. To qualify for Black-Class status, one had to spend at least ten Gold Soul Coins per visit and no less than a hundred each year. Offering him a Black-Class Guest Card outright showed just how decisive this steward was.

"Fine." Ning Chengyi held out his hand. The steward froze again before understanding.

Ning Chengyi examined the card in his hand. A light brush of his fingers told him its material was exceptional. Gold trim adorned its edges, with the words "Nightglow" engraved in the upper left corner and a luminous wine cup embossed on the front. It looked lavish and luxurious, anything but ordinary.

"Honored guest, you need only channel your soul power into it to register it. With this card, you can enjoy guest privileges at any of our establishments."

"Mm, not bad. You may leave. I'll find you if I need anything." The steward was taken aback yet again. What sort of extraordinary character had he encountered today? Was he not even interested in the card's benefits?

Moreover, every response defied expectations and threw him off his stride. Even an old hand like him was caught unprepared.

Still, he had accomplished what he had come to do. That was enough.

Nightglow Tower, a Heaven-Class room.

"Is it done?" asked a young man standing tall and elegant in a brocade robe, a gentle smile on his face as he looked at the steward before him.

It was the same steward who had delivered the card.

"Young master, it's done. Is he really that remarkable?"

"A rank-fourteen Soul Master with a peculiar spear. Three death matches in the Soul Fighting Arena, and a stunning performance in every one. If only we knew his soul ring configuration. He might well deserve to be called a prodigy!"

The steward was shocked. His young master rarely gave anyone such high praise.

Even Yu Tianheng had never received such recognition.

"Keep a close eye on him. The next time he comes, arrange an opportunity for me."

"Yes!"

Naturally, Ning Chengyi knew nothing of the conversation in the Heaven-Class room.

Meanwhile, word of Yu Shuo being carried home spread like wildfire.

When Yu Tianheng heard what had happened, he immediately vowed to avenge Yu Shuo. The dignity of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was not to be slighted.