Immortal Herb Redemption Code

Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan stood ready on the arena stage.

Yu Tianheng was tall and lean in a fitted blue outfit. His arms hung naturally at his sides, and he stood as still as a mountain.

Dugu Yan stood beside him, jade-green hair falling to her waist. Her slit pupils held a faint green sheen, and a lazy smile touched her lips.

She paused when she saw that the two opponents stepping onto the stage were Soul Grandmasters.

"Soul Grandmasters?"

She glanced at Yu Tianheng. He frowned too.

The referee confirmed their details. "Team Zero-Five: Lin Yuan, level twenty-nine Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder; Xiao Wu, level twenty-nine Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. Versus Yu Tianheng, level thirty-nine Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder; Dugu Yan, level thirty-eight Control System Battle Soul Elder."

Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow at the two children, who were clearly several years younger than she was. There was a trace of kindness in her voice. "Little brother, little sister, fighting above your level in the Soul Elder division is no game. You can still surrender now, before you get hurt."

Xiao Wu snorted. "We'll see who gets hurt!"

Dugu Yan smiled and thought nothing of it. She looked at Yu Tianheng, who nodded. Hold back a little. Don't hurt them too badly.

The referee raised a hand. "Begin!"

Blue light flared at Yu Tianheng's brow and swept across his body. Blue-violet arcs of electricity burst from him and coiled around him. His right arm suddenly swelled, blue-violet scales covering it as his hand turned into a dragon claw. Three Soul Rings circled the transformed arm.

He raised the claw and drove a punch at Lin Yuan. Wind and lightning wrapped around his fist, carving a charred trail across the floor.

Lin Yuan turned his right hand, and a hammer appeared from nowhere in his palm. Its black head was plain and unadorned. The moment it settled into his hand, even the air seemed to grow heavier.

Below the stage, Guga was leaning over the railing. At the sight of the hammer, he slapped it with one tiny hand.

"Hammer, Guga!"

Hammer in hand, Lin Yuan met Yu Tianheng's dragon claw with a swing.

Boom—

Hammer and claw collided. Lightning burst apart, sending blue-violet sparks flying. A tremendous force surged up Yu Tianheng's arm, knocking his claw aside and sending him stumbling back two steps.

Lin Yuan had not retreated an inch. The hammer hung at his side as he rolled his wrist.

"Little Hammer Forty."

Yu Tianheng's expression tightened. His dragon claw still tingled. That blow had carried an absurd amount of force.

On the other side of the stage, Dugu Yan had already attacked Xiao Wu. Jade-green poisonous mist spread from her palm, gathered into the shape of a snake, and lunged at her.

Xiao Wu slipped aside. With a tap of her foot, she sprang away, bounding across the stage until she reached Dugu Yan's flank. Dugu Yan's mist covered a wide area, but Xiao Wu was faster, darting clear each time it was about to touch her.

"Quick on your feet, little sister." Dugu Yan smiled as she spoke, but her attacks never let up.

Xiao Wu ignored her. She kicked off and suddenly accelerated toward Dugu Yan's side. Dugu Yan's heart tightened, and her Second Soul Ring lit up—Jade Phosphorous Blue Poison. A paralyzing purple-green mist billowed out, forming a wall of poison. Xiao Wu had to fall back and circle its edge, searching for an opening.

Yu Tianheng drew a deep breath. His Second Soul Ring lit up—Thunderous Might.

The countless arcs coiling around him expanded at once, turning into bolts of lightning that shot in every direction. Blue-violet light engulfed the entire stage.

Lin Yuan swung his hammer in a casual sweep. Lightning struck its head and shattered into tiny motes of light. The hammer spun once and dropped back into his hand.

"Big Hammer Eighty."

Yu Tianheng's brows drew together. Thunderous Might had been swept away with one clean swing.

He gritted his teeth. His third Soul Ring lit up—Thunderous Fury. His lightning surged, and he became a blue-violet bolt hurtling toward Lin Yuan.

He put everything he had into this strike.

Lin Yuan gripped the hammer with both hands. He pivoted, his waist driving his arms as the hammer traced an arc and rose high.

"Sky-Piercing Strike." (Pure force, tremendous power.)

The hammer came down to meet the lightning.

Boom—

Blue light exploded. One hammer blow scattered the lightning and snuffed it out. A shockwave burst across the stage, throwing the spectators back in their seats. Yu Tianheng flew backward, flipped twice in the air, struck the edge of the stage, and slid down.

The lightning around his dragon claw had vanished. A crack ran through its scales.

Lin Yuan put away his hammer and dusted off his hands.

Below the stage, Guga jumped up, both tiny hands raised high.

"We won, Guga! Big hammer, Guga!"

Dugu Yan caught sight of Yu Tianheng lying at the edge of the stage, and the poisonous mist in her hand faltered. She turned to look at him, withdrew the mist, and sighed.

"I surrender."

The referee raised a hand. "Team Zero-Five wins!"

The audience fell silent for two seconds, then erupted in deafening cheers. Two Soul Grandmasters had beaten opponents from the Soul Elder division—and members of the Imperial Fighting Team with silver fighting badges, at that.

Xiao Wu stood on the stage with her hands on her hips, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. "Well? I told you we'd see who got hurt!"

Lin Yuan ignored her and turned to leave the stage.

Yu Tianheng watched him go, his expression complicated. After a moment of silence, he looked down at his dragon claw. The crack in its scales was plain to see.

"Tian Heng, are you all right?" Dugu Yan came over.

"I'm fine." Yu Tianheng withdrew his Martial Soul, and his transformed right arm slowly returned to normal. "That kid is strong."

Lin Yuan stepped off the stage, then suddenly stopped.

He turned and walked toward Dugu Yan.

"Wait."

Dugu Yan was about to leave. At his voice, she turned back and raised an eyebrow when she saw him. "What's this, little brother? Taken a fancy to me? Can't bear to see me go?"

Lin Yuan shook his head. He asked a staff member for paper and a pen, then bent his head and wrote a line. When he finished, he folded the paper and handed it to Dugu Yan.

"Sorry for the trouble, but could you pass this to Senior Dugu?"

Dugu Yan paused, took the note, and glanced down. It was folded tightly enough that she could not see what was inside.

She looked up and studied Lin Yuan, an amused smile curling her lips. "Little brother, you're so young. You know my grandfather?"

Lin Yuan smiled. "There's something I'd like to discuss with Senior Dugu."

"Oh, how mysterious." Dugu Yan tucked the note away and leaned a little closer, smiling. "Fine, I'll pass it on. But you have to tell me your name. What am I supposed to say if my grandfather asks?"

"Lin Yuan."

"Lin Yuan..." Dugu Yan repeated the name and smiled. "All right, I'll remember it. Little brother, you'd better hope I don't meet you on the stage again. I won't hold back next time."

There was a teasing note in her voice.

Lin Yuan gave a helpless smile. "Then I'm sorry to trouble you, Miss Dugu."

Dugu Yan waved a hand and turned away. After a few steps, she looked back at Lin Yuan and smiled once more before finally leaving.

Xiao Wu stood a few steps away. She had not heard what they said.

But she had seen Dugu Yan smile at Lin Yuan.

Twice, even.

And she had leaned so close to talk to him.

Xiao Wu stood where she was, unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes between her fingers. She could not quite name what she felt. She just thought that green-haired woman's smile was terribly annoying.

When Lin Yuan came over, she turned her head and pretended to be looking elsewhere.

"Let's go."

"Oh." Xiao Wu followed him, then could not help asking, "What did you say to her?"

"I asked her to give something to her grandfather."

"What was it?"

Lin Yuan smiled. "A secret."

Xiao Wu huffed and fell silent. Two steps later, she could not help muttering, "A secret, huh..."

Lin Yuan pretended not to hear.

It was an Immortal Herb redemption code, of course.