A Warm-Up

The first gong in the underground Fight Arena sounded dull.

Like someone striking a stone slab with a bone.

Dai Mubai stood at the front, bandages still wrapped around his shoulder. His newly advanced Soul Power surged through him, making his breathing heavier than usual. Tang San stood half a step behind him, Blue Silver Grass spreading through the cracks in the stone platform. Xiao Wu flexed her wrists on the right, while Zhu Zhuqing had already vanished into the shadows.

Ning Rongrong raised the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

"Seven Treasure Have Names, First: Strength."

"Second: Speed."

The light fell precisely where it needed to.

Two Soul Ancestors charged from behind the Soul King, one with a Beast Martial Soul, the other with a weapon Martial Soul. The beast-user rushed Dai Mubai; the weapon-user circled toward Ning Rongrong. Tang San did not rush to restrain the Soul King. Instead, he spread Blue Silver Grass across Ning Rongrong's front. Zhu Zhuqing flashed out of the shadows, her Hell Stab forcing the weapon-user back to defend himself.

Xiao Wu seized that instant and unleashed Waist Bow.

Bang!

The weapon-user hit the stone platform and skidded several yards.

Dai Mubai took the beast-user's blow head-on, then blasted him back at close range with White Tiger Fierce Light Wave. After breaking through to level thirty-nine, his blows carried noticeably more weight. His injury remained, but he was no longer being beaten back with every step.

The Soul King narrowed his eyes. "Interesting."

His Fifth Soul Ring lit up.

His short blade became dozens of black shadows that slithered along the platform's edge like snakes crawling close to the ground. Tang San's gaze sharpened. He swiftly drew in his Blue Silver Grass, but the blade-shadows severed many strands.

"Fatty!" Tang San shouted.

Ma Hongjun