You Dare Stiff Me?

The next day.

Ji Hongchen went straight to Tang San.

"Tang San, where are my Gold Soul Coins?"

Tang San's expression stiffened when Ji Hongchen came looking for him. Only after seeing his teacher, Yu Xiaogang, beside him did his expression ease a little.

As though trying to recover some dignity in front of his disciple.

Yu Xiaogang stood up and walked over to Ji Hongchen. "Ji Hongchen, do you really think the academy is a casino? A thousand Gold Soul Coins? In your dreams!"

"Fuck, you're trying to stiff me?"

Ji Hongchen flew into a rage.

Anything else was negotiable, but not money!

He only had three hundred Gold Soul Coins left. Without those thousand coins, how was he supposed to fund his future cultivation?

Yu Xiaogang really was the root of all evil.

He had already given himself every reason to die!

Without realizing it, Ji Hongchen had vaguely begun to surpass Tang Buddha.

Seeing Ji Hongchen suddenly draw his sword, Yu Xiaogang jumped in fright. But for the sake of his dignity, he still forced himself to say, "What are you trying to do? This is a school, not somewhere you can run wild!"

Before he could finish.

Ji Hongchen slapped him.

Smack!

A crisp slap rang out, and Yu Xiaogang was sent flying.

The unexpected slap knocked Yu Xiaogang senseless. By the time he recovered, the small Storage Soul Tool at his waist had vanished.

"Fuck, only five hundred Gold Soul Coins? Who are you trying to impress, puffing yourself up like some big-shot wolf?" Ji Hongchen cursed as he emptied its contents.

As for the Storage Soul Tool, he left it alone. It was far too expensive, after all. If he took it, Yu Xiaogang might actually get the dean to recover it for him, so he simply decided not to take it.

It all came down to having no backing.

Ji Hongchen sighed inwardly, then pocketed the five hundred Gold Soul Coins and left without looking back.

As for Tang San, he did not dare go too far.

After all, Tang Hao was still watching from the shadows. If he went overboard and Tang Hao acted in the heat of the moment, things would get troublesome.

Damn it.

Those inherently evil Tangs have committed every wicked deed imaginable, and all they know is how to bully a sword cultivator as pure as ice and jade like me. They've already given themselves every reason to die!

Ji Hongchen cursed inwardly.

His feet did not slow in the slightest.

After leaving Nuoding Academy.

Ji Hongchen found a caravan.

Suotuo City was not far from Nuoding City, only three or four days away. Both were within the Balak Kingdom, after all.

Three days later.

Suotuo City.

Ji Hongchen stepped down from the carriage and looked at the city before him, feeling considerably more relaxed. It felt wonderful not to have Tang Hao watching him.

He walked into an apothecary.

Ji Hongchen addressed the owner directly. "Do you have any whale rubber? The older, the better. Price isn't an issue."

Seeing Ji Hongchen's lavish manner and distinguished bearing, the owner assumed a big customer had arrived and immediately brought out a brocade box with a beaming smile.

"Young master, there are two pieces of thousand-year whale rubber inside, both perfectly preserved. I guarantee they're worth every coin. They'll keep your spear standing all day and make you a bridegroom every night!"

Ji Hongchen took the brocade box and examined the thousand-year whale rubber. Only after confirming there was nothing wrong with it did he ask the price. "How much?"

"Four hundred Gold Soul Coins apiece!"

"Hiss..."

Ji Hongchen rubbed his brow.

It really was something for nobles. It certainly wasn't cheap.

"I'll try one piece first."

Ji Hongchen tossed down four hundred Gold Soul Coins, picked up one piece of whale rubber, and found a random hotel to stay in.

After melting the whale rubber into a thick paste, Ji Hongchen ate it directly. Compared with hundred-year whale rubber, the thousand-year variety had less of a fishy taste and a little more fragrant sweetness, with a smoother texture.

Once he finished the thousand-year whale rubber.

A warm sensation spread throughout his body.

As Ji Hongchen felt his body gradually grow hot, his breathing became increasingly rapid.

He had to admit.

He had developed far too early. At only eight, he was already beginning to take shape, and the constant nourishment from whale rubber gradually kindled a restless fire within him.

"Hiss... whew."

Ji Hongchen drew a deep breath.

With the Jinghong Sword in hand, he began practicing his sword art, gradually expelling the restless heat from his body through sword training.

By evening.

Ji Hongchen finally sprawled on the bed, exhaustion written across his face.

After refining the thousand-year whale rubber, his current limit should have reached around eleven hundred years. That was pretty good.

After all, even in the original Douluo II, the second soul ring was only a thousand-year one.

Whale rubber was not a cure-all, after all. Consuming varieties that were too old would damage the body, so even disciples from prominent families like Wang Dong and Bei Bei, who ate it every day, only had thousand-year second soul rings.

That evening.

Ji Hongchen put on a featureless white mask and went to Suotuo City's Soul Fighting Arena.

"I want to register for Soul Fighting!"

After successfully registering, Ji Hongchen gave himself the alias "Sword Lord."

He had originally wanted to use "Sword Immortal."

But after some thought, he abandoned the idea. Sword Immortal was too ostentatious, after all. He feared that before he even became famous, some faction fond of assassinating geniuses would strike him from the shadows.

Once he had registered.

Ji Hongchen took out a hundred Gold Soul Coins and bet on himself.

Soon, it was time for his first match!

Ji Hongchen wore robes whiter than snow and held a long sword, his entire figure graceful and unworldly. Even the featureless white mask could not conceal his peerless splendor.

Since both were newcomers.

Since it was a match between low-ranking Soul Masters, it drew little attention. Most people were focused on the bouts between Soul Elders or Soul Ancestors in the rear arenas.

Soul Masters like them were merely appetizers.

Out of professional dedication, the announcer spoke with considerable enthusiasm, introducing them loudly. "Next, let's welcome both our competitors to the arena!"

"They are Black Dog, who already has two consecutive wins, and Sword Lord, a newcomer to the Soul Fighting Arena. Let's welcome them!"

As the two entered.

Since both were newcomers, nobody around them cheered, leaving the atmosphere rather chilly. The spectators did not think a match between two Soul Masters could be particularly exciting.

"Then, let the Soul Fighting begin!"

At the referee's command.

Black Dog's body instantly swelled, his imposing aura surging. Black fur sprouted over his body, sharp teeth grew in his mouth, and a pair of dog ears appeared on his head.

A white soul ring rose beneath his feet.

"First Soul Skill, Big Dog Bark Bark Bark!"

Black Dog roared.

A deafening sound wave swept outward.

Ji Hongchen stood where he was. Just as everyone thought the sound wave had stunned him, he suddenly moved.

In the stands, everyone froze for a moment.

Then, in the blink of an eye, they saw Black Dog sent flying. He was practically defeated in an instant and knocked unconscious on the spot.

The announcer froze too.

But he reacted quickly and hurriedly said, "Wow! It looks like our newcomer is incredibly strong! He defeated his opponent instantly without even using a Soul Skill!"

The spectators came back to their senses.

After an initial wave of astonishment, quite a few began cheering.

After all, they had placed bets on the match.

Those excited spectators were naturally the ones who had backed the right fighter.

"Well done, Sword Lord!"

"Fucking awesome! I've won back today's drinking money!"

The announcer also knew how to liven up the atmosphere and shouted, "Next, let's invite Sword Lord to face his second round of Soul Fighting and see whether he can work another miracle!"

As his words fell.

The opponent for the second round had already stepped into the ring.

But this time was no different.

Without hesitation, Ji Hongchen defeated his opponent with a single sword strike.