Soul Fighting Arena

After their sparring match that day, Tang Xuan made a decision that turned the rest of Tang San and Xiao Wu's time at Nuoding Academy into an ordeal: he decided to help them train.

After a year of development, the Heaven Sect's operations had become quite stable, leaving Tang Xuan with more free time. For the past two months and more, he had been training in the Soul Fighting Arena, and his soul fighting rank had already risen to Gold Soul Fighting. He fought here every day, taking part in one-on-one soul fighting, challenges against higher-ranked opponents, and even death matches. As he fought, he reviewed what he had learned, gradually refining his sword way.

Today, he was taking part in a one-on-one soul fighting match against a higher-ranked opponent. His opponent was a level forty-three Power Attack System Soul Ancestor, a full fifteen levels above him!

"Now, please welcome both contestants to the stage!" The host's voice rang throughout the arena.

Wearing a silver mask, Tang Xuan stepped onto the fighting platform. Opposite him stood a tall, burly man with a rugged appearance, glaring at him fiercely.

"Kid, there's still time to surrender. Pick the right place to show off. I won't be pulling my punches." The burly man waved the iron fists he was so proud of at Tang Xuan.

Showing off? I'm just standing here, and that counts as showing off? Tang Xuan was utterly baffled. I only put on a mask to hide my age! No, I have to fire back.

"I'll give those words right back to you. There's still time for you to surrender. Once my sword leaves its sheath, it has to drink blood."

"Kid, don't get too arrogant. You'll regret it."

"Ladies and gentlemen, today's most eagerly awaited match against a higher-ranked opponent is about to begin. Allow me to introduce the two contestants!" The host's voice rang out.

"The contestant on the left is a level forty-three Power Attack System Soul Ancestor!" Cheers erupted from the stands. Clearly, this man was quite well known in the Soul Fighting Arena.

"His opponent is Godslayer, a level twenty-eight Soul Grandmaster!" Cheers also rose from the stands, though they were drowned out by discussion.

"Do you think this Godslayer can pull it off?" someone asked.

"Hard to say. I watched Godslayer's matches a few days ago, and he kept winning. But today, his opponent is a level forty-five Soul Ancestor. I really couldn't say!" another person replied.

"Let the match begin!"

"Watch yourself, kid!" Four soul rings emerged around Cook: one white, one yellow, and two purple.

"Second soul skill-Savage Bull Fist!" Cook launched an attack at Tang Xuan, who swung his sword to meet him head-on. Tang Xuan's blade struck Cook's fist with a bang, and both men were driven backward. They were evenly matched in that exchange. Tang Xuan had come here primarily to practice his swordsmanship and hone his combat skills, so he never used his soul skills lightly during soul fighting.

Tang Xuan continued fighting Cook with his swordsmanship. Using nothing more than a few simple sword moves, he exchanged over twenty rounds with Cook, who failed to gain the slightest advantage. Cook unleashed his soul skills one after another, consuming a great deal of soul power. Meanwhile, Tang Xuan alternated between attacking and using his footwork to evade Cook's soul skill attacks.

"Kid, it's time to end this." As Cook spoke, his fourth soul ring lit up.

"Fourth soul skill-Savage Bull Charge!"

Like a raging bull, Cook charged ferociously at Tang Xuan.

Although Cook's level was high, the quality and combination of his soul rings, along with his overall strength, meant he put little pressure on Tang Xuan. He was of little help in achieving Tang Xuan's goal of honing his combat skills.

"Second soul skill-Sword Burst!" Tang Xuan finally unleashed his soul skill, which also meant this match was coming to an end. Savage power poured from the tip of his sword. With a single strike, Cook was blasted off the fighting platform and knocked unconscious.

Disappointment was hard to hide beneath Tang Xuan's mask. His second soul skill possessed tremendous explosive power, but he had not unleashed its true strength just now. He had held back. Had Tang Xuan struck with all his might, Cook would not merely have been knocked unconscious.

This battle gave Tang Xuan a clear understanding of his own strength. Defeating ordinary Soul Masters below level fifty posed no difficulty for him.

Everyone in the Soul Fighting Arena was still caught up in Tang Xuan's strike. They seemed unable to believe such an outcome.

"I declare the winner of this soul fighting match-Godslayer!" Seeing that Cook was unconscious, the host announced the result outright.

Those in the stands who had bet on Tang Xuan cheered loudly, while those who had bet on Cook filled the air with complaints. The gap in soul power had convinced most people that Cook would win, so they had placed heavy bets on him. Only a handful had risked walking the razor's edge and bet on Tang Xuan. This had produced extremely high odds for the match, and the result came as a shock. Tang Xuan had won, and everyone who had bet on him would receive a handsome return. The stands vividly played out the sight of joy for some and sorrow for others.

None of that concerned Tang Xuan, however. He went straight back to his private lounge to recover the soul power he had consumed in his fight against Cook.

Just then, the manager of the Great Soul Arena arrived, holding a long scroll.

"Mr. Godslayer." The manager bowed to Tang Xuan.

"Mr. Godslayer, you have participated in 342 soul fighting matches without interruption over the past three months." The Soul Fighting Arena's manager was tallying Tang Xuan's points.

"You won all 342 matches. Of those, 135 were against higher-ranked opponents, earning you 40,000 points; fifty were death matches, earning you 29,000 points; and the remaining 157 matches earned you 20,000 points. In addition, you broke the Soul Fighting Arena's records eleven times, earning a bonus of 20,000 points. Your total now exceeds 100,000 points, and your corresponding soul fighting rank has risen to-Purple-Gold Soul Fighting!" Even the manager's voice trembled. He had never imagined that, in his lifetime, he would actually see someone reach the Soul Fighting Arena's highest rank.

"Sir, here is your Purple-Gold Soul Fighting Badge." The manager respectfully presented a purple-gold badge with both hands, and Tang Xuan took it.

"Sorry for the trouble."

"Sir, there's no need to be so courteous," the manager said apprehensively. Someone capable of achieving such results was certainly no ordinary person. I'd better tread carefully, or I won't even know how I died. The manager repeatedly reminded himself.

Tang Xuan was already nearly 1.7 meters tall, and with his mask on, the manager could not determine his age. Naturally, he would never have imagined that the person who had earned this highest honor was only a nine-year-old child.

"Sir, your winnings this time total eight million gold coins. This card can be redeemed at any bank on the continent." Looking as though it pained him deeply, the manager handed over a black card.

Tang Xuan accepted it and toyed with it in his hand.

"Remember, don't disclose my information to anyone, or you'll bear the consequences." As Tang Xuan prepared to leave, he spoke to the Soul Fighting Arena's manager with a hint of menace.

The frightened manager broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly replied in all seriousness.

"Rest assured, sir. Our Soul Fighting Arena has a reputation to uphold. We will never give any contestant's information to others."

Tang Xuan glanced at him. The manager remained bent in a bow, not daring to look at him.

"That had better be the case."