"L-Lu Yuan..."
"Xiao Chenyu, you still haven't answered my question. Looks like I'll have to knock you flat before you'll obediently spill it." Lu Yuan's gaze was fierce.
Caught off guard by Lu Yuan's trick, Xiao Chenyu seethed with resentment.
"Hmph, so what if you're here? There are so many of us. You think we can't take you down? Everyone, get him!"
Xiao Chenyu roared, and the lackeys around him sprang into action.
"Meowmeow, let's go!"
Soul power surged around Lu Yuan, and he summoned Meowmeow.
"Meow!" (Yes, master, meow!)
The boy and cat traded blows with Xiao Chenyu's dozen or so followers, sending soul power and leaves pulled from the ground flying across the playground.
Lu Yuan formed leaves shaped like Meowmeow's tail in his hands and used them as weapons to swat his enemies, beating these elementary schoolers of the Douluo Continent until they howled.
With Meowmeow as his martial soul, Lu Yuan could also use Meowmeow's abilities to a certain extent.
Although Meowmeow had yet to absorb a first soul ring and awaken a soul skill, the basic functions of plant-type martial souls on the Douluo Continent-growing branches and leaves, healing, and providing food-were all available.
The boy and cat beat the dozen or so brats until none dared approach.
"H-how is this possible?"
Xiao Chenyu stared dumbfounded at Lu Yuan and Meowmeow. Their injuries were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
This was the effect of Meowmeow's innate martial soul passive, oxygen cycle, which allowed Lu Yuan and Meowmeow to continually replenish their health during battle.
When Lu Yuan first discovered this trait of Meowmeow's martial soul, he had been utterly delighted.
It meant that he and Meowmeow needed very little soul power to remain combat-ready for a long time.
At the same time, Lu Yuan had discovered that he and Meowmeow also possessed an unexpected, yet somewhat logical, "domain" skill.
"Don't just stand there! Keep attacking! Hit Lu Yuan and his cat together. Stop throwing yourselves at them one at a time!"
Xiao Chenyu realized that Lu Yuan and Meowmeow could "win a hundred battles out of a hundred" because his underlings kept attacking in twos and threes while the others stood watching, giving the boy and cat a chance to overcome superior numbers.
"Yes, Boss Xiao!"
Xiao Chenyu's followers nodded and charged at Lu Yuan and Meowmeow together.
"Oh? You finally figured it out? Then it's time to show you my new skill!"
A smug gleam entered Lu Yuan's eyes, and the corners of his mouth rose.
"Domain expansion!"
Centered on Lu Yuan, half the playground began to transform into Western European-style buildings and platforms.
These familiar buildings and flags belonged to none other than the venue of the Shining Tournament in the Kingdom of Locke.
Domain: Shining Tournament!
Soon after awakening his martial soul, Lu Yuan had discovered that he and Meowmeow could summon the Shining Tournament venue as a martial soul domain. It had so many useful applications!
The instant Lu Yuan and Xiao Chenyu appeared in the Shining Tournament venue, the lackeys who had followed Xiao Chenyu and swaggered before Lu Yuan and Meowmeow were all flung out of the Pet Battle ring.
They landed heavily on the ground, letting out more cries of agony.
An unbroken chorus of "Ow!" rang out.
"What... what's going on?!"
Utterly bewildered, Xiao Chenyu stared at Lu Yuan, unsure what sinister magic he had unleashed to transform their surroundings in an instant and forcibly separate him from his bootlickers.
A sense of danger welled up in Xiao Chenyu's heart. His eyes filled with panic, his whole body trembled, and he tried to flee the Shining Tournament ring.
Unfortunately, Xiao Chenyu was not even a rank-ten soul master yet. Being at the same tier as Lu Yuan, he naturally could not force his way out of the Shining Tournament domain from within.
Xiao Chenyu lowered his head and rammed into the edge of the ring, only to be bounced straight back into its center.
"Come on, Xiao Chenyu. Don't you love bullying people? Here in the Shining Tournament ring, there are no rules restricting you. You can bully me all you like."
When Lu Yuan's low voice reached Xiao Chenyu's ears, it sounded like a demon's whisper.
"Of course, I can bully you all I like, too."
The domain Lu Yuan had awakened was naturally different from the Shining Tournament in the Kingdom of Locke. It was more like the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's soul skill, the Life and Death Arena.
However, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger could use the Evil God's protection to weaken multiple enemies into six-year-old versions of themselves, drag them into the Life and Death Arena, and slaughter them with ease.
The Shining Tournament domain, on the other hand, forcibly shut everyone else out, making Lu Yuan and one opposing soul master fight an absolute one-on-one battle, with Meowmeow and the opposing soul master's martial soul serving as their pets.
The Life and Death Arena could only be dispelled when either the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger or its opponent died, whereas the Shining Tournament was Lu Yuan's domain, so he could naturally activate and deactivate it at will.
"Ah! That hurts!"
Xiao Chenyu did not even have the courage to summon his wolf martial soul to possess him. Lu Yuan and Meowmeow whipped him with leaves as he lay on the ground.
"That's for bullying the work-study students!"
"That's for bullying Wang Sheng!"
"That's for acting so high and mighty!"
"Brother Lu, I was wrong! Please, let me go!"
Lu Yuan had beaten Xiao Chenyu until his clothes were tattered and his body covered in wounds. Not a trace remained of his usual arrogant swagger.
"Hmph! Scram!"
Lu Yuan snapped his fingers, withdrew the Shining Tournament domain, then sent Xiao Chenyu flying with a kick.
"Ah, that felt good!"
After spending so long smacking Xiao Chenyu's backside with leaves, Lu Yuan's hands were a little sore, but he felt thoroughly satisfied.
Clutching his bright-red backside, Xiao Chenyu stood up with the support of several underlings.
"Let's go."
Xiao Chenyu's brows knitted tightly as he gritted his teeth and thought to himself.
Damn you, Lu Yuan! You beat me like a little kid for so long in front of all these people. When I get back, I'll tell my father and have you kicked out of the Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy!
"Wait!"
His expression cold, Lu Yuan sharply called Xiao Chenyu to a halt.
At Lu Yuan's words, Xiao Chenyu reacted like a mouse confronted by a cat. His body went rigid, his hairs stood on end, goosebumps prickled across his skin, and beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead and temples.
Having just experienced Lu Yuan's Shining Tournament domain and been beaten like a dog fallen into the water, Xiao Chenyu's first thought was that Lu Yuan could read minds, had heard his thoughts, and intended to teach him another lesson.
"Xiao Chenyu, have you forgotten what you said?"
Xiao Chenyu awkwardly turned around, knowing Lu Yuan was reminding him of the smug declaration he had made about what he would do if someone came to save the work-study students.
He adopted a fawning manner and expression as he faced Lu Yuan.
"Lu Yuan, what do you want me to do?"
"Roll out of the playground. And I mean actually roll!"
"But-!"
The moment Lu Yuan spoke, Xiao Chenyu nearly turned to stone on the spot. His hands clenched into fists, veins bulging.
"Oh? Not happy about it? Don't tell me you're asking for another beating, Xiao Chenyu?"
"No, no! I'll roll right away."
Pressing his trembling lips together, Xiao Chenyu swallowed his resentment, bent his knees and waist, and truly rolled out of the playground like a ball.
Everyone present who had suffered Xiao Chenyu's bullying burst into laughter at the sight, feeling thoroughly vindicated.
Their laughter was like a barrage of sharp knives stabbing straight into Xiao Chenyu's ears and heart.
Damn you, Lu Yuan! As the son of Nuoding City's lord, when have I ever suffered like this? Just you wait! We'll see who has the last laugh!