Bibi Dong did not even raise her head, merely saying flatly, "Next."
The referee waved his hand, and his next opponent came straight onto the stage: a level 54 Control System Soul King, whose Soul Power was one level higher than Bibi Dong's.
But Bibi Dong's fighting strength in her fury was no joke. In just two minutes, she had thoroughly dealt with him.
And there it was, Bibi Dong's second consecutive victory. She beckoned to the referee again, and her third opponent soon arrived: a level 53 Battle Soul King whose Martial Soul was the Great Strength Gorilla. One look at his build made it clear he belonged to a branch of the Strength Clan.
The Great Strength Gorilla was a decent Martial Soul in its own right, but it still fell far short of Bibi Dong's Death Spider Emperor. More importantly, his actual fighting strength was far below hers.
Bibi Dong won the match without any suspense. Three pieces of trash in a row, and not one opponent capable of giving her a proper fight. She had no way to vent the dissatisfaction in her heart to her heart's content.
And so, throughout the first ten matches, Bibi Dong's opponents either obediently conceded or were savagely beaten before she threw them off the platform.
Perhaps because Bibi Dong's ten consecutive victories had left many people losing even their underwear, most of the spectators grew dissatisfied and demanded that she be given a suitable opponent.
The Great Soul Arena followed the majority's wishes. Finally, for her eleventh match, it assigned her a Battle Soul King who looked forty-four or forty-five and had Soul Power four levels above hers, hoping to take her down a peg.
At the sight of him, Bibi Dong's eyes filled with fighting spirit. She wished she could pour every bit of her fury onto him.
The result was that this seemingly forty-four- or forty-five-year-old level 57 Battle Soul King was battered breathless by Bibi Dong's reckless, all-out fighting style. His composure soon crumbled.
With his composure shattered, he repeatedly tried to simply jump off the platform and concede. Who the fuck wanted to keep fighting this madwoman? He certainly did not.
But the moment he jumped off the platform, before he could land, Bibi Dong hauled him back with the spiderwebs and spider silk she spat out.
This opponent had watched his feet nearly touch the ground, only to find himself tightly trussed up and dragged back onto the platform. As though she bore some grudge against him, that madwoman pummeled him while he remained bound tight.
He cried, utterly heartbroken, yet could not shed a single tear. What sin had he committed to deserve such an undeserved calamity?
He even wondered whether he had killed this woman's father or stolen her wife.
Or perhaps he had dated her when he was young, then seduced and abandoned her. Otherwise, he truly could not think why she was targeting him like this.
What the hell? This was only an arena match! Was such a bullying way of fighting really necessary? This was bullying, utterly shameless bullying.
Staring fearfully at that lunatic Bibi Dong, he swore never to return to the Great Soul Arena. This-this woman was absolutely insane.
In the end, staff from the Great Soul Arena carried away this opponent, who had been beaten beyond recognition. After meticulous treatment, most of his injuries healed.
But an indelible shadow settled over his wounded, fragile heart. In the end, he hired a carriage and left Suotuo City...
Chapter 28: Do You Live by the Sea?
After venting some of her anger on that unlucky fellow, Bibi Dong was still furious, but her subsequent opponents clearly received much better treatment than he had.
Knowing he was about to strike it rich, Zhao Ling had originally been in a wonderful mood. Yet he kept feeling that Bibi Dong was shooting vicious glares at him from the platform, sending chills down his spine.
Utterly bewildered, he could never figure out what had set this girl off. She now seemed rather like the darkened Bibi Dong from the original story.
Over the course of the morning, Bibi Dong's inner cosmos erupted in her fury. She fought fifteen matches and won all fifteen.
Perhaps because of her eleventh opponent's miserable experience, even opponents stronger than her whom the Great Soul Arena subsequently assigned felt an involuntary fear at the sight of her. Such a result was hardly surprising.
When she slowly walked down from the platform after her final match, Zhao Ling's original 300 Gold Soul Coins had become 42,000. Once he collected his money, he was positively beaming.
Still, he felt some regret. If those eight-to-one odds could have lasted throughout, even handing him the entire Great Soul Arena probably would not have covered the payout...
Unfortunately, after Bibi Dong displayed her terrifying fighting strength in the first match, her odds plummeted starting from the second.
Had the Great Soul Arena not assigned her opponents of fairly good levels after the eleventh match, raising the odds considerably, he would not even have made 42,000 Gold Soul Coins.
Still, Zhao Ling understood that contentment brought lasting happiness, and cheerfully congratulated Bibi Dong.
"Congratulations, Miss Dong'er! Fifteen wins out of fifteen. Mighty and imposing!"
Bibi Dong snorted in displeasure, then shot Ah Yin a fierce glare. Ah Yin refused to back down and glared right back. Both snorted before turning their heads away.
Noticing the friction between her and Ah Yin, Zhao Ling frowned. What was going on? Did the natural hostility between their factions make these two girls instinctively dislike each other?
Otherwise, why would they regard each other with hostility? This was not good news for Zhao Ling.
Having resolved to bring both of them to his side, how could Zhao Ling allow the possibility of future infighting? No, he had to find a way to ease their relationship, though it would certainly be difficult.
After all, one belonged to Spirit Hall, while the other would one day sacrifice her life under Spirit Hall's pressure. There was probably an inherent grudge between the two sides, so their mutual dislike was only natural.
Zhao Ling had no idea that these two girls were hostile because they both had Zhao Ling's Diary Copy, and he kept comparing them in his diary. He was the source of it all.
Seeing Bibi Dong come down from the platform, Chrysanthemum Douluo and the talented young members of Spirit Hall hurried over.
Chrysanthemum Douluo surveyed the three with a peculiar look. For some reason, he kept feeling that the atmosphere was a little strange.
Still, he did not believe the young lady was jealous. This Titled Douluo named Zhao Ling probably did not yet qualify to make her jealous.
Looking at Chrysanthemum Douluo and the talented youths approaching her, Bibi Dong asked indifferently, "How did everyone else do? No one lost too badly, did they?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded and answered without hesitation, "Rest assured, miss. The talents who came to the Great Soul Arena this time were all carefully trained by the Holy Temple. They each fought around ten matches this morning, losing only one or two on average."
"One or two losses? It seems the Holy Temple's careful training still wasn't strict enough. Hmph."
Bibi Dong snorted coldly. To her, losing one or two out of ten matches at the Iron Soul Badge level warranted reflection. These people actually dared to lose one or two matches. Clearly, they had too few training assignments.
The talented Spirit Hall youths immediately looked miserable. They were finished. Misfortune was coming their way.
Losing only one or two matches out of ten was already quite good, yet the young lady was dissatisfied and felt they had too little training. They wanted to complain but dared not say it outright.
Zhao Ling's mouth twitched at this, and he addressed Bibi Dong tentatively.
"Well, Miss Dong'er, losing only one or two out of ten is actually quite good. Not everyone is as exceptionally gifted as you. There really aren't many mon-geniuses who can fight fifteen opponents like you..."
Mon-geniuses? Bibi Dong rolled her eyes at Zhao Ling, inwardly grumbling. If you want to call me a monster, just say it. What's this about a monstrous genius?
Compared with me, aren't you the real monster? The diary may say I'll become a Titled Douluo in my thirties, but that's in the future. Whether I can reach that point remains unknown.
But you look only twenty or thirty, and you're already a Titled Douluo. With that situation of yours, you have the nerve to call me a monster?
Though these thoughts ran through Bibi Dong's mind, she did not voice them, merely replying mildly.
"Even if they genuinely fall short of me, they are still talents carefully nurtured by our Spirit Hall. They must not fail to repay the Holy Temple's efforts in cultivating them. There's nothing wrong with me making their training harder, is there?
"Besides, you aren't a member of Spirit Hall, nor do you have anything to do with me. Do you live by the sea? Why are you casting your net so wide?"
"Uh..." Zhao Ling rubbed his nose glumly, unable to figure out what had set Bibi Dong off. Her words were bristling with barbs.
Ah, forget it. Better not say too much, lest I upset her and make winning her over harder in the future.
Seeing Zhao Ling fall into a gloomy silence, a trace of triumph flashed in Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes. Who told this bastard to be so intimate with that woman named Ah Yin beside him?
He clearly said he coveted me more, yet he's already walking arm in arm with that Ah Yin woman, and she's nestling against him like a little bird. Can't this Zhao Ling show a little restraint?
Fine, don't show restraint, but at least take the initiative and come flirt with me! Didn't you stay in that little village for four days to flirt with that woman named Ah Yin?
Why won't you flirt with me? Am I less beautiful than that woman, or less enticing? This man who says one thing and means another is truly shameless!
At that moment, Ah Yin also noticed the triumph in Bibi Dong's eyes. She quickly took Zhao Ling's arm and asked him tentatively.
"Brother Ling, are you hungry? Let's go eat. Could you come buy some clothes and shoes with me this afternoon? The clothes people wear in Suotuo City have such novel styles, and the fabrics are exquisite too."
Zhao Ling looked Ah Yin up and down and nodded slightly. This girl really did lack clothes.
Even after all the clothes she had originally worn in the village were packed up and stored in Zhao Ling's system space, only three or four outfits were presentable.
For a beauty-loving young woman, pretty dresses, stockings, and high heels were indispensable. Since he wanted to pursue her, was this not a perfect opportunity?
Chapter 29: Yu Xiaogang Flew into a Rage
Wait... What did Ah Yin just call me? Brother Ling? Damn, that intimate?
Zhao Ling immediately felt his bones turn to jelly. Her addressing him so intimately caught him completely off guard.
For that "Brother Ling" alone, he felt it would be worth spending every Gold Soul Coin he had on dresses for her. With that thought, Zhao Ling led Ah Yin toward the exit.
Watching the two depart, Bibi Dong puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.
That woman named Ah Yin definitely did it on purpose. She wants to fight me for Zhao Ling. Damn her!
Had Elder Ju and the other Spirit Hall members not been beside her, she would absolutely have rushed over to snatch him away.
Unfortunately, Elder Ju was right beside her. If she threw caution aside and ran over to fight for him now, she would certainly arouse his suspicions.
If that big mouth then whispered slander into her beast of a teacher's ear, she would be done for.
Endure it. I have to endure it. Bibi Dong repeatedly warned herself not to act rashly. Impulsiveness was a devil.
Even if that woman named Ah Yin hooked Zhao Ling before she did, it was useless. She was the one Zhao Ling liked more.
Given an opportunity in the future, she would certainly snatch Zhao Ling back, then lock him in a room and make him update his diary with ten thousand words every day-ten thousand words-so she could read her fill.
Uh... Bibi Dong suddenly wondered whether a donkey had kicked her in the head. Stealing Zhao Ling just to make him update his diary for her? Was that not something only an idiot would do?
After hooking him, I should flaunt our affection in front of that Ah Yin woman every day, making her burn with envy, jealousy, and hatred. I should show her who the most important woman in Zhao Ling's heart really is.
At that thought, a wicked smile unconsciously spread across Bibi Dong's face. That smile made Chrysanthemum Douluo and the other Spirit Hall talents feel as though thorns were pricking their backs.
What was wrong with the young lady? Just a moment ago, she had been burning with rage, as though everyone owed her millions of Gold Soul Coins, yet now she was smiling.
This was not normal. Why had the young lady become increasingly abnormal ever since arriving in Suotuo City?
"Let's go. We'll eat too. Although I have no matches scheduled this afternoon, you still do."
Bibi Dong turned to glance at the Spirit Hall members, then waved and led them outside.
Unexpectedly, just as their group reached the entrance, they saw a pale young man missing five or six teeth blocking Zhao Ling's way and screaming hysterically.
"It wash you! You did all of it, didn't you? Firsh you knocked me unconshous with a chair and shtole the handkerchief Miss Dong'er gave me!
"Then thish morning, you ushed shome evil trick to knock out five or shix of my teeth and shwell my face up like a pig's head! You-you mad brute!!! You lunatic!!!"
Without question, this young man was Yu Xiaogang. His face was now deathly pale. His injuries had not fully healed after Bibi Dong's savage beating yesterday.
Today, Zhao Ling's Damage Transfer had knocked out five or six of his teeth and swollen the left side of his face into a pig's head. That slap had even made his neck feel close to snapping.
After the Great Soul Arena's guards carried him away, he received meticulous treatment. The left side of his face, previously swollen like a pig's head, had subsided, and his neck no longer hurt as much.
But his missing teeth could not grow back, and air still leaked through the gaps when he spoke, leaving him so frustrated he wanted to cough up blood.
He was utterly baffled. Why had he suddenly felt as though his face had suffered a heavy blow, losing five or six teeth and swelling up like a lump of pork?
After thinking it over and over, Yu Xiaogang recalled Zhao Ling slapping himself. After that slap, Zhao Ling had been completely unharmed, without even a red mark on his face.
Yet at that exact moment, Yu Xiaogang had felt a heavy blow strike his own face. He would never believe this fellow was not behind it.
Then he recalled suddenly being knocked unconscious yesterday and having the handkerchief Bibi Dong had "given" him stolen. He felt both incidents must be connected to Zhao Ling.
The more Yu Xiaogang thought, the angrier he grew, so he had waited outside the Great Soul Arena to intercept Zhao Ling.
Now that he had cornered Zhao Ling, he would teach him an unforgettable lesson, no matter what...
Faced with Yu Xiaogang rushing up to him in a flustered, impotent rage, Zhao Ling's mouth twitched violently. Was something wrong with this fellow's head?
Who exactly had given him the courage to come raging before him? Liang XX?
Did he, Zhao Ling, look easy to bully, so Yu Xiaogang had picked him to vent his frustrations on?
He did admit that he had used Damage Transfer to teach this fellow a lesson that morning.
But Bibi Dong was the one who had hit him with a chair yesterday! Why should he take the blame?
Zhao Ling had originally wanted to get angry, but the sight of Yu Xiaogang fuming and flying into a rage made him laugh instead. He nodded without hesitation and retorted sarcastically.
"That's right, I did it all. So what? Pissed off? Then come hit me. But trash like you couldn't possibly beat me even if I let you have both my hands.
"Don't you have the slightest awareness of what you are? You went looking for death on an Iron Soul Fighter platform with Soul Power below level 20. Someone kindly told you to get off, but you shamelessly stayed there, shouting that you wanted to prove to your clan you weren't trash. I didn't like the look of you, so I beat you up. What of it?"
"You, you, you..."
Yu Xiaogang was instantly furious. Pointing at Zhao Ling with his right hand, he stammered "you" for ages without managing anything else. The anger and jealousy in his eyes twisted his face.
"Me? What about me? Am I your father or your uncle?" Seeing Yu Xiaogang's furious state, Zhao Ling felt like laughing and immediately began mocking him.
"You can't even get a sentence out. All that 'you, you,' and you haven't managed so much as a fart. If I were your father, I'd have drowned trash like you in the toilet at birth to spare the clan the disgrace.
"I dare say that without some special opportunity, you'll never break through to level 30 in your entire life. I, Zhao Ling, am putting those words here today. Everyone present can bear witness."
Gaining his father's and clan's recognition had always been Yu Xiaogang's deepest longing. Hearing Zhao Ling bring up his father and clan, he felt fury shoot up from the soles of his feet.
What he found even more unbearable was the claim that without some special opportunity, his Soul Power Level would never break through to level 30.
Yu Xiaogang could already feel that increasing his Soul Power was becoming harder and harder. In particular, advancing from his current level 19 to level 20 already felt very difficult.
Still, he remained confident he could reach level 20. It would merely take more time.
But now Zhao Ling had declared that without some special opportunity, he would absolutely never break through to level 30 in his lifetime. This was something he could never accept.
Before you continue