"Whoever upset me knows perfectly well." Ah Yin gave a disgruntled snort, leaving Zhao Ling even more at sea.
Still, Zhao Ling was a good boy who readily admitted his mistakes. After soothing her for a while, he finally coaxed her into a good mood again.
As soon as the referee announced the start, Bibi Dong hurriedly unleashed her first skill, Poison Mist, hoping to restrict her opponent's vision immediately.
However, Zhi Lin's Martial Soul was the Plant-type Martial Soul Azure Vine. He did not need to attack Bibi Dong himself; he only needed to control the tough Azure Vines, which could cover half the arena, and attack her with them.
Moreover, because he possessed a Plant-type Martial Soul, Zhi Lin's perception far surpassed that of many Battle Soul Emperors at his level. The poisonous mist had very little effect on him.
Chapter 40: A Deadlocked Battle
Although the poisonous mist barely affected Zhi Lin, the spectators below the arena lost their minds when they saw Bibi Dong release it yet again.
Up in the arena, vines burst from the ground with a series of whooshes, darting into the thick poisonous mist like venomous snakes and scrambling to attack Bibi Dong.
"Could you stop doing this? We want to watch the match, not just see the result! Is doing this every time supposed to be fun?"
"Refund! I demand a refund! I'm not watching anymore. I'm going home!"
"This is no fun. If you're going to force my hand, can't I just leave? I'm leaving right now!!!"
The spectators below the arena angrily protested that they would leave, yet not a single one turned away. After all, a match between a contestant whose combat strength surpassed ordinary Soul Kings and a level sixty-one Battle Soul Emperor still offered plenty to watch.
On a distant platform, the Great Soul Arena's manager's mouth twitched. Leave, then! Hurry up and leave! If you can bear to go, stop shouting and do it. I've already harvested a crop of suckers, anyway. What do I care whether you leave?
She had released poisonous mist in three consecutive matches. In the previous two, they had seen none of the fighting even by the end, and now she was doing it again. Apparently, they could forget watching this match properly too. It was maddening.
Bibi Dong dared not take things lightly either. She hurriedly used nimble footwork to evade the dense attacks of the Azure Vines. As though they had eyes, the vines chased after her wherever she dodged.
Bibi Dong also understood that possessing a Plant-type Martial Soul made Zhi Lin's spiritual power stronger than that of ordinary experts at his level.
It was hardly incomprehensible that he could sense her approximate position through the thick mist. But this was no time to discuss that. Bibi Dong's third Soul Ring lit up, activating her Soul Skill, Death Spider Web Restraint.
Bibi Dong spat a purple spiderweb toward Zhi Lin. As she expelled it, the deep-purple web kept expanding, attempting to entangle him and the vines.
Just as Bibi Dong had wanted, the purple web successfully covered both the vines and Zhi Lin.
However, Zhi Lin was a full eight levels above her and had an additional Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. That extra Soul Ring introduced enormous uncertainty into this battle.
Zhi Lin's third Soul Ring lit up, activating Wild Growth. Instantly, the vines before him grew wildly, as though they had been fed premium fertilizer.
How could those extraordinarily tough vines submit to the purple web's restraint? They frantically grew outward, and as they swelled, the web entangling them gradually showed signs of bursting.
Bibi Dong also understood that her web could not restrain these vines. No matter how tough it was, it had its limits. Besides, even if the vines were strangled apart, they could grow back.
As long as Zhi Lin had sufficient Soul Power, producing enough vines to burst the web was no difficult task. Soon, the web was torn open...
The vines surged toward Bibi Dong again, like waves made entirely of vines.
Bibi Dong hurriedly released her fourth Soul Skill, Thorn Spider Armor. It provided the defense she needed without reducing her movement speed, making it one of her most useful trump cards at this stage.
Faced with this tide of vines, she naturally stopped holding back. Meanwhile, she was thinking through countermeasures.
Her poisonous mist now enveloped the entire arena. She could either stall until Zhi Lin was poisoned and lost the ability to resist, winning the match that way.
Or she could circle around the surging tide of vines and head for their center-to catch the bandits, first capture their king. She kept weighing the two plans...
Wearing Zhi Lin down with poisonous mist would probably not be easy. After all, it had taken nearly five minutes to bring down that level fifty-five Battle Soul King, who was only two levels above her.
Zhi Lin was a full eight levels above her. Relying on the poisonous mist of her first Soul Skill, she could probably forget about it taking anything less than ten-odd minutes.
In ten-odd minutes, Zhi Lin could probably cover the entire arena in Azure Vines. By then, she might have nowhere left to dodge.
In other words, if she wanted to win, she had to exploit her strengths, close in on Zhi Lin as quickly as possible, and bring him down. As a control-type Soul Master, his close-combat ability could not possibly exceed hers.
At that thought, determination flashed through Bibi Dong's eyes. "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..." She had just dodged the emerald-green Azure Vines reaching to entangle her when she sensed another vine darting toward her face.
She leaned backward, bending at the waist to evade its attack again, then slipped sideways and leaped onto a particularly thick vine, charging straight toward Zhi Lin.
Faced with Bibi Dong's impending close-range attack, Zhi Lin hurriedly retreated. His second Soul Ring lit up, activating Azure Vine Thorn. Numerous Azure Vines emerged beneath his feet and thrust toward Bibi Dong like javelins.
Relying on the defense provided by her fourth Soul Skill, Thorn Spider Armor, Bibi Dong made little effort to dodge the Azure Vines' attacks. She had a certain amount of confidence in her fourth Soul Skill.
Just as Bibi Dong had expected, although the Azure Vines were countless, they could not penetrate the Thorn Spider Armor's defenses. They could only try to entangle her and render her immobile.
Faced with the Azure Vines trying to entangle her, Bibi Dong immediately lit up her fifth Soul Ring and activated Vanguard Myriad Shields. A purple vortex appeared beneath her feet, while countless Death Spider Emperor legs appeared around her body, continually splitting and encircling her to form a protective barrier.
The defense of her fifth Soul Skill, Thousand Peaks, Myriad Shields, far exceeded that of her fourth Soul Skill. It was currently Bibi Dong's strongest trump card. As the barrier appeared around him, the Azure Vines were knocked away, unable to approach Bibi Dong any farther.
Protected by her fifth Soul Skill, Bibi Dong continued planning her next move. She intended to launch a surprise attack on Zhi Lin the instant Vanguard Myriad Shields wore off, before the Azure Vines could react.
She had to close the distance as quickly as possible. Only when they were close enough would she feel confident of victory. The poisonous mist had not completely dispersed yet; however keen Zhi Lin's perception was, it would still affect him somewhat.
At that thought, Bibi Dong tensed every muscle, her eyes razor-sharp. Her keen perception constantly tracked Zhi Lin within the thick mist as she quietly waited for Vanguard Myriad Shields to expire.
The instant Thousand Peaks, Myriad Shields wore off, Bibi Dong shot toward Zhi Lin like an arrow loosed from a bow. She was exceptionally clearheaded and calm now. Her second Soul Ring lit up, activating Death Hunt...
Chapter 41: The Legendary Simp
Her spiritual power instantly locked onto Zhi Lin. Even within the thick mist, even in the darkness of night, he was now utterly clear to her senses. An arrow formed from a death spider leg shot from her mouth.
"Whoosh..." The arrow swiftly passed through the gaps between the countless vines, shooting toward Zhi Lin. His expression changed, and his fifth Soul Ring lit up. His fifth Soul Skill, Azure Vine Protection, activated instantly.
Countless vines swiftly emerged from the ground, spiraling around him to form a wall of Azure Vines that blocked the arrow.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..." Several more arrows passed through the outer vines in succession and struck the wall of Azure Vines. Each hit a different spot, showing that Bibi Dong was constantly changing positions.
She was helpless too. Those outer vines were like sticky taffy, constantly chasing her and irritating her endlessly. Still, this had its benefits: she had already closed to within five meters of Zhi Lin.
Just then, someone in the audience shouted, "Mish Dong'er, keep it up! I believeth you'll definitely win..."
Zhao Ling looked toward the voice and saw an ordinary-looking young man with a distinctive air shouting in the crowd. Since five or six of his teeth were missing, air occasionally leaked through his words.
The fellow shouted particularly hard, drawing the attention of everyone within two or three hundred meters. Many looked at him as though he were an idiot.
They all recognized this young man shouting while leaning on a crutch. Wasn't he the unlucky fellow whom the woman in the arena had taught a lesson several times over the previous couple of days?
Who would have thought that, after she had taught him several lessons in a row, he would not be angry at all? Instead, he seemed utterly devoted to her. Was this the legendary simp???
Look how diligently this simp performed his duties. He had been beaten so badly three days ago, and two days ago, the beauty in the arena had cracked his head open with a stick. Only yesterday had he disappeared for a day without making trouble.
Today, he could no longer restrain himself and had eagerly come running back to find her. He clearly had not been beaten enough.
Hearing his shouts, the Great Soul Arena's manager slapped his forehead. He simply could not understand why this second young master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan behaved as though possessed.
That young woman of noble status from Spirit Hall plainly had no interest in him whatsoever, yet he insisted on shamelessly trying to chat her up.
Wasn't Spirit Hall at odds with the Upper Three Sects? In other words, Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan should be enemies. What was a second young master born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan doing eagerly trying to woo someone from Spirit Hall?
Was he planning to defect from his clan and join Spirit Hall, or what? What a joke. Spirit Hall was no garbage recycling station. Would they want a useless fifteen- or sixteen-year-old who had not even reached level twenty?
Look at what he was, then look at the woman in the arena. There was clearly an enormous gulf in status between them! Why did this fellow have no self-awareness at all?
He really wanted to remind Yu Xiaogang to face reality and stop being a toad lusting after swan flesh. But then he remembered how abruptly the fellow's expression had changed when he had earnestly tried to persuade him two days ago.
The Great Soul Arena's manager chose to give up. Some things could only become clear once the fellow experienced them deeply himself. If he still refused to see clearly, perhaps he simply had not been beaten enough.
Yes, that had to be it. The manager flung the thought of trying to bring Yu Xiaogang to his senses beyond the highest heavens. Watching the match was more interesting anyway.
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong, who was concentrating fully on the match, suddenly heard someone shout, "Miss Dong'er, keep it up!" Her brows creased slightly. The voice sounded somewhat familiar, and it did not seem to be Zhao Ling.
It sounded like that bastard called Yu Xiaogang. A murderous look immediately surfaced on Bibi Dong's face.
Was something wrong with that fellow? She had already dealt with him so many times.
Yesterday, when he had not shown his face, had been her happiest day. Yet after giving her just one happy day, the wretch had come bouncing out again. Had she not struck hard enough two days ago?
If she had not intended to deal with him slowly later, letting him thoroughly savor the pain of betraying her, that blow two days ago would have been enough to send Yu Xiaogang to the Western Paradise.
While Bibi Dong was distracted, a vine tightly entangled her right leg. In that instant, Zhi Lin activated his fourth Soul Skill, Azure Vine Parasitism, trying to use the vine to implant seeds in her right leg.
Although this fourth Soul Skill, Azure Vine Parasitism, had little destructive power, it was enough to inflict considerable pain on Bibi Dong's right leg and slow her movements. Moreover, only he could remove the implanted seeds.
Bibi Dong had not expected her opponent to use this move against her. Her expression changed, and she immediately released Thorn Spider Armor again, sparing no Soul Power.
Armor covered in meter-long spikes instantly enveloped her body. It blocked the seeds that were about to be planted in her right leg and forcibly burst the vine entangling her.
"Haah, haah..." She dropped to one knee, her breathing much heavier. She had never expected that a moment's distraction would nearly make her fall into Zhi Lin's trap. Had his Azure Vine Parasitism taken effect, this battle would essentially have been declared lost.
Bibi Dong sensed that her Soul Power had fallen below half, while Zhi Lin should still have relatively ample reserves. After all, he was a Soul Emperor whose Soul Power exceeded hers by eight levels. She had to end this quickly.
She glared fiercely in a certain direction through the thick mist, as though trying to glare through layer upon layer of poisonous fog and kill the culprit who had nearly cost her the match. A cold gleam flashed in her eyes. Just you wait. Once I'm off this stage, I'll deal with you, bastard.
After briefly calming herself, Bibi Dong once again launched a thunderously swift attack on Zhi Lin. She had promised that beast of a teacher that she would return with an undefeated record.
Whatever happened, she would not allow herself to lose this match. She would use it to shatter the darkness. She would make her future life bask in the light...
Meanwhile, Zhao Ling withdrew his gaze from Yu Xiaogang. Roughly estimating that the fellow was less than a hundred meters away, he gave a wicked grin and secretly applied the damage-transfer effect to him.
Then, keeping his left arm around Ah Yin, Zhao Ling raised his right hand and viciously slapped his own right cheek, startling Ah Yin into trembling in his arms.
Smack! With a dull impact, Yu Xiaogang suddenly felt a heavy blow strike his right cheek in the distance.
His vision instantly went black. Losing his balance, he fell to the ground. Dazed, Yu Xiaogang felt as though his neck were about to snap.
Chapter 42: Learning to Endure
The sudden incident frightened the spectators around Yu Xiaogang into scattering. W-was this fellow trying to stage an accident for compensation? Why did he keep throwing himself to the ground???
Only after lying on the ground for quite a while did Yu Xiaogang recover his senses. He had not fainted outright, and he struggled to sit up.
His face now burned with pain, making him bare his teeth and grimace. He discovered that his right cheek was rapidly swelling at a visible speed.
He spat out several mouthfuls of bloody saliva, along with three or four teeth. His once-perfect set of teeth was now missing nearly ten.
That trick again! It had to be that loathsome bastard's doing. Yu Xiaogang's eyes blazed with anger as he scanned the entire venue, trying to find that sneaky bastard Zhao Ling.
But he was currently sitting on the ground, surrounded by rings of onlookers watching him with peculiar looks.
In particular, they pointed at his badly swollen right cheek and the three or four teeth on the ground, making no attempt to conceal their mocking expressions.
Yu Xiaogang felt anger building in his chest with no way to release it. He wanted to eat Zhao Ling's flesh, drink his blood, and even grind his bones to dust and scatter the ashes.
But... he could not do it. He dared not speak of anything else, but that bizarre method alone told Yu Xiaogang it was not something an ordinary person could master. Even ordinary Titled Douluos lacked such an uncanny, unfathomable ability to injure a target.
Endure! I must learn to endure! Until I have the strength to take revenge, I absolutely cannot act rashly! For a gentleman, even ten years is not too late for vengeance!
Yu Xiaogang repeatedly warned himself inwardly, clenching both fists tightly. His entire body trembled from his agitation, and he had to forcibly suppress the turmoil in his heart.
Watching from the distant platform, the Great Soul Arena's manager shook his head helplessly. What sin had he committed? It was as though he owed Yu Xiaogang something.
Two days ago, he had kindly urged him to return to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan quickly rather than remain in Suotuo City and suffer, but the fellow simply would not listen. Look at him now! About ten of his perfectly good teeth were gone, and air would leak through whenever he spoke.
Repairing that mouthful of teeth would probably cost quite a bit. As the saying went, ignore your elders' advice and suffering follows before your eyes. He felt he should counsel the fellow again, lest he lose his life in the Great Soul Arena.
The exceptionally responsible manager beckoned, and a subordinate leaned close to listen. Pointing at Yu Xiaogang, who was surrounded by spectators like a protected animal on display, he instructed him.
"Have someone carry that fellow away on a stretcher, then arrange for a Healing-type Soul Master to treat him. Understood?"
The subordinate glanced at Yu Xiaogang, utterly unable to understand why his boss kept sending people to rescue this useless fellow, who could swell up his face and lose four or five teeth merely by taking a tumble.
Although their Great Soul Arena had considerable wealth and maintained several Soul Saint-level Healing-type Soul Masters, surely they could not trouble those Healing-type Soul Saints every time that fellow got hurt?
Could that fellow be his boss's illegitimate son? The subordinate glanced at Yu Xiaogang, then at the manager, puzzled. The two did not look alike.
Could they be not father and son, but... The subordinate suddenly sucked in a breath and instinctively retreated several steps, putting as much distance as possible between himself and his boss.
Feeling his subordinate's peculiar gaze, the Great Soul Arena's manager sensed that something was off, but he could not say exactly what.
He frowned, displeasure appearing on his face, and glared fiercely at the subordinate. "Why aren't you getting on with it? Do I need to carry you there in an eight-bearer bridal sedan?"
The subordinate immediately fled. Sure enough, something really was wrong with his boss. He actually wanted to carry him in an eight-bearer bridal sedan.
Impossible. Absolutely impossible. I'm not that kind of man. It seems it's time to leave the Great Soul Arena. I must get away from this place of trouble.
Soon, several people carried Yu Xiaogang away on a stretcher, and he received meticulous care.
Two minutes after Yu Xiaogang was carried away, Bibi Dong's third arena match since obtaining her Silver Soul Badge finally concluded. Once the poisonous mist dispersed, both Bibi Dong and Zhi Lin lay on the arena floor, having lost the ability to fight.
The referee had no choice but to declare a draw, sending the entire venue into an uproar.
Those who had bet on Bibi Dong and those who had bet on Zhi Lin all lost completely. The house raked in a fortune, delighting the Great Soul Arena's manager so much that his eyes narrowed into slits with his smile.
Once both contestants were carried off the arena, Healing-type Soul Masters immediately came to treat them and help restore their Soul Power.
After her Soul Power recovered, Bibi Dong stood up angrily. Her first thought was to go make trouble for Yu Xiaogang.
If that fellow had not shouted and distracted her, Zhi Lin's Azure Vines would not have entangled her.
Then she would not have needed to spend her already limited Soul Power on her fourth Soul Skill, Thorn Spider Armor. Perhaps she would have had a slightly better chance of winning instead of ending in a draw with Zhi Lin.
Perhaps most people would consider fighting a level sixty-one Battle Soul Emperor to a draw with the strength of a level fifty-three Battle Soul King an exceptionally hard-won victory.
Before you continue