Even among the teeth that had not fallen out, quite a few were loose, making it especially difficult to gnaw on pork knuckles. This drove Yu Xiaogang's resentment toward Zhao Ling to its peak...
Another two days hurried past. Countless spectators in the Great Soul Arena were watching the most thrilling event: the team matches.
Spirit Hall had fielded seven members led by Bibi Dong against a long-established Silver Soul Fighter team, the Dark Night Team.
After their outstanding performances over the past several days, everyone from Spirit Hall had reached the Silver Soul Fighter rank in their individual arena matches, earning the recognition of the Great Soul Arena and its spectators.
On the platform, both sides stood ready for battle. Everyone released their Martial Souls, and yellow, purple, and black Soul Rings slowly rose from the ground.
Led by Bibi Dong, the Martial Soul Team ranged from level 44 to level 53, while the Dark Night Team ranged from level 48 to level 55. Their Soul Power Levels alone showed that the Dark Night Team held the advantage.
This was only natural. The members of the Dark Night Team were, on average, ten years older than those of the Martial Soul Team.
However, many spectators knew that the Martial Soul Team members not only had impressive levels but could also unleash considerable fighting strength. In particular, the young woman named Bibi Dong could unleash enough power to make even Soul Emperor experts take notice.
Now, a match between a newly promoted Silver Soul Fighter team and a veteran Silver Soul Fighter team naturally stirred the curiosity of the entire audience.
Would the newly promoted Silver Soul Fighter team see its halberds broken and buried in the sand? Or would the veteran Silver Soul Fighter team fall from its pedestal? Only the match would tell...
Chapter 55: Little Brother, Have You Had Enough?
With an arm around Ah Yin, Zhao Ling watched the match about to begin with keen interest from below the platform.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he asked Ah Yin in a probing tone, "Ah Yin, who do you think will win this time, the Martial Soul Team or the Dark Night Team?"
"In terms of levels, the Dark Night Team has a clear advantage. Still, I feel the Martial Soul Team will win."
After pondering for a moment, Ah Yin gave her answer firmly, then asked in return, "Brother Ling, what do you think?"
Zhao Ling smiled and nodded. "Exactly. After all, the Martial Soul Team is a new generation of outstanding talents raised by Spirit Hall. Their strength cannot be underestimated.
"Especially Miss Dong'er. She's among the youngest in the entire Martial Soul Team, but both her strength and the fighting power she unleashes are the most outstanding on the team. With her there, the Martial Soul Team shouldn't lose easily."
"Brother Ling, do you have that much confidence in Sister Dong'er?" Ah Yin deliberately put on a surprised expression, her beautiful eyes full of teasing.
"You wouldn't happen to have designs on Sister Dong'er, would you? Like lusting after her body? After all, she's so beautiful. Every time she displays her valiant grace on the platform, I feel like your eyes are about to pop out."
As Ah Yin said this, Yue Guan glanced over from nearby, staring fixedly at Zhao Ling with a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.
"Ahem..." Zhao Ling had not expected Ah Yin to ask so bluntly, leaving him so embarrassed that he coughed several times.
What was going on? Had the look in my eyes really been that exaggerated while watching Bibi Dong fight? Enough for Ah Yin to notice?
He hurriedly gave a few awkward laughs and hastened to explain.
"Don't talk nonsense. The way I look at Miss Dong'er is pure admiration. After all, she's not only strong but extremely talented, and the fighting power she unleashes ranks among the very best at her level. This is purely admiration, understand? Without a trace of anything else."
After speaking, Zhao Ling glanced toward Yue Guan nearby and smiled at him with a slightly approving tone.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo, Spirit Hall has truly nurtured a favored daughter of heaven. If my guess is correct, this young woman will become a Titled Douluo in her thirties. Very impressive..."
At Zhao Ling's words, a hint of pride appeared on Yue Guan's soft, feminine face.
"You flatter us, Demon-Suppressing Douluo. Still, our young lady is indeed exceptionally gifted and deeply cherished by His Holiness the Pope. His Holiness already intends to appoint her as Spirit Hall's Saintess. Once she becomes a Titled Douluo, she will be Spirit Hall's first female Pope!"
"Gasp..." Although Ah Yin had long since learned from the diary that Bibi Dong would become the Saintess and even the female Pope,
hearing this elder from Spirit Hall say it himself still made her draw in a sharp breath. This once again indirectly confirmed the truth of the diary's contents.
"Then I must congratulate Miss Dong'er in advance. I truly am fortunate. Originally, I only wanted to make your acquaintance, Chrysanthemum Douluo. I never expected to also happen to meet the future Pope of Spirit Hall."
Zhao Ling's face was full of wonder, and his gaze toward Bibi Dong brimmed with admiration, drawing repeated eye rolls from Ah Yin.
Wasn't this fellow far too hypocritical? He'd clearly known long ago that Bibi Dong would become Spirit Hall's Saintess, and even its Pope.
Yet now he was acting as though he knew nothing. Utter contempt for him.
"You're too kind, Demon-Suppressing Douluo. Our young lady is the fortunate one to have made your acquaintance. Judging by your appearance, you must still be under fifty, correct?
"To have attained the strength of a Titled Douluo before fifty, you are also one of the continent's outstanding talents. You have my admiration..."
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded slightly at Zhao Ling, a trace of admiration in his eyes as he raised his head.
Zhao Ling did not contradict Chrysanthemum Douluo, merely smiling without a word.
Beside him, the corner of Ah Yin's mouth twitched. What? Fifty? Didn't Brother Ling say he was only thirty-one?
Why did Chrysanthemum Douluo keep adding years to Brother Ling's age? Was he afraid he'd feel life was unfair if he knew Brother Ling had become a Titled Douluo at thirty-one?
As they conversed, the referee announced the start of the match, and the Soul Rings on both sides lit up.
Without a second thought, Bibi Dong activated her third Soul Skill, spraying Death Spider Web Restraint from her mouth.
She intended to first entangle the opponents' most vulnerable healing-type and support-type Soul Masters with a control skill. Once their healing-type and support-type Soul Masters were rendered ineffective, the rest of the fight would be easier.
At the same time, Qian Hu released his fourth Soul Skill, Demon Wolf Howls at the Moon. His Martial Soul was a wolf-type Martial Soul, and after activating his fourth Soul Skill, his attack power, agility, and reaction speed all increased. He swiftly charged toward the opposing agility-attack-type Battle Soul King, and the two soon became locked in combat...
At that moment, a woman who looked fifteen or sixteen walked into the Great Soul Arena's entrance, her face full of curiosity. She had delicate features, a voluptuous figure, and picturesque brows and eyes, and wore a long teal dress.
She was none other than Liu Erlong, who had spent nearly three days traveling from Heaven Dou Imperial City to Suotuo City. To meet the diary's author, Zhao Ling, and see that nominal cousin of hers, she had journeyed beneath the stars and moon.
After paying for an admission ticket, she impatiently headed toward the arena area.
In particular, when she saw the enormous platform surrounded by a sea of people and watched the two sides locked in fierce combat upon it, Liu Erlong felt an urge to try her hand as well.
But she knew very well why she had come. She slowly threaded through the crowd, her beautiful eyes sweeping across countless faces, yet none seemed like Zhao Ling, who loved to chatter and complain in his diary.
Nor did she find the cousin who shared her bloodline. After circling those platforms without finding anyone who looked likely, she simply gave up for the time being. Watching the matches properly would be more interesting.
What she did not know was that, at that moment, Yu Xiaogang lay on a sofa in a private room somewhere in the Great Soul Arena. Beside him stood a man whose looks bore a fifty to sixty percent resemblance to his, but who was more imposing and commanding.
With a dark expression, the man said gravely to Yu Xiaogang, "Little brother, have you had enough? You've been away for so long. Isn't it time you came home? Look at how badly you've been injured lately..."
Before his elder brother could finish, Yu Xiaogang flatly rejected his demand to return home.
"I said I'm not going back. Big Brother, you know my temper. Miss Dong'er is still in the Great Soul Arena. I want to stay. I want to..."
"Miss Dong'er, Miss Dong'er! Don't you know she's from Spirit Hall..." Yu Xiaolong laughed in anger. Was there a hole in this little brother's head?
Chapter 56: He Absolutely Could Not Be Taken Back
"So what if she's from Spirit Hall? Big Brother, how can you be so prejudiced against Miss Dong'er? She's such a beautiful, gentle woman. She isn't vicious and ruthless like those people from Spirit Hall."
Although Yu Xiaogang lay on the sofa, his entire body wracked with unbearable pain, he immediately bristled upon hearing his elder brother speak ill of the moonlight in his heart.
Had he been able to stand, he probably would have been jumping up and down at Yu Xiaolong already. He had never expected his elder brother could be so unreasonable.
"Prejudiced? When have I ever been prejudiced against that woman named Bibi Dong? She is from Spirit Hall. She's an enemy of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Upper Three Sects.
"Look at yourself! Being infatuated with someone from Spirit Hall is bad enough, but now you're talking back to your elder brother for that woman. Haven't you heard that an eldest brother is like a father?"
Yu Xiaolong was furious as well. When the servant the Great Soul Arena sent to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had described how infatuated his little brother was with that woman from Spirit Hall, he had been somewhat doubtful.
But now, Yu Xiaolong had heard his little brother's remarks himself, including the accusation that he was prejudiced against that woman.
If not for his little brother's injuries, he would already have broken his legs.
Feeling his elder brother's gaze, which promised a harsh beating, Yu Xiaogang felt a little afraid. Yet he still stiffened his neck and argued.
"Unreasonable is unreasonable. Don't use your position as my elder brother to pressure me. Miss Dong'er and I love each other. I like Miss Dong'er, and Miss Dong'er likes me too.
"When I was knocked off the platform, Miss Dong'er personally wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth. She even gave me her personal Handkerchief as a token of love. In the future, I'll definitely persuade her to leave Spirit Hall and join our clan..."
Wiped the blood from his mouth, my fucking ass. Yu Xiaolong laughed outright in anger.
If he had not asked around after arriving at the Great Soul Arena, he might really have been deceived by his little brother's solemn assurances.
That woman named Bibi Dong had indeed wiped the blood from the corner of his little brother's mouth. That much was true.
But the onlookers who had witnessed it that day all said Bibi Dong had thrown the Handkerchief on the ground, after which his little brother had picked it up and sniffed it over and over.
Perhaps his little brother's perverted behavior of repeatedly sniffing the Handkerchief had angered that woman named Bibi Dong.
So she had struck him unconscious, even smashing the chair to pieces.
Who knew how his little brother's brain worked? He had actually imagined all this as Bibi Dong giving him her Handkerchief, provoking the jealousy of many spectators, who had then knocked him unconscious and stolen that "token of love."
Truthfully, Yu Xiaolong also wished everything his little brother said were true. He wished even more that his little brother could lure Bibi Dong away from Spirit Hall and into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
After all, he knew Bibi Dong was the current Pope of Spirit Hall's sole disciple. Her status was exceedingly exalted, and the current Pope had poured immense effort into her.
If his little brother could lure her into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, it would undoubtedly deal Spirit Hall an enormous blow.
With Bibi Dong's exceptional aptitude, if she joined the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, she would certainly add another Titled Douluo to the clan in the future, and even improve the cultivation aptitude of his little brother's descendants.
But... this was clearly impossible. That woman named Bibi Dong was no fool. As far as he currently knew, she had already taught his little brother a lesson several times.
Yet his little brother still treasured that woman named Bibi Dong like a jewel in his heart. There was simply something wrong with his head.
Yu Xiaolong snorted and said in an unquestionable tone, "Xiaogang, Father personally gave the order this time. Whether you're willing or not, you must return.
"When Father learned what happened to you in the Great Soul Arena, he flew into a thunderous rage and ordered us to bring you back without fail. If you refuse to see sense and keep refusing to return, I must bring you back even if I have to break your legs. I hope you won't force your big brother's hand."
Yu Xiaogang could now hear the resolve in his elder brother's tone. If he truly refused to return, his elder brother would not mind breaking both his legs and tying him up to take him back to the clan.
After thinking it over, Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth and nodded at Yu Xiaolong. "Fine. Since you've put it that way, Big Brother, I'd be failing to appreciate your kindness if I still refused to return.
"How about this? Big Brother, go thank the Great Soul Arena's senior staff for me. If they hadn't looked after me during this time, I might already have..."
"I understand. Lie here a while longer. I'll thank the Great Soul Arena's senior staff, then we'll set off tonight."
After speaking, Yu Xiaolong turned and left the private room, giving instructions to two members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's collateral branches outside.
"Guard the second young master here at the door. Don't let him take a single step outside. Understood?"
The two collateral branch members of the Tyrant Dragon Clan hurriedly lowered their heads and replied, "Rest assured, eldest young master. We won't let the second young master take a single step outside."
"Good... Then I'll leave the second young master in your care." Yu Xiaolong nodded, then took the others to thank the Great Soul Arena's senior staff.
After Yu Xiaolong left, Yu Xiaogang's expression turned extremely ugly. He knew he absolutely could not be taken back.
If he returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, after this whole series of incidents, escaping the clan again would probably be harder than ascending to heaven.
When that happened, Miss Dong'er would fall into the hands of that beast surnamed Zhao. Thinking of Miss Dong'er being defiled in that beast Zhao's arms in the future made blood surge to Yu Xiaogang's head.
No. Miss Dong'er was his, and could only be his. He had to escape this private room and find somewhere to hide. He absolutely could not let his elder brother take him back.
At this thought, Yu Xiaogang, who was in so much pain that cold sweat streamed down him and he could only rest in bed, endured the pain and climbed out of bed. Supporting his left waist with one hand and bracing himself against the wall with the other, he reached the private room's door.
He spotted a wooden stool nearby and bent down with difficulty to pick it up, nearly collapsing to the floor from the pain racking his body.
If not for his obsessive determination not to be taken back to the clan, he would have fainted on the spot.
Leaning against the wall and gripping the wooden stool tightly, Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat, then let out a weak, miserable howl.
"Ah, it hurts! Someone, come quickly..."
His pig-slaughtering shrieks successfully drew the attention of the two collateral branch members outside, and they began whispering to each other.
"What's wrong with the second young master? Why's he suddenly screaming so loudly? Anyone who didn't know would think someone was slaughtering a New Year's pig."
"Why don't you go in and take a look? He is the second young master, after all. If we don't look after him properly, watch out for people making life difficult for us when we return to the sect."
"Go yourself if you want. I'm not going. I don't want to invite trouble."
"Fine, I'll go. Look at you, such a coward..."
Chapter 57: A Citywide Search
After the two collateral branch members finished whispering, one opened the door and walked in from outside.
The instant the door closed, Yu Xiaogang darted out from behind it. Up went his hand, down came the stool, and a single blow knocked the collateral branch member unconscious. He collapsed to the floor with a thud.
After felling someone with the stool, Yu Xiaogang felt immensely relieved. It hadn't been easy. He'd finally managed to hit someone.
Thinking back over this whole time, he'd only ever been on the receiving end. Now he'd finally struck someone else. It felt damn good.
However, Yu Xiaogang knew there was still someone outside, so he began wailing again.
"Why did only you come in? Get someone else to help turn me over! It hurts, it hurts so much! Ow..."
Hearing the cursing from inside, the collateral branch member outside gave a dissatisfied snort. "This second young master really is useless, and he really does have an endless load of damn demands. So annoying. Hmph."
After speaking, he too opened the door and poked his head inside. When he saw the familiar figure lying on the floor, he visibly froze. Just as he tried to pull his head back outside, the wooden stool came crashing squarely down on it.
With a thud, this collateral branch member also collapsed to the floor, only managing a single scream.
But in a place as deafeningly noisy as the Great Soul Arena, his scream drew no attention at all.
Yu Xiaogang tossed the bloodstained wooden stool onto the floor and apologized to the two unconscious collateral branch members with a trace of remorse.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I had no choice. When Miss Dong'er and I get married, I'll definitely invite you both to the wedding feast."
Before you continue