Under the effects of his first Soul Ring, Zhang Lei's wolf claws took on a pale blue glow. His two Soul Rings flashed in alternation, and he had already reached his current peak condition.
If even this could not break through Tian Chen's defenses, he could only concede.
The wolf claws arrived in a flash. Just as they were about to touch Tian Chen's back, Tian Chen shrugged without shifting aside.
His purple second Soul Ring slowly lit up, and a dark gold shield covered his entire body. Even the radiance of his previously brilliant golden scales seemed to have dimmed considerably.
At first glance, compared to other dazzling Soul Skills, Tian Chen's seemed rather unremarkable.
But a Soul Skill from the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was not as simple as it appeared.
As a top-tier Soul Beast that combined offense and defense, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear relied on more than just its powerful Terrorclaw Soul Skill. Its defenses were also among the very best of all Soul Beasts.
And this Soul Skill of Tian Chen's had inherited the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's formidable defensive power.
His Soul Skill was called the Dark Gold Protective Shield. After activating it, his defense increased by another hundred percent, but that was not all.
If the Soul Skill of a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's Soul Ring were so simple, it would not deserve to be called a top-tier Soul Beast.
Beyond the increase in defense, what made this Soul Skill so absurd was its ability to reduce physical damage by fifty percent regardless of level, then reflect fifty percent of the damage he received through the dark gold shield.
In other words, Tian Chen would take only fifty percent of the damage from Zhang Lei's all-out strike, while Zhang Lei himself would have twenty-five percent of the damage reflected back at him.
The wolf claws scraped against the golden scales, throwing off dazzling sparks. Tian Chen barely felt anything. With a hundred-percent increase in defense coupled with a fifty-percent reduction in damage, Zhang Lei's attack could not break through his defenses at all.
Instead, because Zhang Lei himself had to bear twenty-five percent of his own Soul Skill's damage, his wolf claws shattered inch by inch under the reflected damage from Tian Chen's second Soul Skill, sending blood splattering everywhere.
The defenses of Agility Attack System and Power Attack System Soul Masters were as far apart as heaven and earth.
The result did not surprise Tian Chen. By his estimate, even an ordinary Soul Elder could forget about breaking through his defenses, let alone Zhang Lei, who was only level twenty-nine.
Having expended more than half his Soul Power, Zhang Lei had been gambling on this attack from the start. Although he had already rated Tian Chen's strength very highly, he had never expected it to far surpass his imagination.
Now that he knew he was no match for Tian Chen, as an old hand who had spent years in the Soul Master World, he naturally would not offend Tian Chen beyond repair, even though Tian Chen had not taken it to heart.
Besides, if the fight continued, Tian Chen would definitely inflict serious injuries on him.
"I concede."
His face pale, Zhang Lei withdrew his Martial Soul and hurriedly called out to the referee nearby.
There was no point in continuing this Soul Fighting match for him. He glanced at Tian Chen with some awe, then lowered his head in lingering reluctance.
Hearing this, the referee standing outside the arena froze for a moment, but soon recovered.
Channeling his Soul Power into the Amplifying Soul Tool in his hand, he announced loudly.
"The winner of this Soul Fighting match is Soul Grandmaster Tian Chen, with a record of one win and zero losses."
The host then walked over to Tian Chen and smiled somewhat respectfully.
"Soul Grandmaster Tian Chen, please follow the staff off the stage to register your points."
With a top-tier genius like Tian Chen, he had more or less guessed his identity. At that thought, his respect deepened further.
He accompanied him with an ingratiating smile until Tian Chen stepped down from the Soul Fighting stage. Only after watching Tian Chen leave completely did he take out a silk handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and let out a deep sigh of relief.
"As expected of a young genius from Spirit Hall."
But this was only a brief interlude in his life. He still had to carry on with his work afterward, returning to the Soul Fighting stage to host the next match.
Unlike Zhang Lei, who had left dejectedly, Tian Chen was clearly in a good mood as he walked through the contestants' passage.
Only after personally testing his second Soul Skill had Tian Chen truly experienced its power for himself.
Its formidable defensive power alone was enough to place him among the very best Soul Grandmasters.
As for powerful offensive Soul Skills, Tian Chen was in no hurry for those at present. Focusing on enhancement-type Soul Skills early on, then adding powerful offensive Soul Skills later, was the only way to fully bring out the advantages of his top-tier Martial Soul.
If he added offensive Soul Skills early on, their future power would inevitably be limited by the age of their Soul Rings, whereas enhancement-type Soul Skills would not have this problem.
Walking out of the Soul Fighting Arena, Tian Chen instinctively pulled his silver-white fox-fur coat tighter around himself. The fur had come from a thousand-year Snow Fox Soul Beast from the Far North, and was not only soft and comfortable but warm as well.
Although, for Soul Masters, the surrounding temperature did not have much effect on them.
Looking around, Tian Chen paused in his tracks and shook his head helplessly.
Not far away, Hu Liena stood with her back to the Soul Fighting Arena, also wearing a silver-white fox-fur coat. Her fair, slender calves were exposed as she playfully bounced on her feet.
Only when Tian Chen walked up to her did she straighten up in a slight fluster and look at him with a smile.
"Tian Chen, I never expected your second Soul Ring to already be a thousand-year one!"
There was not the slightest trace of jealousy in her tone, only happiness for Tian Chen. As for why she felt that way, she could not figure it out herself.
But there was no denying that Tian Chen had already left an indelible mark on her heart.
"Just luck."
Tian Chen nodded with a smile as well. He more or less guessed that she had been watching the match from the sidelines, and could also guess something of her intentions in coming outside the Soul Fighting Arena ahead of him.
He certainly would not reject a little beauty who took the initiative to approach him.
Slipping both hands into his trouser pockets, Tian Chen said to Hu Liena.
"Let's go home together."
"Mm."
"Say, Tian Chen, have you noticed anything different about me?"
"Your forehead doesn't hurt anymore?"
"???" Hu Liena.
Passing through the bustling lies of the streets, the clamor lit a lamp amid the loneliness. An outstretched hand, a long, entangled thread-their shadows intertwined, just like their destinies ten years later.