Night deepened, and the brilliant lights of Suotuo City Great Soul Arena illuminated its surroundings, casting a cold, merciless sheen on Lin Kong's mask and revealing the helpless expression on Flender's face beside him.
"Why are you wearing a mask?"
"My Martial Soul is rather special. I'd better hide my identity."
"Fine, let's go in!" Flender could only accept it. He entered Suotuo City Great Soul Arena and led the way to a service window.
The first order of business was, of course, registration.
The staff member said, "Fill out a form, then hand over your identification. Finally, we'll test your Soul Power."
There was a field for an alias on the form. Lin Kong thought for a moment, wrote down "Black Prison Asura," and handed it over.
The next second, the staff member poked his head out. "Where's your identification?"
That was how things worked on the Douluo Continent. Spirit Hall held sway over everyone, and by issuing allowances to low-ranking Soul Masters, it had essentially registered every Soul Master. Low-ranking Soul Masters in particular could hardly escape its control if they wanted their allowances.
Every Soul Master had identification issued by Spirit Hall. Otherwise, they could collect an allowance at Suotuo City's Spirit Hall on the first of the month, run to Barak's Spirit Hall on the second, then head to Heaven Dou City's Spirit Hall on the third...
Wouldn't that be absurd!
In response to the staff member's question, Lin Kong answered bluntly, "Lost it."
The staff member gave the routine reply, "If you've lost it, go back to your place of origin for a replacement. Only then can you register..."
Lin Kong tilted his head toward Flender. "What now?"
The staff member followed his gaze and spotted Flender. He was immediately struck speechless. "..."
A Soul Saint!
This was a Soul Saint!
In a place like Suotuo City, the strongest people were only Soul Saints, and there were just ten or so altogether. Shrek Academy had three or four Soul Saints and counted as one of the largest forces.
The staff member's tone immediately grew more tactful. "Please wait a moment, both of you. I'll report this to my superior."
With a stern face, Flender grabbed Lin Kong's shoulder and took him somewhere secluded. His gaze was grave and his tone icy. "You brat, you tricked me into coming here to back you up."
Lin Kong nodded. "Yes!"
Flender demanded fiercely, "Do you know the consequences? Believe me, one slap and I'll..."
"I'm invincible in the Soul Grandmaster realm!"
That was Lin Kong's answer!
Had the dean of some other intermediate or advanced Soul Master Academy heard that, they would probably have laughed a couple of times and left.
You said you were invincible, so you were?
Who would believe that!
I had things to do, no time to watch you perform.
But Flender was different. He decided to see whether Lin Kong really was invincible in the Soul Grandmaster realm. Still disgruntled, he said, "If you lose even one match tonight, hmph, we'll settle the earlier score along with it."
Thanks to Flender's standing, Lin Kong completed his registration without trouble, obtained his identification, and was scheduled for a Soul Fighting match between Soul Grandmasters.
The strong always had plenty of privileges!
"Hello, everyone in the audience!"
The referee stood in the center of the Soul Fighting Arena, his booming voice reaching every person's ears through an Amplifying Soul Tool. "Welcome to Suotuo City Great Soul Arena."
"The next Soul Fighting match will feature two Soul Grandmasters. One goes by the alias Gold-Stealing Flying Squirrel, an agility attack-type Soul Master who has recently secured four consecutive victories, with Soul Power as high as rank twenty-six."
Applause rose from the stands. It seemed Gold-Stealing Flying Squirrel had gained some popularity through his four consecutive victories.
"His opponent, Black Prison Asura, only registered today and has merely rank twenty-one Soul Power. Unfortunately, he has encountered Gold-Stealing Flying Squirrel in his very first match. Let us observe a moment of silence for him."
After the referee's introduction and efforts to stir up the atmosphere, Lin Kong and Gold-Stealing Flying Squirrel stood in the Soul Fighting Arena.
"Both sides, get ready!" the referee shouted.
"Martial Soul Possession!"
Gold-Stealing Flying Squirrel bent down into a crouch, placing both hands on the floor. His spine curved, fur appeared on his body, and wings extended behind him. He really did look about eighty percent like a rat. His nose and claws turned golden, and a white Soul Ring and a yellow Soul Ring appeared around his body.
"Dark Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, summon."
Stalk after stalk of dark blue silver grass appeared at Lin Kong's feet, occupying several meters around him. Two Soul Rings appeared beside him, likewise one white and one yellow.
The next second, gasps and commotion erupted in the stands.
"What's going on? What's wrong with his Soul Rings?"
"A white Soul Ring and a yellow Soul Ring. That's wrong, very wrong."
"His first Soul Ring is yellow, at the hundred-year level. How could his second Soul Ring be white, at the ten-year level?"
At that moment, Lin Kong drew everyone's attention!
Gold-Stealing Flying Squirrel blinked, confirming what he was seeing once more, then couldn't help laughing inwardly. Just an unlucky bastard. He probably doesn't have much strength.
Flender frowned, looking displeased. Feeling that Lin Kong had made a fool of him, he snorted. "Let's see just how strong you are. If you dare lie to me, I'll give you more than you can stomach!"
The referee was likewise stunned by this and paused for two or three seconds before saying, "Soul Fighting, begin!"
Squeak, squeak, squeak-
Gold-Stealing Flying Squirrel's first Soul Ring flashed, and his speed surged. His second Soul Ring flashed, and a sharp golden light appeared on his claws. He charged madly at Lin Kong head-on, his intention plain: he planned to use an agility attack-type Soul Master's speed advantage to take him down in one move.
At this, Lin Kong shook his head. His first Soul Ring flashed as he used his Soul Skill.
Netherworld Shriek!
The blades of dark blue silver grass rubbed together, producing a piercing shriek that slammed into Gold-Stealing Flying Squirrel's mind and severely disrupted his subsequent movements. Then the blades grew luxuriantly, twining around him, wrapping him up completely and beginning to drain his Soul Power.
Everyone saw it clearly. Gold-Stealing Flying Squirrel charged up to Lin Kong, only to be wrapped into a ball by the dark blue silver grass, unable to stick out his hands, feet, or tail. The ball expanded and contracted several times. After roughly five or six times, it went completely still.
The whole process had taken only ten seconds!
It was over?
The spectators exchanged looks, glancing at one another, unable to believe what had happened.
He had the advantage in consecutive victories, Soul Power level, and even Soul Rings, yet after a single exchange, Gold-Stealing Flying Squirrel had been bound so tightly that he couldn't resist at all?
Lin Kong jogged over, rushed up to the ball, and whipped out a kick. The blades withdrew at just the right moment, exposing Gold-Stealing Flying Squirrel and letting the kick land squarely on his stomach. He flew five or six meters, crashed to the floor, and even rolled over. His head lolled to one side; he had already passed out.
Looking utterly astonished, the referee hurried over to check on Gold-Stealing Flying Squirrel, then stared at Lin Kong with wide eyes. Filled with shock and incomprehension, he announced, "The winner of this Soul Fighting match is Black Prison Asura!"
There wasn't even a sound of applause from the spectators. It really had ended rather inexplicably.
Lin Kong left the Soul Fighting Arena and naturally saw Flender waiting for him. Smiling, he asked, "How was my strength?"
"You've got some ability!" Flender replied perfunctorily, very curious about one thing. "What's the story with your second Soul Ring?"
"I went to the Soul Hunting Forest alone and accidentally ran into danger. Before I lost the ability to move, I could only kill a Ten-Year Soul Beast and absorb its Soul Ring. Only then could I get out alive." Lin Kong gave the explanation he had prepared long ago.
It was a very common explanation; that was basically how these things happened. Flender nodded without pressing further. "Are you going to keep taking part in Soul Fighting?"
"Yes. Let's start with ten consecutive victories!"
Lin Kong was brimming with confidence.
Before, he really hadn't had much fighting ability, but things were different now.
His Dark Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul had gained the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline, and his first Soul Ring was a Ghost-Faced Netherworld Bamboo Soul Ring. A mutated Soul Ring could only be encountered, not sought, and its strength naturally went without saying. Although his second Soul Ring's low age meant that it provided very little in attributes, the attributes provided by the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor right leg Soul Bone could completely make up for that deficiency, and even far surpass it.
In one sentence: invincible in the Soul Grandmaster realm!
Several hours later, Lin Kong defeated his tenth opponent.
"Let us congratulate today's legend! Congratulations to Black Prison Asura for becoming the Soul Fighting Arena's legend of the past several years! On his very first day of registration, with rank twenty-one Soul Power, he swept through every opponent and secured ten consecutive victories!"
"A legend! Black Prison Asura!!!"
Applause erupted from the stands, nearly lifting the dome off!
Strength could win everything!