Lin Kong and his companions rested in the teahouse for about half an incense stick's time, waiting for Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena to open.
Flender really had spared no expense this time. Tea and pastries arrived in a steady stream, and he spent lavishly. For the first time, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar got to take advantage of their miserly dean. They seized the chance to order with a vengeance, until quite a few unfinished pastries piled up on the table.
And so, each of them simply grabbed a few pastries and leisurely ambled toward the Great Soul Arena, munching as they went.
Lin Kong bit into a crisp osmanthus cake and muttered inwardly, If only I had a Storage Soul Tool.
Meanwhile, on the viewing terrace at the top of the Great Soul Arena, De'enlai stood with his hands behind his back, his expression so grim it could have dripped water. On a wicker chair not far away, Majila leisurely swung his legs, a glass of red wine in hand and the hint of a smile curving his lips. He paid no heed whatsoever to the solemn atmosphere before him.
Today was the start of the month, the day Soul Fighting Badge points were tallied.
On this day each month, the Great Soul Arena held a celebration specifically to honor the powerful fighters who had advanced to a Silver Soul Badge or above. After all, every Soul Master who earned a Silver Soul Badge had done so through genuine, lengthy winning streaks. Every one of them was a formidable figure of exceptional strength, worthy of such glory and acclaim.
The undisputed star of today's celebration was none other than Lin Kong.
Forty consecutive wins without a single defeat-such a record was as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns even in the history of Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena. Calling him the well-deserved star was not the slightest exaggeration.
Yet Majila just had to interfere at this very moment.
He was determined to send someone to challenge Lin Kong. Just imagine: at the most glorious moment for a newly promoted Silver Soul Fighter, someone suddenly stepped forward with a challenge. In front of the entire city, could Lin Kong refuse? If he did, the mighty reputation of "Black Prison Asura" would be utterly ruined, and he would lose every shred of face!
De'enlai felt a headache coming on. He truly had no way to deal with Majila, a fellow Soul Saint. Had he known things would turn out this way, he should have hardened his heart and arranged for fire-attribute Soul Masters to intercept Lin Kong and break his winning streak. Then there would have been none of today's trouble. But at this point, it was too late to say anything. He could only steel himself and face it.
Meanwhile, the Shrek group had reached the entrance to the Great Soul Arena.
The sights along the way made them slow their steps.
Bright red firecrackers lined both sides of the road. An honor guard dressed in colorful clothes stood ready, with several groups of gong players and drummers beside them, drumsticks poised. It was a grand display of pomp and ceremony.
"Wow, isn't this a bit much?" Xiao Wu's eyes widened as she tugged Tang San's sleeve and asked curiously, "Xiao San, do you know what all this is for?"
Tang San shook his head, looking utterly bewildered. "No idea."
Dai Mubai cleared his throat, about to explain things to everyone as their leader, but Ning Rongrong spoke first. She always said whatever came to mind and paid no attention to having cut someone off. Looking straight at Lin Kong, she lifted her chin. "Lin Kong, want me to tell you what's going on?"
"Sure." Lin Kong nodded, his tone perfectly natural.
Ning Rongrong proudly raised her little face and explained, "Soul Fighting Badge points are tallied once a month, and today happens to be the first. Whenever someone advances to a Silver Soul Badge or above after the tally, the Soul Fighting Arena holds a celebration to build up their reputation. Those receiving a Silver Soul Badge for the first time get especially grand treatment."
She had seen plenty of such festivities at Heaven Dou City's Great Soul Arena.
As she spoke, she surveyed the preparations before her again, clicking her tongue in wonder. "But isn't this far too grand? Firecrackers, gongs, drums, and an honor guard-even Heaven Dou City's Great Soul Arena only adds two more rows of armored, armed guards."
Oscar could not help shaking his head at that, looking puzzled. "That's not right. Suotuo City's celebrations have never been this extravagant before. They didn't even have an honor guard."
Ma Hongjun nodded repeatedly in agreement. "Exactly, exactly! At most, they set off a few strings of firecrackers as a token gesture. Nothing like all this fuss."
Dai Mubai frowned in confusion. "Could someone have advanced to a Gold Soul Fighting Badge last month? Or even higher? Why else would it be so grand?"
Lin Kong's heart had initially lurched, but hearing that, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief and reassured himself inwardly, Good, good. A powerful fighter with a Gold Soul Fighting Badge or above-that's not me. I've only just earned a Silver Soul Badge. How could I possibly get this treatment?
As he thought, he stuffed a pastry into his mouth and chewed slowly.
Just then, something unexpected happened.
A steward dressed in a lavish brocade robe suddenly emerged from the Great Soul Arena's main entrance. He cleared his throat and announced loudly, "The celebration begins-now!"
Before his voice had faded, the crackling of firecrackers rang through the skies. The drummers struck up a thunderous beat, and the honor guard cheered in unison to the rhythm. The clamor soared into the night sky, drawing passersby to stop and watch. They craned their necks curiously, wanting to see just who today's star could be.
"It must be Lord Black Prison Asura! Who else could pull this off?"
"Of course! Forty consecutive wins, sweeping aside all opposition-Lord Black Prison Asura is our Suotuo City's legend!"
"I heard Lord Blazing Mountain Throne advanced too. We're in for quite a show today!"
Discussion rose and fell in an endless stream.
The sound of perfectly synchronized footsteps rang out, drowning out all the commotion.
Everyone looked toward the sound. A group of burly men in black filed out of the Great Soul Arena, forming three straight columns. Their steps rang firm and their presence was imposing, like a slumbering black dragon awakening as they approached the Shrek group.
The sudden sight left everyone wide-eyed, as though struck by lightning. It was not that they had never seen the celebrations on the first of each month, but such a display of murderous intent was unheard of!
The surrounding chatter vanished without a trace.
Ning Rongrong's little mouth fell wider and wider open, her face full of disbelief. "Wh-what is going on?"
No matter how grand Heaven Dou City's celebrations were, she had never seen anything like this!
These men in black were all Soul Masters. Dozens of Soul Masters had appeared at once-if someone said this force could sweep through Suotuo City, people would believe it!
Dai Mubai swallowed. His legs felt weak, and even his voice could not help trembling. "Th-they're coming!"
Ma Hongjun was so frightened that his words became incoherent, and he waved his hands frantically. "N-no, it wasn't me! It definitely wasn't me!"
Oscar instinctively shrank toward the back of the group, wishing he could hide himself away.
The others also turned pale, intimidated into immobility by the grim, deadly presence of the men in black.
Only Lin Kong stood where he was, his expression calm. He quietly flexed his hands and found his palms slick with sweat.
Tap, tap, tap-
The men in black stopped a few steps away from them, their movements perfectly synchronized, without the slightest disorder. Immediately afterward, the firecrackers stopped, the gongs and drums fell silent, and the honor guard quieted as well.
The men in black all took one step back, dropped to one knee, and raised their clasped fists above their heads, shouting together in powerful voices:
"Welcome, Lord Black Prison Asura!"
Then the honor guard behind them also dropped to one knee and shouted in unison:
"Welcome, Lord Black Prison Asura!"
Cry after cry shook everyone's eardrums, and shook their hearts as well.
Hiss-
Dai Mubai sucked in a breath. When had he ever seen such a spectacle? Almost instinctively, he shot backward, retreating several meters in one go. His eyes were filled with horror as he stared at the men in black.
The others reacted too, scrambling backward like startled rabbits, wishing they could burrow into a crack in the ground immediately.
They were no "Lord Black Prison Asura." How could they dare accept the kneeling welcome of these menacing men in black? If there were a misunderstanding, they might not even know how they had died!
Run. They had to get farther away!
Amid the chaos, Ning Rongrong suddenly caught sight of Lin Kong standing utterly motionless. Her heart leaped into her throat. Stamping her feet in panic, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Lin Kong! What are you standing there for? Hurry up and leave!"
She was nearly frantic-Lin Kong was not Black Prison Asura! If he let these people kneel before him, and they felt humiliated and killed him in their shame-fueled rage, it would all be over!
The rest of Shrek joined in, their faces pale with anxiety as they desperately signaled to Lin Kong with their eyes.
Tang San alone stood at the very back of the crowd, quietly clenching the hands at his sides as a trace of malice flashed through his eyes. He even thought with glee, Hahaha, scared stupid, are you? These people clearly aren't to be trifled with. If they decide Lin Kong doesn't know what's good for him and kill him outright, that would really be satisfying!
Yet the outcome delivered a vicious slap to everyone's faces.
The men in black first looked in unison at Lin Kong, who remained where he was, then turned to sweep their gazes over the Shrek group, who had retreated in disarray. A glimmer of understanding crossed their eyes.
The man in black at their head slowly raised his head. His voice abruptly rose as he called out once more:
"Welcome, Lord Lin Kong, Black Prison Asura!"
Immediately afterward, all the men in black echoed him in unison, their voices louder and more deafening than before:
"Welcome, Lord Lin Kong, Black Prison Asura!"
Boom-
Those words exploded like a thunderclap in the minds of the Shrek group.
Every last one of them turned to stone, disbelief written across their faces, so numb they could not even move their fingers.
Gulp-
Lin Kong silently stuffed the last pastry into his mouth, chewed hard twice, and swallowed it with difficulty.
He looked at the men in black kneeling before him and shouting in unison, then felt the almost tangible gazes of his companions behind him. His scalp prickled.
This display was just too... too...
Too embarrassing!
What exactly was he supposed to do at a time like this?!