Shi Liyuan, Martial Soul: Flame Tiger, Level Twenty-Nine Power Attack System Battle Soul Master

Just as every eye was upon him, a flippant voice tinged with disdain abruptly cut through the clamor. "Black Prison Asura? Forty consecutive wins?"

"Who?" Lin Kong whipped his head around, scanning the crowd for the source of the voice.

He nearly cried out with wild joy inside-Buddy, your timing couldn't be better! You're practically a savior descended from heaven, shattering this awkward atmosphere that had me squirming all over!

The crowd parted to reveal Shi Liyuan, a level twenty-nine Power Attack System Soul Master from Suotuo Advanced Soul Master Academy whose Martial Soul was the Lie Yan Tiger. Dressed in a fitted crimson outfit, he strolled out leisurely, defiance in his eyes and a mocking smile tugging at his lips. He looked Lin Kong up and down and said with utter contempt, "Heh, you've just been lucky!"

Lin Kong narrowed his eyes and pointed straight at him, his voice crisp and decisive. "Want to challenge me?"

Shi Liyuan froze as though someone had seized his throat. The speech he had prepared in his mind stuck there, and not a single word came out.

His original plan had been to build up his mockery step by step-mock Lin Kong for winning through sheer luck, mock him for deliberately avoiding fire-attribute Soul Masters, mock his Second Soul Ring for being merely a ten-year ring, drag his reputation down until it wasn't worth a penny, then finally force him to accept a challenge.

If Lin Kong refused to fight, the mighty reputation of "Black Prison Asura" would be swept into the dirt; but if he accepted, his plant-type Dark Blue Silver Grass could only be countered by Shi Liyuan's Lie Yan Tiger Martial Soul!

Yet who could have imagined that Lin Kong would refuse to play by the usual rules and cut straight to the point, catching him completely off guard instead?

While Shi Liyuan stood stunned, Lin Kong gave him a sidelong look filled with disregard, his retorts growing sharper with every line. "If you don't dare fight me one-on-one, what are you chirping about?"

"I..." Shi Liyuan's face flushed scarlet as he choked on his words, unable to speak for a long moment.

"Where did this bug crawl out from?" Lin Kong frowned slightly, his tone growing increasingly impatient.

"You..." Shi Liyuan trembled with rage and pointed at Lin Kong, yet couldn't produce even a complete retort.

"Scram!"

Lin Kong abruptly roared, his voice booming like a bell as it swept straight toward Shi Liyuan with an intimidating force.

Shaken by that imposing presence, Shi Liyuan went deathly pale. He actually stumbled two steps backward in fright, then stood rooted to the spot, not daring to blurt out another syllable.

"Good! Beautifully done!"

"As expected of Lord Black Prison Asura! So domineering!"

"Hahaha, a brat who doesn't know the heights of heaven or the depths of earth actually dared provoke Lord Black Prison Asura. Serves him right!"

The onlookers erupted, cheers and laughter rising one after another. In their eyes, Lord Black Prison Asura had forty consecutive victories and an illustrious reputation. How could some nobody provoke him at will? Lin Kong's forceful response was immensely satisfying!

This was the privilege of the strong. Petty little scoundrels ought to scram far away!

At that moment, Lin Kong stood with his head held high, his imposing presence soaring like a rainbow. He looked even more impressive than before, and the crowd's cheers rose in wave after wave, making everyone's eardrums tremble.

The way the Shrek group looked at Lin Kong was quietly changing as well-from their initial shock to dazzled amazement, and finally to wholehearted admiration.

"Forty consecutive wins... So, so strong!" Dai Mubai muttered.

Ma Hongjun clenched his fists, his face full of envy, jealousy, and resentment. "If I could win forty in a row, I'd definitely show off even harder than Brother Lin!"

Oscar's face flushed with excitement as he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Brother Lin is mighty! Brother Lin is so cool!"

Light flickered in Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes, and a faint blush spread across her little face. Cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, she called loudly, "Aaaah-Lin Kong, no, Brother Lin! Brother Lin, you're so cool!"

Even Zhu Zhuqing stared at Lin Kong's tall, straight figure for two or three seconds. When she came back to herself, a barely perceptible trace of shyness flashed through her eyes. She hurriedly looked away, the tips of her ears reddening slightly as even her breathing quietly quickened.

Xiao Wu was much the same, her large eyes blazing with fervent light as she looked at Lin Kong with utter admiration.

As for the dozens of black-clad people, they once again called out in perfect unison, "Welcome, Black Prison Asura, Lord Lin Kong!"

Such a display, such imposing grandeur-it was simply cool beyond measure!

What could set one's blood boiling more than the adoration of thousands? What could feel more exhilarating than cowing a provocateur with just a few words?

Thunderous cheers filled the entire venue, everyone's blood running hot.

Only one person was utterly out of place amid the lively atmosphere.

Tang San lowered his head, his hands clenched tightly at his sides, his nails almost digging into his palms. He felt as though a knife were twisting in his heart, an indescribable bitterness and jealousy gnawing at it like venomous snakes.

The more outstanding and dazzling Lin Kong became, the more he suffered inside.

Why?

Why could this "trash," whom he had scorned for six years, now stand in the spotlight and bask in everyone's attention?

Time turned back a little.

On the second-floor viewing terrace of Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena, Majila held a glass of scarlet wine, his fingertips gently stroking its cool surface. His gaze reached into the distance and settled on Flender, Lin Kong, and the others, a smile of assured victory curling his lips.

The next second-

Whoosh!

The sound of something slicing through the air suddenly rang out.

Flender appeared beside him like a ghostly black shadow, Soul Power faintly rippling around him. His expression was cold enough to scrape frost from. "What do you mean by this?"

The scheming in Majila's smile could not have been more obvious. One glance was enough to tell he was up to no good.

One was the dean of Shrek Academy, the other the dean of Suotuo Advanced Soul Master Academy. They were old rivals; how could either fail to understand what the other was thinking?

Majila sipped his wine, making no attempt whatsoever to conceal his intentions. His tone was airy, yet thoroughly provocative. "Nothing much. I just want to send someone to put that Black Prison Asura, who's enjoying such a moment in the sun, in his place."

"You dare?!" Flender's expression changed drastically, his voice abruptly rising as a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

Majila didn't even lift his eyelids, unwilling to bother answering such nonsense. If he didn't dare, why would he have made a point of waiting here tonight?

Flender's heart lurched as he sensed trouble. Since that old fox Majila dared say this, he had to have come prepared! The person he intended to send was most likely a fire-attribute Soul Master-the very bane of Lin Kong's Dark Blue Silver Grass!

Could Lin Kong withstand it?

If he were trampled before everyone on a day like this, with all eyes upon him, could that brat accept such a defeat, given his temperament? Would his mental state collapse entirely?

Just then, earthshaking cries surged up from below.

"Welcome, Lord Black Prison Asura!"

"Welcome, Black Prison Asura, Lord Lin Kong!"

Majila glanced at the grand spectacle below, the curve of his lips rising further. His voice was full of mockery. "Your student doesn't seem very used to such grand occasions."

Flender followed his gaze and caught sight of Lin Kong standing there at a loss, even secretly clenching his sweaty palms.

Anger at his failure to live up to expectations surged through Flender, and he fiercely grumbled inwardly at Lin Kong. You brat, you're far too useless! At a time like this, you should graciously accept the cheers! Wave to the audience on the left, greet the audience on the right, act handsome and play it cool-isn't that simple?

Standing there like a wooden post-what kind of sight is that!

Majila chuckled, his tone playful. "Heh, looks like someone needs to teach him a proper lesson and blunt that edge of his."

Flender's face tightened, his gaze locked firmly on Shi Liyuan as he walked slowly out, his expression growing uglier. That brat had a fire-attribute Martial Soul and was a level twenty-nine Power Attack System Soul Master. Not only did his Martial Soul's attribute counter Lin Kong's, but his Soul Power Level was higher too. He was definitely a formidable opponent!

Could Lin Kong... handle him?

A few seconds later-

Crack!

A crisp shattering sound rang out.

Majila had actually crushed the stemmed wineglass in his hand. Scarlet wine dripped between his fingers, splashing onto his luxurious robes. His face alternated between ashen and pale, his livid expression filled with incredulous shock, humiliation, and anger.

Flender first opened his mouth instinctively, then, as though realizing something, suddenly burst into deafening laughter:

"Hahaha!"

"Majila, you old bastard, you're killing me!"

"This is the promising talent you found? This stupid? This witless? This slow?"

"Hahaha!"

He rocked back and forth with laughter, tears nearly spilling from his eyes.

He had just been thinking how poorly Lin Kong had performed, but compared with the way Shi Liyuan had been left speechless by his retorts, Lin Kong was simply stunningly handsome and impossibly cool!

Majila gritted his teeth and shot Flender a hateful glare, his lips moving rapidly. He was clearly transmitting his voice to Shi Liyuan.

Then he drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his anger, and spoke sinisterly. "Flender, don't get smug too soon. Just wait and see how that fine student of yours gets beaten into the ground by mine in the Soul Fighting Arena!"

At those words, Flender's laughter stopped abruptly. The smile froze on his face, replaced by deep concern.

The one-on-one fight between Lin Kong and Shi Liyuan was now settled and confirmed.