Lin Kong returned to the Shrek group, first handing the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow back to Tang San, then returning the Storage Soul Tool Ning Rongrong had lent him.
He had really struck it rich on tonight's trip. Getting a Storage Soul Tool with eighteen cubic meters of space was an unexpected windfall.
Before long, Ma Hongjun won a resounding victory, beating the endlessly clamoring Shi Liyuan until his nose was bruised and his face swollen.
Everyone cheerfully crowded around Lin Kong and returned to the VIP box in a grand procession.
Not long after they sat down, staff from the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena came in person, their manner exceedingly respectful. "Esteemed guests, please provide the relevant information, and we'll handle your registration right away."
Hearing this, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong picked up the forms on the table and lowered their heads to fill them out.
Watching this, Dai Mubai could not help sighing. "Back when I registered for my Soul Fighting Badge, I had to stand in a long line at the counter. There was nothing like this treatment. Who would have thought!"
"Isn't it all thanks to Brother Lin?" Ma Hongjun grinned, his voice full of admiration. "We're all basking in Brother Lin's reflected glory!"
"Exactly!" Oscar nodded repeatedly. His eyes darted about before he suddenly sidled up to Lin Kong, his face covered in a fawning smile. "Brother Lin, carry me! How about we register as a duo?"
He had worked it all out clearly—a Food System Soul Master was practically dead weight in a duo. It took a team of at least five for them to play a role, and only in a team of seven could their value surpass that of a Battle Soul Master.
In his situation, he could only participate in team Soul Fighting.
But achieving a winning streak in team Soul Fighting was as difficult as ascending to heaven. They could fight at most once a day, thirty matches a month at the absolute limit. Not to mention, the casualty rate in team Soul Fighting was several times that of individual Soul Fighting. As long as one person was injured, the entire team had to stop and wait for them to recover. Even if they kept winning, it was difficult to manage more than ten consecutive victories in a month, so their points simply would not climb.
In the original story, Shrek had managed thirty consecutive victories not only because of their strength, but mainly because they had a Soul Saint-level Food System Soul Master providing logistical support, ensuring that injuries would not stop them from competing the next day.
A look through the Great Soul Arena's historical records made it clear that Food System and Support System Soul Masters had a pitifully low chance of obtaining a Silver Soul Badge. There might not even be one in an entire year.
No sooner had Oscar finished speaking than Ning Rongrong squeezed over and pulled him aside. Her situation was exactly the same as Oscar's. She, too, needed to cling to a powerhouse's thigh and form a duo to accumulate points quickly.
"Brother Lin, Brother Lin!" Ning Rongrong tugged at Lin Kong's sleeve and began wheedling, even blinking her large, watery eyes at him, her voice cloyingly sweet. "Team up with me!"
"All right! I'm out!" Seeing this display, Oscar knew he had no chance. He waved helplessly and tactfully stepped aside.
"Hehe!" Ning Rongrong raised her little face triumphantly and shook Lin Kong's arm. "Brother Lin, I'm the only one left now. You can't refuse!"
Looking at her charming manner, Lin Kong nodded calmly. "All right."
The teams were soon settled: Lin Kong with Ning Rongrong, and Tang San with Xiao Wu.
Of the remaining four, Dai Mubai had originally wanted to team up with Zhu Zhuqing, but Zhu Zhuqing ignored him outright and turned to partner with Oscar. With no other choice, Dai Mubai could only pair up with Ma Hongjun.
Oscar thought Zhu Zhuqing had taken a fancy to him and secretly rejoiced for quite a while, only to soon discover that she simply wanted to form a team. She had no intention whatsoever of entering the arena with him for two-person Soul Fighting.
After some discussion, everyone decided to register for individual Soul Fighting first, then sign up for two-person Soul Fighting once their individual matches were over.
As for team Soul Fighting, they unanimously decided to put it aside for now-Dai Mubai was already a Soul Elder, so if they entered as a team, they could only compete in the Soul Elder division. But everyone else was a Soul Grandmaster. Going up there would be serving themselves up on a platter, and there was no need to take a beating for nothing.
Lin Kong swept all before him in individual Soul Fighting, crushing his opponents with almost overwhelming force. Soon, he stood shoulder to shoulder with Ning Rongrong in the two-person Soul Fighting Arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the eagerly anticipated two-person Soul Fighting!" The host's ringing voice, carried through an Amplifying Soul Tool, set the atmosphere ablaze.
"First, let us give our warmest applause to the renowned undefeated legend-Black Prison Asura!"
The instant his words fell, cheers erupted from the stands like roaring mountains and surging seas. The deafening waves of sound nearly lifted the arena's dome. Countless arms rose high as shouts rang out one after another, merging into an ocean of fervor.
"His partner is named Glazed Treasure Light, and their duo's name is even more imposing-Black Prison Demonic Light!"
"Black Prison Demonic Light!"
"Black Prison Demonic Light!"
"Black Prison Demonic Light!"
The synchronized chants rose in wave after wave, every word brimming with worship and fervor for the strong.
Lin Kong stood in the center of the arena, his expression as calm and unruffled as ever, as though those mountain-roaring, sea-surging cheers had nothing to do with him. But Ning Rongrong beside him was experiencing such a spectacle for the first time. Her heart pounded wildly, excitement and exhilaration rushing to her head together, turning her cheeks scarlet. Her large eyes shone as though filled with starlight, and her whole body trembled slightly amid the seething cheers.
She instinctively turned her gaze toward Lin Kong beside her. Looking at his straight-backed figure and feeling the frenzied atmosphere around them, her breathing suddenly quickened, and she could not help raising a hand to her chest.
Was this what it felt like to be the focus of everyone's attention? Was this what it felt like to stand beside Lin Kong?
At that moment, ripples quietly spread across the lake of the girl's heart. She quietly attributed the fluttering brought on by this grand spectacle to Lin Kong, and before she knew it, her heart began falling for that steady figure.
Little did she know that this was merely the most classic illusion of romantic attraction. Even if the Soul Fighting Arena were replaced with a mountaintop, a cliff, or a place high in the sky, as long as she was amid such a blood-stirring atmosphere, with such a dazzling young man standing beside her, the girl's heart would involuntarily be stirred.
Of course, the root of all this was ultimately still Lin Kong. It was his illustrious record of forty consecutive victories and his legendary name, Black Prison Asura, that sustained this grand outpouring of cheers. This was the glory he deserved.
The host's voice rang out again, deliberately drawing out the suspense. "Now, next, let us see who will challenge the Black Prison Demonic Light duo-they are the Iron Blood Duo!!!"
The enthusiastic cheers came to an abrupt halt, and the atmosphere throughout the arena cooled.
The Iron Blood Duo? Even their name sounded utterly unremarkable. Compared with the imposing Black Prison Demonic Light, they were as far apart as clouds and mud. Boos filled the stands; clearly, the audience thought nothing of this duo.
On the other side of the arena, the Iron Blood Duo's two young men slowly stepped onto the stage. They looked around twenty, tall and burly, their bodies knotted with muscle. One glance was enough to tell they were strength-type Soul Masters, but both wore extremely grave expressions.
A man had his reputation as a tree had its shadow! Black Prison Asura's fearsome reputation for forty consecutive victories had long resounded throughout Suotuo City. Moreover, their Martial Souls were not of the fire attribute that countered plant types. Their chances of winning this match were slim.
"Both sides, get ready!" The referee's voice was steady and forceful.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two yellow hundred-year soul rings rose simultaneously from beneath the Iron Blood Duo's feet. Amid the dazzling light, a heavy, long-handled forging hammer appeared in each man's hands. The hammerheads were pitch-black, gleaming with a cold metallic luster. Merely looking at them conveyed a sense of ponderous strength.
"I am Tie Long!"
"I am Tie Hu!"
The two announced their names in unison and bowed slightly to Lin Kong, adopting an exceedingly humble posture. "Lord Black Prison Asura, please grant us your instruction!"
Lin Kong gave a faint nod in acknowledgment.
Ning Rongrong raised her chin and smiled smugly, saying in a lilting voice, "Come on, then! Let's see whether your strength makes the grade!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Tie Long and Tie Hu exchanged a glance, their eyes suddenly sharpening. Both fixed their gazes on Ning Rongrong and shouted in low voices as one, "Little lady, watch out!"
Before their voices faded, the oppressive might of Soul Grandmasters suddenly burst forth. Both stepped forward at the same time and violently swung their forging hammers into the air, their momentum fierce and thoroughly intimidating.
Pick the soft persimmon to squeeze! They knew very well that Lin Kong was not to be trifled with, so they would first deal with this seemingly delicate Support System Soul Master!
Ning Rongrong's little face instantly turned deathly pale. Her earlier smugness vanished without a trace. She screamed and hurriedly hid behind Lin Kong, both hands clutching the hem of his clothes tightly. Her voice trembled faintly, edged with tears. "Brother Lin, I... I'm scared! You-you have to protect me!"
This sudden fright instead made her depend even more on the young man before her.
Lin Kong lowered his eyes to look at the girl hiding behind him, trembling. His voice was calm, yet held a reassuring strength. "Don't worry. I'll protect you."