"So you're Zhu Zhuqing's opponent from yesterday, Zhang Lei, right?" Qi Ling said to Zhang Lei, shielding Zhu Zhuqing behind him.
"You certainly took good care of Zhu Zhuqing yesterday. It took me quite a lot of effort to heal her."
Zhang Lei paid no mind to Qi Ling's sudden appearance and continued, "Hmph, so what if I am? I'm the one who injured her. I nearly killed her, too! What can you do about it? Bite me? Hahaha!"
"And you say you healed her? Who do you think you are? My Blood Handprint isn't that easy to cure. Unless I personally withdraw its power, she won't survive three nights!"
"If you don't want that lovely flower to wither and perish, hehe, let her sleep with me for a night, and I'll naturally heal her!" Zhang Lei said with a lecherous grin.
"That palm strike I landed on her before really sent me into ecstasy!"
"Whether you believe it or not, I've already healed Zhu Zhuqing's injuries. And..."
As Qi Ling spoke, his eyes suddenly turned golden, and a terrifying pressure radiated from him.
"Today, it's my turn to play with you! Get ready."
Only after Qi Ling left did Zhang Lei recover from that pressure. He couldn't believe it. The other boy was clearly younger than him, so how could he exude such a terrifying presence?
"Hmph! So what if he's powerful? My Blood Handprint is invincible!" Zhang Lei said, seemingly brimming with confidence in his divine technique.
After Zhu Zhuqing and Qi Ling walked away, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly said to him, "So you really were the one who healed me yesterday!"
Qi Ling immediately grew awkward when he heard this. What he had done really would have been hard to miss.
"Well... I only did it to save you, so I had to do that! You understand, I had to..."
While Qi Ling was stammering, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly continued, "I know what you're trying to say! Defeat him, and I'll forgive you!"
Qi Ling froze, then smiled. "Don't worry. That's easy!"
"But I have one more request!" Zhu Zhuqing turned to look into Qi Ling's eyes. "No matter how you win, I hope you won't kill him! Preferably, don't damage his strength either!"
"Hmm? Why is..." Halfway through his question, Qi Ling felt there was no need to ask any further, because he had already understood everything from Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.
Those eyes, clear as water, were filled with an intense determination to grow stronger and a fierce thirst for victory!
Qi Ling had never met such a competitive woman before. As long as she could grow stronger, she would probably savor even the bitterest suffering in the world as though it were sweet.
Naturally, she didn't want him to kill Zhang Lei, or even damage his strength, because she wanted to defeat him with her own hands on fair terms!
[Ding-dong! The host has been detected facing Zhu Zhuqing's request. Please choose from the following options!] Option 1: Refuse Zhu Zhuqing and kill Zhang Lei outright in today's match. Rewards: Zhu Zhuqing's favorability resets to zero, Great Soul Arena badge rank +1, Gold Soul Coins +10. Option 2: Agree to Zhu Zhuqing's request and win this battle without damaging Zhang Lei's strength. Rewards: Zhu Zhuqing's favorability +20%, Martial Soul affinity +10%, first level of the Nine Revolutions True Dragon Art reaches great perfection, martial technique: Bone-Dissolving Soft Palm!
The Great Soul Arena badge rank was completely useless to him. With his strength, he had no need to worry about not having enough points.
No matter how he considered it, option two was the best choice. Besides, it would give him a martial technique that would greatly increase his strength.
[Ding-dong! Congratulations, host, on choosing option two: agree to Zhu Zhuqing's request. Rewards received: Zhu Zhuqing's favorability +20%, Martial Soul affinity +10%, first level of the Nine Revolutions True Dragon Art reaches great perfection, martial technique: Bone-Dissolving Soft Palm!]
"A girl who's too competitive will have a hard time finding a husband!" Qi Ling said with a smile. "But that's also what's cute about you!"
Watching Qi Ling walk toward the Great Soul Arena's registration desk, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help showing a strange expression. "C-cute? This is the first time anyone has ever called me that..."
The Great Soul Arena's badges were symbols of honor here. A badge could only advance in rank after its holder won battles and earned enough points.
The badges were divided into eight ranks: iron, bronze, silver, gold, purple gold, sapphire, ruby, and diamond. Flender had set a goal for everyone at Shrek: obtain at least a Silver Soul Fighter badge before graduating.
Naturally, the best way to obtain a high-ranking badge faster was to win consecutive matches. More than four consecutive wins earned ten times the points, and more than nine earned a hundred times the points!
Of course, as one's Soul Fighting badge advanced, one's opponents would grow stronger as well. There could even be battles against opponents of a higher tier! That depended on each person's own choices.
Everyone present except Qi Ling had already registered yesterday. Aside from Dai Mubai, they were all Soul Grandmasters and had been assigned to the same area.
After Qi Ling finished registering, one of them had already been assigned a match: Xiao Wu, who had long been itching to get started.
Xiao Wu had stepped into the ring. When she saw Qi Ling approach, she called out happily, "Hey! Brother Qi! Make sure you cheer me on!"
"All right! Stay focused, don't get distracted, and take the match seriously!" Qi Ling told Xiao Wu. "Win, and I'll take you out for a feast."
"Wow! It's a deal! No backing out!" Xiao Wu said happily.
Xiao Wu's opponent in this match was no weakling. His name was Qi Dongsheng, a rank 28 power-attack Battle Soul Master whose Martial Soul was Gray Wolf.
After seeing that Xiao Wu's Martial Soul was a cute little white rabbit, Qi Dongsheng chuckled. "Hey, little girl, isn't your little rabbit afraid of Uncle's big gray wolf? Careful, or Uncle might gobble you up in one bite!"
Looking at Qi Dongsheng's lecherous expression, Xiao Wu rolled her eyes as an idea immediately came to her. She instantly put on a pitiful look and said, "Oh my! Uncle, your Martial Soul is so scary!"
"This is my first match today, and I don't know anything. It's really scary here! Uncle, could you please go easy on me?"
Seeing how cute Xiao Wu looked, Qi Dongsheng nearly started drooling. He hurriedly said, "Of course, of course, little girl. Uncle will be very gentle!"
"Then thank you, Uncle!" Xiao Wu said sweetly, flashing her signature smile.
Watching this scene, everyone below the ring couldn't help covering their eyes. Oscar said, "It's over. Looks like another misguided uncle is about to fall victim to the mighty and imposing Sister Xiao Wu!"
Beside him, Ma Hongjun said, "Ah! How many seconds do you think Xiao Wu's opponent can last this time? My guess is twenty at most!"
"Twenty seconds? You're underestimating Sister Xiao Wu! I'd say fifteen seconds at most!" Oscar said. "What do you think, Xiao San?"
"His Martial Soul isn't weak, but he's underestimated his opponent and fallen for Xiao Wu's trick. In my opinion, Xiao Wu will only need ten seconds to end the battle," Tang San said with certainty.
After all three had voiced their guesses, they turned to Qi Ling, wanting to hear his opinion.
"Your guesses are all too conservative. By my estimate, Xiao Wu won't even need three seconds to end this battle!" Qi Ling said with a smile.
"Th-three seconds? That short?" Oscar said in surprise. "Three seconds would probably only be enough for one move, wouldn't it?"
"Exactly. Xiao Wu will only need one move to end this battle!" Qi Ling said.