Below the platform, everyone from Shrek looked shocked when they saw the assassin sisters' Soul Rings. Flender's expression was especially grave, because their opponents were simply far too strong.
"How could this be? Thousand-Year Soul Rings, and both of them have one! How is that possible?" Flender muttered to himself.
"Then, will Brother Qi be in danger?" Xiao Wu asked worriedly.
"Heavens, I thought we were already freakish enough. Who knew that beyond every mountain stood a higher one? There are actually people out there even more freakish than us!" Ma Hongjun said, clutching his head.
"No matter how powerful Boss Qi is, he can't handle two freaks all by himself!"
Oscar asked directly, "Dean, do you think Boss Qi has any chance of winning?"
Stroking his beard, Flender said, "With these two girls' Soul Ring configurations, coupled with their Soul Power having already reached rank 30, they could be called the strongest team here in the Soul Grandmaster realm!"
"No other Soul Grandmaster team in the Great Soul Arena, including you lot, could possibly defeat them. The gap created by Thousand-Year Soul Rings is simply too great!"
Everyone grew dejected at Flender's words, but then he continued, "But if there's anyone here who can defeat them, it's Qi Ling alone!"
"Because that brat's strength is far beyond anything that can be measured by numbers! Even if their opponents are a genius duo seen only once in a century, your Boss Qi is a peerless monster the likes of which the world rarely sees!"
Hearing this, everyone immediately cheered up again. Xiao Wu cried happily, "I knew it! Brother Qi is the most amazing person in the whole world!"
"However, my only concern is the other person on the platform right now!" Flender said worriedly. "She may well be the key to deciding the outcome of this match."
"The other person? Ah, Dean, you mean Ning Rongrong?" Oscar said in sudden understanding. "I see! With a Support System Soul Master's help, Boss Qi will be even stronger and have a better chance of winning, right?"
Hope appeared on their faces at his words, but Flender once again doused them with cold water.
"No, Oscar. What I mean is that Ning Rongrong may well be the reason Qi Ling can't win!" Flender said.
"What? Dean, what do you mean? Even if a Support System Soul Master's usefulness is limited, she shouldn't drag Boss Qi down, should she? Could two people really be worse than one?" Oscar asked in surprise.
"Exactly. If Qi Ling were alone, I estimate his chances of winning would be at least eighty percent!" Flender said. "But with Ning Rongrong added in, his chances drop to just fifty percent!"
"But why?" Not only Oscar, but everyone else was intensely curious as well.
"Because their opponents' Martial Souls happen to be the worst possible type!" Flender told them. "An assassin naturally strives to kill with a single strike, retreating if it misses!"
"Against any other type, Qi Ling could still maneuver against them. But against assassins like these, Ning Rongrong is bound to become their target, turning her into a burden instead!"
"And the more important reason Qi Ling is at a disadvantage is..." Flender paused and turned toward them. "From what you know of Qi Ling, is he someone who would disregard his companion's life and care only about securing victory for himself?"
They exchanged glances and immediately understood what Flender meant. Indeed, Qi Ling could never stand by and let Ning Rongrong be attacked. Though he usually seemed rather frivolous, Qi Ling was precisely the one who valued his companions most!
That was also why, despite having known him for only a few days, Oscar and the others were willing to call him Boss Qi. In every respect, Qi Ling deserved that title.
"Brother Qi, you have to do your best," Xiao Wu said worriedly as she watched Qi Ling on the platform. "No matter what, you have to stay safe!"
On the platform, Qi Ling's thoughts were much the same as Flender's when he saw their opponents' Martial Souls and Soul Rings. Their Martial Souls were indeed particularly unfavorable for Support System Soul Masters.
If both Qi Ling and Flender could see it, how could Ning Rongrong, who had received an elite education since childhood, fail to notice? Rather, as a Support System Soul Master herself, Ning Rongrong understood this better than anyone.
"Qi Ling, once I've given you my buffs, don't worry about me!" Ning Rongrong said resolutely. "If you have to look out for me, you'll only have your hands and feet tied. You won't be able to win!"
Qi Ling couldn't help feeling very surprised that Ning Rongrong could say something like this. After all, it meant she had begun considering others, and could disregard her own safety for the team's victory. She had already developed a spirit of self-sacrifice.
This would have been unimaginable for the Ning Rongrong of before. Though it wasn't obvious, she had indeed changed over the past few days.
Seeing Qi Ling's surprised expression, Ning Rongrong blushed and said, "D-don't get the wrong idea! I'm not doing this for you! I just want to earn enough money sooner!"
"Hahaha, I know, I know," Qi Ling said with a laugh. "Don't worry, Rongrong. With me here, nothing will happen to you!"
Indeed, everything was just as Ning Rongrong and Flender had said. But they had left one thing out of their calculations: Qi Ling's strength!
Since mastering the Nine Revolutions True Dragon Art, Qi Ling's strength had already far surpassed their imaginations. Even if their opponents' attributes were difficult to deal with, when the gap in strength was too great, all counters ceased to exist!
"Divine Dragon Emperor: possession!" Uncertain of their opponents' moves, Qi Ling chose the more conservative Divine Dragon Emperor possession. After all, a forced stun gave him a fighting chance in any situation.
"Seven treasures turn, and glazed tiles emerge! Seven Treasures Have Names! First: strength! Second: speed!" Yellow Soul Rings lit up as Ning Rongrong activated her Martial Soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and placed her buffs on Qi Ling.
It had to be said that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda truly deserved its standing as a top-tier Support System Martial Soul. Qi Ling immediately felt his strength rise another level. It was quite miraculous.
Yet Ning Rongrong's expression changed. Why was supporting Qi Ling so difficult? It felt less like she was supporting a Soul Grandmaster and more like she was supporting a Soul King.
When the sisters Ye Mingzhu and Ye Mingyue saw this, the presence of a Support System Soul Master made their approach much clearer. After all, everyone knew the importance of Support System Soul Masters.
The two exchanged a glance, their years of tacit understanding allowing them to reach a decision at once. Then they took the initiative to attack, pulling out a smoke bomb and immediately smashing it against the ground.
As a rule, the Great Soul Arena did not forbid the use of tools. This undoubtedly gave a greater advantage to people like Ye Mingzhu and Ye Mingyue, who relied on such items.
Thick smoke gradually began spreading across the platform, concealing the two sisters.
This smoke had been specially made from a certain material. It remained concentrated without dispersing, directly changing the battlefield's environment to better suit the sisters' attacks.
Qi Ling did not let the smoke throw him into disarray. He stood guard in front of Ning Rongrong, meeting every change by remaining unchanged.
After all, having created such an environment, their opponents were certain to attack. He only needed to seize an opening when they did.
Things unfolded just as Qi Ling had expected. When the smoke had spread across more than half the platform, the sisters immediately attacked, striking simultaneously from two directions. Their target was none other than Ning Rongrong behind him.
But such an attack was clearly within Qi Ling's expectations. He calmly took a step back, using both hands to meet their attacks at once. With a turn of his wrists, he easily knocked their daggers aside, then struck their chests with his palms.
Against Qi Ling, who possessed the second level of Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils, splitting their forces in two was meaningless. His ability to predict attacks had already allowed him to make the best judgment.
Struck in the chest, Ye Mingzhu and Ye Mingyue let out muffled grunts and immediately retreated into the smoke.
Retreating after a failed strike and never lingering in battle were fundamental qualities of an assassin.