Another Crushing Defeat

Lan Hong found it somewhat strange when he heard that Yu Tianheng wanted to challenge him. During this time, Yu Tianheng could have raised his Soul Power by one level at most.

Did he think that such a small increase would be enough to turn defeat into victory?

Although he could not understand why Yu Tianheng was doing this, Lan Hong did not refuse his challenge.

In fact, Yu Tianheng was indeed a decent opponent to practice against.

Although Lan Hong had fought many soul battles, he had not fought many opponents with high-grade martial souls.

At the same level, the gap in martial soul quality created an enormous difference in strength.

When Lan Hong and Yu Tianheng once again stood on the Soul Fighting Stage, Yu Tianheng spoke arrogantly.

"Last time, I was careless. You won't be so lucky this time! Today, I'll wash away the humiliation from last time!"

As usual, Lan Hong remained silent, merely fixing Yu Tianheng with an unblinking stare.

After Feifei, the host, announced the start of the soul battle, Yu Tianheng immediately used his Third Spirit Skill.

"Third Spirit Skill, Wrath of Thunder!"

The effect of lightning spreading across his entire body was indeed dazzling, drawing a burst of cheers from the audience.

Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan were also seated among the spectators.

"So that's why this guy hasn't been pestering me lately. He lost a soul battle and ran off to train hard!

But that guy with one white ring actually defeated Yu Tianheng. He's really strong!"

"Yanzi, don't you think that person looks a little familiar?"

"Really? Don't tell me you're swooning over him just because he's strong!"

"I'm not! I really feel something familiar about him. How strange!"

At that moment, after using Wrath of Thunder on the Soul Fighting Stage, Yu Tianheng charged at Lan Hong at top speed and activated his First Spirit Skill.

"First Spirit Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!"

Yu Tianheng's objective was obvious: use fierce attacks to force Lan Hong into a direct clash. At the very least, he could not let Lan Hong use Purple Smoke Scatter.

Lan Hong naturally understood Yu Tianheng's intentions. Facing his relentless assault, he skillfully used the Purple Cloud Sword in his hand to redirect Yu Tianheng's force and disperse the power behind his attacks.

To Yu Tianheng, it felt as though every attack he made was landing on cotton, leaving him extremely frustrated.

"Second Spirit Skill, Myriad Thunderbolts!"

Yu Tianheng suddenly used Myriad Thunderbolts, then lunged at Lan Hong, intending to grab hold of him and make him endure the lightning bombardment.

Lan Hong naturally would not let him succeed. He immediately retreated and opened up the distance between them.

"Don't run!"

Yu Tianheng pursued him without pause. While dodging the lightning bolts falling from above, Lan Hong also had to deal with Yu Tianheng's fierce attacks. On the surface, he did look somewhat disheveled.

"Isn't that guy getting beaten down by Yu Tianheng? Then how did Yu Tianheng lose before?"

"I don't know. Yanzi, did you notice? That person seems to have not used a single spirit skill."

"That's right! Could he be hiding some ultimate move? Now I'm looking forward to it!"

By then, Lan Hong could already hear Yu Tianheng breathing faintly. His breathing had become uneven.

Both his Soul Power and stamina had been greatly depleted, and as his Soul Power drained away, the power of the lightning Yu Tianheng unleashed also weakened.

It's time.

Lan Hong silently muttered to himself. Then, with a tap of his foot, his speed abruptly increased.

At the same time, the Purple Cloud Sword in Lan Hong's hand traced blooming patterns through the air, and flakes of purple snow drifted toward Yu Tianheng.

"What are these?"

Yu Tianheng did not dare lower his guard and used his Second Spirit Skill once more.

"Second Spirit Skill, Myriad Thunderbolts!"

The descending lightning shattered the purple snowflakes, but once those flakes broke apart, they erupted with incomparably sharp sword energy.

Yu Tianheng felt fortunate that he had not attacked the snowflakes directly. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

But then Yu Tianheng froze, because one bewitching purple flower after another had appeared beneath his feet.

And the source of it all was Lan Hong, who was wielding the Purple Cloud Sword in a dance of blades.

Lan Hong had used both Purple Snow Flurry and Purple Flowers Cover the Ground.

"It's time to end this!"

The sword dance ended, followed by a move—Clouds Disperse Mist Vanishes. The purple flowers covering the ground and the falling purple snow exploded at once.

Yu Tianheng was swallowed by the erupting purple sword energy.

"Ah! Ah!"

Yu Tianheng's screams could be heard throughout the entire Great Soul Arena.

Once the purple sword energy fully dissipated, Yu Tianheng could be seen lying on the Soul Fighting Stage, his body covered in dense wounds carved by sword energy.

Although none of the wounds were deep enough to be fatal, merely imagining the pain was enough to make one shudder.

"Yanzi, Yu Tianheng won't be in trouble, will he?"

"Probably not! This is only a soul battle! If you're worried, then go check on him!"

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling quickly arrived before Yu Tianheng. The Great Soul Arena's Healing System Soul Masters were already treating him.

Ye Lingling also summoned her Nine Heart Begonia martial soul. Although Ye Lingling was only a Soul Grandmaster, the healing effect of the Nine Heart Begonia was far superior to that of ordinary Healing System Soul Masters.

Not long afterward, Yu Tianheng regained consciousness. Overall, his injuries were not serious; they were all superficial wounds. He had fainted from the pain.

"Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, why are you two here?"

"Of course we came to watch soul battles. I didn't expect to see you getting beaten up! Looks like you've already lost to him once before!"

"You saw me at my most embarrassing! I admit that guy is very strong!

But I won't admit defeat. Just wait! I'll definitely defeat him!"

"It's good that you think that way! I also want to fight him. I wonder whether he can break through my poison!"

"I asked around. He only comes to fight a soul battle once every few days, so it won't be easy to run into him! I only met him today by coincidence!"

"Then I'll come wait every day. I refuse to believe I won't run into him!"

Once Dugu Yan made up her mind about something, no one could persuade her otherwise. Meanwhile, Lan Hong had already left the Great Soul Arena.

He was out shopping and buying a few things. He had been reading books about Soul Tools, but there were very few such books, and their records were extremely vague.

He could only search for clues about making Soul Tools from scattered fragments of information.

Lan Hong wanted to work with Lan Mao and try to recreate the method for manufacturing Soul Tools.

Human civilization advanced through making and using tools. Soul Tools were like modern industrial products, indispensable tools for driving social progress.

However, the things he wanted to buy were truly not cheap. Every Gold Soul Coin he spent made his heart ache.

But just then, a little girl's voice rang out beside him.

"This young lady wants that gemstone in your hand!"

Following the voice, Lan Hong looked over and felt utterly speechless.

Had he forgotten to check the almanac before leaving the house? Why had he run into this little devil?

The little girl who had spoken was none other than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's little princess, Ning Rongrong.

However, Sword Douluo was not beside her this time. Presumably, at least a Soul Emperor was protecting her in the shadows.

Here is the second chapter. Please give it a save and a recommendation vote; I would be endlessly grateful! Please, please!