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#36
Chapter 36 The Game
The two walked through two bustling streets and arrived at a restaurant with a sign that read "Old Tang Rabbit Restaurant".
The shop is small, but it is clean and tidy. A large iron pot at the entrance is simmering a bright red spicy soup, and the rich aroma is tempting.
"Old Tang!" Zhao Tiezhu shouted as soon as he entered the door, "One serving each of spicy rabbit with green peppers and spicy rabbit head, plus two bowls of rice!"
A cheerful reply came from the inner room: "Alright! Brother Zhao, please wait a moment, I'll be right there!"
Chu Xinghe looked around curiously.
Several skeleton specimens of Soft Bone Rabbits hung on the wall, all of which were ten-year-old soul beasts in size.
Several live rabbits were kept in cages next to the counter, their snow-white fur faintly radiating spiritual energy.
"The rabbits here are no ordinary ones," Zhao Tiezhu said in a low voice, mysteriously. "They are all ten-year-old soft-boned rabbits that Old Tang personally caught in the Soul Hunting Forest. Not only is the meat tender, but it also contains a trace of soul power essence, making it perfect for replenishing physical strength before battle."
Soon, the owner came out carrying two large ceramic bowls.
The green and red bell pepper rabbit is a beautiful dish, with the rabbit meat sliced thinly and coated in glistening chili oil.
Spicy rabbit heads are piled up like a small mountain, each one stewed until tender and flavorful, and sprinkled with golden fried peanuts and bright green cilantro.
"Try this." Zhao Tiezhu picked up a piece of rabbit meat and placed it in Chu Xinghe's bowl. "Old Tang's secret recipe: first, use soul power to break down the rabbit meat fibers, then marinate it with thirty-eight kinds of spices..."
Chu Xinghe took a bite with some skepticism, and his eyes widened immediately.
The rabbit meat melts in your mouth, spicy with a sweet aftertaste. Even more wonderfully, a warm current flows down your throat to your limbs and bones, making even your soul power flow more smoothly.
"How about that?" Zhao Tiezhu smugly wiped the oil off his beard. "I wasn't lying to you, was I?"
Chu Xinghe didn't bother to answer and picked up another rabbit head.
With a gentle sip, the brain marrow mixed with the spicy broth slid into his mouth, the savory aroma rushing straight to his head. He felt every pore on his body open up, and the fatigue from watching the game that morning vanished completely.
"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you." Zhao Tiezhu smiled and poured himself a glass of liquor. "The worst thing for someone who's going to compete this afternoon is to go on stage on an empty stomach."
Chu Xinghe took a bite of rice soaked in spicy sauce, then suddenly thought of something: "Brother Zhao, what do you think is the most dangerous thing in the Soul Arena?"
Zhao Tiezhu put down his wine glass, his eyes becoming deep: "It's not an enemy on the surface, but a mindset of underestimating them."
He pointed to the rabbit head on the table, "Just like this soft-boned rabbit, it looks docile, but it can bite if it gets angry."
When the last piece of rabbit meat disappeared to the bottom of the bowl, there was still one hour left in the game.
...
After the meal, Chu Xinghe followed Zhao Tiezhu back to the Great Soul Arena.
Staff at the entrance were checking the participants' information, and Chu Xinghe showed his Iron Fighting Soul badge.
"Chu Xinghe, the third match of the Eighth Battle Arena." The staff member handed him a jade token without looking up. "Take this and wait in the west preparation area. Someone will guide you."
Zhao Tiezhu patted Chu Xinghe on the shoulder: "Brother Xinghe, I'll head to the audience seats first."
Chu Xinghe gripped the jade token tightly and nodded.
The two parted ways in the central hall. Zhao Tiezhu headed towards the steps leading to the audience seats, while Chu Xinghe followed the signs to the western preparation area.
As you walk through a narrow corridor, the surrounding light gradually dims.
The preparation area was much more spacious than expected, with a dozen or so Soul Masters sitting or standing, each making their own pre-match preparations.
Some people were wiping their weapons, some were closing their eyes to regulate their breathing, and others were moving their bodies in small areas.
A faint scent of herbs filled the air, mixed with the smell of sweat and rust.
Chu Xinghe found a corner to sit down and began to regulate his breathing.
Some contestants from the preparation area struck up a conversation with Chu Xinghe. He learned from them that the preparation area had a dedicated soul power recovery room and a medical room, as well as a healing-type soul master who could provide simple treatments.
"Eighth Battle Arena, Third Match, Chu Xinghe, prepare!"
The staff member's shout made Chu Xinghe stand up.
He took a deep breath and felt the soul power surging through his meridians.
Chu Xinghe clenched his fist and followed the staff towards the passage leading to the Soul Battle Arena.
The light at the end of the passage grew closer, and the cheers of the audience became clearer.
Chu Xinghe could feel his martial spirit stirring, as if it couldn't wait to show its power.
"Remember," the staff member whispered before pushing open the last door, "if you can't hold on, give up immediately, and the referee will intervene promptly."
Chu Xinghe did not answer, but simply nodded slightly.
When the door was fully opened, the blinding sunlight made him squint.
After his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw a circular arena about thirty meters in diameter, surrounded by layers of spectator seating.
The moment he stepped onto the Soul Battle Arena, a cacophony of noise surged forth from all around.
The audience was packed with people; some were whistling, some were talking loudly, and most were just watching the show, observing the unfamiliar face.
"Next up is—" The host's booming voice echoed through the Soul Arena, "Chu Xinghe, a newcomer from the Battle Mania Academy, with the Martial Soul Agumon, Soul Power Level 15, and making his first appearance in the Grand Soul Arena!"
Amidst the sparse applause, Chu Xinghe's gaze swept across the audience, catching sight of Zhao Tiezhu's familiar figure.
The other person was holding a spicy rabbit head and grinning at him.
"And his opponent is—" the host deliberately dragged out the tone, "Yu Qi, the 'Iron Hammer Maniac' with the Martial Soul Iron Hammer, Soul Power Level 18, and a record of seven wins and two losses!"
Amidst a burst of enthusiastic cheers, a burly man emerged from the opposite passage.
He was shirtless, his muscular chest covered in scars, and his hands were empty. But the moment he stepped onto the ring, his right hand made a grasping motion, and a black iron hammer, half the height of a man, appeared out of thin air, its head covered with vicious spikes.
"Hahaha, the War Mad Academy is now sending out even the most callow brats to embarrass themselves?" Yu Qi slammed his iron hammer heavily on the ground, causing the arena to shake. "Kid, it's not too late to admit defeat now, or don't cry when I smash you into a meat patty!"
A burst of laughter erupted from the audience.
Chu Xinghe remained unmoved, merely slightly moving his wrist, crimson soul power flowing between his fingertips.
"Both sides, get ready—" The referee raised his right hand. "The match begins!"
"First Soul Skill, Whirlwind Hammer Dance!"
Yu Qi took the initiative, his white spirit ring lit up, and the iron hammer in his hand spun rapidly, bringing with it a whistling wind.
His body moved as fast as a spinning top, and the storm formed by his hammer enveloped half of the arena. The air exploded wherever the hammer's shadow passed.
Chu Xinghe's eyes narrowed, and he retreated rapidly, a gust of wind from a hammer brushing past the hem of his clothes.
"You're pretty fast!" Yu Qi grinned maliciously, increasing his spinning speed. "Let's see how long you can hide!"
The laughter from the audience grew even louder.
Zhao Tiezhu, however, leisurely munched on a spicy rabbit head, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Now!" Chu Xinghe suddenly stopped, his eyes blazing with golden light. "First Soul Skill, Crimson Flame Dragon Claw!"
A dazzling yellow spirit ring rose up, and his hands were instantly enveloped in scorching flames, transforming into ferocious dragon claws.
Faced with the sweeping storm of hammer shadows, Chu Xinghe advanced instead of retreating, striking straight at the center of the storm with a claw!
"You're asking for death!" Yu Qi laughed wildly and spun faster.
However, his smile froze the next second.
Chu Xinghe's dragon claw precisely pierced through the gap in the hammer shadow and grabbed the hammer handle!
The scorching flames spread along the hammer, burning Yu Qi so much that he almost let go.
"How is this possible?!" Yu Qi exclaimed, his eyes wide with horror.
Chu Xinghe's lips curled slightly, and his other dragon claw, carrying a scorching wave of energy, slammed towards Yu Qi's chest: "Break!"
"boom!"
Yu Qi's massive body flew backward and crashed heavily into the edge of the arena.
He struggled to summon his martial spirit, only to find that the clothes on his chest had been burned through, leaving five charred claw marks on the panel, and even breathing was painful.
The entire arena was completely silent.
Everyone stared wide-eyed, looking at the scene in disbelief.
"The winner is Chu Xinghe!" the referee announced loudly.
After a brief silence, the audience suddenly erupted in cheers.
"A single, decisive blow?!"
"A level 15 Soul Master crushing an level 18 one?"
"What kind of martial spirit is that? I've never seen a beast martial spirit like that before!"
Just then, a student from the War Frenzy Academy shouted, "That's the Dean's personal disciple!"
It was as if a drop of water had fallen into a pan of oil, and the audience instantly erupted in cheers.
"So he's Dean Zhan Tiankuang's disciple!"
"No wonder he's so amazing!"
"As expected of a genius from the War Maniac Academy!"
Chu Xinghe withdrew his martial spirit and walked off the stage expressionlessly.
Behind him, Yu Qi was still slumped on the ground, the iron hammer martial spirit in his hand had dissipated, and his eyes were full of disbelief.
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WebAI [Beta]
#37
Chapter 37 Star Iron Combination
The rules of the Iron Soul Arena are simple: winning a match earns you ten gold soul coins, while losing one goes home empty-handed.
After registering his competition record with the staff, Chu Xinghe received the heavy gold soul coins, which made a crisp clinking sound as they fell into his palm.
He weighed the money pouch in his hand, a smile playing on his lips.
Zhao Tiezhu, who had been waiting outside the arena, couldn't contain himself any longer. Seeing Chu Xinghe return in triumph, a smile immediately spread across his dark face. He put his thick arm around Chu Xinghe's shoulder and said, "Brother Xinghe, you won too easily! I saw it clearly from the audience. That guy didn't even touch the hem of your clothes."
Chu Xinghe frowned slightly and put the money pouch into his pocket: "These martial artists are much weaker than I imagined. Most of them only have ten-year soul rings. As long as we are wary of their underhanded tricks, it won't be difficult to win."
He turned to look at Zhao Tiezhu, his eyes filled with doubt: "Brother Zhao, how did you get so badly injured last year?"
Zhao Tiezhu's smile froze on his face, and the way he scratched his head revealed a hint of embarrassment: "Ahem, I had bad luck last year, and I ran into a student from Tianling Academy in the first match."
He touched his chest, seemingly still feeling the pain from the injury. "That guy's martial soul was the Wind-Slaying Blade, and his soul power was even one level higher than mine..."
"The Wind-Slaying Blade?" Chu Xinghe immediately recalled the knowledge he had learned in class.
A top-tier weapon spirit, its blade is as light as a feather and its slashes are as swift as a startled swan. It is said that when cultivated to its peak, a single slash can cleave a waterfall ten feet away.
Seeing Chu Xinghe's solemn expression, Zhao Tiezhu said with a wry smile, "Now you know why I lost so badly, right? Although Tianling Academy is not as good as our Zhan Kuang Academy as a whole, it still has some geniuses with weapon spirits."
"How about we sign up for a two-on-two?" Chu Xinghe suddenly interrupted him, his eyes flashing with fighting spirit. "It'll be a good opportunity to test the team tactics we learned in class."
Zhao Tiezhu was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter, his strong arm muscles trembling with each laugh: "Great idea! I should stretch my muscles too. Let's join forces and show them the power of the Battle Maniac Academy!"
The two exchanged a smile, walked through the noisy crowd, and headed towards the registration area for the two-on-two battle arena.
"The registration fee for a two-on-two match is ten gold soul coins, and the prize money for winning is also ten gold soul coins." The staff member tapped the copper bell on the counter without looking up, his voice mechanical and monotonous.
Just as Chu Xinghe was about to take out his money pouch, Zhao Tiezhu slammed ten gleaming gold coins onto the counter with a "smack," the movement so fast it created a gust of wind.
"Brother Zhao!" Chu Xinghe shook his head helplessly, only to see the other party smugly shake his head.
The staff member accepted the money and took out a register: "Combination name?"
Zhao Tiezhu immediately took a half step back and crossed his arms: "Brother Xinghe, I'm entrusting this important task to you."
He grinned and said, "I'll fight, but please spare me the task of using my brain."
He rubbed his temples as he spoke, as if thinking alone was giving him a headache.
Chu Xinghe couldn't help but smile when he saw Zhao Tiezhu's appearance.
He pondered for a moment: "Let's call it the Star Iron Duo, taking one character from each of our names."
The staff member recorded the information expressionlessly, and then engraved the words "Star Iron Combination" on the Iron Soul badges of the two individuals.
"Star Iron Team, registration complete," the staff member said.
Zhao Tiezhu leaned closer to examine it, his rough fingertips stroking the newly carved characters: "Not bad, not bad, simple and easy to remember."
He suddenly lowered his voice, "But Brother Xinghe, isn't our group name a bit too plain? I've seen others use names like 'Blazing Duo' or 'Swift Phantom'..."
Chu Xinghe put the badge back in his pocket, a slight smile playing on his lips: "As long as we win."
Immediately afterwards, the two signed up for the Double Soul Battle.
The draw ceremony ended quickly, and Chu Xinghe and his team were drawn against the Chasing Wind duo.
"It's Lin Ye and Yang Feng." Zhao Tiezhu's brows furrowed instantly as he explained, "Yang Feng is the Tianling Academy student who defeated me a year ago."
"Interesting." Chu Xinghe's lips curled into a dangerous smile, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Isn't this a classic case of enemies meeting on a narrow road?"
Zhao Tiezhu cautioned, "Brother Xinghe, don't be careless. They have a fusion technique called 'Blade and Claw Combination Strike,' which they used to defeat a double-soul fighting duo at the level of a Grand Soul Master not long ago."
Fusion skills rely on the combination of two people's soul skills to achieve an effect greater than 2. Although it is not as abnormal as the martial soul fusion skill, it should not be underestimated.
But Chu Xinghe's smile only widened. The difference between a Great Soul Master and a Soul Master is a whole Soul Ring.
A fusion technique that can bridge this gap must be quite challenging.
...
An hour later, the two-person spirit battle began.
"Star Iron Duo vs. Wind Chaser Duo, please come to the stage!"
As the host announced, Chu Xinghe and Zhao Tiezhu walked side by side onto the Soul Battle Stage.
The audience seats were more crowded than usual, with many students from the War Frenzy Academy and the Heavenly Spirit Academy coming after hearing the news.
As the two members of the Chasing Wind duo walked out of the opposite passage, Zhao Tiezhu unconsciously clenched his fists, his knuckles making a "crackling" sound.
"The guy next to Zhao Tiezhu is called Chu Xinghe. He's only been enrolled at the Battle Maniac Academy for three months. Last time, even though I used a forbidden technique, I still lost to him," Lin Ye said with a gloomy expression as he stepped onto the stage.
Yang Feng smiled faintly and said, "Interesting. I hope it will bring me some challenges."
The two completely ignored Zhao Tiezhu's presence during their conversation, treating him as if he didn't exist.
Chu Xinghe noticed that Zhao Tiezhu's breathing had become heavy, so he gently touched his arm: "Brother Zhao, calm down."
"I'm fine." Zhao Tiezhu took a deep breath and whispered, "Be careful of their fusion technique. Once it's activated..."
"The match begins!" The referee's whistle interrupted their conversation.
"Martial Soul Possession!"
All four soul rings lit up simultaneously.
Lin Ye's body was instantly enveloped by a layer of black shadow, his hands transformed into sharp claws, and six phantom images appeared and disappeared around him.
That was Lin Ye's first soul skill, Shadow Leopard Assault.
Yang Feng manifested his Wind-Slaying Blade, which shone brightly with a blue light and emitted a faint whistling sound.
Most surprisingly, the two adjusted their positions the instant their martial spirits were activated.
Lin Ye was in front, and Yang Feng was behind, forming a perfect attack formation.
"Blade and claw combined attack!"
With a low shout, Lin Ye's six illusory figures suddenly dispersed and pounced on Zhao Tiezhu from different angles.
At the same time, Yang Feng's longsword drew a perfect arc, and six wind blades flew precisely towards the intersection of Lin Ye's illusory trajectory.
"Brother Zhao, be careful!" Chu Xinghe shouted.
But it was too late.
Just as Zhao Tiezhu was about to activate his first soul skill, "Steel Skin Protection," six phantom images and wind blades converged in front of him, unleashing astonishing energy.
His body flew out of the ring like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily outside the arena.
"Brother Zhao!" Chu Xinghe rushed to the edge of the arena and saw that Zhao Tiezhu was unconscious, with a hideous wound on his chest bleeding.
"Hahaha, don't underestimate our bond!" Lin Ye laughed triumphantly. "You're next, Chu Xinghe."
An uproar erupted in the audience.
No one expected that the situation would turn into a one-on-two situation less than ten seconds after the start of the match.
Chu Xinghe slowly turned around, the anger in his eyes burning as if it were real.
He looked at the two arrogant men opposite him and said, word by word, "You will regret this."
"Dragon's Wrath!"
With this low roar, Chu Xinghe's soul power suddenly surged, and his attributes were enhanced in all aspects.
His eyes turned into vertical pupils, fine dragon scale patterns appeared on the surface of the panel, and blazing red flames rose around him.
Unlike before, this transformation was more composed, with the faint sound of a dragon's roar emanating from the flames.
After Zhan Tiankuang's grueling training, Chu Xinghe is now able to use Dragon's Fury freely, but he can only use it once a day.
"Playing tricks!" Lin Ye curled his lip in disdain and launched "Shadow Leopard Assault" again, with six phantoms rushing towards Chu Xinghe at the same time.
This time, however, Chu Xinghe simply swung his dragon claw.
The blazing flames drew five golden lines in the air, striking Lin Ye's true form with pinpoint accuracy!
"How is this possible?!" Lin Ye clutched his bloodied shoulder and backed away, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Upon seeing this, Yang Feng immediately swung his sword, and three wind blades flew in a triangular pattern.
Chu Xinghe neither dodged nor evaded, but crossed his dragon claws in front of his chest to meet the wind blade head-on.
Shockingly, the wind blades were engulfed by flames the moment they touched the dragon's claws, leaving no trace.
"It's my turn." Chu Xinghe's voice was so deep it sounded inhuman.
He instantly lunged in front of Yang Feng, his dragon claw aimed straight for his throat.
Yang Feng hastily raised his sword to block, but was so shocked by a tremendous force that his tiger's mouth split open, and he almost dropped the Wind-Slaying Sword.
Lin Ye tried to attack from behind, but Chu Xinghe kicked him in the abdomen with a back kick, sending him flying several meters.
The ensuing battle was a complete one-sided rout.
With the Dragon's Fury activated, Chu Xinghe completely overwhelmed the two in terms of speed, strength, and defense.
Lin Ye's illusory image could no longer deceive him, and Yang Feng's wind blades could not break through his defenses.
"Crimson Flame Dragon Claw!"
In the end, Chu Xinghe's claws struck both of them in the chest simultaneously.
Lin Ye and Yang Feng flew out like rag dolls, crashing heavily into the railing at the edge of the arena, unable to get up again.
The entire arena fell silent. Everyone was stunned by this incredible reversal.
"Winners, Star Iron Duo!" The referee's voice broke the silence.
Chu Xinghe did not celebrate; he immediately jumped off the stage to check on Zhao Tiezhu's condition.
Only after he confirmed that Zhao Tiezhu was merely unconscious and not in mortal danger did he breathe a sigh of relief, and the dragon scale patterns on his body gradually faded away.
Medical personnel quickly carried Zhao Tiezhu away for treatment.
Chu Xinghe stood in the center of the arena, watching Lin Ye and Yang Feng being carried away on stretchers, and said coldly, "Remember, the people from the Battle Mad Academy are not easy to bully."
After saying that, he walked towards the players' tunnel without looking back.
This battle not only avenged Zhao Tiezhu, but also made the name of the "Star-Iron Duo" spread throughout the Great Soul Arena.
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WebAI [Beta]
#38
Chapter 38 Battle to the Death
Over the next ten days, Chu Xinghe went completely berserk.
Every day, without fail, there are two battles: a solo battle in the morning and a duo battle with Zhao Tiezhu in the afternoon.
They fought 20 matches in 10 days and achieved a perfect record of victory.
On the first day, his opponent was a level 17 agility-type Soul Master, but he was sent flying by Chu Xinghe's three claws and crashed off the stage.
The opponent on the third day was a poison master who used his soul skills to fill the entire arena with poisonous mist.
Chu Xinghe didn't care at all. Relying on his strong physical abilities, he charged forward through the poisonous fog and beat his opponent until he had to admit defeat.
The worst incident occurred on the seventh day, when Zhao Tiezhu was injured by two Soul Masters from the opposing side working together.
Chu Xinghe's eyes turned red on the spot. He chased after the two opponents and fought them all by himself. In the end, he used a move called "Blazing Dragon Claw" to knock the two of them off the stage. He didn't even care about the cut on his shoulder.
After ten days of fighting, the entire Great Soul Arena remembered this reckless, battle-crazed academy soul master.
When the referee announced that he had completed his tenth consecutive victory, the stands were filled with gasps of astonishment.
"This kid... he's a monster!"
"Another ruthless person has emerged from the War Academy!"
"Ten consecutive wins! How many years has it been since we've seen a rookie achieve this?"
...
On the training ground of the War Maniac Academy, the cold wind howled, swirling up the withered leaves on the ground.
Chu Xinghe stood on a blue stone with his arms crossed, gazing calmly into the distance.
"Brother Zhao, I'm preparing for a life-or-death battle." He spoke as casually as if he were asking what he would have for lunch.
Zhao Tiezhu, who was lifting the stone weight, suddenly trembled, and the hundred-pound stone weight crashed to the ground with a "bang," almost hitting his own foot.
"Huh?" He picked at his ear. "Brother Xinghe, what did you just say? The wind was too strong, I didn't hear you."
"A life-or-death battle." Chu Xinghe jumped off the bluestone, dusted off his clothes, and said, "The one from the Great Soul Arena."
Zhao Tiezhu's rugged face instantly turned bright red: "Are you crazy? Do you know how many people die from that thing every year?"
Chu Xinghe's lips curled up slightly, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes: "I love that feeling of death being like the wind, always by my side, it's so fascinating."
"Bullshit!" Zhao Tiezhu grabbed Chu Xinghe's shoulder. "Brother Xinghe, listen to my advice. With your talent, even if you cultivate step by step, getting into the Heaven Dou Royal Academy is a sure thing. Why take this risk?"
Chu Xinghe gently pulled his hand away from Zhao Tiezhu's, his eyes suddenly turning sharp: "Brother Zhao, do you think I participated in the life-or-death battle just to get into the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
"Otherwise what?" Zhao Tiezhu's eyes widened.
"My goal..." Chu Xinghe looked up at the sky, "is to become the strongest student at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
There was one more thing he didn't say: his opponent was the future God King Tang San.
Three months ago, Tang San's soul power had already exceeded level 20, but now he is only level 15.
It is now December of Douluo Calendar 2640. There are only two years and nine months left until Tang San enters Shrek Academy with a soul power of level 29.
Zhao Tiezhu wrung his hands anxiously: "Brother Xinghe, there are many ways to fight, but a life-or-death battle is no joke!"
"Shut up." A cold voice suddenly interrupted.
The two turned their heads at the same time and saw that Zhan Tiankuang had been standing at the edge of the training field at some point.
Zhao Tiezhu immediately fell silent, like a rooster being choked.
"Those who don't do well in their studies shouldn't affect those who do." Zhan Tiankuang coldly glanced at Zhao Tiezhu, who immediately shrank back.
Zhan Tiankuang turned to Chu Xinghe and nodded, a rare occurrence for him: "You're right. It is in the face of life and death that one can truly understand the essence of battle."
As he spoke, he took out a set of dark red leather armor from his storage soul tool and casually tossed it to Chu Xinghe.
"Holy crap!" Zhao Tiezhu couldn't help but curse. "It's actually an inner armor made from the fur of a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast!"
Chu Xinghe took the leather armor; it was icy cold to the touch, yet he could feel the powerful soul energy fluctuations contained within it.
He looked up at Zhan Tiankuang, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Perform well." Zhan Tiankuang only said these four words before turning and leaving. "Don't tarnish my reputation."
"Understood!" Chu Xinghe responded loudly, his fist clenching unconsciously.
As soon as Zhan Tiankuang's figure disappeared at the end of the training field, Zhao Tiezhu immediately approached, his eyes wide like saucers: "Brother Xinghe, why is the Dean being so nice to you? You wouldn't happen to be... his illegitimate son, would you?"
Chu Xinghe was inspecting his leather armor when he heard this, and without even looking up, he said, "Yes, that's me."
"Really?!" Zhao Tiezhu's expression was priceless; his mouth was agape, wide enough to fit an egg. "I knew it! No wonder the dean was so attentive to you, it turns out..."
"Do you see any resemblance between me and the dean?" Chu Xinghe finally raised his head, looking speechless. "He only invested in me because he saw my talent."
Zhao Tiezhu then began to scrutinize Chu Xinghe closely.
With delicate features and a straight nose, he looked nothing like Zhan Tiankuang, who had such a fierce and menacing appearance.
"Are you really not the dean's illegitimate son?" Zhao Tiezhu asked again, unwilling to give up.
Chu Xinghe sighed: "If you think so, then so be it. But..."
He suddenly revealed a dangerous smile, "If the dean finds out that you're spreading rumors that I'm his illegitimate child, I have no idea what kind of punishment you'll face."
Zhao Tiezhu immediately recalled Zhan Tiankuang's ruthless methods that could stop a child from crying at night, and couldn't help but shudder.
"I didn't hear anything!" Zhao Tiezhu immediately raised his hands in surrender. "Brother Xinghe, no, Brother Xinghe, don't worry, my mouth is the tightest seal!"
...
Zhao Tiezhu accompanied Chu Xinghe out of the academy and headed towards the Great Soul Arena.
"Brother Xinghe, let me tell you, if you can't beat them, just run off the stage!" Zhao Tiezhu muttered as he walked, gesturing with his thick arms in the air.
Chu Xinghe raised an eyebrow: "It can be like this? Isn't it called a life-or-death battle?"
"Hey, rules are rules, but people are flexible." Zhao Tiezhu lowered his voice. "Although it's nominally a fight to the death, once you jump off the stage, your opponent can't continue to chase you."
A glint of shrewdness flashed in Chu Xinghe's eyes. He thought to himself, "This is indeed a good way to save my life. Forget about saving face; staying alive is the only thing that matters. When I become a god, who will dare say that running away is cowardice?"
That clearly shows that those who know when to yield are the wise ones.
"Thanks for the reminder, Brother Zhao." Chu Xinghe grinned. "But I don't think we'll need to use that trick."
Zhao Tiezhu patted him on the shoulder: "Don't be stubborn, kid! I don't want to collect your corpse."
As the two spoke, they arrived at the entrance of the Great Soul Arena. The massive archway was carved with various ferocious beast patterns, gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
"Let's go, to the zone of life and death." Chu Xinghe took the lead.
A middle-aged man with a fierce face sat at the registration desk, saying without looking up, "Registration for the life-or-death battle: fifty gold soul coins."
"So expensive?" Chu Xinghe, who was used to being poor, subconsciously touched his purse.
"What? You're here to die because you have no money?" the staff member sneered.
Chu Xinghe snorted coldly and poured out fifty gold soul coins: "Register me."
The staff handed him a jade pendant, saying, "Take this and wait in the waiting area."
On his way to the waiting area, Chu Xinghe secretly rejoiced that the results of the game battle and the life-or-death battle were calculated separately.
If his ten-game winning streak is matched against an opponent, then things will get complicated.
Zhao Tiezhu couldn't go inside, so he could only go to the audience seats.
Before leaving, he added, "Remember what I said! If you can't win, run!"
"Okay, okay."
Chu Xinghe waved his hand, but in his heart he was thinking that today's battle should not only be won, but won beautifully.
In the audience, Zhao Tiezhu clenched his fists, his eyes fixed on the fighting arena.
The shouts of the surrounding audience were deafening, but he seemed not to hear them.
"You must come back safely..." he murmured to himself.
The Soul Arena in the Life and Death Zone was a whole size larger than the Gambling Zone, but the ground was exceptionally dirty.
Dark red bloodstains were scattered everywhere, some places not even completely dry. The air was filled with the rusty, bloody smell, stimulating everyone's nerves.
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WebAI [Beta]
#39
Chapter 39 Hard work pays off
On the Soul Arena, the host's passionate voice resounded throughout the arena: "Ladies and gentlemen! Next up is the third match of the Sixteenth Soul Arena's Life-or-Death Battle!"
He deliberately dragged out his words to whet the audience's appetite: "Among today's challengers, there is a genius who has been making waves recently! Although this is his first time participating in a life-or-death battle, he has already achieved a ten-game winning streak in the game!"
"He is—" the host suddenly raised his voice, "Chu Xinghe, the personal disciple of Dean Zhan Kuang, the owner of the Agumon Martial Soul, and a level 15 Soul Master!"
"Wow!"
"It's that genius soul master from the Battle Maniac Academy!"
I bet he'll win!
The audience erupted in cheers.
Many gamblers have already started placing bets like crazy.
The host continued to stir up the atmosphere: "And his opponent is Zhang San, who is also participating in a life-or-death battle for the first time. His martial soul is Green Vine, and he is a level 19 Soul Master!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
"Get started now!"
"I want to see rivers of blood!"
The cheers from the audience grew louder and louder, and the entire arena was filled with a bloodthirsty atmosphere.
On the stage, Chu Xinghe coldly stared at Zhang San opposite him.
He remembered this treacherous villain.
Last time I watched the game, I saw this guy throw lime into his opponent's eyes.
Zhang San's heart was pounding with anxiety.
He furtively sized up the child in front of him, who was not even ten years old, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He had heard a great deal about this kid's reputation lately.
"Damn it..." Zhang San cursed inwardly, "I finally made up my mind to participate in this life-or-death battle, how did I have to run into this little devil..."
Zhang San, a commoner, had no choice but to risk everything and participate in a life-or-death battle in order to raise the gold soul coins needed to join the Soul Hunting Group and obtain his second soul ring.
Zhang Sanqiang forced a fawning smile: "Brother Xinghe, a genius like you has a bright future ahead of you, why risk your life in this life-or-death battle?"
Chu Xinghe didn't even bother to lift his eyelids: "If you want to fight, then fight. Stop talking nonsense."
Zhang San's face instantly darkened. Having been publicly humiliated by a child, he couldn't bear it any longer: "You little brat, you don't know what's good for you! Today I'll teach you a lesson about respect!"
In his mind, Chu Xinghe had already decided to die.
Chu Xinghe finally looked up at him, his gaze as if he were looking at a corpse: "Finished? Can we begin?"
Zhang San felt uneasy under that look, but he still tried to sound tough: "Don't come crying for your mom later!"
"The match begins!"
At the host's command, Chu Xinghe's soul power erupted instantly. Orange-red dragon scale patterns spread across his arms as if they were alive, and his hands rapidly transformed into a pair of cold, gleaming dragon claws under the surge of soul power.
The claws gleamed with a metallic sheen, and flames flickered between the scales.
"Agumon, possess me!"
Zhang San, on the other side, sneered and coldly shouted, "First Soul Skill, Entangling Green Vine!"
Suddenly, dozens of dark blue poisonous vines sprang up from beneath his feet, each covered in barbs, lunging at Chu Xinghe like venomous snakes.
Chu Xinghe's eyes narrowed, and with a swift movement of his crossed dragon claws, two crimson claw beams shot out, slicing the first attacking vine into several pieces. The severed vines fell to the ground, still writhing and oozing purplish-black venom.
"You've got some skills!" Zhang San grinned maliciously, then suddenly pulled a packet of white powder from his pocket. "Try this!"
He suddenly threw lime powder at Chu Xinghe's face, while simultaneously manipulating the remaining vines to launch a sneak attack from behind.
At the critical moment, Chu Xinghe slightly bent his knees and suddenly leaped more than three meters high.
Lime dust drifted past his feet, while the attacking vines intertwined. He executed a graceful flip in mid-air, his dragon claws, blazing with intense heat, aimed straight for Zhang San's head.
In a moment of haste, Zhang San raised his arms to block, and vines intertwined on his arms to form a shield.
But Chu Xinghe's dragon claws were unstoppable, tearing through the vine shield with a "rip" and leaving three deep, bone-revealing wounds on Zhang San's arm.
"Ah!" Zhang San screamed and staggered back, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.
"Is that all you've got?" Chu Xinghe landed steadily, the flames on his dragon claws growing even stronger. "It's time to end this! First Soul Skill, Crimson Flame Dragon Claw!"
His claws suddenly burst into dazzling flames, and he charged towards Zhang San like an arrow released from a bow.
Zhang San hurriedly activated all his soul power, and dozens of vines intertwined in front of him to form an impenetrable defensive net.
However, Chu Xinghe's dragon claws were indestructible, and the burning claws tore through layers of vine defenses like a hot knife through butter.
Zhang San's eyes widened in horror, and he tried to back away, but it was too late.
"puff!"
The burning dragon claw pierced through Zhang San's chest without any resistance, the high temperature instantly scorching the wound, and the air was filled with the smell of burning flesh.
"Cough...cough cough..." Zhang San looked down at the large hole in his chest, blood constantly spilling from the corner of his mouth.
His eyes shifted from shock to venom, and he suddenly grinned maliciously: "Then... let's go to hell together!"
With his last bit of strength, Zhang San pulled a black cloth bag from his waist and threw it into the air.
The moment the bag burst open, a torrent of purple poisonous powder poured down like a rainstorm.
This was a highly toxic substance he bought with all his savings, originally intended for hunting soul beasts.
Chu Xinghe was prepared. Centered on him, a whirlwind of flames suddenly erupted, incinerating all the poison powder that attacked.
The scorching heat even sent Zhang San's body flying several meters.
When the flames subsided, only Chu Xinghe, standing proudly on the Soul Arena, and Zhang San's charred corpse remained in the distance.
The entire stadium was silent for a moment, then erupted in deafening cheers.
"The winner is Chu Xinghe!" The host's voice resounded throughout the venue.
Chu Xinghe withdrew his martial spirit and watched as Zhang San's corpse was dragged away by the staff, feeling no emotion whatsoever.
In this dog-eat-dog world, being merciful to your enemies is being cruel to yourself.
...
Rest area.
As soon as Chu Xinghe pushed open the door, he was knocked back two steps by Zhao Tiezhu, who rushed over.
"Good lad!" Zhao Tiezhu slapped Chu Xinghe's back so hard it hurt. "That Fiery Dragon Claw move was awesome! The audience was screaming their lungs out!"
Chu Xinghe grimaced as he dodged the second slap: "Go easy! My bones are going to fall apart."
Zhao Tiezhu suddenly grabbed his shoulder, his big, round eyes widening: "But you better remember this!"
He pointed to the Soul Arena where bloodstains were still being cleaned up, "Zhang San's Green Vine Martial Soul doesn't even have a hundred-year Soul Ring. If it were a control-type Soul Master with a hundred-year Soul Ring, you wouldn't have won so easily."
"I know, Brother Zhao." Chu Xinghe interrupted him with a smile, and took the wet towel handed to him by the staff to wipe his face. "My current soul power control accuracy is comparable to that of a level 20+ Great Soul Master. This is the result of the Dean's personal devil training."
Zhao Tiezhu choked. To be honest, he was somewhat envious. The dean's personal guidance was something that countless students of the War Maniac Academy dreamed of.
The roars of the audience could be heard in the distance; a new life-or-death battle had begun.
"But you are." Chu Xinghe suddenly threw the towel onto the bench, his eyes sharp as a drawn sword. "Don't get cocky just because I won easily. It's a life-or-death battle..."
He pointed to his temple. "That's what I need, not recklessness."
"Am I crazy?" Zhao Tiezhu plopped down on the long wooden bench, making the water glass next to him shake. "With my Ironclad Rhinoceros Martial Soul, I can't even run away from an agility-type Soul Master."
He suddenly lowered his voice: "But you, you could have leveled up slowly, why did you have to push yourself so hard?"
Chu Xinghe gazed at the blood splattering on the Soul Battle Stage. The reason he fought so hard was because he knew that his efforts would yield results.
If people know that their efforts will be rewarded and have a clear understanding of their future path, then everyone will work hard.
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#40
Chapter 40 Soul Power Level 20
In May of Douluo Calendar 2641, five months passed in the blink of an eye.
For the past five months, Chu Xinghe has been working like crazy, as if he didn't care about his life.
During the day, he underwent hellish training under Dean Zhan Tiankuang, being whipped while practicing his soul skills. At night, he would spend his time in the Great Soul Arena, frantically racking up battle records.
Those life-or-death duels were so captivating that the audience slapped their thighs in admiration, and even the commentators remembered this fearless newcomer.
When there were no competitions, he would bury himself in the library, reading the Soul Beast Encyclopedia until the edges were worn out, and even memorizing obscure knowledge about the counter-relationships between martial souls.
Heaven rewards those who persevere; his soul power surged to level 20!
The terrifying level-up speed of one level per month made the other students in the War Maniac Academy extremely envious.
After counting on his fingers, someone chewed up the bone of the spicy rabbit head in his mouth and crushed it: "Is this even a human being capable of?"
Dean Zhan Tiankuang found Chu Xinghe increasingly pleasing to the eye, and would often pat him on the shoulder and laugh, saying, "I always say that true knowledge comes from real combat!"
However, he also understood that not everyone had the drive to work themselves to the bone, so he didn't force the other students to risk their lives in the Great Soul Arena.
However, the academy's dueling arena has strict rules: if you're afraid to even engage in a sparring match under the supervision of a teacher, you might as well pack your bags and leave.
...
Inside the dean's office.
Chu Xinghe took a deep breath and said respectfully, "Teacher, my soul power has broken through to level 20."
"What?!" Zhan Tian jumped up from his chair, his eyes wide, his voice booming: "You brat, are you going to break all my records from back then before you're satisfied?!"
Seeing the teacher's excited expression, Chu Xinghe felt a warm current surge in his heart.
He knew his teacher was genuinely happy for him, but he remained humble on the surface: "The student has surpassed the teacher. I just followed the teacher's instructions and completed some insignificant training. The improvement in soul power can only be described as an unexpected joy."
"Bullshit!" Zhan Tiankuang suddenly burst into thunderous laughter, shaking the windows. "Level 20! You've met the graduation requirements a full five years ahead of schedule! I wasn't this crazy back in my day!"
He patted Chu Xinghe's shoulder hard, his eyes full of satisfaction.
Chu Xinghe felt the force on his shoulder, but his mind was filled with thoughts of his greatest enemy.
He smiled wryly and said, "I'm still far from it. I have a classmate in Notting Academy named Tang San. Before I even entered the Battle Maniac Academy, his soul power had already reached level 20."
"So amazing?" Zhan Tiankuang raised his thick eyebrows, a look of surprise on his rugged face. "It's already surprising enough that Yang Yaozong's rural academy produced a genius like you, but I never expected there to be an even more amazing Soul Master than you."
Chu Xinghe explained, "Tang San has innate full soul power, and he has taken Yu Xiaogang, a theoretical master in the soul master world, as his teacher."
"Yu Xiaogang?" Zhan Tiankuang's brows suddenly furrowed into a deep frown. "Yu Xiaogang, one of the Golden Iron Triangle?"
"Yes, does the teacher know him?" Chu Xinghe keenly noticed the change in Zhan Tiankuang's emotions.
"I'm not familiar with him, but Flander, one of the Golden Iron Triangle, left a deep impression on me." Zhan Tiankuang said through gritted teeth, his fists clenching involuntarily. "When I was hunting for my sixth spirit ring, the spirit beast that I was about to kill was stolen by him and Zhao Wuji."
Chu Xinghe's heart skipped a beat.
He had never heard Zhan Tiankuang mention this past event before, but he could clearly feel the resentment in Zhan Tiankuang's tone.
Chu Xinghe solemnly said, "Don't worry, teacher, I will definitely help you get revenge in the future."
Looking at the determined eyes of the young man before him, Zhan Tiankuang felt both moved and helpless.
He waved his hand: "It's enough that you have the intention. Flander and Zhao Wuji are both Soul Saint level experts now, even I don't dare to provoke them."
Chu Xinghe, however, revealed a confident smile: "Teacher, I am still young and have unlimited potential. I will definitely be able to help you avenge yourself."
Looking at his disciple's confident demeanor and recalling the miracles Chu Xinghe had created over the past five months, Zhan Tiankuang felt a surge of hope.
Perhaps, this disciple who always brings surprises will truly be able to help him get justice in the future.
"Good! That's ambitious!" Zhan Tiankuang laughed heartily, then changed the subject, "But it's too early to talk about that now. What kind of spirit beast do you want for your second spirit ring?"
Chu Xinghe had already thought it through and said without hesitation, "It would be best if it were a fire-attribute dragon soul beast that is over six hundred years old."
Zhan Tiankuang nodded approvingly, "Alright, go back and prepare. We'll set off for Sunset Forest tomorrow."
Chu Xinghe was overjoyed, for Sunset Forest was a famous gathering place for soul beasts in the Heaven Dou Empire.
He bowed respectfully and said, "Yes, teacher. I will go and prepare right away."
...
Shortly after Chu Xinghe returned to his dormitory after leaving the dean's office, the door was pushed open with a bang.
"Brother Xinghe!" Zhao Tiezhu's loud voice shook the windows. He rushed to Chu Xinghe in three strides, his eyes wide like saucers. "You really have reached level 20 in soul power?"
Looking at his friend's exaggerated expression, Chu Xinghe couldn't help but chuckle: "That's right, I broke through yesterday."
"Hiss—" Zhao Tiezhu gasped, his expression shifting from shock to bitterness, and finally settling on a complex look of envy.
He sat heavily on the edge of the bed, the bed frame creaking under his weight.
"Damn it…" Zhao Tiezhu scratched his messy hair, "You were only level 13 when you entered school, and I was already level 18. Now you're level 20, and I'm only at level 19…"
He looked up, a hint of helplessness in his eyes, "How can the difference between people be so great?"
Chu Xinghe felt a little helpless looking at Zhao Tiezhu's dejected expression.
But he knew now was not the time to stop. He had to seize every opportunity to become stronger.
"I'm not afraid of top students being talented; I'm afraid of top students being talented and working even harder than you." Zhao Tiezhu suddenly sighed, his tone filled with sincere admiration. "You've been training like your life depends on it these past few months."
Chu Xinghe's gaze darkened slightly.
He thought of Tang San and Xiao Wu from Notting Academy, who were both born with full soul power, giving them a significant advantage over him from the start.
"Not fast enough..." Chu Xinghe muttered to himself, his fists clenching unconsciously.
He knew that Tang San and the others were still training methodically at Notting Academy, which was the best opportunity for him to overtake them.
More importantly, he had to find those immortal herbs before Tang San.
Only by relying on the power of the immortal herb can one truly surpass Tang San, who was blessed with extraordinary talent.
"What did you say?" Zhao Tiezhu didn't hear his whisper.
Chu Xinghe snapped out of his daze and patted his friend on the shoulder: "Brother Zhao, there are no shortcuts in cultivation. I just put in a little more effort than you."
Zhao Tiezhu curled his lip: "You didn't just put in a little more 'sweat,' you practically risked your life!" He paused, then suddenly grinned, "But I admire you for that! Just wait, my soul power will break through to level 20 too!"
Seeing his friend's renewed fighting spirit, Chu Xinghe also showed a sincere smile.
But deep in his heart, that urgent voice always echoed: to be faster, to be stronger, to reach the peak before that fated rival could rise.
...
The next day, the morning mist had not yet dissipated.
Zhan Tiankuang's gruff voice shattered the tranquility of the dormitory area: "You brat, it's time to get going!"
Chu Xinghe had already tidied up and immediately pushed open the door upon hearing this.
In the morning light, Zhan Tiankuang's tall figure stood out.
"Good morning, teacher." Chu Xinghe bowed respectfully.
"Stop with the nonsense, let's get going." Zhan Tiankuang grinned, turned around, and strode towards the academy's exit.
Chu Xinghe quickly followed, and the two soon left Hope City and embarked on the official road leading to Sunset Forest.
On the way, Zhan Tiankuang ate his dry rations while explaining to Chu Xinghe: "Sunset Forest is located at the border of the Kingdom of Silves and the Province of Di'ao, not far from Tiandou City. Although it can't compare to the Star Dou Great Forest, the soul beasts inside are still enough to give you a hard time."
Chu Xinghe listened attentively, nodding occasionally.
He noticed that although Zhan Tiankuang's tone was casual, his eyes were unusually serious.
"Remember, always be vigilant in the forest." Zhan Tiankuang wiped the food crumbs from his mouth. "Especially the thousand-year-old soul beasts, some of them are very cunning and specifically target lone soul masters."
"Teacher, our goal this time is..."
"I know you're looking for dragon-type soul beasts," Zhan Tiankuang sighed. "But to tell you the truth, dragon-type soul beasts under a thousand years old are rarer than gold. We'll be lucky if we find a suitable fire-attribute soul beast this time."
Chu Xinghe nodded silently. He had expected this outcome, but he still couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
If he could obtain a dragon-type spirit ring, it would greatly help his martial spirit evolution.
"Don't be so downcast." Zhan Tiankuang patted his shoulder hard. "When you're stronger, your teacher will take you to more dangerous places to find dragon-type soul beasts. For now, it's better to play it safe."
Chu Xinghe smiled gratefully. He gazed at the gradually emerging mountain range in the distance, but his thoughts drifted to even more distant places.
In a corner of that forest, the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire quietly awaits its destined owner.
But he cannot act rashly now.
"What are you thinking about?" Zhan Tiankuang's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Nothing much, I was just thinking about how to help the teacher hunt soul beasts later," Chu Xinghe replied casually.
Zhan Tiankuang laughed loudly: "With me here, you just need to find the right moment to finish him off!"
As the two talked, the trees on both sides of the official road gradually became denser.
In the distance, the outline of a lush green forest is already clearly visible.
Chu Xinghe took a deep breath, feeling the soul power fluctuations gradually becoming stronger in the air.
Sunset Forest, here we come.
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