Every spectator in the arena could clearly see that the moment Zhu Zhuqing charged into the range of the Blue Silver Grass, stalks erupted from every direction, rising up like an enormous cage that enclosed both Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing within.
Zhu Zhuqing's first Soul Ring and Tang San's first Soul Ring lit up almost simultaneously.
The Netherworld Thrust activated. In midair, Zhu Zhuqing's sharp claws snapped outward as her body sharply changed direction, her speed doubling in an instant as she lunged diagonally toward Tang San.
Watching her close in, Tang San did nothing more than make a simple movement — a lateral dodge.
His eyes were already veiled in a faint purple glow. Perhaps to others, Zhu Zhuqing's form would have been nearly impossible to track, but for someone who had spent years honing his Hidden Weapon skills, with the Purple Extreme Demon Eye enhancing his vision, how could he possibly fail to see her?
Ghost Shadow Phantom Trail carried his body out of Zhu Zhuqing's attack range at the last possible instant. Her claws sliced through the air, grazing past his body by a hair's breadth. In the very next moment, Zhu Zhuqing had no chance to activate a second Soul Ring ability. The Blue Silver Grass that had been waiting for her seized the instant her momentum faltered and snapped inward.
First Soul Ring ability of Blue Silver Grass — Entangle, activated.
Blue Silver Grass bound Zhu Zhuqing's body in a tight grip. Since she was a teammate, Tang San hadn't activated the poison barbs on the grass — he'd only restrained her. But the paralyzing effect embedded in the first Soul Ring still caused the Soul Power fluctuations in Zhu Zhuqing's body to plummet instantly, and their battle ended in that brief span.
"Control Type counters Agility Attack Type. Your offense isn't strong enough to break through my Martial Soul's control." Tang San released the Blue Silver Grass with a mild expression.
Zhu Zhuqing remained as cold as ever — Tang San knew that, and she knew it herself. She simply hadn't expected Tang San to win so effortlessly. Now she understood completely that Tang San's ability to hold out against Zhao Wuji for so long wasn't solely due to his mastery of Hidden Weapons. His tactical awareness in battle was just as formidable. Against him, she hadn't had the slightest chance.
"I lost." She dropped those three simple words, then immediately turned and left the stage — as swift as when she'd arrived.
Of course, that didn't necessarily mean Tang San was stronger than Zhu Zhuqing. Agility Attack Type Soul Masters were inherently meant to lurk in the shadows — ambush, assassination, and reconnaissance were their specialties. A head-on arena battle like this was fundamentally unfair to an Agility Attack Type. Had the fight taken place in complex terrain, defeating Zhu Zhuqing would have been far from easy.
When Tang San emerged from the Soul Master corridor, Xiao Wu was already waiting for him. After a quick points registration, the two of them didn't return to the solo Soul Master spectator stands. They still had a duo battle to fight.
The draw had already been concluded. Tang San checked and found they had two more matches before their turn. The two didn't go to watch — after all, while the previous fight had been quick, it had still consumed some Soul Power. They simply rested in the preparation area.
The time between matches in the duo battles seemed considerably longer than in the solo fights. By the time their turn came around, both of their Soul Power reserves had fully recovered to their optimal state.
Walking down the Soul Master corridor onto the duo battle platform, Tang San first took a quick look around. At least half the spectator seats on this side were filled — the crowd was somewhat livelier than at the solo arena. Their opponents were already waiting on the stage.
The duo battle platform was twice the size of the solo one, which made sense — with twice as many Soul Masters, more room was needed for them to fight properly.
The host on stage was announcing the Soul Master pairings.
"… Fifth match of the duo division — the Iron Blood Combination versus the Three-Five Combination."
The moment they stepped onto the stage, Xiao Wu couldn't help but mutter, "Strength-type Battle Soul Masters again? Is there nothing fresh out there?"
Tang San and Xiao Wu's opponents were two young men around eighteen or nineteen years old. Both had leopard-like heads and ringed eyes, their appearances strikingly similar. Their statures were no less imposing than the Bull Spirit Master they'd faced before. Though they weren't bare-chested, their exposed, brawny arms spoke volumes about their strength.
The Iron Blood Combination stared in disbelief at the two children who had taken the stage, each rubbing his own eyes. The host was momentarily taken aback as well, but the match had to go on — the fact that they were here clearly meant they possessed the appropriate Martial Soul rank. "Well, it seems our Three-Five Combination really is a prodigious pair. Let the match begin!"
The surprise on the Iron Blood brothers' faces lasted only a moment. They quickly composed themselves, retreating a measured step backward in perfect unison. At the same time, both let out a low roar, their movements as synchronized as a single person.
Dense grey light surged forth from their right hands, and identical weapons materialized in their grips.
When Tang San saw those weapons, he couldn't help but pause in surprise — because the weapons in the Iron Blood Combination's hands were something he knew all too well. They were forging hammers, the very kind he used regularly at the blacksmith shop.
Of course, the forging hammers in the Iron Blood brothers' hands were slightly different from the ones he typically used. They were not only larger in size but also bore fine, intricate patterns across their surfaces, with two yellow hundred-year Soul Beast rings pulsing with light upon each.
Weapon-type Martial Soul Battle Soul Masters. Although they were also strength-type, Tang San and Xiao Wu immediately determined that these two opponents were nothing like the one Xiao Wu had faced in her solo match. Most importantly, these two clearly possessed extensive combat experience and hadn't let their opponents' youth lull them into complacency.
The large man on the left spoke: "My name is Tielong."
The large man on the right spoke: "My name is Tiehu."
In perfect unison, both roared: "Watch yourselves!"
(End of Chapter)