When Chu Chengzhou and Ma Hongjun returned to the one-on-one Spirit Fighter zone, Xiao Wu's match was about to begin.
Whether it was bad luck for Dai Mubai or not, Xiao Wu's opponent happened to be him.
Sure enough, when the Great Spirit Arena staff announced the participants for the next match, Dai Mubai's face immediately darkened.
Xiao Wu was a 38th-level Soul Elder. Though her martial soul appeared to be the non-combatant Soft Bone Rabbit, Dai Mubai knew better than to underestimate any prodigy soul master's martial soul.
After all, having exceptional cultivation talent often indicated possessing a powerful martial soul. If their martial soul wasn't strong, how could they have such talent?
"Xiao Wu, do your best!"
Glancing at Dai Mubai, Chu Chengzhou cheered Xiao Wu on.
Of course, with Xiao Wu's strength, defeating Dai Mubai would be as easy as pie.
Perhaps due to the fixed template of spirit beast transformation skills, Xiao Wu currently possessed three soul skills identical to those in the original story—Waist Bow, Charm, and Teleportation. However, the years of her second and third soul skills were significantly higher compared to the original.
Additionally, Xiao Wu also cultivated the Spirit Refining skill, giving her far superior mental strength compared to soul masters of the same level. With her second skill, Charm, once activated, Dai Mubai would undoubtedly be under her complete control.
Of course, Xiao Wu's Charm skill didn't create an alluring illusion; it relied purely on overwhelming mental force for control. Otherwise, Chu Chengzhou wouldn't let Xiao Wu use this skill on others!
After all, such a wonderful skill shouldn't be enjoyed by just anyone.
Ma Hongjun glanced at Dai Mubai and then at Xiao Wu but didn't offer any words of encouragement.
After all, Dai Mubai had been his former leader, so he had to show some respect.
The matchups in the one-on-one Spirit Fighter zone were determined by lottery. While other soul masters were battling, waiting participants could choose to spectate or rest.
Each sub-arena in the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena had designated areas for participating soul masters to watch the battles from, close to the fighting platform.
After the previous match ended, Xiao Wu and Dai Mubai followed the staff to the fighting platform, while Chu Chengzhou and Ma Hongjun climbed to the spectator stands.
Although this was only one of the twenty-four sub-arenas in the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena, the fighting platform was still quite spacious, with a diameter of twenty meters—enough room for soul masters to fully display their abilities.
At this moment, a middle-aged host and referee dressed in a tailcoat stood in the center of the platform, loudly announcing: "Next, we will begin the sixth one-on-one Spirit Fighter match in our twelfth arena today.
The participants are two Soul Elders. On one side is the Battle Soul Elder 'Evil-Eyed White Tiger' with the beast martial soul White Tiger, and on the other is the Battle Soul Elder Xiao Wu with the beast martial soul Soft Bone Rabbit.
Will the Evil-Eyed White Tiger emerge victorious, or will the newcomer Battle Soul Elder Xiao Wu triumph? Let us wait and see! Now, please welcome the two Battle Soul Elders onto the stage."
Soon, accompanied by Dai Mubai's entrance, cheers erupted from the audience in the twelfth sub-arena—specifically from the female spectators.
There was no helping it; Dai Mubai was good-looking, tall, and imposing, with a dignified appearance complemented by his striking double pupils, making him highly popular among young girls and older women alike.
(T/N: In the novel, Dai Mubai had double pupils, in the manhua he is depicted as having heterochromatic eyes, one blue and one red.)
However, when Xiao Wu stepped onto the stage, the cheers from the male audience instantly drowned out those of the girls and women.
No matter how handsome a young man might be or how much he pleased the ladies, how could he compare to an adorable bunny-eared beauty?
In the end, the majority of the world's population consisted of simps.
"The Spirit Fight begins!"
After the middle-aged referee finished speaking, he began to retreat.
Immediately, both Xiao Wu and Dai Mubai summoned their martial souls, and three soul rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—shone brightly.
Of course, Xiao Wu's soul rings were disguised; otherwise, her nearly thousand-year second soul ring and four-thousand-year third soul ring would have been glaringly suspicious to anyone with eyes.
"Third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"
Knowing that Xiao Wu was no weakling, Dai Mubai unleashed his third soul skill right at the start. His already muscular frame, enhanced by his beast martial soul, swelled even further, combined with the imposing aura of his White Tiger martial soul, drastically increasing his presence.
On the other hand, Xiao Wu remained as lively and innocent as ever, showing no reaction to Dai Mubai's thousand-year soul skill.
However, when Dai Mubai completed his transformation and charged toward Xiao Wu, she moved.
With a burst of speed, Xiao Wu sprinted forward, her second soul ring glowing as a flash of pink light appeared in her eyes.
Instantly, an intangible and formless surge of spiritual power descended. Dai Mubai's charging figure froze, and he stood rooted in place.
When it came to mental strength, though both were offensive-type soul masters, how could Dai Mubai compare to Xiao Wu, who cultivated the Black-tier Spirit Refining skill?
Moreover, Xiao Wu's soul power level surpassed Dai Mubai's, and her nearly thousand-year mental control soul skill made resistance futile.
The twenty-meter-diameter fighting platform wasn't large, and the distance between them was crossed in an instant. Xiao Wu kicked off with her long legs, delivering a powerful kick straight to Dai Mubai's chest.
Though they were from the same academy, Xiao Wu spared Dai Mubai some dignity by not aiming for his face.
While it may have seemed like an ordinary kick, its impact depended entirely on who delivered it.
Keep in mind that at level 30, Xiao Wu could withstand a four-thousand-year soul ring. Now, with her Body Refining skills reaching black-tier, her physical prowess rivaled that of a typical level 50 Soul King. Naturally, this kick carried immense force.
Had she aimed for his face, the defenseless Dai Mubai would have surely suffered a disfiguring blow.
BOOM—! Dai Mubai's entire body was sent flying through the air, tracing a parabolic arc before crashing heavily onto the ground below the platform with a dull thud.
Instantly, the area surrounding the twelfth sub-arena fell into stunned silence. Not only the spectators but even the referee, who had just stepped off the platform to watch the match, stood there with his mouth agape.
No one expected such a Spirit Fight to end so quickly. After all, the referee had barely left the platform to observe the match!
Was this it? Was this "Evil-Eyed White Tiger" nothing more than a paper tiger?!
"Geez, is Xiao Wu really that strong?"
From the spectator stand, seeing his former leader Dai Mubai get instantly defeated by Xiao Wu without resistance, Ma Hongjun couldn't help but whistle in astonishment.
"Of course! Without exaggeration, very few three-ring Soul Eldors on the continent can defeat Xiao Wu under equal conditions."
Chu Chengzhou said proudly.
Under his training—and guidance—Xiao Wu's strength far surpassed that of her counterpart in the original story during the same period. Her combat ability also far exceeded those at the same level in the original timeline.
Chu Chengzhou estimated that, on the continent, aside from himself, perhaps only Tang San, who specialized in hidden weapons, and Qian Renxue, who possessed a god-level martial soul and access to a Domain, could defeat Xiao Wu under equal soul power levels.
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