Very soon, Xiao Lin's crisp, decisive slap jolted the host and the entire audience back to their senses.
They had been watching so intently that they'd completely forgotten—the match was already over.
That utterly ordinary, yet somehow profoundly meaningful slap left everyone stunned and awestruck.
"Holy crap!!!"
"It's over?!"
"He's too strong! I was rooting for the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, but one slap from this Soul Ancestor level powerhouse just woke me up from that brotherhood fantasy!"
"I'll never support the Evil-Eyed White Tiger again—I'm the Soul Ancestor's loyal dog now!"
…
As cheers erupted one after another from around the arena, Xiao Lin had already walked calmly off the stage and back to the rest area.
He hated it when others interrupted his thoughts.
He was still thinking—
What would happen if Dai Mubai only picked transformation-type skills in the future?
What if someone like Tang Ni used them instead?And if he himself chose a transformation-type skill, how would that change things?
After mulling it over—thanks to Dai Mubai's unwitting inspiration—Xiao Lin reached a conclusion:
Transformation skills were useless.
Theoretically, no one could keep stacking transformation-type soul skills endlessly.Such transformations put immense pressure on the user's body.
Not everyone could handle repeatedly using them.
Even Tang Ni couldn't. When she repeatedly activated her first soul skill transformation, her body came under tremendous strain.
When Dai Mubai, battered and broken, had tried to transform again, Xiao Lin had actually been willing to let him go.He had no real grudge against him—he'd just intended to leave him with a lesson.
But then Dai Mubai chose to transform.So that final slap was mercy—it could have been the end of him otherwise.
"Idiot," Xiao Lin muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile, in the waiting area, Shan Ji (the "Rooster") had been trembling uncontrollably ever since witnessing Xiao Lin's overwhelming power. His legs wouldn't stop shaking.
A soul master of that level displaying such raw combat ability—it was almost impossible.
From his years of experience, Shan Ji could only conclude one thing:
Xiao Lin was an absolute genius.
Judging by his mastery of fire, Shan Ji even began to suspect Xiao Lin was some secret weapon sent by Blazing Fire Academy.
As for Xiao Lin's outward appearance—he looked about twenty-four—but Shan Ji could see through it immediately.
Makeup. Definitely makeup!
Either that, or the result of hellish, brutal training that made him look prematurely mature.
Only a prodigy could explain that kind of monstrous power.
After all, normally—even if a soul master had higher soul power or better skills—it was rare for anyone to utterly crush another soul master of the same rank.
Realizing Xiao Lin's terrifying background, Shan Ji dared not even consider challenging him.
But then… he heard the words he least wanted to hear.
"Next match—Shan Ji versus Destiny!"
Hearing the host's announcement, Shan Ji gulped audibly.
No way… I'm fighting Destiny?!
He looked over nervously at the intimidating Xiao Lin, then shifted his gaze toward the quiet, seemingly gentle girl beside him—Tang Ni.
After a moment, he let out a sigh of relief.
Even if Xiao Lin was some monstrous secret weapon, surely not every member of Blazing Fire Academy was that terrifying, right?
This girl "Destiny" looked soft and quiet—a gentle young lady.
As long as he surrendered fast enough, he wouldn't get beaten.
…Or so he thought.
What he forgot was that "Destiny" was the duo name of Xiao Lin and Tang Ni—
a name that hinted at her nature.
By the time Shan Ji climbed nervously into the ring to comfort himself,Tang Ni was already there, staring at him like a predator eyeing prey.
"Begin!"
After a brief introduction, the host decisively started the match.
The very next instant, Tang Ni's entire body erupted in golden flames—and in the blink of an eye, she was in front of Shan Ji.
He had just opened his mouth to shout "I surrender—" when her fist smashed into his face.
"I surre—"
BANG!
He barely got the first two syllables out before being sent flying.The host, of course, knew what he meant.
But he didn't speak up. Shan Ji's habit of picking weak opponents had annoyed the arena organizers—and the audience.
So the host pretended not to hear.
As Shan Ji reeled from both Tang Ni's blinding speed and the host's silence,
Her relentless assault continued without pause.
Compared to Xiao Lin's iron fists, her attacks were almost artistic.
Xiao Lin didn't rely on precision—he just pummeled until his target couldn't move, then injected the Extreme Flame at key points.
Tang Ni, however, was a master of precision.Every punch struck at a vital spot on Shan Ji's body.
"You little worm—you dared scheme against me? You must have a death wish!"
Because Tang Ni wasn't just any fighter—she could literally see fate.
Trying to pull tricks around her was like cheating on an exam right in front of the teacher.
Just because the teacher didn't stop you didn't mean she hadn't noticed.Sometimes, the teacher waits for you to finish…then fails you completely—and hands down a harsh punishment.
Shan Ji froze in horror when he heard her words.
He remembered clearly—when he'd secretly bribed someone to switch matchups,he had checked carefully to ensure no one nearby.
There was no one within five meters—certainly not Tang Ni and Xiao Lin, who were much farther away!
How could she possibly know?
Shocked, Shan Ji even forgot to summon his spirit.He just hugged his head, curling up to shield himself from her onslaught.
The next second, in the brief instant her fists missed his face,Shan Ji grit his teeth through the pain and finally completed his Spirit Possession.
In a flash, his body transformed—into a pangolin covered in earthy yellow scales.
If I can just dig my way out of here, out of the ring, I'll lose—but at least I'll live!
That was his desperate thought.
White, yellow, yellow, purple—his four spirit rings flashed as he curled into a ball,hands and feet digging rapidly into the arena floor to escape.
But how could Tang Ni let him?
With a whip-like kick, she slammed her leg squarely into his back.
The impact sent his organs twisting violently inside him.Before he could even react, he was already flying toward the edge of the stage—
BANG!
He crashed hard into the arena's defensive barrier—then rebounded like a ball, rolling helplessly back to Donnie's feet.
Then—another golden right leg lashed out.
THUD!
She kicked him away again.
The poor Rooster was completely at her mercy,bounced around between her two feet like a toy.
With the dizzying spins and bone-crushing kicks,he couldn't even form the words "I surrender."
Damn it! I'll fight you to the death!
he roared inwardly.
His eyes flashed coldly. As his body rebounded toward her again,he curled up tightly—like a puffer fish—and suddenly expanded, covered in sharp spikes.
He wanted to use his rebound momentum to impale Donnie—to stab her full of holes.
But the next moment—
CRACK!
His spikes shattered instantly.Tang Ni's immense strength crushed through them,snapping his spine and rupturing his internal organs.
"Gah—!"
Blood spurted from Shan Ji's mouth.He reverted from his spirit form and collapsed to the ground,barely able to glimpse Donnie's faint, knowing smile.
Impossible… this is impossible!
He was utterly shaken.
He prided himself on his defense and trickery—his entire arsenal built around burrowing, fortifying, and hiding underground,with only one poisonous spike attack.
Normally, any opponent would have been worn down to exhaustion.
But now—his surrender attempt had been seen through,his escape attempt had been seen through,and even his final counterattack had been seen through.
Could this woman… actually see the future?!
Before the thought could even form fully,darkness swallowed his vision—
—and he collapsed, unconscious.
(End of Chapter)