Chapter 46: Xuanwu, Awakening!
"You want to duel me?" Lin Yun laughed, his expression strange.
He had seen people searching for others, but never someone so eager to look for a beating.
"What, are you afraid?" Xu Sanshi's tone was low, his tiger-like eyes locked firmly on Lin Yun. Under the provocation of the Golden Dragon King's pressure, a dense black light flashed in his gaze.
Xuanwu bloodline?
Interesting.
"Heh, a poor attempt at provocation. But since you want a fight, then we shall fight." Lin Yun shook his arm, knocking Xu Sanshi's hand away as he spoke with calm indifference.
An overwhelming force sent Xu Sanshi staggering three steps back. When he steadied himself, his face carried a trace of gravity.
As Beibei's close brother, Xu Sanshi had sparred with him often. He was deeply familiar with Beibei's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, and had even fought him in his Radiant Holy Dragon awakened state.
But even Beibei in that state was far weaker than Lin Yun. To repel him so casually would have been absolutely impossible.
As expected of the Golden Dragon, known as the progenitor of strength.
Would he win? Xu Sanshi asked himself in his heart, but the answer was always the same: absolutely not.
Yet even a battle destined for defeat—so what?
For the sake of Nan Nan, this worthless life was nothing to speak of. "Let's go, see you at the Soul Arena!" Xu Sanshi took a deep breath, then turned and walked away.
Lin Yun shrugged, finishing the roasted fish in his hand before following along. Since someone wanted a beating, a bit of post-meal exercise would do no harm.
Lin Yun and Xu Sanshi had reached an understanding, but someone else was not pleased.
Seeing Xu Sanshi once again entangling himself with her—now even provoking Lin Yun, whom she had just met—Jiang Nannan felt an incomparable malice. She thought Xu Sanshi was imprisoning her, arbitrarily interfering in her personal relationships.
"Xu Sanshi! Stop right there!" Jiang Nannan screamed in emotional collapse, her voice turning sharp.
"Who I speak to is none of your business. You have nothing to do with me—stay away from me!"
"Nan Nan..." Xu Sanshi's body stiffened. He slowly turned around, his gaze complicated as he looked at the near-hysterical Jiang Nannan.
"Hate me if you will, resent me if you must. I will not give up on you. No one will take you from my side!" Xu Sanshi muttered under his breath, then resolutely turned and headed for the Soul Arena, the battle intent within him steadily boiling.
He could feel it—his restless Xuanwu bloodline was yearning for a fierce, unrestrained fight.
Watching the two men gradually walk away, tears streamed down Jiang Nannan's face. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed toward the ground. Fortunately, Tang Ya had arrived in time, swiftly catching her and gently patting her back.
"Why… why won't he ever let me go? Why does he haunt me like a shadow?" Jiang Nannan sobbed softly.
Tang Ya sighed helplessly, exchanged a look with Beibei, and supported Jiang Nannan away from the snack street toward the academy.
Luckily, Lin Yun and Xu Sanshi's duel had drawn most of the onlookers away. Otherwise, there would have been an even bigger crowd watching the scene.
Beibei and Tang Ya understood each other well. Seeing Tang Ya's signal, Beibei nodded knowingly and also headed toward the Soul Arena.
Only those who knew them well understood that Beibei and Xu Sanshi—dubbed the Twin Stars of the Outer Court—were rumored to be rivals, constantly competing, but in truth were close friends.
Since Xu Sanshi had challenged Lin Yun, there was no way Beibei would miss such an event.
By the time Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan returned to the dormitory, Beibei had arrived at the Soul Arena's lounge.
"I told you not to be impulsive. Why did you still go and challenge him on a hot head?" Beibei asked helplessly, looking at the silent Xu Sanshi seated in the chair.
"Seeing him with Nan Nan—I couldn't accept it," Xu Sanshi said in a low voice.
"You… at this point, talking is useless. You'd better pray he doesn't hit too hard," Beibei shook his head, sitting down opposite Xu Sanshi.
"Still, there's a lot to gain from fighting him. To be honest, even I want to spar with him, to witness the power of the Golden Dragon Martial Soul for myself."
Ignoring Beibei's own rising battle spirit, Xu Sanshi rose and walked toward the passage, for the Soul Arena match was about to begin.
That back view looked nothing like someone going to compete—more like someone heading to their death.
Seeing this, Beibei also left the lounge and headed for the spectator stands.
When Lin Yun stepped onto the stage, Xu Sanshi was already standing firmly on the opposite side, fully prepared.
"One-on-one Soul Duel. From the Outer Court's sixth-year class, Xu Sanshi, versus the Outer Court's first-year student, Lin Yun. During the match, causing permanent injury is forbidden. Surrendering voluntarily or losing the ability to fight will end the match," the referee announced loudly.
"Any questions?"
Both Lin Yun and Xu Sanshi shook their heads.
"Good, then—begin!"
Martial Soul, Possession!
Golden and black light flared at the same time. Lin Yun's right hand transformed into a dragon claw, while a thick shield appeared on Xu Sanshi's right arm. Three soul rings rose around each of them.
It was Xu Sanshi's first time seeing Lin Yun's soul ring configuration—something that did not belong to this era—and it put heavy pressure on him.
Only after Lin Yun's Martial Soul was possessed did he truly feel that irresistible dragon's might. Especially under Lin Yun's directed hostility, Xu Sanshi even had the urge to kneel and worship.
Xuanwu?
What of Xuanwu? In the Douluo Continent, the dragon race were the true rulers.
"Come on, don't just stand there. You went out of your way to challenge me—you're not really planning to hide like your Martial Soul, waiting for me to beat you, are you?" Lin Yun smiled faintly, beckoning toward Xu Sanshi with a few playful tones in his voice.
Even with the same thirty-seventh rank, Lin Yun could defeat Xu Sanshi easily—one hand was enough.
It had to be said, Lin Yun's taunts were effective. Xu Sanshi's blood ran hot instantly, his eyes flooding with red.
With a low roar, thick black light engulfed him, and within it, two red glows appeared like eyes.
Others might have their vision blocked by the black light, but Lin Yun could clearly see Xu Sanshi's changes. His already heavy shield became even sturdier, swelling to the size of a door panel. The two red lights were the eyes of a serpent coiled upon the shield.
This was Xu Sanshi's trump card—the power hidden deep within his bloodline.
Xuanwu Awakening!
The black light gradually dispersed, revealing the Xuanwu Shield, evolved from the Dark Tortoise Shield, along with Xu Sanshi's taller, more robust frame.
"Now this is getting interesting. Come!"
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