Seeing Bu Le's furious expression, Oscar's face returned to calm, his eyes indifferent as he spoke:
"Then today, whether you live or die, will depend entirely on who is stronger."
Those words made Bu Le freeze again. For the first time, a chill crept into his heart.
This little brat—was he seriously talking about life and death so calmly? If Bu Le lost, would this child really dare to kill him? He might look like he was in his forties, but in truth, he wasn't even forty yet. To live this long and be shaken by a boy half his age—what a humiliation!
But no matter what, he didn't believe he could lose. After all, he was a Soul Elder.
In his eyes, this boy was just bluffing, trying to shatter his confidence.
Steeling his resolve, Bu Le said coldly:
"Fine, then let's fight!"
The open square at the front of the market was now deserted. Even those few people who had lingered were watching from a safe distance, unwilling to come close. The space was wide—perfect for a duel.
"Bu Le, Martial Spirit: Ghost Hands. Thirty-sixth rank Agility-attack Soul Elder!"
As his aura surged, Bu Le's hands twisted into sinister black claws. Paired with his greasy, lecherous grin, the sight was enough to disgust anyone.
With the activation of his martial spirit, three soul rings rose around his body: white, yellow, and yellow.
Just as Ma Hongjun had said yesterday, this man's soul ring configuration was far from ideal. Yet his spirit power had indeed reached the thirty-sixth rank, making him a genuine Soul Elder.
Oscar had originally planned to ambush him directly. But since Bu Le had openly declared his martial spirit and rank, Oscar couldn't very well break the unspoken rule of the soul master world.
This wasn't war, where anything goes for survival. In a duel, once someone stated their rank, the other party was expected to do the same.
Besides, Oscar thought, this was also the best chance to test himself against a real opponent.
"Oscar, Martial Spirit: Azure Spirit Jade Sword. Twenty-second rank Power-attack Soul Grandmaster!"
Oscar raised his left hand. Azure light flared as a jade-like longsword, about 1.2 meters long, appeared in his grasp. Two yellow soul rings rose around him, and his aura surged forward, astonishingly matching Bu Le's momentum.
But what Bu Le couldn't see was Oscar's right hand hidden behind his back—clenched tightly around his true martial spirit, the Supreme Sausage.
Yes—this was Oscar's trick. Using the external spirit bone fused to his left arm, he could summon the Jade Sword as a decoy martial spirit, perfectly concealing his real one.
The sausage itself wasn't long, small enough to hide completely in his palm. Even if he used spirit skills, he could disguise the energy fluctuations as if they came from the Jade Sword and quickly store the sausage in the soul tool on his finger.
Thanks to the flawless fusion of this external bone, even Zhao Wuji and Flender had nearly been fooled the first time he revealed it.
Ma Hongjun, of course, was already used to this routine. As soon as Oscar released his sword, he too summoned his martial spirit.
With a sharp phoenix cry, scarlet flames burst from his body, wings of fire unfurling behind him. A blazing crimson crown shimmered above his head, the imposing might of the Phoenix radiating in full.
A single yellow soul ring rose at his feet. Eyes burning with rage, Ma Hongjun bared his teeth. Yesterday, he had been crushed by Bu Le. But today—with Oscar here—he felt no fear. Only fighting spirit!
"Ma Hongjun, Martial Spirit: Evil Fire Phoenix. Fourteenth rank Power-attack Soul Master!"
The pressure of the two children's combined aura actually began to overwhelm Bu Le, a thirty-sixth rank Soul Elder.
Looking at Oscar—silver-haired, sword in hand, dressed in flowing white robes like an immortal youth—Bu Le felt his chest tighten. Coupled with those two glaring yellow rings, the boy's poise and bearing made it impossible to believe he came from an ordinary family.
His fear receded somewhat. Talents of this caliber never lie lightly. If he won, the boy would keep his promise and hand over one hundred gold soul coins.
Hidden in the shadows, Zhao Wuji grinned. Normally, he hadn't paid much attention in training, but now he realized: this brat Oscar was damn handsome. Only nine years old, and already giving off an aura that even Zhao himself couldn't match after nearly fifty years of living.
While Zhao Wuji watched with amusement, the battle began.
"Second Soul Skill: Instant Reach!"
Bu Le moved first. His second yellow soul ring flared, his speed suddenly skyrocketing. His short frame shot toward Oscar like a black blur.
At three meters, his first white soul ring lit up.
"First Soul Skill: Source of Evil!"
His claws struck out—
"Clang!"
The jade sword in Oscar's hand intercepted the blow, ringing like clashing steel.
But Bu Le's heart sank. Pain stabbed through his claws as if he had struck sharpened blades. This boy's sword cut far sharply than a normal weapon—this was no ordinary spirit ability.
And Oscar's strength—astonishing! His power rivaled Bu Le's despite the difference in rank.
That cutting effect came from the special ability of the external spirit bone: Severing Edge.
Oscar, meanwhile, judged Bu Le's strength carefully. To his surprise, the man wasn't all that impressive for a Soul Elder.
Sword flashing, Oscar pressed forward. Though not trained in swordsmanship, his two and a half years practicing Dragon Pattern Staff Technique gave him solid fundamentals. Each slash was precise and forceful.
Bu Le blocked furiously, enduring the sting with every clash.
At that moment, Ma Hongjun joined in. He dared not use his first soul skill with Oscar in close range, for fear of hitting his friend. Instead, dark-red flames gathered in his hands as he slashed at Bu Le with burning claws.
Alone, Bu Le would've laughed off the fourteen-rank soul master. But paired with Oscar, whose strength rivaled his own, the pressure mounted. For the first time, Bu Le was forced onto the defensive.
Grinding his teeth, Bu Le activated his second soul skill again to increase speed, dodging their combined assault. At the same time, his third soul ring lit up.
"Third Soul Skill: Invisible Strike!"
His speed surged once more, his figure vanishing into afterimages as he lunged for Oscar.
But Oscar's sword suddenly burst apart into shards of azure light.
Ten glowing jade swords materialized in the air, each a meter long, whistling toward Bu Le like deadly arrows.
At the same time, Ma Hongjun's first soul ring finally flared. With a phoenix's cry, scorching flames roared from his mouth.
Caught off guard, Bu Le's face twisted. His claws lashed out, shattering sword after sword with sheer speed and power.
But there were ten blades. After breaking nine, the last plunged deep into his thigh.
His speed faltered.
The fiery torrent of Phoenix Fire Line struck him head-on!
Clothes ignited instantly. His skin blackened, the stench of charred flesh filling the air.
In that moment, Oscar stepped forward, jade sword reforming in his hand. The blade came to rest coldly against Bu Le's neck.
Ma Hongjun cut off his flames.
But Bu Le could find no joy in survival.
He—a thirty-sixth rank Soul Elder—had been defeated by two children.