Chapter 319
Zhu Zhuqing and Meng Yiran!
When Oscar heard Lin Xia say "fight," he was stunned, as if struck by lightning.
He pointed to his nose, his voice rising eight octaves with anxiety, almost choked with sobs.
"Lord Lin! I... I'm a food-type Soul Master! I'm not good at fighting! You want me to fight her? That's sending me to my death..."
Before he could utter the word "death," Lin Xia raised her hand to interrupt him.
Lin Xia looked at Oscar's cowardly appearance, which was on the verge of tears, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.
This food-type genius, born with full soul power, has enormous potential and will definitely be a strategic resource in the future. He did indeed have some intention of recruiting him.
Lin Xia's voice carried a calming quality as she slowly spoke:
"Don't worry, I won't let you come."
These three words were like heavenly music, instantly lifting the huge weight off Oscar's heart. His legs went weak, and he almost sat back down on the ground. He patted his chest and gasped for breath, his face filled with the relief of surviving a disaster.
"Phew... You scared me to death! Lord Lin, please don't breathe so heavily when you speak..."
Lin Xia's gaze passed over Oscar and landed on Zhu Zhuqing, who was standing quietly beside him.
The girl was tall and slender, her skin as white as snow accentuated by her black dress. Her cool and aloof face revealed little emotion, like a deep, cold pool in a secluded valley. Only her deep cat-like eyes flashed with a barely perceptible focus when Lin Xia looked at her.
"Zhu Qing".
Lin Xia's voice rang out clearly in the somewhat empty forest.
"Why don't you go and accompany Miss Yiran?"
Without any hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly and replied in a clear, cool voice:
"Yes."
Lin Xia then added, her tone carrying an unquestionable air of authority.
"However, you cannot use your third soul skill. Your soul power... should ideally be suppressed to level twenty-nine, the same level as Miss Yiran. Understand?"
The reason Zhu Zhuqing was sent up last time was to test her control over her own power.
"clear."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded again, her voice still calm and even. She didn't even need to suppress it; with just a slight thought, the faint fluctuations of soul power on her body quickly subsided and settled, steadily remaining at the peak of the Great Soul Master realm, putting her on the same level as the fiercely competitive Meng Yiran opposite her.
Lin Xia's gaze then turned to Snake Granny Chaotianxiang and Meng Yiran, a faint smile on her face, and she added:
"However, you can rest assured. The competition will stop when the point is reached. Even if Miss Yiran loses,"
Lin Xia paused deliberately, noticing Meng Yiran pursing her lips in dissatisfaction.
“I will also help you find another suitable soul beast. I, Lin Xia, always keep my word.”
Chaotianxiang's cloudy yet gleaming old eyes gave Lin Xia a deep look.
This mysterious Lord Lin was not only incredibly powerful, but also meticulous in his actions. He offered her a way out and made a promise. She immediately bowed slightly, her tone becoming much more respectful.
"Lord Lin, you are very kind. On my behalf, I would like to express my gratitude to you."
At the same time, he gave his granddaughter a stern look.
Although Meng Yiran was proud and arrogant, she instinctively felt somewhat resentful towards Zhu Zhuqing, a girl who looked younger than her but possessed a mature and aloof temperament that she envied. However, she also understood that the "City Lord Lin," whom even her grandmother treated with utmost respect, was someone she absolutely could not afford to offend.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her fighting spirit and a trace of resentment, stepped forward, clasped her hands in a fist salute to Lin Xia, and spoke in a clear voice with sincerity.
"Thank you for your kindness and promise, Lord Lin! I will still do my best to live up to your good intentions!"
"Ah."
Lin Xia nodded in satisfaction, her gaze sweeping across the arena.
"Then let's begin. Zhu Qing, Miss Yi Ran, please." As Lin Xia's voice fell, the atmosphere in the room instantly became tense.
Flander, Dai Mubai, and the others had already retreated, creating a sufficiently large open space.
Oscar hid behind Tang San, nervously peeking out half his head.
Ning Rongrong's eyes held absolute trust in Zhu Zhuqing. Xiao Wu, on the other hand, watched the upcoming competition with curiosity.
Meng Yiran was the first to make a move!
"The Staff of the Serpent!"
She let out a sharp cry, and the two-meter-long snake-head cane in her hand instantly glowed with a deep brown light.
The staff seemed to come alive, emitting a soft hissing sound, and the snake head carving at the top was even more lifelike, with its fangs seemingly gleaming with a cold light.
Two yellow, century-old spirit rings rose from beneath her feet, encircling the now agile and dangerous serpent staff.
Her gaze sharpened, like a snake eyeing its prey, locking onto the aloof figure opposite her.
Zhu Zhuqing's reaction, however, was unusually calm.
She didn't summon her martial soul or reveal her soul rings; she simply lowered her body slightly, her whole being resembling a cheetah poised to pounce, or a fallen leaf about to disappear into the shadows.
His cool gaze calmly met Meng Yiran's, as if he were waiting for the perfect moment.
"Hmph! Playing tricks! Take this!"
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing did not move, Meng Yiran snorted inwardly and took the initiative to attack.
She pushed off with her feet, lunging forward, her snake staff flashing like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, carrying a cunning gust of wind, aimed straight at Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder blade!
The snake-like mouth part of the staff tip faintly emitted a dark green soul energy light, clearly containing a cold poison or paralyzing effect.
Just as the serpent staff touched his body!
Zhu Zhuqing made a move!
A black shadow moving at incredible speed!
Her movements were extremely concise, without a single unnecessary movement.
His body slid to the side as if boneless, narrowly avoiding the serpent staff's sharp edge.
The serpent staff barely grazed her clothes.
At the same time, her right hand brought together five fingers, and her fingertips instantly extended into sharp claws as sharp as daggers, gleaming with a dark metallic luster!
"First Soul Skill: Netherworld Thrust!"
The clear, cold voice was like an ice bead falling to the ground.
A dark, shadowy figure, like lightning tearing through space, moved with even greater speed than Meng Yiran's thrust, and lashed out at Meng Yiran's wrist, which was holding the snake staff!
Its speed was so great that it created a piercing whistling sound as it cut through the air!
Meng Yiran's pupils suddenly contracted!
She had no idea that the other person could be this fast!
Before the icy wind of the claws even reached my body, a bone-chilling coldness already emanated from my wrist!
She didn't even have time to change her move; she could only instinctively take a step back and forcefully flick her wrist upwards with her stabbing snake staff in an attempt to block the deadly claw.
"Clang!"
A piercing clang of metal rang out!
Zhu Zhuqing's sharp cat claws gripped the middle of the snake staff tightly!
The dark soul power collided with the deep brown soul power, sparks flying!
A tremendous force traveled through the serpent staff, causing Meng Yiran's wrist to go numb. She was horrified; what incredible power!
The opponent clearly suppressed their soul power, so why is their strength still so domineering?
Zhu Zhuqing missed her attack, and using the rebound force, her body floated backward like a weightless feather, instantly creating distance between them.
Her movements were fluid and graceful, her posture still cool and elegant, as if the fierce attack just now was just an illusion.
She stood quietly again, her cat-like eyes fixed on Meng Yiran, waiting for the next opportunity.
She strictly followed Lin Xia's instructions, not using her third soul skill, or even her second soul skill, relying solely on the basic amplification from her martial soul possession and the speed burst from her first soul skill. (End of Chapter)