Chapter 56: Baptism of Blood

In terms of sheer strength and soul power, the Soul Master at level twenty-nine, Zhu Zhuqing, couldn't compete with the Soul Elder woman at level thirty-two. But when it came to reaction time and speed, this petite Soul Elder couldn't quite match Zhu Zhuqing.

After her initial strike failed, Zhu Zhuqing realized she had missed her opportunity and retreated immediately, looking for a new opening.

"Heh, you're brave, coming up here to die." The hulking man beside the petite woman sneered at Zhu Zhuqing, as well as Tang Yin standing behind her, clearly disdainful.

Meanwhile, other Soul Masters on the stage had already singled out their targets. The blood of those slain dyed the arena red, while more experienced Soul Masters were already racking up kills, turning the platform into a slaughterhouse.

The twin brothers, having unleashed their spirits, were killing like machines, tearing through opponents mercilessly.

The audience, instead of being horrified, erupted into frenzied cheers and shouts at the violent spectacle. Tang Yin and Zhu Zhuqing found themselves matched against this Beauty-and-the-Beast pair—the brawny man and the petite woman.

The brute, named Shi Kuan, possessed a rare spirit: the "Rock". His spirit rings, yellow, yellow, and purple, appeared around him, with his first yellow ring glowing the brightest. In an instant, his arms transformed into stone, like two massive rock hammers.

Boom!

Shi Kuan's stony fist collided with the air, creating a dull thud. A sinister grin spread across his face as he lunged at Zhu Zhuqing, fully intending to crush her to a pulp without the slightest hesitation.

Facing a level thirty-nine Soul Elder like Shi Kuan with a spirit as solid as "Rock," Zhu Zhuqing had little hope of winning. But just then, Tang Yin stepped forward, positioning himself between her and the brawler. With ease, he raised his hand and blocked Shi Kuan's stone punch.

"Risk everything to take her down," he said calmly to Zhu Zhuqing, gesturing toward the woman with the blood-colored claws.

Without hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing nodded, her form blurring into a shadow as she launched another attack at the blood-clawed woman.

"Ghostly Stab." Zhu Zhuqing's body seemed to meld with the darkness as she darted toward her opponent in a swift, silent charge.

The woman, experienced in the underground arena and having killed many, was confident in her battle skills and her spirit—the Blood Clawed Rat. She had the upper hand in combat experience and strength, though her spirit rings—white, yellow, and purple—were not the best configuration.

"Second Soul Skill: Blood Claw!" Her spirit possessed her, transforming her delicate hands into clawed weapons covered in blood-red fur. When she saw Zhu Zhuqing coming, she struck back.

Clang! Clang!

Zhu Zhuqing's first attack was parried, but her quick reflexes and lightning-fast movements allowed her to unleash another assault immediately. The blood-clawed woman found herself on the defensive, surprised by Zhu Zhuqing's relentless Ghostly Stab attacks.

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing pressing her opponent, Tang Yin shifted his gaze back to Shi Kuan. A faint green blade formed in his hand as he focused his spirit energy. His purpose here was twofold: to give Zhu Zhuqing a breakthrough opportunity and to hone his own killing intent. And the best way to do that was through bloodshed.

Shi Kuan saw Tang Yin's intention and sneered, "A little punk like you? I only need one punch to kill you." With surprising speed for his massive frame, Shi Kuan charged, fully intending to crush Tang Yin.

The audience, betting heavily on Shi Kuan, screamed their support, howling for him to destroy Tang Yin in one blow.

Unfazed by the crowd, Tang Yin lifted his green blade, moving with incredible precision. In an instant, he disappeared, leaving only a faint whisper in the air.

Swish.

A soft whistling sound broke the silence as Tang Yin reappeared behind Shi Kuan. Shi Kuan's stone fist froze mid-swing, his massive form immobilized.

"What's going on? Why isn't Shi Kuan moving?" the gamblers in the crowd shouted in confusion, their eyes fixed on the arena.

In the next moment, blood spurted from Shi Kuan's neck like a fountain, his head dropping to the ground and rolling several meters away.

"This... this... how is this possible?"

"Unbelievable!"

The audience was stunned. They had all bet on Shi Kuan, knowing well the extent of his power. But just like that, Tang Yin had killed him in an instant.

The petite Blood Clawed Rat woman was equally shocked. She had been patiently waiting for Zhu Zhuqing to tire herself out, after which she planned to kill her effortlessly. But now, seeing Shi Kuan's head lying nearby, she couldn't believe her eyes. Her face twisted with fear and disbelief.

"A fatal opening!" Zhu Zhuqing noticed the woman's distraction. Her second spirit ring flashed as she activated her skill, Ghostly Hundred Claws. Tang Yin's advice echoed in her mind: Strike quickly, smoothly, with precision and control.

This time, her Ghostly Hundred Claws skill felt more refined, clean, and direct. As the Blood Clawed Rat woman stood there in shock, Zhu Zhuqing closed in, unleashing hundreds of razor-sharp attacks that rained down in an instant.

Splat!

Blood sprayed and flesh tore as Zhu Zhuqing's claws ripped into the woman.

As Zhu Zhuqing looked down at her defeated opponent, she took in the gruesome scene, blood and shattered flesh everywhere.

Meanwhile, Tang Yin had become a death-dealing machine on the battlefield. His green blade flashed, cutting down opponents with ruthless efficiency. Not a single Soul Elder could withstand even one of his attacks; all fell swiftly, meeting their end.

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