Chapter 34: Selection

Rather than this, let the three of Tie Li launch a strong attack on the opponent's three Second‑Ring Great Soul Masters, swapping their four for the opponent's three.

Fine.

Tie Li does not hesitate, gathering power and leaping toward the opponent's Control-type Soul Master, with Baijiao and Daise close behind.

"Fine, let's see who is faster," Zhang Yang says, a slight curve lifting the corner of his mouth in the air.

First Soul Technique, Dark Sky Curtain!

A dark-colored airflow surges toward the enemy, dealing damage and adding an effect that reduces the enemy's attack damage.

The two Soul Elders have already flashed to the sides of Duolangbu and the others, their sharp claws snapping out, ready to unleash a lethal strike at any moment.

Duolangbu's First Soul Ring lights up, and thick vines envelop the four of them, attempting to use this method to defend against the opponent's attack and buy time for the three of Tie Li.

At this moment, the three of Tie Li must face two Defense-type Soul Masters; they stand in front of the Control-type Soul Master, and these two Defense-type Soul Masters possess a certain shell-like martial soul, whose shells shed and become a means of defense.

The Control-type Soul Master they protect summons a human‑head‑sized leather drum martial soul, adept at controlling the field with sound waves.

"Buzz!"

The First Soul Ring lights up, the drum reverberates, and the three of Tie Li feel as if they are facing a hundred‑year‑old Soul Beast, letting out an angry roar.

Baijiao and Daise fall into a brief dizziness, while Tie Li shakes off the stun in an instant.

"What?" the Control-type Soul Master startles, only seeing Tie Li leap up.

The Forging Hammer in his hand slams hard toward the combined defense of the two Defense-type Soul Masters.

They are brothers, blood‑linked, and the subtlety between their martial souls surpasses that of ordinary Soul Masters!

The First Soul Ring and the Second Soul Ring encircling the hammer both light up simultaneously.

To break the combined defense of the two Defense-type Soul Masters, sufficient destructive power is required.

The Forge Hammer Martial Soul releases a massive amount of Lightning Light, its force astonishing.

"Boom—!"

A heavy hammer strike falls, and the duo's combined defense, centered on the point where the hammer hits, sprouts a dense network of cracks.

Fortunately, the brothers' martial soul quality is average; had they been a bit stronger, Tie Li wouldn't have been able to achieve this level!

"Shatter!"

At the critical moment, Kaiqi intervenes, shielding the two martial souls, though the pair sustains only minor injuries.

Zhang Yang on one side, the three easily break through Duolangbu's vine defense, and the fate of the four is already sealed.

Yang Xiaoyun is an Agile Attack-type Soul Master, but the opponent has two Defense-type Soul Masters protecting the Control-type Soul Master. Duolangbu doubts Yang Xiaoyun can break through the Defense-type Soul Masters, so he keeps her to help restrain the three Soul Elders, intending to make a play on her!

Yet the instant the vines are torn apart, all scheming appears pale and powerless.

Zhang Yang and the two others smile faintly at this, then they hear Tie Li blast open the combined defense of the two Defense-type Soul Masters.

"Very good, this round counts as a victory for Zhang Yang's team."

Kaiqi announces the result, stating he does not think the three of Tie Li, great Soul Masters, can handle the three Soul Elders.

But Kaiqi's assessment of Tie Li has risen considerably; no wonder the supervisor asked me to pay more attention to him—he truly is exceptional.

Seeing the approximate level displayed by the thirteen, Kaiqi disperses the group, rushes toward the combined team, and then engages in a showdown.

This time, Tie Li teams with a Night Ghost Cat Soul Master, plus Duolangbu and Caixin—one as controller, one as support—along with the two previously mentioned Defense-type Soul Masters; their joint defense is indeed solid.

This round pits their six against the remaining seven.

"Hey, we have an extra Three‑soul Soul Elder compared to you; you're already short on numbers, so you're certainly no match for us," Zhang Yang says confidently.

"No nonsense, do as I say," Kaiqi shouts.

Zhang Yang curls his lip, but does not retort.

The two teams discuss tactics again; during this, Tie Li learns the name of the three‑ring female Soul Master, Youhe!

The earlier sparring also gave Duolangbu a rough grasp of everyone's soul techniques, so tactically Duolangbu's arrangement will be somewhat better.

Tie Li and Youhe continue to launch strong attacks, and this time, with the combined defense of two Defense-type Soul Masters, Duolangbu need not worry as much about the opponent's Agile Attack-type Soul Elder.

When the battle resumes, Caixin's support soul technique lands on Tie Li and Youhe, and the two continue their strong attack according to the plan.

As Duolangbu had guessed, Zhang Yang indeed takes a Swift Wind Wolf Soul Master away from the main force, targeting Duolangbu and Caixin first.

But this time the outcome differs; with two Defense-type Soul Masters' joint defense, they cannot break it instantly, so Duolangbu manipulates vines on the front line to aid Tie Li and Youhe.

Before Zhang Yang and his companion can break the defense, they eliminate five opponents.

"This round, Zhang Yang's side loses!"

"Damn, just missed it," Zhang Yang laments.

At that moment he realizes he underestimated their joint defense; he actually cannot break it for a while.

He had just seen Tie Li's strike succeed and thought their defense was weak, but it turned out his assumption was wrong.

It was Tie Li's strike that was too powerful.

Kaiqi gives everyone an hour of rest, then begins to dismantle and reassemble the teams.

After the day's permutations, everyone returns to their rooms, exhausted and slightly faint.

In the room, Tie Li learns that the two people he lives with are the Defense-type Soul Masters capable of joint defense.

Through brief conversation, Tie Li gets to know them.

The two are brothers; their martial souls are identical, allowing them to execute joint defense.

Born as commoners, their parents are fishermen who earn a living by fishing; in the whole village, only the two were born with innate soul power, becoming Soul Masters.

Their martial soul is a shell clam, which caught Fu Zhuguan's attention during a 2‑vs‑2 Soul Battle at the Great Soul Battle Arena; they were invited to join the arena, and the Second Soul Ring was obtained through the arena's assistance.

Upon learning their names, Tie Li feels a strong affinity with them.

Because they are named Lin Wenlinwu, comparable to his own father's naming skill.

"We brothers plan to stay at the Great Soul Battle Arena from now on."

"We send the money we earn at the Great Soul Battle Arena back to our parents, letting them build a big house in the village, so they no longer need to go fishing."

The two brothers are older than Zhang Yang, they are twenty‑three, but they speak sincerely, which engenders a good impression.

"Then don't you want to keep some for yourselves, like for an auction? If you encounter weapons or spirit herbs you need, those all require Gold Soul Coin," Zhang Yang said from the side.

"We send money home, but our parents only want a little and keep telling us not to send more. Yet staying at the Great Soul Battle Arena, food and lodging are free, so we don't spend much," Lin Wen said.

After the two brothers learned that Tie Li came from a blacksmith shop and had also sent money to his family, their favor toward Tie Li increased considerably.

Perhaps in the eyes of the two brothers, Tie Li is a kindred spirit.

"You can keep it for now; your parents are ordinary people. If you send too many Gold Soul Coin home and attract ill‑intented people, that would be a bad thing," Tie Li said.

Lin Wen and Lin Wu's faces changed upon hearing it; they hadn't anticipated this issue, and it seems the brothers will need to be more careful in the future.

"Thank you," the two brothers said sincerely.

"It's nothing," Tie Li waved his hand. After the four chatted casually for a few sentences, they each went to their beds to rest; today had been very tiring.

(End of Chapter)