Chapter 57: Dark Demon Evil God Tiger: God-Level Martial Soul vs. God-Level Soul Beast, The

The next day, at Shi Shi Laike Academy, in the Lingban Sect classroom.

A golden-haired girl with a high ponytail sat in her seat, her face beautiful, bearing a rare heroic spirit in the world; her back was straight as a sword as she held a book on mecha manufacturing theory, studying it carefully.

A round, chubby fat boy forced his steps low, shuffling beside the golden-haired girl like a clumsy great bear, and said cautiously, "Miss Ye Xinglan, have you had breakfast?"

"No, I need to study mecha manufacturing," Ye Ye Xinglan said lightly.

The fat boy's eyes instantly lit up; after saying, "I have a big meat bun," two plump, white Recovery Meat Buns appeared in his hand, and he urged earnestly, "I have buns, Miss Ye Xinglan, eat some to replenish your nutrition!"

"No need, you can go back."

"Oh, oh, okay."

Hearing Ye Ye Xinglan's refusal, Xu Xu Lizhi hurriedly agreed, not daring to urge even half a sentence more; he ran back to his own seat in a quick trot, then tilted his head to find an angle, gazing with reluctant attachment at Ye Ye Xinglan's pale side profile from the corner of his eye.

Although the silver-haired girl in the same class was undoubtedly more beautiful than Ye Ye Xinglan, Xu Xu Lizhi was utterly captivated by that heroic, cold, pretty face; as long as he watched her from afar, his heart would gain great satisfaction.

While secretly observing his goddess, Xu Xu Lizhi could see two empty desks to Ye Ye Xinglan's left. With about twenty minutes still before class, according to Xiang Xiang Naer's daily habit, she would step into the Lingban Sect classroom punctually in five minutes, meaning Xu Xu Lizhi could be alone with Ye Ye Xinglan for a final five minutes.

For a year, Xu Xu Lizhi had no worries; after all, he desired little, and a single glance or a simple sentence from Ye Ye Xinglan was enough to make him feel happy.

Of course, the premise was that Ye Ye Xinglan did not give others treatment exceeding what she gave him.

Xu Xu Lizhi knew clearly in his heart that Ye Ye Xinglan was a textbook Limit Douluo soul master, wholly devoted to pursuing the sword Dao, and subconsciously admired the strong.

Once a peerless genius of the same age appeared who surpassed her in every aspect, Ye Ye Xinglan, who believed in the supremacy of the strong, would inevitably turn her gaze toward them.

By sheer coincidence, there were two such monsters in Shi Shi Laike's Lingban Sect; Xu Xu Lizhi knew Ye Ye Xinglan had already taken them as her goals for struggle, especially the peerless monster who reached the top of the Youth Genius Rankings at the age of ten.

What made Xu Xu Lizhi feel incredibly fortunate was that the peerless monster did not return to the Lingban Sect for a long time after going to the Huang Jinshu to comprehend the Dao.

During that previous period, Xu Xu Lizhi lived in constant fear and trembling, unable to even imagine what he should do if, in the process of Ye Ye Xinglan constantly chasing the strong, they sparked a pink flame between them.

Therefore, Xu Xu Lizhi quietly hoped in his heart that that person's seclusion would last longer, even longer...

"Creak—"

The classroom door was pushed open from the outside; Xu Xu Lizhi instinctively looked over, his massive flesh trembled violently for an instant, and his pupils immediately began to dilate.

The silver-haired girl, long absent, revealed a brilliant smile, linking arms with the black-haired boy with a graceful, charming laugh; the boy, as always, had a clear, handsome face and a gentle aura like a modest gentleman, showing no trace of the wild fury from battle.

Seeing the black-haired boy, Ye Ye Xinglan's sapphire eyes rippled imperceptibly, then she spoke softly, "Congratulations on emerging from seclusion."

"Thank you."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen smiled in reply; after a year apart, Ye Ye Xinglan had grown more and more beautiful with the passing of time, blossoming into a graceful young lady. Xu Xu Lizhi had grown from a small fat boy into a medium fat boy, with the trend of developing into a big fat boy.

For some reason, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen caught a bitter yet helpless expression on Xu Xu Lizhi's fat face, a sense of powerlessness watching his goddess drift away helplessly.

A quarter-hour passed in an instant; Shen Yi stepped into the Lingban Sect classroom with the school bell, showing no surprise at Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's appearance. Her teacher, Red Dragon Limit Douluo Zhuoshi, was a Sea God Pavilion elder who had witnessed the scene the previous day where the Huang Jinshu Spirit supported Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, and had informed his little disciple Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's news in advance.

"Class begins; today we will discuss Dou Armor."

Shen Yi dutifully imparted knowledge related to Dou Armor, while the four students below each had different thoughts.

Ye Ye Xinglan listened extremely carefully, afraid of missing a single knowledge point. Although Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's soul power had indeed improved greatly, he had neglected his second profession cultivation for a year; if he were to directly craft a two-character Dou Armor, he would need an even more solid second profession, so this class should serve as a review of past knowledge.

With her childhood sweetheart safely breaking through his seclusion, Xiang Xiang Naer's mood had already shifted from cloudy to sunny; like a top scholar, she listened to the lesson while diverting part of her attention to observe Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's every move.

Whether students listened or not, the teacher on the podium knew clearly; Shen Yi was quite surprised that the student who was daydreaming in this class was Xu Xu Lizhi. The small fat boy had always been honest and steady, like a diligent, hardworking old yellow ox; who would have thought he would also have moments of wandering into the heavens.

The morning's Dou Armor class ended quickly; Shen Yi announced the dismissal and kept Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen alone.

Everyone understood the reason; Xiang Xiang Naer made a fist-pumping gesture of encouragement, then returned to Sea God Island first.

"Zhao Xuanzhen, you missed last year's final exam; you need to take a make-up exam this afternoon," Shen Yi said gently.

"Mm." Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen nodded slightly, "Trouble you, Teacher Shen."

"It's a small matter."

As the homeroom teacher of the Lingban Sect, Shen Yi naturally had to accompany Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen to the final exam venue.

The two walked out of the teaching building and ended up all the way in the Outer Court, where the Life-and-Death Arena unveiled its veil. Shi Laike an ancient cage surrounded by walls, the grey-green brick walls were covered in dark red vines; those vine surfaces were dotted with fine bumps, like countless sleeping blood vessels pulsing slightly.

"This place was formerly the academy's beast arena, where many hundred-year and thousand-year soul beasts were kept in captivity," Shen Yi introduced.

"Ten thousand years ago, when soul spirits were born, the relationship between humans and soul beasts improved greatly; to show the sincerity of permanent peace between the two races, the academy voluntarily released the soul beasts from the beast arena, and the arena fell into disuse."

As the era continued to develop, soul tool technology advanced by leaps and bounds; one top-tier soul tool technology facility after another emerged, such as the Spirit Tower's Spirit Ascension Platform, the Tang Sect's Hero Hall, and the academy's Gate of Glory.

After discussion at a certain Sea God Pavilion meeting, the abandoned beast arena was reactivated, transformed into the Life-and-Death Arena, and designated as one of the assessment venues to test students' combat abilities."

Shen Yi's tone gradually grew serious: "The danger level of the Life-and-Death Arena is far higher than that of the Gate of Glory; a soul master's outstanding talent is not only not an advantage but may even become a disadvantage."

"Remember not to be soft-hearted; only when one side dies can the life-and-death battle end and the space be exited."

"I understand."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen stepped into the ancient stone gate of the Life-and-Death Arena, his body gradually swallowed by the grey thick fog.

The Life-and-Death Arena was a simple yet enormous circular arena, devoid of any decorations, so vast it seemed endless; the fog obscured the sky, with no sun or moon, only boundless darkness.

"Identity verification passed; welcome to the Life-and-Death Arena." A distorted, strange voice suddenly echoed.

"Lingban Sect's Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, soul power level forty-one, martial soul True Self, talent level gold."

"The Life-and-Death Arena is now matching you with an opponent of equal strength..."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen stood in place, looking with interest at the grey fog surging wildly hundreds of meters away.

The Life-and-Death Arena was actually also a false battle space; death would not affect reality, it was merely a life-and-death battle against soul beasts matched according to talent.

Ye Ye Xinglan was the Death Spider Empress, Xiang Xiang Naer was the Ice Snow Empress; Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen was somewhat curious what kind of soul beast the so-called gold talent would face.

"Match successful; Soul Beast Number Zero enters the battle."

The mist dispersed, and a giant tiger, pure black from head to toe, walked out slowly with a domineering stride. Its blood-red beast eyes were filled with a fierce aura; the black king character on its forehead was as gloomy as dark clouds; its tail, raised high, was composed of countless bone joints, with a ferocious inverted hook at the very top, shimmering with a sinister, cold light.

"Dark Demon Evil God Tiger?"

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's gaze darkened slightly; this matching mechanism really brought an opponent of equal strength!

Limit Douluo S1 Season Supreme King, a god-level soul beast corresponding to a god-level martial soul, the Evil God bloodline descendant, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger!

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's glorious achievements need not be repeated; with sixty thousand years of cultivation, it reversed the tide against Title Limit Douluo Tang San; its ultimate trump card nearly brought Tang San down; after its death, the Evil God's inner core incidentally created another God King in the Great God Circle!

A god-level martial soul True Self battling a god-level soul beast, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger; Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen could not determine whether this creature before him was stronger or weaker than the true Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, but he could be certain that even if it could not mimic the Evil God bloodline, Shi Shi Laike Academy had certainly compensated with heaven-defying numerical values!

Black, black, black, gold—the four soul rings released instantly. Blinding golden light, wrapped around the deep radiance blooming from the third soul ring, erupted. From the very opening, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, without hesitation, activated the Golden Awakening and the Way of Wuji!

With two enhanced soul techniques attached to his body, the majestic momentum of his true self soared upward. Ripples surged and spread through the air, wave after wave. Yet the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger felt no fear; instead, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen had ignited within it a fierce, man-eating killing intent!

"Roar—"

The tiger's roar shook heaven and earth. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's claw-blades tore through the air, the claws flashing with the cold, hard color of poured molten metal.

A blood-tinged wind rushed toward his face. Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's figure swayed like willow catkins. The first soul technique, Qi Follows the Heart, attached to both palms. The "Embrace the Sparrow's Tail" brushed past the tiger's claw. While redirecting force by borrowing momentum, the thousand-jun power of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was drawn and slammed into the ground!

Under the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's brute force, the earth tore open with fissures. Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen unfolded the Bagua Bagua Qimen. The position of Kan Water surged violently, and towering water waves seeped out from the ground of the Life-and-Death Arena. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger roared, its inner evil power exploding, and the gray light forcibly shattered the waves.

Clouds follow the dragon, wind follows the tiger. Wild winds raged from all directions, wailing and sobbing like the cries of vengeful ghosts. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger itself was a supreme soul beast that gathered the three attributes of evil, wind, and thunder into one. Accelerated by the wild winds, the tiger's claw struck out again, aiming straight for Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's head!

"Xun character, Wind Lock."

The wind was no longer the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's protector; it transformed into chains that coiled around its limbs. Those evil eyes blazed with fierce light. Ignoring its body suspended in mid-air by the chains, the tail's Evil God Hook, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, suddenly extended three zhang, becoming a shadow that stabbed toward Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's back!

The Li character's Fire Dragon roared out from the void. The dragon's claw and the Evil God Hook collided fiercely. Evil energy and blazing flames twisted and rose, dyeing half of the Life-and-Death Arena into a chaotic expanse of gray and red.

"Kun character, Earth Tremor!"

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's assault did not end there. The earth trembled. Massive earth pythons, each with a single horn on its head, rose and turned over. Under the shocked gaze of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, the earth pythons mimicked the attack method of the Evil God Hook, their single horns fiercely stabbing toward the relatively soft abdomen of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger!

"Boom!!!"

The giant tiger fell to the earth, its body forming a huge crater. After a roar, that mighty form reappeared, stomping heavily on the ground. Countless cracks instantly appeared on the Life-and-Death Arena platform, spreading outward like a spiderweb, finally reaching Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's feet.

The giant tiger rubbed its mouth full of bone-chilling sharp teeth. Several deep wounds, visible to the bone, marred its body. The Kun character technique was all-pervasive, destroying its flesh.

The Evil God Hook on its tail swayed. This was a sign that the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's killing desire had reached its peak. Its beast eyes locked deathly onto the tiny human.

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen wore a Solemn Expression. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger lived up to its name as a god-level soul beast. Among soul masters and soul beasts on the Limit Douluo Continent with the same realm, very few had the ability to exchange even a few moves with him. This creature had almost withstood a single Kun character Dao technique, yet its combat power seemed largely undiminished, revealing just what realm its strength had reached.

For one human and one beast to fight across realms was a common occurrence; indeed, they rarely fought enemies of the same realm. Now, for both of them, it was a novel experience.

The two, locked in battle, faced each other as if confronting a great enemy. Shen Yi, the sole observer outside the arena, was utterly stunned. That was the legendary Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, the Number Zero soul beast that had never been triggered by any student in the Life-and-Death Arena!

When the Shi Shi Laike elders who created the Life-and-Death Arena established the matching mechanism, they set six levels. Shi Laike the colors of soul rings, they were divided into white, yellow, purple, black, red, and gold.

White represented a soul saint talent; yellow equaled a soul duke; purple, a title duke; black, a super duke; red, the Limit Duke standing at the peak of the Limit Douluo Continent; and gold was a prophecy left by the Shi Shi Laike ancestors.

If the Life-and-Death Arena welcomed a student with the potential for godhood, the Number Zero soul beast, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, would be the most difficult opponent he would ever face in his life.

Even Tang San's ancestor, back in his day, held a soul power advantage. The creators of the Life-and-Death Arena found it unbelievable that a descendant could defeat the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger when their soul powers were comparable!

Inside the Life-and-Death Arena, the life-or-death slaughter continued. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger seemed to have inherited the will of the creators, refusing to believe that any life form of the same realm could defeat it!

Gray mist churned like a living thing, swallowing all colors. The innate domain of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger clan suddenly expanded. Within the scope of the Dark Demon Domain, evil energy transformed into winding ghostly shadows, forming a painting of brutality and savagery.

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger sneered at the human. This was the innate power brought by the Evil God's strength. Under the Dark Demon Domain, it was the ruler of all things!

"Buzz—"

The brilliant golden light of the soul ring granted by the Huang Jinshu blazed intensely. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's sneer faltered, for a second domain had appeared within the Life-and-Death Arena!

Ancient trigram runes hung around Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen. Soul power flowed through his limbs and bones. Black and white energy currents, like clouds obscuring the sky, covered the Life-and-Death Arena, including the Dark Demon Domain that the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger took pride in!

Yin and Yang energy currents roared past. The winding ghostly shadows of the Dark Demon Domain shattered into countless dust particles. Even the endless gray mist of the Life-and-Death Arena screamed in fear as it was swept away by the Yin and Yang!

Fourth soul technique, Taiji Domain!

(End of this chapter)