Two months later.
Suotuo City, Great Spirit Arena, Life and Death Zone—District One.
The spectator stands were packed with people, forming a vast black sea that stretched as far as the eye could see. All kinds of roars and shouts blended together, as if they were trying to lift the entire dome.
In the central arena, two figures were engaged in a fierce battle where every move could mean life or death. The sounds of fists and feet clashing rang out continuously. Occasionally, sprays of blood flew, further inciting the audience's fury.
One of them wore a mask with rabbit ears on her head. Though small in stature, she was unbelievably agile, surrounded by two yellow spirit rings. Who else could it be but Xiao Wu?
Her opponent was a thin, middle-aged man. His appearance was ordinary, but his martial soul was an extremely troublesome Shadow Cat. Not only was it incredibly fast, but its timing for appearing and disappearing was unpredictable, making him a highly elusive foe.
The spectators below could only catch faint, blurry afterimages before bloodstains appeared on Xiao Wu's body. Most importantly, he was surrounded by four spirit rings: one white, one yellow, and two purple. That was why tonight's life-and-death one-on-one match had been assigned to the first division.
A Soul Power level 28 "Enchanting Rabbit" was challenging a level 41 Soul Master known as "Shadow Cat."
Anyone who frequented the Great Spirit Arena would basically know the "Charming Rabbit." She looked delicate and fragile, yet she was unbelievably strong. Her favorite thing was to challenge opponents above her own level. She had an impressive record of victories: defeating two-ring opponents with just one ring, or three-ring opponents with two rings. Because of this, "Charming Rabbit" had become a hugely popular star in the Grand Arena. Whenever she fought, the stands were almost always full.
However, even in the Great Spirit Arena, it was rare for a two-ring fighter to face a four-ring fighter with such a large gap. No one knew what gave Charming Rabbit such confidence, but this fighting spirit was undoubtedly very attractive to the audience. Therefore, the Grand Arena had directly arranged for this match to be held in the largest sub-venue with the highest capacity. If the main arena weren't reserved exclusively for team battles, everyone there would have wanted this fight moved to the big stage. After all, the more people, the more money they could earn.
"Haha, Charming Rabbit, your secret has been exposed." Shadow Cat's low voice echoed from every direction as he moved at high speed. "The soul skill you created is indeed powerful. Even I don't have the courage to let you get close. But as long as I don't let you catch me, your soul skill is completely useless."
Facing a second-ring great soul master, a soul master who had undergone rigorous training had actually resorted to such despicable tactics. Far from feeling ashamed, his proud attitude showed just how wary Shadow Cat was of Xiao Wu.
He had studied the Enchanting Rabbit's combat style, and even he had to admit that he couldn't withstand her close-quarters combat alone. Therefore, the only way to win was through speed. Coincidentally, his fourth soul skill was an amplification skill that increased speed by 50%. Although he lacked powerful offensive strength, this elevated his speed to a whole new level and made him even more unpredictable. He held a natural advantage against the Enchanting Rabbit's close-range combat skills.
Xiao Wu ignored him. Her gaze beneath the mask was ice-cold. Bloodstains marked her arms, back, and thighs. If she hadn't activated her markings earlier, she probably wouldn't have lasted this long.
In contrast, Shadow Cat had only been hit by her twice so far, and both were hasty counterattacks that caused him no real damage. This shadow-like cat never gave her any opening to approach. He would touch and immediately retreat, never lingering. He was the most troublesome opponent she had ever faced.
Was she… still too impatient after all?
Having one more spirit ring didn't just mean one more soul skill—it also improved overall attributes. As levels increased, the gap between each level grew larger.
Meanwhile, in one corner of the spectator stands, two middle-aged men sat side by side, their expressions growing increasingly grim.
Zhao Wuji gripped the railing tightly with both hands. His face was tense, his eyes filled with anger and anxiety. He squeezed the iron railing so hard that it creaked and deformed.
"That damn brat is really something else," Zhao Wuji growled through gritted teeth, his voice dripping with rage. "I told her not to come, but she sneaked in anyway and even challenged a Spirit Ancestor. Has she gotten tired of living?"
"Old Zhao, quiet down!" Flender's voice was low. The white light reflecting off his glasses obscured his expression. "Since things have come to this, Xiao Wu must have a trump card."
"She has no trump card at all," Old Zhao spat. "I'm her teacher. Do you think I don't know her true strength?"
The more he spoke, the angrier he became. "I finally understand now. This brat is a genuine lunatic."
"With her talent, she could have easily reached Title Douluo level through steady cultivation, yet she deliberately chose the most dangerous path. Does she really think she's strong enough?"
He paused for a moment, then raised his voice several decibels. "If I find out who taught her to do this, I'll beat them to a pulp!"
Lin Yang, sitting behind them: "…"
Though his words were filled with anger, Zhao Wuji's concern was genuine. Inside the academy, the two constantly argued and fought, calling each other "Big Bear" and "Little Rascal," yet they were both formidable figures. Still, one had to admit that Xiao Wu's fiery temperament actually suited Zhao Wuji's taste. If anyone was most worried about the little rabbit's safety right now, it was undoubtedly Zhao Wuji.
On the stage, in just a few short minutes, Xiao Wu had sustained several more injuries. With the amplification from his fourth thousand-year spirit ring, Shadow Cat's speed had become terrifyingly fast. Relying solely on instincts honed in life-and-death situations, she could barely dodge his attacks. Every new bloodstain meant she was one step closer to death.
Was this her limit?
Xiao Wu's mind was in turmoil. Past events flashed through her mind like a slideshow. Da Ming, Er Ming, Big Bear, Dean Flender… and finally, Lin Yang's face surfaced. She faintly heard Lin Yang's voice in her ears: "Between life and death lies profound enlightenment. How can one break through their limits without pushing themselves to the brink?"
Gradually, her dodging grew sluggish. In the end, she seemed to give up resistance entirely and simply stood there in a daze.
"Giving up?" Shadow Cat's voice was full of mockery and triumph. "Very well. Then allow me to send you off."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shadow Cat's second spirit ring suddenly shone brightly.
Second soul skill: Shadow Strike!
His body transformed into a pitch-black shadow. The sharp claws at his fingertips glowed with a deep, eerie light as they slashed toward Xiao Wu's neck.
"How dare you!" Zhao Wuji suddenly stood up. His booming voice instantly drowned out the surrounding gasps of shock.
Behind him, Lin Yang also rose abruptly, ready to act, but he quickly stopped himself and slowly sat back down.
Whoosh!
A black light flashed. The Shadow Cat streaked past Xiao Wu in an instant. Xiao Wu didn't move an inch.
The entire venue fell silent. Everyone stared wide-eyed, waiting for the final outcome. Some gloated, some grieved, and others were filled with pure passion and excitement.
Would the once immensely popular "Charming Rabbit" be retired from service today?
However, Shadow Cat looked at his palm and frowned. A flash of surprise crossed his face.
Did he… just miss? Was it his imagination?
No, something was wrong. Something was definitely wrong!
Shadow Cat suddenly turned around, but the Enchanting Rabbit was still standing in the same spot. Yet in his eyes, her presence had completely vanished.
A corpse naturally wouldn't breathe. But the existence that had been there just a moment ago had disappeared without a trace in the next instant, as if the entire person had been erased from the world.
This was an extremely abnormal situation.