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To achieve nine consecutive victories in the Great Spirit Arena, Evil Tiger's strength and on-the-spot judgment were undoubtedly formidable.
With a single strike, Evil Tiger's tiger claws managed to block the sword qi with brute force.
For the next thirty seconds, neither side made a move. They maintained their distance, searching for an opening in each other's defenses.
Most of the spectators weren't soul masters and couldn't discern the nuances of the battle. Impatient, they began to boo loudly.
Evil Tiger remained unfazed by the audience. Shaking his aching palms, he thought to himself:
"This kid didn't rush to attack after gaining an initial advantage—this opponent isn't easy to deal with."
His first soul skill carried extraordinary momentum.
Some individuals with weak resolve would lose their ability to resist just from witnessing it.
But Ning Tianchen not only remained calm but also responded with practiced composure.
Moreover, the sharpness in his eyes was far beyond what one would expect from a youth.
This wasn't going to be an easy fight.
During the standoff, Ning Tianchen continuously built up his momentum.
He infused the Seven Kill Sword with a great deal of soul power. Sensing the timing was right, he raised the sword above his head and slashed downward forcefully.
The blade emitted a crisp ringing sound as white sword qi burst forth, targeting his opponent's vital points.
But he wasn't done yet. Ning Tianchen followed up with a horizontal slash, creating two intersecting sword qi that formed a "cross" shape, pressing down on his opponent.
Evil Tiger furrowed his brows.
Earlier, when he had used his tiger claws to block Ning Tianchen's sword qi, he had sustained injuries.
The sharpness of the Seven Kill Sword was astonishing—it nearly severed his palm.
There was no way he could directly withstand this "cross"-shaped sword qi.
Since the direction of the sword qi was fixed, Evil Tiger dropped to all fours and sprinted along the edge of the arena like a wild beast.
His speed was so fast that he not only dodged the sword qi but also maneuvered around to Ning Tianchen's flank.
"Second soul skill, Tiger Claw Strike!"
His claws thickened and lengthened, gleaming brightly under the arena lights.
Such sharp tiger claws could easily tear through the body of any prey.
The Seven Kill Sword martial soul only had offensive capabilities, and the soul master's own defense wasn't particularly strong. If this claw struck him, it would leave him either dead or crippled.
Ning Tianchen's brows furrowed slightly, but he remained calm. He suspended the Seven Kill Sword in front of him.
"Second soul skill, Dragon Sword Guard."
Soul power surged into the Seven Kill Sword, instantly conjuring countless ethereal sword shadows. These shadows coalesced automatically, forming a barrier of sword qi.
Evil Tiger was unaware of the effects of this soul skill and didn't know the extent of his opponent's abilities.
Since Dragon Sword Guard was an area-of-effect skill, he decided to play it safe and temporarily retreat.
Only after the sword qi barrier fully materialized did he realize it was a defensive soul skill.
Cursing inwardly at having been deceived, he immediately lashed out with his sharp claws against the barrier.
The friction between the claws and the barrier produced a piercing, unpleasant sound, akin to scraping glass with a hard object.
"Boy, I admit your tactics are impressive. But your soul power level is far below mine. Let this strike decide the outcome!" Evil Tiger roared.
A faint smile appeared on Ning Tianchen's lips as he calmly replied, "Break through my defense first before we talk about victory."
In battle, concealing one's exact strength could provide a significant strategic advantage. Evil Tiger knew that Ning Tianchen's soul power was lower than his, but he didn't know by how many levels.
This uncertainty forced him to adjust his tactics.
Furthermore, in combat, one should never alter their strategy based on the opponent's words.
Remember, enemies only act in ways beneficial to themselves. Following their lead would only result in losses.
Ning Tianchen's sword qi barrier proved difficult for Evil Tiger to penetrate, giving him no reason to abandon the current situation.
…
Evil Tiger's words were highly persuasive, and the audience began to boo once again.
Last time, the boos were directed at Evil Tiger for failing to gain an advantage. This time, however, the jeers were aimed at Ning Tianchen for "hiding in his shell."
After all, the cost of watching a spirit battle was fixed, and the audience naturally wanted to see thrilling performances.
This was why someone as ruthless as Evil Tiger could garner such favor among the spectators.
Though Ning Tianchen wasn't aware of Evil Tiger's previous exploits, anyone who earned such adoration from the crowd was clearly no ordinary person.
Seeing the match drag on and potentially harm his reputation, Evil Tiger decided not to prolong the fight further.
"Third soul skill, Tiger's Fury!"
The purple third soul ring beneath his feet radiated dazzling light.
As the soul ring's power infused his body, Evil Tiger's muscles bulged even further, and his height increased noticeably.
At this moment, he resembled a towering humanoid mountain standing on the arena stage.
The next instant, Evil Tiger's eyes turned blood-red, and his heavy breathing echoed like that of a maddened beast.
"The barrier probably won't hold up," Ning Tianchen judged internally.
As Evil Tiger leapt toward him, Ning Tianchen extended his right hand and grabbed the Seven Kill Sword hovering in front of him.
"Roar~"
The loud roar of a tiger startled the spectators seated in the front row. Some were so frightened they even lost control of their bladders.
On the arena stage, Ning Tianchen remained unfazed by these harmless tactics.
Under the influence of Tiger's Fury, Evil Tiger's attributes had significantly increased.
The sword qi barrier lasted only two breaths under his assault before shattering completely.
"Boy, I don't care who you have backing you. Once you step onto this platform, you should be prepared to die."
"The same goes for you," Ning Tianchen snorted softly.
His three soul rings didn't glow, but his body emanated the soul power fluctuations of a soul skill.
"Seven Kill Sword Technique, Pressure Slash."
As Evil Tiger's claws came slashing down, Ning Tianchen's legs exploded with power, propelling him into the air.
He raised the Seven Kill Sword above his head and brought it down with tremendous force.
At this moment, Sword Dao Tianchen truly resembled a grandmaster of swordsmanship. His sword's momentum was like a meteor crashing down, exuding overwhelming might.
Evil Tiger looked up, facing the incoming sword qi head-on. In this moment, a chill ran down his spine.
A retreating tiger would only hand over victory to its opponent.
…
"Congratulations to Sword Dao Tianchen for winning this spirit battle!" the referee shouted.
The audience fell silent for a brief moment before erupting into thunderous cheers.
The drunken merchant felt as if he were dreaming, everything seeming unreal.
Before the match began, no one expected a newcomer to the Great Spirit Arena to withstand the unstoppable momentum of Evil Tiger, whose odds of victory had been set extremely high.
Now, the merchant's initial investment had multiplied at least fivefold.
On the arena stage, Ning Tianchen sheathed the Seven Kill Sword and glanced at Evil Tiger lying in a pool of blood.
The latter's tiger claws had been completely severed, and deep gashes ran along his entire arm. Bright red blood continued to spurt out.
Even if he recovered, such injuries would prevent him from participating in spirit battles for at least half a year.
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