Chapter 436: Soul Fight to the Death

The Saint chuckled. The disparity in strength on the field was obvious, and Long Jing was blatantly lying. Just as he was about to agree, the words on the tip of his tongue suddenly halted, and he gave Long Jing a meaningful look.

It was said that the Ninth Prince of the Nine Gods, Long Jing, was full of schemes. With just two sentences, he had nearly tricked him...

For the Saint, neither the current verbal sparring nor the outcome of the match between the Temple disciples and the Holy Sanctuary’s champions was as important as the imminent matter of Lucky Heaven's marriage. Pretending to watch the match today was actually an opportunity to get closer to Lucky Heaven and leave a good impression on her.

As everyone knew, Lucky Heaven had spent half a year at the Temple. Regardless of her relationship with Karida, she likely held some affection for the Temple itself. When the Temple had been under attack from various factions before, she had publicly defended it in the Holy Sanctuary's Light. Now, Long Jing claimed the Temple could win, luring him into betting against them...

"Brother Long Jing, as a guest from afar, there's no need for a wager," the Saint said with a smile. Frankly, he hadn’t considered Long Jing an obstacle between himself and Lucky Heaven before—after all, Long Jing's reputation as a notorious playboy was known throughout the world, and the mere title of "libertine" was enough for Lucky Heaven to dismiss him outright. But now, this Ninth Prince, who laced every word with traps, made him slightly wary. "Let’s see if this Temple disciple can turn the tide."

As the two conversed, Fantecy on the field was already battered and bruised, his body covered in bruises. The attacks around him were as relentless as a hailstorm. He forced himself to leap up, but his movements were far slower than before. The golden light pursued him like a shadow, and Hu Sha’s body twisted mid-air, his whip-like leg transforming into a streak of golden light.

Tiger King Diamond Leg!

BOOM!

The whip-kick struck like a cannon blast, sending Fantecy crashing into the ground like a falling meteor. The ground cratered, burying all but his head and feet.

Dust billowed up, but before it could settle, Hu Sha descended like a golden sun, stomping down onto Fantecy in the crater.

Pfft—BOOM!

The sound was like a deflating balloon, followed by a slight tremor in the ground.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

Fantecy, who had still been partially visible, was now completely buried. Cracks spiderwebbed outward from the crater.

Was he... dead?

Hu Sha reached out and pulled the motionless Fantecy from the pit. The raging Tai Chi Tiger power that had surged through him earlier had dissipated, replaced by an utterly ordinary state—he seemed completely unconscious.

"What a joke." Hu Sha casually tossed the 200-plus-pound guy several meters away.

"Ah Xi!"

"Screw this! Winning’s enough—why throw him?!" Mo Tong was furious. Even kicking a dog requires checking its owner—let alone when it was his own disciple being humiliated! If not for Aota grabbing him in time, he would have leaped from the stands.

Mo Tong's voice was loud, but the cheers of tens of thousands in the arena drowned him out.

"Xifeng Holy Sanctuary takes first blood!"

"Like there was ever a question? Why the excitement? Though that fat guy really got wrecked—bet his guts got stomped out."

"What Rage Tai Chi Tiger? I heard he blocked a strike from the dean of Xifeng's Martial Arts Academy. That dean’s gotta be trash... Haha, just kidding!"

The crowd howled with laughter, while the disciples of Xifeng Holy Sanctuary turned pale with anger.

Hu Sha had already turned to leave when the referee Anmuxi was about to announce the result. But suddenly, the fallen Fantecy's hands twitched, and he shakily forced himself up from the ground. "Stop!"

The cheers quieted slightly as many turned in surprise. After being blasted from such a height and smashing into a crater, he could still stand?

Hu Sha frowned and turned back.

Fantecy panted heavily. He had been beaten badly—even his Rage Tai Chi Tiger state had been shattered.

But who was Fantecy? The Punching Bag Prince. He might not win fights, but he could take hits like no other. Wiping blood from his forehead as if nothing had happened, he ignited his soul energy once more. Though the white tiger phantom was gone, he somehow mustered a bit of strength. "Again!"

"Hell yeah, Ah Xi!" Many on the Rose faction’s stands shouted, cheering him on excitedly.

A cold smirk flickered across Hu Sha's lips. Though this guy had barely staggered to his feet, he was clearly on his last legs. Instead of lying still and waiting for rescue, he actually dared to get back on his feet?

There was no need to tap into his soul force. The word "sympathy" didn’t exist in Hu Sha’s dictionary. His figure blurred slightly.

Fan Texi only felt his vision swim. Instinctively, he wove out of the way, narrowly avoiding a sweeping claw, only for a bone-jarring uppercut to crash into his chin from below, nearly dislodging all the teeth he’d painstakingly repaired.

Boom!

His 200-pound body was launched three meters into the air before crashing heavily onto the ground.

Hu Sha let out a mirthless chuckle, not even bothering to glance back as he turned to leave. But after just two steps, he heard a scraping noise behind him.

Subconsciously turning his head, he saw Fan Texi standing up yet again.

That last punch had been brutal. Though it didn’t seem like a killing move, the soul power packed within was no less devastating, delivering a shocking impact. Fan Texi’s words came out mangled, his teeth too loose to seal his mouth, and his legs trembled slightly.

His battered state silenced much of the crowd. Even on the Rose side, the usually reckless Mo Tong didn’t cheer for him anymore. A sense of foreboding hung in the air, worry etched on every face. Famier’s nails bit into her palms. Even the supporters of the Heavenly Peak Holy Sanctuary had stopped their jeers.

"Come on!" Fan Texi still had the strength to roar.

Hu Sha laughed. He didn’t find his opponent particularly brave at this moment—just another sheltered flower who believed honor was everything, ignorant of the fact that in this world, the only thing that truly mattered was one’s own life. A fool like this wouldn’t last a single S-rank mission, even with ten lives to spare.

"You asked for it!"

Boom!

Golden sigils flared to life across Hu Sha’s body. He didn’t care whether his opponent could fight back. Unlike those Holy Sanctuary disciples who blathered on about honor, he had tasted blood on the edge of a blade and walked the line between life and death countless times. To him, it was simple—either kill or be killed!

This time, he aimed for a vital spot. A crushing roundhouse kick smashed straight toward Fan Texi’s temple. No matter how tough his hide was, this strike would take his life!

The 200-pound body was sent flying over ten meters away. Yet, after lying on the ground for just two or three seconds, he struggled to his feet once more.

Hu Sha’s brow twitched slightly. Fine, again!

This time, a crisp snap echoed as Fan Texi’s left arm bent at a sickening angle, kicked aside by Hu Sha. Outright killing wasn’t the goal, but dismantling his opponent’s fighting ability was no issue.

At this moment, while the Heavenly Peak supporters roared with bloodthirsty cheers, the Rose side had fallen deathly silent. Famier’s tears streamed down as she saw the grotesquely bent arm, bone protruding.

"Ah Xi, surrender! Just surrender! You’ve done enough—we’ll take it from here!" Old Wang and Winnie shouted from the sidelines. Only the referee could stop the match, and An Nanxi clearly had no intention of doing so. As long as one wasn’t dead and could still fight, the battle continued.

This was the essence of the Holy Sanctuary!

Fan Texi levered himself up with one arm. He could no longer feel pain—his entire body was numb. The sounds around him blurred, as if the world were fading. He faintly saw Wang Feng and Winnie shouting something, but he couldn’t hear them. His vision narrowed, leaving only his opponent in sight.

Too strong… impossibly strong. He couldn’t disperse the force at all.

Hu Sha frowned slightly. Honestly, he’d seen fearless men before, but they fought to live. This? This was just seeking death.

It was just a match!

The jeering in the arena had quieted considerably.

"Reckless valor," the Saint said with a faint shake of his head.

"But commendable courage," Long Jing remarked with interest, watching the scene below. "Rose has something special, to forge someone like this. Perhaps this is the true strength of the Holy Sanctuary."

"I’d say collapsing now would be the best outcome for him," the Saint replied with a slight smile, glancing at Lucky Heaven beside him. "A warrior with such unbreakable resolve—it’s a shame to see him broken here and now…"

Lucky Heaven observed in silence, her deep eyes unreadable. She knew Fan Texi, knew exactly what kind of person he had been before. What could’ve possibly happened in just half a year to change someone so completely?

At this moment, the mangled Fan Texi actually grinned, "Is that all you've got?"

The entire crowd erupted in shock. Even in this state, he's still provoking death? Truly just like Wang Feng—utterly reckless!

"Seems you truly wish to die." Golden runes flickered once more across Hu Sha's body. Earlier, he hadn't wanted to use his ultimate technique on a dying man, but now it appeared that unless he crushed this fat guy in one go, he might not be able to walk away with dignity today.

*Buzz buzz buzz!*

Turbulent soul energy surged through Hu Sha's body as the phantom of Jin Ganghu reappeared. He crouched slightly, his pupils narrowing like a predator poised to strike.

Fan Texi couldn't hear the shouts from outside. His eyes were locked onto Hu Sha. He didn’t know what Feng was trying to do—it seemed like something big—but he just knew he couldn't hold everyone back. He never thought of becoming a hero or anything.

He just wanted to win this fight.

There was only one shot left.

A golden flash streaked through Hu Sha’s narrowed pupils, his eyes brimming with killing intent. His soul energy reversed flow, and the golden patterns covering his body rippled like bristling fur, as if he were truly transforming into a ferocious Jin Ganghu—an awe-inspiring sight!

*Buzz buzz buzz~~* The violent fluctuations of soul energy even began to shake the ground. This time, he was going to pulverize that fatty!

Hu Sha’s figure vanished completely, the surging soul energy making him appear as a three-to-four-meter-long Jin Ganghu. *ROAR!*

*BOOM~*

A sonic boom erupted as shockwaves blasted outward. The Jin Ganghu pounced like a shooting star!

The whole stadium went dead silent at this moment. Everyone on the Rose stands rose to their feet, fists clenched. Even the supporters from the other Holy Sanctuary factions chose to remain silent.

There was no blocking this. Earlier, even basic strikes had been too much for the fat guy to handle, let alone this killing move now.

*BOOM!*

The golden light arrived in an instant—an unstoppable force. Dust swirled in the arena, followed by a crisp *CRACK!*

A punch landed squarely on the chest—ribs undoubtedly shattered—but Fan Texi’s remaining right hand clamped onto Hu Sha’s arm like steel talons. Blood sprayed, yet a strange smile spread across his face.

Suddenly, surging soul energy erupted from the seemingly dying fat guy. The phantom of a white tiger manifested, its energy blending hardness and softness, forming a mysterious vortex with immense suction force, forcibly *dragging* Hu Sha’s soul energy toward it, binding them together inextricably.

*Soul Duel?!*

Jin Ganghu froze, his expression one of disbelief. That last strike should have only left Fan Texi severely injured—with proper treatment, he could recover in a few months. But a Soul Duel? That was a death match!

*BOOM!*

The two crashed to the ground, still locked in their mid-air positions, but the torrential soul energy continued pouring out from both of them. The phantom of Jin Ganghu and the white tiger clashed violently, locked in mortal combat where neither could retreat or break free. The loser would face utter annihilation!

"Soul Duel!"

Spectators gasped in shock.

Soul energy possessed *adhesive* and *devouring* properties. Once bound together, it was like a shark devouring minnows—the stronger would inevitably consume the weaker, with no coming back from it.

Such a clash was rare even in a thousand battles. The strong had no need for this draining tactic against the weak—even if they won, they’d be severely drained. And for the weak to choose a Soul Duel against the strong? That was suicide—might as well run for your life!

Compared to the dwindling soul energy Fan Texi had been desperately preserving, Hu Sha’s reserves were far greater. The initial shock and anger hadn’t clouded his judgment. Now, Jin Ganghu’s soul energy erupted wildly, quickly suppressing Fan Texi’s white tiger aura, closing in relentlessly to devour it completely!

At this point, there was no stopping it now. The hearts of Wang Feng and the others on the sidelines sank deeper and deeper.

Exploit the enemy’s flaws, hide your own weaknesses. From the moment Fan Texi realized his combat experience was inferior to Hu Sha’s, he had already prepared this plan. In actual combat, he was outclassed by Hu Sha, but in terms of soul energy, the Rage Tai Chi Tiger was no weaker than Jin Ganghu—in fact, it was clearly stronger. But he'd paid too heavy a price before this decisive Soul Duel—his injuries were too severe.

The white tiger in the arena had been pushed to the brink by Jin Ganghu.

At this moment, the white tiger had become like a frail, sick cat, barely remaining on its feet through sheer willpower alone, while Jin Ganghu shone brilliantly, his momentum unstoppable. The contrast between them was as stark as watching a strong adult strangling a helpless three-year-old child.

The outcome had already become indisputable. Even ordinary spectators unfamiliar with Soul Combat could see that Fantexi’s defeat was only a matter of time.

After all, this was the Holy Sanctuary’s home ground. Cheers erupted from the stands, and even a countdown began.

Ten, nine, eight...

The Rose faction's section remained silent. Winnie, standing at the edge, was so frantic her eyes nearly popped out.

"I surrender! I surrender! Winnie, pull your Banana Brawler (Jiao Baba) back—it's gone berserk!" "There's no need for such violence; we're civilized people..." "Take it easy, my dear, don't act recklessly. Safety first in the Dragon City Secret Realm!" "It's not me boasting, Ah Xi, but tomorrow against the Holy Sanctuary, I guarantee at least one victory for us—the rest of you can do whatever you want!"

Images of Fantexi flashed through Winnie’s mind—his unmistakably cowardly face, cautious a thousand times over in life, yet choosing this suicidal battle method without hesitation at the most dangerous moment... Had he lost his mind?

Interrupting the match? Winnie had considered it, but separating two fighters engaged in Soul Combat was nearly impossible through external force, especially when both were nearing Ghost-Level strength. Forcibly pulling them apart could lead to only two outcomes: at best, both would suffer soul backlash, ending up crippled; at worst, they would explode and die instantly. Even the three Ghost-Level referees likely couldn’t manage it.

"Old—Old Wang, what should we do now?!" Winnie was genuinely panicking, her voice trembling. She always mocked Fantexi, loved teasing him—after all, Thick-Skinned Fantexi wasn’t just about his tough skin, but his thick face too, impervious to insults or blows, truly indestructible! But now…

Old Wang wore a solemn expression, silent. He hadn’t expected things to escalate this far. Victory for Rose was important, but Fantexi mattered more. After leaving Dark Demon Island, he had simply told them all to fight with everything they had, leaving no regrets.

"Six, five..."

The jubilant countdown from the stands continued, but Hu Sha, who held absolute dominance in the arena, felt as though the fish already on the chopping block still refused to stop struggling. Was it some ridiculous persistence for pride and so-called honor?

No.

The anger and disdain on Hu Sha’s face gradually faded, replaced by a trace of deep-seated fear—not because of Fantexi’s choice or determination, but because now that he had the chance to observe calmly, he finally saw Fantexi’s eyes clearly.

Unexpectedly, there was no unwillingness, anxiety, or stubborn pride in those eyes—expressions ultimately childish and weak, incapable of changing anything no matter how desperately clung to.

Fantexi’s gaze at this moment was eerily clear… as if, even now, he still firmly believed he had a chance to win and was fighting desperately for it. His soul power was clearly near collapse, yet those pure, battle-hungry eyes made Hu Sha feel threatened—as if his opponent truly might pull off a reversal in this dire situation!

Hu Sha realized he needed to retract his earlier words. This was a true warrior. Such people might perish quickly during S-Class missions, but without question, they are also the most reliable—even in death, they complete their tasks. And for a bounty hunter, reputation and missions mean everything. No one could look down upon such a person, even if already dead.

"Four, three..."

The countdown across the arena grew even more enthusiastic, while the Rose faction’s stands remained silent. Famier’s eyes were rimmed with red, and everyone’s mood was heavy. Fantexi’s defeat was inevitable. If he had initiated Soul Combat from the beginning, he might have had a chance, but his injuries were too severe—he couldn’t even summon his Rage Tai Chi Tiger, his combat effectiveness less than 60% of normal. Though his fearless courage was admirable, courage alone couldn’t save his life—it was killing him instead.

It was now too late to convince Fantexi to give up. Everyone felt as if they were holding their breath, silently waiting for the sword of Damocles overhead to fall. But...

"Two, one!"

The countdown ended, and several seconds passed. The arena slowly fell silent, yet the battle within had still not concluded.

Everyone stared in shock at the two locked in stalemate. That man who should have long since fallen was still resisting. Hu Sha, who had swept across the entire battlefield, couldn’t crush that final defiant spark.

This inexplicably caused the Holy Sanctuary supporters, so confident in their impending victory, to suddenly feel tense, anxious—even irritable. Unwelcomely, the phrase “anything could happen” flickered through their minds.

"Pointless persistence. Does he really think this helps? Just wasting time!"

"People from small towns are like that—never seen the real world, frogs in a well, forever refusing to acknowledge the gap between themselves and true powerhouses!"

"So weak yet unwilling to admit defeat—what's the difference from being a stubborn fool?"

"Fall down! Fall down! Fall down!"

The arena, which had briefly quieted, erupted into noise again as many began shouting.

"Dammit!" Mo Tong suddenly shoved aside the drum beater and snatched the hammer from his hands.

*Boom boom boom boom*

The three-layered hard-hide war drum thundered under his strikes—chaotic and rhythmless, yet impossible to ignore.

"Fantsy, you better finish him! Kill him, and I’ll let you beat me up for a whole day without fighting back!"

"Get up, big guy! It’s your big bro Aota here! Win this, and spicy rabbit skewers are on me!"

"Fatty! You’re the real man who only lost to me, Badeluo, by a hair—you can’t lose to this guy!"

"Senior Fantsy, hold on! The only one who gets to defeat you is me, not that repeater!" Chai Jing also roared, even more fired up than Mo Tong. Ever since losing to Fantsy, he had come to see him as a teacher, a rival, a brother—a destined rival he swore to defeat with his own hands. How could he let someone else take that chance first?

As if venting all their bottled-up rage, as if defying the jeers flooding the arena, everyone in the stands began screaming their heads off.

Famier wiped her reddened eyes. Earlier, they hadn’t cheered because they wanted Fantsy to give up—but now, it was already too late for that.

Yet at this moment, whether it was the taunts from Zenith or the desperate cries from Rose, none of it could sway Fantsy in the slightest.

Every second, he was being crushed—yet every second, he rallied another counterattack. Though each feeble surge of resistance seemed insignificant, it formed a strangely resilient defense. Fantsy vaguely recalled something Feng had once mentioned—the Achilles and the Tortoise paradox.

A turtle moves slowly, but in the paradox, even light can’t overtake it.

Right now, Fantsy felt like that miraculous turtle. As long as he refused to stop resisting, no matter how weak he was, no one could finish him off!

Hold on! Just a little longer!

The extreme exhaustion blurred his consciousness, but his numb, overworked body granted him a strange clarity and focus—as if the entire world had narrowed down to that single light trying to catch his turtle.

*Snap! Snap! Snap!*

Amid the desperate chase, Fantsy suddenly felt something within his paralyzed body crack open in that moment of total focus. It was...