"A Soul King?! This guy has such strong power and only comes out at the last moment. That's just shameless!"
Upon seeing the bald man with the scar, clearly a Soul King, join the life-and-death battle after everyone else, Liu Erlong couldn't help but feel infuriated. It seemed unfair to her that this man waited until the weaker contestants revealed themselves, only to jump in and turn what should have been a battle among Soul Elders into a battle against a Soul King.
"Is Little Brother Ao Tian going to be alright with this Blood Tiger Soul King involved?"
Recalling the live stream of Tang San, who had entered the Slaughter City at around the same age and as a Soul King, Liu Erlong felt a growing concern for Lin Yu. In her mind, Tang San was a rare prodigy, destined to become a god, which explained how he could reach Soul King level at just fifteen or sixteen years old.
But Lin Yu? Even if he were around the same age, there was no guarantee his abilities matched Tang San's. He might not be able to handle this Blood Tiger Soul King.
"Damn it! How is someone this strong even allowed to participate in a fight like this? We came here expecting a fair match!"
The eight Soul Elders in the clearing, who had all joined the fight earlier, shared the same thoughts. They had waited, calculating that most of the stronger Soul Kings had already fought and entered the Slaughter City. But now, they were faced with a hidden Soul King who had bided his time until the last moment. It was maddeningly unfair.
All eight of them looked at each other, communicating silently. Their only chance was to team up against the biggest threat—the Blood Tiger Soul King—before turning on each other.
"Alright then, the number of participants is complete. Let the battle begin!"
The knight captain standing by the entrance to the Slaughter City coldly declared the start of the life-and-death struggle as the ten contenders faced off.
"Charge!"
With a roar, the Wind Wolf Soul Master and the Black Iron Saber Soul Master led the assault. Both unleashed their spirit rings in a flash of light, transforming into shadows as they lunged toward the Blood Tiger Soul King with terrifying speed.
"Everyone, attack!"
The others quickly followed suit. The Rat Soul Master, Leopard Soul Master, Phantom Mink Soul Master, Ghost Leopard Soul Master, and the Black Iron Hammer Soul Master all unleashed their soul skills, charging toward the Blood Tiger Soul King in a coordinated attack, hoping to bring down the biggest threat first.
In the rear, the Bloodthirsty Vine Soul Master swung his vine-like spirit weapon forward, activating his third soul skill.
"Third Soul Skill—Bloodthorn Bind!"
Thorny vines shot out like venomous snakes, winding their way along the ground toward the Blood Tiger Soul King, ready to ensnare him.
Seeing that all eight Soul Elders had decided to team up against him, the Blood Tiger Soul King's face darkened, but he let out a cold snort. He quickly activated his soul skills and began dodging the oncoming attacks, weaving through the chaos with agility and ferocity.
"Am I invisible to everyone?" Lin Yu muttered to himself with amusement as he watched the eight other Soul Elders rush past him to confront the Blood Tiger Soul King. It was no surprise that they focused on the strongest opponent first—it was the logical choice.
For Lin Yu, however, this was an opportunity to sit back and watch the show unfold.
At first, he enjoyed the spectacle, but soon he found himself frowning. This is ridiculous! he thought. Eight Soul Elders against one Soul King, and they were barely making a dent.
Despite their numbers, none of them seemed willing to go all out, perhaps thinking that victory was guaranteed by sheer numbers. But in their hesitation, the Blood Tiger Soul King managed to unleash his fifth soul skill, swiftly killing the Rat Soul Master, the Leopard Soul Master, and the Phantom Mink Soul Master.
With three down, the remaining five—Wind Wolf, Ghost Leopard, Bloodthirsty Vine, Black Iron Saber, and Black Iron Hammer Soul Masters—began to feel the pressure mounting.
From what Lin Yu observed, the Blood Tiger Soul King's martial spirit seemed to be mutated, possibly one that allowed him to absorb blood to heal his wounds, making him grow stronger the longer the battle dragged on. In this sense, the Bloodthirsty Vine Soul Master had the best chance of countering him, but it wasn't enough. After taking down three opponents, the Blood Tiger Soul King turned his attention to the Bloodthirsty Vine Soul Master, clearly targeting him as the next threat.
Sigh… looks like I'll have to step in, Lin Yu thought as the fight continued.
Though the five remaining Soul Elders were fighting with everything they had, the Blood Tiger Soul King shrugged off their attacks, relying on his ability to regenerate and counter with reckless ferocity. If none of them were willing to risk their lives, it was clear the Blood Tiger Soul King would come out on top.
"It's my turn," Lin Yu murmured to himself.
"Golden Dragon Spirit, activate!"
In an instant, Lin Yu's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing with determination as he summoned his Golden Dragon Spirit. A deafening dragon roar echoed through the air as a colossal, golden dragon appeared behind him, shimmering with an awe-inspiring radiance. The dragon's form dissolved and merged into Lin Yu, his body growing taller, muscles bulging as golden scales spread across his skin like armor. Twin golden horns sprouted from his head, and his eyes turned into fierce golden slits.
A powerful wave of the dragon's aura radiated outward from Lin Yu, causing everyone nearby to freeze in place.
"What kind of dragon spirit is that?!"
Liu Erlong's face paled as she witnessed the transformation from a distance. Her Fire Dragon Spirit stirred within her, trembling in fear and submission. It was a sensation she had never experienced before—not even when facing stronger members of her own Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Could it be… the legendary Golden Sacred Dragon? she wondered, unable to shake the feeling of awe coursing through her.
Note: If you are interested, read up to chapter 356 at patreon.com/MythMosaic.