Chapter 197: This Punch—Three Months' Worth of Soul Power—Can You Take It?

Before the fight began, there was the customary round of self-introductions.

Ye Lingling spoke loudly, "Ye Lingling, Rank 37 Support-type Soul Elder, Martial Soul: Nine-Heart Begonia."

Ning Rongrong smirked, a little crookedly. She couldn't believe she was about to hit someone like a Battle Soul Master—just thinking about it made her giddy.

"Ning Rongrong, Rank 39 Support-type Soul Elder, Martial Soul: Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda."

Aside from Shen An and Ning Fengzhi, no one else knew Ning Rongrong had consumed a immortal herb.

Meng Shenji said in a hoarse voice, "I recall Ning Fengzhi's daughter is only around twelve or thirteen. How is her soul power higher than Ye Lingling's? This is unbelievable."

Even more shocked than Meng Shenji was Ye Lingling herself. What? Just a few months ago, Ning Rongrong was still a Soul Grandmaster.

Gaining two to three ranks in such a short time was already remarkable. But to reach Rank 39 and surpass her? That was outrageous.

Ye Lingling now felt uneasy. Without a soul power advantage, could she really beat Ning Rongrong? The amplifying ability of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda wasn't to be underestimated.

Ning Rongrong smiled brightly. "Don't worry, to keep things fair, I won't use my Martial Soul."

Ye Lingling's face turned angry. She felt humiliated. They were both support-types—how was one necessarily weaker than the other?

"Then let's begin," Ning Rongrong said, narrowing her eyes.

Ye Lingling summoned the Nine-Heart Begonia without hesitation. She had resolved to rely on its healing ability to exchange injuries for victory.

Everyone watched intently. A match like this—two support-types going head-to-head—was a rare sight. Saying they weren't curious would've been a lie. Sometimes, watching "chicken pecks at chicken" fights had its own appeal.

Ye Lingling circulated her soul power to enhance herself, then charged forward, raising her small fists and aiming straight for Ning Rongrong.

Unbothered, Ning Rongrong calmly raised her own dainty little fist and swung back, intentionally holding back half her strength.

Bang!

A heavy thud rang out.

Ye Lingling staggered backward several steps, a panda-like black eye blooming on her pretty face.

She was stunned. What the hell did Ning Rongrong grow up eating? How was she so strong?

Aside from the informed Shen An and Zhu Zhuqing, everyone from Heaven Dou and even Xue Qinghe was shocked. Weren't they both support-types? How did this turn into a one-sided beatdown?

Unwilling to concede, Ye Lingling activated her soul skill. A white light enveloped her face. It had a unique petal-like shape that drifted gently downward.

Her blackened eye visibly faded, returning to its normal color before everyone's eyes. If not for the tears still clinging to her lashes, it would be hard to tell she'd been hit at all.

Still unconvinced, Ye Lingling charged again. No way the gap between two support-types could be this big.

Shen An quietly covered his eyes—he couldn't bear to watch anymore. Ning Rongrong was completely out of her league; this was dimensional suppression.

This time, Ning Rongrong struck first. She closed the distance and decisively threw a punch.

Ye Lingling raised both fists to block. Okay, I admit you're strong, but there's no way one of your hands can overpower both of mine!

Ning Rongrong sneered. This punch carries three months of soul power—can you take it?

Sure enough, Ye Lingling let out a muffled grunt. Her eyes lost focus, and she collapsed limply to the ground. What the hell?! Why is she so strong?

With a wicked grin, Ning Rongrong raised her hand to flick Ye Lingling's forehead. Shen An did this to her often—she had grown to enjoy it.

Especially when the target was someone like Ye Lingling—a beautiful woman—it gave her a wicked thrill.

Oslo from the Royal Heaven Dou Team couldn't take it anymore. As an Agility-type Soul Elder, he was fast. He rushed over to Ning Rongrong.

Of course, he wasn't planning to hit her—he didn't have that kind of nerve. He just wanted to stop her from landing another hit.

Startled by Oslo's sudden appearance, Ning Rongrong reflexively clenched her fingers and threw a punch.

Oslo remained calm. She's just a support-type—how strong could she be? I'll take the hit.

The next second, Oslo was sent flying and landed coughing on the ground, staring at Ning Rongrong in horror.

You call this a damn support-type Soul Master?!

Everyone present looked at Ning Rongrong like they'd seen a ghost. This is insane.

"Cough… Ning Rongrong has already proven her strength. She's definitely qualified to join the Heaven Dou First Team," Meng Shenji said, forcing down the strangeness in his heart.

He had never thought there would be a day when he'd judge a support-type's value by their strength.

But it made sense—at Rank 39, a Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Soul Master was at least on par with Ye Lingling and her Nine-Heart Begonia, if not stronger.

Most Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda users had similar soul skills, making Ning Rongrong's value to the team self-evident. And now, with her sheer physical strength, her self-defense ability was on another level entirely.

But what about Zhu Zhuqing? Just a few months ago, she was merely a Soul Grandmaster. At most, she might have barely reached Soul Elder. No way she was stronger than Oslo or Yufeng.

Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward, her gaze icy as she looked at the Heaven Dou team. "I remember you have two Agility-type Soul Masters. Come at me together."

Silence fell like a shroud.

Yufeng, still standing, and Oslo, still lying down, were both trembling. Is she serious? Just months ago, she was just a Soul Grandmaster!

An impossible thought surfaced in their minds—unless Zhu Zhuqing, like Ning Rongrong, had risen more than ten levels in just a few months.

Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul manifested silently, and two yellow and one purple rings surrounded her. She said coldly, "Zhu Zhuqing, Rank 39 Agility-type Soul Elder, Martial Soul: Moonlight Spirit Cat."

The Royal Heaven Dou team looked at each other, baffled. Not only did her level skyrocket, but even her Martial Soul changed?

Only Dugu Yan's eyes flickered with thought.

She had taken a celestial herb herself and knew its effects—her own Jade Phosphor Serpent had evolved too.

Meng Shenji and the other two instructors were numb from shock. They'd already seen too many bizarre things today. Just a few months ago, Zhu Zhuqing was a mere Soul Grandmaster—and now this?

Clearly, she must have encountered some rare opportunity. But the three committee members were upright people—they would never pry into someone's secrets.

Meng Shenji turned to Oslo and Yufeng. "Would the two of you be willing to fight Zhu Zhuqing together?"

Zhu Zhuqing added, "If I lose, I won't join the Heaven Dou First Team."

Oslo and Yufeng's eyes lit up. Neither of them was confident they could beat a higher-ranked Zhu Zhuqing one-on-one.

But since Zhu Zhuqing herself had made the offer, they weren't about to refuse. They'd shamelessly take her on together.

After all, what Soul Master didn't dream of standing out in the Soul Master Tournament? It was the perfect stage.

"Yufeng, Rank 38 Agility-type Soul Elder, Martial Soul: Windchime Bird."

"Oslo, Rank 38 Agility-type Soul Elder, Martial Soul: Ghost Leopard."

At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing—now merged with her Moonlight Spirit Cat—stood elegant and mysterious, her beautiful eyes calmly fixed on the two.

To challenge two at once came from her absolute confidence in her own strength. Tom's fitness dumbbell had greatly enhanced her power, and paired with her unmatched speed…

Zhu Zhuqing dared to face any opponent at the Soul Elder level—except for Shen An!