Doulou Dalu 38

Tang Huo'er sighed, watching Liu Erlong, who was about to lose her temper. She quickly intervened, raising her voice, "Erlong, sit down and comfort Ye Keke."

Liu Erlong hesitated. "But, Senior Sister, the rules of this competition are completely unreasonable…"

She wanted to argue further but caught Tang Huo'er's warning gaze. Huffing in frustration, she sat down obediently, gently patting Ye Keke's shoulder. The younger girl had tears in her eyes and looked up after a moment, still visibly shaken.

Liu Erlong, a fiery and stubborn woman, had been through intense training under Tang Huo'er back at Haotian Sect. She had resisted authority then, only to be repeatedly subdued and disciplined. The memories of those grueling sessions still lingered in her mind.

Ye Keke, on the other hand, remained silent. She belonged to the Nine-Hearted Begonia family, a lineage known for its exceptional healing abilities. Lin Fan speculated that she must be Ye Lingling's mother, but she appeared far more timid than Ye Lingling from the original novel. No one knew who she had married to give birth to Ye Lingling.

Lin Fan turned his attention to the second arena, where the Ice Phoenix Family was facing off against the Mad War Family. Unlike some of the bloodier battles that had taken place, this match was more tactical than brutal.

The Ice Phoenix Family had five participants, but not all of them possessed the Ice Phoenix martial soul. Only two Soul Sect-level girls had pure Ice Phoenix martial souls. The other three members consisted of a healer and two combat soul masters whose martial souls were a species of powerful bulls with high defensive capabilities.

In contrast, the Mad War Family had seven battle soul masters, all with similar martial souls. However, none of them exceeded level 40, and they lacked both defense and long-range combat abilities. This put them at a severe disadvantage.

The two Ice Phoenix girls hovered in the air, skillfully controlling the battlefield with ice walls, freezing techniques, and ice blades. The Mad War Family's close-combat fighters struggled, unable to reach them. Meanwhile, the two defensive soul masters from the Ice Phoenix Family stood their ground, absorbing any stray attacks with their tough martial souls, while the healer at the back kept everyone in peak condition.

As the fight dragged on, the Mad War Family's fighters found themselves overwhelmed. Covered in wounds and exhausted, their captain quickly admitted defeat. One by one, they jumped off the stage, unwilling to suffer further humiliation.

The Ice Phoenix girls merely watched as their opponents retreated, making no move to attack them further. As soon as all seven fighters had left the ring, the event host, a woman floating on a suspended platform above, picked up her microphone.

"Ice Phoenix Family versus Mad War Family. Victory goes to the Ice Phoenix Family!"

Her voice echoed through the arena. "The second ring will now be dismantled. Next match: Ghost Gate Family versus White Bear Family. Competitors, please prepare to enter the stage."

Shui Yue'er let out a relieved sigh as the Ice Phoenix Family's match concluded.

Last year, she had captained the team and secured 14th place in the competition. But this year, she had undergone rigorous training under the Haotian Sect, and her sister, Shui Qing'er—now the strongest in the team—had taken over as captain. At just 16 years old, Shui Qing'er had already reached level 44, making her one of the most talented young soul masters in the competition.

In the original novel, Dai Mubai had been considered a genius for reaching level 39 at fifteen and breaking into level 40 before eighteen. By that standard, Shui Qing'er's growth was even more remarkable.

However, the stands were packed with people, and none from the Ice Phoenix Family had noticed Shui Yue'er in the audience. They had no idea she had joined the Haotian team.

The next match began.

Lin Fan wasn't familiar with either the Ghost Gate Family or the White Bear Family, so he didn't pay close attention at first. But as the fight progressed, it became apparent that there was deep-seated hatred between the two clans.

Each team fielded seven members, but instead of pacing themselves, both sides unleashed their most powerful soul skills from the very start. Every attack was lethal.

Within ten minutes, five White Bear Family members lay dead, while the Ghost Gate Family had only lost one fighter. Realizing their disadvantage, the two surviving White Bear members desperately tried to flee the arena.

The Ghost Gate Family refused to let them escape. Three of their members chased them down, managing to kill one. The last White Bear disciple barely made it to the edge of the stage and jumped off.

But one relentless Ghost Gate soul master refused to stop, activating his third soul skill and lunging forward, intent on killing the escapee.

At that moment, the floating platform hostess pressed a button.

A golden beam shot out from the arena's defensive barrier, piercing the pursuing soul master straight through the chest. He collapsed instantly, dead on the spot.

The hostess's voice remained calm. "All soul masters who enter Douhun Mountain must abide by the rules. There are no warnings. Violators will be executed immediately, regardless of their background."

Her words, amplified by the arena's sound system, sent a wave of silence through the crowd. Even the remaining Ghost Gate Family members trembled in fear, quickly retreating to their side of the ring.

Lin Fan's expression hardened.

Just earlier, a sect elder who had tried to intervene had been executed on the spot. Now, another fighter had suffered the same fate. The rules of Douhun Mountain were ruthless.

He recalled the four Super Douluos present—two from Spirit Hall, one from Haotian Sect, and another mysterious figure. Lin Fan wasn't sure of the last one's identity, but he suspected he might be an unaffiliated Rank 95+ Douluo, or possibly even the unknown third priest of Spirit Hall.

It was no surprise that Douhun Mountain had once hosted elite tournaments before eventually being shut down in favor of the Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition. The withdrawal of Haotian Sect had likely played a role in its decline, along with Qian Daoliu's rumored purge of strong individuals who could challenge his power.

Lin Fan didn't stick around to watch the rest of the morning's matches. He returned to the lounge to train. Surrounded by the abundant soul energy of Douhun Mountain, he meditated for hours, feeling himself on the verge of a breakthrough.

Finally—

Ding!

"Congratulations, Master, on reaching level 34!"

A voice rang in his mind. It was Ling'er, his system assistant.

"Master now has two unused lottery draws. If you wish to draw, please let Ling'er know!"

Lin Fan ignored the message. Instead, he left the lounge and found that his teammates had already gone to watch the matches.

He hurried to the stands, taking a seat next to Tang Huo'er. This section was exclusively reserved for the Haotian Sect, and no one dared challenge their presence.

As soon as he sat down, his gaze drifted toward the VIP section.

There she was.

Bibi Dong.

Dressed in a silver gown, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, the Spirit Hall Saintess sat quietly. She wore no crown, no scepter—just a cold, sorrowful expression.

She wasn't even watching the matches. She was lost in thought, her mind wandering elsewhere.

Lin Fan clenched his fists.

"Bibi Dong… I finally see you."

From the VIP section, Qian Xunji spoke with amusement. "It's time. My apprentice, you know what to do."

Bibi Dong stood up, her cold gaze fixed ahead.

"The Yu Clan… kill five of them."