Tang San and Xiao Wu’s third spirit abilities could both be said to be top quality spirit abilities, therefore although they both had only just broken through the thirtieth rank, they still decided to participate in one versus one spirit battles. Tang San had previously already defeated Dai Mubai, so naturally he held a lot of confidence. And for Xiao Wu who as long as she got in close to the opponent was very difficult to resist, also had complete confidence.
Xiao Wu’s weak points and advantages were both extremely clear. Her advantage was being unrivalled when in close to a similarly ranked opponent, but her weak point was that she could only deal with one opponent. When the opponents were numerous, it was very difficult to use her strength, and when the opponent’s physical strength exceeded the power of her Waist Bow, her ability would become completely useless.
As for Oscar and Ning Rongrong, they could only wait until after everyone had participated in one on one spirit battles to again join with them in two versus two bouts.
At nightfall, Suotuo Great Spirit Arena bustled with noise and excitement like every day, a restless crowd began to gather from all directions. As in most of history, it was also the most oppressed masses who enjoyed the entertainment. Every day this place would gather numerous spectators.
Part 3
The wealthy could obtain the ultimate entertainment here. Even if it was penniless commoners, they were still equally capable of watching Spirit Masters compete. As a result of Great Spirit Arena having some tickets specially aimed at commoners, extremely affordable, as long as people could afford food and clothing, they also wanted to come here to watch Spirit Master competitions. After all, just seeing a spirit master was enough to satisfy the majority of common people. Of course, with the ticket price so cheap, what they could see was only some ordinary spirit fights, that’s all. The truly marvellous spirit fights were prohibitively expensive. But Suotuo City had never lacked wealthy people willing to throw money away. Adding the betting hosted by the Great Spirit Arena, these spirit fights were the scene of secret battles between the wealthy and lords.
Right now it was already very close to the starting time for Great Spirit Arena’s bouts. Not long after, the one versus one and two versus two spirit fights would begin. Once these two spirit fights ended, the most marvellous team battles would take the stage.
At just this time, a group of ten people attracted the gazes of the people preparing to enter the Great Spirit Arena. Because, among these ten, seven wore identical masks.
The green masks looked somewhat funny. Their clothes had nothing in common, both gorgeous and plain.
This group, was precisely Shrek Academy’s seven students as well as two deans and Grandmaster.
This time they arrived at Spirit Arena Thirteen. According to their original plan, everyone would one after another use their iron spirit badges to sign up. Under Grandmaster’s directions, the five people simultaneously participating in one versus one and two versus two fights signed up in two areas and at the same time explained they must participate in two bouts. The staff arranged for them to fight at certain times, so as not to have two fights overlap. At the same time, everyone separately altered the names on the iron spirit badges, from their true names to nicknames, using the names they agreed on in the day. Just altering a name cost each of them ten gold spirit coins, however because this time they didn’t need to enroll again, the expense was only so much. As long as they managed one spirit fight victory, they could earn back the expense.
Tang San and Xiao Wu chose to first participate in two versus two, after that again joining one versus one, naturally separating from the other five. Oscar and Ning Rongrong had to wait for Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing to finish their one versus one bouts, therefore they also first went to one area.
Flender and Zhao Wuji followed the largest party to enter the one versus one spirit fighting area. Grandmaster followed Tang San and Xiao Wu to the two versus two spirit fighting area.
Since they would still battle later, Three Five Combination’s two versus two spirit fight was planned as the second bout in the Spirit Arena Thirteen’s two versus two area. Very quickly, it became the pair’s turn.
Grandmaster sat in the stands, together with numerous spectators. To ordinary people today was a weekend, therefore there were especially many spectators at the Great Spirit Arena. These Spirit Arenas had even more common people. Right now the first spirit battle had already evoked excitement, and shouts fell and rose in succession.
Tang San and Xiao Wu naturally didn’t have any fame. When they walked on stage at the announcer’s declaration, they earned no applause at all.
“Next, let us invite Three Five Combination’s opponents. Already having obtained four successive victories in two versus two spirit fights: Cat Rat Combination[ (猫鼠组合) Or “Cat Mouse Combination”]. Relying on the most formidable strength, competing among Spirit Elders, they have obtained unprecedented success. If they are able to prevail over the opposing Three Five Combination today, then, they will have accomplished five successive victories. Perhaps, when they next appear at Suotuo Great Spirit Arena, they will enter the central spirit fighting area, that is a tremendous honor for spirit fighters.”
Cat Rat Combination? Hearing these words, Tang San and Xiao Wu looked face to face. Although they were unable to see each others’ expression under the masks, from the expression in the other’s eyes, they still saw hints of a smile. Judging by the other side’s combination name, today’s opponent would be an agility attack system Spirit Master. Whether it was cat or rat, speed was the forte of both. But Tang San as a control system Spirit Master was just the nemesis of agility attack system Spirit Masters.
Under circumstances where the opponent’s rank didn’t exceed his by ten ranks, the two already had a certain confidence.
Very quickly, in a burst of enthusiastic applause, Three Five Combination’s opponents climbed onto the spirit fighting ring.
The arriving two Spirit Masters were one man and one woman. The woman was slender and tall, looking about twenty something years old, with a head of extremely attention grabbing fiery red short hair, a sharp expression, the ten fingers of both hands constantly moving rhythmically. Looking at her movements, Tang San immediately determined that this woman should be the cat of the Cat Rat Combination, since Dai Mubai once told him that the ten fingers moving rhythmically was a common trait of all of the cat family type spirits.
That man was built short and small, but contrary to what Tang San and Xiao Wu anticipated, he was unexpectedly rather fat. Even compared to Ma Hongjun his stature was excessive, his body appearing like an enormous ball. Whether it was his head or body, both were perfectly round. Only a pair of small and narrow little eyes gave people the feeling of a rat.
The thin cat and fat rat gave people a somewhat ridiculous feeling.
The Cat Rat Combination mounting the stage naturally also observed Tang San and Xiao Wu across from them. As they saw the masks Tang San and Xiao Wu wore they couldn’t help but stare blankly. Although Spirit Masters participating in spirit fights would somewhat cover up their identities, wearing masks like this was still quite rare.
The thin cat young lady snorted disdainfully,
“Hiding the head and showing the tail[ Idiom meaning “half truth”, but is probably used more literally here.], feigning mystery.”
As the spirit fight was about to begin, the mood of the surrounding spectators was already stirred. In such an enthusiastic atmosphere, the announcer didn’t dare delay, immediately declaring Spirit Arena Thirteen’s second two versus two spirit fight started.
Along with the announcer declaring the start, the Cat Rat Combination simultaneously used their Spirit Power, their bodies rapidly changing. After reaching thirtieth rank, as Beast Spirit Masters conducted Spirit Body Enhancement, their bodies changed even more than before.
Just like what Tang San anticipated, the young woman’s spirit was Cat. Sharp blades instantly ejecting between her fingers, on her he
ad several locks of red hair brightened to silver, pupils becoming vertical. The upper part of the body crouching forward, ears slightly erect, on the arms appeared a layer of silvery fur. One white, one yellow and one purple spirit ring twinkled simultaneously, three spirit abilities capable of reaching the thousand year level. Clearly the spirit abilities of this young woman’s spirit rings weren’t common.
As for that fat rat’s transformation it appeared somewhat ridiculous. Mouth protruding, becoming pointed, producing several rat whiskers, under his upper lip two enormous buckteeth protruded. The small eyes went from small cracks to perfectly round. The round body equally crouching. Forearms becoming slender, black sharp claws ejecting from the fingertips. His three spirit rings were equally one white, one yellow and one purple.
Seeing the other side suddenly reveal their spirits, Tang San and Xiao Wu also didn’t hesitate. Xiao Wu leapt into the air, standing firmly with one foot on Tang San’s shoulder. The pair simultaneously released their spirits.
Growing long rabbit ears with white fur, even more slender legs in addition to two red eyes, those were all the characteristics of Xiao Wu. Compared to before, her arms also had some soft fur, but much finer than the other side’s thin cat.
Equally two yellow and one purple, altogether six spirit rings abruptly appeared over the Three Five Combination, immediately causing a commotion in the audience.
These spectators frequently watching spirit fights were naturally extremely familiar with the spirit ring levels of Spirit Masters. Two hundred year and one thousand year, in spirit rings, the Three Five Combination was clearly ahead of the opposing Cat Rat Combination. The previously extremely optimistic spectators on the Cat Rat Combination’s side immediately changed somewhat. But the atmosphere became even more enthusiastic; the more evenly matched the competitors the better the show.
The audience saw the power of the Three Five Combination’s spirit rings, so how could the Cat Rat Combination not see the same? But the spirit fight had already begun, they had no choice but to launch the arrow already on the bowstring.
The thin cat young lady sprung into action, both legs moving rapidly, the whole person like a whirlwind close to ground, sweeping towards Tang San and Xiao Wu, two spirit rings over her body flaring simultaneously. The sharp claws on her hands swung criss cross, ten bright silver claw traces splitting the air, simultaneously attacking both parts of the Three Five Combination.
Simultaneously, her speed reached a kind of terrifying degree. The pressure of her spirit power instantly reached its peak.
Of the two spirit abilities one was speed, one was sharp claw attack. Although he didn’t know the names, Tang San already judged correctly. Shrugging his shoulder, Xiao Wu on his shoulder used the power to leap up, soaring into the air, pouncing directly at the fat rat in the back. But Tang San circled both hands in front of his body, feet using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, hands directly employing Controlling Crane Catching Dragon, he wanted to test just how strong the opponent’s spirit power actually was.
Light and shadow flashed past. Tang San’s body was brought to stagger and he was secretly aghast. It was no wonder the Cat Rat Combination was able to gain four successive victories. This thin cat young woman’s spirit power had perhaps not reached any less than Dai Mubai’s level. Fortunately Tang San had used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track along with Controlling Crane Catching Dragon, not only getting out of the way, but still relying on his Mysterious Heaven Skill internal power to deflect the opponent’s attack.
Chapter 045: Tyrannical Opponent, Mad Battle Team
Part 1
The thin cat young lady clearly did not hope to beat the enemy with her first attack. Just when Tang San diverted her silver claw flurry, she already pushed close to Tang San, her third spirit ring lighting up.
On the other side, Xiao Wu pounced from above, straight towards the fat rat. The fat rat also looked upwards to see her, but wasn’t panicked. His spherical body suddenly bounced upwards, his first two spirit rings simultaneously lighting up, his claws popping out. With a speed unlike his size, he approached Xiao Wu. His speed was surprisingly even faster than the thin cat.
Fat Rat’s stature was confusing to any type of enemy. Tang San’s first guess was right, they were both Agility System Spirit Masters. However, thin cat’s first spirit ring was Speed Boost, and that was a ten year spirit ring. Fat rat’s second spirit ring was Speed boost.
Hundred year spirit rings cannot be compared to ten year spirit rings, so actually Fat Rat’s speed was even faster than thin cat’s, but his strength was weaker than skinny cat’s in the first two spirit rings.
The two sides both started their confrontations. The flames of spirit fighting were also released at this moment.
When thin cat pushed near Tang San’s body, her third spirit ring had already released it’s ability. Her goal was to take down Tang San with the speed of ten thousand tons of lightning [ (雷霆万钧之势) Literally “Thunderclap’s ten thousand jun power” where a jun is 30 jin, or 15 kg, so something like an instantaneous irresistible force.]and then go back to help Fat Rat. When seeing Tang San and Xiao Wu with superior spirit rings, the experienced thin cat already decided to use this extreme method to fight. In normal fights, both sides do a bit of probing to find out the enemy’s spirit abilities before going all in. She did this because she was forced by their strong spirit rings. If she succeeded, the win would be theirs. Four wins in a row isn’t easy to get, and they don’t want to waste the five win streak. If that happens, the points and the money earned are tenfolded.
“Miaoo----” A shrill meow suddenly sounded. Thin cat young lady’s body changed in midair, her claws suddenly becoming ten times longer, changing into ten sharp swords aiming for Tang San. The spirit power on the claws made whistled through the air. The very air bended as it went through.
This obviously wasn’t her own strength anymore, but the powers that come with her third spirit abilities. Now, she was already right in front of Tang San, the elongated claws thrusted for many spots on Tang San. Her attack was also doubled by her thousand year spirit ring and was now undefendable for a same ranked Spirit Master.
If the enemy was any other Spirit Master, they might have actually been defeated by the courageous advancements of her. Locking down their front, the only option was to back off to dodge her attack, but Tang San had already backed off slightly, so he was very near the Spirit Fighting Stage’s edge. If he backed up right now, thin cat was sure she could push him off the stage.
Unfortunately, thin cat’s plans[( 如意算盘) Literally “As one wants - abacus”. Means the calculated plans that one made based on predictions.] failed. Her enemy Tang San once went through a life and death situation, how would he be easily beaten back?
As the sharp claws almost pierced through his body, suddenly, Tang San’s upper body disappeared without any warning.
Thin cat young lady blanked a little. Her movements were way too quick, so even she didn’t see how Tang San did it.
In reality Tang San’s actions were simple. All he did was bend backwards, letting his entire upper body fall back. Though he wasn’t as flexible as Xiao Wu, doing this was still within his ability. However, because thin cat young lady was in front of him, doing this was exposing his chest. Though the thin cat young lady blanked, she immediately found Tang San’s seemingly wrong actions. All she has to do is flick her wrist downwards to win this fight.
Victory was imminent, and thin cat young lady couldn’t help but feel joy. Flicking her wrist was such an easy move for her.
Thinking in her mind, she thought, This guy with a mask has decent spirit rings, but his real combat experience is horrible. He used this weakness exposing tactic to solve my previous attack.
However, she also forgot something. She forgot about Tang San’s spirit.
Thin cat young lady’s joy only lasted a split second. The next moment, she found that she couldn’t move her body at all, not even to flick her wrist downwards.
Tang San already released his Blue Silver Grass earlier when Xiao Wu jumped from his shoulders. Only his Blue Silver Grass was summoned along the ground. When thin cat young lady attacked, her body stopped for a split second and the dexterous Blue Silver Grass entangled her.
If not for the Blue Silver Grass’s entanglement, though she was very fast, how would Tang San expose his weakness in front of her?
After the bending back, Tang San somersaulted backwards, both legs kicking out onto the enemy’s wrists.
Thin cat young lady suddenly discovered she couldn’t move. Just when she wanted to struggle, Tang San’s two kicks came and a big force sent her flying backwards. At the same time, the spikes on the blue silver grass popped out, paralyzing her entire body, forcing her to concentrate all her spirit power to defend against it.
In a real combat situation, the advantage of the painfully obtained Man Faced Demon Spider spirit ring was shown. Not only was Blue Silver Grass extremely tough, the poison was also increased greatly. Binding looked like Tang San’s first spirit ability, but Blue Silver Grass was the main body of Tang San’s spirit, so every spirit ring would augment the Blue Silver Grass. This was the advantage of a Tool Spirit Vs a Beast spirit. Tool Spirit Masters, though their bodies couldn’t be augmented by the spirit, their spirit grew stronger consistently.
Though thin cat young lady struggled with all her might, her spirit power wasn’t even as strong as Dai Mubai’s or as intense, so how could she escape the blue silver grass? Under the paralyzing poison, she was absolutely controlled by Tang San.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 07 - Great Spirit Battle Page 4