Chapter 36: Zhu Zhuqing: There's No Going Back — I Like the Big Ones
"S-So strong…"
"She's actually this much stronger than last time…"
Dai Mubai clenched his teeth, staring at Zhu Zhuqing with unwillingness written all over his face.
Last time, although Zhu Zhuqing had defeated him, at least the fight had gone back and forth.
But this time…
It was a completely one-sided crush.
"What?!"
Oscar, still in the air, was dumbfounded.
He knew Zhu Zhuqing was strong, but he hadn't imagined she was strong to this extent!
Even Dai Mubai, after activating White Tiger Vajra Transformation, had been blasted away with a single effortless punch.
He didn't have time to think. He immediately dove down in a sliding descent.
Without a word, he stuffed his recovery sausage straight into Dai Mubai's mouth.
"Boss Dai, eat!"
Dai Mubai swallowed it, feeling a warm current spread through his body.
The numbness in his arms eased, and a portion of his soul power was restored.
"Hiss—"
But just then, Oscar suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
He stiffly turned his head—
Only to see that Zhu Zhuqing had somehow appeared behind him.
Those cold cat eyes were staring straight at him.
"Th-that… Sister… c-can I step down by myself?"
Oscar forced a bitter smile, raising both hands in surrender.
The response he received was a kick.
Bang!
The strike was lightning-fast. Oscar didn't even see it clearly before a sharp pain exploded in his abdomen.
"Aw wooo!"
His entire body flew like a sandbag, tracing a perfect arc before landing neatly off the Soul Arena platform.
And just like that, the situation returned to one-on-one.
Dai Mubai clenched the sausage in his teeth and struggled to his feet. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.
He knew he couldn't win.
But even if he lost, he would lose with dignity!
"AHHH!!!"
With a furious roar, he poured all his soul power into his right fist and charged at Zhu Zhuqing like a cannonball.
This strike—
Was everything he had!
Yet Zhu Zhuqing's gaze barely shifted.
She did not dodge.
She did not even assume a defensive stance.
"Hah."
With only a slight turn of her body, she raised her left hand and swung a powerful hook.
Soul power gathered, a faint glow blooming around her fist.
The punch seemed to carry boundless pressure, and for a split second, Dai Mubai felt his body grow heavy, his movements slowing.
Vajra Palm Gravity Force Pressure!
BOOM!!
Their fists collided. Dai Mubai felt a force like collapsing mountains and overturning seas surge toward him.
Crack! Snap!
His entire right arm instantly went numb.
His body was sent flying yet again.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing stood where she was, slowly withdrawing her fist.
The gap between them was enormous, visible to the naked eye.
"Cough… cough…"
Dai Mubai lay on the ground, gasping for air as blood continuously spilled from the corner of his mouth.
As for the arm he had used to block—
It was visibly bent at an unnatural angle.
Broken.
"Ugh! Cough! Agh!"
He gritted his teeth. He struggled.
But he could no longer rise.
"Shuashuashua…"
Zhu Zhuqing walked toward him step by step, unleashing a flurry of claw shadows that enveloped him entirely.
Those terrifying attacks were impossible to dodge.
Dai Mubai's heartbeat stuttered.
Suddenly—
A glint of light pierced through the overlapping claw shadows and halted above his head.
The razor-sharp claw, gleaming coldly, stopped less than a centimeter from his eye.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
Dai Mubai could hear his own heart pounding wildly.
He could also feel the icy killing intent radiating from the claw's tip.
Zhu Zhuqing retracted her claws and stood before him, calmly looking down.
"It's over."
Her voice passed through the mask, cold and composed.
"…"
Dai Mubai looked up at her, his expression complicated beyond words—
Unwillingness. Humiliation. Shock.
And a trace of deep regret.
If back then he hadn't fled from the Star Luo Empire… If back then he had chosen to stand and fight alongside Zhu Zhuqing…
If he had…
But there were no "ifs."
In the end, he gave a bitter smile.
"I… have completely lost."
The host's voice rang out loudly:
"I declare the winner of this Soul Arena match, the Gemstone Cat Team!"
"WAAAHHH!!!"
The audience erupted into cheers and applause.
In the spectator stands, the expressions of the Shrek group varied.
"She's amazing…"
Xiao Wu bit her lip, eyes full of shock.
Hearing that, Tang San's expression darkened further.
He could tell—
Zhu Zhuqing had used even fewer abilities in this battle than she had against him.
Yet even with Ning Rongrong's support, the speed and strength she displayed were far superior to when she fought him.
So…
When she fought me earlier, she wasn't even serious.
Tang San's heart sank.
"Boss Dai's really unlucky."
Ma Hongjun shrank his neck, secretly rejoicing.
"Good thing… good thing Fatty here was clever and didn't team up with him today… otherwise… I'd probably be bedridden for days…"
Yu Xiaogang and Flender exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes.
"Her strength… is likely already close to the Soul King level."
Yu Xiaogang said in a low voice, his tone trembling slightly.
As a theoretical master, he knew exactly what that implied.
Twelve years old. Rank 39. Combat strength approaching Soul King.
"Genius" was no longer enough to describe her.
She was a monster. A true monster.
Flender adjusted his glasses, his eyes gleaming behind the lenses.
"And her combat awareness and confidence… nothing like a twelve-year-old child."
"That calmness. That decisiveness. That precision."
"She's a born warrior."
"More importantly…"
Yu Xiaogang added, "Her physical strength far surpasses that of soul masters of the same rank. Shattering soul skills barehanded… Even if her fortune was heaven-defying, she must possess…"
"You mean…"
"Yes. That."
The two understood each other instantly and fell silent.
They could guess that Zhu Zhuqing most likely possessed a soul bone.
But so what?
Were they going to kill and seize it?
Impossible.
They had too many concerns now. They could not gamble everything on whether a soul bone even existed.
If they succeeded, they would gain a soul bone.
If they failed, they would create a mortal enemy with a future Titled Douluo.
And there was another uncertainty—
Was Zhu Zhuqing truly without backing?
Sigh…
Both men let out long sighs.
The older one grows—
The more cautious one becomes.
On the Soul Arena stage—
Zhu Zhuqing dismissed her martial soul possession and turned to leave.
"Zhu… Xiao Yue!"
Ning Rongrong rushed over excitedly and threw her arms around Zhu Zhuqing in a tight hug.
"We were amazing! Absolute slaughter!"
As for who was doing the slaughtering and who was just tagging along—
Let's not worry about the details.
"Mm. Slaughter."
Zhu Zhuqing paused briefly, then subconsciously patted Ning Rongrong on the head.
"Hehe! So? My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda support is amazing, right?"
Ning Rongrong beamed proudly, as if asking for credit.
"Mm. It's alright."
Zhu Zhuqing replied in a very calm tone.
"What do you mean by 'alright'?!"
Ning Rongrong puffed up indignantly.
"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is the strongest support martial soul!
"Any soul master who experiences it will never be able to go back!"
"Indeed…"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded with absolute sincerity.
"There's really no going back."
Without comparison, there is no harm.
Compared to Bai Lu's massive amplification soul skills, Ning Rongrong's modest boosts really felt… underwhelming.
Even if she released her Eight Spider Lances, the raw strength amplification alone would surpass the small pagoda's support.
Sigh…
She had already gotten used to the White Tiger's form.
There was no going back.
As expected—
She preferred the big ones.
End of Chapter