Douluo Dalu: Starting With Tom Cat

As the sun set and the moon rose, evening arrived once again.

Shen An, accompanied by Ning Rongrong and Tom, returned to the Soul Fighting Arena.

Zhu Zhuqing, however, chose to continue her training. Since Shen An and Ning Rongrong had already formed a team, she told them to go ahead without worrying about her.

Upon arriving at the arena, Pang Tao greeted them warmly, first addressing Ning Rongrong and then saying, "Brother Shen An, you're as punctual as ever. Shall we go inside to discuss the details?"

Shen An agreed readily. Yesterday, after witnessing the influence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect behind Ning Rongrong on the Soul Fighting Arena, Shen An had a sudden idea.

He proposed to Pang Tao that he wanted to frequent the arena, and in exchange, he didn't need gold soul coins—he only hoped the arena would promote him more.

As the saying goes, "Thick skin gets the meat." There was no harm in asking.

During his matches yesterday, Shen An had defeated his opponents without holding back. Whether it was one-on-one or two-on-two, it was always over in a single sword strike.

Seeing Shen An's potential, Pang Tao had an idea and arranged to discuss it further with him.

Shen An spoke first, "Brother Pang, I'm a practical person. I value fame over wealth. If I come to the arena, I don't need the profits. Just promote me, and that'll be enough. How does that sound?"

Pang Tao's expression turned odd. Even though he had heard this yesterday, hearing it again today still gave him a refreshing feeling.

There was actually someone like this? Most people came to the arena for fame and fortune, but ultimately, it was all about the profit. Fame was just a means to that end.

Little did Pang Tao know that for Shen An, fame was profit. With the system, fame would directly translate into resources for Shen An, not something as mundane as gold soul coins.

After a moment of contemplation, Pang Tao said,

"Brother Shen, here's the deal. As long as you can remain undefeated at the Great Soul Master level, I can agree to this arrangement. We'll both gain fame, and we'll split the profits."

"I'll present you as a genius nurtured by the Soul Fighting Arena. If someone defeats you, they'll receive a huge reward. This will attract more challengers."

Pang Tao paused and continued,

"Moreover, if you're confident, after our evaluation, we can even allow low-level Soul Elders to challenge you. But the condition is—you must not lose!"

"We'll both gain fame, and the profits will be split 10% for you and 90% for me. A win-win situation. How about it?"

Shen An smiled, a radiant smile. He loved this kind of cooperation. It meant he could win twice—once through the fame and profit from the arena, and once through the system's rewards.

What's a win-win? Winning twice is a win-win!

"Brother Pang, if I lose even once at the same level, I'll end myself on the stage."

Pang Tao's eyes gleamed upon hearing this. Such confidence! He truly had the aura of an invincible prodigy. Still, it was best to test him first.

Pang Tao said, "Brother Shen, would you mind if I tested you myself? Just to get a sense of your strength."

Shen An understood Pang Tao's concerns and agreed without hesitation.

Pang Tao said, "Brother Shen, go all out. I won't use my martial soul against you."

Shen An's expression turned strange. Pang Tao had only seen the aftermath of his battle with the Shrek Four but hadn't truly gauged his combat power.

With the sharpness of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, if Shen An were serious and Pang Tao wasn't prepared, a single sword strike could seal his throat. Death wouldn't be far off.

Of course, this was just a test. The goal was to evaluate Shen An's strength, so Shen An wouldn't go all out.

Shen An said seriously, "Brother Pang, my sword is very sharp. You'd better use your martial soul."

Pang Tao, being the shrewd man he was, didn't take offense. As the manager of the Suoto Great Soul Fighting Arena, he was always diplomatic. Normally, a six-ringed Soul Emperor being told this by a two-ringed Great Soul Master would feel insulted.

After all, there was a gap of over thirty levels between a Soul Emperor and a Soul Grandmaster. To a Soul Emperor, a Soul Grandmaster was like an ant.

But Pang Tao was different. He just smiled and agreed. Six optimal soul rings appeared around him as his martial soul materialized—the Black Water Rhinoceros!

Thick, armor-like rhinoceros hide covered his body, and a horn grew from his forehead. He exuded a wild yet steady aura, like an immovable mountain.

Seeing this, Shen An didn't hesitate. The Nine-Leaf Sword Grass appeared in his hand, and the Nine-Leaf Phantom Sword materialized in the air, ready to strike. Shen An's entire demeanor changed.

From a gentle youth, he transformed into a sharp and formidable swordsman.

"Then, Brother Pang, let's begin!"

A yellow and a purple soul ring surrounded the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass before merging into it, leaving Pang Tao momentarily stunned.

Wait, did I see that right? A purple second soul ring? And why did those two soul rings merge into the sword as soon as they appeared?

Shen An activated both soul skills simultaneously—Wind Chaser and Sword Control!

His body became incredibly agile. Perhaps due to his transmigration, Shen An's mental strength was exceptionally powerful, allowing him to multitask with ease.

Shen An closed the distance with a swift sword thrust, the sharp sound of the blade cutting through the air as it shot toward Pang Tao. At the same time, the Nine-Leaf Void Sword in the air turned into a green streak of light, crashing down toward Pang Tao's back. A pincer attack from front and back.

A direct thrust, a flying sword, and speed as fast as wind and thunder. The cold gleam on the sword's edge made this attack far beyond what a typical Great Soul Master could achieve. Even among Soul Elders, few could match this.

Pang Tao's expression changed slightly. He channeled his soul power, and the rhinoceros hide on his body glowed with a black light. He didn't dodge or evade, choosing to take the attack head-on.

"Clang! Clang!"

The green streak of light struck Pang Tao's back, causing him to stagger slightly. He grimaced—damn, that hurt! At the same time, Shen An's Nine-Leaf Sword Grass thrust forward, piercing Pang Tao's defenses.

Shen An didn't aim for a vital spot. This wasn't a life-or-death battle, so he chose to attack Pang Tao's strongest defense to prove his strength.

The tip of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass pierced Pang Tao's skin, drawing a trickle of blood. Shen An was slightly surprised—this level of defense was something he had never encountered before.

Normally, his Nine-Leaf Sword Grass cut through opponents like butter, so he had almost forgotten that he was now facing a six-ringed Soul Emperor.

Pang Tao, on the other hand, was utterly shocked. He was a genuine defensive-type Soul Emperor. Even with his soul power activated, he had still been injured.

Seeing Pang Tao standing still, Shen An thought he was dissatisfied with his performance.

So, with a thought, Shen An's sword moved like a swallow skimming the water, its tip scraping the ground and sending sparks flying as it attacked Pang Tao's lower body. At the same time, the Nine-Leaf Phantom Sword shot toward Pang Tao's head.

Feeling the slight pain in his chest, Pang Tao saw Shen An suddenly change tactics, attacking from both above and below.

Reacting quickly, Pang Tao's large hand reached out to grab the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, while the horn on his head glowed, and his body was enveloped in a gray light.

Two yellow soul rings around Pang Tao shone brightly. His first soul skill, Black Water Shield, created a black barrier to block the Nine-Leaf Phantom Sword from behind.

His second soul skill, Iron Rhinoceros Hammer, turned his fist into a heavy hammer, glowing with black light as it smashed toward the sword in front of him.

Using soul skills? Fine. If I, a six-ringed Soul Emperor, get injured by a two-ringed Soul Grandmaster, how am I supposed to keep my dignity?

"Boom!"

The tremendous force sent Shen An's sword flying, but it remained suspended in the air thanks to the Sword Control skill.

Shen An felt a slight pain in his hand. A six-ringed Soul Emperor was indeed terrifying. Just two hundred-year soul rings were enough to neutralize his attack.

"Brother Shen, my apologies. Forcing me to use two soul skills is already something to be proud of."

Shen An smiled. This was just the beginning. It wasn't over yet.