"Next, let us welcome—with warm applause—the Flying Bat Team, currently on a two-win streak!"
The Flying Bat Team consisted of two Spirit Elders, both possessing three spirit rings.
They were brothers, and their Martial Souls were identical—Sonic Flying Bats. With extremely fast flight speed and powerful sonic attacks, they were notoriously difficult to deal with.
Thanks to their winning streak, they had already built up a solid fan base.
Below the arena, gambling pools had even been set up. Many spectators had placed heavy bets on the Flying Bat Team, hoping to make a quick profit.
"And now, their opponents—a newly formed duo: Dark Night Star!"
On the opposite side of the stage, Lin Xian and Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward.
Clearly, very few people were cheering for them.
Although Zhu Zhuqing had delivered several impressive performances before, her absence over the past few days had caused her popularity to fade.
"This new team is really unlucky. Facing the Flying Bat Team in their first match?"
"Yeah, and they're even wearing masks—trying to act mysterious. They'll get crushed soon enough."
"I should've bet more on the Flying Bat Team. This is basically free money."
"Hurry up and end this match. I'm waiting for the next one—this one's clearly one-sided."
At the center of the arena, both teams stood facing each other.
"You're unlucky to run into us," one of the brothers sneered. "You can still surrender now, or we'll throw you off the stage ourselves."
Lin Xian flicked his sleeve lightly.
"Do you know why villains can never defeat the protagonist?"
The brothers paused instinctively.
"Why?"
"Because villains talk too much."
!!!
They had been played.
Annoyed, the Flying Bat brothers stepped back and released their Martial Souls.
White, yellow, purple—
A fairly standard spirit ring configuration, but their synergy made them dangerous.
Bat wings sprouted from their backs, granting them short bursts of flight.
This aerial advantage had been key to their previous victories.
They immediately prepared to attack.
But their opponents reacted… strangely.
Lin Xian casually stepped back to the edge of the stage, arms crossed, as if he had no intention of participating at all.
The Flying Bat brothers frowned.
What kind of strategy was this?
Letting the girl fight alone?
Arrogance—or confidence?
Either way, they attacked.
"If you're ignoring us, then die!"
Just as they activated their spirit abilities—
Zhu Zhuqing released her Martial Soul.
Purple! Purple! Purple!
Three thousand-year spirit rings appeared around her.
The entire arena fell silent.
Spirit Possession activated.
With the Dark Night Monarch, her figure became even more lithe and sharp. Cat ears rose from her head, and behind her, three shadowy tails swayed gently.
A faint "King" mark appeared on her forehead, exuding a chilling authority.
In the stands, jaws dropped.
"Her first two rings… are thousand-year rings?!"
The Flying Bat brothers felt an icy chill run through their bodies.
Their spirits were being suppressed. Even their spirit power flow felt sluggish.
"Brother… stay focused. She's strong."
"Right. Strike first!"
"First Spirit Ability—Flying Bat Sonic Wave!"
Sound waves rippled outward, targeting Zhu Zhuqing's mind.
At the same time—
"Second Spirit Ability—Flying Bat Blades!"
Their wings sharpened into blade-like edges as they dashed forward at high speed, switching positions mid-air to confuse their target.
Afterimages filled the sky.
Zhu Zhuqing remained calm.
Her first spirit ring lit up.
"Shadow Thrust."
She vanished.
The brothers' pupils shrank.
Gone?!
The older brother immediately glanced toward his sibling—
Too late.
Zhu Zhuqing appeared behind and to the side of the younger brother, her claws wrapped in shadow energy.
One strike—
Instant defeat.
"Damn it!"
The older brother roared in anger.
His third spirit ring flared.
"Third Spirit Ability—Sonic Ripples!"
Violent sound waves spread outward in all directions.
"Shadow Thrust."
She disappeared again.
A cold sensation brushed his neck.
Cold sweat poured down his back.
He turned his head slowly—
Her claws hovered just inches away.
One more step, and his throat would have been slit.
"We… we surrender!"
Silence.
The entire arena was deathly quiet.
He understood now.
Her speed was overwhelming—so fast they couldn't even react.
And her teammate hadn't even made a move.
What kind of monster was that man?
"Are you not going to announce the result?"
Lin Xian's calm voice broke the silence.
"I announce… the winner of this two-on-two Spirit Fight—Dark Night Star!"
Only then did the crowd erupt.
"So strong!"
"That was incredible!"
"New favorite team!"
"They ended it in seconds!"
"I really want to see their faces under those masks—"
"You've got a death wish!"
Zhu Zhuqing walked over, took Lin Xian's hand, and the two left the stage together.
As for those who had bet everything on the Flying Bat Team…
That night, many of them learned a painful lesson about gambling.