NOVEL NEXT Chapter 39: Chapter 39
**Chapter 39: Be Careful**
Bibi Dong's opponent was desperate to avoid inhaling the dense, poisonous fog, but the mist continued to expand, soon covering the entire ring. With nowhere to hide, he realized the situation was critical.
Recalling the fate of the unfortunate contestant before him, he made an educated guess about the nature of the poisonous fog. If he couldn't defeat her within five minutes, the poison would take effect, leaving him incapacitated. Knowing this, he resolved to take a chance.
With renewed determination, his figure darted forward. The two shadowy forms of his martial soul lunged at Bibi Dong, their four leopard claws slashing relentlessly.
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Meanwhile, Zhao Ling and Ah Yin, watching from the stands, found the game's intensity diminished by the suffocating fog.
Ah Yin, unwilling to stand idly near the ring, pulled Zhao Ling toward the seating area and made him sit down. Without hesitation, she settled herself directly on his lap, guiding his hands to encircle her waist.
Zhao Ling froze for a moment. While Ah Yin was often affectionate—holding his arm or letting him kiss her forehead—this was the first time she had climbed into his lap, embracing him so intimately.
Zhao Ling was no saint, so her actions left him momentarily flustered. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her, tempted to rest his head on her shoulder. But after a brief internal debate, he decided not to push his luck and instead sat quietly, holding her close.
Ah Yin, however, had other expectations. She had purposefully sat on his lap, thinking that her bold move would prompt him to respond—perhaps with a kiss or even a heartfelt confession.
But as the minutes passed with no further action from Zhao Ling, she started to doubt her own charm. 'How could he still be so dense?' she fumed silently. 'Doesn't he desire me at all?'
Her thoughts were interrupted by the referee's announcement of Bibi Dong's second consecutive victory in the Silver Soul Arena.
The win tripled Zhao Ling's initial bet of 100,000 gold soul coins to nearly 300,000. Ecstatic, he gently lifted Ah Yin off his lap, stood up, and ran toward the gleaming pile of money.
Watching him go, Ah Yin stomped her foot in frustration. "What a wooden block!" she muttered. "He doesn't understand romance at all!"
---
Before the third match began, Zhao Ling noticed something odd: Bibi Dong's odds of winning had changed drastically, surging from 1.3:2.1 to 2.7:1.4.
Such a sudden shift in odds was highly suspicious, especially given Bibi Dong's flawless record so far. If anything, her odds should have continued to drop.
Zhao Ling immediately suspected foul play. Someone must have placed a massive bet on Bibi Dong's opponent, likely trying to manipulate the match.
Trusting his instincts, Zhao Ling decided not to wager on the third match. Instead, he requested that the Great Fighting Soul Arena transfer his winnings to a black card.
The arena staff, unfazed by the withdrawal request, quickly deposited the nearly 300,000 gold soul coins into a black card. With this card, Zhao Ling could exchange the amount at any bank on the Douluo Continent—an incredibly convenient option.
Having secured his earnings, Zhao Ling felt it wasn't worth risking his winnings. It wasn't a matter of doubting Bibi Dong's strength; he simply didn't trust the arena's intentions.
He feared they might pit Bibi Dong against an opponent far beyond her current level—someone like a Level 60 Soul Emperor, or worse, a Level 65 strong-attack system Soul Emperor. Such an opponent would be nearly impossible for Bibi Dong, at Level 53, to defeat.
---
Sure enough, when the third match began, Zhao Ling's suspicions were confirmed. The opponent arranged for Bibi Dong possessed a martial soul called Azure Ivy, an illusory vine-like plant.
The sight immediately triggered Zhao Ling's memory. Wasn't this the martial soul of Zhilin, the future second-in-command of the Tiandou Royal Academy's teaching committee?
Although he couldn't recall all the details—after all, he had been in the Douluo Continent for over a decade—he remembered Zhilin's unique martial soul from the original story.
When the opponent introduced himself, Zhao Ling's suspicions were validated: this was indeed Zhilin, and his level had already reached 61.
The Great Fighting Soul Arena had shamelessly arranged for a Level 61 Soul Emperor to face Bibi Dong. Zhao Ling clenched his fists, cursing their audacity. Even though both Zhilin and Bibi Dong were control-type soul masters, the power gap was undeniable.
Zhilin's soul power was eight levels higher, and he possessed an additional ten-thousand-year soul ring. The match was stacked against Bibi Dong from the start. Worse, she was already fatigued from two earlier matches.
Shaking his head, Zhao Ling couldn't help but feel relieved. 'It was a wise decision to stop betting. If I hadn't, I might have lost everything. I truly am as brilliant as ever, unlike those foolish gamblers…'
It was clear to him that Bibi Dong's winning streak had threatened someone's interests, prompting them to arrange this unfair match.
---
Returning to his seat, Zhao Ling sighed, reflecting on the arena's corruption. But when he reached Ah Yin, he noticed her frosty demeanor.
"Ah Yin, what's wrong?" he asked, puzzled.
She stared at him coldly, her arms crossed.
'What's with this attitude? Zhao Ling wondered. 'I just made nearly 300,000 gold soul coins! Isn't this something to celebrate? Why does she look so bitter?'
Scratching his head in confusion, Zhao Ling tentatively pulled her back into his lap. But even as he held her, her icy expression didn't waver.
Realizing something was amiss, he leaned forward, kissed her gently on the forehead, and asked, "Ah Yin, what's wrong? Who upset you? Just tell me, and I'll take care of it."
"You should know who made me angry," she huffed, her voice dripping with dissatisfaction.
Zhao Ling blinked, utterly clueless. But determined to make amends, he gently coaxed and comforted her until she finally broke into a smile again.
---
Meanwhile, back in the arena, the third match began. Bibi Dong wasted no time deploying her first skill, Poison Mist, to limit her opponent's vision.
However, Zhilin's plant-based martial soul, Azure Ivy, rendered the tactic nearly useless. The vines he controlled were tough, sprawling across half the ring to attack Bibi Dong with precision.
As a plant-type soul master, Zhilin possessed exceptional sensory perception—far superior to that of most war soul emperors. The poisonous fog had little effect on him, leaving Bibi Dong to contend with a relentless barrage of attacks.
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*(End of Chapter)*