Chapter 496 494: Winning Streak

"How annoying. If I were to surrender now, with so many people watching, it would be terribly embarrassing for me..." Ying Qian said with a winning smile. "How about this? Why don't you let me have a few moves? After a couple of exchanges, I'll just leave. That will look much better, don't you think...?"

She once again tried to entice Lin Xuan with her delicate, seductive voice. Though her clothes weren't revealing, she possessed an incredible allure that made even the spectators feel themselves being drawn in.

"Can you speak normally? If you're afraid of getting hurt, then get off the stage," Lin Xuan sneered. "Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're a woman. If I really treated you like one, I'd probably be the one to die a miserable death." To him, this Charm Technique was child's play.

He hadn't lost his focus even when among the Demon Fox Race, let alone against an opponent who was far inferior to a true Demon Fox.

Lin Xuan's complete lack of reaction made Ying Qian's expression falter. She didn't show any anger, however, instead continuing in that same delicate voice, "Since you insist, I'll have to use my full strength. I hope you'll still find it in your heart to show me some mercy."

That voice was enough to make a man's knees go weak, to make him feel utterly light-headed. But to Lin Xuan, it was a lethal temptation.

Besides, if he actually fell for it, Lin Xue, who was watching from the sidelines, would absolutely take his life.

"Since you won't show me any mercy, I suppose I'll have to use my full strength..."

The next moment, Ying Qian produced a pair of small, silver flags, one in each of her slender hands. The character for "Yin" was inscribed on the front of each flag. Their silvery light was dazzling, and as she waved them, the surrounding air currents began to stir.

The two flags in her hands seemed capable of summoning the wind and rain, like banners used to command an army of thousands.

'Divine Artifact Level flags. Those are a rare sight.' Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes, studying the pair of flags. From the soul emanating from them, he could tell they were Divine Artifacts, and high-Grade ones at that.

The soul of a Mangtian Sea Bull was sealed within these Divine Artifacts. He could even see a single soul split in two, with each half infused into one of the flags.

'Divine Artifacts weren't uncommon, but flag-type Weapons were certainly rare. Usually, those who used flag-type Weapons possessed very strong Soul Power!'

'This means that Ying Qian's Soul Power is by no means weak. We both cultivate Soul Power... I wonder which of us is stronger?'

"Now this is getting interesting. Ying Qian's Cultivation isn't particularly high; there's not much difference between the two of them. But she just so happens to cultivate Soul Power and has a soul-type Divine Artifact. Won't that give her a clear advantage over Mu Shuang?"

"Heh heh, you're right. I refuse to believe Mu Shuang can even withstand a Divine Artifact. He's stopping here for sure. So much for the Bu Family's hopes!"

"Take him down already! Let's see how long his arrogance lasts. He only got this far by exploiting loopholes."

Lin Xuan's meteoric rise had naturally drawn a lot of jealousy. Many in the crowd were not on good terms with the Bu Family, so of course they hoped to see Lin Xuan lose. They were especially incensed that someone from a minor Empire might climb over the heads of many larger, more established Empires.

"Alright, then. I'm making my move!" Ying Qian called out. With a light wave of her flags, the space across the entire stage began to distort.

As she waved the flags, she whipped up a soul storm that gathered frantically in the air. In moments, all the surrounding space was being twisted into the vortex.

It all happened in an instant. Lin Xuan felt a surge of Soul Power from the world around him pour into his body, striking directly at his mind.

A moment later, Lin Xuan's expression was unchanged. He still wore a faint smile, but his eyes narrowed slightly. A bright light flashed within them as he unleashed the Spirit God Technique.

BANG!

Ying Qian's body shuddered and her face went pale. She stumbled back several steps as if she had been dealt a heavy blow, even though Lin Xuan hadn't physically moved at all.

The distorted space around them quickly returned to normal, as if nothing had ever happened.

'How is this possible?! My Soul Attack had no effect on him, yet his Soul Attack shattered my defenses with ease!' Ying Qian's face was deathly pale. Everything had spiraled beyond her expectations, and her initial confidence crumbled to dust.

The cloying expression on her face had vanished, replaced by an icy coldness. Her sweet smile was gone.

"Ten Thousand Flags Descending!"

Ying Qian cried out and threw the flags toward Lin Xuan. Under her control, the two Divine Artifact Flags shot forward. Countless rays of silver light burst from them, rushing to envelop Lin Xuan as if to trap him within a silver cage.

Lin Xuan paid no attention to Ying Qian's actions. His eyes narrowed slightly again as a brilliant light flashed within them. 'Spirit God Technique!'

BOOM!

Another peerless Soul Attack slammed into her, striking deep within Ying Qian's mind. CLANG! The two flags, no longer under her control, fell from the air with a crisp metallic ring.

Ying Qian clutched her head and staggered back several more steps, her face growing even paler. At least she didn't pass out. She had managed to withstand two of his attacks.

Without the support of her Soul Power, the two Divine Artifact Flags naturally fell from the air. Her powerful, imposing attack from a moment ago had been effortlessly shattered by Lin Xuan in the blink of an eye. It didn't matter what abilities she used; all he had to do was defeat her.

'Geniuses of her Level really are different. Even going all out, I can only break her attacks, not defeat her completely...' Lin Xuan shook his head. Had he held back? Of course not. He hadn't held back from the very beginning. Her Soul Power was simply strong enough that he couldn't achieve an instant kill.

'Time to end this...'

Lin Xuan wasted no more time. In that instant, he activated the Fox King's Soul Possession. A powerful aura surged from within him, and the Soul Power in his mind intensified.

'Spirit God Technique!'

He unleashed the Spirit God Technique one more time. His formless Spiritual Power morphed into a sharp sword, erupting from his mind and piercing straight through Ying Qian's consciousness.

"You..."

Ying Qian pointed at Lin Xuan, as if wanting to say something, but her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed limply. She had passed out completely, unable to rise again.

This meant Lin Xuan was victorious. The match had presented a sliver of difficulty, but it was still a relatively easy win that posed no real challenge. More importantly, this meant Lin Xuan had officially entered the top fifty. Barring any surprises, his entry into the Bu Family was now a certainty.

As ever, Lin Xuan turned and strode nonchalantly off the stage. Only then did the referee hurry to announce, "Mu Shuang is the victor!"

That declaration of "Mu Shuang is the victor!" finally snapped the crowd back to their senses. Soul attacks were the most mysterious kind; they hadn't seen a thing, so one could hardly call the fight intense. But they only needed to know one thing, and that was enough: Lin Xuan had won!