Douluo Dalu - Volume 07 - Great Spirit Battle Read online

The other person swiftly squatted at Bu Le’s side. Although his face had a concentrated expression, his appearance was even more wretched than Bu Le and baritone’s. Put succinctly, besides the hair that could still be considered ordinary, there was basically nothing normal about him.

  His entire body was so thin it was like only the skeleton was left. His eyes were unexpectedly very large, but yellow, twinkling with a cloudy light. A pair of rat whiskers trembled as he spoke. The crows feet at the corners of his eyes looked capable of simultaneously crushing a group of flies to death.

  These two now appearing before Bu Le looked about the same age as him. Now the two had already shed their amused expressions, having serious faces.

  The slightly built man’s both hands quickly felt all over Bu Le’s body, from time to time cursing, in his yellow eyes were already a bit of red.

  “Really mistreated severely. This time Bu Le is wretched. The four limbs are dislocated without doubt. Five ribs and four bones are also broken. Three cervical vertebrae are displaced and cracked. He won’t recover in several months. Most important, Bu Le’s thing is cooked.”

  “Cooked? Tian Ya, what are you calling cooked?”

  The baritone called Lao E was shocked.

  The wretched little man Tian Ya smiled wryly:

  “Can’t you smell that roast chicken? This time Bu Le’s loss was too great, the bones can recover, but this roast chicken……”

  While speaking, Tian Ya raised his right hand, along with a beautiful green light flickering, a sharp blade had already appeared in his hand. At the same time as it appeared, there were also a full five spirit rings. One white, two yellow, two purple, although the spirit rings’ attributes were common, he was a true Spirit Elder with more than fiftieth rank spirit power.

  The sharp blade in his hands was a broken blade[ (断刃) Possibly related, there’s another Chinese web novel author called Break Blade Horizon, using the same characters as here.], seemingly broken evenly with the waist. The knife blade was approximately four fingers wide, from the handle to the break one chi two cun long[ 1尺2寸 = 40 cm]. The knife handle was eight cun[ 8寸 = 27 cm] long. In the flickering green light, it was a grand Tool Spirit of a Battle Spirit Master.

  “Bu Le, we let you down. If we didn’t come to find you at once, perhaps it would be even worse.”

  In the green light, the hand swung the blade, with a small sound, something seemed to fall to the ground. Strangely, Bu Le didn’t make a sound, but his eyes overflowed with humiliated and baleful tears.

  “I must have revenge. I must have revenge. I must make their lives worse than death.”

  ……

  The seven days of rest passed very quickly, and the day finally came when classes started again. Since the day several of them snuck out to suppress the vulgar strange uncle Bu Le, several days had passed, and gradually this matter had faded from memory. Besides Ma Hongjun, the others were all unaware of Bu Le’s roasted chicken. Ma Hongjun was also very restrained because of this matter, for these several days of rest he hadn’t again gone to Suotuo City, the Evil Fire’s outbreaks seemed to be suppressed by the intense exercise.

  After eating breakfast, as the familiar start of class bell rung, Tang San and the others punctually arrived on the grounds.

  Today’s sunshine was especially bright, the blue sky without clouds as far as the eye could see. Although it was still early, the sunlight already burned somewhat. Grandmaster’s shadow was lengthened by the sunlight, standing there with both hands folded across his chest, waiting for the seven to line up.

  “From when I came here and started teaching you until now it has been three months. Under the supervision and aid of the teachers, your bodies already have some foundation. But if you want to become outstanding Spirit Masters, this is still far from sufficient.”

  It was worth mentioning that in the previous three months of demonic training, the other teachers hadn’t stayed idle. The first time Ma Hongjun slacked off they had learned that the teachers had secretly supervised them along their training route. The consequences of Ma Hongjun slacking off that time directly led to everyone training fifty percent harder for three days. Grandmaster had all along implemented a policy of collective punishment. One person erred, all suffered. The broom was one entity.

  “Consequently, starting from today, I will advance you to the second stage of your education. According to Flender, you have already gone to Suotuo Great Spirit Arena, and that is where you will receive your education for some time. This time the education doesn’t have a time limit, whenever you’ve obtained a silver spirit fighter badge is when the training ends. For this time I will arrange for you to stay at the inn closest to the Great Spirit Arena. You will provide lodging and board yourselves. As long as you have the ability, your income from Great Spirit Arena should be considerable.”

  Hearing Grandmaster’s words, the students simultaneously loosed a breath. Going to Great Spirit Arena would always be more relaxed than Grandmaster’s demonic training.

  “But, you must remember: obtaining a silver spirit fighter badge is not limited to one versus one spirit battles, you must simultaneously obtain a silver spirit fighter badge in group spirit battles. You will fight as Shrek Seven Devils. Group fights can not only let everyone receive personal points, at the same time they will grant team points, this is something two versus two fights do not have. Of course, if you want to obtain the silver spirit fighter title even faster, I ill not object to you freely forming combinations to enter two versus two fights. But I have a few restrictions you must keep in mind. First, you may not reveal your faces or names to your opponents in spirit fights, everyone has to fight under code names. Second, including Tang San, no one may use hidden weapons. Third, whether you win or lose, every day each person must fight at least twice.”

  Oscar somewhat grumbling said:

  “Grandmaster, me and Ning Rongrong are auxiliary system Spirit Masters, must we also get silver spirit fighter badges?”

  Grandmaster calmly said:

  “Maybe. You can choose the kind of training you did before, until the others have silver spirit fighting badges.”

  “Eh……, Grandmaster, I suddenly realize your decision to have us go compete at Great Spirit Arena for actual combat experience is brilliant, take it as I said nothing just now.”

  Ning Rongrong originally thought to raise the same issue. Seeing Oscar choke on it she couldn’t help but inwardly rejoice, cackling to the side.

  Grandmaster always passed like thunder and moved like the wind[ Idiom: Act swiftly and decisively.]. After letting all the students simply put their things in order, he immediately brought them out, leaving for Suotuo Academy. Journeying together with them were still old acquaintances of the students, the Academy’s original two deans, Four Eyed Owl Flender and Motionless Bright King Zhao Wuji. The other three teachers stayed behind to take care of the Academy.

  Flender couldn’t help but greatly admire Grandmaster’s decision. Having the students living in Suotuo City, taking care of their own expenses, the Academy naturally wouldn’t suffer any pressure. But he with Zhao Wuji and Grandmaster could live at his shop, and supervise the students’ daily combat progress.

  Great Spirit Arena bouts were all conducted in the evening. A party arriving in Suotuo City would first find a common inn to stay at near the Great Spirit Arena. As a result of being near the Great Spirit Arena, although these counted as common, the price would still be twice that of other places. Of course, to the students with a monthly income of at least ten gold coins, or even a hundred gold coins, this was still no burden. After all, there were still not many places as expensive as that Rose Hotel.

  After arranging the lodgings for the students, Grandmaster called all seven to Tang San’s room.

  “At present you may team up freely and choose to participate in any kind of spirit contest. The Great Spirit Arena’s one versus one and two versus two bouts start first. Although team battles are separate from the other two, th
ey start comparatively late, and also attract the most spectators in Great Spirit Arena. With the staggered starting times they can also sell even more tickets. Every day you must participate in one team battle, for the other bout you can choose freely on your own. I also won’t object if you want to participate in three. The precondition is that you properly understand your own spirit power condition.”

  As Grandmaster stopped speaking, Oscar immediately looked towards Dai Mubai with a pitiful appearance,

  “Boss Dai, it would be better for us to participate in two versus two together, how about it? Although I just reached thirtieth rank, my auxiliary capabilities should be able to assist you. Otherwise, I don’t know how I’ll scrape together enough points for a silver spirit fighter badge in all my life.”

  Dai Mubai looked distracted, his original intention was to participate in two versus two spirit battles with Zhu Zhuqing, or perhaps join one versus one on his own. Seeing Oscar’s pleading gaze, after thinking it over, he still gave a nod,

  “All right.”

  Discussing fighting strength among the seven, clearly Dai Mubai and Tang San were the strongest. Oscar had at once approached Dai Mubai. Ning Rongrong’s gaze immediately turned to Tang San.

  In an intimate tone:

  “Third brother, do you want to help me?”

  Tang San looked distracted a moment,

  “But, I’ve already formed the Three Five Combination with Xiao Wu.”

  On the side Ma Hongjun hurriedly moved closer,

  “Rongrong, how about me? I want to join two versus two with you.”

  “You? Just forget about it.”

  Ning Rongrong unhappily glared at Fatty,

  “You’re too busy looking after yourself, how would you still have time for me.”

  Grandmaster suddenly spoke up:

  “No. I propose you indeed should form a combination for two versus two with Ma Hongjun.”

  Ning Rongrong puzzled asked:

  “Why?”

  Grandmaster calmly said:

  “Because you and Tang San’s levels are different. When participating in two versus two, if one Spirit Master has reached a higher level, then he must participate in a higher level contest. Tang San has already reached thirtieth rank, but you are still on the twentieth rank level. If you cooperated to participate in two versus two, then you would have to participate in thirtieth rank bouts. Generally speaking, for Spirit Masters coming to Great Spirit Arena to fight, only if their confidence is extremely high or their spirit has a large advantage would they participate in bouts higher than their level. Thirtieth ranked bouts are naturally the same. Although Tang San’s spirit is extraordinary, participating in one versus one fights might barely be possible, but if adding you, although your Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda spirit is the most powerful auxiliary type spirit, right now it still isn’t sufficient to make up for the gap between him and two over thirty fifth ranked opponents. But you and Ma Hongjun participating together is different, he’s already twenty eighth rank, his spirit advantage is also not insignificant. Adding your support, the odds of victory can reach more than seventy percent.”

  Although Ning Rongrong in her heart was unwilling, she had no choice but to admit Grandmaster was right. But in the end she still didn’t pick Ma Hongjun, and her gaze turned to Zhu Zhuqing.

  “Seventh sister[ “Seventh [younger] sister” Zhu Zhuqing is the seventh oldest, Rongrong is the sixth.], let us cooperate. How about it?”

  “Sure.”

  Zhu Zhuqing still replied very simply.

  Part 2

  To Ning Rongrong’s eye, although Zhu Zhuqing’s spirit power was one rank lower than Ma Hongjun’s, their cooperation was clearly much better than with someone whose Evil Fire pressure was constantly rising. When fighting in two versus two she didn’t want to be flirting[ Point of interest: Apparently “eating tofu” is a euphemism for flirting.] with the comrade in arms next to her.

  Ma Hongjun rumbled:

  “Rongrong, you’re still discriminating against me. I protest.”

  Ning Rongrong giggled, employing her gentle and soft strategy,

  “Fourth brother, you’re so strong, wouldn’t it be a pity to join with me in two versus two? Anyway you’re certain to win in one versus one, right?”

  Ma Hongjun’s immunity to beautiful women was originally very low. Seeing the tender smile on Ning Rongrong’s face, how could he object, and could only accept reality.

  “How you choose to participate is up to you. I’ll give you these, unless there are no people around, wear them when in spirit battles. At the same time, when speaking on stage, you must not let the opponent know your age.”

  While speaking, Grandmaster pulled out seven long ago prepared masks from within his spirit tool bracelet.

  The masks were very familiar to everyone, exactly the symbol of Shrek Academy, the image of the green monster Shrek. Dai Mubai took and put the mask over his face. Although the craftsmanship was ordinary, after it was fitted to the face it only revealed the eyes, mouth and nose, and was not hindrance at all.

  “When participating in team battles, you will do so as the Shrek Seven Devils team. When participating in your own bouts, you can name your two versus two combinations yourselves. For one versus one, I will give each of you a name, use this nickname to compete. As long as you explain it when signing up, your real names won’t appear in the spirit arena.”

  Everyone could understand Grandmaster’s intention. They were after all too young, especially twelve year olds like Tang San and Xiao Wu who had already reached the thirtieth ranked Spirit Elder state, casually revealing this to the whole Spirit Master world would be universally shocking. Especially when becoming well known at Great Spirit Arena, perhaps Spirit Hall would first come call on them.

  Oscar curiously asked:

  “Then what names will we use?”

  Grandmaster said:

  “Mubai uses his original Evil Eye White Tiger[ (邪眸白虎)], you are still that Sausage Monopoly[ (香肠专卖)]. As for little San, use Thousand Hands Silver Grass. What do you think?”

  “This is no good. Change it.

  Xiao Wu rushed to say:

  “It’s not stylish anywhere. Silver grass is too unpleasant to hear.”

  Grandmaster looked at Tang San, seeing he didn’t express any opinion, on his face couldn’t help but reveal a smile. Regarding this disciple of his, Grandmaster was always extremely pleased,

  “Then you say it, just what name would be good?”

  Dai Mubai said:

  “Although little San ordinarily seems sincere, he can really flip out, with a killing instinct heavier than all of us. I say, calling him Thousand Hands Asura is good. Asura has the meaning of a devil of massacre, it could also have a certain intimidating effect on the opponent.”

  Grandmaster said to Tang San:

  “What do you think?”

  Tang San said:

  “It doesn’t matter to me, you decide Teacher.”

  Grandmaster said:

  “Then we’ll call you Thousand Hands Asura[ (千手修罗)]. Ma Hongjun, I’ll also help you pick a good name. How about calling you Evil Fire Phoenix[ (邪火凤凰)]?”

  Fatty smiled mischievously,

  “Many thanks Grandmaster, this is good. How to say, I’m also a Phoenix.”

  To the side Oscar mumbled:

  “En, it’s a Phoenix, only, I think calling it Brothel Phoenix is even better.”

  Fatty said indignantly,

  “Little Ao, are you deliberately undermining me?”

  Xiao Wu had now already stepped before Grandmaster, assuming a pitiful appearance,

  “Grandmaster, then what am I called? You must give me something that sounds pleasant, eh.”

  Grandmaster said with a smile:

  “When you use the Soft Skill your whole body is soft as if boneless. Adding your Rabbit Spirit and Demon Confusion ability, it would be best to call you Soft Bones Demon Rabbit[ (柔骨魅兔) The char
acter for Demon (魅) can also mean “magic” or “to charm”].”

  “It sounds pretty good.”

  Xiao Wu immediately smiled happily.

  “Rongrong’s spirit is Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. There’s nothing that describes you better than Seven Treasures Glazed Tile[ (七宝琉璃)]. At the same time it can also mask you a bit. After all, this is the spirit of direct disciples of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School. As for Zhuqing, using her spirit as a name is most suitable. Hell Civet[ (幽冥灵猫)] is on its own a pretty good name.”

  At that moment, the Shrek Seven Devils had their own names.

  Evil Eye White Tiger Dai Mubai,

  Sausage Monopoly Oscar,

  Thousand Hands Asura Tang San,

  Evil Fire Phoenix Ma Hongjun,

  Soft Bones Demon Rabbit Xiao Wu,

  Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Ning Rongrong,

  Hell Civet Zhu Zhuqing.

  None of them would have thought that the names they chose in this common inn would not only follow them for a lifetime, but also resound across the Continent. The team Shrek Seven Devils could be considered truly formed starting on this day.

  In order to maintain peak condition, everyone remained in the inn to cultivate their spirit power, waiting for nightfall.

  Right now the seven were all on the iron spirit fight level. Among them Dai Mubai had three points, Oscar had nil, Tang San because of participating with Xiao Wu in one on one and two on two bouts, consequently had two points. Ma Hongjun also prevailed over his opponent last time, with the most points of everyone, already reaching ten. Moreover he had three consecutive victories. XIao Wu just like Tang San had two points. Ning Rongrong had nil. Last time Zhu Zhuqing’s opponent was little San, and since she lost the contest she had no points.

  Going from iron spirit fights to copper spirit fights required one hundred points, advancing to silver spirit fights were one thousand points. Their distance to the goal of this second stage special training was still a very long road.

  Because Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing were all already classified as high level within their classes, adding to their own outstanding spirits, they decided to first participate in a one versus one spirit fight, afterwards again participating in two versus two. This kind of time was enough for Oscar’s effect to appear clearly, with a supply of his big sausages, everyone’s spirit power and physical strength could be effectively resupplied. Compared to ordinary Spirit Masters joining spirit battles it was an even greater advantage. Therefore, even participating in three spirit battles wasn’t impossible, provided they didn’t waste too much spirit power in the first fights.