As the distance between the two sides narrowed, the giant slime leaped into the air.
The airborne slime closed the gap with the audience. Their terrifying forms sent shivers down their spines, and everyone instinctively leaned back, with some even pulling out their phones to capture the moment.
"It can definitely withstand it!"
The golden giant lizard regained consciousness, but it was too late to dodge. Its eyes flashed with golden light, and its golden scales shimmered, forming an impenetrable shield! The purple spirit worm in its mouth chirped and unleashed its own skill.
The golden protective barrier was further enhanced by streaks of purple radiance. In an instant, the two sides collided!
BOOM!
Xiao Huang plummeted at extreme speed, kicking up a terrifying wave of air that made the battle stage tremble.
"What happened?"
"Was it crushed into paste?"
"Hoping the deceased isn't injured..."
The audience members covered their eyes, unable to bear witnessing such a brutal scene.
"Huh?"
Chen Shu's expression shifted slightly as his mind stirred. Xiao Huang's massive body began to shrink at a visible rate, finally stopping at around ten meters. A giant lizard revealed its head, its face filled with terror, but it was unharmed. The golden shield it had deployed, though covered in spiderweb-like cracks, remained intact.
"It seems your weight was just a little short!" Liu Qing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Thankfully, it held. This was absolutely terrifying!
"Amazing! Young Master Qing is truly formidable!" Chen Shu gave a thumbs-up, a strange smile playing on his lips. A husky bounding forward, its eyes brimming with intelligence. It opened its mouth and aimed at the giant lizard, as if to kiss it. Liu Qing blinked in surprise, and the next moment, his expression turned to pure terror!
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Fireballs, wind blades, lightning, toxic wood, flying stones, and various other terrifying skills rained down simultaneously, like a grand magic show.
"What the hell!!" Liu Qing's voice was filled with misery, his mind reeling. He had even forgotten to recall his contracted spirit. As the light from the skills dissipated, the giant lizard's true form was revealed. Its golden shield was long gone, its head had exploded, and blood pooled everywhere. It gasped for air, resembling a dying dog...
Liu Qing painfully recalled his contracted spirit. He wouldn't be participating in the November matches, and recovery would likely take half a month.
"You?!" He extended his right hand, attempting to speak, but ultimately fell silent. The husky hadn't used [Cloning]. If two huskies had unleashed a continuous barrage, his contracted spirit would have surely perished. Chen Shu had, in fact, held back!
"I lost!" Liu Qing sighed, dejected, and left the battle stage. Chen Shu calmly recalled his two contracted spirits, having won with ease without unleashing his full power.
The venue remained in a deathly silence, but then erupted into thunderous cheers!
"Nanjing Ruffian, forever the god!"
"This is true genius, a two-star defeating a three-star!"
"A ten-year fan of Nanjing Ruffian, here by popular demand!"
"Wait, weren't you a fan of Liu Qing all along?"
"Who's Liu Qing?"
"..."
The cheers from the audience were deafening. Chen Shu's first battle had captivated everyone. Both the colossal slime and the elemental barrage from the husky were incredibly impressive. And he was only Black Iron two-star, with his two contracted spirits also not having high potential ratings. Such miraculous victories of the weak over the strong were always exhilarating!
"No wonder he dared to bring out the pig-slaughtering knife; he's quite something!" Uncle Li, who was responsible for player registration, remarked, genuinely surprised by Chen Shu's strength. Chen Shu smiled and left his combat position. The name Nanjing Ruffian had officially made its mark in the capital for the first time!
By now, many had already looked him up online, learning of his past exploits! Suddenly, Nanjing Ruffian became synonymous with genius!
"My strength is just too overwhelming, there's nothing I can do..." Chen Shu murmured, returning to the backstage area. "Uncle Li, can you arrange my next match for the evening now?"
"No problem, absolutely no problem!" Uncle Li's eyes were filled with kindness, as if he had become a different person. "If you want, we can even schedule it for midnight!"
"That's not necessary, who would watch at midnight? Just schedule it for seven or eight." Chen Shu said, as this was prime time. People would have finished dinner, and their evening entertainment would be watching a thrilling beast tamer battle!
"No problem!" Uncle Li smiled, already planning to promote Chen Shu as the face of November's event.
Half an hour later, Chen Shu and Xu Xiaoyu were walking down the street, having left the Spirit Fighting Arena.
"Chen Pi, you've become so strong." Xu Xiaoyu said with a smile, but a hint of disappointment in her eyes. She had been the top student in their class, but ever since their third year of high school, Chen Shu had been on a meteoric rise, as if he had a cheat code. In just over a year, she couldn't even see his back anymore.
Chen Shu was slightly taken aback. While his own progress might not feel fast to him, compared to those around him, he admitted it was indeed monstrous. "Xiaoyu, it's alright!" Chen Shu smiled gently and said, "I can understand that feeling of being left behind."
Xu Xiaoyu asked, "Have you ever felt that way?"
"I haven't, but Old Wang, Old Xie, Xiao Xing, A Liang, Qing Han, Xia Bing, and so many others have all felt that way. I understand them all!"
"..." Xu Xiaoyu's heart clenched. These words sounded increasingly absurd. Chen Shu smiled, "If you truly can't surpass them, then set a different goal. There's no need to torment yourselves!"
"Are you really trying to comfort me?" Xu Xiaoyu took a deep breath, feeling a bit suffocated.
"Of course!" Chen Shu nodded. "If you really can't let go, you can form a 'Disappointment Alliance' and support each other. You'll definitely get through it!"
"..." Xu Xiaoyu gritted her teeth, wishing she could punch Chen Shu on the spot.
"Xiaoyu..."
"I need some quiet, thank you!" Xu Xiaoyu quickly walked away, not wanting to hear another word from Chen Shu.
"Seriously, Xiaoyu, your alliance will definitely grow stronger, believe me!"
"..."
After half an hour of psychological torment, Xu Xiaoyu finally reached the school gate. "I'm going back to school, you go back too!"
"After hearing my comfort, do you feel any better?"
"..." Xu Xiaoyu sighed and turned back into the school.
"It seems my words have touched her soul..." Chen Shu got into the car heading back to Huaxia University and murmured, "I truly have the potential to be a life coach!"