594 Mastery Vs. METAL (1/2)

”Very well then.” Wang Tong patted Guan Dongyang's shoulder and said, ”I told you there would be rewards.”

Guan Dongyang shook his head helplessly. He should have been more careful while making friends.

On the stage, Xiao Libie waited for his next opponent with an inviting smile. Zambrotta had ordered him to host this competition in order to raise the soldiers' spirit and morale. The large difference in the levels meant the no one would be of a real challenge for him.

”Who else would like come up here and give it a try?” Xiao Libie asked. Seeing that all the soldiers' enthusiasm had been spent, he was about to call it a day.

”Hold on! Someone wants to join the match!”

Someone beside Wang Tong shouted out, and the announcement lit everyone's face up with glee. They were surprised to see that someone else was willing to rise to the challenge.

Xiao Libie was taken aback by the development. He had defeated all the top fighters under his command. Who else would challenge him?

The crowd made way for Guan Dongyang and Wang Tong. Before Guan Dongyang was about to step on to the stage, Wang Tong patted on his shoulder again. Somehow, Guan Dongyang felt that Wang Tong's smile looked like a chuckle.

”My lady, it's the same old. No one can defeat general Xiao. Maybe, you won't get married ever.”

”Shuanger, no one is asking you for your opinion! This tournament was to inspire the soldiers…It has nothing to do with our lady's marriage. He had already defeated all the soldiers who were thirty-five and above. I doubt any younger ones can best him.”

”Phf...Even our lady was able to defeat him. Men are useless.”

”Oh? Who is that handsome? He doesn't look like a soldier though...Another cannon fodder, I guess.”

”My lady, my lady?”

As soon as Guan Dongyang arrived at the stage, Xiao Libie could immediately feel the power coming off from this seemingly frail frame.

”How can I address you?”

Guan Dongyang mustered as much manliness in his voice as possible and then said, ”You can call me brother Guan. I have heard that there will be a plentiful reward if I win, eh? I mean...plenty of food, right?”

Xiao Libie smiled faintly and replied, ”Indeed. What kind of weapon would you prefer? But, I believe that you are a caster, aren't you?”

”General Xiao has good eyes. You don't think a caster will be worth your time?”

”Of course, you do, please!”

”Please…”

Xiao Libie pointed his long blade at Guan Dongyang. Based on his years of experience on the battlefield, he could tell that his opponent was not just any mastery caster. Close quarter combat was not the mastery caster's strong suit, but the cocksure expression on Mr. Guan's face made Xiao Libie wary. He wouldn't be able to inspire anybody if he was defeated on his own stage.

Guan Dongyang smiled knowingly and folded his hands. Suddenly flames burst out from the tips of his fingers. The sight had rendered every one quiet, and only Guan Dongyang's chanting of the spell could be heard.

Even the lowest level firebolt spell was not easy to pull off. The crowd watched in amazement as the fire danced on his fingers like farriers with fiery wings.

The key in mastering the spells was in controlling the flow of energy instead of the intensity.

Suddenly, Guan Dongyang flicked his ten fingers at once and sent ten firebolts at his opponent. These firebolts increased in speed as soon as they left Guan Dongyang's fingertips. In a blink, they had grown to the size of a bowling ball each.

Xie Libie's face hardened as he knew that he had met a tough opponent. He squeezed the handle of the blade once and channeled his soul energy into it. Instead of dodging the firebolts, he lashed out the blade and attacked the incoming missiles with a swift side arm sweep.

Bang, Bang, Bang!

Xiao Libie deflected the fireballs one after another; every strike carried an immense power that the other soldiers had never seen before.

Guan Dongyang unleashed a few dozen fireball attacks in an instant. Nevertheless, Xiao Libie not only stood his ground unwaveringly, but also sneaked in a couple of soul energy attacks at the caster. Right in front of these soldiers, the two warriors pitted against each other with extraordinary moves.

No one had ever seen a mastery caster stand face to face against a METAL warrior. It was simply unthinkable, particularity when the caster's opponent, General Xiao, was a legendary level veteran.