The aura of the million-year soul ring from the Skydream Iceworm and the ancient bloodline of the Undying Phoenix radiated from Zhao Ming, enveloping him like a primordial deity.
As Dai Mubai felt the overwhelming pressure emanating from Zhao Ming, his face turned deathly pale. At that mont, he understood why Zhao Ming could defeat him so easily—Zhao Ming's strength was far beyond anything he had ever encountered. The sheer power pressing down on him made his body freeze in mid-attack.
But Zhao Ming's assault had already begun. The golden soul ring around him glowed brilliantly as his eyes suddenly changed. One eye turned black, the other white, and twin beams of black and white energy shot out from his gaze.
The battle between the two had already caught the attention of the hotel guests. A crowd had gathered, watching intently. Although they were not directly involved in the fight, Zhao Ming's soul skill was affecting them as well. Many in the hotel were ordinary people, and they began to feel alternating waves of extre heat and cold, making them shiver one mont and sweat the next.
Seeing this, Bi Ji raised her right hand and lightly pointed toward the area where Zhao Ming and Dai Mubai were fighting. Instantly, a green energy shield ford around the combatants, isolating the intense energy fluctuations and returning the surrounding environnt to normal. This seemingly effortless move left the hotel guests in awe.
Anyone with keen insight could see how difficult it was to achieve such control. Without even releasing her martial spirit, Bi Ji had effortlessly contained the powerful energy from two soul masters. It was clear that she was an incredibly strong individual, and the onlookers couldn't help but feel a sense of respect and fear toward her.
But Dai Mubai had no ti to notice Bi Ji's display. He was entirely focused on defending against Zhao Ming's attack.
"White Tiger Barrier!" Dai Mubai shouted, activating his first soul ring. A white shield of light ford around him, a defensive technique that could boost his defense by fifty percent—a highly effective soul skill.
"Bang!" The black and white beams of energy struck the shield, causing it to tremble violently.
In less than three seconds, Dai Mubai's White Tiger Barrier shattered.
The dual forces of ice and fire, mutually opposing energies, surged into Dai Mubai's body, wreaking havoc inside him. He felt as though his body was burning and freezing at the sa ti, an unbearable sensation.
At that mont, Zhao Ming closed in.
His fist, wrapped in black flas, was terrifying to behold.
The punch landed squarely on Dai Mubai's chest.
"Ugh!" Dai Mubai, unable to defend in ti, was forced to take the hit head-on. Blood spurted from his mouth as he was sent flying again. The black flas from Zhao Ming's punch quickly spread over Dai Mubai's body.
"Argh!"
Dai Mubai scread in pain, barely managing to gather enough soul power to protect his vital areas from the fire. However, within monts, the sll of burnt flesh filled the air.
Zhao Ming stared in surprise.
In just a few monts, the Undying Fla had completely burned off Dai Mubai's hair and clothes, leaving him with severe burns on his back.
Seeing the state Dai Mubai was in, Zhao Ming decided to stop. He withdrew his martial spirit, and with no more soul power to sustain the flas, the Undying Fla gradually faded into the air.
Zhao Ming didn't intend to kill Dai Mubai—at least not yet. Dai Mubai still had so value to him. As a prince of the Star Luo Empire and a future emperor in the original tiline, Dai Mubai could be useful.
Not only did Zhao Ming have no plans to kill him, but he also needed to protect Dai Mubai from his older brother Davis. If Zhao Ming could eventually manipulate Dai Mubai into gaining control of the entire Star Luo Empire, it would be a major advantage.
Since arriving in this world, Zhao Ming's ambitions had grown. He didn't just want to be a powerful soul master; he wanted to unite the entire continent and beco a ruler for the ages.
The entire world would bow to him. Wealth, power, and beautiful won would all be his.
A glint of greed flashed in Zhao Ming's eyes as he slowly walked over to Dai Mubai and looked down at him. "You'd better learn your lesson. Next ti, don't ss with people you can't afford to offend. Others may not be as rciful as I am."
"The injuries on your body aren't too serious, just so surface burns. You'll recover in a few days. But as for your hair... well, you should prepare yourself," Zhao Ming added, a mischievous smile creeping onto his face.
As he got closer and examined Dai Mubai, he couldn't help but chuckle.
The Undying Fla had completely burned away all of Dai Mubai's hair. Even his scalp was scorched in so places. Although the burns would heal in ti, his hair wouldn't grow back anyti soon.
For a man, one's hairstyle played a big role in how they looked. With no hair, Dai Mubai's appearance was now completely ruined.
Bald, with those slightly evil-looking eyes, he now resembled one of those villainous monks from a wuxia novel.
Not exactly a look that would attract won.
At least, Zhao Ming thought with a smile, this would keep him from bothering Zhuqing.
"Bald guys generally don't do well with the ladies," Zhao Ming mused.
"What... What did you say? I'm bald?!" Dai Mubai's expression changed as he finally realized what Zhao Ming had been implying. The realization hit him hard.
He suddenly rembered how, in his panic to defend against the flas, he had focused solely on protecting his vital areas. He hadn't even thought about his hair.
"It can't be!" Dai Mubai asked in a panic, montarily forgetting the pain from his injuries. "Is my hair still there?"
"No," Zhao Ming replied with a smirk. "And your eyebrows are gone too."
"My... my eyebrows?!" Dai Mubai's face drained of all color.
If he had only lost his hair, he could have dealt with it. But without eyebrows, he was truly done for.
Dai Mubai stood there, stunned, his mind reeling from the embarrassnt and humiliation. He had brought this all upon himself, trying to impress won who weren't his to begin with. Now, he had paid the price.
What could he say?
But without his hair or eyebrows, how could he ever attract won again? How could he seduce the beautiful ladies he desired?
The physical pain was now compounded by the emotional devastation, leaving Dai Mubai speechless.
At that mont, the hotel manager, sensing the tension, stepped forward. "Esteed guest, could you perhaps show so leniency? We don't want any fatalities here. It would hurt business..."
"Don't worry," Zhao Ming replied casually, patting the manager on the shoulder. "I consider this matter settled."
"Thank you, sir. From now on, whenever you visit the Rose Hotel, we'll make sure to keep a room ready for you," the manager said gratefully, relieved that Zhao Ming seed reasonable. The manager hoped that by pleasing Zhao Ming, he might gain so favor in the future.
"You're good at handling things," Zhao Ming said with a chuckle, taking the room key and heading upstairs.
The hotel manager, filled with joy at Zhao Ming's praise, watched him leave. But when he turned back to face Dai Mubai, his expression turned icy cold. He had already chosen his side and no longer cared about Dai Mubai.
"Dai Shao, this whole ss was your doing. You'll need to compensate the hotel for the damages. I estimate the cost to be around 500 gold soul coins," the manager said loudly, making sure Zhao Ming and the others upstairs could hear.
Dai Mubai, now abandoned by the once sycophantic manager, felt his anger toward Zhao Ming diminish slightly. Watching the manager, who had once fawned over him, suddenly turn cold made Dai Mubai's blood boil.
"What are you staring at? Do you want that esteed guest to co down and teach you another lesson?" the manager snapped. Then he turned to the twin girls and barked, "And you two, take him away!"
"Ugh, liar!" The twin sisters glared at Dai Mubai in disgust. "You promised you were a talented soul master! You said you were one of the best young talents on the continent!"
Now they only felt deceived.
But thanks to Zhao Ming, they hadn't made any irreversible mistakes.
After casting one last contemptuous look at Dai Mubai, the twins glanced up toward Zhao Ming and then silently walked away.
****
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