Douluo Dalu 2: The True God King

Without a doubt, this is a set of Grade 6 Soul Tool full-body armor, complete with weapons and a flight soul tool. Remarkably, it is designed to be operable by a Grade 5 Soul Engineer. The craftsmanship is exquisite and perfectly tailored to Meng Hongchen's needs. One glance, and it's clear that this is the work of a master.

It might very well be a custom piece, crafted specifically for Meng Hongchen by a teacher or elder from Illustrious Virtue Hall. Such a comprehensive and specialized Grade 6 Soul Tool full-body armor is beyond the capabilities of an ordinary Grade 6 Soul Engineer. Su Yu was certain that its creator was at least a Grade 8 Soul Engineer. Only someone of that caliber could design such finely crafted armor with such ease.

Compared to Meng Hongchen's Grade 6 Soul Tool armor, the close-combat armor Mi Jia once wore was insignificant.

"Sister Meng, do you need to be so serious?"

Su Yu asked with a light smile. Meng Hongchen immediately donned her Grade 6 Soul Tool armor, demonstrating how much she valued this match.

"After all, you're Su Yu. Who would dare underestimate you?"

Meng Hongchen replied gently, her voice sweet. She had witnessed Su Yu's strength firsthand—how he had subdued two Soul Kings in quick succession. How could she not take him seriously?

Though she didn't care much about the outcome of the match, she didn't want to lose too badly. Most importantly, she didn't want Su Yu to look down on her.

"Sigh, Sister Meng is wealthy, pulling out such luxurious armor right from the start. It's truly enviable," Su Yu remarked, feigning regret. This kind of foundation was something only Illustrious Virtue Hall could provide. In terms of Soul Tools, Illustrious Virtue Hall was indeed leagues ahead.

"Do you want one? I can ask the elders at Illustrious Virtue Hall to make a set for you," Meng Hongchen offered without hesitation, her words earning a dark look from Jing Hongchen in the audience. This granddaughter of his was truly extravagant!

"Haha, no need. I was just joking," Su Yu laughed, declining her offer. He wasn't one to rely on others. With a wave of his right hand, a long sword radiating a biting chill appeared in his grasp. Instantly, a layer of frost coated the ground within ten meters.

This was none other than the sword of extreme cold: Iron Horse Glacier. Ranked third among the peerless swords of the Shaoge world, it exuded an aura of icy sword energy, as relentless as iron steeds charging through barren plains. In terms of pure power, it far surpassed Meng Hongchen's Grade 6 Soul Tool.

"Nice sword, but this isn't a Soul Tool, is it?"

Meng Hongchen asked, her gaze fixed on the weapon in Su Yu's hand.

"No, it's just a family heirloom," Su Yu replied with a smile.

Still, Meng Hongchen didn't dare underestimate it. The terrifying cold emanating from Iron Horse Glacier was enough to reveal its extraordinary power.

"Su Yu, be careful," Meng Hongchen warned as she initiated her attack. Two slender swords in her hands swept out horizontally, sending ice-blue light blades slicing through the air. The blades crossed, forming a glowing "X" aimed at Su Yu. Remarkably, they didn't dissipate, resembling a soul skill.

Su Yu didn't dodge. Instead, he swung Iron Horse Glacier downward, a wave of icy sword energy cleaving the light blades apart. Meng Hongchen's thrusters roared to life as she closed the distance rapidly. Her twin swords transformed into a flurry of shadows, enveloping Su Yu in a storm of strikes. Each gleaming blade, about a foot long, remained sharp and condensed, whistling through the air.

Su Yu's expression remained calm. He casually thrust Iron Horse Glacier forward, his movements as natural as an antelope's horns—elusive, yet precise. Graceful as a waterfall cascading from the heavens, his swordplay effortlessly neutralized Meng Hongchen's attacks.

With the amplification from her Grade 6 Soul Tool armor, Meng Hongchen's attacks were powerful enough to rival those of a Soul Emperor. Yet, she couldn't gain the upper hand. Though Su Yu primarily defended, his occasional counterattacks left her scrambling to keep up.

Moreover, Iron Horse Glacier was overwhelmingly powerful. Despite clashing repeatedly with her Grade 6 Soul Tool swords, it remained unscathed. Meng Hongchen had a distinct impression that Su Yu was holding back—if he unleashed the sword's full potential, her Soul Tools might not endure.

The two engaged in a fierce close-combat battle for several minutes, leaving less experienced spectators dumbfounded by how evenly matched they seemed. However, those with true knowledge quickly discerned that Su Yu was leagues ahead in swordsmanship. The battle persisted because Su Yu was effectively giving Meng Hongchen a lesson, treating it as a sparring session.

"A Soul Engineer's close combat is indeed no match for a Soul Master's. Even Meng is far behind Su Yu in this regard," Jing Hongchen observed from the sidelines.

"It seems I'll need Su Yu to train Meng properly to address this shortcoming. But Meng, you'll need to use your full strength. Even if Su Yu gave you a hand, close combat isn't your forte."

Jing Hongchen was helpless. Meng Hongchen was abandoning her advantage and engaging purely in close combat? He couldn't understand what she was thinking.

On the battlefield, the fight continued. Su Yu casually thrust his sword toward a flaw in Meng Hongchen's defense. This strike was part of his sword technique, Yi Jian Shu (Art of Chess Sword)—a profound style that merged the principles of chess with the art of the sword, viewing the world as a vast chessboard. While Su Yu wasn't a master of Yi Jian Shu, he had attained a notable degree of proficiency. From the very beginning, he had controlled the pace of the fight.

The origin of Yi Jian Shu was unusual; Su Yu had obtained it during a fortuitous check-in event. Finding it powerful, he had casually trained in the technique. With a precise strike, Su Yu's sword tapped Meng Hongchen's, forcing her to retreat several steps. The transmitted force left her hands slightly numb.

"Sister Meng, use your martial soul. Otherwise, you won't be able to win," Su Yu said with a smile.

"But…"

Meng Hongchen hesitated. Her martial soul was dangerous.

"It's fine. Go ahead and use it. I won't be in any danger," Su Yu replied gently, his expression calm and confident.

Meng Hongchen bit her lip lightly, gazing at Su Yu's unshaken demeanor. After a moment of hesitation, she clenched her fists and released her martial soul. Behind her, a glowing image of a white jade-like toad appeared, its crimson eyes gleaming. As her martial soul possessed her, Meng Hongchen's wine-red hair turned white, and her ice-blue eyes shifted to a blood-red hue. Her skin became as pale as snow, flawless and luminous. Five soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, and black—rose beneath her.

In this state, Meng Hongchen's aura became far more menacing. The stark contrast of white hair and red eyes also lent her a strange, alluring charm. Su Yu watched with interest, relieved that her transformation lacked the beast-like traits typical of the martial soul possession of a frog. Otherwise, he thought, it might not have been as pleasant to look at.

"Su Yu, you'd better be careful. I'm starting now," Meng Hongchen warned. Her first soul ring lit up as she thrust her hands forward, sending a stream of white mist barreling toward Su Yu. The mist moved slowly, tinged with a faint green hue that signified poison.

This was her first soul skill: Ice Toad Poison. As the mist approached, Su Yu made no effort to dodge and allowed it to envelop him.

Meng Hongchen panicked.

"Su Yu!" she cried. Even the spectators, including Jing Hongchen, were startled. Meng Hongchen's poison wasn't something to take lightly—it could infiltrate any opening and was lethally potent. Was Su Yu courting death?

"So, this is the cold poison of the Scarlet-Eyed Ice Toad? Impressive, but ultimately useless against me," Su Yu remarked calmly, stepping out of the mist unscathed, his demeanor serene.

Meng Hongchen stared at him in disbelief.

"Su Yu, are you… really okay?" she asked worriedly.

"What could happen to me? Go ahead, continue," Su Yu replied, gesturing for her to proceed.

Still uncertain, Meng Hongchen activated her second soul skill. An ice-blue ring of light spread from beneath her feet, expanding to cover the stage.

This was her second soul skill: Ice Poison Ring. Within its radius, the toxins of the Scarlet-Eyed Ice Toad became exponentially more potent. Combined with her first skill, it created a deadly environment capable of overwhelming even a Soul Emperor in minutes.

Meng Hongchen observed Su Yu closely, prepared to intervene if he showed signs of distress. Yet Su Yu remained relaxed, his calm smile unchanged. The two entered a bizarre stalemate, leaving the audience baffled. Was the fight already over?

"Why isn't Su Yu taking the opportunity to strike? Does he not fear Meng's poison? How is that possible?"

Xiao Hongchen, Meng's brother, muttered in confusion. He knew the unparalleled lethality of her cold poison. Most Soul Masters would rush to defeat her before the poison took hold. Su Yu's decision to allow her to unleash her full strength was unprecedented.

Ten minutes passed, yet Su Yu remained smiling, untouched by the poison.

"This… how is this possible?"

Meng Hongchen gasped, covering her mouth in shock. Could anyone truly be immune to her cold poison?

"Sorry, Sister Meng. I forgot to mention—I have poison immunity," Su Yu said nonchalantly, holding Iron Horse Glacier in one hand while resting the other behind his back.

"That's impossible!"

Meng Hongchen protested.

Su Yu sighed. After reaching the third level of his Supreme Divine Art, he gained an extraordinary ability: immunity to all evil. This rendered him immune to poisons, curses, and other sinister powers. Combined with his ultimate ice martial soul, Su Yu was naturally resistant to most toxins, including the Scarlet-Eyed Ice Toad's cold poison.

"A poison immunity ability… Such a thing exists?"

Jing Hongchen muttered in disbelief. Su Yu's immunity rendered Meng Hongchen's greatest strength useless, leaving her at a complete disadvantage.

"Sister Meng, the match isn't over. Are you going to give up?"

Su Yu asked softly, noticing her stunned expression. He hadn't intended to demoralize her; he merely wanted to surprise her. Meng Hongchen was one of the few people he respected.

"I won't give up! Su Yu, you've made me mad! Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Meng Hongchen huffed, raising her sword.

"I'm sorry, okay? How about I treat you to dinner after the match?"

Su Yu offered with a grin.

"Hmph! Take this!"

Meng Hongchen charged forward, her sword flashing. Su Yu parried with ease, countering with a swift strike that targeted her weak points. Forced to retreat, Meng Hongchen quickly switched stances, dodging his attack. The corner of her lips twitched into a slight smile.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures!"

Meng Hongchen activated her third soul skill. A smooth, reflective sheet of ice appeared beneath her feet, mirroring her image. When Su Yu struck again, she vanished from sight, reappearing behind him.

Her third soul skill: Ice Reflection. Though not as instantaneous as teleportation, it allowed her to shift positions using the reflective ice. Coupled with her Soul Tool armor, it was a formidable ability.

Feeling the chill behind him, Su Yu swung Iron Horse Glacier in a wide arc, intercepting her twin swords. Meng Hongchen retreated again, shifting positions with her skill. Su Yu's smirk widened.

"Interesting," he remarked, gathering energy for his final move.

"Strike Across the Eight Directions!"