"These Spectators' Remarks Are Seriously Affecting My Mood!"

"Heh, have the chives arrived?"

A faint smile finally appeared on Neuvillette's otherwise impassive face. This wave should allow his strength to improve.

Before long, Tang San and Ma Hongjun stepped onto the arena.

They stopped thirty meters apart.

To Soul Grand Masters, thirty meters was a distance that could be crossed in an instant. They were placed so far apart because some Soul Masters were rather special and required special consideration.

For example, once some ranged Soul Masters were approached by Power Attack Type Soul Masters, they would almost certainly lose. To change that, fighters were made to maintain a relatively fair distance.

"Eh, isn't that the contestant who broke the rules the day before yesterday? He was incredibly brutal! His opponent had already surrendered, yet he still wanted to kill him!"

"Now that you mention it, I remember. This contestant is called Tang San! If not for husband Neuvillette's quick reaction, the Iron Blood Combination would have been in trouble!"

"It'd be a pity for a contestant like him not to enter a Life and Death Battle. There aren't so many rules there. Of course, with that little strength of his, if he entered a Life and Death Battle, he definitely wouldn't come back alive!"

"He only knows how to bully honest people. This contestant Tang San has no martial virtue at all!"

Listening to the spectators' discussions, Tang San felt his head swelling.

He considered himself an upright gentleman. How could he possibly be some petty villain?

If the Iron Blood Combination had not injured Xiao Wu, how could he have believed they deserved death?

It was all the Iron Blood Combination's fault. It was all Neuvillette's fault!

Wait, weren't spectators not allowed to interfere with the contestants?

These people were pointing fingers at him, Tang San, and insulting him right to his face. As the referee, couldn't Neuvillette do something about it?

When he was not needed, Tang San felt that Neuvillette was an utterly superfluous referee who should not even be there!

Yet now, when Tang San needed Neuvillette's help, he had no intention of intervening?

If this was not targeting Tang San, then what was?

His fists clenched tightly. He desperately wanted to punch Neuvillette's handsome face!

"Contestant Tang San, are you dissatisfied with me? Why have you been staring at me with such hatred?"

Neuvillette asked "confusedly." His voice was not loud, and only Tang San and Ma Hongjun on the stage could hear it.

At those words, Tang San's eyes nearly spat fire. Was his hint not obvious enough?

"Neuvillette, these spectators' remarks are seriously affecting my mood!"

"As the referee, shouldn't you do something about them?"

Tang San said furiously.

Hearing this, Neuvillette seemed to "suddenly understand." After thinking briefly, he said, "The match has not officially begun yet. The host is warming up the crowd, so it is perfectly normal for the spectators to have some discussions."

"Contestant Tang San, perhaps you should carefully consider why people dislike you so much."

"Pfft..."

Not far away, Ma Hongjun burst out laughing. He hurriedly covered his mouth to keep himself from laughing aloud, but his shaking shoulders could not escape Tang San's eyes.

Tang San was stunned as well. When he came back to his senses, his face had turned as black as charcoal. He should think about why people disliked him so much?

Neuvillette, did you even hear what you were saying?!

Tang San roared furiously in his heart.

But there was nothing wrong with what Neuvillette said. The host was warming up the crowd—Tang San could not possibly make the spectators stop talking now, could he?

A short while later, the host stopped speaking, and Neuvillette took charge of what followed.

"Silence!"

Neuvillette lightly tapped the ground with the scepter in his hand and called out clearly.

That motion lent his words considerable authority.

The entire venue immediately fell silent.

"Both contestants are in position. You have one minute to release your Martial Souls. One minute from now, the match will officially begin."

"During the match, spectators, please remain rational. No matter what kind of person a contestant may be, absolute impartiality is required on the arena!"

As soon as those words came out, Tang San's nails nearly dug into his palms!

Was Neuvillette really not targeting him?

What did he mean, no matter what kind of person a contestant might be?

Was Tang San's character not good?

Damn it, this guy really deserved death!

The spectators nodded repeatedly. They had already taken Neuvillette's hosting style to heart. During matches, they would try to speak carefully.

Even if they wanted to curse someone, they would try to do it before or after the match. At that point, it would have nothing to do with Neuvillette.

"Ma Hongjun, Martial Soul: Evil Fire Phoenix, Level 27 Power Attack Type Soul Grandmaster. Please advise!"

Ma Hongjun was the first to complete Martial Soul Possession. A clear kun cry rang throughout the Eighth Branch Arena, leaving the spectators stunned.

Evil Fire Phoenix? Why did that sound like fire x...

Did phoenixes sound like that?

Ma Hongjun's Martial Soul was a Mutated Martial Soul. Not only did it have the side effects of evil fire, but its mutation was not entirely complete either. At present, his Martial Soul did not possess a phoenix form.

Even from thirty meters away, Tang San could still feel a wave of heat rushing toward him. One could imagine just how high the temperature of Ma Hongjun's Martial Soul flames was.

Fire Attribute Martial Souls countered plant Martial Souls. That was common knowledge.

Tang San had fought Ma Hongjun before. Though neither of them had fought in earnest, Tang San still knew exactly what Ma Hongjun was capable of.

If they simply competed with their Martial Souls, Tang San would very likely suffer a complete defeat, because Ma Hongjun countered him too heavily.

Unfortunately, Tang San was not a conventional Soul Master. He still had the Tang Sect Secret Techniques from his previous life to rely on, so dealing with Ma Hongjun should not be a problem.

"Tang San, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, Level 29 Control Type Soul Grandmaster. Please advise!"

After saying that, Tang San fell silent. He did not say anything like, "Ma Hongjun, you are no match for me. Surrender."

Because Ma Hongjun, as a Soul Master who countered him, would never surrender.

Besides, there was a referee beside them watching him like a tiger, afraid that Tang San might break the rules!

Hmph, Neuvillette, I, Tang San, will not let you have your way. As long as I understand the rules and make use of them, I can grasp the rules, then crush your pride! I have not felt even the slightest trace of your so-called justice, impartiality, or fairness!

Tang San thought to himself, cursing Neuvillette again. If his Soul Power were not so low right now, he would definitely assassinate Neuvillette!

A gentleman's revenge could wait ten years.

Tang San had never been one to leave a grudge overnight, but he had no choice. Right now, he might not be his opponent.

Even if he did not want to admit it, he had no choice but to do so.

If looks could kill, Neuvillette did not know how many times Tang San would have killed him already.

Second by second, time passed. The spectators waited quietly. Not only did they not feel displeased, they instead felt a sense of anticipation.

"One minute is up. The match officially begins!"

"First Soul Skill: Blue Silver Entanglement!"