Soul Arena

Xiao Wu led them to the front desk with practiced ease to complete their registration.

"Hello, are you here to register?"

A pleasant voice rang out.

The young receptionist had beautiful long purple hair, naturally lovely features, and an elegant temperament tinged with a faint, elusive charm.

Her figure was fiery and seductive. Simply standing there was enough to make passing men linger their gazes over her.

Even Ye Feiyang could not help secretly nodding in praise. The Soul Arena's receptionists really are top-notch!

Ning Rongrong immediately stepped forward and struck up a conversation with a sweet smile. "Yes, pretty sister! Could you please help us register?"

She had been taken everywhere to socialize since childhood, so dealing with strangers posed no pressure for her at all.

"Of course."

The purple-haired receptionist revealed a professionally sweet smile. "Will you be entering individual matches or team matches?"

"Both! We want to register for both individual and team matches!"

"Alright. Please provide the titles you wish to use, or you may use your real names directly."

Ning Rongrong answered without hesitation, "I'll use Linglong!"

She turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "Senior Sister Zhu Qing, what about you?"

Zhu Zhuqing thought for a moment, then instinctively looked at Ye Feiyang and asked, "Master, what title do you think I should use?"

Her question reminded Ning Rongrong of something.

Oh no! How could I forget the part where Master gives us our names? I should have pretended I couldn't think of one too!

Ye Feiyang smiled, and his pleasant, slightly magnetic voice followed. "Then you shall be called Zhu Ye Qing."

Upon hearing that deep, pleasant, utterly charming voice, the purple-haired receptionist suddenly lifted her head, her eyes filled with amazement and disbelief.

This man was far too perfectly suited to her tastes!

Her attention had been fixed on the chattering Ning Rongrong earlier, and she had completely failed to notice Ye Feiyang standing behind the group.

That single glance gave her the shocking feeling of seeing someone heaven-sent, a look that could last ten thousand years.

She was only twenty and worked at the Soul Arena, seeing countless people from all walks of life every day. Yet she had never experienced her heart racing like this before.

"Ah! Th-this gentleman..."

A trace of panic and shyness unconsciously entered her voice. "A-are you here to register for the competition as well?"

Ye Feiyang returned a gentle smile and shook his head. "There's no need for me to register. Miss, please help them complete their registration first."

Xiao Wu took in the receptionist's instantly captivated gaze, and a strange feeling of resonance suddenly rose in her heart.

See? I'm not the only one like this!

As long as someone saw Ye Feiyang, it was hard not to be drawn in by the unique charm he unconsciously exuded.

And after half a month of spending time with him and mooching meals off him, Ye Feiyang's image—sometimes powerful and dependable, sometimes greedy and funny, sometimes considerate and gentle—had already begun appearing in her dreams again and again.

A powerful thought suddenly surfaced in her mind. I really want to switch sides! What do I do? I want to cling to Ye Feiyang every day!

And then there was Third Brother, who had become more and more unreasonable. Every time she went out, he had to question her about everything and control this and that...

How had she let herself be so muddle-headed back then that she had not firmly chosen to join Supreme Academy?

As long as she had agreed, she would have become Supreme Academy's number two.

Only after hearing Ye Feiyang's response did the receptionist realize that she had actually been staring blankly.

Her cheeks grew slightly hot, and she hurriedly lowered her head to work. "Alright, alright, I'll complete your registration right away..."

After a flurry of clumsy operations, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing both successfully received their own Iron Soul Badges, along with a badge representing the Linglong Zhu Ye Qing team.

"Alright, once you're registered, hurry up and arrange your matches."

Ye Feiyang urged them. He was already impatient to head to the betting area.

The receptionist's gaze continued drifting toward Ye Feiyang.

She had just wanted to strike up a conversation when someone beat her to it, leaving her no choice but to give up for now.

"Brother Feiyang..."

Xiao Wu slowed her steps, moved closer to Ye Feiyang, and asked softly, "Y-you'll watch my match too, right?"

"Mhm."

Ye Feiyang nodded. "Since we're already here, of course I'll watch. Xiao Wu, you need to perform well."

At once, a radiant smile bloomed across Xiao Wu's face, and she nodded hard. "Mhm! I'll definitely do well! I won't disappoint you!"

She also wanted to show herself off in front of Ye Feiyang now.

She wanted Ye Feiyang to look at her more, too.

The receptionist, who had assumed Ye Feiyang was leaving, suddenly discovered that he had come back.

His voice was still incomparably pleasant, every word landing straight in her heart.

"Miss, did you forget something?"

How could the receptionist remember what she had forgotten? She had been too busy looking at Ye Feiyang.

"Ah? N-no, I didn't?"

Ye Feiyang laughed. "Don't you want the registration fee?"

Only then did the receptionist remember. She had actually forgotten about that from beginning to end.

"Ah? R-really? I didn't collect the Gold Coins?"

Ye Feiyang shook his head, somewhat speechless.

How could someone be this careless about money? What a spendthrift woman.

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong had already gone to register and arrange their match order, so he could only pay the money himself.

"Thirty Gold Coins. Take them, and don't be so careless next time."

Though it hurt a little, what needed to be paid still had to be paid. This was a matter of principle.

Mm, I'll get Ning Rongrong to reimburse me when we get back.

Thirty Gold Coins were an enormous sum for ordinary people. She did not have that much money to use as a favor.

"Um, little brother, thank you for reminding me."

She blinked her beautiful eyes, her gaze nearly melting into spring water.

Ye Feiyang waved his hand in farewell.

Then he called Xiao Wu over and headed toward the arena.

The two walked side by side, chatting happily, with relaxed laughter ringing out from time to time.

That warm, even somewhat dazzling scene was completely witnessed by Tang San and the others, who had arrived from behind.

It was warm in Xiao Wu's eyes, of course, but in Tang San's eyes, it was especially glaring.

Tang San's expression was so gloomy that it seemed as though water could drip from it.

If looks could kill, Ye Feiyang would likely have already been pierced by countless arrows and riddled with holes.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Dai Mubai folded his arms beside him and maliciously fanned the flames. "Women are all like this. Little San, aren't you going to do anything about it?"

Ma Hongjun immediately chimed in, eager for chaos. "Exactly! She left the team without permission, ran over to their sworn enemies, and got along with them better than with her own people! She really doesn't know what's good for her!"

He deliberately made his words sound harsh, doing his utmost to provoke Tang San.

It had to be said, neither Dai Mubai nor Ma Hongjun was any good.

When their own love lives went badly and they suffered setbacks, they wished everyone else would be as unlucky as they were. They loved watching trouble unfold.

"Shut up! Who gave you permission to talk about Xiao Wu like that?"

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Tang San abruptly turned his head and glared furiously at Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai.

Though he himself was furious to the point of death, he would never allow anyone else to speak ill of Xiao Wu.

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun looked at each other. They felt their words had indeed been unpleasant, but they were also the truth. Why had that provoked such a huge reaction from him?

"Little San, we spoke out of turn."

Dai Mubai had seen the world and realized Tang San was genuinely angry, so he immediately stopped while he was ahead. "If you don't like hearing it, we won't say it again."

He quickly tugged at Ma Hongjun's sleeve and gave him a look.

Ma Hongjun could only grumble unwillingly, "Yeah, Little San, I was wrong. I shouldn't have spouted all that truth. Don't take it to heart."

Tang San felt as though he had been stabbed again.

He endured it, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed his anger without pursuing the matter further.

After all, this was not the time for internal conflict.

Only Oscar, whose presence had always been low, had kept his gaze firmly fixed on the direction Ning Rongrong had disappeared from. His soul was practically flying after her, and he had not noticed that the people beside him had nearly started fighting.

Each of them carrying their own thoughts, the group entered the noisy, bustling Soul Arena.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were quickly assigned their match times.

Ye Feiyang immediately rushed toward the betting counter.

He was currently carrying more than four thousand Gold Coins, a fortune unlike anything he had ever possessed in all his years!

He checked the odds. The multipliers for newcomers were quite high; both girls were at 1:2.

Thinking that his little treasury would double in a moment, he was so excited that his hands began trembling slightly.

Zhu Zhuqing's match was first, and he chose to place his bet without hesitation.

"Hello, I'd like to place a bet. Codename: Zhu Ye Qing. Four thousand Gold Coins on her to win."

As he pulled out the heavy money pouch, his face was clearly filled with pain and reluctance, as though he were handing over not Gold Coins, but his lifeblood.

Zhu Zhuqing had no interest in betting or gambling and had already gone directly to the waiting area.

Ning Rongrong simply looked down on such a small amount of money. If she bet too much, she was afraid the Soul Arena would not be able to pay out, so she went with Zhu Zhuqing to the waiting area.

Xiao Wu, standing beside Ye Feiyang, looked at those glittering Gold Coins with eager anticipation written all over her face.

"Brother Feiyang, you're placing bets too?" Xiao Wu moved closer and asked curiously.

Ye Feiyang turned to see her and raised an eyebrow. "Why did you follow me here too? Don't you need to prepare for your match?"

"Hehe, it's not my turn yet!"

Xiao Wu said with a grin, "I saw you walking this way and guessed you were here to bet, so I followed you to watch. Who did you bet on? Rong Rong?"

"Of course. I bet on both of them!"

Ye Feiyang assured her confidently, "Trust me, you can't go wrong. It's a guaranteed win! Want to bet some too? I'll make you rich!"

Xiao Wu naturally knew Zhu Zhuqing's strength, and she was not especially obsessed with making money.

But seeing Ye Feiyang's excited expression, she became interested as well. "Alright! Then I'll bet on Zhu Qing and Rong Rong winning too!"

She took out her shriveled little money pouch and carefully counted out one hundred Gold Coins to place as a bet.

Those one hundred Gold Coins had been deliberately given to her by Tang San. She did not know whether he had finally gotten a clue.

She noticed Ye Feiyang's gaze lingering on her shabby money pouch. She immediately felt embarrassed and awkward, her cheeks warming slightly.

She thought, What does Brother Ye mean by that? Does he think I'm poor? But his expression doesn't seem to mean that...

Young girls were sensitive, and it was easiest for them to become shy at moments like this.

"Brother Ye, don't laugh at me. This money of mine..." She tried to explain, her voice growing quieter and quieter.

But Ye Feiyang directly interrupted her, his tone carrying genuine surprise and a trace of envy.

"I never expected you to have so much private money, Xiao Wu! That's amazing. With so many Gold Coins, you can buy so, so much delicious food!"

"When I was your age, I often couldn't even eat my fill!"

"Ah?"

Xiao Wu froze. This reaction completely exceeded her expectations. It seemed nothing like the disdain she had imagined.

"Alright, the bets are placed! I'm going to watch the match. You should go prepare too," Ye Feiyang said in high spirits.

"Mhm! Alright!"

Xiao Wu nodded vigorously. "Then I'm going to prepare for my match too! Brother Feiyang, remember to watch my match!"

"Definitely!"

After watching Xiao Wu leave, Ye Feiyang headed straight for the spectator stands.

He had just found an inconspicuous seat and sat down when a prickling sensation crept up his back.

His intuition told him that a hostile gaze was firmly locked onto him.

That feeling was extremely unpleasant.

Ye Feiyang frowned slightly and quietly scanned his surroundings.

Unfortunately, the venue was roaring with noise, the spectators packed shoulder to shoulder in chaotic disorder. It was difficult to immediately locate the source of that gaze.

And whenever he tried to search for it, that feeling of being watched instantly vanished without a trace.

After finding nothing, he temporarily set the matter aside.

Whoever it was, before absolute strength, they were nothing more than a clown jumping around.

As long as he could ensure the safety of his two precious disciples, he could deal with everything else as it came.

Right now, making money was what mattered.

Yet things often worked this way: the less one wanted to be disturbed, the more trouble came looking for them.

Just as he was fully focused on waiting for Zhu Zhuqing to enter the arena, that feeling of being watched appeared again!

This time, Ye Feiyang remained highly alert in advance.

Sure enough, at the corner of a corridor to the side, he caught a fleeting black shadow!

His eyes narrowed. It would have been one thing if he had not noticed it, but since he had, he could not simply ignore it.

He had to nip every potential danger in the bud.

He immediately rose from his seat and quickly headed toward the corner of that corridor.

When he arrived, he saw only the edge of a garment vanish around the next bend.

It felt as though someone was deliberately leading him along, revealing a trace of themselves at precisely the right moment whenever he was about to lose the trail.

"Heh, interesting." Ye Feiyang sneered.

He already knew someone was deliberately trying to lure him away from the Soul Arena.

Anyone capable of being so furtive while concealing their aura so thoroughly was certainly no weakling.

In a place like Suotuo City, there were only a handful of people with such strength.

But would Ye Feiyang be afraid? Not a chance!

He followed openly, determined to see what the other party was really up to.

Each time, he caught sight of part of a figure at the corner at just the right moment. This deliberately mysterious act was steadily wearing away his patience.

"Damn it, if you want to lure me somewhere deserted, just say so! No need to play these ghostly tricks!" Ye Feiyang shouted directly into the empty corridor.

Sure enough, when he turned the final corner, he found an unusually burly figure standing with its back to him in the depths of a dim, secluded alley.

The newcomer wore a tattered hooded cloak that shrouded his entire body in shadow, giving off an ancient yet dangerous aura.

The moment Ye Feiyang saw that classic tattered-cloak look, he instantly guessed the newcomer's identity.

Who else could it be but that old bastard?

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