Master Arrives

Su Xiao's first Soul Arena match had been a hard-won victory, draining all of his Soul Power.

At the same time, it was also the first time he had killed someone.

Su Xiao slowly walked off the arena. Flender and the others were waiting for him at the exit.

"Xiao-ge, are you okay?" Ning Rongrong hurried over to Su Xiao's side and asked with concern.

Su Xiao shook his head. "I just exhausted my Soul Power. I'll be fine after eating one of Oscar's sausages."

Oscar conjured a sausage, and Su Xiao swallowed it in two bites. His Soul Power quickly recovered, and some color returned to his face.

Flender patted Su Xiao's shoulder reassuringly. "Death is a common occurrence in the Soul Arena. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Su Xiao nodded. Killing someone had not put much pressure on him, but he still had not fully recovered from the shock.

"Don't overthink it. We earned so many Gold Coins, so why don't we go have a feast?" Ma Hongjun suggested.

"No." Flender refused at once. "An honored guest will be arriving at the academy tonight. All of you must return to the academy."

The group took a carriage back to Shrek. A figure stood before the gates, seemingly waiting for them.

"Old Flender, long time no see."

Su Xiao and Tang San recognized that voice immediately. They leaped from the carriage, with the others following closely behind.

"Teacher!" Su Xiao and Tang San exclaimed excitedly. Though they had not been apart from Yu Xiaogang for long, they had missed him greatly.

Yu Xiaogang nodded. Flender then called out, "You lot go back and rest first. Su Xiao and Tang San, come to my office."

In Flender's office, Su Xiao and Tang San helped pour hot tea for Yu Xiaogang and Flender, then waited for the two men to speak.

"Xiaogang, if it weren't for these two students of yours, you probably wouldn't want to see me for the rest of your life," Flender said with a bitter smile.

"For the children's sake, let the past go."

Yu Xiaogang sighed softly and merely gave a few noncommittal hums before turning his attention to Su Xiao and Tang San.

"Xiao, Xiao San, you two are about to break through, aren't you?"

Su Xiao nodded. "It's all thanks to Dean Flender. Tonight, he took us to participate in Soul Arena matches. After that battle, I broke through to rank forty and became a Soul Ancestor."

Yu Xiaogang and Flender exchanged astonished looks. A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor—there might not have been such a genius in the entire history of Douluo Continent.

"Can you tell me about tonight's Soul Arena match?" Yu Xiaogang asked.

When he heard that Su Xiao could fuse Soul Rings, Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up. This was the first time he had heard of this talent of Su Xiao's.

"Xiao, your opponent was very strong. Though he still died by your hand, the battle revealed your lack of practical combat experience," Yu Xiaogang assessed.

"You rely too much on overwhelming others with Soul Power. Once you encounter an evenly matched opponent, you will inevitably fall into a disadvantage."

Yu Xiaogang then looked at the silent Tang San. "Xiao San, your talent is no worse than Xiao's. The reason Xiao's Soul Power is ahead of yours is because of the Soul Rings he absorbed. That is Xiao's fortunate opportunity."

"Yes, Teacher. I will work hard," Tang San replied neither arrogantly nor humbly.

Flender cut in, "Tomorrow, I'll have Lao Zhao take Su Xiao to obtain a Soul Ring."

Yu Xiaogang thought for a moment. "Let the students go together. It will make for a good trial. As for what Soul Beast Su Xiao should choose for his fourth Soul Ring, I am still considering it."

"Teacher, for my fourth Soul Ring, I want a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast," Su Xiao said.

"I was thinking the same thing." Yu Xiaogang agreed. "With Xiao's body, he can fully withstand a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. But for a Ten Thousand Year Sub-Dragon Soul Beast, Old Flender, I'm afraid you will have to come as well. Lao Zhao alone would likely face a difficult battle."

"No problem." Flender readily agreed.

Early the next morning, Flender gathered everyone together. Yu Xiaogang was there as well.

Flender cleared his throat and said solemnly:

"Let me introduce you. This is Yu Xiaogang, the foremost theorist in the Soul Master world, and also Su Xiao and Tang San's teacher.

"From now on, Xiaogang will be responsible for planning your cultivation."

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward. "This afternoon, we will begin a trial. The goal is to help Su Xiao obtain his fourth Soul Ring."

"What?!" Dai Mubai cried in surprise. The others immediately stared at Su Xiao as if he were a monster.

Ma Hongjun scratched his head irritably. "Why do I have to be with such a freak?"

At that moment, Oscar suddenly raised his hand and said firmly, "Master, I've broken through to rank thirty. I need a Soul Ring too!"

Everyone was shocked again upon hearing the news. Oscar was a food-type Soul Master, after all. His cultivation was far more difficult than that of other Soul Masters.

Yet even so, fourteen-year-old Oscar had reached the level of a Soul Elder.

Though Oscar did not shine as brilliantly as Su Xiao, he was still a true genius. As for Su Xiao, he had already been categorized as a monstrous prodigy.

Su Xiao frowned slightly. There was no surprise or admiration in Ning Rongrong's eyes—only a touch more jealousy.

Do I really have to break up the pairing?

"Before heading to the Star Dou Great Forest, you still have one lesson to attend. It is very simple: every one of you must eat Oscar's sausage," Yu Xiaogang said sternly.

As he spoke, Oscar had already conjured seven sausages. Su Xiao and Tang San had eaten them before, so they were not as resistant.

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were both senior students. Although they resisted, they understood the effects of Oscar's sausages.

Only the three girls remained somewhat reluctant.

"Xiao Wu, it's okay. Although Oscar's Soul Incantation is... the sausage is very useful," Tang San persuaded her.

Looking at the sausage, Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment before gritting her teeth and eating it.

Zhu Zhuqing followed right after, eating the sausage with an expressionless face.

After the two ate the sausages, their expressions changed as they immediately sensed their miraculous effects.

Now, only Ning Rongrong remained.