Suo Tuo Great Soul Arena

After handing the captured Spined Pig over to the cafeteria, Zhao Xuan returned to the dormitory, while Hermione went back to the girls' dormitory.

Tang San was nowhere to be seen, and the training ground was empty. Zhao Xuan did not dwell on it and flopped onto his bed to sleep. Though there was no need to sleep long while alive, as death brought eternal rest. But after thinking about it... lying in bed was still better.

Tang San woke him at noon. After enjoying a feast made from the captured Spined Pig in the cafeteria, Zhao Xuan, in high spirits, surprisingly began cultivating. He continued until Flender called everyone to gather at dusk.

"Looks like I'll break through to level thirty-five soon."

Feeling the abundant Soul Power within him, surging like a babbling stream, Zhao Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

"Xuan, hurry up." Tang San stood at the door, urging him.

"What's the rush? It's only a few steps away." Zhao Xuan lazily got up and slowly followed after him.

When they arrived at the training ground, everyone else was already standing there. Flender glanced at the two latecomers but said nothing.

"Hm? Where are Ning Rongrong and Oscar?"

Zhao Xuan asked Tang San beside him. Nearly everyone was there, except Oscar and Ning Rongrong.

Before Tang San could speak, Flender answered first. Looking at Zhao Xuan calmly, he said, "I have other arrangements for the two of them."

Zhao Xuan gave an oh and did not pay it any mind, instead quietly watching Flender.

Flender nodded. "Since everyone is here, I'll say a few words. Though this may not sound pleasant, this is Shrek Academy, and I am its headmaster. My words are the rules here. I do not want anyone disobeying my orders in the academy. You have seen what happened to Ning Rongrong and Oscar."

"Hm?"

Everyone present nodded thoughtfully. Only Zhao Xuan looked confused. What exactly had happened to those two?

"Today's first class may come as a surprise to you, but no matter what, now that you're here, I hope you'll take it seriously. If you get careless, even if you don't die, you'll lose a layer of skin."

Seeing the serious look on Flender's face, everyone was intimidated despite not fully understanding why. Yet they also grew more expectant, wondering what mysteries this first class held.

"Now, stay close to me. Our destination is Suotuo City." As soon as he finished speaking, Flender waved his hand and turned away. With a light tap of his toes against the ground, he shot far into the distance.

As expected of the Four-Eyed Cat Eagle. Even his walking was as fast as gliding.

Zhao Xuan marveled inwardly. Although his physical constitution was extremely strong and still constantly improving, he knew his speed was absolutely no match for Flender's.

Following behind Flender, everyone hurried after him. Along the way, Zhao Xuan asked Tang San about Ning Rongrong and Oscar. What he learned surprised him. He had thought Ning Rongrong was a quiet girl, but she turned out to be a spoiled young lady. Her acting skills were rather impressive, though.

Shrek Academy was not far from Suotuo City, and the group arrived in less than half an hour.

Suotuo City's prosperity was plain for all to see. Even at night, its streets remained brightly lit, bustling and noisy.

Flender led everyone to a tea stall and ordered several cups of the cheapest tea.

They could not help silently complaining. He was far too stingy.

Ignoring their expressions, Flender raised one hand and pointed at a building across from the tea stall. "That is where your first class will be held."

"Huh?!" Everyone was startled. They had noticed the building across the street when they arrived.

It was an enormous structure with pitch-black outer walls, looking majestic and solemn. Beneath the night sky, they could faintly see light within and hear indistinct sounds drifting out.

Though the new students did not know what the place was, Dai Mubai clearly did. The moment Flender finished speaking, his expression changed. "Headmaster, you're sending them there for their first class?"

Dai Mubai seemed somewhat worried, his gaze subtly flicking toward Zhu Zhuqing beside him.

Hermione, who had been silent, seemed to recall something and cried out, "That can't be the Great Soul Arena, can it?"

"That's right." Flender took a sip of the coarse tea before him and answered blandly.

"The Great Soul Arena? What is that?" Xiao Wu looked confused.

Hermione took a deep breath. "The so-called Great Soul Arena is a place where martial souls clash, where soul masters battle. Whether in the Heaven Dou Empire or the Star Luo Empire, there is a saying that the Soul Fighting Arena determines a nation's rise and fall."

"So it's a place for soul masters to fight."

Zhao Xuan turned toward the Great Soul Arena, deep in thought. This was his first time learning that such a place existed.

"That's right. This is where you will fight!" Flender nodded, his gaze distant.

"Remember, you are all monsters, not ordinary people. Since you are monsters, you must cultivate like monsters."

The Suo Tuo Great Soul Arena was extraordinarily vast. There was not only the ground level, but also an underground level, with over a hundred arenas spread across the two floors.

After spending ten Gold Soul Coins to register, everyone received an Iron Soul Badge.

Holding his badge, Zhao Xuan hesitated for a moment before asking Flender, "Headmaster, aside from standard matches, Deathmatches, and Gambling Matches, are there any other ways to fight?"

Flender froze, and the others stared at him in surprise. Tang San seemed to want to speak but stopped himself, as though he had guessed Zhao Xuan's intentions.

Soon, Flender understood as well. Under the rules he had just described, Zhao Xuan would only face Soul Elders within the level-thirty range. Yet with Zhao Xuan's strength, he could be said to have no opponents below level thirty, or even level forty! Zhao Xuan was clearly dissatisfied with that.

Flender hesitated. He knew Zhao Xuan's strength. In truth, Shrek Academy had little it could teach him. Perhaps the only place suited to Zhao Xuan was somewhere like the Great Soul Arena, where he could gain combat experience.

After considering it for a long time, Flender slowly spoke.

"Besides those three methods, there are two more dangerous ones."

"One is called Indiscriminate Competition. It is only slightly less dangerous than a Deathmatch. Two soul masters are selected at random, with no restrictions on Soul Power Level. Sometimes, a Soul Grandmaster in his twenties might even face a Soul King in his fifties. Although surrender is permitted, when the gap in Soul Power is too great, it is easy to lose even the chance to surrender."

"The other is called a Battle Royale. Soul Power Levels are likewise unrestricted, and ten soul masters are chosen to compete. The battle continues until only one person remains, and its danger is second only to a Deathmatch."

"Both methods are fraught with danger. What do you think?" Flender asked Zhao Xuan seriously.

"I want to try." Without the slightest hesitation, Zhao Xuan looked back at Flender just as seriously.

"Xuan!"

Tang San could not help calling out. Xiao Wu and Hermione also looked at Zhao Xuan, their faces filled with anxiety.

Zhao Xuan remained unmoved, because he had his own considerations. It was not that he was boasting, but his strength was indeed formidable, far surpassing those of the same age and level. He had never known where he stood, and that was not a good thing.

"Then... very well!"

Moved by the seriousness in Zhao Xuan's eyes, Flender called over a Great Soul Arena staff member. After whispering to him for a moment, Flender took a mask from his robes and handed it to Zhao Xuan.

At the same time, the staff member walked over to Zhao Xuan and looked him over in surprise. "Come with me."

Watching Zhao Xuan follow the staff member away, Tang San could not help asking, "Headmaster, why did you agree?"

There was a trace of anger in his voice, as though he blamed Flender for agreeing and putting Zhao Xuan in danger.

Flender's expression remained calm. He swept his gaze over the group and found that everyone bore varying degrees of unease on their faces. He said evenly, "I am only a headmaster. I will not stop my students from following their own thoughts. I can only be a guide along your path. The choices you make are not for me to interfere with."

"And... do you truly think Zhao Xuan will be in that much danger? He is even stronger than you imagine."

Remembering the master's description of Zhao Xuan in his letter, Flender could not help sighing.