Life and Death Battle

A week passed, and Fang Ling had gained a basic understanding of the level of Soul Masters in Life and Death Battles.

The strong ones were limited in number. He could handle them!

"It's already been a week. The sooner, the better. Shall we go now?"

Seeing the two of them fall silent, Fang Ling called softly, "Teacher?"

"You really can't hold yourself back at all..." Lin Tianyang rose to his feet with Shu Manyun, pushed open the door, and headed outside.

Fang Ling hurried after them, but as they walked, he felt that something was off.

This was not the road out of the Academy to the Great Soul Arena. It was the road to the Administration Building instead.

He immediately asked, "Teacher, where are we going?"

"You're a gifted student of the Academy. Even as your teacher, I can't simply let you take part in a Life and Death Battle with such a high risk of death."

Lin Tianyang glanced at Fang Ling, his brow still carrying a trace of worry.

"We're going to see Director Ou."

"At this hour, he usually hasn't finished work yet."

It had only been a little over a month, but Fang Ling had not forgotten that old man who had defeated him so effortlessly.

"Director Ou is the one who tested me during the entrance examination?"

"That's right. He's the Principal's childhood friend and oversees theoretical education. He's called a director, but he also serves as vice principal. He just likes having us call him Director."

"With the Principal absent, he holds the greatest authority in the Academy. Only he can make this kind of decision."

After finding the vice principal's office, Lin Tianyang knocked lightly on the door.

Once they received permission, he led them inside.

Director Ou was eating noodles—a huge bowl of noodles.

Several large chicken drumsticks he had not finished gnawing on sat beside him.

The visitors surprised him slightly. "Tianyang and Manyun? Why have you two brought your little disciple here?"

"Uncle Ou." With no outsiders around, Lin Tianyang addressed him warmly.

After hesitating for a moment, he seemed unsure how to begin and could only give Fang Ling a push on the back.

"Isn't it all because of this kid? Let him tell you himself."

"His resolve is firm. We can't change his mind."

Under Director Ou's puzzled gaze, Fang Ling stepped closer.

"Grandpa Ou, I..."

"My full name is Ou Hai. Since this is private, just call me Uncle. I'm only in my fifties." Ou Hai winked at Fang Ling.

Completely ignoring Lin Tianyang's speechless expression beside him.

Fang Ling cautiously glanced at his teacher. Only after seeing him nod lightly did he say, "Uncle Ou, I want to participate in Life and Death Battles at the Great Soul Arena."

"..."

After slurping noodles for a while, Director Ou raised his head.

"Why?"

Fang Ling answered resolutely, "For cultivation. My talent is too poor. I need the pressure of Life and Death Battles to push myself and unleash more of my potential."

"Have you made up your mind?"

"I have!"

"You won't change it?"

"Never."

Director Ou's beard twitched. As he looked at Fang Ling, the authority in his gaze gradually deepened.

Fang Ling held his head high and stood tall, completely unfazed by his stern expression.

After a moment, the scrutiny vanished from Director Ou's eyes, replaced by a measure of approval. "You're a determined child."

"When I saw your blade technique, I guessed what kind of temperament you had. I knew this day would come."

"Go. You have my permission."

He took a bite of a large chicken drumstick.

"Thank you, Uncle Ou!" Fang Ling quickly thanked him.

"Thank you, Uncle Ou." Lin Tianyang exchanged a glance with his wife. Their faces carried a touch of helplessness, but they could only follow along and offer their thanks.

"Remember to call me Director when you're outside."

"Okay~!"

The three left. Once outside, they headed straight for the Great Soul Arena.

If they walked there, they should just make it in time for the evening battles.

"Since you're going to take part in a Life and Death Battle, I'll tell you everything I know." Lin Tianyang's expression turned serious.

He could not persuade him head-on, and Uncle Ou could not stop him from the side either.

What else could they do?

They could only support him.

"Yes, please instruct me, Teacher." Fang Ling never fought unprepared.

Leveling up was indeed important, but without his life, nothing else mattered.

He had to remember every last detail.

"A Life and Death Battle—just from the name, you can tell it's a battle to determine life and death."

"However, even if you lose, as long as you aren't killed on the spot, there's still hope of surviving."

"Please continue, Teacher." Fang Ling's eyes instantly lit up.

Lin Tianyang felt as though he was pushing his disciple into a pit of fire, and his expression was deeply conflicted.

"Listen carefully. If you feel that you can't win, run off the ring."

"Even a dangerous format like a Life and Death Battle is still only a Soul Arena match. Your Body Technique is nimble, and your reactions are exceptional. You'll definitely be able to tell the difference between barely being able to win and having no chance at all."

"As long as you get off the ring, they can't kill you! That's an ironclad rule!"

"That works too?" Fang Ling's brows relaxed, and he immediately felt that his safety was guaranteed.

"Why wouldn't it?" Lin Tianyang asked in return. "You'll be booed for it. Do you care about your reputation?"

"I don't."

Fang Ling did not possess even the slightest sense of shame in that regard.

Reputation did not matter. Once his level was high enough, he wanted to see who would be bold enough to gossip about him.

"I knew you wouldn't care. That's the default rule there. Use it."

Satisfied with the answer, Lin Tianyang continued, "The entry fee for a Life and Death Battle is expensive. Before it begins, you have to put up a sum of Gold Soul Coins as collateral. Whether you die or jump off the ring and flee, that money goes to the winner. When the time comes, don't be reluctant to part with it."

Fang Ling nodded lightly. "I understand, Teacher."

Compared to his life, money was merely an external possession.

With the Stats Panel, he still had a bright future ahead of him.

As long as he did not die, he would definitely reach the pinnacle. Lowering his head for the moment was nothing.

Upon entering the Soul Arena, Lin Tianyang and Shu Manyun led Fang Ling toward the Life and Death Zone this time.

"The registration fee for a Life and Death Battle is fifty Gold Soul Coins," the staff member said.

"So expensive." Fang Ling counted nervously and took out the money from his small pouch, laying the coins out one by one.

In the end, he had only sixteen Silver Soul Coins left.

He had nearly not had enough.

It had used up all his savings.

Now, he could only hope that his first opponent would be weak.

Fortunately, Gambit Battle records and Life and Death Battle records were not shared.

He had already won seven Gambit Battles in a row, while he had never participated in a Life and Death Battle before. Naturally, his record was zero.

As a newcomer, he should not run into anyone too strong.

In the spectator stands, Lin Tianyang and Shu Manyun clasped hands nervously.

A thin layer of sweat covered their palms.

Shu Manyun was the more nervous of the two. Although Lin Tianyang had killed even fewer people than Fang Ling, he had at least seen the world and seen blood.

Shu Manyun, on the other hand, truly was a sheltered young lady. She had remained in the Academy, cultivating peacefully until she became a Soul Elder.

"Can he win?" Her voice trembled slightly.

Blood did not matter; she had seen plenty of it.

She had witnessed killing as well. She was simply worried about Fang Ling.

The air here was thick with the stench of blood.

The ring was smeared with fresh blood that had yet to dry.

All the spectators were different from those in the Gambling Zone. Not only were there more people here, but they were far more frenzied as well.

"He can win! Believe in Fang Ling!" Lin Tianyang was much more confident now.

Fang Ling's powerful reactions gave him an extremely high margin for error.

A ring match with such clear boundaries would not become an obstacle in his path forward.

One somewhat brutal match came to an end.

The host stepped onto the stage with light dance steps, treading over ground soaked in fresh blood.

He narrowed his eyes, an excited smile on his face.

"Next up is the second one-on-one Life and Death Battle of our Sixth Soul Arena."

"There are newcomers to Life and Death Battles every day, but today's newcomer is no ordinary person."

"Fang Ling—the battle genius from War King Academy, a freshman who enrolled just a month ago, claimed seven consecutive victories in the Gambling Zone, and whose martial soul is a Sickle!"