A Change of Heart

As Duanyu Fan entered the Great Spirit Arena, he felt as though he had returned to his previous life. The hall was brimming with a sense of technology.

After walking through a corridor several dozen meters long, they arrived before a huge screen. Rows upon rows of battle information cycled across it, just like searching for one's train departure on the giant display screens at a railway station.

Broadcast announcements also called out the upcoming matches between contestants.

"Xiao Fan! What's wrong? Why are you staring blankly at the screen?"

Hu Liena noticed that Duanyu Fan had stopped in front of the screen, lost in thought, with a trace of nostalgia in his eyes. She could only stop and return to his side.

"Nothing! Senior Sister, I just think it's amazing that there's such a lively place. It's simply packed with people." Duanyu Fan answered casually.

"Come on, then. Since we're here, let's join in the fun. We've come all this way, so let's enjoy ourselves properly." Hu Liena took Duanyu Fan to an excellent spot to watch the matches.

"When a person dies, it is like a lamp going out. Since I'm here, I should make the best of it. In my previous life, amid that vast sea of people, I was nothing more than an ordinary commoner. Now that I have the chance to climb to the peak and look down upon all living beings, even if the heights are lonely and cold, I would rather not remain below and accept all that comes my way."

As Duanyu Fan watched Hu Liena pull him forward by the hand, the warmth reaching him through his senses gave him a faint feeling of reality.

His previous life seemed like a dream, while this life felt like he had only just awakened.

The loneliness of having come to Douluo two years ago, along with that faint sense of not belonging in this world, dissipated from his heart at that moment.

"Senior Sister, you're so good to me," Duanyu Fan said softly as he looked at Hu Liena's back.

"Xiao Fan, what did you say? It's too loud here—I didn't hear you clearly." Hu Liena turned back with a smile and asked.

"Senior Sister, I said, how about the two of us form a team and go up for a match?" Duanyu Fan answered with a bright smile.

"Xiao Fan, why do I feel like you became a different person after spacing out in front of that screen?" Hu Liena said suspiciously instead.

"How could that be? You're overthinking it, Senior Sister. I'm still the same Xiao Fan. Want to go up and have some fun? I heard they allow two-person teams." Duanyu Fan continued.

"Alright, then. Opportunities like this are rare. Since we're here, let's have a match. How rare indeed, Junior Brother." Hu Liena pulled Duanyu Fan over to the registration counter.

"Register a two-person team. Call it Milk Fox. Then arrange a match for us, at the Soul Ancestor team level." Hu Liena spoke to the staff member with decisive efficiency.

"Certainly! Please wait a moment. The registration fee is one Gold Soul Coin. Your match has been arranged; just wait for the broadcast announcement." In about a minute, the staff member finished the registration, took the money, and handed Hu Liena an iron Token engraved with the words Milk Fox.

"All set! Xiao Fan, we can go up and have some fun soon. I hope our opponents have higher Soul Power Levels, or it'll be boring," Hu Liena said happily as she put away the iron token.

After registering, Duanyu Fan and Hu Liena came to the edge of a stairway and looked down at the Arena below. The Host had just finished announcing a match.

"The next match will be a one-on-one battle at the Soul Ancestor level. Let us welcome two newcomers of the Soto Great Spirit Arena! The contestants are Flame and Moon Blade!" the Host loudly announced from a platform suspended above the center of the Arena.

Whistles and cheers swept across the entire Arena. Clearly, everyone was eagerly anticipating a Soul Ancestor-level clash.

"Ha ha, Senior Sister, I didn't expect those two to register as well—and they even got placed in the same Arena. This will be worth watching. I wonder who's stronger," Duanyu Fan said to Hu Liena with a chuckle.

"Hehe! Those two really are enemies destined to meet. With so many people here, they still ended up facing each other. I'm guessing Moon Blade has the edge," Hu Liena said with a laugh as well, amused by their coincidence.

"Oh! They're going on. Those two teammates are fighting each other after all. This is perfect." Shrek Dean Flender watched from where he was concealed among the crowd.

"Ha ha! I didn't expect to be matched against you. Ever since we left the forest, I've wanted to fight you. This is the perfect chance to spar properly on this Arena." Yan burst into laughter when he saw that Xie Yue was standing across from him.

"Ha ha! Me too. And now he can't interfere with us either, so we can have a proper spar. Just don't end up crying with your face covered in dirt later!" Xie Yue retorted without yielding an inch.

Duanyu Fan felt that Xie Yue was talking about him.

"Likewise. Just don't make me comfort you after you get off the stage," Yan shot back.

"Ha ha, the two contestants know each other, and neither is willing to concede to the other. This match is sure to be exciting! Let us look forward to a wonderful duel between them. I now declare the match officially begun!" Seeing that Yan and Xie Yue were ready, the Host immediately announced.

"Flame Lord Spirit, Martial Soul Possession!" Yan shouted as he summoned his Martial Soul and Soul Rings. The temperature across the Arena instantly soared.

"Moon Blade!" Xie Yue summoned his Martial Soul and Soul Rings, his momentum surging like a rainbow.

Xie Yue's and Yan's auras clashed first. Neither gave way, and they were evenly matched.

"They're both top-tier Martial Souls, and they're both level 44 Soul Ancestors? How is that possible? They're only around thirteen or fourteen years old at most. And the fire-element energy of that Flame Lord Spirit far surpasses Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix. With talent like this, they absolutely cannot be from Canghui Academy." Flender was secretly astonished amid the crowd.

"They really are Soul Ancestors, and they even have the optimal Soul Ring configuration. Judging by their ages, I thought the Host had exaggerated."

"That's right. They look like they're only around fifteen."

"It's starting. Watch the match carefully."

As they watched Xie Yue and Yan's duel, the Audience discussed it animatedly.

"Here I come. First Soul Skill, Slash!" Xie Yue made the first move.

"Good! Second Soul Skill, Granite Body!" A layer of stone instantly covered Yan's entire body, its patterns resembling granite. It was Yan's defensive Soul Skill.

With a clang, a blade mark was left on the petrified area of his chest as the attack from the Moon Blade rebounded.

"I didn't expect your Soul Skill's defense to improve as well." The Moon Blade returned to Xie Yue's hand, but he did not rush to attack again.

"Of course. Your attack power has grown too, so naturally my defense can't fall behind. Take one of my moves as well. First Soul Skill, Hell Lava Surge!" As Yan spoke, he gathered flames in both palms and slammed them forcefully into the Arena floor.

Seeing this, Xie Yue immediately moved away from his original position, then continued shifting locations. A pillar of fire erupted into the sky where Xie Yue had stood, one after another pursuing him. Wherever Xie Yue moved, a fire pillar appeared.

"Useless! Your First Soul Skill's attack speed can't keep up with my movement speed." Xie Yue spoke as he moved.

He then rapidly closed in before Yan and brought the Moon Blade down in a powerful slash from above.

However, Yan reacted just as quickly. He crossed his petrified arms slightly above his forehead and blocked Xie Yue's descending Moon Blade.

With a clang, sparks flew from the point of contact. Yan knocked the Moon Blade aside and immediately counterattacked with a punch at Xie Yue. Xie Yue blocked Yan's fist with the flat of the Moon Blade, and the two instantly fell into close combat.

One threw punches while the other swung his blade, the two darting across the Arena as they exchanged blows at high speed.

"Wow! What an incredible match! For the moment, neither of them can gain the upper hand!" the Host passionately narrated with great professionalism.

The audience in the stands watched Xie Yue and Yan clash, their blood boiling as they shouted and cheered with all their might.

"What tremendous strength. Though they're Soul Ancestors, the power of their attacks is no less than that of beginner Soul Kings. (P.S.: Levels 1–3 are beginner, 4–6 intermediate, and 7–9 advanced—for example, beginner Soul Master, intermediate Soul Master, advanced Soul Master. This applies to all ranks below Titled Douluo.)"

As expected of a Soul Saint-level powerhouse, Flender had a keen eye. After watching for a while, he roughly assessed the level of Yan and Xie Yue's attacks.

Do you think it would be reasonable or feasible to adapt Death Canyon into a divine test site left behind by the Evil God King? I'm not too sure myself.

Of course, thanks as well to everyone for pointing out typos, and for your support through recommendation tickets and monthly tickets.

This book's stats are much better than my previous one.