Tang San and Xiao Wu's Rift

Earning a Silver Badge was no simple matter to begin with. For Ning Rongrong, it was practically as difficult as reaching the heavens.

The other team members could freely choose one-on-one soul fights.

But what about her?

As a Support-type Soul Master, entering a one-on-one soul fight—wasn't that basically volunteering to be a punching bag?

"Xiao Wu, Zhuqing, can you take me with you?"

Ning Rongrong grabbed Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing's arms, swaying them coquettishly.

Ning Rongrong had calculated this well. Since she could not manage on her own, she would find a powerful teammate.

She believed that no Soul Master would refuse a Support-type Soul Master with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul.

If there was one, they definitely had never experienced the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's powerful enhancement effects!

Unfortunately...

Ning Rongrong's bright eyes glanced at a certain lazy fellow before she silently withdrew her gaze.

A Soul Grandmaster teaming up with a Soul Ancestor would undoubtedly make things difficult for the person in charge of the Soto Grand Soul Arena.

The first issue was that the rules did not allow it.

The other was this: if cross-level teams were truly allowed, score farming would become rampant!

The direct descendants of those major factions had more Gold Soul Coins than they could spend. Hiring an Advanced Soul Master to carry them and earning a Gold Badge would be as easy as pie.

Unfortunately, Gold Badges earned by breaking the rules held no value whatsoever.

Only Gold Badges earned within the rules could prove their holder's true strength.

Therefore, in any Grand Soul Arena, there were strict standards regarding the Soul Power Levels of both contestants in a soul fight.

A Soul Grandmaster faced a Soul Grandmaster, and a Soul Elder faced a Soul Elder.

Thus, Lu Yuan, a Soul Ancestor, could only face another Soul Ancestor.

"I wonder if any Titled Douluo are bored enough to come here and fight."

Lu Yuan shook his head with a laugh, kicking the bold thought from his mind.

What powerhouse who had reached the level of Titled Douluo would lack practical combat experience?

Since they did not lack practical combat experience, there was no need for Titled Douluo to come here.

Wouldn't it be better to join any major faction as an honored guest or elder?

Why bother fighting over a mere ten or so Gold Soul Coins?

"But I still have to do as the locals do..."

He closed his palm, then opened it again.

A neatly arranged stack of Gold Soul Coins lay across Lu Yuan's hand.

"Life and Death Duel."

"Soul Ancestor."

On the counter, ten Gold Soul Coins were stacked into a small cylinder.

No wonder Soul Masters were widely recognized as half-nobles across the continent.

Their expenses were high, but so were their incomes.

The purchasing power of ten Gold Soul Coins was enough for an ordinary family of three to live comfortably for a year.

Yet for most Soul Masters, it was merely the simple registration fee for a single match at the Grand Soul Arena.

A Life and Death Duel?

The term drew the attention of quite a few Soul Masters.

Sparring matches were common in the Soul Arena, and Gambling Duels were not rare either.

What was rare were Life and Death Duels!

For Soul Masters, who were considered "half-nobles," Life and Death Duels were undoubtedly exceptionally cruel.

Even in a Gambling Duel, if one could not win, they could admit defeat.

At worst, they would pay a price, but at least they could keep their lives.

But there was no option to "admit defeat" in a Life and Death Duel!

Either you died, or I died.

In any case, one of the two Soul Masters had to die before the soul fight could be considered over.

Perhaps unable to bear it, the pretty receptionist gave him one last reminder before putting pen to paper.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Lu Yuan lowered his eyes slightly, his finger tracing across the tabletop with neither too much force nor too little.

A moment later, Lu Yuan returned to Xiao Wu's side and tossed the Iron Badge in his hand.

"Got it."

"Which arena are you in?"

Xiao Wu hurriedly grabbed Lu Yuan and asked curiously.

Tang San also turned a curious gaze toward him.

Lu Yuan shrugged innocently.

"No idea. I'm waiting for notification."

Life and Death Duels were usually the main event.

Especially a Life and Death Duel between two Soul Ancestors.

If they did not arrange a proper venue for it, then the person in charge of the Soto Grand Soul Arena would have to be brain-dead!

But the problem was that venues were not something the Grand Soul Arena could arrange whenever it wanted. No matter how fast they moved, they still had to wait for the Soul Masters currently fighting to finish.

"Fine." Xiao Wu reluctantly let go of Lu Yuan's sleeve, her face full of displeasure.

Lu Yuan noticed Xiao Wu's adorable little expression and, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, rubbed her little head. Smiling, he said, "I'm not lying to you. I really don't know."

Xiao Wu hesitated before asking tentatively, "Then I'll go register first?"

"Sure."

Watching Xiao Wu leave, Lu Yuan stretched out his arms against the railing and looked at Tang San with an amused smile.

"What? Want to talk?"

Flender had directly dumped the registration procedures onto Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, then dragged Yu Xiaogang off to some spectator stand on his own.

Dai Mubai had found an excuse to take Zhu Zhuqing to register; Ma Hongjun had taken Ning Rongrong to register; and Xiao Wu had also been sent away by coincidence. At the moment, only Tang San and Lu Yuan remained here.

Therefore, Tang San could no longer be bothered to maintain that fake smile. His face darkened, as though someone owed him a fortune.

"Stay away from Xiao Wu."

Tang San got straight to the point and stated his demand.

Seeing Tang San's expression as if he wanted to devour him alive, Lu Yuan laughed and pointed at Tang San.

"Your personality is still as overbearing as ever."

"Looks like—"

"I didn't beat you hard enough last time!"

Tang San clenched his fists and shouted in a low voice, "You still dare bring up last time!"

Lu Yuan did not answer Tang San's challenge. He slowly walked up to Tang San and extended a hand.

Tang San was instantly alarmed, afraid that this madman would suddenly attack. He instinctively used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, trying to retreat backward.

But very quickly, Tang San discovered in horror—

He was still standing perfectly still!

In what seemed like an instant, his legs had slipped beyond his body's control. No matter how his mind commanded them, they gave no response whatsoever.

He could only watch helplessly as Lu Yuan's large hand reached toward him, then—

Patted him on the shoulder?

A trace of bewilderment flashed through Tang San's eyes, and an unreal, illusory sensation suddenly arose in his heart.

"When facing the strong, learn to show respect."

"Why have you all forgotten what you taught me back then?"

There was a hint of reproach in his tone.

As though he were scolding a disobedient child.

After lightly patting him three times, Lu Yuan calmly walked past Tang San.

After a while, Tang San came back to his senses. He disgustedly brushed at his clothes and muttered with a frown, "Was that an illusion?"

But when he saw Xiao Wu hopping back toward them, the faintly strange feeling he had just experienced was immediately cast to the back of his mind.

Tang San eagerly went to meet her.

Over the past half month, he had not even had an opportunity to meet Xiao Wu alone, much less spend time alone with her.

During those past two weeks, Tang San had gradually figured out exactly what he felt for Xiao Wu.

He planned to find a suitable time and place to formally express his feelings to Xiao Wu.

Of course, this was definitely not the right opportunity.

Tang San knew that.

Besides, he had no intention of confessing to Xiao Wu inside the Grand Soul Arena.

With his little scheme clattering away in his mind, Tang San excitedly said:

"Xiao Wu, I think the two of us can rank up faster together than alone, so how about—"

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