Black Robe Number One, Air Walking

It was about time.

Flender drained the Inferior Tea from his cup, paid for it, and had them put on the hooded masks and Black Robes on the table before leading them to the Soto Great Spirit Arena.

As they drew closer, Xiao Xian realized that the Great Soul Arena was even larger than it had appeared from the tea stall. He estimated that it could hold at least sixty or seventy thousand people, comparable to some massive stadiums from his previous life.

That was already quite impressive.

Upon entering the Great Soul Arena, they saw a massive Stone Tablet standing in the most conspicuous spot in the lobby, engraved with countless names.

It was not some Honor Roll.

It bore the names of every Spirit Master who had died in the Soto Great Spirit Arena's fighting rings.

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun had already registered, so naturally they did not need to do so again.

Xiao Xian and Oscar registered separately and each received an Iron Spirit Badge.

Then, under Flender's instruction, Xiao Xian registered Two-on-two teams with Ma Hongjun and Oscar separately. Ma Hongjun and Oscar also registered together, of course.

Each registration cost ten Gold Soul Coins.

Those teams, as well as Oscar's One-on-one badge, were mainly for Xiao Xian's use, so Xiao Xian paid for all of them.

Fortunately, he did not usually have any major expenses and had saved up plenty of Spirit Master Subsidy money, so he could afford it.

After that came registering for battles.

After Xiao Xian submitted his name, Flender took Oscar into the arena's inner grounds and stopped paying attention to them.

Could Xiao Xian hold out? Flender believed there was hope—at least with Old Shao's Sugar Beans and Oscar's sausages, there was hope.

But it was only hope.

"..."

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun did not stay idle either and signed up for One-on-one matches.

The task Flender had set for Xiao Xian had more or less stirred them up.

They usually only came here once every seven or eight days, if that.

The Soto Great Spirit Arena had twenty-four Sub Arenas and one Main Arena.

The three of them registered together and were led by the arena staff to the Rest Area of the same Sub Arena to await their matches.

Xiao Xian and the other two wore the same shabby Black Robes and masks, attracting some attention from the other Spirit Masters.

Quite a few people curled their lips, assuming they were merely putting on an act. Still, it was none of their business, so they continued sitting with their eyes closed, adjusting their condition as they waited for the coming battles.

Before long, Ma Hongjun's name was called.

"Go, Fatty!"

"Good luck!"

Dai Mubai and Xiao Xian cheered him on.

After Ma Hongjun entered the competition passage, Dai Mubai asked Xiao Xian whether he wanted to go watch.

The arena had specially arranged a small viewing area beside the ring for competing Spirit Masters.

Naturally, Xiao Xian said yes.

Unfortunately, Ma Hongjun's opponent possessed a vine Martial Soul, which Ma Hongjun's purple flames easily burned to ash. The opponent conceded and left the ring.

Xiao Xian barely got to see Ma Hongjun fight before watching him leap down from the platform with an excited expression.

After loudly congratulating Ma Hongjun from the center of the Soul Platform, the middle-aged Host began the next match. "Next is the third One-on-one match of our Seventh Arena! Once again, both contestants are Soul Grandmasters! They are Battle Soul Master Black Robe Number One, who possesses the Beast Martial Soul Purple-Haired Dog, versus Battle Soul Master Lone Wolf, who possesses the Beast Martial Soul Nether Wolf and has already achieved four consecutive victories!"

It was Xiao Xian's turn.

His name was simple and ordinary: Black Robe Number One.

Guided by a staff member, he quickly stepped onto the Soul Platform.

His opponent, Lone Wolf, was even faster. With a single leap from the Spectator Area, he landed on the platform.

The dashing move easily drew cheers from the stands.

Lone Wolf did not look easy to deal with. Though only in his thirties, his face was filled with hardship and viciousness.

Staring at Xiao Xian's Black Robe and mask, he forced out a hoarse voice. "A rat hiding its head and showing its tail!"

Xiao Xian smiled faintly.

He was not affected by Lone Wolf's provocation.

The moment the Host stepped down, he tapped the ground and charged forward first.

He had come to train, not to enjoy battle or gain fame and fortune. There was no need to waste time.

Lone Wolf narrowed his eyes. White light rose from his body, and a layer of Gray Fur grew over him. One white and one yellow Soul Ring swiftly appeared beneath his feet.

His Yellow Halo flashed fiercely. A faint breeze seemed to rise around him as he tapped the ground several times in succession, retreating several meters toward the edge of the platform in the blink of an eye. At the same time, his figure blurred as he rapidly circled the platform.

He was Lone Wolf. He always planned before acting and never recklessly clashed head-on with an opponent.

Unfortunately.

Xiao Xian was faster than him!

A flash of violet passed through Xiao Xian's eyes as he easily caught Lone Wolf's figure.

He lowered his body and leaned forward, then stomped down hard. A gale exploded beneath his feet!

Boom—!

He shot forward like a Cannonball!

Lone Wolf tried to dodge, but... Xiao Xian seemed to possess some sort of tracking ability.

His entire body actually carved a curve through the air!

In an instant, he arrived before Lone Wolf!

Lone Wolf's expression turned grim as he raised his claws.

But a Mystic Jade hand, carrying tremendous impact, had already easily struck his chest and abdomen!

Bang—!

Lone Wolf was sent flying violently into the protective ropes at the platform's edge. As his body bounced forward several steps, he staggered. Before he could react, Xiao Xian swept out with a kick and easily sent him off the platform.

The clean, decisive display silenced the arena for a moment, followed by even more fervent cheers!

Without waiting for the Host to announce the result, Xiao Xian silently jumped down from the platform.

"My palm is fine, but my arm's gone a little numb from the shock!"

"This guy was actually wearing Inner Armor..." Xiao Xian shook his head.

That was his disadvantage.

A Beast Martial Soul could not possess its user, nor could it provide a powerful enhancement. At the same time, it lacked the special abilities of Tool Martial Souls.

Ma Hongjun stared blankly from the stands. He knew Xiao Xian was probably quite strong.

But he had not expected him to be even stronger than he had looked that night?!

With that speed, people would believe he was an Agility System Soul Grandmaster, wouldn't they?

And how had he turned in midair?!

Dai Mubai was also somewhat stunned. He silently compared their explosive power and had to admit that, despite being a Soul Elder, he was far inferior to Xiao Xian in that blink-of-an-eye burst of speed.

Xiao Xian quickly greeted Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun in the stands.

Then he pulled Ma Hongjun away to register for Two-on-two.

Dean Flender had instructed them to do so, and Ma Hongjun did not hesitate.

The Two-on-two matches were held in another venue, where the audience was larger and the atmosphere more lively.

Their luck was not very good.

Xiao Xian and Ma Hongjun waited for a long time, only to find that their opponents were two Swallow Spirit Masters, also specialists in speed.

Xiao Xian stepped onto the platform and tested their speed against them, but they could actually fly. They had merely been toying with Xiao Xian and Ma Hongjun until then.

Watching the two Spirit Masters fly high overhead, constantly flapping their Wings.

Ma Hongjun was immediately a little angered, yet helpless. His flames could only reach five meters at most.

Waves of boos came from the audience, though it was unclear whom they were booing.

Xiao Xian was helpless as well. He had already expended twenty or thirty percent of his Soul Power, so he stopped hesitating and wasting time.

He stared at the two swallows in the air. A gale suddenly exploded beneath his feet, and his body shot straight toward them, leaping seven or eight meters in a single bound!

In the air, the two Swallow Spirit Masters exchanged a glance, and a trace of amusement flashed through both their eyes.

With an easy flap of their Wings, they dodged Xiao Xian's pounce. At the same time, they turned and flashed behind him.

Their coordination was flawless.

A single glance told them what the other meant: once he began falling and had nowhere to push off from, they would join forces and strike from behind!

But... what they had not expected was that as soon as Xiao Xian's body began to descend, his right foot stomped down fiercely in midair!

It was as though an Air Wall lay beneath his foot!

Xiao Xian's body flew diagonally upward another meter or two, narrowly dodging the attacks of both of them!

Looking at their backs so close before him, Xiao Xian did not hesitate. Both palms shot out, fiercely launching two Blowing Fire Palms!