Abyssal Gaze

"The more famous the Three-Five Combination becomes, the more advertisement endorsements they can take on. Would Shrek Academy still have to worry about staying afloat?" Ye Tianxing leaned closer to Flender and began describing a grand blueprint for the future.

Flender slapped his palm, as though his Ren and Du meridians had suddenly been opened. At that moment, he came to a realization. "Why didn't I notice this before? You really have a way, kid. I never expected the Three-Five Combination to be this famous. I always had them wear masks before, and they were nearly recognized several times. Once, there were so many fans that they almost couldn't get out of the Great Spirit Arena."

"I never thought fame could be used like this!" Flender grinned like a crooked merchant.

"Taking advertisement endorsements, selling merchandise, and promoting the same products used by Suotuo City celebrities. Headmaster Flender, just think about the profits involved..."

Ye Tianxing stopped there, because Flender could no longer hear anything else. His hands trembled as he wondered how he could ever have imagined making so much money one day.

More and more money, more and more!

Drool dripped from the corner of Flender's mouth as he giggled foolishly and repeatedly applauded. He thanked Ye Ping'an profusely for the suggestion and hired Ye Ping'an as Shrek Academy's financial advisor.

He was still a student, though, so his daily training still had to continue.

Yu Xiaogang's so-called devilish training was nothing to Ye Tianxing. It was not even worthy of carrying his shoes.

Just like that, the two arrived at the Soto Great Spirit Arena.

The Soto Great Spirit Arena stood in the heart of Suotuo City, a massive circular structure that occupied an enormous area.

It was deep into the night, when the crowds were at their thickest. People came and went in a lively stream, all pouring toward the Great Spirit Arena.

Within the crowd, Flender found Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others. Once he saw that everyone had arrived, he led them into the Great Spirit Arena.

Upon entering, the grandeur and luxurious decor of the Great Spirit Arena caught the attention of many first-timers.

Tang San and Xiao Wu still remembered how they had been deeply shocked when they first came here as well.

However, tonight's situation was rather special compared to before.

Xiao Wu's expression was as sour as if she were constipated, and even Tang San's mouth twitched from time to time. Each of them held a set of clothes printed with advertisements for Giant Bear Renovations, Suotuo Food Street, and "Ask Who Your Daddy Really Is."

Even worse, there was an advertisement for a toilet plunger printed on the back near the waist, with its round end facing downward.

"Headmaster Flender! You've gone too far! You actually made my brother and me wear clothes like this!" Xiao Wu immediately exploded. When she had received the clothes that morning, she had nearly broken down.

At the thought of competing in a two-on-two spirit battle before tens of thousands of people while dressed like this, Xiao Wu simply could not bear the humiliation.

"Aren't you wearing masks? Don't worry, no one will recognize you." Flender wore the grin of a crooked merchant as he vigorously rubbed his hands together. Just moments ago, he had placed a bet.

He bet on the Three-Five Combination to win!

That would be another considerable income.

Tang San let out a deep sigh. He knew about the academy's financial shortfall; it had been obvious from the meals over the past few days.

Headmaster Flender was clearly doing this to earn money from advertisement endorsements and the like.

But couldn't he at least find better advertisements next time?

Especially that toilet plunger on their backs—once they went onstage wearing that, people would surely mistake them for being chronically constipated.

Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others struggled to hold back their laughter. Even Zhu Zhuqing, who rarely smiled, could not stop the corners of her lips from curving slightly upward. They were having a hard time holding it in.

Only after Tang San and Xiao Wu entered the changing room did everyone burst into laughter.

"What's everyone laughing about? You all seem so happy!"

Just then, a familiar voice rang out. The Master had arrived at some point.

Yu Xiaogang was everyone's instructor. Since Flender had brought them to the Soto Great Spirit Arena for spirit battles tonight, there was no way Yu Xiaogang would not come.

"Master, are you feeling better?" Ye Tianxing stepped closer and asked.

The moment Yu Xiaogang saw Ye Tianxing, he shuddered. He vaguely remembered yesterday's "leading the charge," and the sensation of the wind slapping his face so hard it felt as though his features were about to fly off.

Though he still felt more miserable than anything else, Yu Xiaogang had gritted his teeth and forced himself out of bed, enduring his discomfort to come here. Who would have thought that he would run into Ye Tianxing right away? It made him want to vomit even more.

"Not yet." Yu Xiaogang simply ignored Ye Tianxing. He was genuinely afraid of him now.

Before long, the arena's amplifying Soul Tool announced the name "Seven Star." Ye Tianxing's alias was Ye Ping'an, and the Seven Star Sword was his Martial Soul at the moment.

"Seven Star" was Ye Tianxing's codename at the Soto Great Spirit Arena.

Like the others, Ye Tianxing wore a mask and strode proudly toward the central arena under the gaze of tens of thousands.

His opponent was also a Soul Grandmaster, with the same Soul Power level as Ye Ping'an's identity: Rank 29. His Martial Soul was a Zanpakuto, a Tool Martial Soul.

Thirteen wins and eight losses—a fairly decent record.

The Zanpakuto was entirely blood-red and had a blood groove. One white and one yellow Spirit Ring emerged around the blade.

Ye Tianxing did not summon his Martial Soul, merely raising two fingers like a sword.

"Where's your Martial Soul? Are you looking down on me?" The burly man rested the Zanpakuto on his shoulder. His muscles were sharply defined, veins bulging across his forehead as fury filled him.

Because Ye Ping'an, his opponent, had not released his Martial Soul.

When the host asked Ye Tianxing about it, Ye Tianxing only shook his head without saying anything.

"The spirit battle begins!" The instant the host announced the start of the spirit battle—

The burly man carrying the Zanpakuto abruptly slammed his blade into the ground. The Second Soul Skill on the blade lit up, and a dense aura of bloodlust rushed forward.

"Second Soul Skill, Blade Overlord of the World!"

The burly man sprang into the air, his face twisted savagely as he gripped the blade with both hands and chopped downward.

The soul skill's shout shook the heavens, yet it did absolutely nothing.

Ye Tianxing held two fingers together like a sword, and the instant the big man came crashing down, a bright streak of sword light flashed out.

The next second, the big man hit the ground with a thud. His Zanpakuto martial soul dissipated, while the sword light stopped at his throat, nearly taking his life.

Thus, "Seven Star" won!

Ye Tianxing slowly walked down from the arena.

In the lounge, Yu Xiaogang, who had watched the entire match, wore an appallingly grim expression.

"Fingers formed into a sword... Ye Ping'an's attainments in swordsmanship exceed anything I imagined!" Yu Xiaogang marveled inwardly.

"There are only a handful of sword experts on Douluo Continent. The strongest acknowledged one is Sword Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Titled Douluo known as the continent's number one in attack. Ye Ping'an's swordsmanship is so refined—could he be a disciple of some hidden sect? Or the illegitimate son of some reclusive Titled Douluo?" Flender could not help but wonder.

Outside the door, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others had yet to enter. They were whispering among themselves.

As Ye Tianxing happened to be walking back to the lounge, he naturally heard every word.

"Will this really work? Ye Ping'an is really strong!"

"Strong my ass! He dared to steal my woman! If he hadn't deliberately exposed my embarrassing past to piss me off back then, would he have gotten the chance to take advantage of the situation? How about this, Fatty—I'll sneak up and knock him out, while you go find Ning Rongrong, Third Brother, and Xiao Wu. We'll deal with him together!" Dai Mubai suggested.

After hearing this, Ye Tianxing's eyes shifted, and an evil idea immediately came to him.

"Hehehe..."

Rings of red ripples shot from Ye Tianxing's eyes, gradually spreading over Dai Mubai and the others. A nameless fire slowly ignited within them.