Flame Maniac Ma Xiaotao

Inner Court, Soul Dueling Arena.

With the wager settled, Dugu Xianmeng immediately brought Zhou Sichen to the Soul Arena to register for a Soul Arena Badge. He had not even collected his school uniform yet, but there he was, fresh-faced and ready to duel.

Although it was early morning, people had already begun dueling in the Soul Arena.

Two beautiful figures stood facing each other on the Soul Dueling Platform. One was fiery red, blazing and violent; the other was icy blue, peerlessly cold.

The Fire Phoenix cried out, while the Ice Element radiated a bone-chilling cold.

A hint of delight appeared in Dugu Xianmeng's eyes. "You're pretty lucky. Those are two of the Inner Court's biggest rivals."

"Evil Fire Phoenix Ma Xiaotao—the one who lives next door to Big Sister—is known as one of the Inner Court's two living volcanoes. Her nickname is Flame Maniac Ma Xiaotao."

"Her opponent is Element of Ice Ling Luochen, the person at the academy most skilled in the Ice Element."

"Their battle should give you some useful experience."

As she spoke, Dugu Xianmeng pulled Zhou Sichen to the spectator stands on one side and casually found a seat.

Dugu Xianmeng did not even need to introduce them. Zhou Sichen was already quite familiar with both beauties.

Yesterday, he had even been looking forward to it a little. In the novels from his past life, didn't every transmigrator's first battle after entering Shrek Academy involve Ma Xiaotao...?

Unfortunately, Zhou Sichen's day yesterday had been very peaceful, and he had slept soundly...

Besides the two beauties dueling on the Soul Dueling Platform, a sparse number of people sat in the spectator stands on both sides.

For them, this was one of the few opportunities to watch the academy's two great beauties up close.

Dugu Xianmeng and Zhou Sichen's arrival naturally drew everyone's attention. There was actually a handsome guy beside the Poison Witch of the Inner Court?

Since when had the Poison Witch gotten such a good catch?

Wait... this guy was not even wearing a school uniform. Could he be a newly admitted Inner Court Disciple? There had not been any handsome guy like this in sixth grade before...

The female students could not help letting their imaginations run wild, while the male students watched him like hawks. The Inner Court already had far more men than women. Now that such a handsome junior had arrived, were their chances not even slimmer?

Zhou Sichen paid no attention to those gazes and calmly watched the two beauties battle on the Soul Dueling Platform.

Six soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and two black—pulsed around Ma Xiaotao's body. She was already a powerful Soul Emperor.

Ling Luochen, however, had only five soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and one black. The gap of one soul ring left Ling Luochen suppressed at every turn.

If her Ice Element had not been powerful enough, she would likely have already lost.

Before long, Ma Xiaotao defeated Ling Luochen like a goddess of fire. Before leaving, she looked at her provocatively. "Looks like you still haven't improved enough. Still, thanks for letting me vent some of my evil fire."

At those words, killing intent seemed to burst from Ling Luochen's eyes. However, with her Soul Power greatly depleted, she could not be bothered to trade barbs with Ma Xiaotao.

"Hmph!" Ling Luochen snorted coldly and turned to walk off the Soul Dueling Platform.

Ma Xiaotao likewise turned confidently, remaining on the Soul Dueling Platform like a saint warrior as the watching students cheered her name.

There were also boys supporting Ling Luochen. Compared to the Flame Maniac, perhaps Element of Ice would be easier to get along with?

Just then, Ma Xiaotao's gaze locked onto Zhou Sichen beside Dugu Xianmeng. Zhou Sichen had been watching the duel the whole time, and his eyes happened to meet Ma Xiaotao's.

Amid the crowd's cheers, Ma Xiaotao raised a slender jade finger and pointed at Zhou Sichen. "You, come up and play with me. If you satisfy me, I can give you thirty points."

At Ma Xiaotao's words, everyone's gaze converged on Zhou Sichen.

Was this the advantage of being handsome? Among all these people, the Inner Court beauty and Flame Maniac Ma Xiaotao had spotted him at a glance?

Zhou Sichen was stunned as well. He had just been thinking about it—could Ma Xiaotao possibly read minds?

Dugu Xianmeng was also rather surprised. Ma Xiaotao had always ignored these boys, and whenever she was unhappy, she would drag them onto the Soul Dueling Platform and give them a brutal beating!

Why had she taken the initiative to seek out Zhou Sichen today? Was it really because he was handsome?

Before Zhou Sichen could answer, Dugu Xianmeng spoke up. "Senior Ma, Zhou Sichen only passed the assessment and entered the Inner Court yesterday. Aren't you going a little too far, a dignified Soul Emperor bullying a newcomer?"

Ma Xiaotao showed Dugu Xianmeng no courtesy at all. "Not convinced? Then come up here. Let me see how much your poison has improved."

Dugu Xianmeng was not someone to be trifled with either. She could be sweet as honey to Zhou Sichen, but in everyone else's eyes, she was the Poison Witch of the Inner Court.

Dugu Xianmeng snorted coldly and rose to her feet. "Fine! You think I'm afraid of you? Then I'm not Dugu Xianmeng!"

Zhou Sichen immediately grabbed her hand. "Senior, what are you doing? Since this senior has taken a liking to me, it's my honor."

"Besides, I'm a man. How could I let a woman stand in front of me and take the hit?"

Hearing Zhou Sichen's words, Ma Xiaotao could not help raising an eyebrow. Had Dugu Xianmeng not told this brat about her glorious deeds?

Everyone else looked at Zhou Sichen as if he were an idiot. Taken a liking to you? More like you're courting death.

Then again, he was a newcomer who had just entered the Inner Court. It was normal for him not to understand what the Flame Maniac was capable of.

Dugu Xianmeng turned and glared at Zhou Sichen. "You brat, did everything I told you earlier go into a dog's stomach? You might have some skill, but she's a Soul Emperor!"

Zhou Sichen was rather touched. Although he knew Elder Sister Xian Meng had some improper designs on him, the fact that she dared step forward to shield him from Ma Xiaotao proved she was not as casual and carefree as she appeared.

Zhou Sichen smiled faintly. "Senior, don't worry. I won't joke around with my own life."

After all, he had been worrying about not having a chance to show himself off properly. Now that a pillow had arrived just as he was getting sleepy, how could Zhou Sichen possibly refuse?

As he spoke, Zhou Sichen stood up, placed both hands on Dugu Xianmeng's shoulders, and pressed her back into her seat. In a very soft voice, he said, "Relax. Besides, it's only a Soul Emperor. It's not like I've never fought one before."

Zhou Sichen turned and walked down from the spectator stands, entered the preparation area, and headed toward the Soul Dueling Platform.

Dugu Xianmeng sat there, somewhat dumbfounded.

Though Zhou Sichen had spoken softly, she had heard him.

Only a Soul Emperor? He had fought one before?

You're a Soul Elder, for fuck's sake. You're not a god—how could you even say something like that?

Still, Dugu Xianmeng remembered how easily Zhou Sichen had subdued her last night, and she could not help pondering it inwardly.

After a long while, she looked at Zhou Sichen, who had already stepped onto the Soul Dueling Platform and stood opposite Ma Xiaotao. "No way... Level 38, and he dares fight a Soul Emperor? This kid..."

The spectators had almost the same thoughts as Dugu Xianmeng. In their eyes, even a newcomer capable of entering the Inner Court should at least be a Soul Ancestor.

But even if he were a Soul Ancestor, challenging a Soul Emperor was sheer fantasy, wasn't it...?

On the Soul Dueling Platform, Ma Xiaotao smiled. "I assume Dugu Xianmeng told you the rules of soul duels. When someone of a higher rank challenges someone lower, you can refuse. Yet you actually agreed. Should I call you stupid, or arrogant?"

Listening to Ma Xiaotao, Zhou Sichen revealed a warm smile. "Senior invited me so sincerely. If I, as a junior, refused to show her respect, how could I continue getting by at the academy?"

"Besides, didn't Senior say that if I satisfied you, you'd give me thirty points?"

"This junior has his eye on the Cafeteria's Red Rank Delicacies, so naturally I have to start working hard early if I want a chance at them."

At Zhou Sichen's words, the people below the platform were nearly going mad. They were all his seniors in the Inner Court, yet not one of them dared speak such arrogant words!

Ling Luochen, who had been preparing to leave, even returned to the spectator stands and sat down. Any person would be unable to resist paying attention to such an interesting little junior.

The smile on Ma Xiaotao's lips grew even brighter. "As expected of someone who can stay in Ye Guyi's room. You're even more arrogant than Ye Guyi!"

The spectators below went even crazier at that.

What?! Are my ears broken? He stayed in Angel Goddess Ye Guyi's room? Is that something I'm supposed to hear? Will Ye Guyi come back and kill us to silence us?!!

Zhou Sichen raised an eyebrow. So that was where the issue lay.

He had been wondering. Though he was handsome, dashing, romantic, and as elegant as jade in the wind... Ma Xiaotao should not have noticed him so quickly. So she knew he had stayed at Elder Sister's villa yesterday.

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