An Incident at a Restaurant (Not Foreshadowing for the Female Lead)

"You're really amazing!" Jerry still followed behind Madara, praising him sincerely.

Jerry had worked at the Jie Nuo Grand Soul Fighting Arena for many years, but this was the first time he had seen someone like Madara, fighting across rings and ranks so effortlessly and still leaving unscathed.

"It's just that the people here are too weak." Madara shook his head, feeling utterly bored.

"So, when do you think we should arrange your next Soul Fight?" Jerry asked indirectly from the side.

"After I return."

"You mean you're leaving?" Jerry was somewhat confused. Just moments ago, Madara had been so eager for battle that he had even wanted to fight his way through their Soul Fighting Arena. Why had he suddenly changed his mind?

"I've broken through! Now I need to hunt for a soul ring." The corners of Madara's lips lifted slightly as he spoke, clearly in a good mood.

"What?" Jerry cried out in shock, losing his composure. "How old are you?"

"A strong person isn't measured by age!" Madara turned around and tapped Jerry's chest with a finger, speaking with supreme confidence.

Jerry had recovered from his shock and asked with concern, "Do you need us to arrange some people for you?"

Jerry was not being so enthusiastic because of any deep friendship with Madara. It was because Madara had shown him enormous potential for profit.

After all, two rings were only the beginning. Once Madara grew stronger, he could fight three-ring and four-ring Soul Masters. The profits would be far greater than from two-ring Soul Fights.

"My own strength should naturally be obtained by myself! Don't treat me like trash!" Madara said with a snort of disdain.

Madara was actually very curious about what people who relied on others to beat Spirit Beasts half to death before delivering the finishing blow themselves were thinking.

Even obtaining their own strength required relying on others. In Madara's eyes, such people would never become strong.

"Then I wish you a safe journey!" Jerry did not try to stop him. He knew Madara would return.

Jerry had already seen through Madara's intentions. Madara wanted to fight through the entire Soul Fighting Arena, not merely the Jie Nuo Grand Soul Fighting Arena under Jerry's management.

Over the next few days, Madara traveled without rest and arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest, his destination.

Perhaps the Spirit Beasts raised in captivity by those empires could safely provide Madara with a decent soul ring, but having long since lost their wild nature, they could not stir his interest.

So he came here, to the Star Dou Great Forest, one of the continent's three major Spirit Beast gathering grounds. It was also the place many Soul Masters most wanted to visit, because coming here meant they were about to hunt soul rings and advance.

By the time Madara reached the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, it was already late. He planned to rest in a small town on the outskirts.

It was called a small town, but it was even more prosperous than Nuoding City. Shops stood in uneven rows, goods filled every display, and even all the passersby on the streets were Soul Masters. It was a dazzling sight.

What a familiar feeling!

Madara stopped in the street, took a deep breath, and sighed with some satisfaction.

A paradise for the strong, a hell for the weak, a lawless land—any of these could describe this place.

Behind its surface prosperity lay endless conflict: conflict between Soul Masters and Spirit Beasts, between merchants and customers, and even between Soul Masters themselves.

But Madara's first priority was to fill his hungry stomach. He was not particularly picky about food. As long as it filled him up and restored his strength, it was enough.

In his past life as a ninja, what hardship had he not endured? When hunger reached its limit, even snakes and insects could be eaten.

"The taste really is good!" Madara casually found a restaurant and began eating heartily.

The meat served here was all Spirit Beast meat. It tasted far better than the livestock meat he had eaten before, and it contained a tremendous amount of energy. It truly was the best choice for restoring stamina.

"Owner! Bring out all your best food and drink!" A sharp, charming shout came from the entrance before its owner even arrived.

Is something wrong with her?

Madara frowned. In his eyes, only an idiot would behave like that.

Most of the people eating here were bloodstained desperadoes. Being so arrogant could easily provoke them.

There were two possible outcomes. First, they might think you looked wealthy and rob you. Second, they might rob you and kill you while they were at it.

Madara was not afraid of those people, but getting tangled up with them would still be troublesome.

Madara raised his head toward the entrance. A pretty young girl strode inside brazenly, completely unconcerned with the gazes of everyone else in the restaurant.

The girl wore a purple outfit that wrapped around her still-developing figure. Her skin was as fair and tender as a baby's, while her slightly immature yet proud little face gave her a valiant air, firmly capturing the attention of countless males.

A sheltered young miss who doesn't know how dangerous people can be! That was Madara's assessment.

"Hurry up! I'm starving to death!" the girl shouted impatiently.

"Little sister! If you're hungry, come sit at my table!" A fierce-looking burly man with a scar across his face said with a lewd grin.

Several companions beside him burst into laughter.

The girl shot them a disgusted glance, then said scornfully, "What are you looking at? You're clearly as fat as pigs, yet you insist on acting like dogs that bite people!"

The burly men immediately took offense. They rose to their feet and flipped over their table, looking ready to cause trouble.

"You little bitch! Don't push your luck!" A tall, thin Soul Master cursed as he casually picked up a plate from another table and threw it over.

Madara's chopsticks froze in midair. The food he had not finished was sent flying.

Good. Very good. Excellent.

A mere Soul Master actually dared throw Uchiha Madara's food away? Even Hashirama had never disrespected him like this!

As long as Madara removed his weights and used Soul Power and Chakra, along with his ninja tools, he would not fear even a Three-ring Soul Master.

Madara saw the tall, thin Soul Master reach out again. He grabbed the man's hand and viciously slammed it onto the table.

"Who gave you the nerve to throw away my food?" Madara raised his head, making no effort to hide the killing intent in his eyes as he stared at the tall, thin Soul Master.

The tall, thin Soul Master was slightly startled when he saw the killing intent in Madara's eyes, but he did not take it seriously.

He tried and failed to pull his arm free, then turned his head and threatened, "Kid, stop showing off! Once I'm done dealing with that little bitch, I'll come back and take care of you!"

"Are you looking down on me?" Madara slowly twisted his wrist, bending the Soul Master's arm to a grotesque angle.

"Ahhh!" The tall, thin Soul Master screamed in pain, his voice utterly hoarse.

"Third Brother!" Seeing their companion being bullied, the other Soul Masters prepared to come over and teach Madara a lesson.

Madara casually tossed the Soul Master aside and prepared to draw the sickle and War Fan from his back, letting this bunch of trash learn their place. "They're just a bunch of trash! I'll take you all on!"

"Looks like you've got some guts." The cold and proud girl remained seated, propping up her chin as she prepared to watch a good show.

"It seems I just heard someone insulting our granddaughter, old man!" Two hunched figures pushed open the door and slowly walked inside.

Eight soul rings appeared behind one of them. The aura of a Soul Douluo instantly suppressed the entire place.