First Soul Fight

The rules of the Soul Arena were fairly stringent. Everyone had to undergo a Soul Power test before participating in a fight.

After successfully receiving her Iron Soul Fighting Badge, Nan Li had planned to watch a match before entering one herself. Unexpectedly, before she could even take a step, Flender called out to stop her.

"My requirement for you is to participate in at least one Soul Fighting Tournament every day, whether One-on-One or Two-on-Two." Flender stood with his hands behind his back, looking over the four people lined up before him as his gaze passed over each of them. "Other than Oscar, the other three of you are among the best of those at your respective levels. But remember, never underestimate your opponents."

"Oscar, as a Support System Soul Master, you need to partner with a teammate in Two-on-Two fights. Based on Soul Power Level, Dai Mubai is your best partner. However, if the opposing side also has a Support System Soul Master, Mubai's Soul Power cultivation will nearly eliminate any need for your support during the fight. Therefore, I require you to partner with Ma Hongjun at least once every ten days and participate in a Two-on-Two fight."

Soul Fighting opponents were generally Soul Masters in the same major realm and with the same badge rank.

However, when the members of a team had uneven Soul Power cultivation, matchmaking would default to the realm of the member with the highest Soul Power. In other words, if Oscar teamed up with Ma Hongjun, they would likely encounter two opponents who both possessed Soul Grandmaster cultivation.

That would be an enormous challenge for them.

Nan Li checked her turn and, seeing that there was still some time, decided to watch someone else's Soul Fighting Tournament first.

Nan Li rose and left the resting area. Flender glanced at her but did not stop her.

Yet as Nan Li passed the other Soul Masters waiting for their matches, she immediately drew their attention. Their faces showed either surprise or sympathy.

The former were naturally astonished by Nan Li's age—wasn't this little girl far too young?

The latter took Nan Li for a poor child who had come to the Great Soul Arena to make a living. Many destitute Soul Masters came here to participate in fights for the post-match prize money. Children Nan Li's age were not unheard of, but most of them had died in the Soul Arena.

A few sentimental Soul Masters were already looking at Nan Li with pity, while some even let out regretful sighs.

Nan Li lowered her head and looked over her clothes. For the sake of convenience in a fight, she had changed into a simple, solid-colored combat outfit. It had no patterns, but surely she did not look destitute?

With a baffled expression, Nan Li walked to the spectator area. As the battle onstage began, she quickly put the matter out of her mind.

"This is your first time in a place like this, isn't it?"

Nan Li was watching the fight when a voice suddenly sounded beside her ear. Had the voice not been familiar, she would have already swung a knife at its owner.

Dan Hong sat elegantly beside Nan Li, toying with her fluffy red hair.

Nan Li glanced at her helplessly. "The first time is strange, the second time familiar. I'll be fine. You don't need to look after me like I'm your daughter every time."

"Oh, you said that yourself." Dan Hong swept her long hair across Nan Li's face. "Who lowers her own seniority like that?"

"That wasn't what I meant..."

"I understand—" Dan Hong placed a finger against her lips and made a soft "shh," her eyes smiling, seductive and alluring.

Her gaze shimmered like rippling water; no one could bring themselves to be angry after seeing it.

"..."

Nan Li: Someone save me.

At that moment, Nan Li missed Dong Yun immensely. In her opinion, among both clans, Dong Yun was still the most normal and most to her liking.

Before Dong Yun took Humanoid Form, his feathers had been a brilliantly multicolored black, glossy and sleek, exceptionally beautiful. After taking Humanoid Form, his dark bluish-black hair was just as smooth and pleasant to touch. Most importantly, Dong Yun never sparred with her verbally the way Dan Hong did.

He was good-looking, had a good personality, and could run all over the place with her. Dan Hong was considerate too, but sometimes she really could not handle her...

By the time Nan Li returned to the resting area, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar were already gone.

Flender sat in a chair waiting for Nan Li. When he saw her return, he said, "Nan Li, you and Ma Hongjun are both too young. It wouldn't be appropriate to reveal yourselves so openly. When you go onstage later, it would be best to cover your face with something..."

Nan Li was not someone who failed to appreciate kindness. Knowing that Flender was doing this for their sake, she nodded. "All right, Dean. I will."

Nan Li took a dark red mask from her Soul Tool. The mask was shaped like a bird, with the Vermilion Bird's wings extending backward to form its main body.

A child whose features had not fully matured would inevitably have somewhat round cheeks. With this mask on, others could only see her full forehead and chin.

Nan Li curled her lips slightly, looking somewhat wild and uninhibited.

Flender nodded without saying anything further.

"...The seventeenth One-on-One match: Luo Gu versus Flame Feather Vermilion Bird..."

Nan Li stood and signaled to Flender that it was her turn.

Flender's tone was unusually gentler. "Go. Be careful."

Nan Li entered through the competition passage indicated by the staff. After passing an identity verification checkpoint, she saw the Soul Fighting Stage of the secondary arena.

Hearing the host's hype, Nan Li leaped up from beneath the stage and, with several swift movements, landed atop the Soul Fighting Stage.

When the host saw this undersized young Soul Master, he was surprised. However, his years of hosting experience allowed him to react quickly. He immediately announced, "It seems another young genius has appeared in our arena! At such a young age, she has already reached Soul Elder cultivation. Her future is limitless! Today is this Soul Master's first appearance. As a newcomer, what kind of surprise will she bring us?"

Nan Li looked across the stage. A lean young man moved as though the wind swirled beneath his feet, reaching her from below the stage in the blink of an eye.

The audience immediately fell silent, their whispers replaced by waves of cheers:

"Luo Gu, Luo Gu—"

"Come on, Luo Gu! Tear her apart!"

The host also visibly grew excited upon seeing the Soul Master named Luo Gu.

"It seems this little genius has had poor luck in her first match. Her opponent, Luo Gu, is a level thirty-nine Agility Attack System Soul Master. His Martial Soul is a swift and ferocious leopard, and his strength is formidable."

The host pulled out Nan Li's information card, glanced at it, and loudly announced, "Unexpectedly, contestant Flame Feather Vermilion Bird has also reached the astonishing level of thirty-nine! Their Soul Power is evenly matched!"

"However, contestant Luo Gu has already fought nine matches and achieved an excellent record of nine consecutive victories!"

"Can Luo Gu continue his winning streak in today's Soul Fighting Tournament? Will contestant Flame Feather Vermilion Bird claim victory in her first fight?"

"Let us wait and see!"