Arena System Online

The golden light screen of the Otherworld Auction House tore open a new scene in the morning light—what was originally only used to project the leaderboard now split into a virtual light screen, ten feet tall, out of thin air. The four gilded characters "Simulation Arena" hung in the center of the light screen, their cold metallic luster so dazzling it made one unable to open their eyes. As soon as the scrolling rule explanation below appeared, it firmly pinned the Soul Masters gathered in the square in place.

"Simulation Arena? What new trick is this?" In the crowd, a level 32 Assault System Soul Master, dressed in coarse cloth, stood on tiptoes, poking at the light screen with his finger, his tone full of curiosity. A literate Soul Master next to him immediately leaned over and read it with great animation: "Soul Masters register with point vouchers, and the system matches virtual monsters of comparable strength! You get points for winning, with a weekly limit of 50,000 for low-level Soul Masters from level 30-60! Those who dare to challenge higher levels get double points, and there's no penalty for losing!"

These words landed like a bomb in the crowd, and the low-level Soul Masters instantly exploded. Most Soul Masters in their thirties had thin savings; it took a long time to accumulate resources to exchange for a second-grade Soul Power Potion. Now, they could earn points by fighting virtual monsters, and even get double points for challenging higher levels, with no loss even if they lost—this wasn't an arena, it was clearly a "treasure land" for giving away points!

On the west side of the square, the white team from the Martial Soul Hall moved first. Leading them was Bai Feng, a level 50 Soul King, whose gaze at the light screen was like that of a hunter eyeing prey: "These kids below, level 30s, are in dire need of points to exchange for medicine. This arena is perfect! Let's send someone to test the waters first and see what the virtual monsters are actually like."

As soon as he finished speaking, a tall and thin young man stepped forward. His name was Lin Ye, a level 38 Assault System Soul Elder, whose martial soul was the "Azure Flame Sword." He was considered top-tier among the younger generation of the Martial Soul Hall. "Hall Master Bai, I'll go!" Lin Ye clenched his fist, his gaze sweeping over the words "challenge higher levels." "I want to try a level 45 Virtual Soul Ancestor. If I win, the points will be enough to exchange for a second-grade Body Tempering Pill!"

Bai Feng was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Don't push yourself too hard. If you can't win, retreat. Understanding their tactics is more important than anything else." Although he wanted his disciple to get more points, he was also afraid that the virtual monsters would be too powerful and actually injure someone, which would not be worth it.

Lin Ye responded, clutching his point voucher and rushing to the registration desk. The Silver Armored Guard verified his information and handed him a black token: "Crush it to enter the arena. If you want to quit, just think it in your mind."

Lin Ye took a deep breath and applied force with his fingertips. The token "cracked" and shattered. A light blue beam of light wrapped around him as he rose. When he opened his eyes again, he was standing on a black stone arena. The surroundings were dark void, with only a single lamp lit overhead. Opposite him, a Virtual Soul Ancestor slowly materialized—clad in black armor, holding a giant axe, with four soul rings spinning around his feet, the first two yellow and the last two purple, a standard Soul Ancestor configuration.

"Level 45 Virtual Soul Ancestor, martial soul 'Black Iron Axe,' specializing in power-type attacks. His total soul power is 1.5 times yours." The system's cold voice sounded in his ear, "Confirm challenge?"

"Confirm!" Lin Ye didn't hesitate. The Azure Flame Sword "swished" out of its sheath, and three soul rings rose from his feet—two yellow, one purple. The hand holding the sword hilt bulged with veins, his eyes fixed on the Virtual Soul Ancestor opposite him: "Defend first, then attack. Wait until his soul power is almost depleted before counterattacking."

"Challenge begins!"

As soon as the system's voice sounded, the Virtual Soul Ancestor charged over like a small mountain, his giant axe whistling as it swung towards Lin Ye. Lin Ye's pupils contracted sharply, and he immediately released his first soul skill, "Azure Flame Body Protection." His sword was wrapped in a layer of pale green flame, which he held in front of him.

"Clang!"

The deafening sound of metal colliding made his ears ache. Lin Ye felt a surge of immense force transmit through the sword, his arm going numb. He retreated five steps before stabilizing his stance. He looked down and saw that the body of the Azure Flame Sword had a small notch, and his heart sank: this Virtual Soul Ancestor's strength was even greater than any real level 45 Soul Ancestor he had ever seen!

Before he could recover, the Virtual Soul Ancestor charged again, releasing his second soul skill, "Axe Qi Slash," sending out a black wave of energy. Lin Ye hurriedly dodged to the side, the wave of energy grazing the hem of his clothes and carving a half-foot-deep gully in the ground. He didn't dare to delay and immediately released his second soul skill, "Azure Flame Stab." The flame on the sword condensed into a sharp point and stabbed towards the Virtual Soul Ancestor's chest.

But the Virtual Soul Ancestor seemed to have anticipated this and blocked it with his giant axe. With a "clang," the Azure Flame Stab hit the axe, and the flame was instantly scattered. Lin Ye's heart sank. Just as he was about to retreat, the Virtual Soul Ancestor suddenly turned and swung his giant axe with his third soul skill, "Whirlwind Slash." The black axe wind, carrying gravel, forced him to retreat repeatedly.

"Soul power is being consumed too quickly!" Lin Ye gritted his teeth, cold sweat streaming down his forehead and cheeks. His soul power was already less than the Virtual Soul Ancestor's, and he had continuously released soul skills, having already consumed nearly thirty percent. But the Virtual Soul Ancestor seemed unaffected, his attacks becoming more ferocious, the axe wind almost completely blocking his retreat.

Just then, the Virtual Soul Ancestor suddenly leaped up, his fourth soul skill, "Giant Axe Smash," swinging down towards Lin Ye's head. Lin Ye's pupils contracted sharply, knowing he couldn't dodge. He could only pour all his strength into releasing his third soul skill, "Azure Flame Spreads," and the flame on the sword instantly surged, forming a wall of fire in front of him.

"Bang!"

The giant axe smashed into the wall of fire, scattering the flames instantly. Lin Ye flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the arena. The Azure Flame Sword also fell from his grasp. He struggled to get up, only to find that his bones felt like they had fallen apart, and he had no strength at all.

"Challenge failed." The system prompt sounded, and the Virtual Soul Ancestor and the arena instantly disappeared. Lin Ye was sent back to the square by a light blue beam of light. As soon as he landed, Bai Feng quickly stepped forward, handing him a Soul Power Recovery Potion: "How was it? Are you injured? What was the strength of the Virtual Soul Ancestor like?"

Lin Ye took the potion and drank it, feeling his soul power slowly recover. He shook his head with a bitter smile: "Too strong... harder to fight than a real level 45 Soul Ancestor. I lost in less than twenty moves. The system said I lost with honor and gave me 3,000 points."

"3,000 points?" The Soul Masters around were all shocked. They could still get points even if they failed a higher-level challenge? But thinking of Lin Ye's miserable state, they all deflated—even the top Soul Elder of the Martial Soul Hall couldn't defeat a level 45 Virtual Soul Ancestor, could they defeat a same-level virtual monster, they, ordinary Soul Masters in their thirties?

But curiosity ultimately outweighed apprehension. On the east side of the square, a level 35 Soul Elder from Heaven Dou Royal Academy stepped forward. His name was Zhao Lei, his martial soul was the "Thunder Leopard," and he specialized in speed attacks. "I'll try one of the same level!" Zhao Lei clutched the token, not feeling confident, but thinking of the 50,000-point limit, he gritted his teeth and entered the arena.

The result was even more miserable than Lin Ye's. The level 35 Virtual Soul Ancestor's martial soul was "Rock Bear," with extremely strong defense. Zhao Lei's Thunder Leopard soul skills only left a few white marks on it. The virtual Rock Bear slapped him back with its palm, sending him flying. He didn't even get a chance to use his third soul skill and retreated in embarrassment with only 1,000 points.

"This virtual monster is too outrageous! Even at the same level, it's this difficult to fight?" Zhao Lei clutched his chest, his face pale. "Its defense is three times stronger than a real Rock Bear Soul Ancestor, and its speed isn't slow. I can't even break through its defenses!"