Spirit Arena Debut

Suotuo Great Soul Arena.

Under the night sky, the massive building resembled a gold-devouring beast. Its lights blazed brightly, and the clamor seemed to shatter the clouds.

Two utterly different worlds collided at the entrance.

From the left passage, Tang San emerged with Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.

The three wore ghastly green "Shrek" masks and ink-green team uniforms Flender had picked up at a flea market, complete with several obvious patches.

Their shabby air could be smelled from ten meters away.

From the passage on the right, a commotion suddenly erupted.

"Oh my God! Which noble's team is that?"

"So handsome! Is that silver-haired beauty a fairy?"

Amid the screams, Qian Mo led the Temple Team onto the scene.

Their haute couture battle robes were all white and gold, embroidered with intricate divine patterns in gold thread.

Zhu Zhuqing was cold and gorgeous as ice, Xiao Wu noble as a phoenix, and Ning Rongrong sacred and untouchable.

Even Oscar, once so lecherous, now played with an extravagantly shaped silver Soul Tool in his hand. With a lift of his peach blossom eyes, he made the maidens by the roadside blush furiously.

The two teams stared at each other through the railing.

Like a royal parade running into beggars entering the city.

"Hmph. Show-offs."

Tang San gave them a cold glance and tugged at his green mask. "Spirit Masters rely on strength, not clothes."

Dai Mubai stared fixedly at Zhu Zhuqing's leather clothes, which outlined her perfect curves. The jealousy in his eyes was nearly enough to burn through his mask.

"Let's go! Register!"

Tang San gave a low shout and led the other two toward the registration desk.

At the counter.

The staff member looked at the form Tang San handed over, his brows knitting tightly together.

"Shrek Team? Iron Soul Fighting Badge? Three people?"

"That's right." Tang San straightened his back. "We'll only participate in two-on-two matches and team battles. If we don't have enough people for team battles, we'll find passersby to make up the numbers."

"Fine. Go to Area F. That's the low-level spirit arena section." The staff member casually tossed over a wooden token.

Then it was Qian Mo's turn.

A Black Gold Card was lightly slapped onto the counter.

"Temple Team."

Qian Mo's voice was lazy. "Arrange the Main Soul Arena Stage for me."

The staff member was about to say that the Main Soul Arena Stage required qualifications, but upon seeing the Black Gold Card symbolizing Spirit Hall's highest authorization, his knees went weak and he nearly knelt.

"Yes! My lord! I'll clear the venue for you immediately!"

Resting Area.

Tang San had just finished a two-on-two match.

Relying on a surprise attack with hidden weapons, he and Dai Mubai had narrowly defeated a pair of Soul Elders.

Though the victory had not been honorable, the thrill of winning restored Tang San's confidence.

"Hidden weapons truly are invincible."

Tang San stroked the Sleeve Arrow on his wrist, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "As long as they're used properly, even a Soul Ancestor can be killed by me."

As he spoke, Qian Mo arrived with his people.

He held an expensive glass of red wine, as though strolling through his own back garden.

"You won two matches between trash and now you think you're something?"

Qian Mo stopped, amusement in his eyes.

"Qian Mo."

Tang San abruptly rose to his feet, purple glint flashing in his eyes. "Don't get cocky. Life and death are disregarded in the spirit arena. Your resources and pills can't buy you a life here."

"If the referee hadn't stopped the match just now, my Dragon Whisker Needle would have crippled those opponents."

Tang San's tone was sinister, carrying a trace of boastfulness. "That's the difference in skill."

"Skill?"

Qian Mo laughed and turned to Oscar. "Xiao Ao, tell him what skill is."

Oscar chuckled and patted the heavy metal box in his hands.

"Xiao San, times have changed."

Qian Mo no longer paid attention to these clowns and beckoned to the staff member behind him.

"That Berserk Team, aren't they supposed to be pretty wild?"

"Arrange for them to serve as a warm-up."

"And..." Qian Mo pointed at Tang San. "For the next match, I'm calling out Shrek."

"The wager is Five Million Gold Soul Coins."

The entire venue erupted.

Five million!

That was enough to buy half of Suotuo City!

Main Soul Arena Stage, lights focused.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Tonight's main event—the mysterious Temple Team versus the Berserk Team, who have won seven matches in a row!"

The host's hoarse roar ignited the entire venue.

The moment the Berserk Team appeared, their vicious aura crashed over the crowd.

Their captain, Mad Rhinoceros, was a two-meter-tall brute whose muscles bulged like blocks of iron.

"Pretty Boy Team?" Mad Rhinoceros spat on the ground and pointed toward Qian Mo's side. "That chick's not bad. Leave her for me to warm my bed later!"

Qian Mo sat in a Grand Tutor Chair by the arena, not even intending to stand.

"Go."

He waved a hand. "Thirty seconds. If you go over thirty seconds, dinner is canceled."

Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar stepped forward.

Facing the infamous Berserk Team, the four looked as relaxed as though they were out on a picnic.

"You're courting death! Brothers, tear them apart!" Mad Rhinoceros roared. Martial Soul Possession activated, and he charged like a tank.

Every member of the Berserk Team entered a Bloodthirsty State, Soul Skills flashing chaotically.

Just then.

"Nine Treasures Manifest, Glazed Tile."

Ning Rongrong held the pagoda in her palm as the Nine-Tiered Pagoda shone with divine light.

"First: Strength! Second: Speed! Third: Soul!"

Three nine-colored halos instantly enveloped her teammates.

All attributes increased by 50%!

That terrifying number made Mad Rhinoceros's charging steps abruptly halt, as if he had crashed into an invisible wall.

"What kind of enhancement is this?!"

The Berserk Team's support Spirit Master nearly had his eyes pop out.

Before they could react.

"Teleport."

Pink Light flashed.

Xiao Wu appeared directly behind the Berserk Team's control-type Spirit Master.

Her long, powerful legs carved a fierce arc through the air.

"Waist Bow!"

Crack!

With a crisp sound, that Spirit Master did not even have time to scream before his neck was kicked broken. He flew off the Arena Stage like a rag doll.

At the front.

Zhu Zhuqing transformed into a black ghost.

Netherworld Hundred Claws!

Mad Rhinoceros's vaunted defense was as fragile as paper before the enhanced Zhu Zhuqing.

Sshk! Sshk! Sshk!

Blood sprayed everywhere.

More than a dozen bone-deep wounds appeared across Mad Rhinoceros's chest, and his massive body crashed to the ground.

But that was not the most terrifying part.

The most terrifying one was Oscar, who had remained at the very back with an innocent expression.

He did not chant a spell to make sausages.

Instead, he pulled a thick Six-Barreled Metal Tube glowing with an eerie blue light from the metal box.

Soul Tool: Gatling Gun (Qian Mo Magic Modification Version).

"Namo Gatling Bodhisattva, Six Roots Pure Depleted Uranium Rounds, Three Thousand Six Hundred Revolutions Per Breath."

A fanatical smile spread across Oscar's face as he pulled the trigger.

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat—!!!

Blue Soul Power Bullets poured forth like a torrential downpour.

Every bullet carried an explosive effect.

Before the Berserk Team's remaining members could release their Soul Skills, the dense Metal Storm riddled them full of holes.

Their Protective Soul Power shattered, and their screams were drowned out by the gunfire.

Twenty-eight seconds.

The battle was over.

Every member of the Berserk Team was severely injured and unconscious, while the Arena Stage had been shaved down by a layer.

The Temple Team was completely unscathed.

Dead silence.

In the vast spirit arena, tens of thousands of spectators were so quiet that they could hear a needle hit the ground.

Was this a duel between Spirit Masters?

This was a massacre!

"Cheating! This is cheating!"

Below the stage, Yu Xiaogang suddenly jumped up and pointed at Oscar on the stage. "That's a Contraband Weapon! That food-type Spirit Master has no combat ability at all! He's relying on external objects!"

The host awkwardly glanced at Qian Mo.

Qian Mo took a sip of wine and spoke blandly. "Soul Tools are also part of one's strength. Just like the scrap metal your disciple uses. Mine is simply more advanced."

"Just a tiny bit more advanced."

"Next match!"

The host wiped away his cold sweat and looked at the card in his hand, his voice trembling.

"Temple Team has called out... Shrek Team!"

"The wager: Five Million Gold Soul Coins! And... the loser must kneel and kowtow!"

In a corner of the Resting Area.

Tang San stared fixedly at the high-spirited Oscar on the stage. His fingernails dug deeply into his palms, and blood dripped down.

Was he afraid?

But even greater than his fear was the madness born of humiliation.

"Teacher..." Tang San turned toward Yu Xiaogang, his voice hoarse.

Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath and forcibly calmed himself.

His rigid brain began to operate at high speed, analyzing wildly.

"Xiao San, don't be afraid."

A sharp glint flashed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes. "I can see it now. Oscar's weapon may be powerful, but it must consume an enormous amount of Soul Power. After that round of firing, he has definitely overdrawn himself."

"And Ning Rongrong—the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda may be strong, but its burden on Soul Power is also several times that of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

"They only look strong on the outside. They're weak within!"

The more Yu Xiaogang spoke, the more convinced he became. With his hands behind his back, he wore a certain expression. "This is a typical Burst Style. Once the first wave fails to kill the enemy, they'll be lambs waiting for slaughter."

"This is our opportunity!"

"As long as you can withstand their first wave, we'll win!"

Purple glint surged in Tang San's eyes.

"That's right... Teacher is right."

He reached toward the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night at his waist.

Inside lay a Godly Zhuge Crossbow that had long since been cocked.

It was his trump card against Soul Ancestors and even Soul Kings.

It specialized in piercing Protective Aura and killing with the first blood drawn.

"Mubai, Fatty."

Tang San rose to his feet, a chilling Killing Intent radiating from his body.

"Since they want to gamble with their lives, we'll grant them their wish."

"Oscar is mine. As for Xiao Wu..."

Tang San paused. The image of Xiao Wu crushing his comb flashed through his mind, and the last trace of warmth in his eyes went completely out.

"A traitor must die."

The two teams faced each other once more on the Arena Stage.

Qian Mo still sat by the arena, having switched to a fresh handful of sunflower seeds.

On the stage, only Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar remained.

Four against three.

"Tang San."

Xiao Wu stood at the very front, staring at the figure in the green mask with a complicated yet icy gaze.

"Long time no see."

Tang San said nothing.

He slowly raised his right hand, aiming the Black Box at Xiao Wu's heart.

A faint click of the mechanism sounded.

"Xiao Wu, you forced my hand."

Tang San's voice was as cold as the wind from hell.

"In your next life, choose a better master."

"Die!!"

Tang San suddenly pulled the trigger.

Sixteen Poison-Quenched Crossbow Bolts tore through the air with piercing shrieks, hurtling straight toward Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong!

This strike showed no intention of leaving anyone alive.

This was a killing move.