Arrival in Suotuo City

Night had fallen. Ye Hao and Ye Lingling hurried back to the inn.

As the two headed upstairs, the door to a room beside them suddenly opened. Yu Tian Heng and Dugu Yan stepped out, their faces flushed and their foreheads drenched in sweat. In such circumstances, after finally renting a room at an inn, how could they not take care of certain personal matters?

"Xiao Hao? Lingling? What are you doing outside? Don't tell me..."

Yu Tian Heng instantly froze in embarrassment. No way—they had been outside the whole time? Then what had happened inside, they couldn't possibly have...

Ye Lingling: "..."

Speechless, Ye Hao said, "Sister Lingling and I just took a stroll outside. We were about to go upstairs when we ran into you and Sister Yan. So, how was sneaking a taste?"

Dugu Yan's face reddened. She stepped forward, grabbed Ye Hao by the ear, and gave it a slight tug.

"Children shouldn't ask about adult matters."

"Huh?"

Dugu Yan sniffed carefully. "What's that smell on you? Why is it so strong?"

Ye Hao quickly broke free, hastily apologized, and rushed back to his room.

"This smell... why does it seem somewhat familiar, like Grandpa's? But Grandpa's scent is much heavier. What is it?"

Killing intent. Poison Douluo had roamed the continent, and countless people had died beneath his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Poison. It was only natural that he carried a solemn killing intent. Ye Hao's killing intent, meanwhile, was still weak and only beginning to take shape.

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up. Looking at Ye Lingling beside her, she walked over and teased, "Lingling, you and Xiao Hao seem pretty close. How far have things gone?"

Ye Lingling's cool, beautiful face immediately burned red. She only regarded Ye Hao as a younger brother—nothing more.

Without giving Dugu Yan a chance to press further, Ye Lingling simply ignored her and hurried back into her room.

Watching her go, Dugu Yan giggled. Could there really be something between those two?

Early the next morning, sunlight pierced through the clouds. Outside Silvis City, the carriage set off once more.

Ye Hao and Ye Lingling had already put what happened the previous night behind them. After thinking it over all night, they realized that as Soul Masters, they would inevitably be stained by slaughter sooner or later. There was no need to dwell on it.

Before leaving, they had accidentally heard of the Fierce God Team's notorious reputation. Along the way, many people spoke with satisfaction, saying that those beasts had deserved to die long ago.

Over the next few days, Qin Ming continuously recounted what he had seen and heard across the continent. His words carried a deep nostalgia. After all, who had not once been a high-spirited youth?

"Teacher Qin, do you have any regrets?"

Qin Ming paused slightly. "Regrets? Perhaps I do."

"I wasn't able to participate in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament of my generation. Sigh, never mind. Let's not talk about it."

Qin Ming had once been a student of Shrek Academy. Because of the academy's circumstances, Shrek did not even qualify to participate in the tournament. They had not even registered—what could they have used to enter?

Thus, it became Qin Ming's only regret in life.

Ye Hao smiled faintly. "Teacher Qin, rest assured. We'll definitely take the championship of this Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament."

"Right!"

"That's right!"

"The championship will definitely be ours!"

The members of the Imperial Dou Team all chimed in. For a moment, the carriage was filled with cheerful laughter.

Seeing this, Qin Ming's eyes could not help but moisten. He nodded firmly, and his heart gained an even greater determination to secure the final victory in this Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament.

Ye Hao was brimming with confidence as he glanced at Dugu Yan.

Sister Yan, I won't hold back when I raid your old man's garden.

Five days later...

At dawn, the speeding carriage raced along a country road. Golden rice stalks grew thick on both sides of the road, and Suotuo City was known as the City of Grain.

High in the sky, Ye Hao leisurely flew with his Six-Winged Purple Light Wings. While the others traveled by carriage, Ye Hao flew alone. If he was not used to riding in a carriage, then he simply was not used to it. From then on, Ye Hao officially swore off carriages. Why ride one when he could fly?

From midair, the scene below was fully visible. Golden rice stalks stretched across the land like a golden sea, while a carriage sped down the narrow path. Ye Hao swept his gaze around and unexpectedly spotted a small village made of wooden buildings not far away.

Could it be...

With doubts in his heart, Ye Hao's face became covered in Black Armor, and a pair of Scarlet Eyes stared intently at the small village.

"Shrek Academy."

Ye Hao looked at the five handwritten characters on the gate, as well as the green monster emblem above them. Sure enough, this was Shrek Academy. If the story had progressed as it should, Tang San and Xiao Wu should have already entered the academy and passed the Grandmaster's first-stage test. Before long, Shrek Academy would have a team Soul Battle against the Imperial Dou Team.

This team Soul Battle was extremely important to Ye Hao. It could be said that victory was imperative.

The Shrek Seven Devils? I'm looking forward to meeting you...

From high above, Ye Hao saw that the carriage was about to enter the city. He slowly descended, landed at the front of the carriage, and entered Suotuo City.

Suotuo City truly deserved its reputation as the City of Grain. Food stalls lined both sides of the streets, along with many inns and hotels. The bustling crowds spoke of the city's prosperity.

Looking through the carriage window at the Suotuo City he had not seen in a long time, Qin Ming could not help recalling the past he had once experienced in this city. Suotuo City, it had been too long...

Qin Ming had a clear destination in mind. The carriage stopped directly in front of a large inn outside the Suotuo Great Soul Arena.

The members of the Imperial Dou Team got out of the carriage one after another. Looking at the majestic building in the distance, Yu Tian Heng asked, "Teacher Qin, could it be that we came to Suotuo City to fight Soul Battles?"

Qin Ming nodded. "Tian Heng, you guessed right. That is precisely why I brought you to Suotuo City this time."

"Teacher Qin." Dugu Yan continued, "Doesn't Heaven Dou City have the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena? Why did we come all this way instead of staying nearby? Besides, the Suotuo Great Soul Arena isn't even as large as the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena. The opponents inside don't seem like much either."

Qin Ming smiled wryly. "Yan-zi, underestimating the enemy is a military taboo. No one in this world remains invincible forever. There are always greater people beyond people, greater heavens beyond heavens. How can you be so sure there are no experts in the Suotuo Great Soul Arena?"

Qin Ming swept his gaze over everyone, suddenly turning serious.

"From here on, you will fight in the Suotuo Great Soul Arena. Whether it's one-on-one, two-on-two, or the final team Soul Fighting, I require you to obtain the team Silver Soul Medal within one month. That is the primary training objective for this phase. Soul Fighting battles take place at night, so rest properly during the day. Sleep if you need to catch up on sleep, rest if you need to rest."

"Especially you, Xiao Hao. Stop running off whenever you feel like it. The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament is about to begin. Don't lead Lingling astray."

Ye Hao: "..."