Challenge Match

Inside Shrek Academy.

Seeing Ma Hongjun return out of breath, beaten until his face looked like a pig's head, Dai Mubai sneered, "What happened? Did those old broads beat you up for trying to freeload?"

Ma Hongjun looked aggrieved. Pointing at his swollen face, he wailed, "Boss Dai, I got beaten up. Aren't you going to do something about it?"

The two shared the same hobbies, so naturally they got along well.

Among Shrek Academy's current students, Dai Mubai was the strongest. He had naturally become their Big Brother.

How could he Sit and Watch while his brother was being bullied?

"Fatty, explain yourself. Who exactly beat you up? And weren't you going to see the headmaster? Didn't you tell him?"

Ma Hongjun explained what had happened and added, "That kid's martial soul is a flying beast too. Teacher probably wants to take him as a disciple."

"Boss Dai, if you don't teach that kid a lesson, he might steal your position once he joins the academy."

Dai Mubai's expression darkened.

He had been the Big Brother for so long. How could he possibly become a Henchman?

After pondering for a moment, he said in a low voice, "Fatty, where is that kid? I need to let him know who the real Big Brother of this academy is!"

Ma Hongjun had not asked where Wu Qi lived, so he could only say that he would search the city together with Dai Mubai.

As the two left the academy, they ran straight into Flender.

They greeted him, then hurriedly fled as though mice had encountered a cat.

Flender did not need to be told what they were thinking.

As a Teacher, he naturally encouraged his students to spar with one another.

Wu Qi was a Soul Elder, and Dai Mubai was also a Soul Elder. Although there was a gap in their Soul Power, Dai Mubai was undoubtedly the best trial opponent.

Since they would be classmates in the future, there was no harm in letting them meet early.

If Wu Qi defeated the stronger Dai Mubai despite being weaker, would that not mean he had found a treasure?

By evening, after the city residents had finished dinner, they all headed toward the Great Soul Arena as if by prior arrangement.

There were not many forms of entertainment on the Douluo Continent. Watching Soul Masters engage in Soul Fighting at the Great Soul Arena not only offered ordinary people exciting matches, but also satisfied their fantasies about Soul Masters.

Sometimes, spectators would even pay a high price for an exciting match.

Wu Qi and Qiangu Changkong arrived at the Great Soul Arena right on time.

"It really is livelier at night, Brother Wu. Are you nervous?" Qiangu Changkong was greatly looking forward to the upcoming match.

Back in Spirit City, he had watched countless Soul Fighting matches as a spectator.

Sometimes, competitors were clearly very strong, yet they became too nervous and made mistake after mistake during battle, ultimately losing the match.

Wu Qi glanced at him and shook his head slightly.

They had both experienced life-and-death battles. How could they possibly be nervous at the Great Soul Arena?

As they entered the Great Soul Arena, Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai, who were passing by, happened to see them.

"Boss Dai, it's them!" Ma Hongjun pointed at their backs and said resentfully.

They had searched all afternoon until their legs were nearly broken, but they had finally found the right people.

Naturally, the anger and resentment in their hearts had to be vented on Wu Qi.

However, the Great Soul Arena was no ordinary place. It was said that even Soul Saints were beneath the notice of the powerful figures behind it.

If they caused trouble in the Soul Fighting Arena, several lives would not be enough to pay for it!

Dai Mubai furrowed his brow. "Fatty, let's go in and take a look first."

The two quickened their pace and caught up, though they continued to maintain a certain distance.

Within the Great Soul Arena, the only place to settle conflicts was the arena stage.

If Wu Qi had come here to compete, Dai Mubai would not mind challenging him to a match.

Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai's stalking was extremely clumsy. Qiangu Changkong had noticed them long ago.

"Brother Wu, there are two idiots following us. Should we shake them off?"

Wu Qi thought for a moment, then turned around to glance at them. "No need. Since they came, let's choose them as our opponents."

He had long wanted to see what the Big Brother of Shrek Academy was capable of.

Ma Hongjun had sought out Dai Mubai with an obvious purpose. Since that was the case, why not have a match on the arena stage?

When Wu Qi and Qiangu Changkong headed toward the Soul Fighting registration counter, Dai Mubai rushed over in a few quick strides.

"Iron Soul Badges? How about a match?"

Dai Mubai held his head high, wearing an arrogantly contemptuous expression.

The Staff Members of the Great Soul Arena were naturally delighted to see this. Competitors had to manually match themselves with opponents when registering.

Dai Mubai had specifically named Wu Qi as his opponent. If their Soul Fighting Badges were the same, it would undoubtedly save the Staff Members some work.

"What, scared?"

With someone backing him up, Ma Hongjun spoke much more boldly. "Know what's good for you and apologize to Old Man here. Compensate me for my medical expenses too, or else—"

Qiangu Changkong rubbed his fists together and gave a wicked smile. "Fatty, we're both Soul Grand Masters. How about we have a match too?"

"I didn't have enough fun beating you up this afternoon. I hope you won't surrender later."

Ma Hongjun shrank his neck and retreated behind Dai Mubai.

Knowing he could not win and still agreeing to fight him—was that not asking to be beaten?

Seeing that Wu Qi had yet to respond, Dai Mubai impatiently said, "What, chickened out?"

Without changing expression, Wu Qi placed his Soul Fighting Badge on the counter and asked, "Do challenge matches award points for winning?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, he urged, "What are you waiting for?"

Dai Mubai laughed in fury. "Fine. I hope you can stay this tough on the arena stage!"

Once the Registration Process was complete, all that remained was to wait for the match.

Dai Mubai snorted coldly and left with Ma Hongjun.

"Where did these Traitors come from? We're not being watched, are we?" Qiangu Changkong could not help feeling worried.

Although Ma Hongjun was not particularly strong, he already possessed level twenty-six Soul Power at the age of twelve. His talent was far from poor; calling him a genius would not be excessive.

Dai Mubai was not much older either, yet the Soul Power fluctuations around him were incredibly solid. He was surely even stronger.

Looking across the entire continent, Suotuo City was merely a second-rate city. How could so many geniuses appear here?

Could these two be from some major family?

"If I'm not mistaken, they should be from Shrek Academy."

"When Senior Golden Eagle entered the city, he investigated the distribution of forces within it. If they came from some major power, he definitely would have warned us in advance."

"He gave no warning, and the only place Senior Golden Eagle did not investigate was Shrek Academy outside the city."

Qiangu Changkong did not doubt it. Before they arrived, Golden Eagle Douluo had "reported" the situation within the city to them.

"If it can produce two geniuses, Shrek Academy must have something going for it, right?"

Heh.

Wu Qi sneered inwardly.

Turning geniuses into geniuses—this was Shrek Academy's way.

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun had not possessed low Innate Soul Power to begin with. Even if they cultivated alone, their Soul Power Levels would not be lower than they were now.

The purpose of Soul Masters joining an academy was to learn combat techniques.

Yet Shrek Academy's teaching methods themselves had enormous problems.

When Zhao Wuji taught combat techniques, he treated the students as punching bags. At first, Dai Mubai might have been motivated and willing to improve his strength.

But if he was beaten so badly every time that he could not even get out of bed, he would inevitably develop resistance over time.

Such a teaching method was utterly meaningless.