Soto City was much larger and more prosperous than Nuoding City. The streets were crowded, and everywhere one looked, Soul Masters could be seen coming and going.
After entering the city, the three of them first went looking for a place to stay.
Before long, a particularly eye-catching hotel caught their attention.
It was, as it happened, the Rose Hotel from the original story.
The hotel had three floors and was decorated entirely in rose red. The whole building looked like a rose in full bloom.
"Let's stay here, then!" Xiao Wu tugged at Luo Mo's sleeve.
"Sure," Luo Mo replied without hesitation.
Tang San naturally had no objections.
The three walked into the hotel. A rich rose fragrance drifted toward them, and the décor was mainly white and rose red. It gave the place a romantic feel.
Luo Mo went to the counter and politely asked, "Hello, I'd like to book three rooms."
The attendant hurried to his feet. Seeing that the group consisted of two young men and one young woman, he was a little surprised. Three people booking three rooms?
Could they have some sort of special relationship?
"Certainly, sir. We have three rooms available."
The attendant spoke with some hesitation. His main concern was that the three young people might take offense. He wasn't sure whether there was only one room left or whether they were being given preferential treatment; either way, he didn't want to upset them.
"Wait, I think one of those rooms is supposed to be mine."
A familiar voice interrupted.
The three turned to look. A young man and a young woman had just walked over from the counter. The woman was as beautiful as a flower.
It was, naturally, Dai Mubai.
The young man was about one meter eighty tall. He wore a gold-trimmed black robe, and his eyes were bright and sharp. His features were striking.
"So that's Dai Mubai."
Luo Mo thought to himself, I hope you'll like the gift I brought you.
The golden-haired Dai Mubai looked at the attendant. "You're new here, right? Didn't you know you were supposed to leave one room for me?"
The attendant was taken aback. He asked cautiously, "You are...?"
"Go get your manager."
Dai Mubai gestured for his companion to warn the attendant. He felt a little embarrassed, mostly because the man had introduced himself so directly. He quickly changed the subject.
The attendant hurried off to find the manager.
Xiao Wu wrapped her arms around Luo Mo's, leaning against him. "Then I'll take one room, and I'll stay with you."
"Sure," Luo Mo said, apparently unconcerned.
Tang San didn't say anything. He was a little concerned that his own martial soul had been ranked alongside a tiger-type martial soul and a Golden Dragon, but he didn't think it was worth making a fuss over.
After all, something similar had happened last time. His Blue Silver Grass martial soul had turned out to be unusual.
When Dai Mubai saw that all three of them had been assigned rooms, he glanced at Tang San. A spark of interest appeared in his eyes.
His gaze lingered on Tang San.
He sensed something strange about the young man, something that made him feel a faint sense of familiarity.
Could it be... a fusion of martial souls?
"Kid, I hear you're a Soul Master. Interested in a match?"
Dai Mubai was a man who didn't back down from a challenge. Tang San had caught his interest, so he went straight to the point.
"Hm? I..."
Tang San looked at Dai Mubai's blond hair. At first he was a little surprised, but then he recalled that this man was clearly much older than him. He felt awkward about the situation.
After all, he was the youngest person among them.
But he was also nearly seven years old.
"Not bad. You're the one."
"I refuse." Tang San spread his hands.
Dai Mubai wasn't pleased, but he was confident in his strength. If he fought for real, the boy would have a hard time taking it. He might even get hurt. Since the boy had gotten on his nerves, he decided to teach him a lesson.
"Not only are you a little brat, you've got quite an attitude!"
Dai Mubai raised his brows. A hint of amusement flashed across his face, and then he laughed.
Tang San: "..."
The Tang Sect had a rule: its disciples were not to use their skills lightly against outsiders. But if someone provoked them, they were to deal with that person decisively.
"Since you insist on fighting, I'll oblige you. I just hope you won't regret it."
"Fine. I'll fight you, but you'll have to answer a few questions afterward." The light in Dai Mubai's eyes grew brighter.
"Dai, don't go too far. Don't use your full strength," the attendant warned.
Just then, the manager hurried back to the counter, dragging along a flustered-looking man who was pleading with him.
Dai Mubai didn't care. "Young manager, if anything gets damaged, put it on my tab."
"Please, go easy on him."
Tang San stepped forward.
"Little San, be careful," Xiao Wu said, walking quietly behind him. She wore an exaggerated look of concern.
"Tang San, go for it! Beat that lecher up!"
Xiao Wu was all too happy to see a fight break out. She was practically cheering him on.
Dai Mubai didn't hesitate either. He surged forward and threw a punch at Tang San. His fist cut through the air with a sharp whistle.
Tang San's pupils narrowed, but he didn't take a step back.
His right hand took on a jade-like sheen, and he met Dai Mubai's punch head-on.
Bang!
Tang San staggered back four or five steps. Dai Mubai stood his ground, but his right hand throbbed with pain.
"You managed to take one of my punches. You're qualified to be my opponent."
Dai Mubai let out a cold laugh. "White Tiger Possession!"
A fierce white light erupted from his body. His bones cracked, his muscles swelled, and his clothes tore apart.
His hands grew larger, and sharp claws extended from his fingers, gleaming like blades.
His entire body was enveloped in golden light, while the dark stripes of a tiger appeared across his skin. His pupils became a deep, eerie green, like those of a savage beast.
Three spirit rings rose from beneath his feet.
Two yellow, one purple.
"Dai Mubai, martial soul: White Tiger. Thirty-ninth rank Soul Master."
He announced his strength, formally issuing Tang San a challenge.
"Thirty-ninth rank! A thousand-year second spirit ring!"
Xiao Wu covered her mouth, then looked at Tang San with sympathy.
The difference between them was huge. How could Tang San win?
Luo Mo was somewhat surprised by Dai Mubai's spirit-ring configuration, but not too surprised. This was, after all, one of the butterfly effects caused by him helping the people of the Spirit Hall.
And Dai Mubai's second spirit ring was already a thousand years old.
With enough perseverance, anyone could raise their second spirit ring to a thousand years.
He estimated that the other Shrek students would have improved as well.
Tang San's expression grew solemn. He had no choice but to take the fight seriously. A flash of purple appeared in his eyes, and he summoned Blue Silver Grass. Two spirit rings, one yellow and one purple, rose beneath his feet.
"Tang San, martial soul: Blue Silver Grass. Twenty-ninth rank Tool Soul Master."
"Your martial soul is actually Blue Silver Grass?"
Dai Mubai looked at him in disbelief. Blue Silver Grass reaching the twenty-ninth rank was already hard to imagine. Even more surprising was that Tang San's martial soul was paired with two spirit rings.
How was that possible?
Could a White Tiger really fuse with Blue Silver Grass?
Tang San couldn't help recalling the old saying: "When you have a beast-type martial soul, you can only be a beast-type Soul Master."
He had a beast-type martial soul himself, so he had always believed those words.
"Very well. Let me teach you how to deal with White Tiger martial souls!"
Dai Mubai charged again. His martial soul possession made him stronger in both power and speed, far beyond what Tang San could match.
In the blink of an eye, Dai Mubai was right in front of Tang San, his claws slashing toward Tang San's upper body.
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