After a few pleasantries, they headed together for the Outer Court's Battle Soul Arena. What a coincidence: on his first day of school, Mo Yuan had spent almost the entire day there.
On the way to the Battle Soul Arena, Tang Ya kept sneaking curious glances at Mo Yuan and Han Ruoruo. After holding back for a while, she finally couldn't help asking,
"Junior Mo Yuan, how did you meet Senior Han? And I remember you came to the academy with Ning Tian and Wu Feng. Where are they?"
At that, Huo Yuhao immediately perked up his ears to listen.
"They had something to take care of in Shrek City." Mo Yuan had no intention of answering the first question. He couldn't very well explain everything, starting with how he'd met Ma Xiaotao yesterday. That would be far too much trouble.
Seeing that Mo Yuan wasn't going to elaborate, Tang Ya couldn't help feeling a little disappointed, but she didn't press him. She might be a bit scatterbrained, but she wasn't an idiot.
If someone clearly didn't want to say more and she kept asking anyway, it would only make a bad impression.
"Ning Tian and Wu Feng?" Han Ruoruo murmured their names, looking thoughtful. Then, as if she'd realized something, she turned to Mo Yuan with a teasing smile.
"Looks like you're popular with the ladies, Junior. Even the young lady of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan couldn't help falling for you. Then again, with your looks and talent, it'd be strange if people didn't fawn over you."
"Can't be helped. Sometimes being too exceptional is a problem," Mo Yuan joked.
Han Ruoruo couldn't help laughing. A captivating smile spread across her face, and her beautiful eyes curved into graceful crescents. Then she asked curiously,
"By the way, Junior, are you seeing anyone?"
"No."
Mo Yuan turned to look at her. In the soft glow of the Soul Guide Lamp, Han Ruoruo's skin was as smooth as polished jade, and her delicate features were as beautiful as a painting.
"What about you, Senior?"
"Me?" Han Ruoruo pointed at herself, then shook her head. "I'm just like you. I'm not seeing anyone either."
"So that means Senior Tang Ya is ahead of us when it comes to romance."
"Hehe! Of course!" Tang Ya thought of Beibei's figure, and a blush crept across her face.
"But with how wonderful you and Senior Han are, Junior Mo Yuan, I'm sure you'll find the right person before long!"
As she finished speaking, Tang Ya seemed to remember something and glanced at Huo Yuhao, who had been quietly walking beside them. "And of course, Yuhao will too!"
Huo Yuhao merely smiled without answering. He looked at Mo Yuan ahead of him, then lowered his gaze to himself and gave a silent, self-mocking laugh.
Mo Yuan and the others were outstanding—almost perfect, no matter how you looked at them. And what about him?
If Sky Dream Ice Silkworm hadn't kept giving him confidence and support, then even with his strong mental fortitude, he might have slowly grown twisted over time in Shrek Academy, where geniuses were everywhere.
Thanks to the Outer Court Twin Stars' immense fame, and the academy's announcement over the dormitory area's Soul Tool loudspeakers, the match between Beibei and Xu Sanshi had caught the attention of many students.
Though the two sparred from time to time, plenty of students still flocked to watch. Both freshmen in white uniforms and sixth-years in black uniforms were among them.
Han Ruoruo's red uniform stood out so much that, as before, she didn't have to queue. The students let them through, and they each paid a Silver Soul Coin to enter the Battle Soul Arena.
Meanwhile, in the lounge.
"Xu Sanshi, tell me honestly. Just how strong is Junior Mo Yuan?" Beibei had barely shut the door before he asked.
Xu Sanshi froze at the question. "I was just about to ask you the same thing. I saw Xiaoya chatting and laughing with that big brother. What's your relationship with him?"
They stared at each other. In the end, Beibei quickly thought things through and spoke up.
"Then I'll go first. I met Junior Mo Yuan at the registration desk yesterday, when the new students were enrolling. He came with people from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and his Soul Power tested at level thirty."
Xu Sanshi laughed. "Level thirty? Beibei, don't tell me you think he's a Soul Elder?"
"What else? A Soul Ancestor?"
"You guessed right. He really is a Soul Ancestor!" Xu Sanshi continued, watching Beibei's astonished expression. "And not an ordinary Soul Ancestor, either. His Second Soul Ring is a thousand-year ring, and his Fourth Soul Ring is a ten-thousand-year ring!"
"Damn! That's insane!"
Beibei was already numb with shock. He'd thought his own talent put him among the best on the continent. And now there was someone even more outrageous?!
Seeing Beibei's stunned expression, Xu Sanshi decided to hit him with another bombshell.
"You saw the strange phenomenon over by Sea God Lake last night, right?"
"Yeah." Beibei abruptly came back to his senses as a terrifying thought surfaced in his mind. "Wait! Are you about to tell me Mo Yuan caused it?"
"Congratulations, you guessed right again. But you only got half of it."
Beibei was confused. "What do you mean, half?"
Xu Sanshi explained, "It was caused by Mo Yuan fighting Senior Xiaotao at Sea God Lake. You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you, but a Soul Ancestor beat a Soul Emperor! And that Soul Emperor was Ma Xiaotao, no less. It completely turned the natural order upside down!"
As he spoke, Xu Sanshi recalled the terrifying Fire Dragon Roll he'd seen the day before and shuddered.
Beibei fell silent. He knew about the history between Xu Sanshi and Ma Xiaotao, and that was exactly why he knew Xu Sanshi wouldn't dare make something like this up about her.
It was hard to believe, but if Xu Sanshi was saying it, then it had to be true...
A Soul Ancestor beating a Soul Emperor was just absurd!
"Unbelievable..."
Beibei took a long moment to come up with that comment.
Xu Sanshi nodded in agreement. "Definitely. He's a monster among monsters."
As the two marveled at the terrifying extent of Mo Yuan's talent, the referee's voice came through the Soul Tool and echoed into the lounge.
"Both contestants, please enter the arena!"
At that, Xu Sanshi and Beibei left the lounge and walked down the long corridor. A patch of light appeared at the far end, and the noisy crowd was already clearly audible.
Before stepping onto the stage, Xu Sanshi called to Beibei, who was heading to the other side to enter from the opposite end. "Beibei, if I lose, you can have the Xuan Water Pill. But if I win, you have to do me a favor."
"What favor?"
"Ask Xiaoya to invite Nannan out in two days. By the lakeside at Sea God Lake. There's something I want to tell her." Xu Sanshi thought of the beautiful image of Jiang Nannan in his heart, his face full of tenderness and affection.
Beibei sighed helplessly. His friend was a lost cause...
"No problem. Hurry up and get onstage."
"Hahaha! Just wait and see. I'll beat you senseless!"
The Battle Soul Arena was packed. Looking around, all he could see was a sea of heads—at least three thousand people.
Mo Yuan and the others sat in the middle of the stands.
"Teacher Xiaoya, do you think Senior Beibei can win?"
Looking at the thousands of spectators, Huo Yuhao couldn't help feeling nervous. Tang Ya had also explained the value and effect of the Xuan Water Pill to him.
Its ability to raise a Soul Master's innate Soul Power by one level was incredibly tempting to him. After all, his Innate Soul Power was only level one, and he usually trained as slowly as an old woman running a marathon.
Tang Ya had also told him that Beibei was fighting Xu Sanshi for the sake of winning the Xuan Water Pill for him.
This made Huo Yuhao both incredibly excited and very afraid that Beibei might lose.
### Thanks to reader Dnwly for sending two monthly tickets,
and thanks to reader Xingye Liunian1998 for sending one monthly ticket. Thank you for your support!
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