Soul Fighting Arena

Seeing Nuo Si's embarrassed state, Qin Ming and Sha Sha could not help laughing.

"Oops, I used too much force and couldn't hold back." Sha Sha wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, then stuck out her tongue at Nuo Si again.

"You two!" Nuo Si looked at the pair before him, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

"Brother Nuo Si, Sister Sha Sha, let's head out first," Qin Ming suggested. He had already obtained his First Soul Ring, so this soul hunt had come to a perfect conclusion.

"Alright."

"Agreed."

The three of them headed straight for the exit of the Soul Hunting Forest and, in less than half a day, returned to the dense woods they had passed through on their way in.

The return journey was much faster for two reasons. First, they had needed to search for Soul Beasts while traveling on the way there. Second, Qin Ming had already broken through to one ring, greatly improving his physical condition and, along with it, his travel speed.

After leaving the Soul Hunting Forest, Qin Ming took a deep breath. The tension that had remained taut in his heart these past few days finally eased. Although two Soul Elders had been protecting him, Sha Sha had barely even needed to make a move.

Still, it was only natural for him to feel somewhat unaccustomed to encountering Soul Beasts at such close range for the first time.

After leaving, the three of them reported the details of their soul hunt at the nearby Martial Soul Hall Office before driving their carriage back to Suotuo City.

The three chatted and laughed along the way.

"Little brother Qin Ming, isn't that outfit of yours getting a bit small?" Sha Sha pointed at Qin Ming's clothes, which had already become slightly tight.

After two months of nourishing meals at Spirit Hall, Qin Ming's once thin, frail frame had begun to fill out.

After absorbing his First Soul Ring, Qin Ming had grown to around 1.3 meters tall. Yet the clothes he wore were still the Black Tight Suit Nuo Si had brought him back then.

Qin Ming fell silent for a moment before saying, "It is a little small. I'll change when we get back. Brother Nuo Si brought over a whole pile of clothes back then."

"Don't wear A Nuo's old clothes anymore. The auction is in a few days—let's take you to buy some new ones!"

"Yeah, yeah! Growing fast is a good thing. My bonus has come through too—two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins!"

"Brother Nuo Si will cover all the expenses!" Nuo Si spread his hands grandly, speaking with complete confidence.

Nuo Si earned four hundred Gold Soul Coins a month. This time, because he had helped Spirit Hall discover a genius like Qin Ming, the higher-ups had directly rewarded him with two hundred thousand. That was enough to let Nuo Si coast for forty years.

As everyone knew, sudden wealth often brought the urge to spend, and Nuo Si was precisely in that state.

"Alright then." Qin Ming blinked and did not refuse.

First, Qin Ming knew Nuo Si had money. Second, if he happened upon something he needed, he would still have to ask Nuo Si to buy it. Third, this money had originally come to Nuo Si because of him, so he did not feel guilty spending it.

After returning to Spirit Hall, the first thing the three did was report the circumstances of this soul hunt to Charlton. When Charlton heard that Qin Ming had gained such a top-tier Buff-type Spirit Skill, he praised him as well.

Afterward, Nuo Si and Sha Sha helped Qin Ming complete his Spirit Master registration. From then on, Qin Ming could collect a Spirit Master Subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin every month. It was not much, but at least he had some income now.

After the three parted ways, the first thing Qin Ming did upon returning to his room was rush into the bathroom. After all, he had gone four straight days without bathing during the soul hunt, and he had begun to smell.

After bathing, Qin Ming did not give himself any time off. Instead, he eagerly began his first cultivation session as a Spirit Master.

The moment he entered a cultivation state, Qin Ming could clearly feel that a Spirit Master's basic Soul Power increased far more slowly than a Soul Scholar's. Although the Sun Vine Core's boost to his cultivation speed remained terrifying, it was no longer at the level it had been during his days as a Soul Scholar. If he had to put it into words, it was like going from riding a rocket to taking a plane.

Qin Ming estimated that it would take him two and a half months to break through to level twelve. The slower cultivation speed left him feeling a little unaccustomed.

But after giving it some thought, Qin Ming calmly accepted it. Rushing cultivation was a major taboo. His current cultivation speed was already something countless people would envy.

After breaking through to one ring, Qin Ming had another plan that needed to be put on the agenda: actual combat!

Under normal circumstances, actual combat was the fastest way for a Spirit Master to improve their strength—bar none.

It could expose all the problems a Spirit Master already had, allowing them to correct those flaws while also honing their combat skills.

At that moment, Qin Ming recalled a post he had seen online in his previous life: "If you transmigrated to Douluo Continent, what places in Suotuo City would you absolutely have to visit?"

That post listed four locations. The first was undoubtedly Shrek Academy, the second was the Rose Hotel, the third was Flender's shop, and the fourth was the Soto Great Soul Arena.

Now that Qin Ming had truly transmigrated to Douluo Continent, he had spent more than two months in Suotuo City without visiting a single one of those four places.

The one Qin Ming was most interested in was the Soto Great Soul Arena. There, he could engage in actual combat and hone his fighting skills. There was danger, but it would not be fatal.

It perfectly met all of Qin Ming's requirements.

The next day, Qin Ming immediately went to Charlton's study and explained his thoughts.

"The Soul Fighting Arena?" Charlton looked surprised as he regarded the little genius before him. He had not expected Qin Ming to make such a request the very day after returning from the soul hunt.

"That's right. I want to sharpen my combat skills through actual combat."

Charlton pondered for a moment, then nodded. Young people, especially geniuses, naturally had pride in their hearts. Wanting to test themselves against Spirit Masters of the same level after obtaining their First Spirit Skill was only normal.

"Alright, but you may only participate in Friendly Matches." Charlton laid down his condition.

Soul fights at the Soul Fighting Arena were divided into Friendly Matches, Death Matches, and Wager Matches.

Friendly Matches were the most common form of soul fighting. Deliberately killing or seriously harming one's opponent was forbidden; their purpose was mutual sparring and gaining practical combat experience.

Death Matches naturally only ended when life or death had been decided.

Wager Matches, on the other hand, were overseen by the Great Soul Arena as referee. Both sides sent out equal numbers of Spirit Masters to compete, and the victor received everything in the wager. But in essence, such soul fights were also Death Matches.

"Alright." Qin Ming agreed without hesitation.

He had never intended to take part in Death Matches or Wager Matches anyway.

"Good. I'll personally handle your registration at the Great Soul Arena. Come collect your Soul Fighting Badge in a few days."

Qin Ming nodded and did not refuse. After all, he was now Charlton's prized treasure. If anything happened to him at the Soul Fighting Arena, that would be troublesome.

Charlton was probably going in person to explain certain matters about Qin Ming to the Soul Fighting Arena.

A few more days passed after that. Before his Soul Fighting Badge arrived, however, the time he had arranged with Nuo Si and Sha Sha came first.

"Little brother Qin Ming, where do you want to go have fun this morning? The auction won't begin until tonight." The moment they met, Sha Sha stretched out her fair little hands and kneaded Qin Ming's cheeks.

"I'm fine with anything. You decide." In his previous life, Qin Ming had struggled with making choices. Whenever asked where he wanted to go or what he wanted to do, he had only ever given one answer: "Whatever."

"Then let's go to the Soto Great Soul Arena. I heard a star competitor at the Soul Grandmaster level is appearing there, and he happens to have a match this morning," Nuo Si suggested from the side.

"Sure. Little brother Qin Ming probably hasn't seen Spirit Masters fight each other before," Sha Sha agreed right away.

"I don't object." Qin Ming nodded as well. He would soon be going to the Soul Fighting Arena himself, so there was no harm in watching beforehand.