Ning Rongrong Felt Betrayed

Night fell over the Shrek Academy training grounds.

Everyone had already assembled.

Flender stood at the very front, his face so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water.

"Ning Rongrong. Oscar."

Flender's voice was icy.

"You two, did you finish your twenty laps today?"

Oscar glanced at Ning Rongrong, whose reddened eyes made it clear she had been crying. His heart ached, and he hurriedly stepped forward.

"Dean, we ran them."

"I'm asking Ning Rongrong!"

Flender cut him off, his gaze fixed on Ning Rongrong like that of a hawk.

"Tell me. Did you finish them?"

Ning Rongrong bit her lip and lowered her head without speaking.

Had she run? Of course not.

She had gone into town for a stroll. Not only had she failed to enjoy herself, she had even been called "trash." She was already holding back a bellyful of anger.

"Oscar, you tell me."

Flender looked at Oscar.

Oscar forced himself to answer.

"Dean, Rongrong... she finished them. I ran with her."

Flender sneered.

"Finished them? Good. Very good. Oscar, you're quite loyal."

"Ye Liuyun."

Flender suddenly turned toward Ye Liuyun, who stood at the back of the group, boredly counting stars.

Ning Rongrong abruptly raised her head. A flicker of hope flashed through her eyes, and anticipation rose in her heart.

Although they had fallen out that afternoon, although he had scolded her, but... but he had eaten her food, even if he had paid her back.

And... and they were classmates, after all. He should help cover for her, shouldn't he?

As long as he says something for me, even if he just nods, I'll forgive him for scolding me...

Ning Rongrong silently prayed.

Hearing his name, Ye Liuyun withdrew his gaze. He looked at Flender, then glanced at the nervous Ning Rongrong.

Without the slightest hesitation.

He could not even be bothered to think about it.

"She didn't run."

Ye Liuyun's voice was calm and blunt.

Boom!

Those words struck Ning Rongrong like a bolt from the blue.

The entire field fell deathly silent.

Oscar's eyes widened as he stared at Ye Liuyun in disbelief.

Big brother, why are you blurting out every truth there is?!

Couldn't you just tell a lie to help her out?

Tang San and Xiao Wu were equally stunned.

They knew Ye Liuyun had always been cold and distant.

But was he not a little too straightforward?

As for Ning Rongrong, her face instantly went pale, then flushed crimson. It was the ultimate fury of someone who had been betrayed and humiliated.

He... he really sold me out!

I was hoping so much...

Ye Liuyun! I hate you!

Flender looked at Ye Liuyun, satisfaction flashing through his eyes.

This brat might have been a thorn in the side, but at least he did not lie.

After all, Flender had been secretly following Ning Rongrong the entire time and knew everything that had happened.

"Did you hear that?"

Flender turned to Ning Rongrong and Oscar, his tone stern to the extreme.

"Oscar, because you lied, your original twenty laps have become thirty! And you are not allowed to use Soul Power!"

"Ning Rongrong, you left the group without permission. Not only did you fail to complete your task, you even made your companion lie for you. You will run as well! You are not allowed to sleep until you finish!"

"I'm not running!"

Ning Rongrong finally exploded.

She fiercely raised her head, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears and resentment.

She hated Flender for making things difficult for her, but she hated Ye Liuyun's heartlessness even more.

"I'm not staying at this lousy academy anymore! Flender, who do you think you are? You're just a mere Spirit Saint!"

"And you! Ye Liuyun!"

Ning Rongrong pointed at Ye Liuyun, her voice shrill and miserable.

"You're a bastard! A complete bastard!"

After shouting that, she turned and ran outside. She cried as she ran, looking as miserable as could be.

"Rongrong!"

Seeing this, Oscar no longer cared about Flender's punishment and hurried after her.

"Rongrong, don't cry! I'll run with you! I will!"

Only Ye Liuyun and the others remained on the training grounds.

Ye Liuyun watched the two retreating figures.

Sincerity?

They had only known each other for a day. What sincerity could there possibly be?

It was merely his deliberate approach and the fantasies filling an innocent girl's mind.

"Enough. The farce is over."

Flender waved a hand and looked at the remaining few.

"You lot, come with me to the Great Soul Arena."

"Today will be your first lesson, and also your most important lesson."

"Actual combat."

Soto Grand Spirit Fighting Arena.

The massive building was like a slumbering giant beast, brightly lit and packed with noisy crowds.

Flender stood before them and explained the rules of the Great Soul Arena.

Here, spirit fighting was divided into three categories. One was sparring, where both sides tested themselves against one another and were forbidden from killing or striking ruthlessly.

Another was a deathmatch, used to settle irreconcilable disputes.

The last was a wager match. The Great Soul Arena served as the referee, and both parties in the bet sent out the same number of Spirit Masters to compete. The final winner received everything in the wager.

Wager matches began with deathmatches. Many nobles and clans often used this method when serious conflicts arose between them.

There were also three forms of competition: one-on-one, two-on-two, and group battles.

For group battles, the number of participants on both sides was determined through discussion. According to the Great Soul Arena's rules, it was generally limited to between seven and ten people.

Registering for spirit fighting here was simple. One only needed to fill out a form containing one's name, age, birthplace, and Martial Spirit.

Then one could receive the initial Iron Spirit Fighting Badge. Of course, registration also required each person to pay ten gold coins as a registration fee.

"This is the best place to test your strength. Only battles of life and death can awaken your potential."

"You are only allowed to participate in one match per day at the Great Soul Arena, but you may participate in different types at the same time. For example, one-on-one and two-on-two."

"One of Shrek Academy's graduation requirements is obtaining a Silver Spirit Fighting Medal."

"If you want to graduate early, then fight with everything you have."

Tang San naturally wanted to team up with Xiao Wu.

But before he could say anything, Xiao Wu had already linked her arm through Ye Liuyun's.

"I want to be on a team with Cousin!"

Flender frowned.

"Xiao Wu, you are a level twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster, while Ye Liuyun is a level thirty-four Soul Elder. According to the Spirit Fighting Arena's rules, if you form a team, you must enter the level-thirty-and-above Soul Elder two-on-two bracket."

"That is too dangerous for you."

Tang San also stepped forward to persuade her.

"That's right, Xiao Wu. Challenging opponents above your level is no small matter. It would be safer for us to team up."

However, Xiao Wu looked unconcerned. She raised her head to look at Ye Liuyun, her large eyes blinking.

She tried to radiate her charm, intending to take this wild Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in as her little brother.

"With Cousin here, what's there to be afraid of? Cousin is the best!"

Ye Liuyun kept his hands in his pockets. Looking at Xiao Wu's expectant eyes, then at Tang San's gloomy gaze beside her, he only felt that it was all such a hassle. He shrugged.

"Whatever. I'm fine with anything."