Ma Hongjun sat beside Oscar and said in a low voice:
"Senior Brother, looks like quite a few big shots have shown up. They even squeezed you out of the main arena."
Oscar looked around the rest area and smiled faintly as he replied:
"It's not so bad being in a side arena. There are plenty of familiar faces here.
But you'd better get ready. From the looks of things, we might have a tough fight later."
At that, Ma Hongjun grew more serious. He took a deep breath and began getting himself into fighting shape.
On the other side, Zhu Zhuqing looked at Oscar and asked:
"Are you worried the Soto Grand Spirit Fighting Arena will make you fight those people from the main arena in a two-on-two match?"
Though she was a little cold by nature, she came from a great family and had seen enough of the world to keep a clear head.
In an instant, she had guessed what Oscar was thinking.
Oscar explained the situation to Zhu Zhuqing:
"Yeah. Powerful Soul Masters rarely come here, and that group must be a bunch of geniuses. The Soto Grand Spirit Fighting Arena won't let this opportunity pass."
Suotuo City was considered a major city, but its economy relied mostly on agriculture. That made it a good place for ordinary people, but not much of a draw for powerful Soul Masters.
They usually sought out true political centers, where they could reap enough benefits from the various factions.
The ones who came here were often talented young people out for experience. They regularly traveled between the Great Soul Arenas of different cities to improve themselves.
Over the past year, Oscar had encountered quite a few such prodigies, and the Soto Grand Spirit Fighting Arena was always happy to arrange matches for them to attract spectators.
Oscar knew this time would be no exception. The arena had even placed him in a side arena, perhaps hoping to keep his abilities under wraps and lure others in.
Zhu Zhuqing sat beside Oscar. Her expression remained cool, but her gaze held a great deal of curiosity.
From what she knew, Food System Soul Masters were basically all support types. Their true stage wasn't the Soul Fighting Arena, but the battlefield.
Generally speaking, this kind of competition was a disadvantage for Food System Soul Masters!
Yet this guy claimed he often made it into the main arena... That was the stage for highly talented Power Attack System or control-type Soul Masters!
Oscar noticed Zhu Zhuqing's expression and smiled faintly.
"I rely on a Self-Created Soul Skill passed down by my sect. If you're interested, I can teach it to you."
Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips at that, but said nothing.
So far, Oscar had saved her life, and throughout their journey, she had relied on his help more often than not.
By comparison, she had done little for Oscar as a friend, and she didn't want to keep taking advantage of him.
Just as she was about to say something, a staff member walked into the rest area.
"Zhu Zhuqing, your 1v1 Soul Fighting match is about to begin."
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Oscar before heading out of the rest room.
Matches in the 1v1 Soul Fighting Zone were determined by drawing lots. While other Soul Masters fought, those waiting could either watch or rest.
Each area of the side arena had a space set aside for the contestants to watch, close to the fighting platform.
Zhu Zhuqing was the first of the three to compete, so Oscar and Ma Hongjun naturally chose to watch.
A staff member led them to a designated area beneath the stands, beside the platform, where they had a clear view of the entire arena.
Though it was a side-arena platform, it was still quite large, measuring twenty meters across and offering Battle Soul Masters plenty of room to fight.
Unfortunately, few spectators had gathered beside the 1v1 Soul Fighting Platform in Side Arena Fourteen. Only about a fifth of the seats were occupied.
At the center of the platform stood a middle-aged man in a tailcoat. He took out a stack of slips, turned over the first one, cleared his throat, and announced:
"Next up is the first 1v1 Soul Fighting match in Side Arena Fourteen. Both contestants are Soul Grandmasters.
"First, we have Zhu Zhuqing, whose Martial Soul is the Nether Civet. She'll face Li Yong, a Battle Spirit Master with the Tool Spirit Iron Hammer, who has already won three matches in a row.
"Will Soul Grandmaster Li Yong continue his winning streak and claim his fourth victory, or will newcomer Battle Soul Master Zhu Zhuqing emerge victorious? Let's wait and see."
He placed the slip at the bottom of the stack, bowed to the spectators on all sides, and raised his voice:
"Now, let's welcome the two Soul Grandmasters to the platform!"
The spectators in the stands barely cheered. A few occasionally called Li Yong's name, but most didn't seem particularly interested.
A tall, powerfully built figure soon stepped onto the platform. He stood an astonishing two meters tall, with broad shoulders and a thick waist. His somewhat darkened body gleamed like tempered steel.
There was no doubt about it: he was a power-type Soul Master.
Ma Hongjun sat beside Oscar and spoke in a low voice:
"Li Yong isn't weak for a Soul Grandmaster. Can Zhu Zhuqing handle him?"
Oscar smiled calmly.
"Li Yong's very strong. If that hammer of his hits Zhu Zhuqing, the match will be over.
"But don't forget, Zhu Zhuqing dared to venture into the Star Dou Great Forest alone. She's definitely no pushover.
"As long as she takes advantage of Li Yong's clumsiness and keeps moving, she still has a decent chance of winning."
As he spoke, Zhu Zhuqing had already stepped onto the platform.
Her white robe, the same style as Oscar's, and her air of indifference toward everything immediately caught the attention of quite a few spectators.
"With that bearing... Could she be from the same sect as Yuanzhen?"
After seeing Oscar and Ma Hongjun, the spectators had grown used to Zhu Zhuqing's age and rank.
"If she really is, Li Yong's in for it. First his senior and junior brothers beat him up, then this little junior sister gets her turn..."
The spectators always sympathized with the weaker side, especially poor Li Yong, whose winning streak Oscar and Ma Hongjun had already ended twice.
Li Yong had seen Zhu Zhuqing in the rest room and knew she was closely connected to those two freaks. His tiger-like eyes were full of wariness as he clasped his fists and rumbled:
"Twenty-eighth-level Battle Soul Master. Please show me what you've got."
"Twenty-seventh level..."
Before Zhu Zhuqing could finish, Li Yong summoned his Martial Soul and charged at her, swinging his massive hammer in a full arc.
Caught off guard, Zhu Zhuqing could only summon her Martial Soul and dodge as fast as she could. But because of her opponent's underhanded move, she had already fallen behind.
"She's still young..."
Ma Hongjun clicked his tongue and leaned back in his chair.
"Li Yong's usually a pretty decent guy. He probably did this because you beat him so badly last time."
Oscar shook his head helplessly, his attention already on the platform.
Last year, Li Yong had underestimated Ma Hongjun, figuring Oscar was impressive, but how good could his junior brother possibly be?
But the young and brash Ma Hongjun didn't let anyone who looked down on him get away with it.
Before you continue