Night had just fully fallen when Shrek Academy's eight current students gathered on the playground.
Tonight's moon was large and round, bathing the entire playground in bright light.
"Very good. You all kept to the time I set."
Flender descended from the sky, the enormous Owl wings on his back still spread wide. "Tonight's lesson will begin immediately."
With a light flap of his wings, Flender rose into the air again. "First, head to Suotuo City. I'll wait for you at the city gate. But you'd better not be too slow. If I don't see all of you within ten minutes, forget about tonight's lesson. You can all wait to be punished."
Before his words had even faded, Flender had already become a tiny black dot beneath the moonlight.
"Looks like the Dean is determined to give you newcomers a hard time."
Dai Mubai said helplessly, "The four of us older students can make it to Suotuo City's gate within three minutes if we push ourselves. What about you?"
"If I go all out, I can arrive within five minutes."
After estimating his own speed, Tang San gave a rough time.
"About the same for me."
Xiao Wu chimed in. Her Martial Soul's speed was quite decent.
"Four minutes."
Zhu Zhuqing said coolly. As an Agility Attack System Soul Master, she had never feared running away or traveling quickly.
Ning Rongrong said nothing.
The other seven once again turned their gazes toward her.
Ning Rongrong's expression gradually twisted—there was the inferiority born from recognizing her own shortcomings; the pride that refused to admit she was worse than others; and the arrogance born from being pampered and praised by those close to her since childhood, leaving her unable to see herself clearly.
The three emotions mixed together and clashed fiercely, directly tearing apart Ning Rongrong's outer disguise.
"Why am I the only one who can't do it again?! Are you all targeting me?! Why does a Support System Soul Master like me have to compete alongside a group of Battle Soul Masters?! Why can you two clearly fight Battle Soul Masters head-on when you're Support System Soul Masters?! Why..."
"Stop!"
Le Bai forcibly cut Ning Rongrong off. "Why do you have so many whys? There isn't much time. Pick one of the four older students to carry you to Suotuo City. Once we get there, cry, curse, ask why—do whatever you want! Now! Right this second! Pick one!"
"You! I...!"
Ning Rongrong instinctively wanted to lose her temper, but the inferiority in her heart had not disappeared. The pressure of everyone watching her was still there, and Le Bai's rapid-fire words diverted her attention from her anger for the moment. "Then Os... Oscar."
"Fine. Oscar, temporarily turn off your Wrist Guard. Then it shouldn't be a problem even if you carry someone, right?"
Le Bai asked Oscar, "We need to get there within five minutes."
"Do you think all my years of training were just me slacking off?"
Oscar grabbed his Wrist Guard and twisted it, shutting off the pressure. He hoisted Ning Rongrong onto his back and smiled confidently. "Four minutes is enough!"
"Now that's reliable!"
Dai Mubai laughed and tapped Oscar's chest with his fist. Then he swept out an arm. "Move out!"
Under the moonlight, eight people cast seven shadows as they ran for their lives.
Four minutes later, at Suotuo City's gate, all eight arrived one after another.
Oscar had not been boasting. Even while carrying Ning Rongrong, he was still slightly faster than Tang San and Xiao Wu.
Flender stood at the city gate with his hands behind his back. Only after all eight had arrived did he glance at the time. "Very good. You all arrived within the time I required."
Flender put away his watch and looked at Ning Rongrong as she climbed down from Oscar's back. "It is good that you know how to help one another. I'm very pleased to see you helping each other. However, student Ning Rongrong, you need to work harder. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to keep up with everyone else's rate of progress."
Ning Rongrong lowered her head without speaking.
Flender knew when to stop. He pushed up his glasses. "Next, we'll talk as we walk."
"Tonight's lesson is actual combat. The location is Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena. The four older students have already been 'attending classes' at the Great Soul Arena for half a year, so you can ask each other about its specific details. I won't say much more."
"Once we enter, you must register at the Great Soul Arena, then raise the badge issued to you by the Great Soul Arena level by level. There are currently eight known badge ranks. From lowest to highest, they are Iron, Copper, Silver, Gold, Purple Gold, sapphire, Ruby, and diamond."
"Before the Academy's maximum graduation deadline, you must raise your badge to the third rank, meaning a Silver Soul Fighting Badge or above. Otherwise, the Academy will not publicly recognize you as graduates of Shrek Academy."
Flender walked very quickly, so by the time he finished speaking, the group had arrived at the Great Soul Arena.
"For tonight's lesson, all you need to do is register at the Great Soul Arena, then participate in one match. It can be individual or group combat, and it doesn't matter whether you win or lose."
Flender waved a hand. "As for the specifics, Le Bai, Mu Bai, Oscar, and Hongjun all know them. Ask whichever one you like. That's all I have to say. Discuss the rest among yourselves."
After saying that, he accelerated again, quickly entering the Great Soul Arena and disappearing from everyone's sight.
Dai Mubai looked at the entrance of the Great Soul Arena and sighed. "It always feels like the Dean has gotten lazier over the past two years. Back then, he clearly insisted on explaining everything to us in detail."
"Tell me about it."
Le Bai spread his hands helplessly. "But those are minor matters. Boss Dai, you, Oscar, and Hongjun can go ahead first. I'll explain things to them."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony!"
Dai Mubai took out a mask and put it on. "You have the highest number of matches and win rate among us. You're the best person to explain it."
Oscar and Ma Hongjun also took out Masks and put them on. They waved, then followed Dai Mubai into the Great Soul Arena.
"Next, I'll first introduce this Great Soul Arena."
Le Bai looked at Ning Rongrong. "You may have come to a Great Soul Arena with Sect Master Ning before, but this should be your first time personally taking part, right?"
Ning Rongrong frowned slightly and replied without the slightest politeness, "So what if it is?"
"Nothing. I was just asking. I assumed you had only visited and didn't know the specifics of participating in the Great Soul Arena."
Le Bai said firmly, "For your safety, I think it is necessary to specifically emphasize what makes the Great Soul Arena special."
Whether Le Bai's sincerity got through to her or Ning Rongrong was simply a little afraid of dying, she did not make a scene. Instead, she nodded to show that she understood.
"Let's talk once we're inside the Great Soul Arena."
Le Bai noticed that the gazes of the people walking toward the Great Soul Arena around them were gradually focusing on their group. "The three girls here seem to be a little too charming."
Hearing Le Bai say that, the three girls also noticed the increasing number of gazes directed their way and felt somewhat unsettled.
Le Bai led the four of them into the Great Soul Arena, all the way to the main hall, where he found a relatively secluded corner. "We shouldn't be watched by too many people here."
Tang San activated his Purple Demon Eye and carefully looked around. "What exactly is this Great Soul Arena? Why are so many Soul Masters gathered here? Their Soul Power Levels vary wildly, and even their identities and social standing seem to be a mixed bag."
"Simply put, the Great Soul Arena is a place where Soul Masters can fight freely. Here, no one cares who you are, what your family background is, or whether you possess some extraordinary Martial Soul."
Le Bai looked at Ning Rongrong. "Even if a core disciple of a top continental sect like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were killed in a match at this Great Soul Arena by a commoner Soul Master, as long as no one knew that commoner Soul Master's identity, even if the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect came in person, he would have no way to force the Great Soul Arena to hand over the killer."
Before you continue