Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing all shook their heads, indicating that they had nothing to ask.
Only Tang San spoke up again. "Why did Boss Dai and the others put on masks when they left just now? Would it be better if we got masks too?"
"It would."
Le Bai pulled a soft mask from his pocket. "The Great Soul Arena will ensure that the personal information contestants use when registering does not leak out, but during the matches, others can see and remember your faces and Martial Souls. Retaliating as soon as someone leaves the Great Soul Arena is a very common occurrence."
"There are also cases where people launch an attack right outside the Great Soul Arena to stop a promising talent from joining an opposing faction."
"Considering that none of us are very old, and you three girls are all especially pretty, I strongly recommend wearing masks. Better yet, disguise your figures and voices too—but you did not have time to prepare those things tonight. I had planned to remind you before our next visit."
The reality Le Bai described made them somewhat uneasy, but there was nothing they could do about it.
"Fortunately, this is your first time taking part in a Soul Fight, so you will only be competing in arenas tucked away in remote corners. There will be few spectators, and certainly no important figures watching."
Le Bai reassured them, "As long as you end the fights as quickly as possible, do not linger in the arena, and do not do anything that will leave a deep impression, people will soon forget you."
Thus, carrying a hint of unease, the four of them completed their registration at the counter and received black Iron Badges.
"Registration is complete, and you have your badges. You can sign up now and try your first Soul Fights."
Le Bai suggested, "Tang San, Xiao Wu, you are both at Soul Power Level twenty-nine, and neither of you is weak. Winning should not be difficult. Zhu Zhuqing, level twenty-six is not low either, but an arena without obstacles is slightly unfavorable for an Agility Attack System Soul Master. I hope your luck is not too bad."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, silently submitted her application, and followed Tang San and Xiao Wu into the waiting room for One-on-One Soul Fights.
Watching the three leave, Ning Rongrong turned her gaze to Le Bai. "I am the only one left again..."
"So you do not consider me a person?"
Le Bai rolled his eyes in displeasure. "This way. Boss Dai and the others should be about done by now."
Sure enough, after walking farther inside, Le Bai spotted the three chatting in a corner.
As he approached, he called out, "Boss!"
"Yo!"
Dai Mubai lowered his voice in greeting. When he saw Ning Rongrong behind Le Bai, his eyelids twitched. Leaning close to Le Bai's ear, he asked, "Why did you bring this young miss here?"
Le Bai replied helplessly, "Everyone else went for One-on-One Soul Fights. If I did not bring this young miss along, was I supposed to let her fight alone?"
Dai Mubai was rendered speechless.
"Alright, Ning Rongrong. Since you do not yet have the ability to fight alone, you will have to settle for a Two-on-Two Team Battle tonight."
Le Bai pointed in turn at himself, Oscar, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun. "Any one of the four of us can serve as your temporary teammate. Just like when we came here earlier, choose someone to help you."
Ning Rongrong frowned slightly. "Why should I listen to you?"
"You are the one making the decision. I am only offering a suggestion."
Le Bai looked unconcerned. "According to the Dean's requirements, all of us have to take part in at least one Soul Fight tonight."
"Why do I have to do what Flender says?"
Ning Rongrong's expression darkened. "He is only a Soul Saint. What gives him the right to tell me what to do?"
"Because he is the Dean of Shrek Academy."
Le Bai stated the obvious. "I know you are the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and you can completely disregard a Soul Saint. But do not forget that you are also a member of Shrek now. What the Dean requires of us is legitimate and reasonable teaching activity. Therefore, doing our best to meet the Dean's requirements is what we, as students, should do."
Ning Rongrong understood that in her heart, but once her temper flared, her words did not match her thoughts. "Are you telling me how to do things?"
"If you think so, then I am."
Le Bai fired back without hesitation. "No matter what you think, as long as you are still a Shrek student, what you need to do right now will not change. By the way, I look down on you quite a bit. The only reason I have said so much is because your father is Ning Fengzhi, and he represents the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"You!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened. "What gives you the right to look down on me?! I am younger than you! My Soul Power Level is higher than yours! My Martial Soul is superior to yours! Other than actual combat ability, what are you better than me at?!"
"Other than combat, what am I better than you at? Plenty."
Rubbing his chin, Le Bai began listing them one by one. "I can forge iron and do Woodworking to earn money and support myself. I can wash clothes, cook, and manage a household. Although my Martial Soul and Soul Rings are not very good, I can help other Soul Masters develop the best training plans, and I can create my own Soul Skills. And there is also..."
"Enough!"
Ning Rongrong's face turned cold. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Do not keep emphasizing your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect background. I know very well that it is an extraordinarily powerful sect. But the more I respect and fear the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the more I look down on you—because the abilities and character you have displayed so far are simply unworthy of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Le Bai spoke seriously and earnestly. "Want me to see you in a new light? Then rely on your own abilities and show me results impressive enough to astonish me!"
"As. You. Wish!"
Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and spoke one word at a time, making everyone worry that she might shatter her teeth. "Did you not just tell me to choose one teammate from among the four of you? I choose you! But if you cannot produce results impressive enough to astonish me, I will make you pay for what you just said!"
"Ha! That really matches your current expression!"
Le Bai burst out laughing. "No problem! Come on, tell me what you expect! What do I have to achieve for it to count as results that astonish you?"
"Hmph! You said it first."
Ning Rongrong crossed her arms and raised her chin slightly. "Then you should say first—what are these results that you claim would astonish you?"
"Simple."
Le Bai answered readily, "Nothing would be more astonishing than a badly tempered young miss fully realizing, in a short time, just how unpleasant she is, then changing every irritating thing about herself and becoming someone easy to get along with!"
When Le Bai said that, Oscar, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun all struggled not to laugh. Afraid that laughing aloud would provoke Ning Rongrong, they held it in, their shoulders shaking nonstop.
Ning Rongrong's aggrieved face was nearly changing color, but she ultimately forced herself to endure it and revealed a viciously cold smile. "I understand! Then let me tell you what I consider results that would astonish me—without using Spirit Power Overclocking, you will use your level twenty-two Soul Power to team up with me and defeat our opponents! And the average Soul Power Level of those two opponents cannot be lower than twenty-seven!"
Ning Rongrong believed that Le Bai's combat ability mainly came from his Spirit Power Overclocking skill.
Soul Power was the foundation of a Soul Master. Once Le Bai's Soul Power was restricted, he was merely a trash Support System Soul Master with a body slightly stronger than an ordinary Support System Soul Master and support abilities far inferior to one!
"No problem!"
Le Bai agreed readily. "I hope that after I produce results that astonish you, you can produce results that astonish me as well. Hmm... you will, right?"
"Hmph! Of course! Who do you think I am?"
Ning Rongrong appeared calm, but inwardly, she was panicking. Why did he agree so readily? Does he have other self-created skills besides Spirit Power Overclocking? What if he actually does it? Would I really have to... No! Absolutely impossible! The very fact that Support System Soul Masters can fight is strange enough! Fighting above one's level is something only Battle Soul Masters can do. It absolutely cannot happen to a Support System Soul Master!
Support System Soul Masters were generally considered incapable of fighting, so whether they sought companions or marriage partners, they had to choose Battle Soul Masters with powerful combat abilities—this was the kind of education Ning Rongrong had received since childhood. Feeling lost inside now, she instinctively followed the beliefs she had formed over many years.
"Excellent."
Le Bai said to Oscar, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun, who were still trying not to laugh, "I will go finish today's One-on-One Soul Fight first. Keep an eye on her for a while."
"Oh, leave it to us!"
Oscar thumped his chest loudly.
Seeing that Le Bai was about to leave, Ning Rongrong hurriedly asked, "Where are you going? Running away?"
"You should really listen when people speak."
Le Bai looked helpless. "Will I not have to deactivate Spirit Power Overclocking when I go to the Two-on-Two Soul Fight with you later? Before that, I will do today's One-on-One Soul Fight first. Otherwise, the compressed Soul Power will go to waste."
Ning Rongrong could accept that reason. "How long?"
"I will not keep you waiting long."
Le Bai grabbed the Pressure Bracer around his wrist with one hand and headed toward the counter. "I will finish within five minutes."
Before you continue