Su Ming naturally knew the rules of the Soul Fighting Arena. At the Soto Great Soul Arena, he was already a Gold Soul Fighting Badge holder.
After all, his Martial Soul could heal, move, and attack. He could wear his opponent down to death.
Since Wang Sheng had come here for the All Continent Soul Master Elite Tournament, he obviously wouldn't be fighting a death match. That left a Gambling Match, where the goal was simply to spar.
Su Ming went straight to the Gambling Match registration desk without wasting words and tossed a Gold Soul Coin onto the counter.
"I'm looking for someone."
The attendant glanced around, then quickly pocketed the coin.
"Who are you looking for? Give me their name and Martial Soul."
"Wang Sheng. His Martial Soul is the Blazing War Tiger, and he's a level 34 Battle Soul Elder from Blue Tyrant Academy. He should be pretty well-known."
"Sir, I just checked. He's been fighting in the one-on-one Soul Fighting Zone 32 for nearly ten minutes. He'll probably be finished soon. If you head over now, you should catch him."
After thanking the attendant, Su Ming headed straight for Zone 32 without looking back. As soon as he got there, he heard the host announce, "The one-on-one Soul Fighting Tournament in Zone 32 is over! Congratulations to Wang Sheng on his victory!"
Watching Wang Sheng accept the audience's cheers on the platform, Su Ming smiled knowingly, then went to wait by the arena exit.
He hadn't waited long before a sturdy young man emerged from the passageway. Seeing someone waiting there, he paused in surprise.
Wang Sheng stepped out of the arena passage and spotted someone waiting for him. After taking a closer look, he seemed to realize who it was. His face filled with disbelief, and he hurried over to hug Su Ming.
The two embraced tightly. Su Ming gave Wang Sheng's shoulder a hearty slap and said,
"Wang Sheng, you brat. How'd you recognize me?"
"Brother Ming, it's been so long."
"Ow, Brother Ming! Easy, easy!"
Once they let go, Su Ming slung an arm around Wang Sheng's neck and led him outside.
"Come on, let's grab a meal and catch up."
The two walked out of the Soul Fighting Arena with their arms around each other and headed for Seven Treasures Tower, a famous hotel in Heaven Dou City.
They got a private room, ordered a few dishes and two bottles of wine, then ate, drank, and talked.
Of course, Su Ming did most of the asking, while Wang Sheng did most of the talking, recounting what he'd been through over the years.
"Brother Ming, after we parted ways, I went to another intermediate academy in Sinuo City. I absorbed the First Soul Ring you hunted for me—the hundred-year-old Crimson Flame Tiger—and my Martial Soul evolved."
"Then, after I took the pill you gave me and spent the whole night absorbing it, I reached level 13 and was almost at level 14. I just didn't get the chance to tell you before we went our separate ways."
"Then, in the second half of my second year at the intermediate academy, I reached level 20. Following your advice, my teacher led a team out, and we were lucky enough to hunt an eight-hundred-year-old Crimson Flame Demon Lion."
"After I absorbed its ring, my Martial Soul evolved a little more, so I decided to graduate early and head to an advanced Soul Master Academy. One of the teachers found out I was graduating early and planning to go to an advanced academy."
"He came to see me. He'd graduated from Blue Tyrant Academy and wanted me to go there too."
"When I heard that you'd recommended Blue Tyrant Academy, I agreed. Then I took the recommendation letter he gave me and enrolled right away."
"After enrolling, my Martial Soul evolved again, so I changed its name to Blazing War Tiger. After that, I trained normally at the academy until I reached Soul Elder level, ready to compete in this year's All Continent Soul Master Elite Tournament and wait for you to find me."
After hearing Wang Sheng recount the past few years, Su Ming nodded with a gratified smile.
"Not bad, not bad. You really did listen to me. You know the academy changed its name, right? It's now Shrek Academy, and Dean Liu has been replaced by Dean Flender."
Wang Sheng nodded. "I know, Brother Ming."
"Good. Shrek Academy is the one I went to."
Then Su Ming picked out a few unimportant details and told Wang Sheng about his own experiences over the past few years.
"All right, that's what I've been up to."
"The main reason I came to find you this time is to invite you to join the sect I'm planning to establish. It's called the Grand Xuan Sect."
Hearing that Su Ming wanted him to join his newly founded sect, Wang Sheng agreed without a second thought.
"Sure, no problem, Brother Ming. No— I should call you Sect Master Su."
Seeing Wang Sheng agree without hesitation, Su Ming felt a little wistful. Back then, he'd treated him as a test subject, though even if the experiment had failed, it wouldn't have caused any serious harm.
Now, he was inviting Wang Sheng to join the sect because he was strong enough to help announce its founding and serve as its public face.
"All right. Since you joined so readily, I'll give you another gift."
In an instant, he summoned his Martial Soul and released a cloud, sealing off the entire room. What he was about to say couldn't be overheard.
Once the room was sealed, a ray of red light shot from the Creation Furnace in the Sea of Consciousness between Su Ming's brows and entered Wang Sheng's mind.
Wang Sheng saw the red light shoot from between Su Ming's brows and enter his own. Knowing Su Ming wouldn't harm him, he stayed perfectly still and waited. Then the light burst in his mind, and an image appeared.
It showed a Sacred Tiger with golden-red fur and markings like flowing flames. Its eyes were as red as molten lava, its gaze both fierce and sacred.
Its limbs were powerfully built, and its claws gleamed. Fiery wings grew from its back, and every movement seemed to send down a rain of fire. It stood among the clouds, radiating an imposing aura. Its roar seemed powerful enough to set the sky ablaze.
Wang Sheng was astonished to see the image of a tiger appear in his mind. When he opened his eyes and came back to himself, he hurriedly asked Su Ming what had happened.
Su Ming explained the wonders of the Martial Soul Evolution visualization method.
After hearing the explanation of the image in his mind, Wang Sheng's face flushed with excitement. His joy was practically spilling over.
Wang Sheng stood up, raised his cup, and toasted Su Ming.
"Sect Master, I can't thank you enough! From now on, wherever the sect needs me, even if it means crossing a mountain of blades or plunging into a sea of fire—"
Su Ming said nothing, only smiling as he watched Wang Sheng finish his drink.
"My strength is still weak. Your task for now is to train hard and grow stronger. One day, you'll be the face of the Grand Xuan Sect."
Su Ming and Wang Sheng chatted a little longer. By then, the Great Soul Arena had begun to bustle for the evening.
They got up and headed for the Great Soul Arena. On the way, Su Ming asked Wang Sheng whether any members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team came there often, especially Dugu Yan.
Wang Sheng confirmed that they did, and Su Ming was relieved. He knew they came often for practical training; he just didn't know if they'd show up that evening.
It wouldn't matter if they didn't come that night. If he waited around for a few evenings, he'd run into them eventually.
The two entered the Great Soul Arena, which was already bustling.
Su Ming was just about to register for a one-on-one Gambling Match when he spotted two people dressed in Heaven Dou Royal Academy uniforms.
One was a black-haired young man with a tall, lean build, wearing a blue fitted outfit. He wasn't particularly handsome, and his face barely moved, as if his facial muscles were stiff.
The other was a young woman with short, deep-purple hair and a bold, spirited air. Her eyes were emerald green, with an unsettling look about them.
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