"Dean, Rongrong and I get along so well. Once I reach Soul Elder, I want to team up with her!"
"It's only been one day. How well could you two possibly get along..." Flender remembered how Ning Rongrong had risked herself to save Zhu Zhuqing the day before and sighed. Turning to Ning Rongrong, he said, "Fine, I can understand those two. What about you?"
"I'm not planning on teaming up with anyone. I came today to try out my new Soul Skill, so I'm going solo."
Ning Rongrong's voice was sweet, but her words landed like a bomb. While everyone was still trying to process what Flender had just said, her declaration exploded among them.
"Ning Rongrong, what level are you now?"
Ma Hongjun felt a little aggrieved. One by one, they were all improving at a startling pace. At this rate, it seemed he'd soon be at the bottom not only among the three seniors, but among all seven students at the academy.
"Me? I'm level 33 now."
Ma Hongjun couldn't accept it at all. He stumbled back a few steps before Dai Mubai caught him.
"Fatty, don't panic. I'm only level 37."
Dai Mubai patted Ma Hongjun's shoulder to comfort him. But his words only grated more and more on Ma Hongjun's ears, and he shot back irritably:
"Boss Dai, looks like you're about to get surpassed too."
"I shouldn't have bothered catching you."
Dai Mubai let go, and Ma Hongjun immediately started tipping backward. Luckily, he managed to right himself.
"Absorbing a Soul Ring raises your Soul Power. I feel like this level isn't impossible to accept, right?"
Tang San began comforting Ma Hongjun too.
Only then did Ma Hongjun nod.
"Rongrong, what's your new Soul Skill like?"
Zhu Zhuqing was curious and edged closer to Ning Rongrong.
"Hmm... it's a secret. I'll tell you all after tonight."
Ning Rongrong thought for a moment before replying.
A hint of disappointment crossed Zhu Zhuqing's face, though her curiosity soon returned.
"Ahem. Since this is what you want, Ning Rongrong, you can fight solo today."
"Wait!" Tang San only now realized that Ning Rongrong had said she wanted to fight alone, and he couldn't sit still. "Dean, Ning Rongrong is an auxiliary-type Soul Master. You're really letting her fight solo? A Soul Elder's physical abilities are certainly beyond an ordinary person's, but an auxiliary-type Soul Elder can't possibly beat other Soul Elders one-on-one!"
"That's right, Dean. I gave it everything I had this morning and still only managed to kill a century-old Wind Wolf."
Oscar spoke from the side, taking in the astonished looks everyone gave him with a little pride.
"Not bad, Oscar." Ma Hongjun patted him. After learning the details of how Oscar had reached level 30, Ma Hongjun couldn't help admiring him.
"An auxiliary-type Soul Master killing a Wind Wolf alone is pretty impressive."
Dai Mubai and Tang San nodded as well.
"Hmph." Flender looked at Oscar and the others and snorted.
These brats really had no idea that there was always someone better out there. He'd have to teach them a proper lesson later.
He glanced at Ning Rongrong, but she showed no reaction.
So Flender decided to put the others in their place:
"Ning Rongrong killed a thousand-year-old Man Faced Demon Spider by herself!"
"Man Faced Demon Spider?"
Tang San had heard Grandmaster talk about that kind of Soul Beast. It was vicious, and a Man Faced Demon Spider of the same age was definitely stronger than a Wind Wolf.
"A thousand-year-old?"
Oscar's eyes widened too. She must have relied on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's power, he reassured himself.
"Rongrong, are you okay? Were you hurt?"
Zhu Zhuqing tugged at Ning Rongrong's sleeve.
"I'm fine, Zhuqing. Look, I'm perfectly all right."
"Wow, Rongrong, can you teach me your technique sometime?"
Xiao Wu was amazed too.
"Sure."
Flender looked at the group, then at the sky.
"It's getting late. Let's go in."
The group entered the Great Soul Arena.
The first event for them was the one-on-one matches. After Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing fought, the one-on-one matches at the Soul Grandmaster level for Shrek Academy were over, and they began watching the Soul Elder-level matches.
Dai Mubai's opponent was rather weak. Dai Mubai knocked him down in just a few exchanges. Of the group, only Ning Rongrong had yet to compete.
"Coming up, we have level 33 Tool Soul Elder Ning Rongrong versus level 38 Battle Soul Elder Liu Jiayi!"
Quite a few spectators had gathered around the small Soul Fighting Arena—at least more than there had been for the earlier Soul Grandmaster matches.
On the arena stood a young girl who hadn't fully grown yet, and a burly man in his thirties.
The whole crowd erupted.
"A Soul Elder this young? Did they get the match wrong?"
"Liu Jiayi? That's the one famous for his ruthless attacks!"
Someone recognized the burly man.
"I heard his opponents in previous matches either died or were injured. He's on a three-match winning streak now! Ah, what a shame. Such a pretty little girl..."
"The match hasn't even started. What are you shouting about?"
"Huh? I'm Ma Jiasan. What's wrong, brother? Do you know that girl?"
Ma Jiasan stared at the refined-looking man in front of him, completely baffled.
The man only smiled faintly and shook his head. "I don't know her. But don't you think this match will be very interesting?"
"Come on, what could possibly be interesting about it?" Once Ma Jiasan heard the man didn't know her, he started talking without restraint. Then he felt a murderous aura and obediently shut his mouth.
On the Soul Fighting Arena.
Liu Jiayi had intended to finish off his opponent quickly again. But when he saw that she was only a girl of about twelve, a trace of humanity stirred in his heart.
"Little girl, I don't really want to hurt you. Forfeit. I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back, and I don't want to answer to your family."
Ning Rongrong frowned. "Why are you assuming you're certain to beat me? What if I win?"
"You can't win."
Liu Jiayi shook his head. He thought of a deal he'd made before coming to the Great Soul Arena and spoke. That deal had greatly increased his strength.
"I don't believe you," Ning Rongrong replied with conviction as her Martial Soul appeared.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda.
Many people in the crowd recognized the Martial Soul, and another uproar broke out.
"Is this a joke? Since when can an auxiliary-type Soul Master fight one-on-one? So what if it's the strongest auxiliary Martial Soul on the continent?"
"Is this some kind of under-the-table arrangement? But this is the Great Soul Arena!"
"Are they trying to recruit him into their sect? Maybe the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has taken a liking to Liu Jiayi. If so, he won't have to worry about making a living anymore."
"Quiet."
As the crowd started arguing, the refined-looking man spoke again, and everyone fell silent.
Tang San and the others on the opposite side had seen all of it.
"Who is that man? Why does everyone go quiet as soon as he speaks?"
Tang San asked Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai scratched his head and shook it. "I'm not sure. I've never seen him before. Maybe the dean knows."
They turned their eyes toward Flender. He straightened his glasses and looked carefully across the arena, his expression tightening.
Of course he recognized the man. He just didn't know why he had appeared here.
Before you continue