A Word From The Author

The Soul Fighting Zone is located in the northwest corner of the Martial Soul Department and is a very important area of Shrek Academy.

It is also one of the areas most frequently visited by senior students.

Shrek Academy does not encourage private duels among students; if any student is found intentionally inciting a private fight, they will be severely punished, with the most serious cases resulting in expulsion.

However, if both parties agree, they may step onto the arena to fight openly and honestly.

To determine the winner and loser.

This is one of the primary functions of the Soul Fighting Zone.

However, both parties must pay ten Gold Soul Coins to cover the costs of venue usage, referee evaluation, and subsequent rescue and medical treatment.

If spectators wish to watch, the Soul Fighting Zone also charges one Silver Soul Coin as an admission fee.

After the match concludes, the final ticket revenue is split fifty-fifty, with the academy and the winner each taking half.

In other words, the matches are profitable.

It looks like a good way to make money, and some students have indeed earned money this way, but in reality, it is not easy.

The ten Gold Soul Coins for registration are non-refundable; regardless of whether you win or lose, once paid, they are gone. Since one Gold Soul Coin equals ten Silver Soul Coins, it means you need the ticket revenue from one hundred spectators just to cover the registration fee.

Plus, with the academy taking half, you actually need two hundred people in attendance.

This is not something that can be achieved easily.

Furthermore, that only covers the costs; how much profit one makes is hard to say.

On top of that, losing once costs ten Gold Soul Coins, so for most students, soul fighting is a case of more money going out than coming in.

"What did the broadcast just say? Who is Xu Sanshi fighting?"

"It seems to be someone named Lu Ran..."

"Could it be that guy from a few days ago?"

"Hurry, let's go!"

"..."

"Did you hear? Let's move!"

The Soul Fighting Zone broadcasts for free to announce who will be fighting next, making it convenient for students to come to the Soul Fighting Zone and pay to watch the matches.

Popular figures in the academy can attract more people to watch the competition, and Xu Sanshi happens to be a popular figure in the Shrek Outer Academy.

His reputation is extremely widespread.

There are two reasons for this.

First, he is the Young Sect Master of the Mysterious Underworld Sect, possessing high status and powerful talent. Along with Bei Bei, who possesses the Blue Lightning Overlord Dragon martial soul, they are known as the Twin Stars of the Outer Academy.

One represents absolute offense, the other absolute defense, making them among those most likely to be promoted to the Inner Academy.

As for the second reason...

His behavior is also one of a kind. Even in a place as large as Shrek Academy, it is extremely rare and forms a sharp contrast with his status, so even more people know about him.

Furthermore, over ten days ago, Jiang Nannan threw herself into Lu Ran's arms in public. There weren't many people present, but there were other students there.

They saw it clearly.

As soon as the team set off, this matter exploded throughout the Outer Academy, infuriating Xu Sanshi to the point where he wanted to chase after them to demand an explanation, though he ultimately gave up because he didn't dare.

The students of the entire Outer Academy have been looking forward to the follow-up, eagerly waiting for Lu Ran to return.

Now that there is finally some movement, they naturally had to rush over at the first opportunity!

By the time the referee announced that Lu Ran and Xu Sanshi were to take the stage, the entire spectator area was already packed with people.

It was a sea of heads, and the noise was deafening:

"Is that person Lu Ran?"

"..."

"Is he a freshman?"

"Have you ever seen him before?"

"Doesn't look like a freshman? Then how did he get on the stage?"

"No idea, as long as the referee allows it, it's fine."

Lu Ran and Xu Sanshi stood on the arena, The audience erupted in wave after wave of cheers, Xu Sanshi revealed a confident smile, spreading his arms to welcome the thunderous roar of the crowd:

"Did you hear that?"

He stared at Lu Ran, extended one hand, palm facing inward, and slowly clenched it into a fist, his grinning mouth revealing stark white teeth: "This is for me!"

The referee took his position: "Begin."

Hum!

Xu Sanshi summoned his black Xuanming Tortoise Martial Soul, two yellow and one purple Soul Rings appearing in unison as he charged toward Lu Ran, "Come..."

Before he could finish his sentence, "Boom!"

"Bang!"

The entire arena instantly fell into a deathly silence, "..."

After a few seconds of silence, The audience's mouths slowly hung open, struggling to accept this unbelievable scene, Everything happened too fast...

Before Xu Sanshi could finish speaking, a stone pillar erupted from the ground, launching him into the air, where he was struck by another surging stone pillar like a kite with a broken string, sent flying out of the arena, Skidding several meters across the stone floor.

The audience's gazes followed the trajectory, The stone pillars that had risen from the ground had already receded, as if nothing had ever happened, And Lu Ran simply extended a finger, standing calmly in place, while a purple Soul Ring floated beside him—

A thousand-year Soul Ring!

The entire process took no more than a few seconds...

He had defeated the three-ringed Xuanming Tortoise, known for its defense!!

Whoosh—

In an instant, The entire arena boiled over!

"Holy crap, Xu Sanshi is already out!??"

"Is this fake?!"

"How is this possible!"

"..."

The students were in an uproar. Who exactly is Lu Ran?! Where did that purple Soul Ring come from?! Is he a three-ringed Soul Master?! How old is he?!

Countless questions flooded the students' minds, They were desperate for answers, but unfortunately, they had no way of knowing right now.

The referee was also stunned; in all his years, this was the first time he had seen such a crushing victory, even in Shrek Academy, which was famous for its geniuses, Lu Ran was a three-ringed Soul Master unlike any he had ever seen before, After a brief moment of distraction, he announced:

"The winner, Lu Ran!"

The audience erupted into another thunderous roar; the inverted-eight shape of the arena was designed to amplify sound, and the momentum was now so terrifying it felt almost tangible.

In the crowd, Jiang Nannan clutched her chest and let out a sigh of relief, the nervous expression in her beautiful eyes finally fading, She gazed at Lu Ran with excitement, So, he was this powerful.

"Cough, cough..."

On the ground, Xu Sanshi lay with blood streaming from his nose and mouth, his expression dazed.

What happened...

Why am I lying down...

He looked up at the seething crowd of students, endured the pain in his legs, and struggled to stand up.

"Cough..."

A sweet, metallic taste surged from his lungs.

Recalling everything that had just occurred, it seemed a stone pillar had erupted from the ground, piercing through his pride-and-joy defense. While in mid-air, he had intended to defend, but a sudden sense of stagnation had gripped him as he activated his Martial Soul, accompanied by an inexplicable pressure.

In all these years, he had never experienced such a sensation.

He subconsciously touched his itchy chin, only to find his hand covered in blood...

Could I have lost?

Did I lose?

Did I really lose?

Xu Sanshi could not believe it.

On the stage, Lu Ran paid little mind to all this. Amidst the roaring waves of sound, he turned and walked off the stage.

His peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a boy and a girl in the spectator stands.

They were thirteen or fourteen years old, both wearing school uniforms.

The girl had long black hair tied into a ponytail hanging behind her, with large, lively eyes, a delicate nose, and a near-perfect oval face.

Her expression was currently beyond her control; her mouth had yet to close.

The boy to her right had short, dark blue hair that shimmered like a gemstone under the sunlight. Though young, he carried an air of refined elegance.

His handsome face also betrayed a hint of astonishment.

It appeared to be Bei Bei and Tang Ya, the leading figures of the current Tang Sect.

Noticing Lu Ran's gaze, Bei Bei's handsome face broke into a warm, gentle smile, acknowledging him in return.

Lu Ran intended to look away, but he accidentally spotted another graceful figure in the crowd.

She was looking over as well—

Ling Luochen.

His body stiffened instantly.

Over the years, Lu Ran and Ling Luochen had interacted frequently, and they were quite familiar with each other.

He just hadn't expected her to appear here.

He couldn't help but lament that the vast Shrek Academy now felt truly small.

Lu Ran pretended not to see her and walked over to Jiang Nannan.

"The nuisance has been dealt with; let's go."

"Mm!"

Jiang Nannan obediently reached out her hand and offered a sweet smile.