Exotic Beast City wasn't very far from Nuoding City. After just two days, Li Han arrived in this great city.
Compared to Nuoding City, it was indeed much more prosperous.
It was on the same level as Suotuo City, which was why it had a Great Soul Arena.
"Not a bad place."
Li Han smiled faintly and stepped into the city.
However, he didn't go straight to Exotic Beast Academy to find Wang Sheng. Instead, he went to the Great Soul Arena to register.
The Great Soul Arena was a place where Soul Masters could show off their skills, and it had strict rules.
The registration fee was ten Gold Soul Coins, and each entrant received an Iron Soul Fighting Badge. A win earned one point, while a loss cost one point. After five consecutive wins, each additional consecutive win earned ten points. A loss cost one point, after which the win streak started over.
A hundred points earned a promotion.
There were eight ranks: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Purple Gold, Sapphire, Ruby, and Diamond.
Upon promotion to Bronze Soul Fighter, each match was worth ten points. All the other rules stayed the same.
An Iron Soul Fighter earned ten gold coins for a win, but nothing for a loss.
A Bronze Soul Fighter earned a hundred gold coins per match, and so on.
Soul Fighting matches came in three types: individual, doubles, and seven-person team battles. Points were tallied separately for each.
Li Han was alone, so the only match he could enter was an individual one.
Wearing his Lone Bamboo mask, Li Han went to the registration desk.
It was worth mentioning that Li Han had already refined the mask using Dharma Artifact techniques. It no longer had its former plain appearance; now it bore the image of a Purple Thunder Roc.
Since it incorporated feathers from the Purple Thunder Roc, channeling Soul Power through it could conceal his face more effectively, preventing others from identifying him.
Unless Li Han took it off himself, the mask wouldn't fall off.
It also offered a certain degree of protection.
"Hello, sir. How may I help you?"
"I'd like to register for an Iron Soul Fighting Badge."
Li Han took out ten Gold Soul Coins and set them on the counter one by one.
"Certainly. What name would you like to use, sir? It can be your real name or a nickname."
"Call me Li Feiyu."
"All right, Mr. Li Feiyu. Here's your Iron Soul Fighting Badge. Would you like us to arrange a match for you tonight?"
The receptionist handed Li Han an iron badge and continued with her question.
"Yes."
"Then please come this way, Mr. Li Feiyu. We'll test your Soul Power and match you with a suitable opponent."
"Okay."
The Soul Power test was very simple, much like the process of awakening a Martial Soul.
"Martial Soul: Gold-Devouring Thunder Spear. Soul Power: Rank 27."
Under the effect of his second Soul Skill, Li Han had changed his Martial Soul to the Gold-Devouring Thunder Spear.
Fortunately, the arena didn't require him to state his age, saving him one headache.
With his new false identity in hand, Li Han began his Great Soul Arena journey.
"For the past year, I've had hardly any other income. My wallet's completely empty.
"I should take advantage of this and enter a few matches to earn some money."
Li Han had two reasons for coming to the Great Soul Arena: to hone his combat skills and to earn money.
There was no helping it. His cultivation was simply too expensive.
Talismans, formations, pills, Dharma Artifacts—every one of them needed a massive amount of money to support.
And he had a big appetite, too. His food wasn't cheap.
Even though he could earn a little by hunting Soul Beasts, he still had a huge hole to fill.
So Li Han asked the Great Soul Arena to arrange as many matches for him as possible.
The Great Soul Arena was no stranger to such requests.
Many Soul Masters who came to fight in the arena were short on money.
So it was perfectly normal for them to make this kind of request.
Before long, the first match began.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Soul Fighting Arena in Exotic Beast City! Tonight's first match is about to begin!
"Let's welcome our first pair of contestants!
"They are Wang Lang, a Rank 28 Battle Soul Master whose Martial Soul is the Gray Wolf!
"And Li Feiyu, a Rank 27 Battle Soul Master whose Martial Soul is the Gold-Devouring Thunder Spear!
"Their strengths are almost evenly matched, so this is sure to be an exciting Soul Fighting match!
"Notably, Li Feiyu only registered today, while Wang Lang is already a hot contender with ninety-five points!
"If Wang Lang wins, his winning streak will take him straight to Bronze Soul Fighter!
"Will the dark horse newcomer come out on top, or will the seasoned powerhouse hold his ground?
"Stay tuned!"
After the host's impassioned introduction, Li Han and Wang Lang entered the arena from opposite sides.
Wang Lang was 1.8 meters tall and powerfully built. At a glance, he looked like a strength-type Soul Master.
Li Han, though only nine years old, was already 1.7 meters tall, but he didn't have the same bulky build.
"Heh, luck really is on my side. In my last match, I get stuck with a rookie.
"Little rookie, you're out of luck running into me.
"Once I beat you, I'll become a Bronze Soul Fighter with a perfect winning record."
Wang Lang's eyes were full of arrogance.
Having won nine matches in a row, he certainly had reason to feel confident.
With Rank 28 Soul Power, he had nearly an absolute advantage in Soul Fighting matches among Soul Grandmasters. It was no surprise that he'd kept winning.
"I'm short on time. Let's get started."
Li Han spoke calmly, completely unconcerned.
In his eyes, running into him wasn't lucky for Wang Lang. It was the opposite.
He had every reason to be sure he'd win!
If he lost this match, he wouldn't even have enough money for a room at the inn tonight.
So he had to win!
"Kid! I don't like your attitude.
"You're short on time, are you? Fine!
"Just watch how I take you down in one move!"
Wang Lang frowned, his gaze filled with anger.
"Begin!"
At the host's signal, Wang Lang was the first to activate his Martial Soul.
"Martial Soul, awaken! Gray Wolf!"
Soul Power surged around Wang Lang. Two yellow Soul Rings appeared, and a gray wolf took shape behind him.
"Kid, see that? This is my Martial Soul, the Gray Wolf! Isn't it mighty?"
Wang Lang looked smug. But at that very moment, Li Han didn't even activate his Martial Soul. He pushed off the ground, rapidly closed the distance between them, and threw a punch!
Thud!
The punch, wrapped in Soul Power, struck Wang Lang squarely in the chest.
Wang Lang's face twisted with pain, and his body went flying!
The next moment, he crashed onto the arena floor.
The entire audience erupted.
"That was absolutely incredible! The instant Wang Lang activated his Martial Soul, Li Feiyu launched a surprise attack!
"He knocked Wang Lang right out of the arena without even activating his own Martial Soul!
"His timing and grasp of the battle were astonishingly precise!
"Let's congratulate Li Feiyu on his victory!"
The host was the first to react, and he didn't hold back on the praise.
"I object! He ambushed me!"
Wang Lang climbed back up from below the arena, his face full of fury.
He was naturally angry that his winning streak had ended just like that.
What angered him even more was that he'd lost before he'd even fought with all his might.
It was humiliating.
"Exactly! Wasn't that an ambush? He didn't even activate his Martial Soul. That's completely against the rules of fair play!"
The audience members talked among themselves.
Before you continue