Old Cow Eats Tender Grass

The exterior of the Soul Fighting Arena was grand and imposing, but when Yang Jian stepped inside, he found the interior surprisingly sparse. Aside from a massive platform enclosed by a soul guidance barrier, a soul guidance screen displaying soul fighting points and match-ups, and the surrounding spectator stands, there was nothing else.

"How is it? Does it feel a bit different?"

Ma Xiaotao had been keeping her eyes on Yang Jian's profile. Seeing the flash of surprise on his face, she immediately chuckled. "Well? Does it look quite simple, without all those flashy, unnecessary things?"

"It is quite unexpected."

Yang Jian replied, his gaze involuntarily drifting toward the massive soul guidance screen.

On the far left of the display was the day's match schedule, while the right side showed the current soul fighting points and rankings of the Inner Court students.

The first place was held by none other than Zhang Lexuan, the Inner Court senior sister whom Yang Jian had briefly encountered in the Star Dou Great Forest.

"The one ranked first is our Inner Court senior sister, Zhang Lexuan. It's said that ever since she entered Shrek Academy and began participating in soul fights, she has never lost. At most, she's been forced into a draw by her opponents, so her points are far ahead, leaving the second-place contender in the dust."

When mentioning Zhang Lexuan, Ma Xiaotao's tone was filled with a rare sense of respect.

In the entire Inner Court, there were few people she truly held in high regard, and Zhang Lexuan was definitely one of them.

Yang Jian wasn't surprised that Zhang Lexuan was in first place.

After all, in the original story, before Huo Yuhao even entered Shrek Academy, the most talented student in the academy was this Zhang Lexuan, who had been brought back to Shrek Academy by Mu En since she was a child.

So... with such an outstanding senior sister who had grown up by his side—mature, intellectual, gentle, and considerate—why on earth did Bei Bei fall for Tang Ya?

The concept of being love-struck was truly absurd.

However, as a friend, Yang Jian only had one evaluation for this: a wild boar failing to appreciate fine fodder.

"Your points are actually only ranked ninth?"

Yang Jian scanned the point rankings from top to bottom, somewhat surprised by Ma Xiaotao's position. After all, even though Ma Xiaotao had been constantly plagued by the Evil Fire, her cultivation had never lagged behind. In terms of both strength and talent, she was more than capable of being at the forefront of the Inner Court.

Ma Xiaotao looked at Yang Jian earnestly, as if finding his confusion strange:

"Because the people ranked ahead of me are all Inner Court seniors nearing graduation. Plus, I've been troubled by the Evil Fire for so long that I often couldn't use my full strength, which resulted in me participating in fewer soul fights. That's why I'm only ranked ninth."

"Now that the issue with the Evil Fire is resolved, it shouldn't be long before my ranking climbs up."

Ma Xiaotao's tone revealed deep confidence.

And her confidence was by no means blind; she truly possessed the capital for it. Just as she said, even while suffering from the Evil Fire, she had managed to break into the top ten. Now that the fire was temporarily under control, her ranking would undoubtedly continue to rise.

Yang Jian glanced at the big screen again and found that it was indeed as Ma Xiaotao had described.

Most of the names above Ma Xiaotao were ones he hadn't heard of, with the exception of Han Ruoruo. Most were the Inner Court seniors nearing graduation that Ma Xiaotao had mentioned. However, below Ma Xiaotao, he did see a few familiar names.

For instance... Jin Ming in eleventh place, Dai Yueheng in sixteenth, and Ling Luochen in twenty-fourth.

"You could try challenging this soul fighting ranking, too. I think with your strength, you'd climb the ranks quite quickly. You might even surpass me and end up above me."

Ma Xiaotao blinked at Yang Jian, a hint of playfulness appearing in her expression.

"Ma Xiaotao? That should be Ma Xiaotao, right?"

Jin Ming, who was known alongside Ma Xiaotao as one of the two "living volcanoes" of the Inner Court, widened her eyes slightly, her gaze landing on Yang Jian and Ma Xiaotao standing at the entrance of the Soul Fighting Arena.

On the surface, the two of them, both having rather fiery temperaments, shouldn't have been that close, but in reality, Jin Ming and Ma Xiaotao had a decent relationship and had even gone out together to execute missions for the Shrek Inspectorate.

Jin Ming, who knew Ma Xiaotao relatively well, truly found it hard to imagine that Ma Xiaotao would show such an expression in front of a boy.

And...

Who was this boy?

Why didn't she have any impression of him at all?

"Ruoruo, do you know the boy next to Xiaotao? Why do I feel like I've never seen him before?"

Jin Ming tugged at the sleeve of her friend beside her.

Han Ruoruo, sitting next to Jin Ming, carefully scrutinized him before nodding in agreement: "Hmm, he looks quite young and quite handsome."

Jin Ming was momentarily speechless.

Of course I can see that the boy is handsome; I'm not blind. But the question is, was that what I just asked you?

"I'm asking you, is this boy a student of our Inner Court?"

"Oh, you're asking about that? No, he isn't."

As a senior sister about to graduate from the Inner Court, Han Ruoruo had seen almost every Inner Court student. Coupled with her excellent memory, she could be certain that the boy beside Ma Xiaotao was not an Inner Court student.

"Wow!"

"So, that means he's an Outer Court student? I can't believe it! Xiaotao is actually into robbing the cradle?"

Jin Ming couldn't help but lower her voice in exclamation, followed immediately by her friend's faint, lingering voice:

"That cradle is truly tender..."

At the same time, an old man sitting at the very back of the spectator stands finally finished gnawing on the chicken leg in his hand.

After casually wiping his grease-stained hands on his clothes, he lowered his eyelids and glanced in the direction of Yang Jian and Ma Xiaotao.

This little fellow... is he the supreme genius Shao Zhe mentioned who can solve Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire problem?

From the looks of it, other than being a bit more handsome than he was in his youth, there doesn't seem to be anything special about him.

No... that's not right!

Xuan Zi's gaze locked onto Little White in Yang Jian's arms, a flash of shock crossing his eyes.

He actually felt an inexplicable sense of oppression from this little puppy... as if it were some existence that stood far above him!

How could this be!?

Could it be that this puppy is a fierce beast in human form?

That is absolutely impossible!

Xuan Zi furrowed his brows, sensing carefully.

Rather than saying this little puppy brought him immense pressure, it was more like his martial soul was being suppressed.

Yet, Xuan Zi found the notion absurd.

His martial soul, the Godly Taotie Bull, was a top-tier martial soul of the current age, and the bloodline of the Taotie within it originated from the fifth son of the Dragon God!

How could this little puppy possibly suppress his martial soul?