He turned and stepped off the stage.
Passing by the Shrek preparation area.
He paused for a moment.
He looked at Yu Xiaogang.
"Grandmaster."
"I accept your concession."
His tone was calm.
Yet it felt like a slap.
Striking Yu Xiaogang hard across the face.
Yu Xiaogang trembled all over.
His lips quivered.
He could not utter a single word.
Ji Feng smiled.
He walked straight toward the Imperial Fighting Team.
Qin Ming came up to meet him.
His expression was complex.
"Ji Feng, you..."
He stopped mid-sentence.
Ji Feng had once been a student of the Imperial Fighting Team.
But due to the arrogance of Yu Tianheng.
He had been forced to leave the team.
Now, he had returned with a crushing posture.
He had torn through Shrek.
And he had also slapped the Imperial Fighting Team in the face.
Qin Ming felt a mix of emotions.
There was regret.
And there was guilt.
"Teacher Qin."
Ji Feng nodded slightly.
"Long time no see."
His attitude was neither humble nor pushy.
Qin Ming gave a bitter smile.
"Indeed, long time no see."
"You... have become much stronger."
Ji Feng did not respond.
His gaze swept over the members of the Imperial Fighting Team.
Yu Tianheng had been injured by Tang San.
His eyes flickered.
He stared fixedly at Ji Feng.
That venomous gaze carried a sense of disbelief.
Ji Feng felt his stare.
The corners of his mouth curled upward.
Shi Mo, Yu Feng, and the others.
Also avoided his gaze.
They dared not meet his eyes.
Only Dugu Yan.
Boldly sized him up.
Her eyes were filled with curiosity.
As for Ye Lingling.
Ji Feng's gaze narrowed slightly.
A girl with purple hair and purple robes.
Was watching him quietly.
Their eyes met.
Ye Lingling did not look away.
She simply gave a soft hum.
Counting it as a greeting.
Then she lowered her head.
And continued to fiddle with the hem of her clothes.
Dugu Yan leaned into Ye Lingling's ear.
"Lingling, you're acting strange."
Ye Lingling's body stiffened.
"I'm not."
Her voice was cold and clear.
Yet it carried a hint of panic.
Dugu Yan chuckled to herself.
She didn't press the matter.
But the way she looked at Ji Feng.
Held a bit more playfulness.
At this moment, the host's voice rang out.
"Please wait a moment, contestant Ji Feng."
"The Arena Manager would like to see you."
Ji Feng raised an eyebrow.
He followed the staff member away.
His back was as straight as a pine tree.
As Zhu Zhuqing was being carried off the stage.
She happened to see him leaving.
A strange emptiness filled her heart.
That feeling of loss.
Startled even her.
"Zhuqing, are you alright?"
Dai Mubai asked with concern.
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head.
"I'm fine."
Her voice remained icy.
But her gaze followed that retreating figure.
Until it vanished at the end of the corridor.
Dai Mubai did not notice anything amiss.
He only said indignantly.
"That bastard Ji Feng."
"Next time, I'll make him pay!"
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes.
Next time...
Could there even be a next time?
She suddenly felt a sense of anticipation.
As soon as the thought arose.
She ruthlessly extinguished it.
Zhu Zhuqing, what are you thinking?
She warned herself in secret.
Yet her heartbeat honestly quickened.
And her cheeks grew slightly warm.
Fortunately, the night provided cover.
No one noticed.
The Shrek members looked disheveled.
They prepared to leave the arena.
Yu Xiaogang walked at the very back.
He glanced back at the soul fighting stage.
His eyes were sinister.
"Ji Feng..."
"We are not finished."
He muttered to himself.
He led Tang San and the others away.
They vanished into the night.
The Imperial Fighting Team also prepared to leave.
Qin Ming walked at the very front.
His footsteps were heavy.
Today's battle.
Had been a massive blow to the Imperial Fighting Team.
Ji Feng's dominant performance.
Seemed to be saying.
How foolish a decision it was.
For you to abandon me back then.
"Teacher Qin."
Ye Lingling suddenly spoke up.
"Will Ji Feng..."
"Ever come back?"
Qin Ming was stunned.
He turned his head to look at her.
Ye Lingling kept her head lowered.
Her short purple hair obscured the side of her face.
Her expression was unreadable.
But her tightly clenched hands.
Betrayed her inner tension.
Qin Ming was silent for a moment.
"I don't know."
He spoke the truth.
Ye Lingling gave a soft hum.
She said nothing more.
She simply slowed her pace.
Falling to the back of the group.
Dugu Yan stayed by her side.
"Lingling, don't tell me you..."
"I didn't."
Ye Lingling cut her off.
Her tone was hurried.
Dugu Yan laughed.
"I hadn't even finished yet."
"What are you rushing for?"
The tips of Ye Lingling's ears turned inexplicably red.
She quickened her pace.
And caught up with the team.
Yet, in her mind.
That figure drawing a bow.
Simply would not fade away.
Her cold, aloof heart.
For the first time.
Rippled for someone.
Meanwhile.
In the Soul Arena manager's office.
Ji Feng accepted a contract.
"This is the Gold Soul badge."
"And VIP treatment."
The manager beamed.
"We hope you visit often."
Ji Feng glanced at it.
He tucked it away.
"Easy enough."
He turned and left.
Stepping out of the Soul Arena.
The night breeze brushed his face.
The stars shone brilliantly.
Ji Feng took a deep breath.
He opened the system interface.
The Hou Yi Martial Soul progress.
Had advanced another notch.
The passive ability to gain soul power from slaying monsters.
Allowed him to level up even during combat.
"Still not enough."
Ji Feng muttered.
"The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament..."
"There is a longer road ahead."
He clenched his fist.
Determination flashed in his eyes.
Then he strode forward.
Melting into the night of Suotuo City.
In another alleyway.
Zhu Zhuqing walked alone.
Playing back the scene in her mind.
Of Ji Feng brushing her hair aside.
Her heartbeat spiraled out of control again.
She stopped.
Leaning against the wall.
She looked up at the sky.
Starlight fell into her eyes.
The coldness gradually melted away.
"Ji Feng..."
She whispered the name.
For the first time.
She felt curious about someone.
The loosening of her cold mask.
Was something even she had not yet noticed.
Tonight.
Suotuo City could not sleep.
The name Ji Feng.
Would spread throughout the entire Balaque Kingdom.
Soto Great Soul Arena.
High in the stands.
Ma Hongjun's attention.
Was entirely fixed on Ye Lingling, a member of the Imperial Fighting Team, not far across the way.
"So beautiful..."
"If I could get close to a beauty like this, it would be worth dying for."
Ma Hongjun was plagued by his evil fire.
Coupled with seeing a beauty with such a cold, aloof temperament as Ye Lingling for the first time.
He was instantly unable to move his feet.
"Fatty, where are you going?"
Tang San had been defeated.
He was currently in a foul mood.
Seeing Fatty actually preparing to leave the team.
He couldn't help but ask.
Fatty replied: "Third Brother, don't mind me, I have something to take care of over there."
Since he intended to hit on her.
Bringing Tang San along.
Would naturally be rather inconvenient.
So, he simply made up an excuse.
And slipped away.
Returning to the Imperial Academy's quarters.
After parting ways with the other members.
Ye Lingling was unaware that she had been followed the entire way by this lecherous man, Ma Hongjun.
And at this moment, Ma Hongjun.
Watching Ye Lingling's back.
And the way her hips swayed as she walked.
Was drooling with desire.
"So beautiful..."
He had already begun to fantasize about what it would feel like to pin this girl down on a bed.
"What a great figure, it must be explosive!"
Ma Hongjun's eyes.
Were filled with lewdness.
Rubbing his hands together.
He appeared behind Ye Lingling.
At this moment.
Ye Lingling also stopped in her tracks.
She finally realized.
That someone had been following her.
Turning her head.
She saw a very fat man.
And recognized him at a glance as a member of the Shrek Team, which had just defeated her Imperial Fighting Team during the soul fight!
The opponent's fire-attribute martial soul and soul power attacks were exceptionally formidable!
Thinking of this.
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly.