Homecoming, Planning, Beginning

After graduating from the Junior Soul Master Academy, Xiaofei set out once more with Tang San and Xiao Wu on the road back to Holy Soul Village.

Over the past few years, Tang San had grown into a youth about 1.6 meters tall. His looks were ordinary. Xiao Wu was about the same height as Tang San, but she was already growing into a great beauty. As for Xiaofei, the protagonist, he had grown to 1.8 meters tall. Aside from the slight immaturity on his face, he already looked like an adult. He had a square, broad face—not particularly handsome, but with a hint of resoluteness.

They traveled in silence, and half a day later, they finally returned home to Holy Soul Village. After dinner, Xiaofei lay on his bed, thinking and taking stock of himself.

First, his Soul Power Level was fairly good, and his rate of improvement was quite obvious. Among those his age, he should be considered among the best.

Second, his first two Soul Rings had been well chosen and gave him a certain level of attack power.

Third, because he had acquired two External Soul Bones early on, his ability to preserve his life was first-rate. However, they could not be revealed. Soul bones were rare treasures, and once they were exposed, it would mean his death.

Fourth, due to his long-term training and blacksmithing, his physical condition was quite good, and he was rather strong.

Fifth, as someone with Twin Martial Souls, his future development would certainly have to follow the original story: first cultivate the Fire Phoenix to the utmost limit, then consider cultivating the Kirin Arm.

Sixth, his combat strength was clearly inconsistent with his actual personal strength. He had no moves or techniques whatsoever, and his practical combat experience and ability were practically zero. Tang San, on the other hand, had mastered all kinds of Tang Sect secret arts. His actual combat ability could be called the ceiling among those of the same level. By Xiaofei's estimate, Tang San could now easily fight two of him alone. Of course, that did not take Martial Soul counters into account.

His short-term goal was to rapidly increase his actual combat ability, then find a place for Soul Power training. Finally, there was the matter of the Immortal Herbs. He had to obtain them before Tang San met Dugu Bo. The Immortal Herbs were right there. If he did not make plans for them and instead waited for Tang San to take them all away, then he would truly be an idiot.

A month later, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Xiaofei left Holy Soul Village once again. This time, their paths had already diverged. Xiaofei's destination was Suotuo City.

Five days later, Xiaofei finally arrived in Suotuo City. Looking at the towering city walls, he walked firmly toward the gates. After the city guards questioned him, their expressions immediately turned respectful when they learned that Xiaofei was a Soul Master, and they decisively let him in. This was a world where strength mattered, and Soul Masters represented strength.

He found a hotel to stay in, and early the next morning, under someone's guidance, he arrived at the Suotuo City Great Spirit Arena.

Xiaofei walked up to the front desk and asked the attendant, "Hello, I'd like to participate in spirit battles. What do I need to prepare?"

The attendant looked Xiaofei over, then took out a sheet of paper for him to fill in. Xiaofei completed everything on it, except he wrote his age as eighteen. An eighteen-year-old at level twenty-six looked rather unimpressive. Next, the staff arranged tests for Xiaofei's Martial Soul and Soul Power Level. Once the tests were complete, Xiaofei received his Spirit Arena certificate. The name on it was "Sparks Like Rain."

When night came, Xiaofei finally got his spirit battle. He clearly felt a wave of nervousness.

The host cried out in an impassioned voice, "Next, we have the level twenty-eight Mighty Bull against the level twenty-six Sparks Like Rain! Mighty Bull currently has a record of four wins and five losses, while today is Sparks Like Rain's first spirit battle!"

On the arena stage, Xiaofei felt the endless clamor all around him. Everyone was filled with excitement, especially the countless people loudly calling his name, making him feel somewhat fired up as well. No wonder so many people enjoyed the feeling of spirit battles.

The two activated Martial Soul Possession at the same time. Across from him stood a masked middle-aged man, with a bull attached to his body, making him look quite ferocious.

Without hesitation, the man charged forward and threw a punch at Xiaofei. Xiaofei decisively blocked it with his hand, only to feel a tremendous force transmitted through his arm. The middle-aged man pressed his advantage and unleashed his first Soul Skill, continuing to trade blows with Xiaofei. Xiaofei's eyes reddened with battle lust as well, and he collided with his opponent without regard for anything else. This continued for ten minutes, until both of them were exhausted and gasping for breath. At the critical moment, Xiaofei finally remembered to activate his first Soul Skill. His opponent finally collapsed onto the arena stage.

Xiaofei had finally won his first match, and he was so exhausted that he nearly collapsed. After returning to the hotel and finishing his meditation, Xiaofei began reviewing the arena match.

After carefully going over it for a while, he felt that the fact he had fucking won was simply outrageous luck.

First, his flames had never even burned his opponent, completely wasting his advantage with fire. Second, he had actually competed in strength against someone with a bull Martial Soul and kept fighting until the very end. As a result, he had not run out of Soul Power, but he had run out of strength instead. Third, he had not used his speed at all. Finally, as a flying-type Soul Master, he had never even used flight.

In short, his performance had been utterly terrible. He had not displayed his true strength at all.

For the next period of time, Xiaofei participated in two to three matches almost every day, and this continued for three months. He won some and lost some, but Xiaofei's actual combat ability improved greatly.

By the final few days, Xiaofei was basically invincible. He had even challenged low-level Soul Elders across levels twice. Of course, Xiaofei had not shamelessly used his flight ability to wear down his opponents. Otherwise, relying on his ability to fly, he could probably even contend a little with rookie Soul Ancestors.

At the same time, after three months of hard fighting, Xiaofei's Soul Power Level rose by one level. He was now level twenty-seven.

Xiaofei felt that the Great Spirit Arena no longer improved him very much. So he prepared to begin the next stage of training: life-and-death battles in the Soul Beast Forest. He had even planned the location long ago. It was the Fire Phoenix Nest where he had obtained his second Soul Ring, the Fire Maple Forest near the volcano.

That day, Xiaofei purchased many daily necessities, including clothes, food, some iron tools, knives, high-level soul beast dung, and several hundred Jade Boxes.

Through three months of spirit battles, along with his recent matches at the arena, Xiaofei had accumulated quite a sum. Although he was not a gambler, in order to live better, he bet on himself to win in basically every spirit battle. Sometimes he wagered several thousand Gold Soul Coins, and sometimes over ten thousand. As long as he was not betting on his opponent and deliberately losing, it was basically an unspoken rule of the arena and proof that he was confident in winning. The Spirit Arena turned a blind eye to such matters.

Xiaofei now had around four hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins in hand. On the Douluo Continent, that counted as a modest fortune.

For the next period of time, Xiaofei planned to make some purchases and see whether he could seize any opportunities.