Ning Rongrong let go, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and met the teasing looks of the others. Her face flushed faintly.
But she quickly pulled herself together, stood, and bowed deeply to everyone. "I want to apologize for how I acted yesterday. I hope you can forgive me."
"..."
One second.
Two seconds.
Time dragged on as Ning Rongrong stayed bent over, waiting for their response.
Dai Mubai was the first to speak.
A little awkwardly, he said, "I was too impulsive last night. I shouldn't have hit you. I'm sorry, too."
"Exactly. We're all classmates. It's in the past," Oscar said with a grin.
It was as if everyone suddenly had something to say. The room grew lively, and amid the cheerful commotion, everyone forgave Ning Rongrong for her childish behavior the day before.
"Ning Rongrong, lift your head. Look at your team."
Huo Yuhao's voice rang out. Ning Rongrong obediently raised her head, and the first thing she saw was the smiles on her companions' faces.
She froze, then abruptly turned to meet those deep blue eyes. They were full of hope for her future.
Huo Yuhao smiled and nodded toward the people behind her.
A sudden shove from behind made Ning Rongrong stumble. Xiao Wu had rushed up and thrown her arms around Ning Rongrong's.
Then Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun joined them, one after another.
They looked at one another and burst into wild laughter.
"We're a team!"
"Xiao Wu, did I look really ugly when I was crying just now...?"
Ning Rongrong glanced at Huo Yuhao out of the corner of her eye and asked Xiao Wu.
"Huh? No. I mean, you weren't as pretty as usual... What's wrong?"
"!!"
So he saw it too? Nooo, I don't want that!!!
Seeing Ning Rongrong's expression shift from one mood to another, Xiao Wu was baffled. What was going on? The matter was over, so why did she look even more miserable?
"You're next, Zhu Zhuqing. Get ready," Tang San said, checking the lineup.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "Oh, okay." Then her gaze drifted involuntarily toward Huo Yuhao.
When he gave her an encouraging thumbs-up, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and her nerves eased.
"For our next match, we have our newcomer, Zhu Zhuqing, a Battle Soul Master with a Nether Civet Martial Soul, facing Peng Yi, a Battle Soul Master with a Ghost Vine Martial Soul! Peng Yi has already won two matches in a row. Who will claim victory this time? Let's wait and see! Now, please welcome both contestants to the arena!"
"Uh-oh. Her opponent seems to be a control-type Soul Master. That's a bad matchup for Zhu Zhuqing."
Tang San watched the arena with concern. He had committed all the theoretical knowledge the Grandmaster had taught him to memory.
"Huh? Does that mean Zhu Zhuqing's going to lose?"
"Let's watch first."
Once the two contestants entered the arena, everyone saw Zhu Zhuqing's opponent: a middle-aged man around thirty, with a noticeably receding hairline.
When Peng Yi saw that his opponent was a curvy beauty, a trace of greed flashed in his eyes. He chuckled lecherously. "Hey, little beauty, how about you say something sweet to me, and I'll go easy on you?"
Zhu Zhuqing's expression turned cold at once. She stared at him, her gaze icy. "Disgusting."
She said no more and immediately activated Martial Soul Possession.
Her eyes changed color, her left turning dark green and her right bright blue. Her long hair fell smoothly down her back, and two Yellow Soul Rings rose beneath her feet.
Her First Soul Ring lit up. Hell Stab!
Zhu Zhuqing charged at Peng Yi in a flash, leaving a string of afterimages behind her.
When Peng Yi saw Zhu Zhuqing's two Hundred-Year Soul Rings, his pupils shrank slightly. He didn't even have two Hundred-Year Soul Rings!
But he wasn't too worried. He was a twenty-ninth-level Soul Master, and he could sense that Zhu Zhuqing's Soul Power was far below his.
Besides, he had plenty of experience dealing with agility-type Soul Masters. He couldn't help smiling wickedly. Taking care of a little girl would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?
A white Soul Ring and a yellow Soul Ring rose beneath his feet. His First Soul Ring lit up, and several vines sprang from the ground, lashing toward Zhu Zhuqing to bind her.
"This move was made for fast opponents like you," Peng Yi said with a chuckle.
"Just give up, little girl."
Zhu Zhuqing's Second Soul Ring lit up. Her hands moved like afterimages, striking countless times in rapid succession and tearing the vines in front of her to pieces. She didn't slow down at all as she rushed toward Peng Yi.
Peng Yi's First Soul Ring was only ten years old. His vines were nowhere near as tough as Tang San's. When he saw his skill had no effect, panic flashed in his eyes. Overconfident, he hadn't put any distance between them at the start, and now he couldn't escape.
"Hmph. Don't think I'm going to lose just like that."
Realizing he had no way out, Peng Yi activated his Second Soul Ring. Sharp thorns sprouted from the vines beneath his feet, which lashed out at Zhu Zhuqing as she charged.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't dodge. Just as the vines were about to hit her, a golden shield blocked them, while her claws came to rest against Peng Yi's throat.
"I... I surrender."
Peng Yi shuddered as he felt the chill against his throat.
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing. She silently recalled her Martial Soul and walked off the platform.
The host's voice rang out. "Congratulations to our newcomer, Zhu Zhuqing, on her victory! Her record is one win and zero losses. Please report to the registration desk afterward."
When she returned to the lounge, everyone looked at her in amazement. They had also gained a deeper appreciation for Huo Yuhao's shield. It was an item that could completely change the way a battle was fought!
Who would have expected their opponent to still have a defensive skill after using all their Soul Skills? In that respect, it was as excellent as a Soul Bone.
"Thank you."
Zhu Zhuqing knew she had won only because of Huo Yuhao's Soul Guidance Shield, so she went over to thank him.
"Your opponent was the one who underestimated you. Your strategy was good, too. You used your skills first to let him lower his guard, then struck a fatal blow."
Huo Yuhao nodded approvingly. Zhu Zhuqing was undeniably good at fighting, and her thinking was mature. What she lacked was experience dealing with different Martial Souls.
Hearing Huo Yuhao praise her, Zhu Zhuqing's face reddened slightly, and she nodded.
"Mm."
Then she naturally took a seat beside him and watched the matches that followed.
Xiao Wu, seated on Huo Yuhao's other side, glanced suspiciously at the two of them. Since when had they gotten so close?
As time passed, the others in the lounge took their turns in the arena. Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai were both lucky and won their matches.
Xiao Wu glared at Tang San in a huff. She was the only one among them who had lost, leaving her with a losing record.
"For our next match, we have yesterday's new rising star! Huo Yuhao, a Battle Soul Elder with a Dark Spirit Eye Martial Soul, will face Chen Miao, a Battle Soul Elder with an Ice Spirit Turtle Martial Soul and a seven-match winning streak! Who will take the victory in this Soul Fighting match? Let's wait and see! Now, welcome both Soul Elders into the arena!"
"Yuhao, you're up. Good luck."
Everyone encouraged him. Huo Yuhao smiled, nodded, stood, and headed for the arena.
"By the way, what kind of turtle is Yuhao's opponent's Martial Soul? Is he a defense-type Soul Master? How did he win seven matches in a row?"
Dai Mubai was curious. Usually, defense-type Soul Masters didn't take part in solo Soul Fighting matches. Even beating a single opponent was impressive for them, let alone seven in a row.
"That Martial Soul isn't focused on defense. It's a control-type, using the cold of ice to restrain its opponents." Tang San had studied under the Grandmaster, so he knew the traits of this Martial Soul and explained them to everyone.
"...Then there's no suspense, is there?"
Xiao Wu said. They had seen Huo Yuhao freeze Zhao Wuji, a Soul Saint, with some unknown skill the other day.
"Generally speaking... yes." Tang San smiled wryly. He couldn't help feeling that Chen Miao had drawn the short straw by facing Huo Yuhao.