Satisfied, But Not Entirely

Li Changsheng quickly located the exchange battle ring.

Ring number 1084.

It was different from the other soul fighting rings.

Specifically opened for students of primary soul master academies, the ring was not very large, covering only about a hundred square meters. If some soul masters were to perform here, they would likely find it quite uncomfortable.

Compared to the eighth-level soul guidance device ring in the very center, the difference was like clouds and mud.

However, this was normal.

Students at primary soul master academies were all children under the age of twelve.

The exchange battles between them were at most one-on-one.

For them, team battles were limited to a vague definition.

Coordination between soul masters required not only long periods of adjustment but also the ability to ensure their martial souls did not interfere with each other during combat.

Among children, who could control that so well?

At the edge of the ring, a staff member of the Spirit Soul Grand Soul Fighting Arena, dressed in a uniform, was already waiting there.

Li Changsheng glanced at the staff member's attire.

On the robe, five azure water-colored streaks were outlined.

This corresponded to the fifth rank of soul masters, the Soul King level.

Having a Soul King-level soul master as a referee was quite a generous gesture.

Wang Hehe, who was walking in front of Li Changsheng, reached the bottom of the ring.

He looked back at Li Changsheng, who was heading toward the stairs, a flash of disdain in his eyes.

Withdrawing his gaze, he suddenly exerted force, his thick, slightly chubby legs bending slightly as if under immense pressure. Then, accompanied by a thud, his somewhat plump body actually leaped directly onto the five-meter-high ring.

Li Changsheng naturally saw this scene.

He shook his head with a faint smile.

He did not know what Wang Hehe's purpose was in doing this.

Was he showing off how sturdy he was?

His own footsteps were light, as if treading on a breeze, and the smile he wore was like that of an immortal, his elegant posture reaching its peak.

He walked up to the ring step by step via the stairs.

The Soul King referee did not take this scene to heart.

Instead, he looked at Li Changsheng and Wang Hehe, who were standing at opposite ends of the ring, and spoke in a deep voice:

"This is an exchange battle between you two. Stop when the point is made; the use of lethal soul guidance devices is prohibited. The prize for winning is one-tenth of the registration fee. If there are private bets, decide the distribution yourselves. If you are ready, you may begin."

There was a prize for winning.

That was right; exchange battles were very similar to ordinary soul fighting, and there was a soul coin reward for victory.

Li Changsheng stood alone to one side, his gaze slightly focused, eventually landing on Wang Hehe, who was not far away.

Wang Hehe's slightly plump figure also assumed a comfortable stance.

His large eyes were also fixed on Li Changsheng. Although a sense of disdain flickered vaguely in his eyes, he still dared not be careless.

After all, the other party was also a student of Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy; he just didn't know what grade he was in.

But as long as one dared to step onto the ring for an exchange battle, they were at least a one-ring soul master—it would only be higher, not lower.

He stared for a moment, then, seeing Li Changsheng's brows move slightly, he spoke directly:

"Wang Hehe, Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy, sixth-grade student. Martial soul, Bag Flower. Level 12, one-ring control-system battle soul master."

Li Changsheng had just been preparing for the other party to suddenly launch an attack.

However, who would have thought that the other party would actually reveal his martial soul?

Li Changsheng nodded slightly.

Reporting one's martial soul was a form of respect for one's opponent.

At the same time, it was also a good way to understand an unknown opponent.

After Wang Hehe's voice faded, his entire body was suddenly shrouded in a layer of pale green light mist.

He extended his slightly bloated palms, and then, a plant—a very peculiar plant—used his palm as a nursery, growing rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye. Branches and leaves emerged, and the flower bloomed from the Bag Flower, actually opening a dark, bag-like space just like a pitcher plant. At the same time, a pale yellow soul ring drifted back and forth around his body.

A flower.

Bag Flower.

When Li Changsheng saw this martial soul, his mind suddenly associated it with plants like the Venus flytrap from his previous life.

A control-system plant martial soul seemed a bit tricky.

Li Changsheng's gaze was burning; he did not underestimate his opponent.

Standing tall, he raised his head, and from beneath his cold mask, a youthful voice emerged.

"Nameless, fifth-year student at Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy. Martial soul: Painting. Level 13, one-ring tool soul master."

Li Changsheng did not state the full name of his martial soul, opting only for the word "Painting."

At the same time, he pondered for a moment and decided to claim he was a fifth-year student.

On the other side, Wang Hehe's expression went blank upon hearing this.

Nameless? Fifth year? Level 13? Who is that? How come I've never heard of him?

Is there a genius in the fifth year who is already level 13?

As a student nearing graduation, he hadn't paid much attention to the younger students, but now he felt a twinge of regret—why hadn't he bothered to learn more about them?

"You're in the fifth year? Level 13 soul power?" he asked aloud.

Li Changsheng did not answer, choosing instead to prove it with action.

"Senior Wang Hehe, please, enter the painting."

Li Changsheng pinched his fingers, and the soul power flowing silently within his body suddenly turned restless.

In the blink of an eye, the surrounding scene shifted abruptly.

The first to notice the change was Wang Hehe.

"So hot! Ah!"

Wang Hehe's exclamation rang out suddenly.

He found that, for some reason, he had arrived in a world flowing with scorching magma.

The surrounding heat waves suppressed his Bag Flower martial soul, leaving it shivering and listless; the Bag Flowers growing beneath his feet had even been scorched to cinders by the fiery waves.

Immediately after, another person let out an exclamation.

It was a deep, resonant cry.

Wang Hehe was still searching for Li Changsheng's tracks, but his gaze was drawn toward the sound.

It was that Soul King.

At this moment, the shoes on his feet were already burning.

He happened to be standing right in the middle of the flowing magma.

However, his own Soul King soul power erupted instantly, steadily suppressing the continuously burning, scorching magma.

Even so, the soles of his shoes had completely melted, leaving his bare feet exposed, and even his pant legs were charred.

Wang Hehe's pupils constricted sharply.

At this point, he clearly understood the situation.

This... is this Nameless's soul skill?

It can even interfere with a Soul King? Is he also a control-type?

He tried to extend his foot toward the magma in front of him.

Sizzle.

The moment he lifted his foot, the scorching heat waves instantly transformed into tiny fire snakes, swallowing his entire leg.

"Ah!"

His slightly chubby body trembled, and a scream erupted simultaneously.

The scalding heat felt like boiling water; the moment it touched his skin, it went numb.

The most terrifying part was that the soul power that had been circulating through his entire body seemed to be burned away in an instant, unable to maintain his martial soul manifestation any longer, causing him to collapse onto a small, broken patch of land at his feet.

"Senior Wang Hehe."

Li Changsheng's voice suddenly rang out beside him.

Wang Hehe, collapsed on the ground, shuddered violently.

He was drenched in sweat.

He had no idea what had just happened.

Collect his thoughts?

Collect his ass!

From the moment this Nameless said "enter the painting," he had suddenly appeared in this world filled with fire, and then... there was no "then"!

He turned his head to see Li Changsheng standing gracefully on the flowing magma, smiling and waving at him.

The smile on his face was so innocent, yet in Wang Hehe's eyes, it made a layer of cold sweat break out across his back.

"I surrender, I surrender! Let me out!"

He gasped for air, roaring as if he had used every ounce of his strength.

Li Changsheng, the person in question, saw his face darken.

Li Changsheng lowered his hand and looked at Wang Hehe, who was nearly scared to death, then snapped his fingers with a sense of helplessness.

Click.

As the sound rang out, the scorching heat in the surroundings dissipated, and the shattered magma world reverted back to the Soul Fighting Arena.

At this moment, the Soul King referee's expression was just as dark as water.

There was no other reason; his shoes and trousers were no longer wearable!

If he hadn't mobilized his soul power quickly, those flames would have absolutely ignited his entire outfit!

Although he was somewhat angry, he was even more shocked by Li Changsheng's soul skill.

The attack power might not have been that strong, but what the hell was this terrifying range?

And this despicable soul skill actually burned clothes directly instead of attacking the opponent first!

He looked at Wang Hehe, who was slumped on the ground trembling uncontrollably, then glanced at Li Changsheng before announcing the result of the battle.

Li Changsheng was the winner.

Li Changsheng's expression remained indifferent.

Too weak.

He was truly too weak.

He hadn't even unleashed his soul skill yet, and this Wang Hehe had already wilted!

Moreover, this time Li Changsheng had placed him on a patch of land first, rather than throwing him directly into the magma.

Otherwise, at best, he would be sitting naked on the arena floor right now; at worst, every hair on his body would have been burned clean away.

"Sigh..."

It felt satisfying, yet not entirely so.

With a dim expression, Li Changsheng walked down the steps from the Soul Fighting Arena.

Let's end it here for today, he thought to himself.

Besides, one could only participate in the exchange matches once a day.

Furthermore, the opponent was too weak; there was no real thrill.

Perhaps I should find a century-level soul beast to test it out...

Although Li Changsheng's methods were astonishing, not many people had seen them.

After all, there were too many soul fighting arenas here.

Moreover, to outsiders, it just looked like Li Changsheng had stood in place, and the next moment, Wang Hehe had collapsed and shouted his surrender.