(A beautiful picture of Jiang Nannan)
Lin Ye grinned. "Then I'll beat him until he hides in his shell and get even for Xiao Ya and Jiang Nannan!"
Jiang Nannan looked at Lin Ye with gentle eyes. She pressed her lips together but said nothing.
The Soul Fighting Zone was an important part of Shrek Academy. It stood in the northwest corner of the Martial Soul Department, near Shrek City.
Many upper-year students came here regularly.
It hosted all kinds of matches, with teachers serving as referees to decide the winners, protect the students, and provide aid and treatment.
Of course, all that cost money.
Each side had to pay at least ten Gold Soul Coins to hold a match, yet plenty of students kept coming back.
Here, they could fight without holding back or worrying that a heavy blow would put anyone in danger. The referees knew when to step in.
Winning in the Soul Fighting Zone also earned academic credits and bonus points in year-end exams.
From the fourth year onward, Soul Fighting credits were required for promotion.
To advance from the fourth year to the fifth, for example, a student had to win at least ten matches against opponents in the same year.
Advancing from the fifth to the sixth required even more.
And after the sixth year, those credits were said to matter even more for admission to the Inner Court.
Matches in the Soul Fighting Zone were open to every student, provided they paid the one-Silver-Soul-Coin admission fee.
Shrek Academy certainly knew how to squeeze money out of its students.
They had already paid tuition, and the academy still had all sorts of hidden fees!
After paying, the group entered the Soul Fighting Zone.
The hexagonal venue was roughly the size of Shrek Square.
A broad open area filled the center, clearly where students fought their matches.
Rows of seats rose around it, with room for about three thousand spectators.
Lin Ye and Xu Sanshi had both stepped into the Soul Fighting Arena.
Xu Sanshi waved his folding fan, his face full of arrogance. "Kid, if you lose, you'll kneel and apologize to me! And you'll supply milk tea to me and our Nannan forever. For free!"
I haven't even said anything yet, and Xu Sanshi's already laying down terms, Lin Ye thought.
Fine. I'll make this cost you!
He looked up at Xu Sanshi. "And if you lose?"
Xu Sanshi gave a scornful laugh. "Me? Heh. Name whatever terms you like!"
Lin Ye answered without hesitation. "If you lose, you give me a Mystic Water Pill!"
The Mystic Water Pill was refined by Xu Sanshi's Mystic Underworld Sect from the blood essence of water-attribute Soul Beasts and water-attribute plants.
It could cleanse the body, boost Soul Power, and improve cultivation aptitude. Its effects were especially strong for Soul Masters below level twenty, though each subsequent dose was less effective.
Xu Sanshi's expression sharpened.
This kid knows I'm from the Mystic Underworld Sect?
Tang Ya must have let it slip!
But Xu Sanshi didn't believe he could lose. "Deal!" he declared.
What could a mere freshman do to me?
The referee walked to the center of the arena and said in a deep voice:
"First-year Lin Ye challenges fifth-year Xu Sanshi. If Xu Sanshi loses, he must pay an additional ten Gold Soul Coins.
You've already agreed on your private wager. Are you both ready?"
Lin Ye and Xu Sanshi nodded to the referee at the same time.
"Begin."
The referee quickly retreated after the announcement. Lin Ye and Xu Sanshi released their Martial Souls at the same moment.
Nothing dramatic happened around Lin Ye. A faint lotus glow simply rose from his body, bathing him in a soft light like a gauzy veil.
Across from him, Xu Sanshi's body swelled, stretching his school uniform taut.
An enormous Turtle Shell Shield appeared in his right hand. Black light rippled across it, and its presence was imposing.
There weren't many people in the stands. After all, everyone thought the outcome was obvious.
Red light flashed in Lin Ye's hand, and a long spear appeared out of thin air.
It had a red shaft and a golden spearhead at each end. Flame-like patterns flowed along its length.
Xu Sanshi narrowed his eyes. "A Martial Soul? No... That's not a Martial Soul. A Soul Tool?"
Lin Ye had already attacked.
His spear shot forward like the wind, straight at Xu Sanshi's face!
Xu Sanshi hurriedly raised his shield to block.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal rang against metal, scattering sparks.
Lin Ye struck again and again, though there wasn't much force behind the blows. He was only testing Xu Sanshi's defenses.
Xu Sanshi stayed calm. He shifted his left foot half a step back, crouched slightly, and held his heavy shield before him, covering himself completely.
Pitch-black Soul Power surged from the Turtle Shell Shield and formed a dim barrier around his body.
"Are you trying to tickle me?!" Xu Sanshi roared with laughter.
Lin Ye didn't answer.
The Yellow Soul Ring around him began to spin.
"First Soul Skill! Lotus Heart Consciousness Sea!"
Lotus-colored spiritual perception spread out in an instant, bringing every detail within a hundred meters into focus.
Xu Sanshi's defense really was formidable. His shield sealed off every opening, leaving almost no gaps.
Lin Ye kept moving around him, thinking as he fought.
When Beibei fought Xu Sanshi in the original story, Dai Yuhao secretly helped Beibei cheat...
Poor Xu Sanshi never did figure out how he lost that match.
The first of Xu Sanshi's three Soul Rings, a yellow century-old ring, lit up.
The black light on the Turtle Shell Shield instantly doubled in intensity. A powerful dark aura spread from it,
covering more than ten square meters as it pushed outward like a massive dome.
A rumble filled the arena, and the air churned.
Xuanming Shock. Xu Sanshi's first Soul Skill.
It was an area attack that knocked enemies back and could stun them.
If an enemy was weaker than him, the shock would leave them dizzy as it knocked them back. At the very least, it would force them away.
Xu Sanshi was already sure he had won.
That freshman will probably pass out on the spot.
But Lin Ye hadn't activated the Lotus Heart Consciousness Sea for nothing.
He clearly "saw" how Xuanming Shock spread.
It covered everything around Xu Sanshi.
Directly overhead, though, was a blind spot.
Lin Ye flipped through the air and vaulted over Xu Sanshi's head!
At the same time, flames erupted from the Fire-Tipped Spear.
He had yet to master Samadhi True Fire, but the flames he could command were already extraordinary.
Xu Sanshi's pupils contracted. He hurriedly raised his shield.
Flames swept around both sides of it, and scorching heat struck his face.
The shield grew so hot that Xu Sanshi couldn't hold on. His grip loosened, and he nearly dropped the Turtle Shell Shield.
In that instant, Lin Ye landed beside him.
With a flick of his wrist, he launched another attack!
Universe Ring!
The golden ring flew out and struck Xu Sanshi squarely in the kidney.
"Aah!"
Xu Sanshi cried out and collapsed facedown.
I got careless!
I didn't dodge!
Lin Ye pointed the tip of his spear straight at Xu Sanshi's head.
Xu Sanshi instinctively tucked his head into his shoulders.
"Lin Ye wins!" the referee announced.
Tang Ya threw up her arms and cheered. "Yes! Lin Ye, you're amazing! Xu Sanshi, you turtle hiding in your shell!"
Jiang Nannan stared at Lin Ye in surprise. A boy with just one Soul Ring had defeated Xu Sanshi so easily?
How did he do it?
Before you continue