Battle Against Ma Hongjun

"Are all the students in your academy that strong?"

Hearing him claim they were all geniuses, Qingxi couldn't help but feel intrigued; it would be perfect if she could test the mettle of those geniuses.

Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back. Seeing her interest, he lifted his chin with an arrogant air.

"Of course. My students all possess the optimal soul ring configuration. They are currently undergoing special training at the Great Soul Fighting Arena, and I believe it won't be long before they earn their Silver Soul Fighting Badges. Let me introduce myself: I am the author of the legendary Ten Core Competitiveness Theories regarding spirits. You may address me as Grandmaster."

Mentioning this, Yu Xiaogang felt immensely proud.

"Ten Core Competitiveness Theories?" Qingxi frowned slightly. It sounded familiar, and she quickly searched through her memories.

It's you? She remembered. The book she had kicked into the Ice and Fire Spirit Pool years ago had been written by this very man standing before her.

If she had felt any interest in the geniuses he spoke of before, now there was only disappointment.

What kind of trash could a man who wrote such self-contradictory theories possibly teach?

Qingxi even suspected that his theories were either plagiarized or complete fabrications.

If there were no useless spirits, only useless Soul Masters, then why was innate soul power directly proportional to spirit strength?

And why were Title Douluo so rare?

Was it because Soul Masters were too useless and didn't work hard enough?

Furthermore, regarding the optimal soul ring age limit, the fifth soul ring Yan'er had absorbed was a sixty-thousand-year-old Blazing Poison Flame Jiao, and she hadn't exploded to death!

In her view, it was merely a matter of physical strength being unable to withstand the power of the soul ring; one simply needed to solve that problem.

As for the claim that soul bones were more likely to drop the more painful a soul beast's death was, that was utter nonsense.

To Qingxi, if one had already chosen to kill, why the need for torture?

Not only taking a life but also torturing the creature—this man was truly despicable.

Not only was he misleading his students, but his words were also complete garbage.

"That's right! It is I." Yu Xiaogang nodded haughtily.

His Ten Core Competitiveness Theories were affirmed and sought after by countless people on the continent, including Spirit Hall. If he wasn't mistaken, the girl before him likely also possessed an optimal soul ring configuration; otherwise, she couldn't be this strong.

He believed his identity alone was enough to make the girl before him swoon.

"Our academy isn't open to just anyone. Receiving an invitation from me is your..."

"Get lost!"

Before the word "honor" could leave his lips, the tip of the Universe Staff was already pointed at Yu Xiaogang's head, and killing intent instantly swept over him.

A look of astonishment appeared on Yu Xiaogang's already stiff face, and a bead of cold sweat slid down his forehead.

"Look over there." The dispute between the two had already attracted the attention of those around them.

"You two, private fights are strictly prohibited in the rest area of the Great Soul Fighting Arena. Please do not break the rules here." At this moment, a staff member stepped forward.

Noticing the strange looks from the crowd, Qingxi retracted the Universe Staff and walked past Yu Xiaogang toward the Sparring Area.

After a long while, Yu Xiaogang finally regained his composure. Watching the girl's retreating figure, he felt incredibly humiliated; he, the dignified Grandmaster, had actually been intimidated by a little girl.

Qingxi drew her lot from the staff member and found a place to wait.

After a long time, the host's passionate voice rang out across the arena, "For the next match, let us welcome the Tool Spirit 'Qiankun Mingxin' and the Beast Spirit 'Evil Fire Phoenix' to the stage! Both are level twenty-eight Battle Soul Masters. Be aware that Qiankun Mingxin has already achieved a six-match winning streak, and the Evil Fire Phoenix is also an expert with a nine-match winning streak. If he wins this next match, he will complete a ten-match winning streak!"

"Both are top-tier experts. Let us wait and see who will emerge victorious!"

Immediately after, a very fat man wearing mustard-yellow clothing and a green mask stepped onto the fighting stage.

"Evil Fire Phoenix will win!"

"So handsome, so strong..."

"Go, Evil Fire Phoenix!"

For a moment, the entire arena was stirred, with various screams echoing incessantly.

After all, in the Douluo Continent, strength was respected. Even though Ma Hongjun was fat and ugly, there were still those who were conquered by the strength he displayed.

Ma Hongjun walked with a wide-legged gait, forcefully exuding an aura of dominance. Looking at the girls screaming for him not far away, he blew them a series of kisses.

He knew he would have something to eat tonight.

Ever since Ma Hongjun began his winning streak at the arena, the number of women throwing themselves at him had increased significantly. He naturally accepted them all, and his "evil fire" had subsided quite a bit over the past few days.

Qingxi looked at the fat man on the stage and frowned slightly. As she walked, she pulled a pair of black silk gloves from her Storage Bag and put them on.

Seeing that a little girl had come onto the stage, and one with a smile on her face at that, Ma Hongjun put his hands on his hips and laughed. "Is the Great Soul Fighting Arena out of people? They actually sent a little girl up here."

"Hey! You across from me, take off that mask and let me have a look. If you're pretty, maybe I'll let you off easy." Ma Hongjun rubbed his fists, his lecherous gaze sweeping over her slender waist and slightly protruding chest.

Judging by her figure, she shouldn't be bad-looking. It was rare to encounter a female soul fighter, and he didn't mind having some fun.

"It's the Evil Fire Phoenix."

"Evil Fire Phoenix, burn her clothes off!"

Someone shouted from the audience. Having watched several of the Evil Fire Phoenix's matches, they naturally knew his habits.

Encountering a female soul master always invited a bit of teasing.

The last vine-wielding soul master he'd faced had been left with only two scraps of fabric on her entire body, a sight that had truly been a feast for the eyes.

"Did you hear what the brothers in the stands said? Be a good girl and do as they ask, otherwise, I wouldn't mind burning your clothes off." Ma Hongjun pointed toward the audience behind him, his gaze fixed on Qingxi with malicious intent.

"Enough talk." A flash of coldness crossed Qingxi's eyes as she leveled her Universe Staff at Ma Hongjun.

"Both soul masters, get ready. Preparing in 3, 2, 1. Begin!" the host announced, finishing the countdown.

Ma Hongjun launched his attack first. "Phoenix Possession."

A wave of purplish-red heat radiated from his body, followed immediately by two yellow soul rings rising from beneath his feet.

"First soul skill, Phoenix Fire Line!" Ma Hongjun opened his mouth, and a stream of purplish-red flame erupted like an extended line of fire, shooting toward Qingxi. The intense heat caused the air to distort.

"Hahahaha, look at her, she's frozen in fear."

"This isn't a place for women, get lost, female soul master!"

"Evil Fire Phoenix, make her run naked!"

The massive audience was composed mostly of people who had come for Ma Hongjun, and they were whipped into a frenzy of excitement.

Watching the girl standing rooted to the spot in terror, Ma Hongjun felt a surge of triumph.

However, the next second, he saw her figure dissipate like smoke.

"This..." The crowd exchanged bewildered glances.

Ma Hongjun was stunned for a moment, but his reflexes were lightning-fast. Just as he moved to retract his fire line to defend himself, a cold, clear female voice sounded by his ear, "Where are you looking?"

"At you, of course, little lady. You smell so sweet!" Ma Hongjun spun around, throwing a punch at Qingxi while unleashing his Phoenix Fire Line once more.

At such close range, he didn't believe she could dodge again.