Gangzi's Request

Qingxi put on her mask and went back to the registration desk to update her Soul Power Level. That way, even without fifteen consecutive wins, she could still be matched against opponents above level thirty.

"I thought you weren't coming back. It's only been two days, and you've already broken through to level thirty?" Supervisor Ao looked at the newly updated badge in Qingxi's hand, a hint of surprise crossing his eyes.

"Just luck." Qingxi waved her Bronze Soul Fighter badge. "You'd better set me up with a tough opponent today, okay?"

"I really can't arrange that." Supervisor Ao smiled and shook his head. Adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses, he added, "But all your upcoming opponents will be above level thirty, and quite a few are formidable. Take it one step at a time."

"I'm kidding. I'm off to compete, then." Qingxi smiled and said goodbye before heading to her Soul Fighting Arena division.

"Let's congratulate Thousand-Hand Asura on winning this Soul Fighting match!"

Yu Xiaogang had watched Tang San's latest match from the window. He was just about to leave and find his beloved disciple when a familiar name rang out below.

"Next up, Qiankun Mingxin faces Blood Blade Mad Saber. As the current fan-favorite champion on a winning streak, Qiankun Mingxin has never let an opponent last a full minute. Her Soul Power has just broken through level thirty, while Blood Blade Mad Saber is already a level thirty-six Soul Elder. Can she defeat her opponent once again and continue her winning streak? There'll be a ten-minute break before the match begins."

Yu Xiaogang stopped in his tracks. His dark eyes settled on one side of the arena, where a masked figure sat cross-legged. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

It's her?!

He had thought she wouldn't return to the Soul Fighting Arena after being gone for two days. He hadn't expected her to show up today.

The thought made Yu Xiaogang regretful. If only Xiao San had fought one more match, he could have faced her and given her a thorough humiliation.

"Teacher." Just then, Tang San pushed open the door. Seeing the imposing figure standing by the window, he bowed with the utmost respect.

"Xiao San, come here." Yu Xiaogang's voice was low, his gaze fixed on the arena.

"Yes, Teacher." Tang San stepped up behind Yu Xiaogang and followed his gaze. A flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes, then gave way to murderous fury. "It's her!"

The woman who had dared to hurt Xiao Wu!

"I'm planning to invite her to join Shrek Academy."

"Teacher, absolutely not! She hurt Fatty, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu. Someone with that kind of character doesn't deserve to join Shrek Academy." Tang San snapped. Besides, even if she joined, he didn't think the others would accept her.

Yu Xiaogang shot an icy glance at the furious Tang San. This was the first time Xiao San had ever defied him.

He lowered his eyes, his expression grave. "The dean and I considered this carefully before making our decision. Watch her match first."

Hearing Yu Xiaogang say this, Tang San calmed down and watched the match below. The longer he watched, the more astonished he became.

"One minute! Qiankun Mingxin has finished the match in just one minute again! Let's congratulate her on winning this Soul Fighting match!" The host's excited voice rang through the arena, and thunderous applause erupted from the stands.

"If you faced her, could you win?"

"Of course." Tang San's answer was certain.

After all, he had yet to use his External Soul Bone, Hidden Weapons, or Second Martial Soul in any of his matches so far.

He could end a match in one minute, too.

Yu Xiaogang nodded with satisfaction. That was his good disciple.

"I suspect she has Twin Martial Souls, just like you."

Otherwise, there was no way to explain her strength.

"What!" Tang San's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Grandmaster.

He remembered Grandmaster saying how precious Twin Martial Souls were. In the history of the continent, only two people besides him had ever possessed them.

One had been unable to withstand the power of adding Soul Rings to both Martial Souls and had exploded.

The other was now Bibi Dong, the lofty Pope of Spirit Hall.

It could be said that everyone with Twin Martial Souls was a genius among geniuses.

Thinking of Qiankun Mingxin's uncanny strength, Tang San readily accepted the possibility.

"It's a pity, though, that the first Martial Soul she cultivated was the more powerful one." Yu Xiaogang wore a regretful expression. Of course, this was only his guess.

That staff looked a lot like a Coiling Dragon Staff, though there were some differences. It was exceptionally powerful.

"Xiao San, once the Great Soul Arena matches are over, your next training will be for the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament. Your teacher expects you to take first place." Yu Xiaogang held up one finger and gazed at Tang San with determination. He continued, "In my eyes, you're the best. That's why I've always been so strict with you. If the information is correct, the first-place prize at this year's Soul Master Academy tournament will be three Soul Bones that are over ten thousand years old!"

As an honorary elder of Spirit Hall, finding out this kind of information was no difficult task.

"Three Soul Bones!" Tang San's eyes widened in shock.

He knew the value of a Soul Bone. They were treasures as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns, yet Spirit Hall dared to offer them as the first-place prize.

"That's right. But the entry requirements for the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament are that contestants must be under twenty-five and compete in teams of ten: seven main fighters and three substitutes. Shrek Academy only has seven students..."

"So that's why you want her to join Shrek Academy?" Tang San asked.

"Mm." Yu Xiaogang nodded calmly, then added, "She may not be as strong as you, but she's stronger than Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing. I also plan to take her on as my disciple, so she won't stray down the wrong path again. Once she joins, you'll be her senior brother, so you'll need to keep her in line."

Yu Xiaogang was secretly delighted. If he trained two geniuses with Twin Martial Souls, even the royal family of the Heaven Dou Empire would treat him as an honored guest.

Tang San nodded. It was true: if someone like her wasn't properly kept in line, she might stray down the wrong path.

"Teacher, is there anything you need me to do?"

"Tomorrow, Flender and I will go challenge her to a wager match. All you need to do is beat her soundly in the arena!" A glint of ruthlessness passed through Yu Xiaogang's dark eyes.

He would have Xiao San defeat her himself, then offer her a lifeline when she was at her most desperate. Surely she'd be moved.

"Understood, Teacher." Tang San nodded. Looking at the girl's retreating figure, he swore to himself that he'd leave her a dog's life—but nothing more.

He had to avenge Xiao Wu!

"Go get ready for the team battle." Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back, holding himself in an air of inscrutable mystery.

When the team battle began, Qingxi showed up in the audience seats with two strings of candied hawthorns, right on time. As usual, she bet on Shrek Team to win.

This was a hen that laid golden eggs day after day!

Someone poked her shoulder from behind. She turned around, but nobody was there.

She was poked twice more. She turned around again, but still nobody was there.

The next second, a ghostly face appeared in front of her.

Qingxi wore a blank expression as she bit off another candied hawthorn and popped it into her mouth.

"Are you bored?" she asked, chewing her candied hawthorns as she got up and headed outside.

"Tch, Master, you're no fun." Dugu Yan dropped the ghost face and followed Qingxi with a pout.

"Here." As she spoke, Qingxi tossed a lump of something straight at Dugu Yan.

The scales gleamed with a cold light. Dugu Yan felt every hair on her body stand on end, and hurriedly conjured a protective layer over her skin with her spiritual power. The next moment, the heavy object landed in her arms.

"What's this?" Dugu Yan gripped the whip's handle and gave it a swing. Its scales whipped through the air with a sharp hiss.

She was a little surprised. This weapon was like a whip, but not quite one—and it was incredibly sharp.

"Your weapon. You can give it a name. Remember to bind it with your blood." Qingxi spoke in an even tone.

"How about Red Scale?" Dugu Yan said with a smile. She cut her fingertip, and a drop of her blood was absorbed by Red Scale. She could clearly sense a connection forming between herself and the weapon.

As if... it were her Martial Soul?

Dugu Yan raised her hand and silently recited the incantation. It felt like an instinct she'd been born with. The scales of Red Scale fell away one by one, leaving a long whip with finer scales.

Thirty-six golden-red scales circled around her, each one razor-sharp.

Dugu Yan had a feeling that the scales were so sharp they could pierce even a Soul Master above level seventy who had activated their Martial Soul Avatar.

Her gaze fell on the wall before her, and she itched to test them out.

"Put it away. You'll have to pay for anything you break." Qingxi glanced at her, seemingly aware of what she was planning, and warned her.

After all, the last person who damaged the floor had to pay a thousand Gold Soul Coins.