Great Soul Arena

At Shrek's training grounds, Dai Mubai and the other six had already gathered.

"Xiao Wu, do you know Gangzi?" Ning Rongrong, soaked through and slightly flushed, stood beside Xiao Wu and asked in a low voice.

Xiao Wu paused, then nodded and said softly, "I know him. Tang San's teacher. We're not very familiar."

Ning Rongrong looked strangely at her. "Tang San? Haven't you always called him Brother? Why did you change the way you address him?"

Xiao Wu lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought, and did not answer Ning Rongrong.

When Bai Yu arrived at the training grounds, Flender was speaking to the seven of them.

"Oscar, Ning Rongrong, you both did well. You completed all twenty laps. You don't need to take part in tonight's activity. Rest properly at the academy."

As Flender spoke, there was still a trace of disbelief in his eyes, and he kept glancing at Ning Rongrong.

As soon as Bai Yu arrived, he heard Flender's words. His expression turned surprised as well, and he thought, She really ran them all?

He then walked over to Flender's side, glanced at Ning Rongrong, whose entire body was drenched in sweat, chuckled, and said:

"Heh, Dean, take it easy. If something goes wrong from all that running, the next time anyone wants to talk to you, they'll have to visit your grave!"

Flender's mouth twitched, and a trace of worry flashed through his eyes. He had not expected Ning Rongrong to actually run all twenty laps. Since he had followed behind her, he had no reason to stop her.

He then turned and glared at Bai Yu. "You brat, all you know is how to make sarcastic remarks. Oscar, take Ning Rongrong to Old Shao's place and get some Recovery Candies."

"Then the two of you should get some proper rest. As for you five, come with me to the Great Soul Arena. That's where your lesson will be today!"

Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at Bai Yu and looked at Flender. "No need. I've done this kind of physical training at home before. I'm not that delicate. I'm going back to the dorm first. I'm covered in sweat and feel awful!"

Seeing Ning Rongrong leave, Oscar said, "Then, Dean, I'll head back too!"

With that, he turned and ran after Ning Rongrong.

After watching the two leave, Flender turned to Bai Yu.

"White Kid, what are you doing here? Don't tell me you came specifically to laugh at me?" Flender said irritably.

Ning Rongrong had turned the tables on him, leaving him feeling rather uncomfortable. And now Bai Yu had come to laugh at him too?

Seeing Flender's unwilling yet somewhat lingeringly fearful expression, Bai Yu laughed.

"Haha, Dean, isn't it a little inappropriate to come at me like that? I only came along to watch the excitement!"

Flender looked at his grinning face, shook his head helplessly, and said, "Then come with us."

He then waved at Tang San and the other four. "Let's go. Follow me."

The group ran out of the academy. Along the way, Tang San's eyes remained fixed on Bai Yu, who walked beside Flender.

The distance between each of his steps was clearly not great, yet his figure seemed to Blink from place to place, moving at an astonishing speed. Watching for too long even made Tang San feel dizzy.

Tang San shook his head and thought, This is definitely a movement technique, and one even more advanced than my Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. I really had been looking at the sky from the bottom of a well!

As the group entered Suotuo City, their pace slowed. Seeing the bustling streets, Xiao Wu and the others could not help looking around.

There was no curfew in Suotuo City. At night, the city was even livelier than during the day. There were stalls selling all kinds of goods, acrobatic performances, and everything else imaginable.

From the moment Ma Hongjun entered the city, his eyes had been fixed on all the women around him, and he could not look away.

Tall or short, fat or thin, every one of them received a thorough once-over.

"Bai Ge, look at that one over there. The way she twists her waist is downright seductive."

Ma Hongjun tugged on Bai Yu's clothes and spoke excitedly.

Before Bai Yu could say anything, Xiao Wu could not help saying, "Fatty, will you die if you don't have a woman?"

Ma Hongjun grinned. "You got that right!"

"Enough fooling around. We still have some time, so let's sit in a teahouse. I'll tell you about the Great Soul Arena," Flender said after glancing at the bickering pair.

The group arrived at a teahouse. Just as Flender was about to speak, Bai Yu stopped him.

"I'll do it. That stuff you order, Dean, isn't as easy to drink as plain boiled water."

Hearing Bai Yu's words, Flender waved his hand and said:

"I didn't bring them here to drink tea. But since you're treating, I won't hold back. Bring us a pot of the finest Spring Green Tea!"

Bai Yu rolled his eyes. "Right, as if I've ever seen you be polite. Little Bai, tell them about the Great Soul Arena."

Dai Mubai glanced at Bai Yu, then said, "Sure, Bai Ge. But isn't it a little early to bring them here already?"

Flender spoke up at that moment. "Shrek is Monster Academy, and all of you are little monsters. Monsters have their own methods of training."

Bai Yu scratched at the corner of his mouth, a half-smile on his face.

"Give it a rest, Dean. Poor conditions are poor conditions. You just have too few students and not enough people to spar with. What nonsense about monsters? Don't fool yourself."

Flender's face instantly turned awkward, and he could not help shooing Bai Yu away with his hand.

"You brat, why do you always undermine me? Mubai, hurry up and introduce the Great Soul Arena to them!"

"Yes, Dean!"

Dai Mubai continued:

"The so-called Great Soul Arenas are buildings found only in major cities, and they represent a city's strength. Great Soul Arenas are named after their cities, so the one before us is called the Suotuo Great Soul Arena."

"The Great Soul Arena's primary purpose is to have Soul Masters fight. Under its arrangements, different Soul Masters battle each other for others to watch!"

Tang San looked puzzled and could not help asking, "Aren't Soul Masters the most honored profession? Why is there a place like this, where Soul Masters entertain others like monkeys?"

Bai Yu took a sip of tea and picked up the topic.

"You're not entirely right. First, no matter how honored Soul Masters are, they still need money, and this place lets them earn it."

"Second, it increases combat experience. Otherwise, they can only gain experience in the wild, which is very dangerous. Third, this is also a place for geniuses to make a name for themselves."

Dai Mubai nodded and said:

"That's right. Winning a match here earns you a medal. After that, every victory gives you points. Once you have enough points, your medal is upgraded. Holders of high-ranking medals are very famous, and they can earn a great deal of money!"

"Of course, it isn't that easy, because you lose points when you lose. And whenever every Soul Master here advances to a new major rank, they basically lose points."

"Why?" Tang San asked, his face full of confusion.

Dai Mubai gave a bitter smile. "Heh, take you for example. You're level twenty-nine now, and you have few opponents among Soul Grandmasters."

"But once you reach level thirty-one, you'll be at the bottom among Soul Elders. Everyone you fight will be level thirty-eight or thirty-nine. You'll lose more than you win!"

Flender glanced at the sky, then said, "All right, you understand enough now. Let's go in."