Shameless Sneak Attack

Seeing Dai Mubai at a disadvantage, Ma Hongjun's eyes instantly turned blood-red.

A clear phoenix cry rang out as the Evil Fire Phoenix instantly possessed him. Purplish-red flames surged up, forming two wings around his arms.

"A Phoenix Martial Soul?"

Liu Mang raised a brow, surprise flashing through his eyes before turning into disdain.

"You're far from ready! Compared to the Karma Fire Phoenix, you're only good for lighting cigarettes!"

He had fought the Karma Fire Phoenix before, so he naturally knew the terror of those crimson-gold flames.

Although the purplish-red flames before him looked decent, they were still worlds apart from the Karma Fire Phoenix.

"Say that again, motherfucker!"

Ma Hongjun hated it most when others compared him to that so-called "Karma Fire Phoenix." He was the real phoenix!

"Second Soul Skill—Phoenix Roaring Sky Strike!"

In an instant, his plump body leaped into the air, his wings spread wide, and his second Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet. He dove down like a miniature flaming missile.

"Not bad."

Feeling the power of the attack, Liu Mang's third Soul Ring flashed.

"Third Soul Skill—Oscillation Shield!"

In an instant, a rapidly vibrating earth-yellow shield appeared before him. Liu Mang controlled it and slammed it fiercely toward Ma Hongjun's charging path.

Boom—!

A violent crash erupted, and a wave of air spread outward from the two of them.

The instant Ma Hongjun collided with the earth-yellow shield, his vision went black. He landed awkwardly and fell flat on his face.

The intense vibrations not only weakened the force of his charge but also blocked his flames. It completely countered him.

"Trash."

With a cold sneer, Liu Mang stepped forward, grabbed Ma Hongjun, and pressed that fat face toward the ground.

Just as Ma Hongjun's fat face was about to kiss the floor, a sudden change occurred.

Seizing the chance while Liu Mang's back was turned, Dai Mubai's third Soul Ring abruptly lit up.

"White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"

His body swelled in size, and his right fist, wrapped in a golden tiger's shadow, smashed fiercely into Liu Mang's ribs.

Bang!

Caught off guard, Liu Mang released Ma Hongjun and flew sideways, crashing through the wooden railing at the registration desk.

The situation instantly reversed.

The surrounding Soul Masters were all stunned.

They had never expected Dai Mubai, who looked so presentable, to turn out to be nothing more than a petty man who only knew how to launch sneak attacks.

Seeing Liu Mang on the ground, Ma Hongjun's small eyes lit up. How could he possibly let this chance go?

He immediately took a deep breath, his belly swelling round, while his first Soul Ring instantly lit up.

"First Soul Skill, Phoenix Fire Line!"

He stretched out his neck, and a thick purplish-red pillar of fire burst forth with a whoosh.

It struck Liu Mang squarely in the back just as he had pushed himself halfway up.

Sizzle—!

The fire line struck his rock-like skin, exploding into a blinding blaze. The smell of burning instantly filled the air.

Liu Mang let out a muffled groan. The Soul Power he had just gathered was scattered, and he was slammed flat again. His back was charred black, while web-like cracks spread across his grayish-white rock skin. He went completely still.

"Pah! That'll teach you to act so arrogant!"

Ma Hongjun withdrew his flames, puffed out his belly, and spat at the ground, his fat face full of pride.

"What Silver Soul Ancestor? In front of my Evil Fire, he's nothing but roast pig!"

Dai Mubai released his Martial Soul Possession and walked over while rubbing his numb arm. He frowned as he glanced at the smoking Liu Mang.

"That's enough, Fatty. Fine, you finished him off, but why so much nonsense?"

As he spoke, he pulled Ma Hongjun along to continue registering.

As for any retaliation afterward?

Ridiculous.

As members of Shrek Academy, they had always upheld one principle.

Those who never caused trouble were mediocrities.

The surroundings fell silent, and the Soul Masters who had been watching all wore different expressions.

Anyone with eyes could tell that Liu Mang had lost because of Dai Mubai's sneak attack.

Yet no one objected.

It was free combat. A loss was a loss.

"Registration, two people."

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun cut to the front of the line and spoke in deep voices.

The staff member behind the window expressionlessly handed them forms, showing no concern for the fight that had just occurred.

"Titles, levels, and Soul Battle Badges. Do you have them?"

"Hell White Tiger, level thirty-seven, Bronze Soul Battle Badge."

"Evil Fire Phoenix, level thirty-one, Bronze Soul Battle Badge."

The staff member took the forms without even raising his eyes, swiftly registered them with a few strokes, then tossed out two brand-new Bronze Soul Battle Badges.

"Take them. Next."

Ma Hongjun snatched up his badge, his fat face full of delight. He breathed on it and rubbed it vigorously with his sleeve.

"Hehe, Boss Dai, we're officially recognized Soul Masters of the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena now!"

Dai Mubai took his badge and casually put it into his pocket, but his gaze drifted toward the enormous Soul Tool Light Screen hanging on one side of the hall.

The day's featured match information was scrolling across it.

[Today's Featured Match: Karma Fire Phoenix (Gold Badge) vs. Mountain Shaking Bear (Gold Badge)]

[Karma Fire Phoenix challenges for a fifty-one-match winning streak!]

Following his gaze, Ma Hongjun's small eyes immediately widened.

"Hey! Boss Dai, look! That grass chicken phoenix has a match tonight! Want to go take a look? Let's see what he's really made of!"

Dai Mubai frowned. "We'll settle in first. We haven't handled the important matter the dean assigned us yet."

"Besides, tonight we still have to..."

Ma Hongjun immediately understood and gave a lecherous grin.

Compared to some grass chicken phoenix, he was looking forward more to enjoying himself that night.

Heaven Dou City streets.

After parting with the two women, Ye Feng strolled through the streets alone.

Although his ears were much quieter, the downside of having no female companion was equally obvious.

"Little brother, Sister has one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins on this card. As long as you nod, this card is yours."

Ye Feng looked at the richly dressed, voluptuous, beautiful young matron before him, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Without hesitation, he raised a hand in refusal. "Sorry, Sister, I can support myself."

"It's fine. Supporting yourself and letting me support you aren't all that different."

The beautiful matron cast him a seductive glance, looking as though she wanted to press herself right against him.

"Ahem."

Ye Feng gave a dry cough, then suddenly pointed in one direction. "Quick, look! There are powerful experts fighting over there."

The beautiful matron froze and instinctively turned to look.

"Aren't those just two cats fighting? Where are the powerful experts?"

But when she turned back, the handsome young man was nowhere to be seen.

After shaking off the beautiful matron, Ye Feng turned into a somewhat secluded commercial alley.

All sorts of small stalls lined both sides of the alley.

Cries of vendors and bargaining voices rose and fell, making the place feel far livelier than the main street.

He slowed his pace, his gaze sweeping over the dazzling array of goods.

There were old Soul Tool fragments, unknown ores, herbs of questionable age, and all kinds of junk claiming to be "ancient relics."

"Finding hidden treasures?"

Ye Feng curled his lip. "It'd be a miracle if this place had anything worth finding."

Just as he thought that, the corner of his eye caught sight of an inconspicuous stall tucked away in a corner.

The stall owner was a drowsy old man, with only a few dust-covered items laid out before him.

Among them, an irregular dark-red iron shard caught Ye Feng's attention.

Its edges were rough, and its surface was covered in rust.

Yet through the gaps in the rust, several faint golden lines could vaguely be seen.

Ye Feng crouched down and picked up the iron shard, weighing it in his hand.

It felt slightly heavy and icy cold. But when his fingertip inadvertently brushed those golden lines, the Karma Fire within his body trembled faintly for an instant.

"Interesting..."

Without revealing anything, he picked up a chipped clay jar beside it. "Boss, how much for this jar?"

The old man lifted his eyelids, looking listless. "Ten Gold Soul Coins for the jar. The iron shard... pay whatever you think is fair. I picked it up anyway."

Ye Feng's heart settled, but he frowned on the surface. "This iron shard is rusted to this extent. You're selling it as scrap metal, right? Five Gold Soul Coins for it and the jar together. Deal?"

The old man seemed too lazy to haggle and waved his hand. "Take them, take them."

Just as Ye Feng was about to pay, a crisp, sweet voice suddenly rang out from beside him.

"Wait! I'll pay twenty Gold Soul Coins for that iron shard!"