The next evening arrived quickly.
Night fell over Heaven Dou City, and the city lights began to glow.
After dinner, Ye Han and Demon Subduing Douluo walked side by side along the street leading to the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.
The evening breeze swept past, carrying the bustle of the streets and the aroma of food.
The lively crowds surged like a tide toward the massive circular building.
"Kid, you don't have someone you like yet, do you?"
Ye Han was caught off guard by Demon Subduing Douluo's sudden question.
"No. Why are you asking?"
Demon Subduing Douluo chuckled and raised a hand to pat Ye Han on the shoulder.
"You're a peerless genius, kid. Ordinary people aren't worthy of you. My friend's granddaughter happens to be a peerless genius too. You two are a perfect match. She may be a few years older than you, but it's inevitable that both of you will become Title Douluos in the future. A difference of a few years is nothing."
Understanding dawned on Ye Han.
He had long guessed that Demon Subduing Douluo had gone to see Qian Renxue last night.
The person Demon Subduing Douluo was talking about was naturally Qian Renxue as well.
So, he deliberately said:
"Sure. Then why don't you arrange for us to meet?"
Demon Subduing Douluo shook his head and smiled somewhat awkwardly.
"Her identity is rather special. When the time is right, I'll naturally arrange for you two to meet."
Ye Han did not press the matter and changed the subject.
"Alright, enough of that. Let's talk business."
"What business?"
"This is my first time fighting at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena tonight. Normally, the arena gives higher odds to newcomers like me. Bet on me to win, and our food, lodging, and expenses in Heaven Dou City will all be covered."
Demon Subduing Douluo froze for a moment, then broke into a grin.
"Heh, kid, you really know how to live. Fine, I'll bet on you."
"Don't worry. I've got this in the bag."
As they chatted and laughed, the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena was already right before them.
The building was magnificent, like a steel behemoth lurking in the night.
The plaza before its entrance was packed with people streaming toward the gates.
Ye Han and Demon Subduing Douluo entered the Soul Arena, then went straight to the counter to register for tonight's one-on-one match.
He filled out his information and underwent tests for bone age and Soul Power.
His Soul Power had already reached level forty-eight. During the test, he deliberately restrained it, keeping it at just above Level Forty.
At fifteen years old and just above Level Forty, that was still astonishing enough.
According to the Soul Arena's rules, newcomers could only accumulate points in the sub arenas regardless of their level. Only after reaching a certain rank could they enter the higher-standard Central Soul Arena.
However, even in the sub arenas, Soul Ancestor-level contestants were uncommon, and the rewards were naturally far more generous.
The most common fighters in the Soul Arena were two-ring Soul Grandmasters and three-ring Soul Elders, most of whom came to gain experience.
Most four-ring Soul Ancestor-level contestants had been specially invited by the Soul Arena to draw crowds.
Ye Han paid the ten Gold Soul Coin registration fee. If he won tonight's match, he would receive a reward of one hundred Gold Soul Coins.
"Esteemed Soul Master, your registration information has been recorded. Tonight, you will compete in a one-on-one Soul Ancestor-level match at the Sixth Sub Soul Arena."
Ye Han casually accepted the Iron Soul Badge.
"Let me ask, does your Soul Arena have one-against-two matches?"
"One against two?"
The receptionist shook her head with a smile.
"I understand what you mean. If you have enough confidence, you can bring along a weaker teammate and participate in two-on-two matches."
"Alright, I understand."
Ye Han went to the resting area on one side of the hall and waited with Demon Subduing Douluo.
Soon, a new message scrolled across the soul tool screen in the center of the hall:
[Sixth Sub Soul Arena · One-on-One] [Ye Han (Iron Soul Badge · Four-Ring Battle Soul Ancestor) VS Liu Meng (Iron Soul Badge · Four-Ring Battle Soul Ancestor)] [Odds for Ye Han's victory: ten to sixteen] [Odds for Liu Meng's victory: ten to thirteen]
Demon Subduing Douluo glanced up and grinned.
"Ten to sixteen? Who are they looking down on? Then let's make six thousand first."
Demon Subduing Douluo went to the counter and bet ten thousand Gold Soul Coins on Ye Han's victory, conveniently buying a seat near the front as well.
After that, the two went their separate ways.
Demon Subduing Douluo headed to the spectator stands of the Sixth Sub Soul Arena.
Ye Han went to the Soul Master resting area.
Qian Renxue arrived at the Soul Arena in disguise, accompanied by two experts.
After looking up Ye Han's information, she went directly to the spectator area of the Sixth Sub Soul Arena.
Inside the Sixth Sub Soul Arena, the circular ring was shrouded by a soul tool barrier, and quite a few spectators were already seated in the surrounding stands.
Ye Han entered the Soul Master resting area and looked through the enormous floor-to-ceiling window at the ring, his gaze calm as water.
A one-on-one match between Soul Ancestors posed no challenge to him at all.
With his current strength, even without releasing his Spirit Rings, he could easily crush any opponent of the same level.
He needed tougher challenges, ones that would make the name of the Sky-Piercing Spear resound across the continent.
He wanted to create an undefeated legend in these Soul Arenas, forcing them to change their rules and allow him to fight two opponents alone, or even three or four.
He couldn't help it. His strength simply would not allow him to keep a low profile.
He had to keep breaking through his limits amid harsher challenges.
Qian Renxue took a seat in an inconspicuous corner of the stands, eagerly awaiting Ye Han's appearance.
Soon, the matches began.
The Soul Masters appearing in the first few matches were all two-ring Soul Grandmasters or three-ring Soul Elders.
The audience was not particularly interested, and the atmosphere was not very lively.
"Next, we have a heavyweight showdown: four-ring Battle Soul Ancestor Ye Han versus four-ring Battle Soul Ancestor Liu Meng! Will both contestants please prepare to take the stage!"
The moment the host finished speaking, the stands erupted into commotion and enthusiastic cheers.
At last, a truly substantial matchup had arrived.
Qian Renxue also grew serious, her gaze unconsciously shifting toward the exit of the Soul Master passage. She wanted to see what this Ye Han, whom Demon Subduing Douluo had mentioned, actually looked like.
Upon hearing the host's announcement, Ye Han rose to his feet and headed toward the Soul Master passage.
A tall, thin man was walking ahead of him.
He guessed that man was Liu Meng, his opponent for the night. He wondered what Liu Meng's Martial Soul was.
Liu Meng and Ye Han emerged from the Soul Master passage one after the other and entered the Soul Arena.
They mounted the ring one after the other.
Spotlights shone down on them.
Only then did the audience clearly see their appearances.
Liu Meng was tall and lean, but not frail. The lines of his shoulders and back were outlined into a sturdy silhouette by his fitted combat attire.
He had a square face, prominent brow bones, and sharp eyes. The moment he stepped onto the ring, he swept a glance over Ye Han opposite him, the corner of his mouth curving with faint disdain.
From the look of him, he was likely an agility-attack Soul Master.
Ye Han stood opposite Liu Meng, tall and straight, his expression calm.
His black hair hung casually over his shoulders, and his handsome features carried the distinctive refined air of youth.
He did not deliberately assume any stance. Yet simply standing there casually gave others the feeling that he could not be underestimated.
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