Gu Ling let out a low shout and kicked directly against Xiao Wu's side.
"Off you go."
Swish--!
Xiao Wu's entire body slid along the ground, skidding across a distance of several meters before finally slamming straight off the edge of the soul-dueling arena!
"Thud!"
Accompanied by a dull echo, Xiao Wu landed below the stage, and the entire Thirteenth Soul-Dueling Arena instantly fell silent.
Referee: "..."
Audience: "..."
Even the referee failed to react for a moment.
Under normal circumstances, seeing a pretty little girl who had already passed out from soul skill backlash, would most people not at least help her up or wait for the referee to directly declare the match over?
As a result, this fellow right before them was something else.
He went right up and delivered a kick, sending her straight down!
Gu Ling looked at the dazed referee and could not help reminding him:
"Referee, she has already fallen off the soul-dueling arena. Are you not going to announce the result yet?"
"Ah?"
Hearing this, the referee suddenly snapped back to his senses. He glanced down at the unconscious Xiao Wu below the stage, then looked at Gu Ling standing upon the soul-dueling arena, and the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
He then raised his right hand high.
"This soul duel is over!"
"The winner is--Spicy Rabbit Head Lover!"
Hearing those last few words, the surrounding audience was stunned for a moment.
Immediately afterward.
Boom!
The entire spectator stand erupted into a burst of laughter. The Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit versus the Spicy Rabbit Head Lover, and in the end, this "rabbit" really had been kicked right off the stage by her opponent!
Yet right at that moment.
At the entrance of the Thirteenth Soul-Dueling Arena, a blue figure happened to walk in from outside--it was none other than Tang San. He had just finished his own previous soul duel, and calculating the time, he figured Xiao Wu's match should be ending soon as well, so he prepared to come over and take a look.
Yet the moment he walked in, the very first thing he laid eyes on was Xiao Wu collapsed beneath the soul-dueling arena.
"Xiao Wu?!"
Tang San's expression altered abruptly, especially after seeing Xiao Wu's eyes tightly shut and her complexion somewhat pale. A surge of fury flared up from within his chest almost instantly.
"Xiao Wu!"
Covering the distance in three steps as two, Tang San swiftly arrived by Xiao Wu's side and lifted her up from the ground.
Fortunately, it was merely brief unconsciousness caused by mental backlash, compounded by the impact from falling off the stage just now, and she had not sustained any truly serious injuries.
Even so, Tang San's expression remained ashen to the extreme. Xiao Wu was his most important person, yet because he had arrived just a little late, someone had actually beaten her into this state?
At this thought, Tang San abruptly raised his head, looked toward the soul-dueling arena, and his gaze instantly locked onto that youth clad in black, leaving him stunned in place for a moment.
"Gu Ling?!"
Tang San's pupils contracted slightly. Last night, when Yu Xiaogang had mentioned the Bone Dragon Martial Soul and combined it with the descriptions of the opponent's age and appearance given by Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, Tang San had actually already formed some suspicions in his heart.
Only, before seeing him in person, he had not dared to be completely certain.
Yet now, the person standing upon the soul-dueling arena, who else could it be if not Gu Ling?
Tang San's gaze gradually grew colder, especially when he glanced once more at the unconscious Xiao Wu in his arms, the fury in his heart burned even more intensely. In his mind, Gu Ling was already on the path to a sure death!
Yet Tang San ultimately did not make a move right away.
This was the Soto Great Soul Arena, after all. Once a soul duel concluded, if a soul master launched a private attack against other participants within the venue, the Great Soul Arena would definitely not sit idly by and ignore it.
Never mind that he was currently nothing more than a Soul Elder; even a Soul Ancestor or Soul King could not openly defy the rules of the Great Soul Arena. Tang San could only suppress the rage burning in his heart.
Meanwhile, Gu Ling had already walked down from the soul-dueling arena. When he saw Tang San, his expression did not change much, but Tang San took the initiative to block his path.
Seeing this, Gu Ling halted his steps, a look of puzzlement crossing his face as he spoke:
"Something the matter?"
Tang San first glanced at Xiao Wu behind him, who still had not regained consciousness, and then said in a deep voice: "Last night at the Soto City Lantern Festival, the person who beat Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun into heavy injuries was also you, right?"
Hearing this, Gu Ling raised his brows slightly, thinking that those two fellows really had not held back on lodging complaints after returning. Yet he did not deny it either, giving a slight nod as he said:
"Those two fellows came up and flirted with my friend on the street. After I stopped them, not only did they fail to realize they were in the wrong, but they even released their martial souls to attack me."
"Shouldn't people like that be beaten? Or am I supposed to shower them with compliments?"
"I didn't beat the two of them to death, which can already be considered showing mercy."
Hearing this, Tang San's expression stalled slightly. He had originally wanted to say something more, but with the words on the tip of his tongue, he suddenly did not know how to refute them.
Because everything Gu Ling had said was the absolute truth; from the perspective of the incident itself, he was indeed in the right.
At this thought, Tang San felt even more stifled within his heart. However, Gu Ling clearly had no interest in continuing to waste words with him, and he waved a hand dismissively.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first."
With that.
He walked right past Tang San and headed toward the resting area where the Imperial Dou Team was located.
Tang San stood on the spot, watching Gu Ling's gradually receding figure as his fists clenched tighter and tighter. Especially when he thought of Xiao Wu, who was still unconscious, the fury in his heart refused to be suppressed no matter what.
In his view, it was one thing for Gu Ling to deal heavy blows to Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, but now even Xiao Wu had been beaten into this state? That was the person he loved most; this matter absolutely could not be let go of easily!
Yet this was the Soto Great Soul Arena after all, and the Great Soul Arena had its own rules. Once a match concluded, participating soul masters were strictly forbidden from starting private fights within the venue.
At this thought, Tang San's gaze flickered slightly, and he muttered inwardly:
Since it's inconvenient for me to make a move right now, I'll go find the dean. Doesn't he want to demand an explanation for Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun? I can just borrow his hands to take revenge for Xiao Wu!
A few minutes later.
Inside the resting suite rented by Shrek Academy within the Soto Great Soul Arena, Flender slammed a palm onto the table before him, his expression having turned thoroughly gloomy.
"What did you say?"
"That Gu Ling is in the Great Soul Arena right now?"
Tang San stood nearby and nodded, his own expression somewhat unpleasant as he spoke:
"Xiao Wu's opponent in her one-on-one soul duel just now was him. During the duel, Xiao Wu suffered a soul skill backlash and lost consciousness. Even while she had already lost awareness, Gu Ling still kicked her straight off the soul-dueling arena."
Upon hearing these words, Flender's expression grew even uglier.
Yesterday, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun had just been beaten into heavy injuries by Gu Ling, and he had spent the entire night leading Tang San to search Soto City for several hours, only to fail to find even a ghost's shadow.
He had not expected that tonight, this brat would actually show up at the Soto Great Soul Arena on his own accord, and even beaten Xiao Wu as well!
Flender let out a cold snort and said:
"Good! Very good!"
"It seems this brat really is picking a fight with our Shrek Academy to the end!"
Yu Xiaogang, standing at the side, also furrowed his brows. Especially after confirming that the person who injured Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun truly was Gu Ling, the dissatisfaction in his heart deepened by quite a bit.
Six years ago, at Notting Academy, Gu Ling had repeatedly questioned his martial soul theories time and time again. Now, after arriving in Soto City, he had once again clashed repeatedly with the people of Shrek Academy.
In Yu Xiaogang's view, this could no longer be simply explained away as a coincidence; he felt that this brat was entirely here to intentionally pick a bone with them!
The next second, Flender stood up directly, speaking in a chilling tone:
"Little San, lead me over there right now."
"I want to see with my own eyes just how capable this Gu Ling really is!"
Tang San's gaze flickered slightly, and he immediately nodded.
Seeing this, Oscar, who was seated to the side, froze for a moment. Hesitating for a brief second, he could not help reminding them: "Dean, inside the Great Soul Arena... isn't private fighting prohibited? If we go over to find him now and start a fight here, won't we provoke the people from the soul-dueling arena?"
Hearing this, Flender's footsteps paused slightly. Immediately afterward, he turned his head to glance at Oscar, then raised a hand to adjust the crystal glasses on the bridge of his nose as his tone gradually turned cold.
"Who said I was going to fight inside the Great Soul Arena?"
"Private fighting inside here is naturally out of the question, but once we step outside the gates of the Great Soul Arena, whatever happens out there won't be the concern of the Great Soul Arena anymore."
Before you continue