Professional Ethics? That Stuff Should Be Cashed Out!

They waited for quite a while longer.

Dai Mubai and the others finally arrived, panting heavily.

"Now that everyone's here, let's go. Time for your first lesson."

Flender led the group into Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena.

"Your assessment is simple. Each of you will get a badge, and as long as you earn a Silver Soul Battle Badge before graduation, you'll pass.

You gain one point for a win and lose one point for a loss.

Don't think it'll be that easy. If you're a Level 34 Soul Elder, you might be matched against a Level 39 Soul Elder and end up losing.

Mubai, tell them about your current record."

Dai Mubai shrugged and took out his Iron Soul Battle Badge.

"Just like the Dean said, my luck's been bad. I'm currently at 29 wins and 27 losses."

Flender nodded and said,

"Now, I'll take you to register for your Soul Battle Badges."

However, Yan Shuang Guga reached into the inner pocket of her leather jacket and pulled out a gleaming Iron Soul Battle Badge.

"I've already registered, Guga."

"What the hell?"

Flender froze, then crouched down in disbelief and turned the badge over and over in his hands.

The stamp, serial number, and anti-counterfeiting mark from the Soul Arena were all there.

It was actually real.

His eyes widened as he looked at Yan Shuang Guga in confusion.

"You've been right under my nose this whole time. When did you run off to register?!"

"Guga, just now."

"Just now??"

Flender suddenly looked up, his mind racing wildly.

Have I gone blind? No, I've been watching the whole time.

Did I somehow lose a chunk of my memories out of thin air?

He turned to Dai Mubai.

"Mubai, didn't I just say we were going to register for badges?"

Dai Mubai was equally dumbfounded. "That's right, Dean! You said it less than half a minute ago!"

Oscar nodded so fast his head nearly blurred.

"Dean, I can testify to that too."

Yan Shuang Guga spun the Soul Battle Badge once in her hand before slipping it back into her leather jacket.

"Guga, as the Dean, when you tell students to register for badges, why don't you check whether they already have them? Guga."

"Huh? I... this... is that right?"

Flender felt like his brain was overheating.

Judging by how curious they were about everything around them,

it was obvious this was their first time at Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena. Wouldn't it be stranger if they already had Soul Battle Badges?

Still, he honestly asked.

"Lin Xiao, do you have Soul Battle Badges?"

Lin Xiao decisively shook his head.

"Dean, what are you thinking? This is all our first time here. How could we possibly have any?"

Flender was even more confused. He pointed at Yan Shuang Guga.

"But she..."

"Oh, she's always one step faster than everyone else. You'll get used to it."

"...What the hell??"

Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at him.

"Making a fuss over nothing."

With that, she grabbed Lin Xiao's arm and headed straight for the counter to register.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wu had her forehead pressed tightly against Motherland Guga, who floated in the air.

Neither would yield. They braced their heads and inched forward step by step, neither willing to admit defeat first.

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing and quietly followed behind the group.

Dai Mubai hooked an arm around Oscar's shoulders and raised his brows.

"So? Do you believe me now? I told you those little things were freaky."

"Boss Dai, it's more than freaky. Look, the Dean's eyes are practically popping out of his head."

Hearing that, Flender snapped back to his senses and smacked him across the head.

"Cut the crap. Hurry up and get ready for your Soul Battles!"

"Hehehe, on it."

Oscar rubbed the back of his head, grinning as he turned and shouted,

"Fatty! Stop flirting with girls! Come sign up for the two-person match with me!"

At the registration desk.

The staff member glanced over the young boys and girls, as well as the three geese.

"State your aliases, Soul Power Levels, Martial Soul information, and pay ten gold coins. Your information will be recorded immediately, and basic Iron Soul Battle Badges will be issued."

"Level 31, Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul. As for my alias... Seven Treasures Glaze."

"Level 34, Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit Martial Soul. My alias is the same as my Martial Soul."

"Level 27, Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul. Same alias."

"Level 43, Motherland Guga."

"Level 43, Di Guga."

"Level 43, Yan Shuang Guga."

The staff member's writing hand paused.

"These three geese..."

"Independent individuals. They can use Soul Skills and speak human language. They're Soul Masters."

Lin Xiao said this with a perfectly straight face.

Then he placed a Gold Card on the counter and pushed it forward.

The staff member narrowed his eyes and slapped a hand down on the Gold Card.

"Sir, are you insulting my profession?"

"Excellent insult!!"

The staff member gave him a thumbs-up, tucked the Gold Card into his pocket, and registered their information at top speed.

"Here are your Soul Battle Badges. Please keep them safe."

Xiao Wu was at a loss for words.

"What happened to your professional ethics?"

"Professional ethics? What use is that stuff? When it's time to cash out, you cash out."

The staff member said this with complete conviction.

"Do you think I work because I love it? Don't be ridiculous."

Lin Xiao raised a hand and produced another Gold Card, placing it on the counter.

"Don't rush. There's still registration for the two-person Soul Battles. Handle that too."

Before he had even finished speaking, Xiao Wu eagerly looked at Di Guga.

"Di Guga, you and I will team up!"

But Ning Rongrong immediately pulled Di Guga into her arms.

"No, Di Guga is mine!"

Xiao Wu instantly wilted. Her gaze skipped right over Motherland Guga and landed on Yan Shuang Guga beside her.

"Fine... then I want Yan Shuang Guga!"

Motherland Guga turned her head and snorted coldly, then teamed up with Zhu Zhuqing.

Stupid rabbit. You'll regret this!

The matches began soon enough.

There wasn't much to say about the solo matches.

With Teleportation and Charm, Xiao Wu was unstoppable, cutting down gods and Buddhas alike.

And with that incomparably savage Eight-Stage Explosive Kill Throw,

even defense-type Soul Masters couldn't withstand a full combo.

As for the Gugas, there was even less to say. They crushed their opponents from start to finish, leaving them without the slightest chance of victory.

Zhu Zhuqing had a much harder time. She was matched against a Level 29 agility-attack-type Soul Master.

Her opponent was no slower than her, and his movement techniques were tricky. Several times, he nearly forced her off the arena.

Fortunately, her perfectly matched Spirit Rings narrowed the two-level gap. After several fierce exchanges, she barely managed to win.

Covered in a light sheen of sweat, she dragged her exhausted body back toward the spectator seats step by step.

Dai Mubai's eyes lit up, and he prepared to go congratulate her.

Just as he took half a step forward,

he saw Lin Xiao get there first.

Lin Xiao handed her a bottle of water and praised her.

"You fought really well."

"Thank you."

Zhu Zhuqing's lips curved upward as she accepted it and took a sip.

Lin Xiao turned his head toward Arena One, where cheers were erupting.

"Rongrong and Di Guga's two-person match is starting too. Want to go watch?"

"Mm."

The two walked side by side toward seats closer to the stands.

Dai Mubai froze in place with one foot hanging in the air.

His face darkened. After hesitating for a moment, he still followed them.

Ma Hongjun nudged Oscar with his elbow and lowered his voice.

"Doesn't Boss Dai call himself a love expert? How come he can't even win over one woman?"

Oscar waggled his eyebrows wildly.

"There's definitely something big going on here. I think Boss Dai knew Zhu Zhuqing before, and their relationship didn't seem ordinary."

"Damn! Doesn't that mean Boss Dai got cheated on?!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down."