The First Battle to Conquer Our Teacher Begins!

Soto Great Soul Arena's dome resembled a massive translucent seashell, refracting the light of countless Soul Tool lamps into a flowing golden river.

Tonight's atmosphere was even more scorching than usual. The circular stands were packed to the brim, and cheers and shouts merged into a roar that made eardrums throb.

A snow-white carrier pigeon flew in through the highest window of the dome, lightly gliding over tier upon tier of stands.

Its feathers shone with a gentle luster beneath the lights. As it spread its wings, scattered specks of light drifted down. The white dove circled the center of the arena three times before landing atop a towering pillar, tilting its head as it looked down at the seething crowd.

Just as everyone's attention was drawn to the white dove, a slender figure slowly rose from the stage at the center of the arena.

It was Keke, the host of Soto Soul Arena. A fitted emerald Soul Tool gown outlined her tall, slender figure, its hem embedded with fine silver scales that reflected flecks of light with every movement. She held an Amplifying Soul Tool in one hand and gently raised the other in greeting to the audience.

"Everyone at Soto Great Soul Arena—welcome to tonight's Soul Duel extravaganza!"

Keke's voice was crisp yet uniquely penetrating, reaching every corner clearly even amid the clamor of tens of thousands. She tapped the stage lightly with her toes and floated into the air like a green bird, her skirt blooming in the airflow like a jade-colored flower. The white dove flew from the pillar and landed on her shoulder, tilting its head to nuzzle her ear.

"Over the past month, our Soul Arena has witnessed far too many breathtaking moments."

Keke's voice carried just the right amount of fervor as her gaze swept across the arena:

"We witnessed the birth of one Gold Soul Master and four Silver Soul Masters. Their names are White Dragon, Jade-Phosphor Queen, Evil Fire Phoenix, Heart of Begonia, and Sausage Specialist, along with more than twenty Bronze Soul Masters—Soul Masters of Soto Great Soul Arena, you have added new colors to this ancient hall of Soul Duels with your Soul Power and will!"

Cheers surged through the stands like rising waves. Some blew piercing whistles, some waved betting slips, and some threw booklets filled with odds into the air. Keke turned slightly. The white dove on her shoulder flapped its wings and flew up, tracing a perfect arc around the dome before settling atop a suspended Soul Tool chandelier directly above the arena, quietly looking down at the two Soul Duel platforms below.

"And tonight—" Keke suddenly lowered her voice, but that only made it seize everyone's attention more clearly. "We will welcome an even more eye-catching Soul Duel competition."

She paused, allowing suspense to ferment in the air.

Many people in the audience had already called out the name, but not in anticipation. They were jeering.

They did not want Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing to steal the spotlight and rise in Su Chen's esteem.

It would be best if they suffered a setback and were driven out of Immortal Mountain by Immortal!

The host could only sigh helplessly and continue her impassioned announcement:

"The name Immortal Mountain should be familiar to everyone here."

Immortal Mountain was the most talked-about place in Suotuo City recently. Its master, Su Chen, had captivated countless young women with his immortal bearing. Though he had only a handful of students, every one of them was exceptionally gifted.

Rumors about Immortal Mountain's two students had long spread throughout Suotuo City. Some said their talent was rare even in a century, some said their fighting styles were strange and unfathomable, while others claimed their strength was nothing special.

"Tonight, Immortal Mountain's two students will make their first Soul Duel appearances at Soto Great Soul Arena!"

"And from what I understand, they will challenge Silver Soul Masters in a ranking match for Gold Soul Masters—and it will be one against many!"

"Let us welcome them!"

Host Keke raised her hand and pointed to the left. The light display shifted accordingly, presenting the full view of the left arena before everyone.

The left Soul Duel platform was paved with dark gray basalt slabs, with twelve illuminating Soul Tool stones embedded around its edges, currently emitting a cold white glow. A figure stood on the left side of the platform, slender yet upright. Her fitted black combat outfit outlined clean, sharp lines, while her long hair was tied into a high ponytail, exposing her long, pale neck. Her feet were planted apart, and her slightly lowered stance resembled a taut bow. Her amber cat eyes reflected a dangerous, ghostly gleam beneath the cold light.

"In the left arena, the Immortal Senior Sister Pair, martial soul Hell Spirit Cat, Soul Elder rank, making her first appearance, versus the Twin Stone Combination!"

As Keke clearly announced the code name, low laughter and murmurs rose from the crowd. "This young agility-attack Soul Elder possesses the Hell Spirit Cat martial soul. Her speed and explosive power are nearly unmatched among those of the same rank. But tonight, the opponents she will face are—"

Keke raised her hand, and images of two burly men appeared on the light screen above the left arena. Both were broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, their skin covered in a layer of dark-gray horny armor, as though they wore stone mail. Their gazes were steady and fierce, and as they stood side by side, one could feel the mountain-like pressure they exuded even through the screen.

"The Twin Stone Combination! Their martial souls are Dark Tortoises. They are defense-type High-Rank Soul Elders and can be called one of the most dominant Silver Soul Master combinations in the arena. Among two-man teams, they have rarely met an equal!"

Keke's voice rose slightly. "The Stone brothers are famed for their flawless defense, and they also possess the exceptionally rare Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Dark Abyss Slowness—once this skill is unleashed, everything within thirty feet around them becomes viscous and rigid. Any agility-attack Soul Master attempting to close in will be trapped in a mire where every step is difficult!"

An excited buzz erupted from the stands. The Dark Tortoise's defense combined with a slowing domain was practically the natural nemesis of all agility-attack Soul Masters. Yet Zhu Zhuqing, that slender young woman, was alone.

"Mm, our 'Immortal Senior Sister Pair' will have a difficult night,"

Keke blinked. "But I hear that people from Immortal Mountain never play by the rules—will the Twin Stone Combination's iron wall stop her, or will the Hell Spirit Cat's claws tear open the Dark Tortoise's shell? The answer will soon be revealed!"

Before her words had even faded, she drifted toward the right like a green leaf. The light screen shifted with her, magnifying the image of the right arena.

A young woman stood at one side of the right platform, dressed in a white combat outfit. Her long hair was tied back, and her face carried a proud, spoiled expression, though she also possessed a rather heroic air.

But Ning Rongrong was far too petite. Standing there, she looked like a little princess who had wandered into a Soul Arena by mistake. In her hands rested an exquisite seven-tier pagoda, every level flowing with radiant light of a different hue.

"In the right arena, Immortal Little Darling makes her first appearance. She is an auxiliary-type Soul Elder, and her martial soul is... Seven Treasure... Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda! Versus the Water-Fire Combination."

Even Keke could not help laughing when she announced that code name, and laughter rose one after another from below:

"Her martial soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda, and she is an auxiliary-type Soul Elder!"

Keke deliberately drew out the final three words, and the audience's laughter instantly turned into an incredulous uproar.

An auxiliary type? A Soul Elder? One against two?

Everyone's eyes involuntarily turned toward the entrance across from Ning Rongrong's platform.

Two Soul Masters walked out, one on each side. The man on the left wore a crimson short robe, his hands a translucent fiery red, with tiny flames dancing at his fingertips. The man on the right wore deep-blue robes, his palms shimmering like rippling water, while faint, damp mist spread through the air as he walked.

"The Water-Fire Combination!" Keke's voice overpowered the audience's discussion. "Their martial souls are Fire Palm and Water Palm—these two have partnered in over a hundred matches and possess extraordinary coordination. They are one of Soto Great Soul Arena's finest veteran Silver Soul Master pairs."

She paused there, turning her gaze toward the little girl holding the pagoda at the center of the platform. A strange note entered her voice.

"And our 'Immortal Little Darling,' an auxiliary-type Soul Elder, has chosen to face the Water-Fire Combination's two-man team alone. This is truly the first time in Soto Great Soul Arena's history. Just what confidence does she have to dare do this? It is simply unbelievable."

The entire arena fell silent for a brief moment.

Auxiliary-type Soul Masters were certainly important in team battles, but facing two battle Soul Masters of the same rank alone was almost certainly a losing situation. No matter how powerful the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda was, it had no offensive power.

"No auxiliary-type Soul Master has ever dared to take the field alone at Soto Great Soul Arena,"

Keke's voice slowly fell. At some point, the white dove had returned to her shoulder and now perched on her fingertip. "Tonight, Immortal Little Darling will do something unprecedented."

"Then, without further ado, I declare the matches—begin!"

At once.

Ning Rongrong, standing on the platform, raised the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda in her hand slightly higher. Light flowed across the pagoda's body, reflecting in her pupils like stars shattered across a pond. Her lips curved into a smile. When her eyes swept over the Water-Fire Combination opposite her, there was not the slightest trace of fear. Instead, she looked as though she were staring at prey.

On the left platform, Zhu Zhuqing had already lowered her stance slightly. Her cat eyes locked onto the Stone brothers standing side by side across from her, while three inches of cold gleam quietly extended from her fingertips.

The first battle to make Teacher willingly acknowledge our code names—to conquer Teacher and make him fall beneath our skirts—began!