The Shocking Golden Soul Badge

Meanwhile, with Oscar and Ning Rongrong along, Flender did not travel at a very fast pace.

By the time the group of eight from Shrek arrived in Suotuo City, it was already quite late.

Flender led them directly to the Soto Great Soul Arena.

"We're here."

Flender stopped in front of an enormous structure.

Looking up, they saw a magnificent building nearly a hundred meters tall. It was colossal, and beneath the night sky, it appeared especially solemn.

Above the main entrance hung a massive plaque, its six characters formed by soul-guided lamps: "Soto Great Soul Arena."

All kinds of people streamed in and out before the entrance.

Flender turned to the seven students behind him. "This is where you'll be taking your lessons."

He paused, then said sternly, "Your Martial Souls are all different, and each of you has your own cultivation methods. What the academy can teach you is how to use your Martial Souls more effectively, help you obtain better Soul Rings, gain more practical combat experience, and develop your potential as much as possible. Of all these things, practical combat experience is the most important."

Flender pointed at the majestic building behind him. "The structure before you is called the Soto Great Soul Arena. A Great Soul Arena is a place for Soul Duels, and it is also the best place for you to gain practical combat experience. Therefore, your first lesson is actual combat. This place is your classroom."

Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar remained calm, clearly having heard this speech before.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing, who had kept a cold expression all along, showed puzzled looks.

Tang San frowned and asked, "Dean, what are the rules of the Soul Arena? What do we need to watch out for?"

"Good question. We'll talk as we walk." Flender took the lead into the Great Soul Arena, while the others followed at an unhurried pace.

Flender instructed Dai Mubai, "Mubai, explain the Great Soul Arena's rules to them."

Dai Mubai began, "After registering at the Great Soul Arena, Soul Masters receive a badge. Once they sign up for Soul Duels, they earn a certain number of points for every victory. When their points reach a certain level, their badge can be upgraded. The lowest rank is Iron, followed by Bronze, Silver, Gold, Purple Gold, Sapphire, Ruby, and Diamond. There are eight ranks in total."

At that point, Flender cut in. "The task I'm giving you is to obtain at least a Silver Soul Badge before graduation. Mubai, tell them the specific requirements for advancing through the badge ranks."

"Yes, Dean."

Dai Mubai continued, "Each victory in a Soul Duel earns the corresponding points, while each loss deducts the corresponding points."

"At the Iron Soul stage, a win adds one point. Once you reach one hundred points, you advance to Bronze Soul."

"At Bronze Soul and above, a win adds ten points. Once you reach one thousand points, you advance to Silver Soul. Above that, reaching five thousand points advances you to Gold Soul."

"There is also a consecutive-win bonus. Once Iron Soul achieves more than five consecutive wins, every victory thereafter grants ten points. At Bronze Soul and above, once you achieve more than ten consecutive wins, every victory thereafter grants one hundred points."

"The rules are a little complicated, but there is only one core principle: keep winning. If you can maintain a winning streak, you'll earn points even faster. A winning streak is also the best proof of a Soul Master's strength."

Dai Mubai paused, then smiled. "Don't worry too much. As long as you work hard enough and improve your practical combat skills, a Silver Soul Badge is not impossible. Fatty, Little Ao, and I worked our way up step by step."

Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes shifted as she asked, "Boss Dai, how many Soul Duels have the three of you fought? What rank are your badges now?"

At her question, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing all turned their gazes toward them.

Flender smiled. "You three, report your badge ranks and records."

Ma Hongjun eagerly spoke first, his face full of pride. "I started participating in Soul Duels with Boss Dai about two years ago. I've fought a total of one hundred and fifty matches, with one hundred and thirteen wins and thirty-seven losses. My longest winning streak was fifteen. I currently have nine hundred and seventy points, just thirty short of advancing to a Silver Soul Badge!"

As he spoke, he pulled out a bronze badge from his clothes and waved it around, his eyes brimming with pride.

Oscar smiled and added, "I'm in the food system, so I can only participate in two-person Soul Duels with the two of them. I've fought seventy-two matches in total, with fifty-five wins and seventeen losses. I currently have one hundred and ten points, and I only recently advanced to a Bronze Soul Badge."

At last, everyone's gaze fell on Dai Mubai.

Dai Mubai said calmly, "I've participated in quite a few more. Since three years ago, I've fought a total of three hundred and sixty matches, with three hundred and twenty wins and forty losses. My longest winning streak was thirty-five. I currently have over six thousand points—a Golden Soul Badge."

After saying that, he took a golden badge from his storage ring.

"G-Golden Soul?!"

Everyone sucked in a sharp breath.

Oscar added at just the right moment, "That's right. Most of Boss Dai's forty losses happened early on when he had just started, or during two-person Soul Duels when he teamed up with me and I held him back. He holds the record for the longest winning streak at the Soto Great Soul Arena, and no one has broken it to this day!"

Tang San's pupils contracted as he silently calculated.

Three hundred and sixty matches. On average, that meant nearly one Soul Duel every three days. That frequency, intensity, and win rate made him a true "monster."

A flicker of emotion stirred in Zhu Zhuqing's icy eyes. Looking at the golden badge in Dai Mubai's hand, she felt something strike her deeply.

Was this how he had spent the past three years? Not indulging in pleasure, but in this cold Soul Arena.

In truth, Dai Mubai had not wanted to participate in so many matches. After obtaining the Golden Soul Badge, he had wanted to retire, but Flender, hoping to earn some Gold Soul Coins, had painstakingly persuaded him to keep fighting a few more matches.

Ning Rongrong's eyes shifted as she looked at Dai Mubai's shoulder-length golden hair and sharply defined profile. For some reason, a blush rose on her pretty face.

As they reflected, the group had already reached the Great Soul Arena's service hall.

"Alright, alright!"

Flender clapped his hands, pulling everyone back from their shock.

"Here, Soul Duels are divided into three categories. The first is a Contest Duel, where opponents spar with each other and are forbidden from using lethal force. The second is a Life-and-Death Duel, used to settle irreconcilable disputes. The last is a Wager Duel, where both sides agree on stakes and the winner takes all. There are also three match formats: one-on-one, two-on-two, and team battles. Team battles generally involve seven people."

He looked at Tang San and the others. "The ones you'll be taking part in are naturally Contest Duels. The four of you, go register and sign up first. Pay the fees yourselves."

Before long, the four had completed their registration and sign-up.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun all chose to register for one-on-one Soul Duels. Since Ning Rongrong was a support-type Soul Master, she had not signed up for any Soul Duels yet.