Zhu Zhuqing: Should I Be More Proactive?

Just as Dai Mubai was trembling with apprehension, the lounge broadcast sounded. "Contestant Soft Boned Enchanting Rabbit, please proceed to Arena Fourteen immediately to prepare!"

"It's my turn!" Xiao Wu jumped up excitedly.

"Let's go to the spectator area." Dai Mubai rose as well and called everyone over to watch.

The group passed through a special passageway and arrived at the viewing area reserved for participating Soul Masters.

The process was much the same as in Dai Mubai's memories of the original story. Xiao Wu easily claimed her first victory.

Next, it was Tang San against Zhu Zhuqing.

Although Zhu Zhuqing gave it her all, she was better suited to ambushes, assassinations, and reconnaissance. This kind of direct arena battle could not bring out her strengths.

On top of that, Tang San had mastered all kinds of Tang Sect techniques, especially Purple Demon Eyes and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Zhu Zhuqing's advantages in concealment and speed could not be brought into play at all, and Tang San ultimately won.

The final one-on-one match was Ma Hongjun's.

His opponent was a level-twenty-seven agility-attack Soul Master, incredibly fast. But before Ma Hongjun's overwhelming Evil Fire Phoenix flames, he had nowhere to run and was forced out of the arena.

Ma Hongjun won as well.

With that, Shrek's one-on-one soul battles had all concluded. Only the two two-on-two matches remained.

The first to take the stage were Tang San and Xiao Wu of the "Three-Five Combination."

Their opponents were the "Ironblood Combination," a pair of biological brothers named Iron Dragon and Iron Tiger. Their Martial Souls were Iron Hammers.

The Iron brothers truly had abundant combat experience. In the blink of an eye, they had actually injured Tang San.

Xiao Wu abruptly flew into a rage and used the hidden weapon Silent Sleeve Arrow, intending to kill them.

Fortunately, Tang San intervened and saved the two brothers.

Dai Mubai took it all in.

Seeing Xiao Wu still looking indignant, as though she had suffered some tremendous injustice, he could not help shaking his head.

Remembering how Tang San often went berserk whenever Xiao Wu was hurt, Dai Mubai sighed inwardly. Birds of a feather really do flock together. Their hostility is far too heavy.

Getting injured in the soul arena was perfectly normal.

Blades and swords had no eyes, and soul skills showed no mercy. If one stepped onto this stage, one had to be prepared to get hurt.

But Xiao Wu?

Tang San had merely suffered a minor injury, yet she had immediately tried to kill someone, firing her sleeve arrows straight at vital areas like the eyes without the slightest mercy.

If Tang San still had not retained a shred of humanity, there would probably already have been two deaths in the Soto Great Soul Arena.

If everyone were like them and could not even endure such minor injuries, then they might as well stop competing altogether, and the Great Soul Arena might as well shut down.

Next, it was the White Tiger Pagoda Combination's turn to appear.

Because Dai Mubai possessed a Golden Soul Badge, their match was held on the main soul arena.

Unlike the subsidiary soul arenas, which could only accommodate a few hundred people, the main soul arena stood in the very heart of the Soto Great Soul Arena.

The soul arena was over a hundred meters in diameter, its circular platform paved with entire slabs of Black Iron Rock.

Dozens of massive spotlights shone down from every direction beneath the dome, illuminating the entire arena as brightly as day.

The surrounding stands rose in layered rings, with over ten thousand seats. They were packed to the brim, a sea of dark heads surging like waves as cheers and shouts thundered through the venue.

"Now, please welcome the White Tiger Pagoda Combination!"

The host's impassioned voice spread throughout the arena through a soul tool amplifier, carrying a magnetic quality that made the blood race.

"One of their members is the undisputed star of our Soto Great Soul Arena, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger! And his new partner, Seven Treasure Glazed!"

Before the words had even faded, a golden beam of light struck the tunnel exit with perfect precision.

Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong stepped out.

His long golden hair gleamed beneath the intense light, reflecting a faint golden halo.

His steps were steady and powerful. His nearly perfect handsome face bore no expression as his calm gaze swept over the thunderous audience, carrying the innate dominance and composure of the White Tiger Martial Soul.

"White Tiger! White Tiger! White Tiger!"

The stands instantly erupted.

Countless female spectators screamed and waved glow sticks in their hands, while the male spectators pounded their armrests with all their strength. The unified chants rose wave after wave, and the atmosphere was so fervent it bordered on madness.

Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, looked extremely excited. She kept waving her fair little hands, apparently enjoying the feeling of being the center of everyone's attention.

As she walked, she shouted, "Boss Dai, Boss Dai, look! The audience is cheering for us!"

"Can you calm down a little?" Dai Mubai was speechless.

Ning Rongrong simply ignored him.

At the same time, in the contestants' viewing area of the main soul arena.

The other six members of Shrek watched everything unfold.

Looking at the scene below, where everyone's attention was focused on them, then thinking of the deserted reception she and Tang San had received at the subsidiary soul arena earlier, Xiao Wu immediately felt intensely unbalanced.

She pouted and said indignantly, "Hmph! What's so great about that? It's just a Gold Soul Badge. They're acting like some huge celebrities."

"Xiao Wu, don't be so unconvinced." Oscar looked proud as though he shared in the glory. "Boss Dai is practically a legend in the Great Soul Arena. A Soul Ancestor at such a young age, a powerful White Tiger Martial Soul, a Golden Soul Badge, more than three hundred victories, and a record of thirty-five consecutive wins. He's handsome and carries himself well, too. You could say he's the most popular Soul Master in the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena. Those noble young ladies are willing to drive the price of VIP tickets up tenfold just to watch one of his soul battles!"

"Hmph!" Xiao Wu turned her face away with a proud look. "When Third Brother and I reach his age, we'll definitely be stronger than him!"

Tang San stood nearby, his expression solemn. At that age, can I really achieve that?

Ma Hongjun shouted toward the arena below at the top of his lungs, "Boss Dai! Go!"

At the very edge, however, Zhu Zhuqing wore a complicated expression.

Looking at Dai Mubai on the soul arena, then at Ning Rongrong beside him, smiling brightly and waving at the audience, a bold thought rose in her heart. Should I... be more proactive?

She recalled how she had endured hardship on the road and braved life and death to find this place. Was it not all so she could join him, defeat her elder sister and Dai Weisi, and seize control of her own fate?

Now that Dai Mubai had gained that confidence, what was she still hesitating over?

Zhu Zhuqing unconsciously clenched her fists.

On the soul arena, the host's voice rang out.

"Now, please welcome the opponents of the White Tiger Pagoda Combination—the Rocksplitter Brothers!"

Two burly figures strode out from the tunnel opposite them.

They were two muscular Soul Masters who looked to be over thirty. At a glance, they were seasoned and fierce warriors, radiating a killing aura that made hearts tremble.

"The Rocksplitter Brothers: the elder brother, Sun Lie, possesses the Earth-Splitting Battle Axe Martial Soul and is a level-forty-seven assault-type Soul Ancestor! The younger brother, Sun Yan, possesses the Black Iron Heavy Shield Martial Soul and is a level-forty-six defense-type Soul Ancestor!"

A wave of shocked cries immediately rose from the stands. Two high-level Soul Ancestors!

As expected, no ordinary people could step onto the main soul arena!

Both sides took their positions.

The brothers Sun Lie and Sun Yan stood shoulder to shoulder, one with an axe and one with a shield. Their offense and defense complemented each other, their imposing presence seamlessly united.

Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, stood one in front of the other. Dai Mubai completely shielded Ning Rongrong behind him.

"Both sides, release your Martial Souls!"

The host raised his right hand high, and the entire venue instantly fell silent.