Two Girls Stunned, a Practical Combat Class at the Great Soul Arena

Lin Xuan glanced at Dai Mubai but kept walking, passing straight by him.

He had no interest whatsoever in getting involved in the affairs between Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.

As things stood, Zhu Zhuqing had come to the Heaven Dou Empire alone, with no one to back her.

Ning Rongrong, by contrast, had the fabulously wealthy Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect behind her. Two Titled Douluo above rank ninety-five, Chen Xin and Gu Rong, stood guard within the sect.

Until Spirit Hall made its move openly, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect still held considerable value.

Ning Rongrong also spotted Dai Mubai standing beside the haystack.

She looked him up and down and muttered, "He spends all day in brothels. He reeks of perfume. Just looking at him turns my stomach."

Walking beside her, Zhu Zhuqing's face darkened, and she quickened her pace.

When Dai Mubai saw Zhu Zhuqing approach, his tense body relaxed a little.

He stepped forward and blocked the path. "Zhuqing, can we... talk?"

Zhu Zhuqing stopped and shifted half a step to the side, putting some distance between them.

Dai Mubai raked a hand through his hair and lowered his voice.

"I know you came to Suotuo City for me, didn't you? What happened back then..."

Before he could finish, Zhu Zhuqing shook her head.

"No need, Dai Mubai. You've really disappointed me."

With that, she walked around him and hurried to catch up with Lin Xuan and Xiao Wu.

Dai Mubai stood frozen. He slammed both fists into the wooden post beside him, sending splinters scattering across the ground.

He wanted to lash out, but he had no excuse to do so. All he could do was watch Zhu Zhuqing disappear through the cabin doorway.

Back at the dormitory building, the boys and girls went to their separate rooms.

In the girls' room on the second floor, Ning Rongrong kicked off her shoes as soon as she entered and flopped onto the soft bed.

"I'm exhausted! Twenty whole laps—my legs are about to fall off."

Zhu Zhuqing sat on the bed by the window and took out the Clear Mind Talisman Lin Xuan had just given her. Her fingertips traced its blue-green markings.

Ning Rongrong rolled onto her stomach and looked at Xiao Wu over her pillow.

"Xiao Wu, how do you use this thing? Do we need to light it?"

Xiao Wu was playing with her scorpion braid. She couldn't help laughing.

"Why would you light it? It's not an offering for the dead."

Xiao Wu walked over to the table, picked up a sheet of Talisman Paper, and demonstrated.

"Just channel Soul Power into the Talisman Paper. Though I usually prefer sticking it right on my forehead. It absorbs most smoothly that way."

Still skeptical, Ning Rongrong sat up, pressed the Clear Mind Talisman to her forehead, and channeled a wisp of Soul Power into it.

The next instant, the Talisman Paper turned into a soft cloud of blue-green light and flowed through the point between her brows into her meridians.

A cool sensation washed through Ning Rongrong's mind. The irritation and fatigue from the long run vanished, and her thoughts became remarkably clear.

Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing activated the Clear Mind Talisman in her hand the same way.

The moment the blue-green light entered her body, her sluggish Soul Power settled and began circulating much faster.

Both girls immediately sat cross-legged and entered meditation.

About half an hour later, Ning Rongrong opened her eyes first, her face alight with unconcealed delight.

"That's incredible!"

"Half an hour of meditation just now did as much for me as more than half a day of hard training usually would!"

Zhu Zhuqing slowly exhaled as well.

"My meditation was much more efficient, too. Lin Xuan's Martial Soul is incredibly powerful."

Xiao Wu lifted her chin and gave a proud little snort.

"Of course it is. And that Clear Mind Talisman is a Self-Created Soul Skill Lin Xuan developed himself. He may be a support-type Soul Master, but you can't imagine how talented he is at cultivation."

"A Self-Created Soul Skill?"

Ning Rongrong stared at her, her voice rising sharply.

"He created a Soul Skill of this caliber at his age? You've got to be kidding!"

As the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she had met plenty of brilliant geniuses. But who could create a Soul Skill comparable to a top-tier support ability at twelve?

Zhu Zhuqing stood to the side, her fingers curling slightly on her knees.

Creating a Soul Skill required an extraordinary understanding of one's Martial Soul and the flow of Soul Power. The effort and talent behind Lin Xuan's achievement were easy to imagine.

Night soon settled over the village.

After dinner, several dim oil lamps lit the large training ground at Shrek Academy.

Lin Xuan, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Dai Mubai, and Oscar assembled on time.

Ma Hongjun, meanwhile, was still lying on a wooden bed in the dormitory, recovering from his injuries.

Flender stood before the group with his hands behind his back. His black robe stirred in the night breeze, and his square, black-framed crystal glasses still sat on his nose.

Flender looked around at everyone and cleared his throat.

"Tonight is your first practical combat class at Shrek Academy."

"On this continent, training without real combat is nothing but empty show."

"You won't be training at the academy. You'll be training at the Suotuo Great Soul Arena."

Flender took an iron badge from his robe and held it up.

"One of the requirements for graduating from Shrek Academy is earning a Silver Soul Fighting Badge at the Suotuo Great Soul Arena before you graduate."

Ning Rongrong frowned and raised her hand.

"Dean, we support-type Soul Masters have no offensive power. How are we supposed to earn a Silver Soul Fighting Badge at the Battle Arena? Are we meant to go up there and take a beating?"

Flender glanced at Ning Rongrong.

"Support-type Soul Masters can enter two-on-two matches. If you win, the points count toward your total too. You three support types—Lin Xuan, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar—only need to earn a Silver Soul Fighting Badge in two-on-two matches to qualify."

Oscar sidled closer with a grin. "Wise decision, Dean. I've been wanting a reliable powerhouse to carry me."

Dai Mubai gave Oscar an irritated kick. "Cut the chatter. You're teaming up with me."

Flender nodded and began assigning teams on the spot.

"Since Ma Hongjun can't go, these will be tonight's two-on-two teams."

"Dai Mubai, you're with Oscar."

"Zhu Zhuqing, you're with Ning Rongrong."

"Lin Xuan and Xiao Wu are a team."

After assigning the teams, Flender turned to Tang San.

"Tang San, start with a one-on-one match tonight. Once Ma Hongjun recovers, or if we change the arrangements later, we'll find you a two-on-two partner."

Tang San spread his hands helplessly. "Dean, so I'm fighting solo tonight?"

Lin Xuan patted Tang San on the shoulder. "Little San, once Xiao Wu and I finish our two-on-two match, I'll team up with you for one."

Tang San paused, then nodded.

"That works. It'll keep you busy."

Flender pushed his crystal glasses up his nose and spoke approvingly.

"Good idea, Lin Xuan. Tang San is a Soul Elder, so his partner should ideally be one too."

"Now that it's settled, let's go—to the Suotuo Great Soul Arena!"

With a sweep of his hand, Flender led the seven of them out of Shrek Academy and set off at a brisk pace toward Suotuo City.