"It seems you all understand the value of the Arena now."
Lin Yue turned his gaze toward the groups from Blazing Fire and Skywater standing at the entrance, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
"So, do the two deans still intend to take everyone away?"
Huo Lie and Shui Qinglan exchanged a glance and gave a light cough in unison.
Huo Lie spoke first. "Having seen such a miraculous place as the Arena, we naturally have to stay and experience it properly."
"However..."
He paused, changing tack.
"We've exhausted ourselves traveling all this way, both in body and mind. We intend to find a restaurant or hotel to rest first. There's no harm in coming back to try it afterward."
Shui Qinglan nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"I see."
Lin Yue turned toward the kitchen area, where three people were looking their way because of the Arena.
"What are you standing around for? Your customers are here."
Yue Guan and Gui Mei froze at his words, then said hesitantly in low voices:
"But Boss Lin, we don't seem to... have a menu yet?"
As they finished speaking, Lin Yue had already taken a stack of exquisite booklets from beneath the counter and placed them out front.
"Don't worry. Just show off everything you've accomplished these past few days."
With that, he turned toward Zhu Zhuqing beside him.
"Zhu Zhuqing, come take their orders and bring them to the kitchen. Then help serve the dishes and clear the plates."
"Mm."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded lightly and obediently stepped forward to await instructions.
Everyone hesitantly accepted the menus. Seeing them filled with unheard-of dishes such as mapo tofu, boiled pork slices, and kung pao chicken, they each ordered a few based on instinct.
After taking their seats, they waited quietly.
Before long, wafts of unusual fragrance drifted from the kitchen.
When the first plate of mapo tofu arrived at the table, its bright red sheen and pungent, numbing-spicy aroma set everyone's mouths watering.
One bite sent piping-hot, savory flavors straight into their taste buds, followed by an astonishingly rich, lingering sweetness.
With the combined enhancement of a god-level iron wok martial soul and divine fire, every dish they cooked could be called a supreme delicacy of the mortal world.
For a time, everyone feasted like winds sweeping away scattered clouds, their praise ringing out without end.
Standing beside the counter, Lin Yue looked at the "B rating" that appeared on the System Interface and shook his head.
"Never mind. A B rating already meets the requirement. As for knife skills and heat control... they can hone those gradually."
The pleasant meal slipped quietly by.
Gradually, the first to notice something unusual was Shui Qinglan, dean of Skywater Academy. She felt that the upper limit of the soul power within her seemed to have increased slightly.
Afterward, the others also began discovering changes in themselves.
Some had noticeably greater soul power reserves, some felt slightly stronger and faster, while others found their spiritual power more concentrated and their thoughts exceptionally clear.
Some who felt nothing only discovered that their soul skills had also grown stronger after trying to unleash them.
At that moment, everyone grew excited and crowded around the counter to ask about it.
Lin Yue explained unhurriedly, "These dishes were made using god-level martial souls. Of course they have effects like these."
"If they could fully bring out their divine rings' abilities, the food they made could actually awaken full soul power in people originally born with innate zero soul power, as well as improve talent, trigger martial soul evolution, and produce all sorts of other effects."
Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, and Meng Yiran all nodded in sudden understanding.
As for the others who did not know what divine rings were, Lin Yue did not need to waste any more words. The four of them chimed in one after another and soon explained everything clearly.
Thus, everyone looked toward Yue Guan, Gui Mei, and Zhu Zhuqing in the kitchen, their eyes inevitably carrying a measure of envy.
"Then how long will this effect last?"
At that moment, a Skywater student could not help asking.
Lin Yue answered truthfully according to the system's estimate.
"About an hour."
Everyone understood and asked no further questions, continuing to enjoy this rare, delicious meal.
After eating, the students from Blazing Fire Academy and Skywater Academy repeatedly tested different soul ring combinations in the Arena and conducted practical combat drills.
Meanwhile, Dugu Bo entered an experience pod and traveled to that strange world, heading straight for Heavenly Evolution City in hopes of obtaining the information about Jade Phosphorous Serpent martial soul evolution left behind by that ancestor's counterpart.
In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.
At Suotuo City's Soul Fighting Arena.
On the platform, the Shrek Seven Devils coordinated seamlessly, exchanging only a few brief rounds of soul skills.
Blue Silver entanglement sealed off movement, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave crushed head-on, and close-range soft techniques broke through attacks. Flowing like clouds and water, the Shrek Seven Devils defeated their opponents cleanly and decisively.
The instant the referee loudly announced their victory, applause and cheers exploded throughout the venue.
The seven stood at the center of the platform, brimming with confidence as they welcomed the surrounding spectators' cheers.
Below the platform, Yu Xiaogang rapidly recorded the match data, Flender stroked his beard with a smile at the money he had earned, and Zhao Wuji slapped his thigh hard and cheered.
Clearly, the humiliation of being driven out of that Mysterious Shop in disgrace twelve days earlier seemed to have left no shadow over their hearts, as though it had never happened.
In the spectator seats not far from them, Yu Tianheng stood with his arms folded, watching the spirited Shrek group on the platform, the faintest curve touching his lips.
Beside him, Dugu Yan's cold gaze locked onto Tang San, a trace of chill in her eyes.
The Shi Brothers, Ye Lingling, and the others likewise watched the Shrek Seven Monsters on the platform, their expressions varied.
Some were surprised by Shrek's seamless coordination, while others disdained the soul power level gap between their opponents and themselves.
As in the original storyline, Shrek had won one match after another in the Soto Great Soul Arena. To cut their losses, management had already intended to invite a powerful outside team to end their momentum.
The arrival of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team happened to put out that urgent fire.
Immediately after this match ended, the Soul Fighting Arena's management decided to make an exception and raise Shrek's rank, arranging a team showdown that would draw everyone's attention.
As waves of cheering lingered below the platform, the Shrek Seven Devils stepped down and returned to their designated preparation area to rest.
Their breathing rose and fell slightly, their faces filled with the confidence and high spirits of consecutive victories.
Yu Xiaogang closed the notebook in his hand and spoke solemnly, informing everyone of the Soul Fighting Arena's latest arrangements:
"The Soul Fighting Arena's management just sent word. Next, we'll be facing a special team battle as the grand finale."
The Shrek Seven Monsters all froze at those words.
Yu Xiaogang continued explaining slowly:
"Our opponents are the Imperial Fighting Team from Heaven Dou Royal Academy, who have traveled here from afar. Every member is elite. They are truly formidable opponents."
He then briefly introduced their core members one by one.
Their captain, Yu Tianheng, had the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul, an ultimate power attack-type beast martial soul. Dugu Yan's martial soul was the Jade Phosphorous Serpent, specializing in poison-based battlefield control. Both Shi Brothers had Black Tortoise martial souls, with defenses as impregnable as a city of iron and a moat of boiling water. There were also two agility attack-type members with Ghost Leopard and Wind Chime Bird martial souls responsible for tying opponents down.
Most importantly, their team had Ye Lingling, a Nine Heart Begonia healing soul master, an exceptionally rare existence across the entire continent.
"Nine Heart Begonia possesses absolute healing ability. Their endurance is impossible to counter, and she is their greatest trump card."
Yu Xiaogang's expression was grave as he repeatedly warned everyone not to underestimate the enemy.
"You now have one hour to rest, regulate your breathing, and get into condition. Prepare to fight with everything you have."
The Shrek Seven Monsters grew solemn at his words. Putting away their playful expressions, they each sat down to focus and regulate their breathing, seriously preparing for this unprecedentedly tough battle.
Except for Dai Mubai and the newly joined female agility attack-type soul master. The two slipped away and booked a room by the hour at a nearby hotel.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Fighting Team's preparation area on the other side.
Everyone was likewise making preparations, such as warming up before the match.
Yu Tianheng loosened his shoulder and neck joints, then turned toward Dugu Yan beside him and asked in a low voice:
"Ready?"
Dugu Yan nodded lightly, her eyes cold.
Then, under the astonished gazes of all her teammates, she raised a hand and took two exquisite meals from her Storage Soul Tool.
These were precisely what she had made a special trip to the shop to buy before coming.
According to Senior Yue Guan's instructions, one enhanced soul skill power, while the other increased the upper limit of soul power.
Thinking of this, she beckoned the entire team over, divided the two meals evenly, and had everyone eat them a few minutes before the start.
Once this was done, her eyes sharpened, and her tone carried a measure of stubbornness and coldness:
"All of you, remember this. Once we're onstage, whenever an opportunity presents itself, everyone is to focus their attacks on that fellow called Tang San!"
One teammate looked thoroughly puzzled and could not help asking:
"Sister Yan, this Tang San doesn't seem to have had anything to do with us. When did you two develop a grudge?"
Dugu Yan's pretty face darkened slightly as she declared with certainty:
"He may not have done those things yet, but we must take precautions before trouble strikes!"
"Today, I'll teach him a lesson and make him understand that my Dugu Family has never been easy to provoke!"
Everyone listened in a fog, completely failing to understand the deeper meaning of her words. Though full of questions, they still nodded together, took her instructions to heart, and focused on preparing for battle.
The hour of rest passed in a flash.
Accompanied by the Soul Fighting Arena's earthshaking announcements, the two top-tier teams stepped onto the central platform in succession.
On one side stood the Shrek Seven Devils, riding an unrivaled wave of consecutive victories; on the other stood Heaven Dou Royal Academy's elite Imperial Fighting Team.
The entire audience instantly erupted. Cheers and shouts like mountains and seas swept through the Soto Great Soul Arena as everyone craned their necks, eagerly awaiting this clash at the summit.
The two teams stood on opposite sides of the platform, facing each other from afar as their auras collided fiercely.
But Oscar suddenly spoke in a low voice, full of puzzlement:
"Doesn't something feel strange to you? Everyone on their side seems to be staring at Little San."
His words stirred the others, and upon looking carefully, they found that it was indeed so.
Especially the girl at the very front of the team. Her cool green eyes brimmed with chill as they locked firmly onto Tang San, her hostility almost entirely undisguised.
Just as everyone was privately wondering about this, the referee's booming voice suddenly resounded throughout the venue!
"Team soul fighting, begin!"
The instant the command fell, the Imperial Fighting Team erupted into action first!
Blue light burst around Yu Tianheng as his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul instantly possessed him. Three soul rings, two yellow and one purple, rose neatly around him, an overbearing dragon's might surging toward his opponents.
Speaking extremely quickly, he issued his battle orders in a low voice:
"Shi Mo, Shi Mo, protect Ye Lingling! Osler, assist Yu Feng, along with everyone else, and keep the soul masters beside their support types occupied! Yanzi, just control the field!"
"Leave the rest to me!"
With that, Yu Tianheng became a streak of blue lightning, charging toward Ning Rongrong like an arrow loosed from its bow, his offensive astonishingly swift.
Shrek reacted just as quickly.
Radiance swirled around Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and several beams of colored light precisely enveloped her teammates.
Dai Mubai roared as his White Tiger martial soul possessed him. He likewise attacked Ye Lingling, using his third soul skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, to strike with a tiger paw.
Yet his tiger paw struck the gray-black tortoise shells in front of the Shi Brothers, leaving his arm numb from the impact.
On the other side, Ma Hongjun spat his Phoenix Fire Line through the air, forcing Yu Tianheng to dodge sideways and preventing him from reaching Ning Rongrong.
Neither side gained the slightest advantage in their first exchange.
Then the two teams became fully embroiled in battle, soul skills crisscrossing amid flying light and shadow.
Yu Tianheng keenly spotted an opening. Believing he had found an excellent opportunity, he charged toward Ning Rongrong's position again.
But the moment he stepped into the center of the battlefield, the web of Blue Silver Grass Tang San had laid in advance instantly tightened. Shrek's members closed in with seamless coordination, perfectly sealing off every path of retreat.
The Imperial Fighting Team members behind him burned with anxiety and wanted to rush forward to help, but they were held firmly in place. Willing yet powerless, they could only watch in frustration.
After several struggles, Yu Tianheng exhausted his soul power and lost all strength. A heavy impact sent him flying, and he crashed down in disgrace before the Imperial Fighting Team's formation.
An uproar broke out among the spectators below the platform. Everyone believed the outcome had been decided and Shrek was about to claim another victory.
Slumped on the ground and panting heavily, Yu Tianheng looked up at Dugu Yan beside him, who seemed about to make a move. His voice held helplessness and urgency:
"Yanzi, calm down! Teacher Qin Ming said you absolutely must not use your third soul skill, Jade Phosphor Purple Poison. Have you forgotten?"
Dugu Yan slowly looked back, a sinister, icy smile curving across her stunning face.
"Of course I haven't."
The instant her words fell, the soul rings beneath her feet suddenly flared, and a pitch-black ten-thousand-year purple ring no one had ever seen blazed into light!
"Fourth soul skill! Jade Phosphor Soul-Eroding Miasma!"
Dark, viscous purple miasma instantly swept across the entire platform with her at its center, spreading silently in every direction.
The whole venue instantly fell deathly silent. Every spectator, referee, and teacher outside the platform had their pupils contract sharply, their faces filled with disbelief!
"Level forty! She's actually broken through to Soul Ancestor and mastered a ten-thousand-year fourth soul skill!"
A young Soul Ancestor, a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring-such talent could be called heaven-defying anywhere in Suotuo City, or even Heaven Dou City!
Dugu Yan swept a cold gaze over her equally shocked teammates and spoke calmly:
"Anyone touched by my soul-eroding miasma will have their soul power circulation speed reduced by forty percent, accompanied by delusional speech and auditory hallucinations to disrupt them."
With that, she casually took out a bottle of pale-green pure soul power potion and tossed it in front of Yu Tianheng.
"Drink it."
Seeing her unquestionable expression, Yu Tianheng did not hesitate in the slightest. He reached out, caught the potion, and drained it in one gulp.
The pure medicinal power instantly swept through every limb and bone. His depleted soul power rapidly surged back, his exhaustion vanished, and his condition returned to its peak in an instant.
He clenched his fists, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes, and silently vowed that he would wash away the humiliation of his defeat just now! He would prove himself before Dugu Yan!
A new round of team combat erupted once again!
Before you continue