Flender listened from the side and nodded slightly.
The Soto Great Soul Arena had been opened to make money in the first place.
Compared with cold, hard Gold Soul Coins, that little bit of reputation...
Was hardly worth mentioning.
"Are you planning to chase after them and beat up even the Imperial Fighting Team?" Flender asked Lu Ning. After all, Yu Xiaogang was his closest friend.
If Lu Ning chased after Yu Xiaogang to beat him up...
"I'll give you half the winnings."
"Deal." The moment Lu Ning finished speaking, Flender agreed without hesitation and waved for Zhao Wuji to gather Shrek Academy's members.
At the deserted village entrance.
Yu Xiaogang was just about to leave.
He had even packed his luggage.
He had thought Flender had gathered everyone to hold a farewell gathering for him.
But to his surprise...
Flender announced excitedly, "Go back and get ready, everyone. Tonight, we're entering the Great Soul Arena's team competition, with Lu Ning at the core. Everyone must coordinate with him."
Oscar raised his hand and spoke slowly, his voice clearly lacking confidence. "Dean, Brother Ning is already a Soul Ancestor."
"If we enter with him..."
"Won't we have to face Soul Ancestors?"
Flender and Lu Ning exchanged a glance. They had prepared for this.
"Lu Ning will use a brand-new identity and wear a mask, and he won't use his first Martial Soul."
"As for the inspectors, we'll take care of bribing them."
"If the Soto Great Soul Arena insists on its so-called rules, we'll just let those wealthy merchants bleed it dry."
Oscar glanced toward Lu Ning.
He said nothing more.
When Yu Xiaogang heard that they were entering the Great Soul Arena's team competition tonight, he opened his mouth, but the words seemed stuck in his throat. He merely shook his head and left with Tang San and Xiao Wu.
Tang San glanced toward Lu Ning.
He, too, said nothing.
He followed Yu Xiaogang out of Shrek Academy.
He had never imagined his time at Shrek would be so brief.
Or that his departure would be so forlorn.
Xiao Wu was the only one of the three who felt any reluctance to leave. They had only just settled down here, and now they had to leave again.
But Tang San was leaving, and Grandmaster was leaving.
She could hardly stay behind.
After exchanging a few words of farewell with Zhu Zhuqing, she followed them.
That night.
Wearing the expression of a profiteer, Flender spent ages negotiating with the manager of the Soto Great Soul Arena.
At first, the manager held firm, preferring bankruptcy to ruining the arena's reputation. But when Flender took out that Million Gold Soul Coin Card, ready to place a bet on the Imperial Fighting Team and make some money...
He still gave in.
That sum was greater than what those wealthy merchants had put together.
Once Flender placed his bet...
Even selling the Soto Great Soul Arena would not cover the payout.
"All right."
"I have just one condition."
"Even if he loses, he must not reveal his four Soul Rings. Otherwise... we'll lose the lady and our troops along with her."
"And another thing..."
"Keep your own bets small. Don't make us lose our last coin."
The manager spoke with a pale face.
That crafty smile remained on Flender's face.
"Of course, of course."
"This is a mutually beneficial arrangement between us and your arena."
"As for the two Soul Masters we're short of..."
The manager's face grew even paler. Gritting his teeth, he said, "We'll find them! We'll find ones with levels as high as possible!"
"What kind do you need?"
Flender's smile deepened. "Thank you for the effort, then. Just find us a Control System Soul Master and a support-type Soul Master. They don't have to be level 39. Level 38 will do."
Flender had barely left...
When Yu Xiaogang stepped into the office once more.
Beside him were Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Yu Tianheng, whose eyes were red.
Clearly, uncle and nephew had just spent some time catching up.
Their affection was running deep.
"The Imperial Fighting Team wants to increase its roster for tonight's team match." Yu Tianheng's voice was still a little hoarse, and his emotions had not yet fully settled.
The manager's already unfriendly expression grew even uglier.
"Captain Yu."
"There isn't much time before the match begins."
"And you want to increase your team's roster now?"
The Imperial Fighting Team was already difficult enough to deal with. He had struggled for ages before agreeing to let Shrek Academy break the rules, and now... the Imperial Fighting Team wanted to add more people!?
Had he agreed for nothing, then?
"Yes. Under the Great Soul Arena's rules, we're allowed to register in advance," Yu Tianheng argued. "Besides, these two are both silver-badge Soul Masters from your Soto Great Soul Arena."
"We're entirely within our rights to add more people."
The manager glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. His tone softened, but he still did not agree. "You can indeed register in advance, but there's less than half an hour before the match begins."
"Surely 'in advance'... can't mean this little time?"
Seeing Yu Tianheng being blocked, Yu Xiaogang stepped forward toward the manager.
"I know what opponents you're arranging for us tonight."
"As long as he doesn't use his first Martial Soul, we can turn a blind eye."
"In exchange, let us add two people before the match. How about it?"
The manager hesitated for a moment.
Then he gritted his teeth and agreed.
Fight, then. Go ahead and fight. Better yet, bring this Great Soul Arena crashing down!
In the preparation area.
Ma Hongjun stared at the lounge opposite them, drooling.
"Brother Ning!"
"Look!"
"Those two chicks are really something."
"Look, especially that tall one. Her figure... tsk, tsk, tsk."
Ma Hongjun's voice drew everyone's attention over.
A tall, slender figure stood by the window. Her emerald-green eyes radiated an uncanny allure, and her graceful body was as supple as a venomous snake. The clothing over her chest could not conceal that expanse of snowy white, while her tight-fitting outfit showed off every contour of her figure.
As the Shrek group looked over...
Dugu Yan curled her delicate finger toward them.
Whether it was provocation or enticement was unclear.
Ma Hongjun stared, transfixed.
He could hardly wait to abandon Lu Ning and go over.
"Those eyes... are no ordinary eyes."
Dai Mubai walked to Lu Ning's side with his arms crossed, studying Dugu Yan opposite them as though he had recalled something.
Lu Ning nodded slightly, but his gaze shifted to another Soul Master.
Compared with the proud and aloof Dugu Yan, that Soul Master seemed much colder.
She was slender and slim, dressed in black, with a black veil obscuring her face. Her blue hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Her brows and eyes were expressive, and her eyes resembled exquisitely crafted sapphires without the slightest impurity.
Lu Ning recognized her identity at first sight.
If not for the special nature of her Martial Soul...
Which allowed only two to exist in the world at any one time...
Perhaps this would truly be the continent's number one support-type Martial Soul.
"Is she... that pretty?"
At some point, Zhu Zhuqing's delicate hand had reached Lu Ning's waist. She gently pinched a fold of flesh and waited for his answer.
That cold face leaned close to Lu Ning's.
It wore a smile that was enough to send a shiver through him.
Lu Ning gave two light coughs.
He looked toward the doorway.
Before you continue