"Skywater Academy? The name sounds pretty good."
Zhu Zhuqing came from the Star Luo Empire and knew little about the academies of the Heaven Dou Empire, but since Jun Yi had brought up Skywater Academy, it presumably could not be too bad.
"No! We're not going to Skywater Academy!" Ning Rongrong pulled away from Zhu Zhuqing's embrace and glared fiercely at Jun Yi, rejecting the idea in no uncertain terms.
She knew Jun Yi must be eyeing the female students there again. She certainly would not let him get his way!
"What's wrong, Rongrong? Is there something bad about this academy?" Zhu Zhuqing asked in confusion.
"Zhu Zhuqing, you don't know this, but Skywater Academy only accepts girls. Jun Yi is a male student, so he can't get in," Ning Rongrong answered.
After hearing Ning Rongrong's explanation, Zhu Zhuqing nodded and said, "I see. Then let's not go to that academy."
"Actually, I could ask Xue-hiss!"
Jun Yi had just been about to say that he could ask Xue Qinghe to sort it out when a sharp pain suddenly shot through his waist, cutting him off.
After some thought, Jun Yi put on an inscrutable expression and looked at Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, there's an academy that would be very suitable. Experts gather there like clouds, and it's no weaker than Shrek Academy."
The three bought tickets to the main Soul Fighting Arena's spectator stands, chose their seats, and sat down. The seating area was extremely spacious, a hall capable of holding over a thousand people. It was more than half full now, and every face wore an expectant expression.
After Jun Yi settled the bill, the three strolled around Suotuo City together. Since Jun Yi had already memorized the layout of all the city's streets, he was naturally very familiar with its landmarks.
"What? Why did you suddenly think of going there?" Ning Rongrong asked.
They headed south until they reached a magnificent oval building, then the three went inside. The interior was divided into one main Soul Fighting Arena and twenty-four subsidiary arenas.
The match officially began. The two Soul Kings who entered the arena were both level fifty-one and had only just broken through.
Nine out of ten people shouting in the Soul Fighting Arena's stands at this hour were gambling dogs. They relied on this method to reap profits without working. As the saying went, high risk, high returns. These people generally threw away fortunes on a single bet, and some ended up losing even their underwear.
The three settled on their plan: tomorrow, they would set out for Spirit City and enroll in Spirit Hall Academy.
"Sure."
"Xue what?"
"True. Then let's buy tickets and watch from the stands. Watching from the outer perimeter is a bit hard on the eyes," Ning Rongrong suggested.
Heaven Dou City only had those few famous academies. Ning Rongrong would not let him enter Skywater Academy, the best of them, and Jun Yi had no interest whatsoever in the others.
"I have no objections, but with my talent, can I get into Spirit Hall Academy?" Zhu Zhuqing still lacked confidence. After all, her Innate Soul Power was only level seven, and that was the source of her unease.
Jun Yi waved a hand and assured her, "Don't worry, Miss Zhu Zhuqing. With your talent, getting into Spirit Hall Academy will be a breeze. Have confidence in your own strength."
"All right, let's go in and watch for fun."
"Spirit Hall Academy."
Jun Yi gently loosened Ning Rongrong's hand from his waist, then sank into thought.
"Suotuo City's landmark, of course-the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena."
"Hiss, nothing, nothing. Rongrong, let go first. Let me think about whether any other academies would suit us."
After thinking it over, Ning Rongrong said, "Mm, I've never been to Spirit City or seen the Papal Palace either. All right, let's enroll in Spirit Hall Academy. As for Dad, he definitely won't agree, but I'll execute first and report afterward. Once I've joined Spirit Hall Academy, I'll send him a message."
"What academy?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
Jun Yi turned around and found Ning Rongrong looking at him with a "nuclear-friendly" smile as she voiced her question.
"Uh, forget it. I don't want these gambling dogs watching me like a monkey for their amusement." Jun Yi waved a hand in refusal.
"Mm."
The Soul Fighting match Jun Yi had bought tickets for was a sparring bout between two Soul Kings. He had originally wanted tickets to a deathmatch, but Ning Rongrong had firmly refused. She thought it was too cruel and could not accept it, so the three had chosen this sparring bout instead.
Jun Yi turned to Zhu Zhuqing and asked, "Miss Zhu Zhuqing, what do you think?"
"Academy enrollment usually lasts about a month, so there's still plenty of time. How about we leave tomorrow and spend today having a good look around Suotuo City?" Ning Rongrong suggested.
By now, the spectator stands inside were more than half full. Encouraging shouts, curses, and cheers rose one after another, making for a lively scene.
The three bought tickets to the main Soul Fighting Arena's spectator stands, chose their seats, and sat down. The seating area was extremely spacious, a hall capable of holding over a thousand people. It was more than half full now, and every face wore an expectant expression.
"Ahem, what do you think?" Jun Yi asked Ning Rongrong.
Jun Yi had no desire to become a monkey these people used to make a profit.
"Mainly, I've never been to Spirit City, and I've never seen what the Papal Palace looks like, so I want to have a look around. Besides, isn't Spirit Hall Academy known as the 'number one academy on the continent'? I think it would suit us pretty well."
"Jun Yi, where should we go for fun?" Knowing that Jun Yi was a walking map, Ning Rongrong asked for his opinion.
Seeing Ning Rongrong agree so readily, Jun Yi marveled inwardly, She really is Ning Rongrong, the young miss of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Following her heart and doing whatever she pleases-that's what she's all about.
"But if we go to this academy, we'll need to ask Uncle Ning for permission."
Standing at the outer perimeter, the three watched the various Soul Fighting matches underway in the arena. Ning Rongrong immediately grew interested and excitedly asked Jun Yi beside her, "Jun Yi, do you want to enter a match too? I'll definitely bet on you to win."
Jun Yi explained to Ning Rongrong, leaving one more important thing unsaid: he wanted to see what Bibi Dong, hailed as the most beautiful female pope, actually looked like, and just how beautiful she was.
"Suotuo City has a Soul Fighting Arena too? Perfect, let's go take a look!" With that, Ning Rongrong once again took one on either side, linking her arm through Jun Yi's and taking Zhu Zhuqing's hand as they headed toward the Great Soul Arena.
The two summoned their Martial Souls. One was a green ox, and the other was an ape.
Neither had an optimal Soul Ring configuration. The green ox Soul Master had white, yellow, yellow, purple, and purple, while the ape Soul Master's was somewhat better: white, yellow, purple, purple, and purple.
After saluting each other, the two officially began their Soul Fighting match. Since the gap in their strength was small, the battle looked incredibly fierce...
(End of chapter)