Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan

A youth of about fifteen or sixteen slowly stepped out of the crowd, his gaze carrying a hint of provocation. "Kid, you dare refuse to sell?"

Amid the crowd stood a tall, burly youth. With thick brows, tiger-like eyes, and a baby-fat face that radiated arrogance and an unmistakably exceptional air, he was impossible to miss. At this moment, he seemed somewhat unable to control his temper as he demanded angrily, "Kid, you actually dare refuse to sell!"

With that, the youth reached out to snatch the grilled fish. But Huo Yuhao quickly pulled it away, leaving Xu Sanshi clutching only a handful of blackened charcoal. He roared, "Are you looking for a beating?" Tang Ya slammed her hand down on the counter and snapped, "Xu Sanshi, do you think I'm not here?"

Xu Sanshi retorted without backing down, "Tang Ya, don't think that just because Beibei protects you, I wouldn't dare touch you." Tang Ya sneered. "Come on, then. Do you think I'm afraid of you? Do you think people from the Tang Sect are so easy to bully?"

Seeing that things were going wrong, Lin Qianyi slowly walked over as well. Just as Xu Sanshi was about to make a move to snatch the fish, Lin Qianyi released a thread of Soul Power, sending him staggering back while he was completely unprepared. Tang Ya did not remain idle either. She flicked a tiny golden needle from her hand, and it landed precisely on Xu Sanshi's lower back. In that instant, Xu Sanshi felt a sharp stab of pain, though he did not show it. What shocked him was that Lin Qianyi looked several years younger than him, yet her Soul Power was nearly equal to his.

Just then, Xu Sanshi spotted an opening and suddenly snatched the grilled fish from Huo Yuhao's hand. Tang Ya's eyes widened in fury. "You, Xu Sanshi!"

At that moment, a voice rang out. It was Beibei's voice. "Xu Sanshi, you bullied my junior sister and junior brother from the Tang Sect. Did you ask for my opinion?" Xu Sanshi froze, asking in confusion, "What? Those two are from your Tang Sect?"

Before Beibei could speak, Xu Sanshi cut in again. "So what if I took it? I paid too. This grilled fish is mine now!" Tang Ya stamped her foot in anger. "You..."

Beibei suddenly calmed down. He glanced at Tang Ya's flushed face and secretly found it amusing, though his expression remained solemn. Then Tang Ya added, "Beibei, teach him a good lesson now. If you win, I'll let you kiss me once."

Upon hearing that, Beibei could no longer keep a straight face. He shook his head helplessly, then pretended to be stern. "Xu Sanshi, you bullied my junior sister and junior brother today. You owe me an explanation. Come with me to the Battle Soul Arena and settle this." Xu Sanshi answered boldly, "Fine, let's go! Who's afraid of you?"

As he spoke, his gaze casually swept toward Jiang Nannan beside him. He handed her the grilled fish. "Nannan, eat this first!" Jiang Nannan frowned and said unhappily, "Xu Sanshi, I never asked you to come bother me. And don't take your anger out on others because of me." With that, she turned and left, leaving Xu Sanshi standing there awkwardly.

After a moment, Xu Sanshi could only return the grilled fish to Huo Yuhao. Then he grabbed Beibei by the shoulder and shouted, "Come on, let's go compete!"

Tang Ya took the grilled fish from Huo Yuhao, gently bit into it, and the crisp fish skin made a faint sound between her teeth. "Let's go too. We can watch the show." Her eyes held a trace of curiosity and anticipation.

The Battle Soul Arena was one of Shrek Academy's calling cards. It stood in the northwestern corner of the Martial Soul Department, and Shrek City's bustling sights could be seen just beyond a single wall. It was not far from the Soul Tool Department either. This was a place where passion and glory intertwined—not only an arena for students to test their skills, but also a sacred ground for Martial Soul exchanges. Every match was overseen by professional referee teachers, who judged the contests according to principles of fairness and impartiality. Of course, competing here required a fee. Half went to the academy, while the other half was awarded to the winning student. Every year, whether students wanted to advance or graduate in their sixth year and enter the Inner Court, they had to go through fierce battles here. "The academy really knows how to make money," Huo Yuhao could not help remarking, his tone teasing. Lin Qianyi shook her head seriously. "This is Shrek Academy. Although it's very wealthy, how could it have a stable source of income if it didn't make money?" Tang Ya smiled and patted Lin Qianyi's shoulder. "Little Qianyi is so smart." Beibei and Xu Sanshi had actually known each other for a long time. Every match between them in the Battle Soul Arena was like a collision between two evenly matched forces, always ending in a draw. Even the fees could only be split equally, as though neither could ever truly surpass the other.

By the time the three arrived at the Battle Soul Arena, the several hundred seats in the stands were almost full. Tang Ya, Lin Qianyi, and Huo Yuhao had arrived early enough to secure seats in the front row. Looking at the surging sea of people before her, Lin Qianyi could not help asking curiously, "Senior Brother Bei is actually this popular?"

Tang Ya chuckled and explained, "Of course! Your senior brother's title as the Outer Court's Strongest Attack is no empty boast. His Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, inherited for a million years and considered one of the finest Beast Martial Souls. In recent years, it has firmly held the position of the strongest offensive Beast Martial Soul. Xu Sanshi, meanwhile, dominates the defensive field with his mutated Martial Soul. Not only can he control the water element, but he also possesses astonishing defensive power. One attacks and one defends; together, they are known as the Twin Stars of the Outer Court. Naturally, they draw plenty of attention."

After hearing this, Huo Yuhao asked, "Then who is Jiang Nannan?" Tang Ya lightly flicked Huo Yuhao's forehead and chided him, "You're still so young, yet you already know to pay attention to beauties." Huo Yuhao winced and did not dare say more. Only then did Tang Ya continue, "Jiang Nannan is known as the Number One Beauty of the Outer Court. Though her family is poor, she has quite a few admirers at the academy. But she politely rejected every one of them. Only toward Xu Sanshi does she have a bad attitude. Who knows how that brat offended her?"

Just then, a figure slowly emerged from the crowd. His short pink-blue hair was like the most distinctive starlight in the night sky, instantly drawing everyone's attention. Lin Qianyi was the first to spot the familiar figure—it was Wang Dong. Their eyes met, and they nodded at each other in tacit greeting.

Wang Dong gave a light cough. Hearing it, Huo Yuhao's heart inexplicably tightened, as though some hidden concern had been stirred. "Wang Dong, why are you here?" Huo Yuhao's voice carried a trace of barely perceptible panic.

"The match between the Outer Court's Strongest Attack and the Strongest Defense is so lively. I came out to watch too." Wang Dong sat beside him and lowered his voice. "What did you say you saw?"

"I... I didn't see anything," Huo Yuhao answered haltingly.

"You'd better not have," Wang Dong said seriously. "Next time you enter the dormitory, you have to knock."

"We're both men. What's there to be afraid of?" Huo Yuhao tried to sound casual.

"You...!" Wang Dong was about to flare up when Tang Ya spoke. "Little Yuhao, who is he? This young man is really handsome."

Huo Yuhao hurriedly introduced them. "This is my roommate, Wang Dong. Wang Dong, this is our senior sister, Tang Ya."

For a moment, the air still seemed to hold traces of an unfinished topic, but Tang Ya's appearance gradually eased the atmosphere.

Tang Ya caught sight of Wang Dong and smiled faintly, teasing, "Little Yuhao, look how outstanding he is. Why don't we trick him into joining the Tang Sect?"

A trace of confusion flashed through Wang Dong's eyes. "You're from the Tang Sect?"

Tang Ya puffed out her chest, her eyes full of pride. "Of course. I'm even the current Sect Master of the Tang Sect. Impressive, right? Do you want to join our Tang Sect?" She had assumed it was merely a joke, but Wang Dong nodded without hesitation. "All right. I'll join."

Tang Ya was stunned. She could clearly sense the immense talent contained within Wang Dong, no less than Lin Qianyi's. She had not expected him to take a casual joke seriously.

Huo Yuhao frowned beside them and asked, "Wang Dong, why do you want to join the Tang Sect?"

Wang Dong looked at them seriously, his eyes filled with unquestionable resolve. "I heard that the Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons are extremely powerful. I want to join the Tang Sect and learn its Hidden Weapons too."

Tang Ya's eyes widened in surprise. "You really aren't joking?"

Lin Qianyi was calmer. She gave a light cough, easing the somewhat awkward atmosphere. "Wang Dong, this isn't something to joke about. Have you thought it through?"

Wang Dong's gaze was bright and unwavering as he answered decisively, "I'm serious."

Tang Ya looked at Wang Dong's resolute eyes and silently considered it. After a moment, she slowly said, "All right. Then wait for now. I need to think about it."