Flender led the way, bringing the six of them into the Soto Great Soul Arena.
Only when they drew close did Xiao Yan realize that the Great Soul Arena was even larger than it looked.
On the way, Flender had Dai Mubai explain the Great Soul Arena's rules to Xiao Yan and the other newcomers.
There were three categories of matches. The first was sparring, in which the participants exchanged pointers. Lethal blows were forbidden, and the fighters had to stop once a point had been made.
Next came deathmatches. Soul Masters with grudges settled matters of life and death on the stage this way, and these fights drew the largest audiences.
The final category was wagered fights, another kind of deathmatch. Both sides put up a stake, and whoever survived the deathmatch took it all.
This was also a form of wagering favored by some great clans.
There were three match formats: one-on-one, two-on-two, and group battles, with seven to nine people on each team in a group battle.
Entering a match at the Great Soul Arena was simple. One only had to fill out a registration form with a name, age, and Martial Soul to receive a badge, though entering a fight required a payment of ten Gold Soul Coins.
The registration fee was refunded in full after a victory, but was naturally forfeited in the event of a defeat.
Before every fight, Soul Power was tested so that opponents within the same realm could be matched.
With Dai Mubai and the others leading them, Xiao Yan and the other three newcomers soon finished filling out their registration forms. The Great Soul Arena had many divisions, and they had all registered in the same one, so they sat down nearby to wait for their upcoming fights.
"Brother, I just asked. Although each Soul Master can only fight once a day, they can take part in different types of fights. How about we go sign up for a doubles match too?"
As Xiao Yan and the others sat waiting, Xiao Wu suddenly came bouncing over and spoke to Tang San.
"You can do that?"
Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised. He and Xiao Wu were both level twenty-nine Soul Grandmasters, and within the same realm, there should not be many people capable of defeating them.
"Of course! Besides, our points will increase much faster that way."
Xiao Wu grabbed Tang San's hand and shook it. Tang San nodded in agreement without hesitation.
"Oh, right, Zhu Zhuqing, you and senior brother are both Soul Grandmasters too. You could sign up for a two-on-two match together."
Xiao Wu and Tang San were about to go register when Xiao Wu's eyes suddenly lit up, and she spoke to Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing, who were sitting nearby.
Xiao Yan turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing. Since obtaining a Silver Soul Badge was the dean's graduation requirement for them, he had no reason to refuse such a quick way to earn points. He just didn't know what Zhu Zhuqing thought.
A trace of surprise also flashed across Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face, but after hearing Xiao Wu's words, she gave the matter some serious thought.
She raised her eyes and met Xiao Yan's gaze.
"We can try..."
In the distance, Dai Mubai's face suddenly stiffened when he heard Xiao Wu. Unfortunately for him, Zhu Zhuqing had not paid him the slightest attention from beginning to end.
"Then let's go together."
Xiao Wu took Zhu Zhuqing by the hand and headed for the two-on-two registration desk. Xiao Yan and Tang San exchanged a glance and followed the two women.
Since they had just registered for the singles matches, they did not need to have their Soul Power tested again and only had to present their badges. After they paid the registration fee, the clerk picked up a form and said to the four of them:
"Please choose a name for your combination."
Xiao Wu and Tang San exchanged a glance, and Tang San spoke.
"Let's call it the Three-Dance Combination." Tang San had taken one character each from his and Xiao Wu's names.
"All right, the Three-Five Combination has been registered."
The staff member carved another line of small characters onto their Iron Soul Badges: "Three-Five Combination."
"Hey, not that 'five'! It's the 'dance' in dancing!"
Xiao Wu took the badge and immediately protested when she saw the characters on it.
The staff member replied coldly, "You should have made yourselves clear. If you want to change your combination's name, you'll have to register your Iron Soul Badges again, and your number of wins will also be wiped out."
"Forget it. Let's leave it as it is."
After learning that registering again would mean paying more Gold Soul Coins, Tang San stopped Xiao Wu. It was only a name, a label, anyway.
When it was Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing's turn, Xiao Yan looked at Zhu Zhuqing and said:
"Why don't you choose?"
"Let's call it... the Xiao-Zhu Combination." Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head slightly. Like Tang San, she had merely taken one character each from her own and Xiao Yan's names.
"All right, the Little Pig Combination has been registered." The staff member deftly carved the name onto the badges, and a bad feeling immediately rose in Xiao Yan's heart.
"No, man, is there something wrong with your ears?"
Xiao Yan looked at "Little Pig Combination" on the badge, wondering if the staff member had done it on purpose. Beside him, Xiao Wu snatched the badge from his hand with lightning speed.
Looking at the combination's name on it, she no longer resented her own "Three-Five Combination."
"Hahahaha..."
Xiao Wu laughed loudly at them. Even Zhu Zhuqing, whose face was usually icy, could not quite suppress a smile, the corners of her lips curving faintly upward.
"Forget it. It's just a name."
And so, the "Three-Five Combination" and the "Little Pig Combination" burst onto the scene.
When they returned to the waiting area, their singles matches had yet to come up. Upon hearing Xiao Yan and the others' combination names, Ma Hongjun wore an even more mocking expression.
But when he met Zhu Zhuqing's icy gaze, he obediently backed down and stopped laughing.
As they waited, Xiao Wu became the first among them to take the stage.
"Up next is the first one-on-one Soul Fighting match in our fourteenth Soul Fighting Arena! Taking the stage are two Soul Grandmasters: Battle Soul Master Xiao Wu, whose Beast Martial Soul is the Jade Rabbit, and Battle Soul Master Qing Bao, who has won two matches in a row and whose Beast Martial Soul is the Iron Horn Bull!"
On a platform above the Soul Fighting Arena, the host introduced the two Soul Masters with great enthusiasm, stirring up the audience.
"Will the newcomer Battle Soul Master Xiao Wu claim victory, or will Soul Grandmaster Qing Bao continue his glorious run? Let's wait and see!"
However, only a few cheers came from the stands. The spectators did not seem interested in the fight.
A tall, powerfully built figure soon arrived on the Soul Fighting stage. The man was nearly two meters tall, with broad shoulders and a wide back. His muscles glimmered with a dim, dark sheen, and his build alone suggested that, like Zhao Wuji, he followed the strength-based path.
"That guy doesn't look easy to deal with. Can your Xiao Wu handle him?"
In the stands, Ma Hongjun gestured toward Xiao Wu's opponent with his chin as he spoke to Tang San.
"Don't worry." Faced with Ma Hongjun's question, Tang San waved a hand dismissively.
"Although Xiao Wu's Soul Skills are rather vulnerable to strength-type Soul Masters, that's only when their Soul Power is far ahead of hers. As for this guy..."
A trace of disdain touched the corners of Tang San's mouth.
"He's not worthy yet..."
"Little girl, have you really reached the Soul Grandmaster level at your age?"
When Xiao Wu took the stage, everyone in the stands widened their eyes. A little girl of around twelve had actually stepped onto the Soul Fighting stage?
"Little girl, this isn't a place for you. You'd better go home. I'm afraid I might hurt you if I attack."
Across from Xiao Wu, Soul Grandmaster Qing Bao spoke in a simple, guileless tone. Xiao Wu frowned at his words:
"Cut the nonsense and reveal your Martial Soul! Otherwise, don't blame me for not giving you a chance!"