"Tianheng!"
As the host Doudou announced the match results, the purple-haired girl beside Yu Tianheng anxiously rushed over and leaped onto the Soul Fighting Stage.
Seeing that Yu Tianheng had completely lost consciousness, the purple-haired girl couldn't hide her urgency. She quickly carried him on her back, preparing to take him away.
Watching as the purple-haired girl carried Yu Tianheng and eventually disappeared into the opposite entrance tunnel, Lin Ye also turned and stepped off the Soul Fighting Stage, intending to exit through the same tunnel he had entered from earlier.
Just as Lin Ye passed through the entrance tunnel, outside, Manager Ao and a staff member were waiting for him.
Upon seeing Lin Ye, Manager Ao couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Haha! As expected of Sword One, sir! To achieve twenty-eight consecutive victories in our Suotuo Great Soul Arena is truly remarkable. You've even defeated that Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Master from the Heaven Dou Imperial City! I watched your battle—it was thrilling, especially that final soul skill clash."
"As per our prior agreement, here is your reward!"
With that, Manager Ao lifted the red cloth covering the tray held by the staff member.
On the tray lay a crystal card, its displayed amount unmistakably ten thousand gold soul coins!
"Thank you for your assistance this time, Sword One, sir. I hope we'll have the chance to work together again in the future!"
Manager Ao picked up the crystal card and handed it to Lin Ye with a smile.
"Mm. As long as there are opponents and the payment is sufficient, you can always come to me. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."
Lin Ye accepted the crystal card, stored it in his jade pendant, and after speaking, turned to leave.
Walking through the central area of the Suotuo Great Soul Arena, Lin Ye headed toward the main hall. However, just as he was about to exit, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Sword One!"
Hearing the voice, Lin Ye turned to look in its direction.
Not far away, Yu Tianheng was striding toward him.
He's already recovered?
Seeing Yu Tianheng, who had been unconscious just minutes ago, now awake and completely healed, Lin Ye couldn't help but feel surprised.
It seems the support-type Soul Master of the Imperial Battle Team must also be a healing-type Soul Master, and their healing abilities must be exceptionally strong!
"Jade Dragon, what do you want with me?"
As Yu Tianheng approached, Lin Ye asked.
"Heh, nothing much. This is the first time I've lost to someone around my age. Your strength is impressive, but the next time we meet, the outcome might not be the same!"
Yu Tianheng laughed, brimming with confidence.
"Did you come here just to say that?"
Lin Ye frowned, feeling somewhat speechless.
"Uh… no. Actually, I'm here to invite you to join our Imperial Battle Team. I think you're probably around my age, and with your strength, you shouldn't remain unknown here."
"Do you know about next year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament? I'd like to invite you to participate with us. If you agree, not only will you have the chance to showcase yourself in the tournament, but I can also help you enroll in our Heaven Dou Imperial Academy."
"With your talent, once you enter Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, you'll undoubtedly become one of Heaven Dou Imperial City's rising stars!"
Yu Tianheng said with a smile.
"You're a student of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?"
Hearing Yu Tianheng's words, Lin Ye more or less understood—this was an attempt to recruit him.
"Yes! So, what do you think? Will you consider it?"
Yu Tianheng nodded and asked.
"No need. I'll be participating in next year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, but I have my own means of entering. I don't need to join your Heaven Dou Imperial Academy."
Lin Ye refused decisively.
"Ah! I figured someone like you wouldn't lack opportunities to participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. What a wasted trip!"
Yu Tianheng sighed after hearing Lin Ye's reply.
"Even if we can't be teammates, since we've met like this, how about we become friends? My name is Yu Tianheng. What's yours?"
After sighing, Yu Tianheng looked up at Lin Ye again.
Lin Ye: "..."
"My name is Sword One…"
After a brief silence, Lin Ye replied.
Yu Tianheng: "..."
No need to be so dismissive, right?
How could anyone have the surname "Sword" and be named "Sword One"? And you even use it as your alias—this must be an alias, right?!
Yu Tianheng couldn't help but feel exasperated internally.
"I really am called Sword One…"
Lin Ye was also somewhat speechless.
This identity of his was indeed named Sword One. He couldn't very well reveal his real name—how would he continue operating here if he did?
"Really?"
Yu Tianheng still seemed skeptical.
But Lin Ye didn't want to explain further. He simply turned and walked away.
"This guy's personality is really cold!"
Watching Lin Ye's retreating figure, Yu Tianheng scratched his head and turned back to return the way he came.
---
**Suotuo Great Soul Arena, Central Area, VIP Rest Zone, VIP Rest Room No. 3**
At this moment, inside the room, six teenagers—boys and girls around fifteen or sixteen years old—were seated on two plush leather sofas.
On a single sofa nearby sat a young man with light pink short hair, dressed in white, his appearance quite handsome.
"Yanzi, did Tianheng really lose this Soul Fight? And he even lost consciousness? Did his opponent suffer any injuries at all?"
In the room, the young man asked the purple-haired girl who had been beside Yu Tianheng earlier.
This young man was the Imperial Battle Team's leader and also a teacher at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. His name was Qin Ming. Barely thirty years old, he had already broken through to the Soul Emperor level, his talent extraordinary. He was highly respected by all members of the Imperial Battle Team.
"Mm, I didn't see him get hurt. He's a tool-type Soul Master. During the fight, Tianheng barely even touched him. And his swordsmanship is the best I've ever seen. Even some Sword Soul Masters at the Soul Emperor and Soul Sage levels I've encountered in the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena don't compare to him."
The girl named Yanzi recalled the earlier scene as she spoke.
"The current publicly recognized number one swordsman on the continent is the Sword Douluo, Chen Xin. I wonder if this youth called Sword One has any connection to him. You said his voice sounded about the same age as Tianheng's. To possess such refined swordsmanship at such a young age—I don't believe he doesn't have a master."
Qin Ming smiled faintly.
"Teacher, I don't think he's related to the Sword Douluo. The Sword Douluo is always stationed at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan near Heaven Dou Imperial City, while this guy is in Suotuo City. There's no connection at all!"
Yanzi shook her head.
"Heh, true. But regardless of his background, such a genius—if we could recruit him into our Imperial Battle Team, that would be ideal. To be stronger than Tianheng… talents like this are rare. Next year, he might even help us secure a better ranking!"
Qin Ming chuckled.
As Qin Ming and Yanzi chatted, footsteps sounded, and Yu Tianheng entered the room.
"Tianheng, how did it go? Did that Sword One agree to join us?"
Seeing Yu Tianheng return, Qin Ming asked with a smile.
"No. He said he'll be participating in next year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, but he has his own means of entering, so he won't be joining us."
Yu Tianheng sighed, feeling rather regretful.
"Heh, that's to be expected. A genius like him surely has backing. The chances of us snagging him were always slim. But he claims to have a way to participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament? I wonder which academy he's joined. How intriguing…"
Qin Ming chuckled softly, stroking his chin in thought.