A week had passed, and Fang Ling had gained a basic understanding of life-or-death battles among soul masters.
The strong were few, but they could fight.
"It's already been a week. The sooner we act, the better. Should we go now?"
Seeing the two of them fall silent, Fang Ling gently called out, "Teacher?"
"You really can't wait at all…" Lin Tianyang stood up with Shu Manyun, opened the door, and walked out.
Fang Ling quickly followed, but after walking for a while, he noticed something was off.
This wasn't the path to leave the academy and head for the Grand Soul Battle Arena, it was the way to the administration building.
He immediately asked, "Teacher, where are we going?"
"You're a genius student of the academy. Even as your teacher, I can't just let you participate in a life-or-death battle with such high risk."
Lin Tianyang glanced at Fang Ling, a hint of worry still between his brows.
"We're going to find Director Ou."
"At this time, he usually hasn't finished work yet."
Though it had only been a little over a month, Fang Ling hadn't forgotten the old man who had defeated him with ease.
"Director Ou? The one who tested me during enrollment?"
"That's right. He's the headmaster's childhood friend, oversees theory instruction, and though his title is 'director,' he's actually the vice-principal. He just prefers we call him 'director.'"
"With the headmaster away, he holds the most authority in the academy. Only he can make this kind of decision."
They arrived at the vice-principal's office, and Lin Tianyang gently knocked on the door.
Once given permission, he led them in.
Director Ou was eating noodles, a huge bowl of them.
Next to it were a few large chicken legs he hadn't finished gnawing on.
The visitors surprised him for a moment. "Tianyang and Manyun? What are you two doing here with your little disciple?"
"Uncle Ou," Lin Tianyang greeted warmly since there were no outsiders around.
After hesitating a bit, he didn't quite know how to begin, so he gently pushed Fang Ling forward.
"It's because of this kid. Let him tell you himself."
"His mind is made up, we can't change it."
Under Director Ou's curious gaze, Fang Ling took a few steps forward.
"Grandpa Ou, I…"
"My full name is Ou Hai. Since we're in private, just call me Uncle. I'm only in my fifties," Ou Hai said, winking at Fang Ling, completely ignoring Lin Tianyang's speechless expression.
Fang Ling cautiously glanced at his teacher. Seeing him nod slightly, he said, "Uncle Ou, I want to participate in the life-or-death battles at the Grand Soul Battle Arena."
Slurping his noodles for a while, Director Ou looked up and asked, "Why?"
Fang Ling responded resolutely, "For cultivation. My talent is too weak. I need the pressure of life-and-death battles to stimulate myself and unlock more potential."
"You've made up your mind?"
"I have!"
"You won't change it?"
"I absolutely won't."
Director Ou's beard twitched. He stared at Fang Ling, his gaze gradually becoming more imposing.
Fang Ling stood tall and proud, completely unfazed by the stern expression.
After a moment, the scrutiny in Ou Hai's eyes faded, replaced by a hint of approval. "You're a determined kid."
"When I saw your blade technique, I guessed your temperament. I knew this day would come."
"Go. I approve."
He took a bite of chicken leg.
"Thank you, Uncle Ou!" Fang Ling quickly expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you, Uncle Ou," Lin Tianyang and his wife exchanged a helpless glance and could only follow along in thanking him.
"Remember to call me 'Director' outside."
"Got it!"
The three of them left and headed straight for the Grand Soul Battle Arena.
If they walked quickly, they could make it in time for the evening matches.
"Since you're determined to enter the life-or-death battles, I'll tell you everything I know." Lin Tianyang's expression turned serious.
He couldn't persuade him directly, and even Uncle Ou couldn't stop him.
What else could he do?
All he could do was support him.
"Yes, Teacher. Please instruct me." Fang Ling never fought unprepared.
Leveling up was important, but without life, nothing else mattered.
Every detail had to be remembered.
"Life-or-death battles, just from the name, you can tell, they're fights to the death."
"However, even if you lose, as long as you're not killed on the spot, there's still a chance to survive."
"Please continue, Teacher." Fang Ling's eyes lit up.
Lin Tianyang felt like he was pushing his student into a pit of fire, his emotions mixed.
"Listen carefully. If you feel like you can't win, run off the stage."
"Even in life-or-death battles, which are extremely dangerous, they're still Soul Battle competitions. Your movement technique is agile and your reactions are unique. You should be able to judge whether you can win or not."
"Once you step off the stage, no killing is allowed. That's a strict rule."
"That's allowed?" Fang Ling's expression eased, suddenly feeling much safer.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Lin Tianyang countered. "You might get booed for it. Do you care about reputation?"
"Not at all."
Fang Ling didn't have the slightest sense of shame in that regard.
Reputation meant nothing. Once he reached a high level, who would dare gossip about him?
"I knew you wouldn't care. That's the unspoken rule there, use it."
Satisfied with the response, Lin Tianyang continued:
"Life-or-death battles have a high entry fee. Before the match, you pay a deposit in gold soul coins. Whether you die or flee the stage, that money goes to the winner. Don't be stingy when the time comes."
Fang Ling nodded lightly. "I understand, Teacher."
Compared to life, money was just external.
With his system panel, he had a bright future ahead.
As long as he survived, he was guaranteed to reach the top. Yielding for now meant nothing.
Entering the Soul Battle Arena, this time Lin Tianyang and Shu Manyun led Fang Ling to the life-or-death zone.
"Registration for a life-or-death match is 50 gold soul coins," the staff said.
"So expensive." Fang Ling nervously counted his money, carefully taking it out from his small pouch and laying it out coin by coin.
In the end, he had only 16 silver soul coins left.
He had nearly come up short.
He had spent all his savings.
Now, he could only hope that his first opponent would be weak.
Fortunately, win-loss records from regular and life-or-death matches didn't carry over.
He had already won seven straight matches in the regular arena, but hadn't yet participated in any life-or-death battles, so his record was zero.
As a newcomer, he likely wouldn't face a strong opponent.
In the audience stands, Lin Tianyang and Shu Manyun held hands nervously.
Their palms were damp with sweat.
Shu Manyun was more anxious, though Lin Tianyang had killed fewer people than Fang Ling, he had still seen the world and bloodshed.
Shu Manyun, however, was truly a sheltered beauty, she had stayed in the academy and cultivated peacefully to Soul Elder level.
"Can he win?" Her voice trembled slightly.
She didn't mind blood, she had seen plenty of it.
She had witnessed killings too, she was just worried about Fang Ling.
The air here was thick with the stench of blood.
The stage was covered in still-wet bloodstains.
The audience was completely different from those in the regular arena, not only were there more people, they were also far more frenzied.
"He can win! Believe in Fang Ling!" Lin Tianyang was now quite confident.
Fang Ling's exceptional reflexes gave him a huge margin for error.
This kind of arena with defined boundaries wouldn't be an obstacle to his progress.
One brutal match concluded.
The host stepped onto the blood-soaked stage, walking with a spring in his step.
He squinted, excitement written all over his face.
"Next, we'll have the second one-on-one life-or-death battle in Arena Six!"
"There are always newcomers in the life-or-death zone, but today's newcomer is no ordinary one."
"A freshman from Battle King Academy, enrolled just one month ago, with seven consecutive wins in the regular arena, a combat genius with a scythe martial soul: Fang Ling!"
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