After brushing aside this minor interlude, Flender continued: "A soul master's soul power level is a marker of their strength, and soul rings are the best representation of that.
However, this doesn't fully represent a soul master's true strength. Only through personal effort and earning titles in the Great Spirit Arena can one truly showcase their abilities.
Regardless of a soul master's level, once they enter the Great Spirit Arena, they're simply referred to as 'Spirit Fighters.' After winning their first match, they receive a badge. For every subsequent victory, they earn points, and when those points reach a certain threshold, the badge's rank increases.
This badge symbolizes the soul master's rank in the Great Spirit Arena and is recognized across all major cities on the continent.
The benefits of having a high-ranking badge are numerous—I won't go into detail. The lowest rank is Iron Badge, or Iron Spirit Fighter, followed by Copper, Silver, Gold, Amethyst, Sapphire, Ruby, and Diamond—eight ranks in total."
"Principal Flender, may I ask what rank you hold as a Spirit Fighter?"
Chu Chengzhou asked.
Flender: "..."
Did I ask you to bring this up?
Am I going to tell you I'm a Gold Spirit Fighter?
Though being a Gold Spirit Fighter isn't bad, what if this brat surpasses me in the future? Where would that leave my dignity?
With a hint of dissatisfaction, Flender shot Chu Chengzhou a glare. His gaze swept over the four students, lingering slightly on Xiao Wu, before saying: "My task for you is to obtain at least a Silver Spirit Fighter badge before graduation.
Don't think obtaining a Silver Spirit Fighter badge is easy. Both Mubai and Hongjun have participated in many battles here.
Mubai, Hongjun, tell them the requirements for advancing badge ranks and share your battle records."
Though Dai Mubai was reluctant to speak with Chu Chengzhou, it was Flender's request, so he reluctantly complied, his face stiff as he spoke: "I began participating in Suotuo Great Spirit Arena matches when I was a 29th-level Soul Grandmaster. So far, I've fought twenty-nine battles, with a record of fifteen wins and fourteen losses, and one point.
To advance from Iron Spirit Fighter to Copper Spirit Fighter, you need one hundred points. Winning a battle earns one point, while losing deducts one point.
If you achieve a five-match winning streak, each additional win grants ten points. If the streak reaches ten consecutive wins, each win grants one hundred points.
Even if you advance to Copper Spirit Fighter, dropping below one hundred points will revoke your status.
Advancing from Copper Spirit Fighter to Silver Spirit Fighter requires one thousand points. In battles between Copper Spirit Fighters, each win grants ten points, and each loss deducts ten points. The bonus points for winning streaks remain the same as for Iron Spirit Fighters."
If you maintain an undefeated record, four consecutive wins give four points, five consecutive wins give fourteen points, nine consecutive wins give fifty-four points, and ten consecutive wins give one hundred fifty-four points, promoting you to Copper Spirit Fighter.
In other words, a newcomer only needs nineteen consecutive wins to earn a Silver Spirit Fighter badge.
"Is it that tedious?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu couldn't help but comment.
"Hmph~ The Great Spirit Arena isn't a place where you can just coast by!
There are three types of Spirit Fighter battles here. One is called 'Gambling,' which is a friendly sparring match, following the rules I just explained.
The duels in the Great Spirit Arena are conducted based on rank. Even if you're a three-ring Soul Elder at level 31, you could still face a level 39 Soul Elder.
When I first started, my soul power level wasn't high, and I often faced opponents several levels above me, making victories difficult."
Dai Mubai said, clearly dissatisfied.
It wasn't that he was weak—the fourteen losses were mostly from shortly after he advanced to Soul Elder.
If he were to fight now, even though he couldn't guarantee a 100% win rate, he'd likely win eight or nine out of ten matches.
"The difference in soul power levels is just an excuse. Plainly speaking, you're just weak. Didn't I, a 29th-level Soul Grandmaster, still beat you, a three-ring Soul Elder?"
Chu Chengzhou sneered, disdainfully pursing his lips.
"You—!"
Dai Mubai was furious.
"What 'you'? Am I wrong?
Your White Tiger martial soul is supposed to be top-tier, and your soul rings are optimally configured. How many three-ring Soul Eldors in the Great Spirit Arena can match you? And yet, your record is this terrible. How dare you blame your opponents for being strong?"
Chu Chengzhou's eyes filled with even more disdain.
Hearing Chu Chengzhou's taunts, Dai Mubai clenched his fists tightly. If he weren't aware of his inferiority, he would've rushed forward to beat Chu Chengzhou senseless.
"Enough! Stop running your mouth!"
Flender glared at Chu Chengzhou.
He couldn't figure out why Chu Chengzhou had such a grudge against Dai Mubai, seizing every opportunity to mock him. Was there some unresolved issue between them that he didn't know about?
In truth, apart from yesterday's robbery, there was no other conflict between them.
But Chu Chengzhou knew that as long as he still coveted the "Nether" young lady, his relationship with Dai Mubai would inevitably be adversarial.
Since they were enemies, he naturally wouldn't miss any chance to strike at him.
"You've got a rough idea of the Great Spirit Arena's rules. It's about time—we'll head over now. I'll explain the rest once we're there."
Flender paid five copper coins for the tea and led the four out of the teahouse, heading toward the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena.
As they drew closer, the sheer scale of the Great Spirit Arena became even more breathtaking.
The Suotuo Great Spirit Arena was elliptical in shape, reaching a height of over 120 meters. Inside, it was divided into one main arena and twenty-four sub-arenas, capable of accommodating sixty thousand spectators simultaneously.
It wasn't just a place for soul masters to exchange skills—it was also a venue for various factions to display their strength.
As they walked toward the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena, Flender briefly explained the remaining details to Chu Chengzhou and the others.
Here, Spirit Fighter battles were divided into three categories. The first was ordinary gambling, which was friendly sparring with no lethal attacks allowed.
The second type was life-and-death battles, used to resolve irreconcilable disputes.
The third type was wager battles, officiated by the Great Spirit Arena. Both parties sent an equal number of soul masters to compete, and the winning side claimed everything in the bet.
Wager battles were inherently life-and-death battles. Many nobles and soul master families often used this method to resolve major conflicts—or eliminate those causing them.
There were also three formats for Spirit Fighter battles: one-on-one, two-on-two, and the most exciting team battles.
For team battles, the number of participants was negotiated by both sides. According to the Great Spirit Arena's rules, teams typically consisted of seven to ten people.
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